Christian Olympics according to the Apostle Paul

Paul the apostle makes many references to the Ancient Olympic Games in his New Testament epistles. To mark the Olympics taking place in London this year three messages were preached in Newtownabbey FPC on these references:

Sermon One - Participation in the Christian Race


Sermon Two - Perseverance in the Christian Race


Sermon Three - Prize Winning Running in the Christian Race

Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church

Lord's day 19th August @ 11.30 am

Special guest preacher: 

Dr Larry Saunders, Toronto FPC

Free Presbyterian Outreach at the Olympics

The Irish Times has a report on the Free Presbyterian outreach at the Olympics.

Inside the stadium, athletes competed for gold. Outside, others competed for souls, writes MARK HENNESSY

FREE PRESBYTERIAN Church minister Stephen Pollock led his group in song on Saturday afternoon near the steps leading into the Westfield Centre and the Olympic Park beyond, but it was a struggle to be heard.

The Free Presbyterians was one of a multitude of religious groups competing for attention as Olympic spectators came and went on an afternoon: “But we’re lucky, we have a group that can sing, really sing,” said Rev Pollock.

“We’ve had absolutely no hostility at all,” he said, when asked how they had got on. “People have taken our literature. We brought about 5,000 pieces that speak about the Lord saving souls and they’ve all gone,” said the Omagh-based minister.

To read the full report click - Carrying the torch for burning spiritual beliefs

Stats for July

Higgs Boson - 'God Particle'

Here is a link about the "Higgs bason", so called 'God particle', which scientists claim to have discovered.

Creation Ministries International - Has the ‘God particle’ been found? - Scientists claim to have confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson—but fail to credit God who created it

Stats for June

Stats for the month of June:

Memorial service for bus crash victims involves rank ecumenist

A memorial service was held on 4th June in Carrickfergus Town Hall for those involved the Bryantang bus crash 20 years ago. Not everyone involved in that tragedy was invited along to attend as a memorial plague was unveiled! A number who were involved those 20 years ago and who were also injured were never informed about it taking place.

Would it have anything to do with the fact that among those taking part in this 'memorial service' was Rev David Armstrong?

David Armstrong, who spoke and led in prayer, is well known as the Presbyterian minister whose pursuit of ecumenism in Limavady in the mid-1980s caused him to leave the town. The Free Presbyterian Church were among those who protested against his ecumenical actions back then.

He was present and took part in this memorial service as he now resides in the town and was deputising for the Mayor's chaplain. 

Quotable Quote

The story is told of a minister who sought to engage his esteemed colleague Dr William Cunningham [1805-1861] in conversation about the Premillennial return of Christ to this earth.

Seeking to obtain from Dr Cunningham a verdict on what he thought of these end time views he received an interesting reply. Dr Cunningham said that:
He saw nothing to alarm or repel in views which were entertained by some of the soundest among the Westminster divines, but that, for himself, he had not as yet had leisure to look into the matter.

Some of Dr William Cunningham's writings can be found on this website
A short biographical sketch of him and some others writings can be read here

Truth Stranger Than Fiction

A photographer has imagined what the city of Dubai would look like following a financial meltdown. With the streets and resorts devoid of human life and all building work halted, all that remain are the animals who are left to roam the crumbling remains of the former urban paradise and pearl of the United Arab Emirates, a gulf state that was until 30 years ago dominated by nomads.

 

To read the full story and see the rest of the photos click here

Promiscuity, divorce and separation are at epidemic proportions!!!

If these two representatives of apostate Christendom are concerned about the moral decline in our nation then things are very bad indeed!

Yet they contradict themselves in what they say. Richard Chartres, Anglican Bishop of London, has said Britain was now: an enormously different society compared to 1952 - the year of the Queen’s accession to the throne - and in 'so many ways' a better place to live.

On the other hand he goes on to say that: inequality had grown and material progress had been at the expense of communal life with relationships within families, communities and society 'more strained, more fragile' and more broken than people cared to recognise. 

Stats for May

Quotable Quote

Rev Richard Monteith [FPC Rhiwderin, Wales] drew my attention to these comments by J C Ryle:

Let us learn what miserable creatures great men are, when they have no high principles within them, and no faith in the reality of a God above them. The lowest labourer who has grace and fears God, is a nobler being in the eyes of his Creator than the King, ruler, or statesman, whose first aim it is to please the people. 

