How many more are dead thanks to Chesney & this cover up?

The summary of the report on the Claudy bombing makes damning reading:

6.5 Extensive police Intelligence received after the bombings details allegations that Father Chesney was involved in acts of terrorism, including the bombing of Claudy. It also connects him to terrorist activities with Man A, who left the jurisdiction after being arrested and interviewed by police. The Intelligence further identifies Father Chesney as the IRA’s Director of Operations for the South Derry Area.

6.6 This compelling Intelligence picture should have led police to pursue further investigative opportunities in respect of Father Chesney, which might have either implicated him in or eliminated him from the enquiry. Certainly police officers involved in the investigation wished to pursue these enquiries but such decisions were deferred to a senior RUC Officer.

6.7 The Police Ombudsman’s investigation has found that a senior RUC Officer corresponded with the NIO, requesting that the Government raise with the Catholic Church their grave concerns in relation to Father Chesney.

6.8 This documentary evidence and historical records supplied by the Catholic Church reveal that the Secretary of State, Rt. Hon. William Whitelaw, and Cardinal William Conway, met on 5 December 1972. The evidence indicates that at the end of the meeting a private discussion, initiated by the Secretary of State, took place between both men, during which the Father Chesney issue was discussed.

6.9 The following day the NIO wrote to police stating that the Cardinal would ‘see what could be done’ and had ‘mentioned the possibility of transferring him to Donegal’.

6.10 This correspondence was shared with and accepted by the then Chief Constable of the RUC, Sir Graham Shillington, who on 11 December 1972, recorded the note; ‘Seen. I would prefer transfer to Tipperary’. Other senior RUC officers also had sight of the correspondence.

6.11 From information made available to the Police Ombudsman’s investigation by the Catholic Church it is evident that Cardinal Conway again met with the Secretary of State on 4 February 1973. During this meeting the Cardinal informed the Secretary of State, Rt. Hon. William Whitelaw, that the allegations relating to Father Chesney’s activities had been raised with the priest by his ‘Superior’ and ‘a colleague’ but that he had denied any involvement. Cardinal Conway records that the ‘Superior’ had told Father Chesney to remain where he was convalescing following an illness. The Police Ombudsman’s investigation believes that Father Chesney was in County Donegal at this time.

6.12 Father Chesney was eventually appointed to a parish in Donegal in late 1973. He was never again appointed to a parish in Northern Ireland. He is known to have regularly travelled across the border but was never arrested, questioned nor further investigated by the RUC in connection with the Claudy bombings or other terrorist activity. Father Chesney died in 1980.

The unanswered and unanswerable question is: how many other innocent people lost their lives so that a priest might be protected? Thankfully there is a higher court where none will escape answering for their crimes.  

Another question is this: Is it not simply impossible for Martin McGuinness who was in the higher ranks of the IRA not to have known about the activities of Chesney? I think not!

Maybe McGuinness' new found political associates and partners in government could ask him that question! 

The words of condemnation ring a little hollow when they come from people who now prop up this wicked government with the IRA at its heart. You can't really condemn the atrocities committed over the years of the troubles while sitting in government with the perpetrators of those same wicked acts.

A house divided against itself can not stand, Matt 12:25. 

Open-airs spared inclusion in new parades legislation

If the report in today's Newsletter is accurate then open-airs and other public meetings and protests will be exempt from the new legislation. 

The reports states that there were 410 responses, with many of them arguing against the inclusion of public meetings in this draft legislation. 

This is welcome news. Thankfully common sense has prevailed. However, it is worth remembering that this type of restrictive legislation should never have been entertained in the first place. 

We highlighted this issue some time ago.

See here: An attack upon our civil & religious liberities

& here - Row flares of Church meetings

Protest against Gay Pride parade in Belfast

A few photographs taken at the Free Presbyterian protest against the Gay Pride parade in Belfast last Saturday.

Obscene advice!!

The obscene suggestion has been put forward by N.I.C.E, [The National Institute for Clinical Excellence] that children as young as five should receive 'sex education'. Read the whole article here.

