The burial of Martin McGuinness this week brought to a premature end his working towards political stability in Northern Ireland. The rare illness which removed him so swiftly was unforeseen. The reconfiguring of his Party continues.
McGuinness died at the age of 66 having spent the last 50 plus years bound up with what is euphemistically known as ‘the troubles’. The earlier part of his life he was a ‘freedom fighter’ or ‘terrorist’, (depending on your viewpoint), which provided the platform for his political authority over the last 20 years.

He was recognised as a good negotiator who kept his word and could be relied upon to bring his party with him even in difficult decisions. His working friendship with his previous arch-enemy Rev Ian Paisley provided an example of two leaders who recognised and shared qualities with the other.

McGuinness’s loyalty to his friends in the Bogside of Derry and those who supported ‘the cause’ was reflected in his ongoing refusal to denounce the IRA’s campaign. It also meant that many dark deeds go to the grave with him.

At the funeral and subsequently many have spoken words of forgiveness while others have been unable to forgive and ascribed to themselves God’s task of judge. Others have laid on some imaginary scales the bad and the good parts of his life and concluded that the good outweigh the bad. Some maintain it’s how one ends ones days that matters and conclude he was all right in the end.

For the Christian, that is one who has been forgiven by God his own massive debt, to forgive is the reflex action extended to the person who acknowledges his guilt and asks for forgiveness. Jesus sharpens the focus by his parable which illustrated what happens then this forgiveness is withheld (St Matthew Chapter 18 verses 23 – 35).

Where the guilty one does not acknowledge he is in the wrong forgiveness cannot flow but we can pray for them as Jesus did (St Matthew Chapter 23 verse 34). All sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51 verse 4) and only God can forgive (St Mark Chapter 2 verse 7).

There must be a willingness in us to forgive the one who has sinned against us. Jesus showed us this in his model prayer in which he said his forgiveness to us (when we confess our sins to him) is conditional on our forgiving the one who has wronged us (St Matthew Chapter 6 verses 12 -15).

It is good to remind ourselves of where the Christian’s sins have ended up and be grateful.
‘And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.’ Colossians Chapter 2 verses 13 -14).

She has stayed in the background for a long time but this year Saint Patrick’s wife, Sheelah (or Sile) has decided to turn up! Like a dutiful wife she has deferred to the Saint and not intruded on his Day but accepted the 18th March as her day!

Not that you would notice as the good lady doesn’t even have a parade to advertise her presence. Her husband is feted globally. The green of Ireland bathes many a fine building in floodlight – but only on his day!

You have to go to Australia to find any recognition of her ladyship. There she has had less than illustrious treatment probably arriving with the 18th century exiles. Perhaps the anonymity is better than the endless disputes over which of the two (or were there more?) Patricks was the real Saint Patrick.

We know Rome sent Palladius in 431 AD to minister to the “Irish who believed in Christ”. Who preached Christ to them? There must have been a large body of believers before Rome sent a Bishop. After six years he went to deal with the “apostate Picts” possibly in Whithorn Abbey near Dumfries in the Scottish borders. Has he been confused with Patrick?

The question remains, if Patrick returned to Ireland as a Missionary in 432 AD, who converted the Irish to Christianity? To add to the confusion the word Patrick could refer to a community – particularly the community of Armagh. Then there was the heretic Pelagius who was in Ireland at that time. He said that man was born innocent and, contrary to Scripture, that he did not inherit Adam’s sin (Psalm 51 verse 5 & Romans Chapter 5 verse 12).

Fortunately we have Patrick’s “Confession” along with his letter to Coroticus.
These show the Saint to have converted to Christ while shepherding sheep on the hills of Antrim. “It was in my teenage years, as a captive from my native land. I was sold into slavery in Ireland where God showed me my own sinfulness and I turned wholeheartedly to “the Lord my God”.

Patrick baptised those professing faith in Christ and leaves “a legacy of many thousands of people” who demonstrated their faith in baptism. It must have been like Acts where St Luke records 3,000 were baptised in one day (Acts 2 verse 42). May that day come again.
By the way Sheelah got a mention in today’s parade!

Amidst the many tales of woe regarding Ireland’s treatment of children that were reported this week was an account of one who has done rather nicely.
This was the Chief Executive of Cement Roadstone Holdings, Albert Manifold, whose pay, it was disclosed, reached €10 million last year.

