March 2024

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Infilling of the Spirit Pt 3
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Infilling of the Spirit Pt 1
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preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Aug 17, 2003
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Recently Preached Sermons

Funeral Tribute to Mrs. Evelyn Nesbitt
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Oct 16, 2023

The fulness God would have us enjoy
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Wed Sep 20, 2023

Praying for the Lord's return
preached by Rev. David McMillan on Sun Sep 17, 2023

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Funeral service for Miss Edna Weir
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon May 12, 2003

Rev. Ivan Foster - My Testimony
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Nov 11, 2008

The day when it is God's turn to answer
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jan 15, 1995

View all recently added sermons


Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here


 

Slowing up a little

In February 2007, the following article was published.


“The Burning Bush” bows out

‘This edition of “The Burning Bush” will be the last. It has been in print since March 1970, becoming a regular monthly read since 1988. The founding editor, Rev Ivan Foster, retires next year. It is for this reason alone that the publication is coming to an end.

Burning Bush website banner from 18 October 2000

However, “The Burning Bush” website (www.ivanfoster.org) will continue for some time and it is hoped that pertinent articles will still continue to be made available by this means. The Editor appreciates very much the encouraging comments that have been made by readers regarding the ending of “The Burning Bush”. I would like to thank all those who have faithfully supported this witness, some from the earliest days of its publication.

I must also thank my wife, Ann, who has carefully scrutinised each issue for spelling mistakes etc; since 1970. No one was more pleased at the arrival of a computer in our home than she was, since she had the task of typing out the earliest editions on a typewriter for me then to physically “cut and paste” in order to prepare it for duplicating. The computer meant that she had only the scrutiny to take care of.  . . . . . . .

To you one and all, I say a sincere thank you. Ivan Foster.’


That was 17 years ago. Now that 54 years have passed since “The Burning Bush” began its witness and I recently passed my 80th birthday and my wife Ann marked her 77th birthday a few days earlier, our energy levels are not what they used to be!

Consequently, I will be reducing the ‘output’ of articles and comment. While I am able I will continue to offer the occasional comment on public events and the deepening apostasy, but it will not be of the same volume as in past years.

The “The Burning Bush” website will remain available for any wishing to explore its many articles and we have a large number of sermon recordings which we can continue to ‘feature’.

Current Burning Bush website header

In recent years I owe much to the help given me in the maintaining the site to Mr John Pittman Hey whom I have never met since he resides in Mississippi in the USA. He came forward and offered to help ‘gratis’, in maintaining the site, having visited it and found himself in sympathy with our stand on many issues facing God’s people today. He has ‘rescued’ the site on a number of occasions from cyber attacks etc, and patiently put up with my requests for my last minute ‘corrections’, discovered after publication!

It is most likely we will never meet in time but I look forward to the fellowship of heaven with my brother.

I must also thank my son Andrew, resident in Canada, for his original setting up of the present site and caring for it for many years on top of his pastoral duties in Penticton Free Presbyterian Church and his many other labours.

Of course, I must offer my thanks to the many readers who have accumulated over 1,107.000 visits to the site since it went digital in the late 1990s. Their encouraging emails and letters have been most encouraging amidst oftentimes hostile comments from those who reject the ‘the old paths’ of Free Presbyterianism.

I have not yet ‘finished my course’ but I trust by God’s grace I will be able to echo Paul’s words, brought before me by Dr Ian Paisley when he preached my ordination sermon back in April 1968, at least faintly at the end of my days.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” 2 Timothy 4:7.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2024-03-18 a 5:29 pm


Patrick, a misrepresented man of God

The scenes around the world on March 17th, in which the memory of Patrick was supposedly being honoured, have not honoured the work and testimony of this much maligned man of God.

Indeed, virtually every function that was organised to commemorate the day on which it is believed he died in 465, was of such a character that were Patrick still amongst us, he would have denounced the activities.

Stained glass portrayal located at Carlow Cathedral of Patrick preaching to Irish kings. Franz Borgias Mayer (1848–1926)

Rome has created a mythical figure and called him “Patrick” but he is no more like the historical Patrick than is heaven like to hell.

By the providence of God, there is preserved for us a “Confession” or testimony from the pen of Patrick. Its authenticity is accepted by all, even those whose account of Patrick is proved false by its record — the Roman Catholic church.

This corrupting of the history of Patrick is in no way unique!



Posted on 2024-03-17 a 5:00 am


The Gospel outlawed by the British government!

Michael Gove MP

The man with a very long title but very short on the knowledge of God, ‘The Right Honourable Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations’, has announced in Parliament a new definition of ‘Extremism’!

Gove names groups as he outlines new extremism definition in Commons

The new definition reads:

Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to

1: negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or

2: undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or

3: intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).

It has already come under criticism as being ‘too broad’. “Right-wing MP Miriam Cates told the Commons on Thursday the new definition ‘risks criminalising, or at the very least chilling the speech of, people who have very legitimate, harmless views’.

She used the example of the views of some gender critical feminists, who she said could be ‘labelled as extremist’ under the new definition.”

It certainly is broad indeed so that it is seen to be threatening the freedom to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This new definition of ‘extremism’ rest upon the opinion of any who feel that what someone or an organisation believes and propagates generates hatred or intolerance toward them. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-03-14 a 9:10 pm


Deceit and falsehood - the order of the day!

“‭In transgressing‭‭ and lying‭‭ against the LORD‭, and departing away‭‭ from‭ our God‭, speaking‭‭ oppression‭ and revolt‭, conceiving‭‭ and uttering‭‭ from the heart‭ words‭ of falsehood‭.‭ ‭And judgment‭ is turned away‭‭ backward‭, and justice‭ standeth‭‭ afar off‭: for truth‭ is fallen‭‭ in the street‭, and equity‭ cannot‭‭ enter‭‭.‭ ‭Yea, truth‭ faileth‭‭; and he ‭that‭ departeth‭‭ from evil‭ maketh himself a prey‭‭: and the LORD‭ saw‭‭ ‭it‭, and it displeased‭‭‭ him that ‭there was‭ no judgment‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 59:13-15.

The multiple means by which we are informed of the events taking place in this world today — newspapers, television, the internet — are agencies of which it can be said that they are dominated by lies and falsehood.

If those who compile the reports are not promoting lies themselves then they are by and large, reporting the lies of others!

What we read and hear and view simply cannot be taken at face value! There was a time when the news media could be expected to report ethically, with a large degree of honesty and rectitude and could be trusted to convey a trustworthy account of matters reported upon. The absolute opposite is the case today in 99% of cases.

British prime ministers have repeatedly told lies and that most blatantly and when confronted with their deceit have not the grace or ability to even blush!

On the local front here in Ulster, undeniable facts have surfaced which show that which the DUP leadership claim is a great reversal of and deliverance from the scandalous impositions of the “Northern Ireland Protocol” is a complete and utter sham. The Protocol was devised by the British government and was intended to protect the EU single market, while avoiding the imposition of a ‘hard border’ that might incite a recurrence of conflict and destabilise the ‘relative peace’ that it is claimed has held since the end of the Troubles.

What that evilly devised scheme actually achieved was the shutting out of Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, and despite the claims of Donaldson and his lackeys, that is still our position.

A headline in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ of Wednesday, March 13th, indicates that to be so.

Lord Empey uncovers £192m budget for Irish Sea border posts – saying frontier is ‘alive and kicking’

​‘The cost of constructing border inspection posts required as a result of the NI Protocol / Windsor Framework could reach £192.3 million, the government has revealed.’

So much for the removal of the border imposed by the ‘Protocol’!

But this evil phenomenon of lies is worldwide! Every time a national leader opens his mouth, deceit invariably pours forth! Biden and Trump publicly vie with each other to see who can tell the biggest lie as they battle it out for the minds of the American people.

The conflicts in Ukraine and Israel are immersed in deceit. The events taking place in North Korea, China, Iran are all shrouded in the fog of disinformation, designed only to mislead.

At home here in the UK, we daily read of an army that is undermanned, a navy that can just about stay afloat and an air force running out of training jets!

Just what are we to believe? Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-03-14 a 9:03 pm


Libraries Northern Ireland evil attack on children

Here is one of the suggestive and evil cartoons meant to influence and corrupt the thinking of youngsters

The following news report appeared in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ on 11th March.

Libraries Northern Ireland stocking transgender-themed titles aimed at toddlers and book advising teenagers how to use casual sex hook-up apps

It details the utterly shameful attempts at corrupting the minds of toddlers by setting forth the perversion of transgenderism in children’s books in public libraries.

The news reports states: “The News Letter came across most of the titles thanks to a Freedom of Information request to Libraries NI, asking for a list of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) children’s books it owns.

It supplied the News Letter with a list of 22 LGBTQ+ titles in what it calls its “junior” range (covering ages 0 to 16), totalling 504 copies.”

This can only be seen as a satanic attack on the young by a publicly funded agency.

The only politician to raise the matter was, I believe, Mr Jim Allister KC, leader of the TUV party.

Given the increasingly liberal stance of the DUP, with its embracing of lesbianism and support for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender” causes, its silence is hardly surprising!

