Stats for April

Martin Luther & Christian Education

Martin Luther recognised the importance of establishing Christian schools as part of the work of

Reformation. In 1524 he wrote to the leaders in Protestant cities of Germany urging them to set up Christian schools [Vol. 4 of his works] He denounced the universities of his day as, 'dens of hell'.

It is no surprise that he commenced schools from primary level up to university level. Luther was known as the father of popular education and the application of his principles made the land of Luther the land of libraries and schools.

It was Luther's deputy Melanchthon, 1497-1560, who concentrated on setting up an educational system and in particular secondary schools. He was known as the 'Creator of Protestant educational system in Germany.' He wrote textbooks on Latin and Greek grammar, psychology, ethics, history and religion. In the universities established professors had to be bound by the confessions of the church.

Luther's had praise for Christian school teachers: I tell you in a word that a diligent devoted school teacher, preceptor or any person, no matter what is his title is, who faithfully trains and teaches boys, can never receive an adequate reward and no money is sufficient to pay the debt you owe him, yet we treat them with contempt as if they were of no account whatever and all the time, we profess to be Christians. For my part, if I were compelled to leave off preaching and to enter some other vocation I know not an office that would please me better than that of schoolmaster, or teacher of boys.

For I am convinced that next to preaching, this is the most useful and greatly the best labour in all the world, and, in fact I am sometimes in doubt which of the positions is more honourable. For you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, and it is hard to reform old sinners but this is what by preaching we undertake to do and our labour is often spent in vain, but it is easy to train and bend young trees though haply in the process some may be broken. My friend, nowhere on earth can you find a higher virtue than is displayed by the stranger who takes your children and gives them a faithful training, a labour which parents very seldom perform even for their own offspring.

Orange Order Double Standards

Recently the Orange Order made a great play of honouring Martin Luther and the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. A major exhibition marking this 500th anniversary was opened at a museum run by the Orange Order in Belfast.

A display entitled Staunch And True at the Museum of Orange Heritage examines the impact and legacy of the event. The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, said: Our latest major exhibition provides an informative insight into the historical context of the Reformation and how its powerful legacy impacted and inspired future generations.

This the same Orange Order that refuses to discipline members who attend the Romish Mass, which is against the laws of the Orange Order. This has happened in the past when members attended funeral masses and recently when members attended requiem mass for Martin McGuinness.

How many Members, Officers, Lodges and Districts within the Orange Order will say or do anything about this breech of their rules? Virtually none of them! They will turn a blind a blind eye to what has happened. When or where opposition to attending the mass might be raised it sill not receive the necessary support to pursue the matter, which always becomes a convenient excuse for any who are challenged about it. However no one resigns in disgust at the compromise.

This is double standards. They pretend to honour Luther on one hand for his stand for Truth, yet on the other refuse to stand themselves for what is true. 

The Real Martin McGuinness Unveiled

Nothing more needs to be said about the real Martin McGuinness than the wording of the epitaph on his tombstone, albeit some of it written in Irish.

The word 'Oglach' means volunteer, the term Óglaigh na hÉireann” is a name the IRA uses to describe itself.

In death Martin McGuinness remained wedded to the IRA and its murderous campaign of genocide that it ruthlessly pursued for over 30 years in Northern Ireland. He is honoured in death as a volunteer of the IRA by those who knew him best. Enough said!

What utter fools are those within the unionist community who were taken in by this terrorist masquerading as a politician. McGuinness was like the individual spoken of by the Psalmist: The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords, Psalm 55:21. 

What hope is there for this Province when it is led by such gullible unionist politicians and their acolytes?

Stats for March

Quotable Quote

God knoweth we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requireth no more than he giveth, and giveth what he requireth, and accepteth what he giveth - by the Puritan Richard Sibbes

Taken from The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax, being the substance of several sermons on Matthew 12:20: A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoaking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

At the last, it was the IRA man being buried, not the mere politician

Martin McGuinness funeral: At the last, it was the IRA man being buried, not the mere politician By Eilis O'Hanlon.

Click here to read the whole article

Do DUP members, supporters and elected representatives agree with Arlene Foster attending Requiem Mass for an unrepentant Terrorist?

