Spring                                    Word on the Week                               4^th April 2020.

We are blessed with four seasons each with its own beauty.    The freshness of spring flows into the glories of summer and then comes the wonder of the autumn tints to be followed by winters’ sombre hues.

Animals and plants work with the seasons.   Their body clocks are timed to perfection.    They too live to glorify their maker.  

All this we take largely for granted.    We tend to neglect our calling to be stewards over creation (Genesis Chapter 1 verses 28 to 31).

Perhaps it was the beauty of the seasons that inspired the German Christian who penned the hymn ‘Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, Son of God and Son of Man!   Written in 1677 the second verse makes the comparison; –

Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring:

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

The daffodils line both sides of the farm road with a blaze of yellow that makes the heart to sing!   They are the large trumpet variety – one of many varieties now being grown.   The ‘woeful heart’ of the commercial grower, who has no retail trade because of the virus has begun to sing as a result of on-line orders.   It appears that when human contact is cut off we say it with flowers!

The birds are nesting and there is a battle to feed up from the ‘fat balls’ in the birdfeeder.   Planned for our regular finches, dunnock, robin and tits they are being plundered by rooks, grey crows and magpies.   In order to thwart the latter, we fixed the fat ball container into the middle of the blackthorn hedge.

Now the blackthorn is the most vicious of all our native thorns presenting a major problem for the larger birds but allowing the small ones to get at the food.   This worked for a couple of days till the rooks worked out how the food could be reached from below by breaking off a few twigs and reaching the fat balls!

The magpies, between doing their mating display and nest-building, were more than a match for the larger hooded crows who were looking for a territory of their own.

The humans (presently cocooned in their houses to curb the virus from spreading) are unique.   We are image bearers.   We never lose it.  We don’t morph into half man, half animal.   But we do need to look to Jesus, the perfect man. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the express representation of his being – (Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3).

Beautiful Saviour! Lord of the nations,

Son of God and Son of man!

Glory and honour, praise, adoration,

Now and for evermore be thine.

Pestilence                              Word on the Week                          28^th March 2020.

We, in Ireland, have been instructed to remain indoors for the next two weeks to avoid involuntarily spreading the virus.   There are few exceptions.   This latest requirement is intended to stop it spreading through communities and restrict it to homes where it can be more easily controlled.

We have taken cognisance of how other countries have acted and learned from them the basic things about hygiene both for ourselves and most importantly for those working in the medical field.    Our medical advisors have been transparent with their plans and we have grasped the importance of not allowing this very virulent virus to create a spike in infections which would overcome our hospitals’ ability to cope.

The next two weeks are said to be crucial and the Garda have been empowered to remove people from the streets unless they can produce evidence of their validity to be there.    The nightly announcements of the numbers infected steadily increase and the deaths attributed to COVID-19 continue to rise like some sort of dystopian game.    But it is far from a game.

Every incident of pestilence recorded in the Bible, apart from those yet to happen, can be related, with few exceptions, to the disobedience of the people of God (2 Samuel Chapter 24 verse 15/16).    The exceptions were against Israel’s enemies such as the plagues in Egypt (Exodus Chapter 9 verse 15).  

In Israel there were religious ceremonies which nullified the word of God.   They had so many man made rules.  Jesus gave them a list of what was wrong with the heart of man.  These things come out from it, “evil thoughts; sexual immorality; theft; murder; adultery; greed; malice; greed; deceit; lewdness; envy; slander; arrogance and folly” (St Mark Chapter 7 verses 21/23).   

Scripture teaches that sin is universal (Romans Chapter 3 verse 23).   It is first of all against God.    It then impacts others.   It took the death of Jesus to provide a way for every repentant sinner to be cleansed from its affects (1 John Chapter 1 verse 7).     Sin is global.  The pestilence matches its spread.   There is much more going on than we can comprehend but we can recognise just how much we sin every day.      

There was probably never a time when this world would have been so Godly that God could not have justly delivered pestilence but in his mercy he has withheld his hand till now, “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you” (Psalm 130 verse 4).