Just what do you have to do to earn such an astronomical amount? Well CRH is among the big companies globally. It is now rated at number 24 on the scale of giant companies having moved up from number 42 in the last year. Much of this dramatic increase has been due to Manifold’s leadership.

Two European building material companies wished to merge but in order to meet the anti-competition laws they had to divest themselves of some of their plumb assets. The competition for them was intense and a team from CRH camped in a Paris Hotel for the duration of the negotiations. In fact, at its conclusion, Manifold is reputed to have been awake for 96 hours to get the deal of €6.5 billion over the line.

CRH have grown largely be acquisition as it went from a humble sand and gravel quarry in 1948 into the major supplier of cement in Ireland.
The US market opened up in 1978 and later in 1995 CRH went unto Eastern Europe. In 2006 they set up in China and in 2008 in India. The recently concluded deal in Paris gives access to the rest of Europe.

Their progress has not been entirely without difficulties. There has been accusation of price-fixing with would be competitors. In Eastern Europe the company had to face the allegation of bribery and in the US the well known anti-trust laws have been applied. The company went through a difficult time when in 1969 they sold some land to the former Taoiseach, C J Haughey whose accountant ran a clandestine bank when he was chairman of CRH.

When you are head of accompany employing 87,000 people you can expect a fair salary. It is the bonus culture (in this case Manifold was awarded 590% of salary) which makes it grotesque. The Scriptures say “Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does nor consist in the abundance of his possessions” (St Luke chapter 12 verse 15 & 22 -34).
Jesus follows this up with an appeal to not be anxious and drawing lessons from nature gives the assurance that God will look after the things we consider important. The proviso is that we put first the things He thinks important, namely His Kingdom where King Jesus reigns (1 Corinthians Chapter 15 24-26).

This week ‘Snapchat’ was launched on the New York Stock Exchange raising $3.4 billion for the two inventors. It is an enormous sum of money. The timing was fortuitous. The Market is optimistic. Its three years since ‘Twitter’ was floated. The time was right.
The attraction of Snapchat lies in the deletion of the communication in up to 10 seconds after it was sent! Last week we were thinking that some things said would have been better un-said. Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy have presented us with a possible answer!

It is over 30 years since Neil Postman wrote his ground breaking book on the TV culture. He entitled it “Amusing Yourself to Death”. In it he foresaw how advances in technology would develop. Here is an extract: –

“Together, this new ensemble of electronic techniques called into being a new world – a peek-a-boo world, where now this event, now that, pops into view for a moment, then vanishes again. It is a world without much coherence or sense; a world that does not ask us, indeed, does not permit us to do anything; a world that is, like the child’s game of peek-a-boo, entirely self-contained. But like peek-a-boo, it is also endlessly entertaining.” Now we can create this world from our smartphone!

This producer of sound bites or visual snaps has the ability to contact up to 16 users at a time. In its short life Snapchat has accumulated 156 million users globally who send 10 billion video views per day. It’s this prenominal usage that attracts investors. Although the company has not yet made any money on its trading the advertising potential is very big. With such swift viewing advertisers may be looking to subliminal communication!

There is a child’s version – ‘Snapkidz’ to start them young! A storage system called ‘Memories’ has been added with a private ‘For my eyes only’ which is password protected.

The authors reckon Snapchat is the answer to the embarrassing longevity of personal information on social media, evidenced by de-tagging of Facebook photos before job interviews and removing blemishes out of candid shots before they hit the internet.

It is into this brave new world that Neil Postman predicted that we are tasked with bringing the Gospel of redemption to the broken people who use technology. It starts with Jesus inviting us into fellowship with himself, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (St Matthew Chapter 11 verse 28-30).

Jesus is both our author and redeemer. He calls us to do what we were created for – being yoked to Himself. The burden he gives us is to follow him. It is light because he has already paid the price at the cross so when you fail you can be forgiven. You don’t have the burdens others have – no striving to earn your own salvation. No legacy of past guilt having to be deleted or shame for past failures. No burden of having to prove yourself worthy of love. Jesus has gone on before and we are to follow.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 2).