News that Arlene Foster, DUP leader and previous First Minister who served alongside Martin McGuinness, will attend his requiem mass raises an obvious question: Do DUP's members, supporters and elected representatives agree with Arlene Foster attending Requiem Mass for an unrepentant Terrorist?

Arlene Foster is attending as DUP party Leader. She is going as the DUP's representative. Therefore it is right to ask the question: Do DUP members, supporters and elected representatives agree with Arlene Foster attending Requiem Mass for an unrepentant Terrorist?

Silence is taken as tacit agreement and consent. Failure to speak out makes those who hold their tongue a partaker in her actions. Is this the 'outreach' envisaged by those who have called for such things in recent days?

Loyalty to the Law of God and the Truth of God is more important than loyalty to any party or organisation.

The attendance of Arlene Foster at this requiem mass for an unrepentant Terrorist is wrong on two accounts. Firstly, it is wrong when it is remembered that McGuinness was unrepentant to the bitter end regarding his IRA past. What difference is there between McGuinness and the Islamic Terrorist who caused mayhem, destruction and death yesterday in London? Absolutely none at all!

Secondly, and even more importantly, it is wrong when it is remembered that the Mass is a blasphemy against Jesus Christ and something injurious to the Saviour's honour and His finished work on the cross for sinners.

It is loyalty to Christ that requires us to declare whether we are in agreement with this or not?

The real Martin McGuinness remembered

This article is taken from the Daily Mail. See here. It is written by historian RUTH DUDLEY EDWARDS

Behind the smile Martin McGuinness was a mass murderer with menace in his eyes - who only turned to peace when he was beaten.

As his supporters mourn Martin McGuinness, I think of the people he mercilessly sent to an early grave. People such as Patsy Gillespie, whom McGuinness turned into a human bomb.

It was soon after midnight on October 24, 1990, that the IRA men arrived at Gillespie’s house. That he was a Catholic was irrelevant. Under McGuinness’s leadership of the terrorist organisation, the list of ‘legitimate targets’ — those deemed fair game for murder — had been expanded to include civil servants and anyone working for the security forces or supplying them with services of any kind.

Gillespie’s misfortune was to be a 42-year-old cleaner at an Army barracks in Londonderry.

The IRA took his wife Kathleen and their daughter Jennifer hostage, and bundled him away separately. ‘[He] said: “Everything will be all right, don’t worry,” ’ Kathleen recalled later. ‘I think I knew then that he wasn’t coming back.’

Gillespie was strapped into a van full of explosives and ordered to drive to an Army border checkpoint. When he got there, he tried to escape to warn the soldiers of the bomb, but the IRA had linked a detonation device to the courtesy light that came on in the van when the door opened.

Five soldiers were killed and the largest part of Gillespie left for Kathleen to bury was half a hand.

Reacting to the Death of Martin McGuinness - a Ruthless Terrorist and lauded Peace-Maker

The wise man Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes has significant words to say about remembering the past and being called to account for the deeds of the past.

Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:1-8; 12,14 reads:

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

A Country brought to its Knees so that it might turn to the Lord

Elijah was a man who prayed that his own country would be brought to its knees so that it might turn to the Lord. James informs us that before he ever stood before Ahab, and told him there would be no rain but according to his word, Elijah had earnestly sought the Lord in prayer that it would not rain, James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

Elijah would rather have famine that would bring great hardship, but would eventually cause the people to turn to the Lord, than for the nation to go on in short term prosperity but ultimately bring down upon themselves the judgment of God.

He realised that this people would never turn to the Lord until they felt the iron in their soul, until they were brought down to the very depths of deprivation, where food and water, the bare essentials of life, could not be easily found or provided.

He further realised that the Lord had already taught the truth that in order for a person, or a nation, who had rejected the Word of God to turn again to the Lord they need to put between a rock and hard place. A place so afflicting to the soul that they begin to consider the things of God, Deuteronomy 28:23,24. Consider the days of the Judges and the Kings of Israel and Judah. This truth is often illustrated in these times.

It is only by God doing this that a person, who has wrongly set their affections on the things of this world, will ever be brought to see the folly of their ways. For folly it is!