N.I.C.E is to write to every primary school telling it to start sex education when pupils are five. It is worth remembering that the main role of this body is to ration NHS drugs. It is no wonder that this advice is being offered when you see that representatives of the Brook Clinics and of the sodomite pressure group 'Stonewall' were on the panel that drew up these recommendations. 

Among their wicked claims is that teaching children to ‘say no’ could actually increase the chances of risky sexual behaviour and pregnancy. It further calls on teachers to offer children confidential sex advice if they need it – without their parents being told. 

Critics have accused the body of pressuring schools to push the boundaries on sex education and said the guidance undermined traditional values. 

Norman Wells, of pressure group Family and Youth Concern, said: ‘The team that drafted the guidance included lobby groups with an agenda to break down moral standards and redefine the family. Organisations with a commitment to marriage and traditional family values were not represented.’ 

Margaret Morrissey, of lobby group Parents Out Loud, said: ‘They tell me that once you give indepth information about sex and drugs, 90 per cent will go and experiment – and there’s no way back from that.’

The report concludes that sex and relationships education is ‘more effective if it is introduced before young people first have sex’

This is an outrageous claim and one not backed up by the facts. There has been a consistent determined effort over many years to lower the age when 'sex education' is taught. The outcome has been to make Britain’s teenage pregnancy rate the highest in western Europe. This approach does not work. There will be no solving of this problem without a moral foundation based upon the teaching of the Word of God. 

This is another good reason for Christian Education!

Northern Ireland Charity Commission criticised

The Christian Institute has again highlighted criticism that the CCNI are facing from Church groups.

Church leaders in Northern Ireland, in a series of open letters, have warned that the Charity Commission’s draft guidance could threaten the charitable status of churches.

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) is due to publish its final ‘public benefit’ guidance soon, having consulted on a draft version of the text.

The draft was widely criticised, and many Christian leaders remain concerned that the CCNI has gone beyond its remit and endangered the charitable status of churches.

Read whole article here

This ties in with the feelings of an Education Board of Presbytery commission which met a representative of the Charity Commission to discuss concerns we had about the status of our Independent Christian Schools. 

A report of the meeting was carried in the School Newsletter printed by the Education Board:

Meeting with Charity Commission for N.I. 

Six members of the Presbytery Education Board met with two representatives of the new Charity Commission on Thursday 26th November 2009. The new Charity Act 2008, which will shortly come into law, will bring a number of major changes for all our Churches and Schools. 

A consultation period was allowed up to the end of November for charities and other interested bodies to make their views known. 

Two main areas of concern were: 

1. Would the 'affordability and accessibility' requirements of the 'Public Benefit Test', which all charities must undergo, affect our schools? 

2. Would the requirements that charities do not engage in that which is 'harmful' and/or to the 'detriment' of society impact our Schools and Churches? It was felt that this law could be used against our Schools or Churches when they set forth the Biblical teaching on subjects such as: 'hell' or moral issues like 'sodomy'. 

While those present came away to a degree reassured by the comments made by the Charity Commission representative, it was felt that this rule on 'harm' and 'detriment' will one day be used against charities that stand for the principles of the Word of God. 

A written submission was subsequently sent in outlining our views and concerns. 

The Christian Institute has raised the added issue of the absence of any recognition that evangelism is an essential aspect of the work of any Christian Charity. 

Please pray that these concerns will be taken on board and included in the final guidance that is issued by the Commission. 

London University's external degree programme & Christian Education

Part of being a Trainee teacher in one of our seven Independent Christian Schools is the requirement to obtain an external degree from a recognizable university such as London University or The Open University. 

As part of the ongoing discussion about the cost of third level education in the UK the BBC has posted a very informative article about the external degree programme of London University. 

At present there are 45,500 students worldwide studying in this fashion with London University. It has been operating like this for 150 years. Charles Dickens called it 'the people's university'. 

It is in part an encouraging vindication of the decision taken many years ago to commence our own training scheme for perspective teachers in our schools by using this programme:

1. Degrees obtained through this external programme cost much less;

2. They are every bit as 'prestigious'.

The article reads:

Universities must find more flexible and cheaper ways to teach, the government has said. Expanding chances for students to study long-distance is one such proposal.

For 150 years, the University of London has allowed students unable to travel to the capital to study for one of its external degrees - a system Charles Dickens described as "the people's university".