To have one conscience in private and another in public - one rule of duty for our own souls, and another for our public actions - to see clearly what is right before God, and yet for the sake of popularity to do wrong - this may seem to some both right, and politic, and statesmanlike, and wise. But it is a character which no Christian man can ever regard with respect.

Let us pray that our own country may never be without men in high places who have grace to think right, and courage to act up to their knowledge, without truckling to the opinion of men. Those who fear God more than man, and care for pleasing God more than man, are the best rulers of a nation, and in the long run of years are always most respected. 

Men like Pontius Pilate, who are always trimming and compromising, led by popular opinion instead of leading popular opinion, afraid of doing right if it gives offence, ready to do wrong if it makes them personally popular, such men are the worst governors that a country can have. 

They are often God's heavy judgment on a nation because of a nation's sins.

J C Ryle's comments on John 19:1-16.

How very appropriate for the times in which we live!

Quotable quote

Of this I am satisfied, that the next coming of Christ will be a coming, not final judgment, but a coming to usher in the Millennium. I utterly despair of the universal prevalence of Christianity as the result of a missionary process. 

I look for its conclusive establishment through a widening passage of desolations and judgments, with the demolition of our civil and ecclesiastical structures. ‘Overturn, Overturn, Overturn’, is the watchword of our coming Lord.

Thomas Chalmers

Who's losing their moral compass????

It is more than the SDLP who have lost their 'moral compass'!!

It is just as morally wrong to prop up unrepentant terrorists in government as it is to criticise the imprisonment of a convicted bomber and an IRA gunman.

Dodds says SDLP ‘pitching for dissident support’

Studies in the Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter One - Part 5

Once a month since September 2010 at our midweek prayer meeting & Bible study we have been studying the Westminster Confession of Faith.

This and subsequent posts DV overtime on the blog will contain the notes which were handed out on each occasion.

An audio recording of this study can be listened to on the Church's SermonAudio page - click here

Part four - Chapter One continued

We come this evening to sections 5 & 6. Chapter One, Section 5 reads:
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
Proofs: 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 2:20,27; John 16:13,14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; Isaiah 59:21.

This fifth section, like section 4, of this chapter of the WCF continues to deal with the basis upon which we should accept and believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God. The previous section ruled out the authority of man or the church and pointed us to the authority of God for accepting the Scriptures.

Threefold Cord - the Importance of Christian Education

This sermon was preached by invitation in Ballymoney FPC on Lord's day morning 15th April

The Threefold Cord - the Importance of Christian Education

Germany leaving the Euro???

There is a great deal of speculation about the future of the Euro. Will the eurozone break up? Will Greece default and leave the Euro? Will she remain and struggle and thereby ferment nationalist tendencies among the Greeks?

One commentator, Philippa Malmgren, has taken a very different line than others do on the issue. She is a former economic advisor to George W. Bush during his presidential campaign. She believes that it is more likely that Germany will leave the Euro. This belief comes from a study of other nations that have left other common currency arrangements.


In a report entitled 'Checking out: Exits from Currency Unions' which analysed close to 70 different countries that have left a common currency arrangement, it was found that those nations who leave tend to be the larger, richer and more democratic ones and also tend to be those which have higher inflation.

This scenario would be very troubling financially and politically for Europe if the powerhouse of the European monetary system was to dramatically pull out.

Germany is growing ever more reluctant to bail our profligate nations such as Greece.

This would also be a very interesting development if the kingdom of Antichrist is to be based upon the outline of the old Roman Empire. Parts of Germany east of the Rhine and north of the Danube were never part of that ancient empire.

Benjamin Wills Newton adroitly explains these changes in chapter 3 of his book Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms of the Roman Empire. He specifically mentions the changes that must come within Germany.

It will be interesting to wait and see what developments will materialise. One thing is sure God's Holy Word will be fulfilled to the letter!

Reasonable force!!!

An inquest jury in Belfast has found that SAS soldiers 'acted in a controlled and professional way' when they shot dead two IRA members near farm buildings close to Loughgall, Co Armagh in October 1990. A victory for righteousness and common sense!

The inquest ruled that the IRA men's own actions had contributed to their deaths. It ruled that Grew and McCaughey: "put their lives in danger by being in the area of the sheds in the vicinity of a stolen car, which was expected to be used in terrorist activity." It went on to say that: "they were both armed with guns, wearing gloves and balaclavas and were approaching soldiers who believed that their lives were in immediate danger."