Scandal-hit Marie Stopes abortion clinics are facing fresh investigations

Marie Stopes abortion clinics are facing fresh investigations because call-centre practices show 'lack of respect for women and the law'.

The Daily Mail has recently revealed that doctors approve terminations for thousands of women they've never met. Wider investigations are due to take place after reporters discovered that some women are being signed off for abortions after only a brief phone conversation with a call centre worker. In some cases the conversation lasted as little as 22 seconds.

Marie Stopes doctors are then reported as agreeing to the procedures based on a one-line summary from the call centre workers, who have no medical training. This in reality is 'abortion on demand’.

An undercover reporter visited a Marie Stopes clinic, pretending to seek an abortion. Upon visiting a clinic, following a telephone consultation, the reporter noticed that staff had altered her reason for the abortion from what she had said on the phone. The request now stated: I just don't want the baby. This was designed to fit the legal requirements of the Abortion Act. If the woman fails to give a reason for the abortion which reflects those set out in the Abortion Act, she is encouraged to come up with a different reason, it was reported.

Compromising with murderers, and their supporters, has brought Unionism to its knees. More of the same is not the answer!

Samson thought he could play with sinful temptation and not suffer any consequences. He learned to his great cost that trifling with what is wrong brings a fearful harvest. Samson ended up blind, shackled, subjugated by the Philistines and grinding corn in their prisonhouse.

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, joined in affinity both with ungodly Ahab and his son Ahaziah. Remember that Ahab's house was a murderous one. These were political ventures, which were thought would benefit and enrich their respective kingdoms with peace and prosperity. It wasn't that Jehoshaphat was joining in joint worship or anything that was overtly religious. It was a purely political, commercial union, designed to advance the peace and prosperity both of the northern and southern kingdoms in Israel.

Mistaken ventures

On the first occasion, when Jehoshaphat and Ahab determined to go to war against the Syrians, Jehoshaphat was wise enough to seek counsel from God. Micaiah the prophet counselled them to desist and go home. Micaiah spoke on God's behalf and said: I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.

This mistaken venture into war ended with the untimely death of ungodly Ahab and Jehoshaphat only escaping death by the skin of his teeth. Upon his return home Jehoshaphat was again warned by God about his foolish and mistaken adventure. Evidently the spirit that caused him to join with Ahab had not been totally eradicated from his heart and mind. Jehu, the son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet king Jehoshaphat upon his return and said to him: Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD, 2 Chronicles 19:2.

Stats for February

Stats for January

Hands That Shed Innocent Blood with reference to Martin McGuinness

There are seven things which God is said to hate. This divine truth is stated in Proverbs 6:16-19: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

One of those things that God is said to hate are the hands that shed innocent blood. In other words it the murderer that God hates.

The murderer engages in the devil's activity. The devil is described as a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him, John 8:44. To murder is to the devil's work.

Apology for the Reformation by Church of England Archbishops

It was only a matter of time before it happened, but early in this Reformation commemorative year the apostate Church of England, in the form of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are apologising for the Reformation.

In a message released to coincide with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Justin Welby and Dr John Sentamu are saddened by the "legacy of mistrust and competition" that came about through the Reformation. They further called on 'Christians' to repent for those things that had divided the faithful.

In their statement they lament the "lasting damage" done over the past 500 years to the unity of the Church. This they claim is "in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love".

Marie Stopes abortion clinics put mothers in danger as well as unborn children

Just before the end of 2016 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) released its report in the Marie Stopes International (MSI) abortion clinics. These clinics perform around 70,000 abortions each year. The Daily Telegraph described it as a "damning report". The Guardian’s headline stated that “Marie Stopes UK abortion clinics put women at risk”.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) had earlier last year raised concerns about the conduct of these abortion clinics. This led to Marie Stopes International having to suspend specific types of abortions between 19th August and 7th October 2016. Abortions for under-18s and vulnerable groups of women, along with all surgical terminations under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation and all surgical terminations at its Norwich centre were suspended. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued four warning notices to Marie Stopes International, in response to regulatory breaches. Twelve reports were published on Tuesday 20th December in their conduct.