May the God of all grace encourage us to go on our knees and cry, ‘Lord, we’re way out of our depth. Have pity on us, and save us’.

What is the Lord doing?       Word on the Week                       21^st March 2020.

When I returned to the Office some 60 years ago, having picked up a fine for speeding, the question I was asked was, “Where was God when I needed Him?”  It wasn’t asked in a concerned way but rather in the triumphant tones of the unbeliever!   There is an indelible link in the secular mind between the Christian’s life and having Someone to look after you.    The current pandemic should disabuse people of such a notion.  It is no respecter of persons.

Covid-19, unlike previous viruses ‘Saars’ in 2002 and ‘Mers’ in 2012, is unique and this virus is not related to them.     It ignores national boundaries and is blind to race.   It can infect the whole of society but it does have a preference for older people!    In fact, on an inverted sliding scale, it almost ignores the very young.   There is a view that it does not do well in heat so for once those living in the tropics may survive this plague better than other ones.

This highly contagious plague has got teeth.   It can kill quite quickly those with an existing weakness or simply the infirmities of old age.    Since people are carriers of the virus there have been many calls by the authorities to be responsible.    This can best be done by avoiding any physical presence or even passing objects to the ‘at risk’ class.   Isaiah’s advice should be heeded, “Go my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you, hide yourself for a little until the fury has passed by” (Chapter 26 verse 20).

We are told that we have to prepare for the ‘fury’ of the next two weeks when, according to those studying the virus’s behaviour elsewhere, the disease will peak.    Because of the large number of dead military vehicles had to be deployed in Italy to bring the bodies to the mortuary.     We are behind Italy in time and hopefully ahead of Italy in our preparation.    How does the Bible help in this situation?

Jesus became human in order that, “through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham” (Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 14 to 16).   And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise (Galatians Chapter 3 verse 29.) 

The crux of the matter is summed up in the phrase ‘if you belong to Christ’.   The Bible teaches that you don’t belong to Christ through baptism or any other sacrament.   It involves repentance.   This is not simply saying sorry.   It is actually recognising that you have wronged God.   This leads to a Godly hatred of these sins.   This is followed by a strong desire to change and sin no more.    And finally believe with all your heart that Christ will forgive all your sin, even the big one that disturbs you, and present you blameless on the judgment day.

What is the Lord doing?   He is preparing a people for himself out of every tribe and nation.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude verses 24/25).

Wednesday 18^th March 2020

Give thanks to him and praise his name, for the Lord is good and his love endures for ever
(Ps. 100 vv 4b-5a)

What a great comfort and encouragement these words are, as we face strange and uncertain days. This afternoon the Elders at Grace met via WhatsApp to make some decisions that we believe will honour God and show love and concern to our neighbours in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. Obviously the situation is developing and we will continue to monitor it and make any needed adjustments to these decisions. These are not made out of fear or panic. Rather, we are desiring to honour what scripture says about submitting to governing authorities (Rom. 13 vv 1-7) and loving our neighbours (Rom 13 vv 8-10).

Here are the decisions we have made:

1. Our church facility is now closed to all meetings and activities;
2. We encourage our home groups NOT to meet in person for the next month – instead we are asking the leaders of the these to establish a Whatsapp group for their members and to consider the possibility of meeting weekly via tele-conferencing instead of gathering physically in one place;
3. For pastoral help or any queries you may have, please call me on 01-832-7993.

We are encouraged by the large number of you who tuned into our service via livestream on Youtube last Sunday morning We will continue livestreaming this service into the foreseeable future. Please ‘tune in’ this Sunday at 11.00 a.m.!

In the meantime, let us take the opportunity that this strange moment provides, to be of use to God in ministering to those around us. It will require patience and creativity.

Here are some things that we encourage you to do:

• Devote yourselves to Scripture and to prayer. Some of you may have more time on your hands. Take time to seek God’s face. Pray for our church and our government and, of course, all of those on the front line.