Bats and Boxes Word on the Week 18th February 2017.
In a week when the newspapers were going batty over who said ‘what’ and ‘when’ we were finding out how to help conserve the real bats. These little creatures do not cause any harm and do a power of good in eating their own weight in insects daily. At present they are hibernating so now is the time to make the boxes which will (hopefully) house them through the summer months.
Bats are the only truly flying mammals. They suckle their young and can delay birth until the most opportune time. There are around 1,240 species globally of which we have 10 resident in Ireland.
The old UK name of Flittermouse recognises the mouse looking nature of bats. The Dutch word Vieermuis or the German word Fledermaus translate as winged mouse which is a better description.

It is inaccurate to call someone “as blind as a bat” as bats can see! Their sight is best in dim lighting so the modern practice of floodlighting buildings, either for security or to bring out their beauty, tends to drive the bats from their old roosts. Likewise the bat box should be located away from the bright lights but on the warm south side of the building or tree as they like to be in a warm draft-proof place.
Bat boxes differ from bird boxes which are now being fixed in appropriate locations. Instead of a hole on the front of the box the bats enter via a slot across the bottom. They require to be located at least twice as high as the typical bird box which is around 3 metres. It is important that they are made of untreated wood i.e. no chemicals or toxic paint as these poison the bats.

But it is the bats radar that most people find fascinating. Bats echo-location emits ultrasonic sounds to produce echoes. These returning sounds produce detailed images of the bats surroundings and allow it to identify its prey. At 130 decibels it is a powerful sound which would deafen the bat if it were not for a muscle which contracts and closes the middle ear as the sound goes out relaxing to hear the returning echo. It is not only humans that are wonderfully made!
The Bible mentions bats among the birds which are not to be eaten Leviticus (Chapter 11 verse 19).
God’s care for creation is only exceeded in his marvellous provision for our redemption. To think that God has provided a way for humans to find their way to him (without echo-location) but through prayer and the influence of the Holy Spirit is truly amazing. Jeremiah Chapter 33 verse 3 says “Call to me and I will answer you”. That answer will be faster that a bats returning echo!

Roe v Wade Debacle Word on the Week 25th February 2017.
There were two important funerals this week. They indicated the end of a sad chapter in social affairs on both sides of the Atlantic. Unfortunately the damage done continues to destroy lives despite the fact that both the deceased wished they could have not done what they did!

Cardinal Connell, who was buried yesterday, was catapulted into the 21st Century when he saw the RTE programme ‘Cardinal Secrets’ in 2002. His own secrets, largely sins of omission, were soon to be uncovered. He protected his Priests against the child abuse charges and used what he called ‘mental reservation’ to justify remarks which proved false. He later expressed bitter regret and ‘asked for forgiveness from those so shamefully harmed’.

It must have been a lonely place officiating at his funeral and Archbishop Martin was grateful for the Anglican Archbishop Michael Jackson presence.

The other funeral that of Norma McCorvey, took place in the USA. Norma had a difficult childhood. Her father deserted the family and the mother was an alcoholic. When she was 10 she stole money and ran away with a girlfriend, was caught and spent the next 6 years in State Institutions. She described this time as the happiest of her life. An unfortunate marriage followed when she was beaten by her husband both before and after her pregnancy. She left the marriage, gave birth to Melissa (who was later adopted by her mother), began drinking heavily and came out as a lesbian.

She had a second child at 18 which she had adopted. On becoming pregnant again she looked for an abortion claiming that she had been raped in the hope of obtaining a legal abortion. This failed and she ended up with Attorneys who took a case (she was given the alias of Jane Roe) against the Dallas County District Attorney, Henry Wade. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court where on a 7 – 2 majority the path was cleared for abortion (with certain restrictions) to become a fundamental right under the U S Constitution. The baby at the centre of the case had long since been born and given up for adoption. Norma lived with her partner counselling in pro-abortion clinics, confessed that she had lied about being raped and attended pro-choice Rally’s.

In 1994 she published her autobiography and claimed to be a born-again Christian. She campaigned against abortion and after her second book she renounced lesbianism. She converted to Catholicism, testified before the Senate and continued to petition the Supreme Court to undo their decision. She remained active protesting against Obama’s pro-abortion stance. No doubt, like the Archbishop, she would have wished to have done things in her life differently.

In the Bible the main character who would have liked to have done things differently was Judas. After his betrayal of Jesus for the price of a slave (30 pieces of silver) he repented and brought the money back to the Priests and Elders who refused to take it. Judas threw the money into the Temple and with no one to turn to, committed suicide (St Matthew Chapter 27 verses 3-5).