Stats since January 2009

Stats for December

Statement by Government & Morals Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster on posthumous pardons for sodomites

The following statement has been posted on the FPC Government and Morals Blog site and sent to the Press.

Policing and Crime Bill: Legislative Consent Motion

On the 28th November, the above titled motion was brought before the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The motion stated –
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of a number of provisions within the Policing and Crime Bill, by amendment at Lords Committee and Lords Report stage, in so far as they related to UK maritime enforcement powers; UK cross-jurisdictional arrest powers; anonymity for victims of forced marriage and pardons for convictions of certain abolished offences.

The final part of this motion included “pardons for convictions of certain abolished offences” and was an amendment that had been introduced to the Policing and Crime Bill at the committee stage in the House of Lords by Lord Sharkey of the Liberal Democrats. This amendment appears to have been fast-tracked through the Justice Committee to be presented before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

In light of this plan to posthumously pardon those convicted of homosexual offences the following statement was issued-

Orange Order elects a Grand Secretary who wants permission for Orangemen to attend the Mass

The Orange Order has elected Irish Presbyterian minister Rev Mervyn Gibson to serve as the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order.

This is in spite of, or maybe because of, his recent comments where he expressed a desire that members of the Orange Order would be allowed to attend The Mass without the threat of discipline.

Forbidden attendance

At present the Orange Order has a rule that forbids members to attend or take part in a Roman Catholic Mass. This rule is seldom applied as evidenced when the then Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott and the then Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy were not disciplined for attending the funeral of a murdered Roman Catholic PSNI officer, although a complaint was made against them.

Rev Gibson when questioned, in an interview, about his own personal opinion of the rule stated that he would like to see the rule go.

His justification for doing so is that he believes his faith is strong enough to be permitted to attend the Mass.

No Pope Here! Why? #4 The cost to Taxpayers

A papal visit always incur a considerable cost to the public purse and ultimately to taxpayers. The Pope may claim empathy with the poor, and engage in pretended acts of sympathy and compassion, but the reality is somewhat different.

By claiming to be a 'Head of State' a papal visit to another country is regularly deemed an official state visit. It is only visiting 'Heads of State' who can be given such a honour. Not all visits by Heads of State are given the honour of a State visit. Some are deemed unworthy of such an honour, either because of political sensitivities or insignificance. Some visits by Heads of State are deemed an 'Official Visit', or a 'Working Visit', or a 'Private Visit'.

It is one of the old papal claims that the Pope is a monarch of great honour, who rules over all other monarchs and presidents. He is also Head of State of the Vatican. He deems himself to be worthy of a state visit. 

By recognising the claims of the Pope and affording him a state visit, the government of the day would normally cover the cost of that visit.

Will that happen in Northern Ireland? Will taxpayers have to pay for the Pope to visit Northern Ireland? If so, then how much will it cost and who is going to pay? Will Rome, or the Roman Catholic Church, cover the costs of such a visit?

No Pope Here! Why? #3 The Memory of the Martyrs.

History furnishes abundant proof of the crimes committed against those who would not bow the knee to the Pope and his Church. The memory of the martyrs would compel us to resist a papal visit.

The Papacy is the institution that has put an untold number of martyrs to death. Rome hasn’t changed one iota. She would do the same today if she could get away with it. Therefore we continue to resist the Pope’s claims and say No Pope here.

The Protestant Echo, away back in July 1903 reckoned that since the rise of the Papacy 50,000,000 people had been put to death in various ways for their religion by the end of the 19th century.

Many of the most horrendous crimes against humanity have been committed by the Church of Rome throughout the history of her existence. Her persecution of Protestants and other 'heretics' is the inevitable result of her belief in the absolute power and infallibility of the Pope. Persecution is the natural outgrowth of these Papal dogmas.

Rome has a long history of terror in our own nation. There were hundreds of Protestant martyrs who lost their lives at the hand of popish rulers in this United Kingdom. There are scores of martyrs sites all over England.

The shameful evidence of standing on the other side

Last Monday in Stormont politicians, including a number of professing Christians, and Free Presbyterians, refused to support Mr Jim Allister in his motion to stop the posthumous pardon for sodomites.