Notable alumni include Nelson Mandela, who studied while incarcerated on Robben Island, and five other Nobel Prize winners.

It currently has 45,500 students studying by distance and flexible learning in 180 countries, with another 6,000 students in the UK.

This is in addition to the tens of thousands of students - the majority - who study at the university's 19 colleges and institutions in the capital.

Now it is being heralded as a model for other institutions to follow, a way of increasing accessibility to higher education, without breaking the bank.

Read the whole article here

Link to London's University's external degree programme

Hat-tip to my wife who pointed this article out to me. 

Presbyterian Church asked to join new ecumenical body for all of Ireland

The editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette Canon Ian Ellis has asked the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to become even more ecumenical and join with a new body which includes the Roman Catholic Church.

The Irish Times carried the following report:

Church urged to join new body 

THE PRESBYTERIAN Church has been asked to reconsider its 1999 decision not to take part in “a single, interchurch body for Ireland, including the Roman Catholic Church”. 

In a statement, editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette Canon Ian Ellis also pointed out that “there were no doctrinal issues that could have prevented the Presbyterian Church from being part of the new body”. He said “the negative decision of the 1999 General Assembly brought dismay to other churches”. 

Welcoming the Presbyterian Moderator the Rev Norman Hamilton’s “emphasis on tackling sectarianism and affirming the church’s role in building better community relations” in his first address to the General Assembly in Belfast, Canon Ellis said that “as far as church relations are concerned, we also need to be looking to a shared church future”. It was for that reason he was appealing to the Presbyterian Church to reconsider its 1999 decision not to proceed with a single, interchurch body for Ireland, including the Roman Catholic Church. 

Earlier, the outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Rev Stafford Carson, said he was “very moved” by a recent observation of the Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin. 

Speaking in his last address as Moderator to the Presbyterian General Assembly Dr Carson quoted from Archbishop Martin’s speech in Dublin last month to the Knights of Columbanus. 

Dr Carson said: ‘Our young people are among the most catechised in Europe but among the least evangelised . . . This immediately brings us to the deeper question about the level of understanding of the message of Jesus Christ which exists in our Catholic Church and in our society in Ireland today. What do we really know of the message of Jesus?’

It will be interesting to see what the outcome is with an ecumenical non-evangelical new moderator just recently installed.

First summer open-air of 2010

Last night we had our first summer open-air of 2010. These take place after our Lord's day evening service and continue DV through June, July & August as weather permits. May the Lord be pleased to bless His Word. 

Free Presbyterian Statement on the Pope's visit

At a meeting on Friday June 4th we the ministers and elders of the Free Presbyterian church affirmed our determination to oppose the proposed visit of Pope Benedict to the United Kingdom in September.

As Reformed Evangelical Protestants we totally reject the arrogant and more importantly unscriptural titles and claims of the Pope.

Those claims, historically viewed as spurious and blasphemous by Protestant churches, mean that his visit can not be construed as simply pastoral.

We publicly disassociate ourselves from and condemn those church leaders who will welcome and meet with him. By their actions they not only give credence to his spurious claims but are betraying the very creeds they once professed to believe, teach and defend.

We intend, in the coming weeks, to highlight the contrast between the teaching of scripture and the false doctrines of the papacy.

Our supreme aim and overriding concern is to exalt the Only King and Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will therefore, at this time, call all people to a personal faith in the Saviour as the Only Mediator between God and men.

The Belfast Newsletter has carried details of the statement here

Pope's visit in trouble - Amen to that!

It is being reported that the Pope's visit to England and Scotland is in trouble financially. 

The Daily Telegraph is reporting:

Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to Britain is in disarray as the costs spiral and doubts increase over the schedule. The part of the bill that must be paid by the Roman Catholic church is now being put at as much as £14 million, twice the earlier estimate, which could lead to events being scaled down or even cancelled.

Read more

May the Lord be pleased to answer prayer that the visit is cancelled.

The significance of Greece in the Prophetic Scriptures

The debt problems that Greece and other Europeans nations are facing have sparked off considerable discussion about whether the Euro will survive or not.