See the following reports:

BBC - Inquest rules SAS 'justified' in shooting dying IRA man

Daily Telegraph - SAS soldiers facing shoot to kill allegations over IRA deaths 'used reasonable force', inquest rules

Terrorist sympathisers argued that it was part of a 'shoot to kill' policy being operated by the security forces. 

These members of the murderous IRA received their just desserts. It's a pity that the same didn't happen to the rest of them as well. I for one don't have a problem with a shoot to kill policy for terrorists of any description.

Free Presbyterians attend Ballymena ecumenical service for Queen’s Jubilee

See article on Burning Bush website - Free Presbyterians attend Ballymena ecumenical service for Queen’s Jubilee

Stats for April

Here is a breakdown of page views for the month of April:

Over 100 glorious names for the person of Jesus Christ Part 4

Part One: Nos 1-25 - click here

Part Two: Nos 26-50 - click here

Part Three: Nos 51-75 - click here

Part Four:
76. Nazarene - And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene, Matthew 2:23.

77. Only Begotten Son - No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him, John 1:18.

78. Our Passover - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, 1 Corinthians 5:7.

79. Prince of the kings of the earth - And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5.

80. Prince of Life - And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses, Acts 3:15.

Over 100 glorious names for the person of Jesus Christ Part 3

Part One: Nos 1-25 - click here

Part Two: Nos 26-50 - click here

Part Three:

51. Judge of Israel - Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek, Micah 5:1.

52. Just One - Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers, Acts 7:52.

53. King - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass, Zechariah 9:9.

54. King eternal - Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen, 1 Timothy 1:17.

55. King of the Jews - Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him, Matthew 2:2.

Over 100 glorious names for the person of Jesus Christ Part 2

For Part 1 click here

26. Elect of God - Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles, Isaiah 42:1.

27. Everlasting Father - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6.

28. Faithful Witness - And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5.

29. First and Last - And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last, Revelation 1:17.

30. First Begotten - And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5.

Over 100 glorious names for the person of Jesus Christ Part 1

1. Adam, The last - And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit, 1 Corinthians 15:45.

2. Advocate - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, 1 John 2:1.

3. Almighty - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty, Revelation 1:8.

4. Alpha and Omega - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, Revelation 1:8 [see above]; 22:13.

5. Amen - And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, Revelation 3:14.

6. Apostle of our Profession - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, Hebrews 3:1.

7. Arm of the Lord - Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the drag, Isaiah 51:9; Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1. 

4,000 embryos destroyed in Northern Ireland

Figures uncovered by Mr Jim Allister MLA have disclosed that since 2006 4,000 embryos have been destroyed in Northern Ireland. This is all in the name of IVF fertility treatment!

Health Minister Edwin Poots gives four reasons for this destruction of life:
1. The 'poor quality' of the embryos.
2. They are deemed as 'not suitable for transfer back to the patient or cryopreservation'.
3. The 'legal consent period has been reached'.
4. The 'couple withdraw their consent to storage'.

See full report in Belfast Newsletter

So for others to have the privilege of having children that they might call their own, 4,000 other children have to die. This is surely perverted logic, unscriptural and grossly immoral!

A human embryo is, biologically, a living human at the earliest stage of its development. Psalm 139:13-17 clearly teaches this:
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Surely no Christian can have any part in the destruction of life in this way. This is murder in God's eyes plain and simple!

See article on Burning Bush website about the same issue - The Slaughter of the Innocent taking place today in Ulster

Quotable Quote

My wife drew my attention to this quote that she came upon while reading Matthew Henry's commentary on Leviticus:

It is bad when great men give bad examples, but worse when all men follow them.

Soul Winners' Convention

Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church

Ballyclare Road, Corrs Corner, Glengormley

Soul Winners' Convention

Mr Milos Solc, Free Presbyterian missionary in the Czech Republic, will be the main preacher at the Convention this year. 

Friday 13th April @ 8.00 pm

Youth Rally

Preacher: Mr Milos Solc

Saturday 14th April @ 7.30 pm

Missionary Meeting

Preacher: Mr Milos Solc

Mr Milos Solc will report on his work in the Czech Republic 

and bring a missionary Challenge

Lord's Day 15th April 

Morning Service @ 11.30 am

Preacher Rev David Park

Secretary of FPC Mission Board

Evening Service @ 7.00 pm

Preacher: Mr Milos Solc

… he that winneth souls is wise, Proverbs 11:30

Ulster 1912

This poem was written by Rudyard Kipling and was first published in The Morning Post, on 9th April 1912 in recognition of the fight against Home Rule.