Here is the physical evidence of their refusal to offer any support. These are still frames taken from the film footage of the debate. They show Mr Allister standing at the front of the Assembly waiting for someone to come forward to act as a second 'Teller' so that a vote can take place.

Mr Allister stands for two and an half minutes waiting for another MLA to come forward. Numerous MLAs can be seen sitting on the unionist side of the chamber refusing to show any support for the motion.

Photo 1 - Mr Allister waiting at the front of the Assembly on another MLA to act as a 'Teller' so that his motion can be voted on. 

Photo 2 - MLAs at Stormont as Mr Allister waited for two and an half minutes

No Pope Here! Why? #2 The Act of Settlement

Any proposed visit by the Pope is to be opposed on constitutional grounds. The Act of Settlement underpins the British Constitution and safeguards the British throne from ever being influenced by Roman Catholicism again.

The Act of Settlement was passed in 1701. It came into being at the end of the reign of King William III, when his successor to the throne, Anne, had lost her only surviving child. It was felt expedient by Parliament, at that time, to bring into law a requirement that only Protestants, in communion with the Church of England, should be allowed on the throne.

What the Church of Ireland; the Presbyterian Church in Ireland & the Methodist church in Ireland's confessional creeds say about the Pope.

1. Westminster Confession of Faith - the confessional creed of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland:
CHAPTER 23 - Of the Civil Magistrate section 4: It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honour their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted; much less hath the Pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretence whatsoever.

No Pope Here! Why? #1 His Blasphemous Claims

The reasons for opposing a visit by the Roman antichrist are numerous. One reason is the many blasphemous statements made by the Pope of Rome. History is replete with the statements made by different Popes or else made by other Romanists about the Papacy. They have never been shy in stating their claims. Rome might be a little embarrassed in modern times about the antics of her priests, bishops and Popes but these claims have never been denied or disowned.

For example:
Cardinal Manning in a sermon in the Pro Cathedral, Kensington, and reported in the Tablet [weekly Catholic newspaper] 9th October 1864 said: [speaking in the name of the Pope]
I acknowledge no civil superior, I am the subject of no prince, and I claim more than this, I claim to be the supreme judge on earth and director of the consciences of men, I am the last supreme judge of what is right and wrong.

Stats for November

Shameful Silence by DUP Politicians at Stormont on Retrospective Pardons for Sodomites

In the day that thou stoodest on the other side… 
Obadiah verse 11

The Northern Ireland Assembly, on Monday, 28th November 2016, passed a motion, without a vote being necessary, granting a retrospective pardon to sodomites who have been previously convicted of criminal and immoral acts.

This motion to grant a retrospective pardon was brought before the Assembly by the Minister of Justice under a wider motion relating to the British Policing and Crime Bill, which was designed to give legislative consent to a law already passed at Westminster. 

This motion did not pass through the Executive, nor was it put out to any consultation. The tabling of the motion had been hastily agreed to by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister using emergency procedures. 

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Stats for July

Stats for June

Europe in Bible Prophecy - Statement by Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony

The subject of Europe is very prominent in the news at present and that interest has only increased not diminished since the outcome of the EU referendum has been decided.

We are constantly being told by all political leaders what this result means? what is going to happen now? and where it will all lead? It seems that everyone has an opinion to give or a statement to make on the subject! All of which has only led to greater confusion, division and uncertainty.

But the question that should concern us as Bible believing Christians is -- What saith the Scriptures? What does the Word of God have to say on the subject of the future of Europe? That should be our response to every situation and subject in life and our nation's membership of the European Union should be no different.

Despite what many think or say, even many Christians, the Word of God has much to say about the future of Europe and the Nations around the Mediterranean Sea. God has not left us in the dark with regard to these things. In the prophetic Scriptures God has given us a full description of things to come.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh!

The lamenting of the political classes today over the vote to leave the European Union reminds us that there is a God in heaven whose will is done. 

I am reminded of the words of Psalm 2:4: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

I was sent these words by email this morning. There are from a hymn written by Anne Steele. They certainly express the thoughts of many Christians at a time like this.