Part of this is due to the scepticism of Germany towards bailing out lesser performing European countries. Their hard won economic strength is at stake because of the failings of these other countries. To the extent that it is being reported that secretly Germany has begun to re-print the Deutsche Mark.

Greece is of interest to Bible believers and readers of the prophetic Scriptures.

As I have listened to various news reports over these past weeks about the problems facing the Euro currency I have been made to think about some things that the book of Daniel has to say about the state of south-eastern European nations immediately prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus.

Daniel ch 8 emphasises the importance of keeping our eye upon the countries of south-eastern Europe and particularly Greece.

Timely words from C H Spurgeon on hating sin

Taken from Morning & Evening

Morning, 29th May

Thou hatest wickedness. Psalm 45:7

“Be ye angry, and sin not.” There can hardly be goodness in a man if he be not angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way. How our Lord Jesus hated it when the temptation came! Thrice it assailed him in different forms, but ever he met it with, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” 

He hated it in others; none the less fervently because he showed his hate oftener in tears of pity than in words of rebuke; yet what language could be more stern, more Elijah-like, than the words, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer.” He hated wickedness, so much that he bled to wound it to the heart; he died that it might die; he was buried that he might bury it in his tomb; and he rose that he might forever trample it beneath his feet. 

Christ is in the Gospel, and that Gospel is opposed to wickedness in every shape. Wickedness arrays itself in fair garments, and imitates the language of holiness; but the precepts of Jesus, like his famous scourge of small cords, chase it out of the temple, and will not tolerate it in the Church. So, too, in the heart where Jesus reigns, what war there is between Christ and Belial! 

And when our Redeemer shall come to be our Judge, those thundering words, “Depart, ye cursed” which are, indeed, but a prolongation of his life-teaching concerning sin, shall manifest his abhorrence of iniquity. As warm as is his love to sinners, so hot is his hatred of sin; as perfect as is his righteousness, so complete shall be the destruction of every form of wickedness. O thou glorious champion of right, and destroyer of wrong, for this cause hath God, even thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Lessons learned from the past 30 years Part 2

For Part 1 click here

The Christian Teacher 

We have not only learned something of the nature of the truly Christian school. We have learned what constitutes truly Christian teachers i.e. teachers called of God and gifted by God to teach in a Christian school. They are not job seekers or those who think it would be nice to work with children. 

The main characteristics of truly Christian teachers are as follows: 

SELF-DENIAL 

Christian teachers have learned to die to self and sin. They know something of being crucified with Christ, of having crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. They have died to ambition and to the world. The Bible speaks of taking root downward and bearing fruit upwards. The teacher must be like the root, going down into the place of death, obscurity and humility in order to bear fruit. 

GOING THE SECOND MILE 

If asked to go one mile, they go two. They see jobs to be done and look for more. They are like Christ Who “came not to be ministered unto but to minister” (Matt. 20:28). In Luke 22:27, He said, “I am among you as he that serveth”. That is their disposition and attitude. 

BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT 

This is the duty of every Christian but is specially and earnestly sought by Christian teachers. They realise that they cannot do God’s work in the energy of the flesh. God gives the Holy Ghost to them who ask. Luke 11:13 states: “If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” 

BEING SOLD OUT TO GOD 

God and His work come first and everything else takes second place. “Not I but Christ” is their motto. Some of our teachers are mothers with young children. God has enlarged their heart to care for the education not only of their own children but also the children of others. They remind me of the kine who carried the ark back from Philistia to the land of Israel. Their calves were shut up at home but against their natural instinct to be with their offspring, they went steadily on serving the cause of God. 

COMPASSION 

They have sympathy for the children in their care. They wipe away the tears and comfort the distressed. They care for the progress and well-being of the children. Like Ezekiel who went out to the captives at the river of Chebar in Babylon and sat where they sat, Christian teachers are able to empathise with their puopils. 

PRAYERFULNESS 

They are assiduous in attending staff prayer meetings, monthly school prayer meetings and days of prayer. They do not consider such prayer meetings as a burdensome duty but an opportunity and privilege. They are diligent in private prayer. They don’t just say prayers. They have learned to intercede and plead the promises. They wrestle in prayer. Teachers who don’t pray don’t stay the course. 