Here are two others

I have included a link to a video sent to me of Mr Allister raising the matter in the Stormont Assembly today. Time will tell if his requested intervention by the minister in change of libraries issues will be acted upon.

 

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

 

Posted on 2024-03-12 a 9:31 pm


Things in the last days Christ warns Christians against!

Cheryl Brownlee

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man,” Luke 21:34-36.

This chapter substantially parallels Matthew 24 though it includes references to events in Jerusalem in AD 70 when the Roman armies destroyed the city and the nation of Israel was scattered as they remain to a large degree to this day.

I dealt with erroneous conclusions some have drawn from this chapter in the article, Some of the Saviour’s words misunderstood by many! written three months ago when I read this chapter in keeping with Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar, which brings one who uses it to this portion twice a year.

Let me set down the two portions from these two chapters containing the Saviour’s words to His disciples when they questioned Him, (Luke 21:7, Matthew 24:3). Many have concluded, because of the similarity of language, that these chapters refer to the same event, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70..

Luke 21:20-27 states:

“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Matthew 24:15-27 reads:.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

It may be easily seen that believers have understood these passages to refer to the exact same events. But there is at least 2000 years separating these tremendous happenings! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-03-09 a 12:52 am


Discrimination against Protestants in education

The main building at Magee was built with Scottish freestone, and opened in 1865.

I comment this article to you all.

Dr Cooke has untiringly sought to sound a warning regarding the discrimination against Protestants at all levels within higher education in Ulster.

To my knowledge, DUP and UUP MLAs take absolutely no heed to his warnings, the results being the continuing demise of the rights of the Protestant and Unionist people in the realm of education.

We are grateful for his labours, though saddened at the heedless attitude of the DUP and UUP members contacted.

The destitution of the Protestant and Unionist cause in Northern Ireland is the direct consequence of the apostasy of the main Protestant denominations and their embracing of every form of anti-Bible falsehood.

In consequence, as a people we are under judgment.

“‭For, behold, the Lord‭, the LORD‭ of hosts‭, doth take away‭‭ from Jerusalem‭ and from Judah‭ the stay‭ and the staff‭, the whole stay‭ of bread‭, and the whole‭ stay‭ of water‭,‭ ‭the mighty man‭, and the man‭ of war‭, the judge‭‭, and the prophet‭, and the prudent‭‭, and the ancient‭,‭ ‭the captain‭ of fifty‭, and the honourable‭‭ man‭, and the counsellor‭‭, and the cunning‭ artificer‭, and the eloquent‭‭ orator‭.‭ ‭And I will give‭‭ children‭ ‭to be‭ their princes‭, and babes‭ shall rule‭‭ over them.‭ ‭And the people‭ shall be oppressed‭‭, every one‭ by another‭, and every one‭ by his neighbour‭: the child‭ shall behave himself proudly‭‭ against the ancient‭, and the base‭‭ against the honourable‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 3:1-5.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


The Growth of the nationalist dominated Magee university campus is thanks to the DUP’s NDNA 2020 Deal and the NI Unionist MLAs sitting on the Stormont Assembly Committees.

A article by Dr Edward Cooke, (Professor in Queens University, Belfast)

circulated to Stormont MLAs and local reporters.

NI Unionist voters can thank NI Unionist MLAs sitting in the NI Assembly Committee for the Economy for allowing the continued growth and expansion of the UU campus at Magee, a campus that directly and indirectly discriminates against NI unionist / Protestant students / academics.  Realistically, the growth of the Magee campus on the West Bank of Londonderry must be accompanied by the demise of the UU campus at Coleraine and with it the demise of the NI unionist communities in Port Stewart and Portrush.  Today’s Irish News article provides confirmation of SF’s Ministers for the Economy and Environment to expand the Derry campus, irrespective of the exceptionally low numbers of unionist / Protestant academics and students at Magee. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-03-06 a 4:38 pm


Ecumenist, Alf McCreary answered and rebuked!

Below is an article by Alf McCreary, long-time journalist with the ‘Belfast Telegraph’, though this article by him appeared in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’.

Alf McCreary is an arch-ecumenist who has for many years extolled the modernistic and liberal doctrines which have been gradually introduced to his church, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and the two other ecumenical

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

denominations, the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland.

Being an advocate of ecumenism, he is an outspoken and bitter critic of all things Biblical and orthodox. That may be seen in the article below.

I give one or two examples of his opposition to the old-time gospel.

First of all.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), for example, has been becoming much more conservative in recent years, and this is seen in its election of moderators. The current Moderator the Very Reverend Dr Sam Mawhinney announced shortly after his election last year that he did not approve of the ordination of female ministers.

This year’s Moderator-elect the Reverend Richard Murray stated in one of his first interviews that it is “the Lord who decides, and if the Lord wants a woman minister to be moderator next year, then that will happen”.

This has to be one of the least persuasive excuses in the long history of the Presbyterian Church which has never elected a woman moderator, and this is particularly depressing because the PCI was the first major church to ordain a woman minister – the Reverend Ruth Patterson in 1976.

Sadly when she stood twice for the moderatorship she failed to get elected. Sadly and significantly on the second occasion she did not get a single vote from any of the 19 Presbyteries.

Such a total rejection by the church which had ordained her as its first female minister was hurtful to many Presbyterians, and extremely regrettable.

Two things should be noted in this statement by McCreary.

His obvious annoyance at any sign of ‘conservativeness’ re-emerging in the PCI! Of course, what he considers ‘conservative’ is very far short of orthodox Bible teaching! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-03-04 a 10:27 pm

February 2024

Audio sermons

Click here to listen to all the sermons on this website!


KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Faith, Mighty Faith”


Recently Featured Sermons

Infilling of the Spirit Pt 3
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Sep 21, 2003
featured on Sun Mar 17, 2024

Infilling of the Spirit Pt 2
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Sep 7, 2003
featured on Sun Mar 10, 2024

Infilling of the Spirit Pt 1
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Aug 31, 2003
featured on Sun Mar 3, 2024

Walking in the Light, Pt 3
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Aug 17, 2003
featured on Sun Feb 25, 2024

Click here to view previous featured sermons


Recently Preached Sermons

Funeral Tribute to Mrs. Evelyn Nesbitt
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Oct 16, 2023

The fulness God would have us enjoy
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Wed Sep 20, 2023

Praying for the Lord's return
preached by Rev. David McMillan on Sun Sep 17, 2023

View all recently preached sermons


Older Sermons Recently Added

Funeral service for Miss Edna Weir
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon May 12, 2003

Rev. Ivan Foster - My Testimony
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Nov 11, 2008

The day when it is God's turn to answer
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jan 15, 1995

View all recently added sermons


Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here


 

Who is on the Lord's side? A question for us all today!

This message, preached on August 15th, 2021, the day that marked the 47th anniversary of the opening of the Free Presbyterian Hall in Kilskeery back in 1974, was brought to my attention and I feel that is something that needs to be heard again.

I am therefore sending it out by email to those readers on our email list.

Christian, when you receive it I ask you circulate it wisely amongst your acquaintances and pray that the Lord might be pleased to bless the message to the hearts of God’s faithful souls.

Here is the recording and the text that accompanied it on ’The Burning Bush’ website.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster



WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?

A question for us all today!

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who [is] on the LORD’S side? [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour,” Ex 32:26-27.

Today we mark the 47th anniversary of the opening of the hall on this site for the preaching of the gospel.

I would want to honour those who laboured and financed the venture amidst much opposition. I recall the generosity of Mr & Mrs Robert Edwards, who donated part of their garden as a site for the hall and the men who laboured, mostly in the evenings, after their day’s work and on Saturdays, to erect the building. They laboured out of a zeal for the honour and glory of the Lord.

Just over three years after its opening, the small handful of souls here in Kilskeery banded together and were constituted as a congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church. I was called to be the minister and installed as such in February 1978. Some eighteen months later, Kilskeery Independent Christian School commenced.

By the mercy of the Lord, both congregation and school continue to this day.

There are very few of the original founders left, having gone on to glory. But I trust that the spirit that energised the founders is still amongst the remnant here!

* This is not the text that I had hoped to preach upon at this meeting. I may get a chance to preach my original message on another occasion.

The news reports of the DUP mayor of Londonderry officially launching the abominable ‘full programme of events’ to celebrate and extol that greatest of all sins amongst mankind, sodomy, so vexed me that I wrote to the Moderator of our Presbytery, the Clerk and the Chairman of the Morals Committee, expressing my horror and demanding that action be taken to separate the FPC from the sodomite-honouring DUP. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-29 a 11:18 pm


Religious trends in Ulster

Below is the heading and an article in today’s ‘Belfast Telegraph’ by Mr Sam McBride. It was sent to me by a kind friend and I am sending it to you at the risk of burdening you with yet another email, for I believe it reveals the spiritual wilderness our Province has become.

Amongst the causes of this dreadful spiritual decline from what Ulster used to be is the failure of many of God’s ministers to speak out and protest against the defiance of God that is seen clearly amongst the ranks of those who profess allegiance to God or at least once did.