Fortunately both Desmond Connell and Norma McCorvey had someone to turn to namely the Lord Jesus Christ. We also can read and believe the invitation, “Turn to me and be saved all you ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other” (Isaiah Chapter 45 verse 22). There is no class or creed barriers nor does it matter what your station is in life – it is inclusive. And it reaches to you – trust Jesus.

This week, like many others, we were involved in a count of garden birds. The event was organised for the totality of these islands which, apparently, have been blessed by a great variety of species. Betty compiled the results as the view from the kitchen window covers nearly all the angles where they feed or roost.
The secret to a spectacular bird show is a plentiful supply of food. It is a far cry from the days when the shaken out tablecloth provided the scanty supply of crumbs and that was their lot! There has to be some investment in the appropriate bird feeders to match the types of seeds used if spillage is to be avoided.
There will always be some seed fall to the ground as, the truth to tell, birds have poor table manners. They spill a lot! But none of it is wasted thanks to the ground feeders of which the chaffinch is perhaps the most industrious. These work tirelessly in retrieving spilt seed and all the time keep an eye cocked for the sparrow hawk. He has not been much in evidence this year but when he makes an appearance can be quite lethal. He takes no prisoners and once the claws fasten their grip the prey becomes a meal in a matter of seconds.
Our count was permitted to record activity in adjoining farmland and as Stephen had spread some slurry there was plenty to record. Chief among those feeding were mixed flocks of starling, fieldfare and redwing. The former separate at dusk and engage in these aerobatic displays called murmurations.

The local Birdwatch group visited the farm with an Owl nest box which they fixed inside in the loft. This is quite a high dark place which can be accessed through an open window. Despite the fact we have not seen an owl on the farm the “Twitchers” were confident their large box (about the size of a tea-chest with openings) would prove irresistible to them!

This year we have attached our much smaller nesting boxes to the surrounding trees in good time as the unusually spring-like weather may hasten nesting activities. It is two years since we were able to watch Bluetits hatching on a camera wired to the TV screen. There is a fine balance between not disturbing the brood and becoming intrusive so we will be circumspect in using it if we use it at all.

Jesus used the sparrow, one of the smallest of birds, to show if God provides for their needs and is aware when one falls to the ground how much more will He care for us. In fact his intimate knowledge extends to knowing the number of hairs on our heads (St Luke Chapter 12 verses 4/7).
When St Peter had to learn to depend on Jesus and not on his own abilities Jesus used a cock whose crowing devastated Peter when he realised he had denied the one he loved (St Matthew chapter 26 verses 72/75).

This realisation of his fallibility became part of the foundation for his reinstatement when during an encounter with the risen Jesus on the beach his repentance became total – “Lord you know all things you know that I love you” (St John Chapter 21 verses 15/17).
May we, like Peter, know more and more of that utter dependence on the living, reigning Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

The 17th January is the date in 1945 when Auschwitz was liberated. It has become the Memorial Date to remember the greatest genocide the world has known. It is so necessary as in every generation since then there have been Holocaust deniers. People who continue to hate the Jews and would prefer to believe that the whole event was a figment of the imagination.
There are survivors of the death camps alive and able to testify to the truth of the slaughter but soon there will be no eyewitnesses. It is important that their stories are retained. Elie Wiesel himself a survivor, who got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his writings, died in 2016. He saw the struggle against indifference to the Holocaust as a struggle for peace.
If we do not remember we will not learn the lessons of history and the mistakes of the past recur in the present. It was in 1933 when Hitler came to power he set about winning the popular vote. His country was slowly emerging from the 1st World War and his vow was “to make Germany great again”. This he would do by getting rid of Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, communists and minorities that got in his way of producing the “Master Race”.
It was in January 1942 that Adolf Eichmann compiled the record of the Conference at Lake Wannsee where Hitler introduced his policy for the extermination of Jews and “unworthy” people. These were the handicapped, or sick, or had an inherited disease. At his trial in 1960 Eichmann showed no remorse and went to his grave in 1962 unrepentant. He likened himself to Pilate, washed his hands of wrongdoing as he was simply carrying out orders and felt “innocent of any guilt”.
This caused Billy Graham, the evangelist, to remark at the time, “People say Eichmann is finished” but they are wrong. Eichmann has gone to face judgement before a God who knows everything about him and who has the means of carrying out the ultimate sanction in hell. Indeed it is not for nothing that the key verse in Proverbs is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Chapter 1 verse 7.
This fear is not the cringing of a coward but is reverend, respectful and humble before our Maker and Redeemer. It is the filial regard which pays respect to the Father not the fear of the criminal before his judge. This is the birthright of all who are born into the family of God. Those who have recognised the perfect love of God which drives out fear and replaces it with faith in Jesus, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John Chapter 4 verse 17/19).
Holocaust reminders illustrate the depravity of man (of which we are all part) but Jesus died in our place and rose again that he might grant a place in his family to all who see their need of his forgiveness and put their trust in him following him in this life and into the next (1 Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15/16).