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of inquity and the act of violence is in their hands, Isaiah 49:6.

The dark eleventh hour

Draws on and sees us sold

To every evil power

We fought against of old -

Rebellion, rapine, hate,

Oppression, wrong and greed

Are loosed to rule our fate

By England's art and deed.

The faith in which we stand,

The laws we made and guard,

Our honour, lives, and land

Are given for reward

To murder done by night

To treason taught by day,

To folly, sloth, and spite,

And we are thrust away.

Abortion abuse not a pressing priority for the liberal elite

Some weeks ago it came to light that serious irregularities were prevalent in abortion clinics. Not only were these clinics doing things immoral but illegal as well. Which is quite a feat in the present day abortion climate!

An investigation was launched by the Westminster Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley. It has subsequently discovered that 20%, ie. one abortion clinic in five, have been failing to follow the law in providing abortions.

Some clinics were allowing women to kill their unborn child on the basis of its gender. Certificates were being pre-signed by doctors giving consent to terminations without the women ever being seen. Under the 1967 Abortion Act, this should be approved by two doctors.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body instructed to carry out these checks on around 250 abortion clinics have now taken the side of the abortion clinics and are complaining that they have been asked to carry out these inspections. They claim that it disrupts their other work and costs money.

It would seem that the abuse of abortion practices - the murder of the unborn- is not a great priority with these members of the liberal elite. The impression is that abortion clinics should be given an open license to practice. We all know that abortion is part of the liberal, feminist agenda that has been pushed for decades in this country. 

For more information see these articles:
Abortion investigation: Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to report clinics and doctors to police

Andrew Lansley: abortion clinics will be inspected

Lansley 'shock’ at concern over abortion inspections bill

Enforce the law before ticking those boxes

There's no effective alternative

The headline reads: Ban on the cane 'left schools unable to impose discipline and led to deterioration in children's behaviour'. Read more here

A related story can be found here: Spoilt little Buddhas! Doting parents turn out children who just can't behave, says teachers' leader

Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers at their annual conference voted unanimously for research into ‘effective’ disciplinary methods. The delegates also condemned existing sanctions such as detention and suspension as being inadequate.

One teacher is on record as saying: When corporal punishment was abolished nothing was put in its place that had equivalent deterrent powers.

This outcry against the failure of modern methods of discipline comes as research by the teachers’ association suggests pupil behaviour had declined further in recent years.

Sadly, while bemoaning the decline in behaviour and the uselessness of modern methods of discipline, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have also rejected a return to the use of the cane. 

This is prime example of the wisdom of this world falling well short of the wisdom of God. God makes no mistakes when in His infallible Word He declares how children are to be disciplined. The penny is beginning to drop that the liberal agenda doesn't work. This was said at the time and now the fruits are being seen. Abandoning God's wisdom for man's wisdom is folly. It leads not to better circumstances but to worse. 

The simple truth is that there is no effective alternative. Any amount of research can be done, new methods of disciplining children dreamed up, but they will eventually all fail. There is no alternative to God's appointed means of disciplining children. 

Studies in the Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter One - Part 4

Once a month since September 2010 at our midweek prayer meeting & Bible study we have been studying the Westminster Confession of Faith.

This and subsequent posts DV overtime on the blog will contain the notes which were handed out on each occasion.

An audio recording of this study can be listened to on the Church's SermonAudio page - click here

Part four - Chapter One continued

We are continuing to dwell upon the opening chapter sections II & III of the W.C.F, which read:

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture - Section II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these: [The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are then named]. All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture - Section III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.

We are continuing to consider the evidence that supports the statement in the W.C.F. that the Scriptures have been given by 'inspiration'. We believe in the plenary [all], verbal [referring to the actual words] inspiration of the original Scriptures.

Points already considered
1. The Scriptures themselves claim so, 2 Tim 3:16,17. All of Scripture, the historical as well as the moral, the prophetical as well as doctrinal, are verbally inspired.

2. There must be more than enlargement of the understanding and conception in inspiration since a great many of the things were such as could not have entered into the hearts of men or angels, had they not been revealed to the mind by the Holy Spirit.

New material
3. Inspiration must extend to the words as well as the concepts, for how could the sacred writers, who like all others were accustomed to thinking in words, have the ideas suggested to their own minds except in words? How could they have written intelligibly about future events with which they could have has no previous acquaintance and on doctrinal subjects, far above their comprehension, had not the language as well as the subject matter been furnished to them by divine suggestion? Take note of 1 Cor 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Paul here refers to the words he has used to teach being given by the Holy Ghost. This is verbal inspiration.