That silence has aided the decline very greatly and has encouraged the enemy and has given the impression that consent is being granted to the ongoing departure from God.

“In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them,” Obadiah 1:11.

It is an analysis of a recent poll on religion in Northern Ireland. What it says is that’Northern Ireland, long long distinguished from the religious trends in the rest of the UK and the world in general, has just about caught up with the departure from God and the rejection of His Word that is the norm in other lands!

This tragic development has been going on for years. It can particularly be traced back to when the three main churches here, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland, became founding members of  the World Council of Churches back in 1948.

That organisation became the channel by which every unclean and blasphemous doctrine was streamed in to Ulster via the modernistic and  ecumenical pro-Roman Catholic ministers, who increasingly have taken over the three denominations.

Today, these denominations, to varying degrees, sanction every perversion of the devil, or at least fail to denounce and oppose them as God would have done! The apostasy is not stagnant, though it gives off the stench one associates with that which is, but is ever moving downward and carrying the blinded populace with it. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-27 a 5:29 pm


The Gospel according to the cookery book!

“‭He causeth the grass‭ to grow‭‭ for the cattle‭, and herb‭ for the service‭ of man‭: that he may bring forth‭‭ food‭ out of the earth‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalm 104:14.

This morning (26/2/24) I read the words: “‭Consider‭‭ the ravens‭: for‭ they neither‭ sow‭‭ nor‭ reap‭‭; which‭ neither‭ have‭‭ storehouse‭ nor‭ barn‭; and‭ God‭ feedeth‭‭ them‭: how much‭ more‭ are‭‭ ye‭ better than‭‭ the fowls‭?‭ . . . ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Consider‭‭ the lilies‭ how‭ they grow‭‭: they toil‭‭ not‭, they spin‭‭ not‭; and yet‭ I say‭‭ unto you‭, that Solomon‭ in‭ all‭ his‭ glory‭ was‭‭ not‭ arrayed‭‭ like‭ one‭ of these‭,‭”‭ Luke 12:24, 27.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When I thought upon the word ‘consider’, which is a translation of a Greek word which could also be translated ‘observe and understand’, I saw how that the Lord would have us observe His creation for it, in all its manifested elements, testifies of His merciful providence.

That caused me to think upon the verse above from the Psalms and particularly the words: “that he may bring forth food out of the earth.”

The Bible says: “And . . . ‭‭‭‭‭of making‭‭ many‭‭ books‭ ‭there is‭ no end‭,‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭”‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭ Ecclesiastes 12:12. This is certainly so of cookery books! I never search the internet for news reports of the events of the day without coming upon innumerable recommended meals and recipes that can be prepared. I do not think I am wrong in thinking that such is the variety of food available from the earth for man that the combinations and dishes that are possible are almost infinite.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I. THE FOOD THAT THE EARTH BRINGS FORTH DECLARES GOD’S KINDNESS.

I wonder have you ever thought of just what it is God provides for our good from the earth? I have often pondered how that man, who was created out of “the dust of‭ the ground‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭” (Genesis 2:7), is daily sustained from that which springs up from the earth.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1. Everything we eat has its origin in the dust. Whether it be fruit, vegetables or meat, it has all come from the earth. What a miracle is involved in the transforming of grass into a juicy steak! It is most laughable that the ‘learned’ evolutionist thinks that the many ruminants somehow taught themselves to chew their cud and turn grass into that which man find’s delicious! Man cannot digest grass otherwise we would have a very abundant food source produced by our lawn! But God has ordained that many creatures can digest grass and from that produce that which we delight to feast upon and digest! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-26 a 8:22 pm


RCC's shocking history in Western Australia

The following headline is taken from the website of a legal organisation dedicated to exposing the immorality of the Roman Catholic Church.  I was sent the link by a friend from Australia about one hour ago.

The following statement may be found on the website: (Church Abuse):

“The prevalence of child abuse throughout Australian religious institutions is truly shocking. Countless children across the country were exposed to physical, psychological and sexual abuse in churches, religious schools, religious children’s homes, and charitable organisations.

The response to this abuse has been just as disgraceful, with church authorities often covering up clerical abuse to protect their own image, exposing further children to abuse and helping offenders to go unpunished. In recent decades, religious institutions have spent millions in legal fees trying to deny compensation to victims and protect their bottom line.

One of the worst offenders is the Catholic Church, where a shocking 7% of all priests were accused of abusing children between 1950-2010. In some Catholic orders, the numbers were as high as 15%, 20% and even 40%.

Other religious institutions such as the Christian Brothers, Anglican Church, Salvation Army and the Uniting Church all have similarly shameful histories.”

Despite such repeated exposés, it is sad to know that people still attend the services of what the Reformers rightly called ‘Babylonianism’!

It is a system of the devil and is energised and upheld by him. I believe that any Protestant denomination which was subjected to a similar exposure would be abandoned by its attenders!

Every Christian should pray for their Roman Catholic neighbours that they might be delivered from the deceptions of Romanism, even as prayer was undoubtedly offered for Saul of Tarsus, resulting in his conversion and transformation from persecutor to Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-24 a 8:26 pm


Something to remember when overtaken by a storm!

Photo by Egor Yakushkin on Unsplash

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him,” Luke 8:22-25.

These verses were part of my New Testament Bible reading for today (22/2/24). The Bible is a living BOOK and our reading of it entails a two-way conversation. It speaks to us and we within our soul answer and oftentimes are prompted to speak out in prayer to the Lord in response to what we read.

My own heart was stirred as I read this passage, not for the first time by any means, but it came with fresh power and blessedness to my heart this morning.

It is to be noticed that this incident took place as the disciples of the Lord Jesus were obeying His command. “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth,” verse 22.

As I pondered the short passage it occurred to me that:

I. EVEN WHEN WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD WE MAY FIND OURSELVES IN A STORM!

It has ever been a source of perplexity for Christians that when they seek to obey the Lord they find themselves in the midst of trouble.

1. In truth, this should not surprise us. Obedience to God makes us a target of the devil and all his minions. It is stated of him that he is “the prince of the power of the air,” Ephesians 2:2. He is permitted of God to use his powers to create storms of wind like that which occurred on this occasion. It was the devil who created the troubles and woes of Job though he was unaware of this fact and sadly felt that the Lord had failed him. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-24 a 8:12 pm


DUP further endorses rebellion against God

Today sees an endorsement by the DUP that must surely shame every Christian in the party and all who support it in any way.

It also must surely strike the consciences of those ministers who remain silent in the face of the DUP’s embracing and endorsing of the perversions of today, so condemned of the Lord, knowing that members and officer-bearers within their congregations are in this party and thereby tainted by their association with him and his like.

This situation of compromise is a cowardly failure on the part of those involved with the DUP and who fail to condemn its defiance of God who vowed to keep the covenant made with the Lord by the membership of the Free Presbyterian Church back on 28th February 1988, the 350th anniversary of the signing of The National Covenant of Scotland .

The Covenant hangs in the porch of Kilskeery church. I just wonder how many other churches still display it?

Here is the essence of the oath signed up to that day by the members of the Free Presbyterian Church.

“As God providentially raised up Elijah, we believe He is now calling out a faithful remnant to maintain a testimony, free from compromise against every opposition of the enemy.

As a separated Church of God, sinners saved by grace and born again of the Holy Spirit, conscious of the violation of God’s commandments so rampant in this evil age, and conscious also that we could have a name to live and are dead, we humble ourselves before God and solemnly covenant together , by His grace to stand with Christ in this evil day, for all that He is for, and against all that he is against.”

I wonder how many ministers who took that oath have been faithful to it?

That oath most certainly forbids the associating with or supporting the DUP and a remaining silent in the face of its welcoming and elevating of sodomites and their supporters into its ranks and the outrageous betrayal of everything it once stood for! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-19 a 5:28 pm


Another nail in the DUP’s coffin!

I was sent this ‘screenshot’ of what I suppose is the Facebook page of ‘Michael Palmer’, a self-confessed sodomite, announcing that he has responded positively to an invitation from the DUP leadership to join the party.

I have also included here an article about this fool that appears in the ‘The Burning Bush’ back in July 2022.

This decision by Donaldson and Co. will prove to be but another nail in the DUP’s coffin.

The leadership of the party will yet reap a terrible harvest for leading Unionism down the path of sanitising that which God abominates!

“‭Be‭‭ not‭ deceived‭‭; God‭ is‭‭ not‭ mocked‭‭: for‭ whatsoever‭‭ a man‭ soweth‭‭, that‭ shall he‭‭ also‭ reap‭‭.‭ ‭For‭ he that soweth‭‭ to‭ his‭ flesh‭ shall‭‭ of‭ the flesh‭ reap‭‭ corruption‭,‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Galatians 6:7-8.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


The blinded mind of the sodomite

Published by Ivan Foster on July 1, 2022

This is the concluding sentence of a letter which has appeared in today’s (1/7/22) ‘Belfast Newsletter’. It is from a sodomite member of the Ulster Unionist Party, who signs his name, ‘Michael Palmer’.

I appeal to the DUP leadership to consider allowing its members who are supportive of the LGBT community to attend Belfast Pride. The future of unionism and the union hinges upon LGBT support.”