• Keep in touch with our church family. Use social media including WhatsApp groups – a great way to connect with others – instead of simply consuming endless articles about the coronavirus.

That’s enough information for now. Have a blessed week!

Pat Mullen

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2 Thess 2 vv 16-17)

No St Patrick!                        Word on the Week                        14^th March 2020.

No St Patrick?   Just when we needed him.   If he got rid of the snakes in Ireland perhaps he could do a similar job on the Coronavirus when he shows up next week.   Except the 17^th March, his day, has been cancelled – we are on our own!

Plagues come and plagues go.   They create havoc in the passing.   Things that business considered important take a back seat.   There is a partial solution of the traffic congestion as many work from home.    Graveyards fill up as the elderly and vulnerable succumb to the virus.    Basic things become important like caring for each other!

Large groupings cannot take place for fear of this highly contagious virus infecting many people.   Churches cannot meet in their buildings and have to meet in cyberspace.   Those with well-developed websites can maintain their worship services.    Others who centre on the Eucharist may require worshippers to take on a more passive role as they watch the ceremony on the web.

Where there is a congregational prayer network operating on social media the needs of the Fellowship can be catered for to a certain extent.    In fact, the smartphone may well be our main avenue for conversation whilst the pandemic lasts.

For spiritual nourishment there are a number of useful websites which provide their listeners with fresh material daily. A couple that have blessed me with relevant material are desiringgod.org which is run by a retired clergyman called John Piper.   The other operates under the logo RZIM.     It was founded by Ravi Zacharias who has built up a good team of Christian broadcasters and can be reached at RZIM.org.  

To combat our propensity to worry Jesus said: – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (St Matthew Chapter 6 verses 25 to 34).                      Jesus is saying if you look after the things he considers important (what we are to seek first) he will look after the things you consider important (all the rest)!

Image-bearer                        Word on the Week                          7^th March 2020.

Some of us were at a conference this week when the speaker reminded us of the unbeliever’s slogan “God is Dead”.    He traced this rebellion to its conclusion where those made in God’s image are also dead.    This deadness extinguished the spiritual in man and presented us as a higher form of animal.

Today we have reached the notion that mankind is a blank slate!    We evolved from a combustion of gases and by accident became what we are.   We write on the slate our own choice of identity which is travelling through a meaningless life to its end. We are – then, one day, we aren’t!     

Over 100 years ago the poet W E Henley penned ‘Invictus’ (Latin for unconquered) the last lines of which sum up the heroic man, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul”.    In the 21^st century this quest for self-determination tries to map meaning onto life or in mental confusion find it within.

The Bible teaches that we are created in God’s image, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of god; he created them male and female” (Genesis Chapter 1 verses 26 to 26).   This sense of ownership produces stability.  As we come to know God we see the results of the fall in us.   Like David in Psalm 32 we come to appreciate the blessedness of admitting sins and requiring forgiveness.

The state of Israel was to bear the image of God to the surrounding nations.   They, like us, were chronic command breakers preventing the nations from seeing how a nation under God should live.   The remedy was for God to “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah Chapter 31 verse 33).   This New Covenant was inaugurated by Jesus at the Last Supper as an abiding symbol of His work on the cross.

Thousands were converted to Christ through the work of the Apostles who were empowered by the Holy Spirit.   Even those antagonistic to the gospel were converted.   It was said of St Paul “The one who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (Galatians Chapter 1 verse 23).

And this faith that St Paul preached caused repentant sinners to be born from above into a new life in the here and hereafter.   “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” (1 Peter Chapter 1 verses 3 to 4).

Fear of Pestilence                          Word on the Week                 29^th February 2020.

The last time we blogged on the subject of fear it was along the Fermanagh-Cavan border in Ireland.   There had been intimidation and the fear of man was evident.   This week we have witnessed signs of fear of the coronavirus.  It has gone almost global.    No one has said it but this fear is the fear of the judgement of God.