DILIGENCE 

They are diligent in preparation, punctual in reporting for work and playground duties, diligent in keeping records and diligent in their cleaning duties, In short, they are examples to the pupils. 

MODESTY 

They adhere to what the Scriptures teach about modesty of dress and appearance. They seek the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. They seek spiritual beauty and long that the beauty of Christ may be seen in them. They are not the slaves of fashion or fashion houses. 

LOVE FOR CHRIST 

They love the Lord with all their heart, mind strength and soul. Such a love excludes a love for the world. All, all that is in the world, is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1John 2:16). There is nothing else in the world! There is nothing for the Christian to love in the world! 

These are the features of Christian teachers. Ah, they count not themselves to have apprehended: but this one thing they do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, they press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14). 

The Consequences of failure for the Free Presbyterian Church 

In conclusion, I have learned something of the consequences of not providing Christian Education. Our church experienced revival as a result of separation from apostasy. Christian schools were the next logical step in our separation unto God. Sadly, our church did not accept the challenge of Christian schools. The path has been downhill ever since. We have a church which is riddled with worldliness and materialism. Our young people have been swept away by worldly music and worldly social activities. Where is the holiness which God demands and without which no man will see the Lord? 

In Numbers 14, we read of a people who also refused a challenge. They refused to go forward into Canaan, despite the good reports and reassurances of the faithful spies, Caleb and Joshua. Because of perceived difficulties, they refused to enter the land of promise. They were so hostile to Caleb and Joshua that they would have stoned them. As a result, they were turned back to wander in the wilderness for another 38 years. Does that scenario seem familiar? It does to me. The church was urged to consider the need for Christian education. Those who started Christian schools urged others to launch out, for God was able to overcome every difficulty. Many were not only indifferent but downright hostile to the whole idea. Because of perceived difficulties, blown up out of all proportion, many were not willing to set up schools. The church has become increasingly barren. May God be merciful and revive the church, for a revived church will demand Christian Education for its children.

Lessons learned from the past 30 years Part 1

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE LAST 30 YEARS 

By E A Foster B.A. 

Principal of Kilskeery Independent Christian School 

1979-2007 

(The substance of an address given at the 2010 Annual Education Board Dinner in Lisburn, Friday 28th May, in the presence of Education Board members, teaching staff of the Free Presbyterian Christian schools and their spouses)) 

It is good to learn lessons from the past. The Bible records the past for our learning and encouragement. 

The past thirty years have taught me much about the true nature of Christian Education. 

The Christian School 

The Christian school must be firmly and exclusively founded on the Word of God. I emphasise the word exclusively for other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. And isn’t it Christ Who is the Word of God? We dare not build on man’s philosophies or our own notions for such a 

foundation is flawed and will crumble and fail. We cannot incorporate our own logic and opinions and mix them with Biblical truths for to build on such a composite material will lead to disaster. A Christian school must be thoroughly Christian or it is unworthy of its name. It must be Christian in:

ITS CURRICULUM. 

The topics chosen for study, the projects engaged in must all be in keeping with God’s Word. Everything must be measured against that rule. What saith the scripture? Romans 4:3.That must ever be our guideline and sheet anchor. 

ITS TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS 

The leaven of evolution has so permeated textbooks and educational materials that we must be extremely vigilant. God’s role in Creation and Providence must be stressed constantly. Evolution is the doctrine of devils and should be treated as such i.e. with total abhorrence. Textbooks should be carefully chosen and edited as necessary. 

Increasing immorality features in English and English Literature textbooks. There are sodomite overtones in half of the textbooks listed for study in GCSE English Literature. Given time, of course, these overtones will strengthen into overt relationships. Before I retired, I met with a representative of the Department of Education to inform him that we would no longer be able to offer GCSE English Literature unless we had at least one text which was not morally offensive. As the Department has a duty not to discriminate against anyone on the ground of religion, gender etc; we had a previous textbook restored to the list. I must say I was shocked to discover that one of the textbooks I objected to and which was described by the Department’s representative as graphic was being studied in one of our schools. Such action of course, as well as being reprehensible, weakens our case for demanding suitable literature.   