That there are LGBT supporting members of the DUP may be seen in the endorsing of one who openly acknowledged her perversion as a candidate in the last local council election back in 2019 and who presently sits as a member of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. She is Alison Bennington who became the DUP’s first openly ‘gay’ candidate to be elected when she won one of 14 DUP seats on that Council.

But there are many other ‘supporters’ of the LGBT  perversions in the DUP as subsequent events and photographs of rejoicing DUP members at her election showed. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-17 a 9:32 pm


The ignorance of our political leaders

Our local newspapers have been filled with comments for and against the ‘deal’ that the DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson. made with the British Government, the result of which he and some of his fellow DUPers claim is the removal of the restrictions that the ‘Brexit’ agreement exerted on trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

1882 political satire regarding political leaders “unable” to foresee consequences of their actions.

That claim has been denied by a prominent constitutional lawyer, senior members of the DUP, including a former leader, those who shared the campaign with Jeffrey Donaldson to over throw the  trade restrictions placed upon Northern Ireland  which they claimed excluded Northern Ireland as an equal member of the United Kingdom. All those who led that campaign, with the exception of Jeffrey Donaldson, believe that the border restriction and various regulations detrimental to our ability to trade with our fellow UK countries, have not been removed.

Those party members who support Jeffrey Donaldson have given no evidence in support of their claims but merely parrot-like repeat the trite responses of Donaldson and Co.

It has been acknowledged by officials that the building of border posts to accommodate the ‘Brexit’ arrangements is continuing. This would hardly indicate that the ‘Brexit’ border and its restrictions have gone, as the DUP leadership is claiming.

Why does Jeffrey Donaldson and his lackeys seek to deceive the Protestant people of Northern Ireland?

Whatever deals may have been done between them and those engaged in the negotiations I have no idea.

But I can from the Word of God find out why leaders may act in such a self-deluded, deceitful and unscrupulous manner.

It is this I wish to set before the readers of ‘The Burning Bush’.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


THE EXPLANATION FOR THE IGNORANCE OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS!

 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory,” 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.

 These words of Paul are divinely inspired of God and infallibly true! Providence has declared this epistle to be part of that which is referred to as ‘Scripture’ and is declared to be “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Holy Scripture is endorsed in its proclamations by the manifested truth of all its statements. Our text above is but one example. What it says of the “princes of this world” is abundantly clear world-wide but no place more evidently than here in Northern Ireland! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-16 a 7:06 pm


Irish Sea border: Officials believe 'nothing will change'

Yesterday’s article for the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ had a headline that says it all!

Never in the history of political chicanery here in Northern Ireland has there been such an example of blatant deceit as that being carried out by the DUP and its minions today!

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Irish Sea border: Officials believe ‘nothing will change’ as a result of deal accepted by the DUP says Co Fermanagh horse trader who insists ‘we do not have free trade with GB’

A businessman in the livestock trade has said that not only does the Irish Sea border exist, but he expects it to harden in the weeks ahead despite “Jeffrey’s deal”.

Adam Kula

12th February 2024 at 4:06 PM GMT

Felim Crane said that just days ago an official laughed at the idea that things will change for the better as a result of the government’s agreement with the DUP. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-14 a 12:33 am


Bright red lipstick cannot conceal the lie!

DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly

Three reports on the “DONALDSON DEAL” have appeared in recent news articles.The first appeared on the local BBC News site.

The headlines on it read:

Three top DUP figures say there is ‘no dispute’ that Irish Sea border remains

 

The second article was in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’. Its headline ran:

(left to right) Lord Maurice Morrow, Lord Nigel Dodds, and Sammy Wilson MP

DUP sidesteps criticism from Lord Nigel Dodds, Lord Maurice Morrow and Sammy Wilson MP, who say Irish Sea Border remains – Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly defends deal in BBC interview

Here is the third headline:

Gavin Robinson: DUP set out to remove internal trade border in the Irish Sea – and we’ve achieved exactly that

These articles highlight the fact that  leading DUP members are in total disagreement on the success and reality of Jeffrey Donaldson’s Deal!

It is really not too difficult for ‘Mr & Mrs General-Public’ to arrive at what the truth is in this matter. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-12 a 5:36 pm


Irish Presbyterian minister commends Free Presbyterian Church Christian school movement

This is a picture taken by one in attendance at a conference on Christian Education in Richhill Presbyterian Church on February 3rd and forwarded on to me.

It has been reported that a Presbyterian minister in attendance at the conference stated to all that “he thinks the Free Presbyterian Church is doing a significant and vital job in creating Christian schools that needs to be replicated in the UK, as the state is really changing the schooling system.”

Now I welcome such sentiments though I have little hope of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with its close alliance with the Government on educational matters and its involvement in setting the ecumenical religious curriculum in State schools, ever supporting such a proposal.

What is disconcertingly sad, is that such should be said publicly by an Irish Presbyterian minister in an Irish Presbyterian sponsored conference while so many Free Presbyterian ministers are silent, indeed some even opposing Christian Education!

May the Lord mercifully stir our ministers, elders and parents to see the the evil tactics of the devil at work in the State school system, as dastardly a scheme in its objective as that of Pharaoh’s — “‭And the king‭ of Egypt‭ spake‭‭ to the Hebrew‭ midwives‭‭, of which the name‭ of the one‭ ‭was‭ Shiphrah‭, and the name‭ of the other‭ Puah‭:‭ ‭and he said‭‭, When ye do the office of a midwife‭‭ to the Hebrew women‭, and see‭‭ ‭them‭ upon the stools‭; if it ‭be‭ a son‭, then ye shall kill‭‭ him: but if it ‭be‭ a daughter‭, then she shall live‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Exodus 1:15-16.

Sadly, all too many Christian parents are as were many of the Hebrews back in that dark time. Stephen, the first martyr, said, “But‭ when‭ the time‭ of the promise‭ drew nigh‭‭, which‭ God‭ had sworn‭‭ to Abraham‭, the people‭ grew‭‭ and‭ multiplied‭‭ in‭ Egypt‭,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‭till‭‭ another‭ king‭ arose‭‭, which‭ knew‭‭ not‭ Joseph‭.‭ ‭The same‭ dealt subtilly‭‭ with our‭ kindred‭, and evil entreated‭‭ our‭ fathers‭, so that‭‭ they cast out‭ their‭ young children‭, to the end‭ they might‭‭ not‭ live‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Acts 7:18-19.

It is hard to believe that there were parents who cooperated with Pharaoh and yielded to his murderous purpose and yet what do we see today??

Is it not the same spirit at work within Ulster, even within the Free Presbyterian Church, which is causing Christian parents to submissively send their children to be educated under a system which will poison their minds and souls to the truth of God with unspeakable eternal consequences?

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

Posted on 2024-02-10 a 8:00 pm


Government’s response to the petition to repeal RSI

Here is the Government’s response to the petition to: “Repeal Relationships and Sexuality Education (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023”.

The response is contained in an email to my wife and myself received today from the “The Petitions team – UK Government and Parliament”

Please note that:

IT TAKES THE GOVERNMENT 600+ WORDS TO SAY ‘NO’ TO THE REQUEST TO REPEAL THE INTRODUCTION OF THEIR INIQUITOUS R.S.I. SCHEME!


The RSI scheme entails:—

“This document highlights two areas that should concern every born again believer and especially every Free Presbyterian. One has been the case for some time. The other I believe more recent:

1. Religious Education as defined by the four main Churches [Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, & Methodist] and filtered through an Equality Impact Assessment is compulsory for every pupil in a state school.

This means that anything approaching the Gospel is flushed out of this syllabus. This is just an aneamic, bland excuse for the Truth and a blatant exercise in ecumenism that is being taught to Free Presbyterians!

2. Equally worrying is that Relationships and Sexuality Education [RSE] & Citizenship Education is specifically said to include the teaching of respect for sodomy. By respect we all know they mean acceptance.

How can this be right? I do not see how it can be right to oppose Sodomy on one hand and on the other live in a day when Free Presbyterians place their children under such teaching. A house divided against itself cannot stand, Matt 12:25. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-09 a 4:46 pm


Speech by Mr Jim Allister, leader of the TUV party

Here is a link to a speech in the opening hours of the new Stormont Assembly.

It is speech by Mr Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice party.

He truly is a lone voice in the Assembly, forcefully pointing out the hypocritical farce that the ‘Donaldson Deal’ has given birth to.

Below this link are other speeches by Mr Allister.

Remember this man in prayer please.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2024-02-08 a 5:21 pm


A Godly and commendable defiance!