This blog could better be called “Word on the Inauguration” as the Word of God was quoted throughout. We have grown accustomed to secular ceremonies when politicians take office. In yesterday’s event a welcome preponderance of scripture was used in the inauguration of Donald J Trump.
Perhaps it was because of the cavalier nature of his campaign that we scrutinise him the more carefully but I do not recall any of the other presidents attending church before the ceremony. Trump took the family with him to a service. Perhaps the text was Ps. 133 verse 1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” which he quoted in his speech when he appealed to the country to unite behind him.
Before introducing the religious figures a powerful reminder was given of the peaceful transference of power 58 times since 1789 when George Washington became the first President. It was he who remarked that the second inauguration would be more important than the first as one group of politicians was handing over the reins of government to another with whom they would not necessarily have much in common. A lesson in democracy to the watching world!
Cardinal Dolan led off with King Solomon’s prayer from the book of Wisdom for that wisdom which comes from above, “Send her from the holy heavens, down from your glorious throne, so that she may work at my side, and I may learn what pleases you” (Chapter 9 verse 10).
This was followed by readings from the Gospel – St Matthew Chapter 5 verses 3 – 16. Then we had Chuck Schumer, the only Democrat to speak, deliver a couple of political points before reaching a patriotic conclusion when the last letter of Sgt Sullivan Ballou was read. It was written to his wife Sarah on the 14th July 1861. In it he put his love of country first and expressed his readiness to die for its liberty. Indeed his words were prophetic as he was mortally wounded in the First Battle of Bull Run.
Franklin Graham (Billy’s son) read from 1st Timothy Chapter 2 Verses 1 – 6 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in very way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all – the testimony given in its proper time.”
With the example of the sacrifice of Sgt Ballou and the ransom of Christ ringing in his ears President Trump concluded his address with the affirmation the “we (the nation) will be protected by God”.
Let us pray for our leaders including those whose policies may well adversely affect our lives.

Future generations will marvel that we have thrown away morality in such a short space of time. Where we are now is a place our forebears could not have imagined. If it was not so serious the oft repeated phrase from the Laurel and Hardy films “That’s a fine mess you have got me into” could be the epitaph written over this generation.
It all started with neglect. Birth control was seen as a Catholic thing. We largely ignored the separation of sex from childbearing (1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 3/8). Then along came the pill! The biological check on sex outside of marriage disappeared.
We neglected to apply the costly love of Church discipline in cases of adultery (St Matthew Chapter 19 verses 8/9). Divorce, with its allocation of guilt and cumbersome legal procedures, was there for a purpose. The dissolution of marriage is always a disaster (Malachi Chapter 2 verse 16). The increasing frequency produced a revolution in law to accommodate the demand.
Co-habitation has always existed but seldom met with approval and usually was turned into marriage. It was the tail that wagged the dog – now it has become the dog and marriage the tail! From marriage being the mark of adulthood, the God given arrangement for the good of society and the procreation of children, it has been driven to the margins.
The church finds itself also at the margin while the field has been left open to alter marriage. Same-sex marriage found its way smoothed to orthodoxy. Other permutations will soon follow. All this removes marriage from its place as one of the foundation blocks of society and replaces it with a societal soup.
It cannot be easy to be a person of marriageable age today. And for those who live by the Word of God, praying friends and a strong church are essential.
Christian men have an obligation to protect and look out for their women counterparts. The speed with which society has shed its morals has been fast and looks like getting faster as the numbers of amoral people grow. The advice the writer of Proverbs (4 v’s23/7) gave three millennial ago still applies:
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.