The spread has been rapid.  Antarctica being the only landmass not touched by it. Transmitting the virus is easily done so warnings against touching other people such as shaking hands raise the alarm bells in peoples’ minds.   Pictures of medics ‘suited up’ from head to toe are on the one hand reassuring but on the other increase the apprehension.

On the face of it these seem to be excessive precautions for an illness which is likened to influenza.   Many times this week the media have pointed out the low death rate of coronavirus and instanced the flu which has a much worse record.  However, we have flu somewhat controlled, hence the annual flu jab prevention. With Covid-19 we do not know where it came from nor how long it will be with us.

The best guess blames the bat.   There is also the association with the food market in Wuhan where it is reckoned to have made the transition from bat to man.   Research is taking place to find an antidote but it is unlikely to be on the market soon.   In the meantime, it would seem that what we have to fear is fear itself.   It is irrational but the sense of the unknown makes people apprehensive.

There are a number of incidents in the Bible where God sent a plague or pestilence because of disobedience.    Korah’s rebellion is one such case (Numbers Chapter 16 verses 46 to 48).   These cases are largely directed at his people Israel.   They had been entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans Chapter 3 verse 2) but that had not prevented them from sinning like others.   

Jesus said that in the end times there would be “pestilence” (St Luke Chapter 21 verse 10 to 12).     This is one of the indicators of the end of the age.   Trusting in Christ for your salvation in this life and the next does not enable you to bypass these things.    It does however, give you the assurance of Psalm 91 which may have been in John Ryland’s mind when he penned these words: –

“Plagues and deaths around me fly;

Till he bids, I cannot die;

Not a single shaft can hit,

Till the God of love sees fit.”     

May these thoughts strengthen you as we contemplate a dysfunctional world.

Coronavirus                           Word on the Week              22^nd February 2020.

This virus which started in the Wuhan Provence of China in December 2019 has proved to be hard to control.   It is in the same family of viruses as ‘saars’ (largely in the US from 2002 to 2004) and ‘mers’ (mainly in the middle east in 2012). It now has the name Covid-19.  

It produces respiratory symptoms which can be incubated in a person for up to a fortnight.    The start of the outbreak has been traced to an open air market in Wuhan where fish and live animals are in close contact with people.    These conditions would have given the mutated corona virus ample opportunity to spread. It is now in all 31 provinces in China.

At the end of December, a group of doctors in Wuhan were examining a large number of patients exhibiting flu like symptoms.    Indications were that the results were being kept quiet by Government order.   Dr Li Wen Liang, one of the team studying the disease turned whistleblower and attempts were made to silence him. The rapid spread of the virus required lockdown of Wuhan which coincided with public opinion learning via social media of the attempt to silence the doctor.

All this led to the Government apologising and many more cities being put in quarantine.   Two large field hospitals have been built in Wuhan in record time. Many additional medical staff have been assigned to the city and seven cruise ships have sailed up the Yangtze river and moored in Wuhan to accommodate them.   

Cruise liners are particularly vulnerable and the Diamond Princess now moored in Japan waters has been quarantined with its passengers confined to their cabins for 14 days.    The UK along with other countries who have nationals on board are flying them home but with a further two-week period in quarantine when they arrive.    A miserable end to their holiday!  

Global health officials are worried as the latest cases of the virus have shown up in Italy and affect people who had no link with China or contact with a confirmed case. A plane from China was picketed when it touched down in Ukraine.    This fear is contrasted with the actions of Dr Li who returned to work in the hospital, eventually caught the disease and died on 7^th February.    He was a believer and quoted this text as he died.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy Chapter 4 verses 7/8).

May God grant to all who believe a like courage when we come to be tested.

Storm Dennis                        Word on the Week                  15^th February 2020.

‘Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow rain and wind warning for the entire country ahead of Storm Dennis which is expected to bring wet and very windy weather over the weekend and into Monday.’    The terse note from the Met Office does not encourage you to get out of bed this morning!