Blind Bartimaeous kneeling before Christ

“‭And‭ they came‭‭ to‭ Jericho‭: and‭ as he‭ went‭‭ out of‭ Jericho‭ with‭ his‭ disciples‭ and‭ a great‭ number of people‭, blind‭ Bartimaeus‭, the son‭ of Timaeus‭, sat‭‭ by‭ the highway side‭ begging‭‭.‭ ‭And‭ when he heard‭‭ that‭ it was‭‭ Jesus‭ of Nazareth‭, he began‭‭ to cry out‭‭, and‭ say‭‭, Jesus‭, ‭thou‭ Son‭ of David‭, have mercy‭‭ on me‭.‭ ‭And‭ many‭ charged‭‭ him‭ that‭ he should hold his peace‭‭: but‭ he cried‭‭ the more‭ a great deal‭, ‭Thou‭ Son‭ of David‭, have mercy‭‭ on me‭.‭ ‭And‭ Jesus‭ stood still‭‭, and commanded‭‭ him‭ to be called‭‭. And‭ they call‭‭ the blind man‭, saying‭‭ unto him‭, Be of good comfort‭‭, rise‭‭; he calleth‭‭ thee‭.‭ ‭And‭ he, casting away‭‭ his‭ garment‭, rose‭‭, and came‭‭ to‭ Jesus‭.‭ ‭And‭ Jesus‭ answered‭‭ and said‭‭ unto him‭, What‭ wilt‭‭ thou that I should do‭‭ unto thee‭?‭ The blind man‭ said‭‭ unto him‭, Lord‭, that‭ I might receive my sight‭‭.‭ ‭And‭ Jesus‭ said‭‭ unto him‭, Go thy way‭‭; thy‭ faith‭ hath made‭‭ thee‭ whole‭‭. And‭ immediately‭ he received his sight‭‭, and‭ followed‭‭ Jesus‭ in‭ the way‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Mark 10:46-52.

This morning, (Wednesday) I read the above chapter with its story of the healing of a man whose spirit I so admire and rejoice over. I look forward to meeting ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Bartimaeus‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ in glory and talking over with him his wonderful healing.

As I read Mark’s account of this wonderful event, I jotted down in the margins of my Bible some headings, springing from my observation of the record of the incident as given by Mark.

I would like to share them with you.

1. THE STATE OF DESTITUTION BARTIMAEUS WAS IN, WHEN HE MET WITH CHRIST.

“Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.”

Little can we imagine just what depths of impoverishment someone who was blind was required to endure back in those days! Perhaps if we did we would appreciate to a great degree the support that is enjoyed by someone with a like affliction today!

There was very little a blind man back then could do to earn a ‘crust’! Virtually all useful employment was beyond such.

Begging was the only door open to poor Bartimaeus. The word Greek word translated ‘begging’ (prosaiteo) appears only in the three gospel accounts of the healing of Bartimaeus and the blind man of John 9:1, another man whose spirit and demeanour I so much admire.

I think is something very moving and heartbreaking about a blind man begging. Because of his affliction he could never see the face of any who kindly responded, he could not himself gauge just what it was they gave him and he certainly would not see the many expressions of disgust on the faces of those who despised him in his wretchedness! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-08 a 5:15 pm


Further down the 'slippery slope'!

DUP man, Edwin Poots and Varadkar at Stormont

The DUP’s  newly ‘resurrected’ power-sharing arrangement with Sinn Fein signals a new and more dangerous constitutional situation in Northern Ireland. The present political scene in Stormont is decidedly worse than the previously shameful set of circumstances, that were brought in by the DUP’s 2007 sell-out to power-sharing with Sinn Fein, as this BBC news report indicates.

UK and Ireland leaders visit Northern Ireland to mark Stormont return

The joint visit by ‘Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar’ to meet with the leaders of Sinn Fein and the DUP, surely must indicate that we have ‘joint control’ operating over northern Ireland by the London and Dublin governments! I am sure that Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister, would doubtless have insisted on Varadkar being here as an indication of Dublin’s role in our affairs! The DUP’s  Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Assembly Speaker, DUP man, Edwin Poots, were both photographed standing by lamely as this republican ‘advance’ of its political objectives  was confirmed!

Emma Little-Pengelly welcomes Varadkar

Having failed to get rid of the ‘post-Brexit trade rules’, despite loudly proclaiming that he had, Jeffrey Donaldson has led the DUP, and Unionism generally, into a further degrading of our constitutional position within the United Kingdom. This is indicated by the Dublin Prime Minister, the self-confessed sodomite, Leo Varadkar, being welcomed to Stormont alongside the British Prime Minister by the DUP, thus signifying that he has a place in the directing of the affair of Northern Ireland.

Far from leading Unionism into ‘good times’, as he has declared, Donaldson has only managed to ‘grease the downward slide’ and accelerate the demise of our Protestant heritage!

“O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself . . . O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.,”  Hosea 13:9, 4:1.

“Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God,” 2 Kings 17:13-14. (Please read all of 2 Kings 17)

“The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves,” Isaiah 3:9.

“Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?  . . . . Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts,” Jeremiah 2:17, 19.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2024-02-05 a 4:54 pm


Stormont today!!

It’s 2007 all over again but much further down the road started on by unionism back then!

It is quite amazing the degree of delusion and self-deception that abounds in Stormont Buildings today. Chief amongst the beguiled is the DUP party. As in 2007, they are afloat on the cloudy notions that their fresh sell-out of what remains of Unionism’s life and liberty here, will usher in a day of blessing and bounty for this province!

How such a thing could be in the wake of their scandalous climbdown and their peddling of such as that which a former Northern Ireland Attorney General and acknowledged ‘constitutional legal expert’, says is absolutely NOT what Jefrey Donaldson and his self-seeking cronies claim it to be!

Hailing a uniting together with the evil liberal views of the Ulster Unionist Party and the Alliance Party, both supporters of abortion, sodomy and LGBT+ perversities, the blatantly sectarian nationalists of the SDLP, and and all this that under the leadership of Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neil, as a prescription that bodes well for this land can only lead to utter failure and further misery.

The reader and believer of the Bible is better placed than the most acclaimed ‘political commentator’ to anticipate just where this evil political amalgam will take the country. The Holy Scriptures have many examples of such misguided forays by nations and the sad consequences. The Christian, in these days of confusion and claims and counter-claims, would be very wise to stay close to their Bibles. Far from being outdated and and irrelevant, it is away ahead of the times!

Let us ever heed the words of Isaiah. “Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it,” Isaiah 46:8-11. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-03 a 7:47 pm


Legal advice from John Larkin KC on DUP deal

I hasten to post this link to the response of the former Attorney General and leading constitutional lawyer, John Larkin KC, to a request from those who shared most of the anti-Protocol platforms with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, namely, Ben Habib, Baroness Hoey, Jim Allister and Jamie Bryson, for his legal opinion on the DUP deal.

Here it is and it will not make good reading for supporters of the ‘Donaldson Deal’!!

Legal advice from John Larkin KC on DUP deal

TUV leader, Jim Allister provided a response to John Larkin’s legal assessment of the ‘Donaldson Deal’.

TUV leader reacts to Stormont deal legal advice

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2024-02-02 a 8:28 pm


The book of Esther - Part 2

A picture book of the final deliverance of God’s Jewish remnant in the last days!

As I stated in the first part of this study, I began reading the book of Esther as part of  my daily Bible readings on January 24th. It came home to me afresh that it is a narrative that is truly suggestive of the events the Jewish people will encounter at the close of this age just prior to the Lord’s return to deliver the remnant of them that will have escaped the Antichrist’s attempt to destroy them. He will also return to slay the latter-day ‘Haman’, who has a very clear likeness in his murderous hatred of the ancient people of God to the Antichrist who is to come.

Esther Denouncing Haman (1888) by Ernest Normand

I have already set before you two main points for consideration, I come now to my third main point.

III. I BELIEVE THE JEWS HUMBLING OF THEMSELVES AT THE NEWS OF THE DECREE OF HAMAN TO SLAUGHTER THEM, HELPS US UNDERSTAND FUTURE EVENTS IN JERUSALEM WHEN THE JEWS REALISE THEIR UTTERLY LOST STATE

This terrible time of tribulation will serve to awaken the Jews to just how lost they are without the Lord. God in His sovereign grace and mercy will use the actions of Antichrist to humble His people. It is thus spoken of by Zechariah. “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God,” Zechariah 13:8-9.

No foreshadowing in Scripture ever tallies in every point with that of which it is a portent. We all, I am sure, recognise in the battle between David and Goliath a picture of the confrontation between the Lord Jesus and the Antichrist. However, we must allow for slight divergences of detail. I will only mention one. The battle between the Lord and Antichrist will take place in the vicinity of Jerusalem whereas David slew Goliath in the valley of Elah, some 20 miles from Jerusalem by road. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-02 a 8:00 am


Moygashel Rally condemning 'Donaldson's Deal'

This a report copied from yesterday’s ‘Belfast Telegraph’ of the Moygashel Rally condemning the ‘Donaldson’s Deal’.

The newspaper’s report has emphasised the comments of Jamie Bryson, who is designated a ‘Loyalist Activist’ in the media here.

Hopefully we will have details of Mr Jim Allister’s comments at the rally very soon.

TUV leader Jim Allister MLA, Jamie Bryson and TUV councillor Timothy Gaston during a public meeting at Moygashel Orange Hall, near Dungannon

I wish to add one comment and that is that I cannot endorse Mr Bryson’s opinion when he says:—

“I must also mention gallant principled people such as Carla Lockhart, Ian Paisley, Paul Girvan, Michelle McIlveen, Paul Frew, and Jonny Buckley.