Immorality is also promoted in the Biology curriculum. The teaching of human reproduction, birth control and alternative lifestyles in the state system has corrupted society and brought disease and misery in its wake. These topics also feature in parts of the AS Home Economics syllabus and Personal & Social Studies. Why should Christians follow the world, merely one step behind? The Christian school should and must withstand all pressure to conform and thus acquiesce in the corruption and brutalising of our children. These sections should not be taught in a Christian school. There is knowledge which only a parent should impart and at a time when the teenager is old enough to handle it properly and not broadcast it to younger children. Library books, even those designed for very young children, need to be carefully vetted. Many so-called Christian novels and romances are not suitable reading for anyone, never mind teenagers. Many, if not all of them, contain explicit passages. I think we also need to examine, in the light of Scripture, the common and relatively new practice of speaking of private family matters, our own and that of others, in public and before children. We should follow the example of Scripture and use discreet language at all times and forbear inquiring into and discussing the private affairs of others.  

ITS RESISTANCE OF TRENDS IN EDUCATION 

There are many fashionable topics in the educational world and Christian schools often receive project materials. Saving the world is one of the most recent.  Of course, we should keep our environment tidy and avoid waste but God does not need any help, least of all ours, in saving the world. The world is reserved unto the judgment of the great day. 

Another fashionable topic is global warming and the horror stories associated with it. I think God had the last word on that, as just after the meeting of the international summit to discuss ways of halting global warming, the northern hemisphere had its coldest winter for 30 years! He that sitteth in the heavens 

shall laugh. 

Vegetarianism raises its head on occasion as girls especially begin to think that animals should not be killed for meat. God’s Word soon puts paid to that false notion, as God Himself ordained the consumption of meat. Schools have, of late, been bombarded with health and safety issues. While we must take all reasonable care to ensure the safety and health of our pupils, we must exercise wise restraint. We cannot possibly protect children from every bump and graze. We trust to Providence to guard our children. Their angels do always behold the face of their Father in Heaven (Matt. 18:10). We cannot do God’s work for Him or presume to do so. Risk assessments should not include ridiculous possibilities. By way of example, risk assessments by our school in Newtownabbey should not include the possibility of a lion escaping from Bellevue Zoo and pouncing on a pupil during a school outing! 

ITS MAINTENANCE OF PRAYER 

A Christian school can only function as prayer is maintained. Much prayer, much blessing, little prayer, little blessing, no prayer, no blessing. School boards must  pray, churches must pray, teachers must pray, parents must pray. Every need and every aspect of the school must be brought before the Lord in prayer. No detail is too small or trivial for His attention. He is the God Who directs every raindrop. In Amos 4:7 we read how He caused it to rain on one city and caused it not to rain upon another city. We can certainly ask Him for dry weather when this is required! The monthly school prayer meeting has begun to falter at the present time. Parents and teachers must feel it their duty to be there and not only be there but participate in prayer. Teachers have a weekly prayer meeting and there should be a sharing of the burden of prayer by others at the monthly school prayer meeting. God answers prayer. “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” is the promise of Psalm 81:10. 

ITS UPHOLDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES 

The Christian school must be in subjection to the Word of God. The Word of God is inflexible. It cannot be bent to suit us. Neither is it elastic. It cannot be stretched to include activities which we feel to be right. We must bow to its authority in all things. Current errors must be refuted. Many young people today think that it does not matter how they behave as they claim it is the heart that counts. They fail to appreciate that it is the heart that dictates their behaviour. They assert that they are not under the law but under grace so they do not need to keep the commandments. They fail to see that if we are to be Christ-like we must keep the commandments as He did. If we love God we will keep His commandments. The Scriptures demand conformity to Christ in all things. The church and young people today are largely conformed to the world. Instead of taking on the likeness of Christ, they busy themselves in being like the world. We must teach the need for holiness of life, no matter how it is received or how unwelcome it is. 

Education Board dinner

On Friday 28th May the Education Board of Presbytery held its latest dinner for the teachers within our seven independent schools and their spouses. Miss Noreen McAfee gave a report on the schools in Kenya and Mrs Ann Foster spoke on the 'lessons learned over the last 30 years'.

An Eerie Silence!