Studies in the Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter One - Part 3

Once a month since September 2010 at our midweek prayer meeting & Bible study we have been studying the Westminster Confession of Faith.

This and subsequent posts DV overtime on the blog will contain the notes which were handed out on each occasion.

An audio recording of this study can be listened to on the Church's SermonAudio page - click here

Part Three - Chapter One continued

We are continuing to dwell upon the opening chapter sections II & III of the W.C.F. They reads:
CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture - Section II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these: [The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are then named]. All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture - Section III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.

The W.C.F. affirms that the canon of Scripture embraces the books of the Old & New Testaments and furthermore that the books of the Apocrypha have no place in that canon. Before we progress to consider the principles of inspiration and authority it is worth considering how the canon of Scripture was decided upon.

I. Inclusion & completion of the canon of Scripture. 

Which books would have a place in the canon of Scripture was decided upon by an examination of the evidences which show that each of them were written by an inspired prophet or inspired apostle whose name they bear or under the supervision of one.

National decline tied to Sabbath desecration

It has been reported here and here that Chancellor George Osborne is proposing to suspend the Sunday Trading laws for eight weeks over the duration of the Olympics. As quite a number of Olympic events are taking place on a Sunday he does not want to give the impression that Britain is closed for business.

It is also suggested here and here that this is more than just a temporary measure during the time of the Olympics but an attempt to use the situation to argue for a repeal of the Sunday Trading laws altogether.

Sabbath desecration is closely tied to national decline. The mistaken idea that more opening hours means more money spent and more prosperity for business, which means more jobs for citizens and more money to spent in shops etc is a deeply flawed argument. This reasoning is based solely on economics.

However, this flawed argument forgets to take on board that there is another law, a moral law, that also operates in this world, whether governments or citizens acknowledge it or not. That moral law states that instead of advancing the prosperity of a nation Sunday Trading brings national decline.

Nehemiah forthrightly told the 'Sunday Traders' this in Nehemiah13:18:
Did not your fathers thus, [buy and sell, see vv15-21] and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

These 'Sunday Traders' in Nehemiah's day had not learned the lesson from previous times. Both in Jeremiah's and in Ezekiel's days this same truth was pressed upon the people of Israel.

St. Patrick - a very misrepresented individual

It is that time of the year again. St Patrick's day is here again. Here is a link to a sermon preached some years ago on the subject:

What did St Patrick really believe?

For a transcript of the sermon see:
Part 1 - Introduction to Patrick -  click here
Part 2 - Patrick had no connection with Romanism - click here
Part 3 - Patrick's teaching on Salvation - click here

A Poem for our Times

Horatius Bonar wrote the following poem in light of departure that was taking place in his day from orthodox, Biblical Christianity. If it was true then how much more so now!

The creeds have gone, so speaks the Age,

The era of the sects is past,

Forward in spite of saints or sage,

True freedom has begun at last.

The Christ of God is now no more,

The Christ of men now sits supreme;

The Cross is part of mythic lore,

The Resurrection morn a dream.

The ages progress fears no God,

No righteous law, no judge's throne;

Man bounds along his new found road,

And calls this universe his own. 

Not faith in God, but faith in man,

Is Pilate now, and sail and oar;

The creeds are shrivelled, cold and wan,

True Christ has been is no more.

200,000+ signatures in 3 weeks in support of traditional marriage

The petition in support of traditional marriage organised by the Coalition for Marriage has reached 200,000+ signatures in 3 weeks. The aim is to have 250,000+ signatures by Easter.

Today there are adverts in some national newspapers such as Daily Telegraph & Daily Express to publicise the national petition for marriage. About 100 wedding pictures will surround the advertisement, showing that the petition represents ordinary people who are positive about marriage, and care about its place in our society.

If you have not already done so please sign the Petition in support of traditional marriage - here

Calvin's hymn - I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art

John Calvin was no exclusive psalmist. In 1538 Calvin published a small book of psalms along with the Song of Simeon, the Ten Commandments and the Apostles’ Creed.

This hymn: I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art is also attributed to him.

The words are:
I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Saviour of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place;
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day.

Thou art the life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou and no bitterness;
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may dwell in perfect unity.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy strength we evermore endure.

You can listen to one version of it being beautifully sung on You Tube. Click the picture