“Those are just some of the people who have taken a stand, and continue to stand firm on the promises the DUP made whilst sadly the leadership have surrendered.”

Amongst those named by Mr Bryson are members of the DUP who found acceptable in the past, and have given no indication that such is no longer their opinion, power-sharing with Sin Fein/IRA, even when Martin McGuinness, the self-confessed IRA gunman, was Joint First Minister! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-01 a 11:30 pm


Only seeing half the problem!

This is worth a read and some very good points are made, BUT I have to ask the question: How does a man who see the  political ‘moral decay’, fail to see that the decay started in the ecumenical churches, of which he is a member of one the leading ecumenical denominations!

The Bible’s teaching on ’separation’ from sin and heresy has been ignored and rejected by many professing ‘evangelicals’ and THIS has been one of the main, indeed, it is the MAIN reason for the state we are in.

Men in pulpits have gone along with the embracing of immoral perversions, the unbiblical ordination of women as ministers, the rejection of the inspiration of Holy Scripture and many other ‘liberal lies’ and thus led their flocks into that same rejection of God and His truth.

We cannot defy God and not reap disaster and then expect His help in the time of trouble!

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

ONLY SEEING HALF THE PROBLEM!

(Double click and this image should enlarge)

Posted on 2024-02-01 a 8:20 pm


The lies don't change -- they just get bigger

Jim Allister says that under the new DUP-UK deal, NI will still retain red and green lanes, an Irish Sea Border and EU jurisdiction on trade laws.

I can only rejoice in the providence of God that we have at this time a man with Jim Allister’s abilities and integrity. His examination of the ‘Donaldson Deal’ shows it to be one of the biggest political shams ever to be foisted upon a people.

If the DUP accept this scandalous arrangement, then it will be their political ‘death certificate’!

I suspect that there is a London/EU element to this ‘Deal’. It is the goal of both these manipulators to promote a ‘United Ireland’.

The DUP’s agreement has brought about the re-opening of Stormont, this time with a First Minister who gave her complete endorsement to the terrorism of the IRA. Under Michelle O’Neill, and she already boasts of this, the campaign to take Northern Ireland completely out of the UK and under the Irish Republic, will be freshly energised!

I commend this article to our readers.


THE LIES DON’T CHANGE — THEY JUST GET BIGGER

Northern Ireland Protocol: TUV leader Jim Allister says DUP deal with government retains red and green lanes, Irish Sea Border and EU jurisdiction over Province

Jim Allister says that under the new DUP-UK deal, NI will still retain red and green lanes, an Irish Sea Border and EU laws.

‘Belfast Newsletter’
By Philip Bradfield
Published 31st Jan 2024, 18:01 GMT

Mr Allister was speaking after the Government published the proposed legislation behind its new deal with the DUP to restore Stormont.

The legislation is intended to address unionist concerns that the Northern Ireland Protocol has undermined the Province’s place in the union in commercial, constitutional and regulatory terms.

After studying the new legislation, Mr Allister said: “Our Union is still ruptured – the only difference now being that the DUP is stepping up as Protocol implementers.” Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-02-01 a 8:12 pm

January 2024

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Shifting, sinking sands of political expediency!

Photo by Keith Hardy on Unsplash

I am anxious at this time of deliberate confusion generated by duplicitous craft, to get out as much of the truth as I can.

I freely acknowledge that I must rely on the guidance and information of those well versed in the intricacies of the situation that has overtaken us all and I have quoted their observations in this article.

I can only thank the providence of God that there are today voices raised in opposition to the treachery that is at work in our poor blighted province.

I hope you find this article helpful.


THE SHIFTING, SINKING SANDS OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY!

“ . . .  your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity,” Isaiah 59:3-4.

I recall, back in the mid-1980s, when I was a DUP member of the then Stormont Assembly, telling my congregation one Sabbath evening, how good it was to be back in the pulpit!

I told them that in Stormont, promises were made and strategies agreed on a Monday and by Wednesday, few could remember anything of the details of the promises and agreements, for political advantages had altered and the profitabilities of the recent arrangements had been overtaken and a ‘somersault’ was required in order to seize bigger and better gains. A resetting of the party sails had to take place in order to take advantage of the new winds that were blowing!

Press secretaries and glib-tongued party spokesmen swiftly would explain how that there was no deceit, no change of heart, no compromise — it’s just that what appears as an ‘about turn’ was really what had been announced on the Monday was not properly explained and set out for the public to rightly understand. But now that was being rectified. What had appeared as black was in fact white and any misunderstanding of the party position was now being more clearly explained on the Wednesday!

Such is the world of make-believe and deceit that is foisted upon the public! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-30 a 9:53 pm


The Book of Esther - Part 1

On this morning, as Ulster awakens to a further chapter in the betrayal of the Protestant people, it is fitting that we turn our eyes heavenward and, through the lens of God’s Word, view what it is God has planned.

Unlike unfaithful man, God keeps His promises aye, to the very last letter!

“The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,” Isaiah 14:24.

I trust this first part of a simple two-part study of the eschatology of the book of Esther  will serve to settle our hearts and minds this morning.


THE BOOK OF ESTHER . . . . Part 1.

A picture book of the final deliverance of God’s Jewish remnant in the last days!

A 19th century portrayal of Queen Esther, by Hermann Anschuetz.

As I began reading the book of Esther in my daily Bible readings on January 24th, it come home to me with fresh power that the book is a narrative that is truly suggestive of the events the Jewish people will encounter at the close of this age just prior to the Lord’s return to deliver the Jewish remnant that will have escaped the Antichrist’s attempt to destroy them. The Lord will also return to slay the latter-day ‘Haman’, a very clear likeness in his murderous hatred of the ancient people of God to the coming Antichrist.

Let us first of all note that:

I. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE NAME OF GOD IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER

It is the ONLY book in the Bible where this is the case! It occurred to me that a possible reason for this is the fact that it prophetically pictures for us the period in this world’s history when the knowledge of God will have all but disappeared. There is a time coming to this world and particularly to that region within the boundaries of the old Roman Empire for that will be Antichrist’s dominion, where he will lead people in rebellion against God.. Within this territory there will be a deepening darkness which will eventually see the name and knowledge of God ‘outlawed’ on the pain of death for any who violate this decree. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-30 a 9:20 pm


The Roman Catholic children's home - a place with a dark history!

Historical abuse: Children’s home ‘robbed our dad of his life’

Our family moved to Belfast just seventy years ago this month. It soon became a custom for the family on a Sabbath afternoon to walk from our home in Rugby Avenue, up the Ormeau Road toward its junction with the Saintfield Road. There was a graveyard there where some relatives on my father’s side were buried, and the grave often visited.

On our way up the Ormeau Road, just before its junction with the Ravenhill Road, there was an imposing and ‘brooding’ high stone wall surrounding that which few had ever seen, certainly not the pedestrians walking past!

I can recall vividly my mother indicating to us that it was a part of the Roman Catholic institution and the reports regarding it were very frightening!

That she should know that, indicated that such knowledge was common!

Before anyone says that my mother was merely displaying her Protestant bigotry and prejudice, and seeking to pass it on to me, please read the BBC report I have linked above!

Whatever rumours my mother had heard were VERY TRUE!

The BBC report tells of the misery and suffering a young Roman Catholic boy, John McGuinness, was put through by nuns in the Nazareth Lodge on the Ravenhill Road. It was a part of that Roman Catholic establishment on the adjacent Ormeau Road, surrounded by that ‘brooding high stone wall’ aforementioned. This abuse took place when the boy was seven years old until he was nine, from 1967-69. Mr McGuinness died in 2020, aged 59.

His abuse would have would have taken place over a decade AFTER my mother’s warnings to me!

Mr John McGuinness said “a number of nuns assaulted him and alleged a handyman who worked at the home subjected him to regular sexual assaults in the toilets.” The BBC report states that when they contacted, the Sisters of Nazareth said it had no comment!

Roman Catholicism has a most wicked and depraved reputation arising, from amongst other things, the abuse of children in homes run by it.

Consider these headlines!

Nazareth Lodge resident who says he was abused by nun gets payout

This abuse involved a boy in the years 1989 to 1996, a long time after my mother’s truthful report of the reputation that Rome children’s homes had! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-27 a 6:43 pm


The spirit of Esau alive and flourishing in Ulster today!

“‭Then Jacob‭ gave‭‭ Esau‭ bread‭ and pottage‭ of lentiles‭; and he did eat‭‭ and drink‭‭, and rose up‭‭, and went his way‭‭: thus Esau‭ despised‭‭ ‭his‭ birthright‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Genesis 25:34.

This is a very familiar passage especially for those who can recall the late Dr Ian Paisley’s ministry in the old church on the lower Ravenhill Road, Belfast.

In his earnest contending against the beginnings of the sell-out of Ulster’s godly heritage by ecumenical preachers and the unionist politicians they influenced and misled, Dr Paisley often referred to the utterly reprehensible actions of Esau.