Two incidents from yesterday demonstrate the gross hypocrisy of the political classes within society. One incident is from Northern Ireland and the other from Westminster.  


We have often before subjected to whiny lectures from the likes of Dawn Purvis about the need for inclusion. This is just double speak for turning a blind eye to the butchery and mayhem created by both loyalist and republican terrorists over the past 40 years and permitting them to hold governmental office. 


Its strange that in the light of the murder on the Shankill Road yesterday by those who are claimed to have links to the UVF for which Dawn Purvis' party is a political front there is an eerie silence from her. Not a word of condemnation or a call upon any who knows who carried out this dastardly deed to give information to the police. 


This is how it has been in our society of late. Murderers and their political associates are lauded, elevated and hailed as peacemakers. 


The second example is that of David Laws the new chief secretary to the Treasury. He has been exposed for using his MP's expenses to rent rooms in homes owned by his sodomite lover. He has promised to pay the money back. 


However there is an eerie silence from his political opponents. There are no calls for him to resign. You would wonder why? Would it have anything to do with the fact that this scandal involves his sodomite partner? 


If this had been a MP in an adulterous relationship with someone from the opposite sex and doing this with their expenses there would be a clamour among politicians to get to a microphone and call for his resignation. Being a sodomite gets you favourable treatment it seems. Just another example of the gross hypocrisy of modern society.

We are a nation ripe for judgment. The days of Sodom and Gomorrah are upon us once again as foretold by the Saviour in Luke 17:28-30:
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

May God have mercy upon us and in wrath remember mercy and cause there to be a turning to Himself in society.

The real reason for new restrictions on open-air services and protests

Here is the text of the letter I sent to the Newsletter earlier in the week. I don't know whether it was printed unedited as I haven't seen the printed version yet:

Thanks to John O’Dowd on last week’s Hearts and Minds we now know why the new restrictions on open air services and protests have been proposed in the draft legislation on parades. These restrictions are proposed to placate nationalist resident groups who want a wider remit and more time to object. 

Anyone organising an open air Gospel meeting or protest, where there is the prospect of more than 50 people in attendance, will have to give 37 and 22 working days notice respectively, while objectors will only have to give 7 days notice. How grossly distorted this arrangement is must surely be obvious to all right thinking people.

It says a lot about these proposals when they are receiving objections from the Human Rights Commission and the likes of Emmon McCann, hardly the frontline defenders of Gospel liberties!

It is a sad day when Gospel liberties and freedoms are so casually given up to feed the insatiable appetite of republicans who are long bent on the destruction of our way of life. 

It should be clearly stated in the final legislation that open air religious services and non-parade related protests are totally exempt from these requirements even where they have more than 50 people. 

I also preached on the subject Lord's day morning past when dealing with the Christian's attitude to the state in the aftermath of the general election. 

Special Anniversary Service

A special anniversary service has been arranged by the Kirk Session of our congregation to mark the 10th anniversary of my ordination to the Gospel ministry and my installation as minister of the Newtownabbey congregation. 

The special service is this Lord's Day afternoon at 3.30 pm. The guest preacher will be Rev Ivan Foster. The Victory Trio will be ministering in song. 

All welcome 

Some good news

The Belfast City marathon will not now take place on the Lord's day in 2011 according to a report in today's Newsletter. We thank the Lord for an answer to prayer.

The agreement to postpone any decision to change the day on which it is held is for one year while marathon organisers consult widely with all affected groups before any further decision is taken on the issue.

Members of the organising committee have acknowledged that they were 'strongly lobbied' against changing the day on which the marathon is held. 

May further 'strong lobbying' be made that will see the marathon not being run long term on the Lord's day. 

To run the marathon on the Lord's Day is to break the fourth commandment. Exodus 20:8-11 states:

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The Shorter Catechism explains the teaching of the Scriptures regarding keeping the sabbath day holy:

Question 60:How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

Answer: The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.

Supporting Scriptures references:
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein, Leviticus 23:3a;
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Psalms 92:1,2;
What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days Matthew 12:11-12.

Question 61:What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?

Answer: The forth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.

Supporting Scriptures references:
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD, Malachi 1:13;
They have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths, Ezekiel 23:38b;

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words, Isaiah 58:13.