The roar of the wind made Tess, the dog, think twice about venturing out whereas she normally greets the dawn with some loud barking.    All the animals in the yard are in sheds and the hens, who dislike the wind, are confined to the henhouse.

Above the yard and around the trees flocks of rooks do aerobatics in the gusting wind.   They enjoy the turbulence but disappear when the rain arrives.    At garden level the usual tits and finches swing from the bird feeders while the magpie like the local Garda keeps an eye on the proceedings.

The land is waterlogged from previous rains which means it cannot absorb fresh rainfall.    Our drainage has been well tested and mercifully the run-off is working unlike parts of the UK where towns in valleys are particularly vulnerable to flooding.

It is at sea where we are most exposed to these South-westerly winds.   There is always a conflict of interest for fishermen to solve.   Gales stir up the sea and consequently produce a plentiful supply of food.   This makes for good fishing with the best catches made in stormy weather.   Herein lies the problem.    Fishermen’s safety is put at risk in such conditions and the skipper must weigh up the pros and cons very carefully before he puts to sea.

In my youth we fished from small open boats.   We could be caught at sea when an Easterly gale would make the harbour at our home port of Collieston un-navigable.    The alternative was to run for Whinnyfold, five miles away, where we could drop anchor in the safety of its harbour and wait until the storm passed.

The writer of Hebrews likens God’s promise and God’s oath to two cables that secure our ship which I call ‘The Hope of the Gospel’.   “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf” (Chapter 6 verse 19).   The hymn-writer catches this idea in “Will your Anchor Hold?” the often omitted second verse reads: – It is safely moored t’will the storm withstand, For ‘tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand:   And the cables passed from His heart to mine, Can defy the blast, thro’ strength divine.”

This was one of Ann Brown’s favourite hymns.  When it was sung at her funeral I remember the powerful effect it had on her neighbours.    May they and you take to heart the saving work of Jesus.

Election 2020                        Word on the Week                       8^th February 2020.

There is an air of a festival about an Irish General Election.    During the preceding 3 to 4 week’s people with ladders are seen to be climbing many of the utility poles in our towns to fix A1 size pictures of their preferred candidate.    The higher the candidate’s portrait the more symbolically he or she will top the poll!

The old days of public meetings have been overtaken by an all-encompassing media.  It is the TV debates that steal the show.   Party representatives are subject to a grilling by well practiced professionals who are able to reveal inconsistences in their party manifesto.   Attempting to score points publically may be good for audience ratings but lacks the intimacy of the Parish Hall Meeting where a good chairperson can ensure that everyone has a voice.

When I came to live in Ireland over four decades ago I had a colleague who was keen to instruct me in all things Irish which he clearly believed to be superior to anything that took place in the UK!    He was in high spirits in the 1977 election which saw Jack Lynch sweep to power amid the discarding of a number of unpopular taxes.    It all seemed to be too good to be true – and so it proved to be.   Rampant inflation set in during the eighties and the rest is history!

One thing I learned was the single transferrable vote is allegedly superior to the UK and USA system of ‘first past the post’.   It certainly provides the voter with the ability to reward preferred candidates and penalise those not in favour.    The counting of votes takes place after the setting of quotas for each constituency.   You then enter the world of surplus votes and transfers which few, including myself, have fully understood.   It does however make for a dramatic count!   The final results can be a long time in coming.   Where the count is close between candidates a recount prolongs the agony!

The end result is a fairer representation of people’s choices but then coalitions have to be formed, in order to get into government, which thwart the most equitable outcome.  There is no perfect system as we are imperfect people who are involved.

When it comes to God’s electing love for heaven our reliance must be on His mercies (Lamentations Chapter 3 verse 22).    In fact, our trust is not to be on anything we have done, no ‘vote for me’, no ‘look at my record’.    Because few believe this St Paul uses the case of Jacob and Esau where God’s choice was made before either of them could be said to influence it i.e. before they were born (Romans Chapter 9 verses 10 to 12).     

We have Jesus to go to.    He said “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (St John Chapter 6 verse 37).