The beginnings of the betrayal back in the early 1960s, has developed, sadly, through continual and increasing compromise with the philosophy of the pro-unity with Rome ‘false prophets’, back-peddling in the face of terrorism, embracing a shameful power-sharing arrangement with Sinn Fein/IRA, which brought that terrorist-supporting group in ‘out of the cold’ into the fold of public acceptance and approval.

This downward slide has reached its latest depths with the Democratic Unionist Party on the verge of endorsing the treacherous exclusion of Northern Ireland from being a truly integral part of the United Kingdom under the terms of the The ‘Windsor Framework’, an arrangement reached by the UK and EU at the behest of the Irish Republic, which has long illegally laid claim to the six counties of Northern. Ireland and which has aided and abetted republican terrorism in an effort to bring that about!

The following headline in yesterday’s ‘Belfast Telegraph’ must alarm every true Unionist!

Hopes rising that DUP will return to Stormont as party officers could back deal

The report says that “Optimism is increasing across the political divide that Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will lead his party back into the Stormont Executive within the next fortnight.”

The DUP leadership will use every base trick and deceit to fool the Unionist people regarding the true character of any arrangement they come to with the Westminster Government, but it is but the ripening of the fruit of the betrayal that was planted back in the 1960s and of which Dr Paisley repeatedly warned. Sadly and tragically, he also became a party to the betrayal in 2007, when he led the DUP into the power-sharing Executive in union with former IRA commander, the now dead, Martin McGuinness!

Whatever emerges from this conspiratorial arrangement between the DUP and Westminster, it cannot be denied that the DUP have yet again broken their ‘firm undertakings’ to their electorate!

The whole shameful process is but history repeating itself. Man by nature is ‘Esau-like’ in his outlook and behaviour.

I. ESAU, LIKE TODAY’S POLITICIANS, PLACED NO VALUE ON THE BLESSING OF GOD!

1. Esau‭ despised‭‭ ‭his‭ birthright‭.‬‬‬‬‬‬ The birthright of Esau was a matter of very great importance, of that there can be no room for doubt.

The birthright then had wonderful privileges. This is seen in the blessing Isaac bestowed upon Jacob, deceived by him into thinking he was blessing his first born, Esau. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-25 a 8:32 pm


A wonderful foreshadowing of Christ’s return to Jerusalem

The Second Jewish Temple. Model in the Israel Museum.

A wonderful foreshadowing of Christ’s return to Jerusalem in triumph at His second advent

“‭And‭ Jesus‭ went‭‭ into‭ the temple‭ of God‭, and‭ cast out‭‭ all them‭ that sold‭‭ and‭ bought‭‭ in‭ the temple‭, and‭ overthrew‭‭ the tables‭ of the moneychangers‭, and‭ the seats‭ of them that sold‭‭ doves‭,‭ ‭and‭ said‭‭ unto them‭, It is written‭‭, My‭ house‭ shall be called‭‭ the house‭ of prayer‭; but‭ ye‭ have made‭‭ it‭ a den‭ of thieves‭.‭ ‭And‭ the blind‭ and‭ the lame‭ came‭‭ to him‭ in‭ the temple‭; and‭ he healed‭‭ them‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew 21:12-14.

I read this chapter yesterday as part of my scheduled Bible reading on that day. When I came to the verses 12 – 14, I noted the words, “‭‭‭‭‭‭the temple‭ of God‬‬‬‬‬‬‬”. I was made to think of that term used by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2, where he writes of the Antichrist.“‭Let‭‭ no‭ man‭ deceive‭‭ you‭ by‭ any‭ means‭: for‭ ‭that day shall not come‭, except‭ there come‭‭ a falling away‭ first‭, and‭ that man‭ of sin‭ be revealed‭‭, the son‭ of perdition‭;‭ ‭who‭ opposeth‭‭ and‭ exalteth‭‭ himself above‭ all‭ that is called‭‭ God‭, or‭ that is worshipped‭; so‭ that he‭ as‭ God‭ sitteth‭‭ in‭ the temple‭ of God‭, shewing‭‭ himself‭ that‭ he is‭‭ God‭.‭ ‭Remember ye‭‭ not‭, that‭, when I was‭‭ yet‭ with‭ you‭, I told‭‭ you‭ these things‭?‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬2 Thessalonians 2:3-5. Those who take literally what the Bible says of Christ’s second advent in both the Old and New Testament prophecies and do not try to spiritualise the setting forth of the wonderful events that will accompany that great occasion, take Paul’s reference to “‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭the temple‭ of God‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬” as a reference to a temple as real and literal as the one to which Matthew is referring in our text.

Yes, the temple of Matthew chapter 21 is long gone, destroyed by the Roman armies in AD 70. Yet the clear implication of Paul’s reference to “the temple of God” is that in the latter days the Jews will rebuild a temple, even though they will still be in rejection of the New Testament revelation of the Lord Jesus being their true Messiah.

The Bible reveals a return by Israel, scattered back in the first century AD, in unbelief. Here is a sample of that event set forth in Holy Scripture.

“‭For I will take‭‭ you from among‭ the heathen‭, and gather‭‭ you out of all countries‭, and will bring‭‭ you into your own land‭.‭ ‭Then will I sprinkle‭‭ clean‭ water‭ upon you, and ye shall be clean‭‭: from all your filthiness‭, and from all your idols‭, will I cleanse‭‭ you.‭ ‭A new‭ heart‭ also will I give‭‭ you, and a new‭ spirit‭ will I put‭‭ within‭ you: and I will take away‭‭ the stony‭ heart‭ out of your flesh‭, and I will give‭‭ you an heart‭ of flesh‭.‭ ‭And I will put‭‭ my spirit‭ within‭ you, and cause‭‭ you to walk‭‭ in my statutes‭, and ye shall keep‭‭ my judgments‭, and do‭‭ ‭them‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Ezekiel 36:24-27. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-22 a 5:03 pm


“Old things pass away!”

“‭Therefore if any man ‭be in Christ‭, ‭he is a new creature‭: old things are passed away‭‭; behold‭‭, all things are become‭ new‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 2 Corinthians 5:17.

I was reminded of my age and the sombre truth that “‭we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again,”‬ 2 Samuel 14:14, by this picture which appeared in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ on Thursday morning past.

It shows the demolition of what was known as Havelock House, situated on the lower Ormeau Road. It was the old headquarters of Ulster Television. I entered that building as an employee, just short of my sixteenth birthday, the youngest member of staff at that time, on the 21st September 1959, some five weeks before Ulster Television began broadcasting.

Demolition of Havelock House, on the lower Ormeau Road, the old headquarters of Ulster Television

About eighteen months later, I began to work in the ‘Film Department’, where feature films were prepared for transmission and where advertising commercials were assembled on large reels for transmission each day.

I can recall working at a bench and looking out of the window, top left in this picture, as I helped assemble the 35 mm commercial adverts and various feature films that were broadcast. I also learned about feature film editing for sometimes the broadcasting schedule required a feature film to be shortened by a few minutes. I also was involved in editing news film reports for local news broadcasts, a knowledge which stood me in good stead in later years, when editing audio files for radio broadcasts was required..

Everything changed for me on 5th April 1964, for the Lord in mercy awakened me to my lost condition, granted me faith and repentance and I trusted Christ as my Saviour in obedience to the gospel. At the end of November of that year, just seven months later, I left Ulster Television and at the beginning of January 1965, I began as a student for the gospel ministry in the Free Presbyterian Church Theological Hall.

The above picture brought this all before me in a moment! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-19 a 5:10 pm


Two news headlines which disclose the depraved thinking of men

Former US President Donald Trump is running for another term. He won the Iowa Caucus Monday, January 15, 2024 with an overwhelming vote.

I draw your attention to two news headlines which disclose the depraved thinking of men, including some ‘professing Christians’ in America today.

“God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker,'” a voiceover intones over a minimalist piano track. “So God gave us Trump.”

“Donald Trump named in latest Epstein documents: Sarah Ransome said he had sex with ‘many girls’ in email where she also claimed pedophile had tapes of the ex-president, Richard Branson, Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton”

It must be stressed in opposition to this blasphemous rubbish that God’s Saviour is “‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭holy‭, harmless‭, undefiled‭, separate‭‭ from‭ sinners‭, and‭ made‭‭ higher than‭ the heavens‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Hebrews 7:26.

Donald Trump is as far removed from such a description as Heaven is from Hell. For ‘professing Christians’ to speak of him as do some in the USA is an indication of how ‘Antichrist’ will be seen in the near future as a ‘deliverer’ by deceived men and women!!

(See my article – “THE ANTICHRIST – What will he be like?”)

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2024-01-16 a 7:00 pm


THE ANTICHRIST - What will he be like?

Click here to check out the Editor’s book about the antichrist.

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority,” Revelation 13:2.

This is but one of the many ‘pictures’ given to us of the man who will rise at the end of this age and lead the nations in the region of the old Roman Earth or the ‘Prophetic Earth’ as it is known. His damnation will come directly at the hands of the Lord Jesus on the glorious day of His return.

“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh,” Revelation 19:19-21.

So will end in ignominy the wicked and proud attempt by the devil’s man to frustrate the purpose of God and usurp His throne!

To seek to learn what is revealed to us about the “man of sin and son of perdition” we must diligently search through God’s ‘photo album’, the inspired Holy Scriptures and humbly receive by faith the information God has given us there of the end times and ‘that wicked one’ whose activities will dominate the world stage and the thoughts, aye, and the admiration of sinful men!

I would like to gather what information I can from Holy Scripture of the person about whom  God would clearly have us to be well informed. It is obvious from the record given us by Jude that since the earliest days of men, the subject of the final apostasy and the overthrow of those involved in that apostasy by the Saviour upon His return in power, has been under consideration.

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him,” Jude 1:14-15.

That Enoch, back at the dawn of time was PROPHESYING of the return of Christ and His overthrow of Antichristianity, clearly shows that it has ever been the purpose of God to have His people made aware of the end-time events!

Thus He has given us many indications of the one who will be central in the devil’s latter day rebellion.

This is a lengthy article and even then I have only scratched the surface of what the Scriptures reveal of the Antichrist. May I suggest, if you find it too long to read at one sitting, that you read it point by point, for each point is a little article in itself.

I. THE BIBLE MAKES CLEAR THAT THE ANTICHRIST WILL APPEAR ATTRACTIVE TO THE EYES OF MEN.

1. Many of the titles given him do not denote ‘attractiveness’! He is called ‘the beast’, Revelation 13:2 — the Greek word denotes a wild, savage beast. He is called the ‘man of sin, the son of perdition’, 2 Thessalonians 2:3. He is called ‘that wicked’ (that lawless transgressor), 2 Thessalonians 2:8. He is likened unto a ‘horn’ in Daniel 7:8, 8:9. A horn is a destructive weapon on many animals by which they put forth their power to inflict injury on their opponents! He is called a ‘vile person’, Daniel 11:21. The Hebrew word means ‘contemptible’. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-15 a 6:46 pm


A 4000 year-old declaration by the Great Judge disputed and rejected still!

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land,” Genesis 12:7.

These words were spoken in 1921BC, according to Ussher’s esteemed ‘Chronology’. They are the first recorded words of the Lord to Abraham upon his reaching of Canaan, having left Ur of the Chaldees at the Lord’s command, verse 1.

The eternal intent of these words is denied by many believers. As far as they are concerned, God has no further use for the Jewish race, they have been abandoned by Him. Of course, the enemies of Israel, in the past and at the present time, reject utterly Israel’s claim upon that land God has bestowed upon them.

That is NOT what the Bible teaches!

In these words : —

I. WE HAVE THE LORD’S PRONOUNCEMENT WHICH SETTLES FOREVER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL.

“Unto thy seed will I give this land.”

1. This wonderful promise was to be reiterated on many occasions. Here is one of God’s confirmations of His promise to Abraham. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever,” Genesis 13:14-15.

The promise was repeated to Isaac. “And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;” Genesis 26:2-3.

Promises made to our fathers need to be repeated to us for them to be effectual comforts. How many comfort themselves in what their fathers had received from the Lord without ever seeking for themselves that same comfort and assurance from the lips of the Lord! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-13 a 8:00 am


Parents facing seven years in JAIL -- for opposing 'gender change'!

Photo by Carles Rabada on Unsplash

Such headlines as that below or others of that genre, have become common place. So much so, that the significance of such announcements have been virtually lost on society generally! The jail that is threatened will be chiefly for Christians since it is they who will be foremost in opposing such a wickedness!

Sadly, it is as if we have become immune to such developments and pay little or heed to them.

That gradual, almost unnoticed inroad of evil has ever been the tactic of the devil when seeking to impose his deceits and depravities amongst men. He is the ‘deceiver’ of nations as we are told in Revelation 20:1-3. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

That binding of the devil has not yet happened and will not until the Saviour returns. Therefore the devil is presently going about deceiving the nations.

This news article deals with the devil’s subtle attack on Scotland. It is an attack which he is mounting against the nations of the whole world.

The wickedness of ‘transgenderism’ is embraced by many. The man and woman in the street and the so-called ‘intelligentsia’, those found in the universities and places of learning who have gained a reputation for wisdom but who are in fact the devil’s dupes, have amongst them those dupes who believe this absolute ludicrousness! Our parliament too is blighted with such who use its influential platform to spread their iniquitous notions.

All who embrace it, support it or merely tolerate it are guilty before God of this vile, immoral, unnatural plague!

‘Transgenderism’ is a preposterous perversion, which like all such deviancies, is in utter contradiction of God’s order. “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam (Hebrew – ‘red’ or ‘earth’ out of which man was created), in the day when they were created,” Genesis 5:1-2.

Apostasy from God has ever seen an attempt to destroy this order.

“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient,” Romans 1:25-28.

CHRISTIAN, PLEASE NOTE THIS AND UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH TRENDS!! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-11 a 10:13 pm


Please sign this petition!

Reader,

Please click this link to sign the petition

“Repeal Relationships and Sexuality Education (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023”

Thank you,

The Editor

Posted on 2024-01-09 a 10:02 pm


Seven days' notice of coming judgment!

The return of Christ to this earth, that event spoken of by Haggai the prophet, will be the glorious conclusion of this age and the beginning of the Millennial Age. “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts,” Haggai 2:6-7.

It is an event looked forward to by the redeemed since the days of Adam. A little verse tucked away in the epistle of Jude shows this to be so. “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him,” Jude 1:14-15.

It is quite possible that Adam was alive when Enoch thus prophesied, indeed he may have heard him!

The fact that it is such a central truth is emphasised by the many references to it, both in plain words and in a figurative manner, in the Old Testament.

I could not help but see a reference to the great event in one chapter of my Bible readings yesterday. Here are a few thoughts that arose out of my mediations.


 SEVEN DAYS’ NOTICE OF COMING JUDGMENT!

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth,” Genesis 7:4.

I read Genesis chapter 7 on the Lord’s Day past and in the light of what the Saviour said, as recorded in Luke 17:26: “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man”, I looked for instruction regarding the days near to the return of the Saviour in power and great glory to gather His redeemed people to Himself.

Building the Ark – James Jacques Joseph Tissot, c. 1896-1902

As I considered the above verse, I thought how that:

I. THE LORD WILL KEEP HIS FAITHFUL ONES INFORMED OF THE APPROACH OF THE COMING JUDGMENT.

This was a wonderfully precise warning of the terrible judgment that was to befall the wicked earth. Mankind had turned its back upon the Lord, aye, and had defied Him most wickedly. Genesis 6:5 states this fact most emphatically. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” I have emboldened the three words which indicate the utterly depraved nature of the generation in Noah’s day. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-08 a 5:29 pm


Strong opposition to Heaton-Harris’s evil RSE plan

Strong opposition to Heaton-Harris’s evil RSE plan
Despite support from Sinn Fein, Alliance and Ulster Unionist party members

Here is a most welcome report in today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’ of the response to a public consultation on the Secretary of State’s plan to introduce compulsory abortion education in the schools of Northern Ireland.

Chris Heaton-Harris’s plan will be taught without reference to the Law of God or what the Bible has to say about the crime of the murder of the unborn, which is what abortion is!

Welcome as this response is, in the light of government actions in the past, it is unlikely it will have any substantial impact upon men who hold high office and who are godless in thoughts and action! This is especially so since many of the questions asked in the consultation process where deliberately ambiguous and ambivalent.

The Government’s Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) is born of the spirit of apostasy which has been rampant in the United Kingdom now for many decades. It was born in the seminaries and pulpits of the main churches and quickly took root in the pews of those denominations. In many instances, Christians failed in their duty to obey God’s command to ‘come out from among’ those who thus rejected His Word.

That failure alone greatly aided the growth of the rebellion against God and His truth until we have reached the position where the next generation is thus targeted.

The great majority of Christian parents, whose children are sent to the ungodly ‘state school’ system of education, thus continue in the path of failure and compromise. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-06 a 8:20 pm


Matthew 4:12

John the Baptist in Prison, Visited by Salomé by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, 1591–1666

Today I read the verse: “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee,” Matthew 4:12, as part of my daily Bible reading and it brought to mind an incident back in July 1966.

Dr Paisley, Rev John Wylie and I had just begun our three month prison sentence. It was the second morning of us being together, Dr Paisley being arrested on the Wednesday as he went to his prayer meeting and John and I the next day Thursday, 21st July. I had spent a night in a police cell because I was arrested too late in the evening to be admitted to Crumlin Road prison. Early on the Friday morning, I was taken to prison and duly processed and finally met up with my two companions.

On Saturday morning, John disclosed, as we met for a short time of prayer in his cell, that the evening before, just before the light in his cell was put out, he read from his Bible and the above verse was part of his reading. He excitedly disclosed this wonderful providence how that the Lord indicated to him that He knew all about his imprisonment even as He knew about the cruel incarceration of John the Baptist!

As John related his account of his reading of the verse and the encouragement it was to him, it occurred to me  (I always had an interest in the meaning of names) that ‘Ian’ and ‘Ivan’, were the Scottish Gaelic and the Russian forms of ‘John’. That set us all to rejoicing at this significant and merciful word from the Lord!

The name ‘John’ is of Hebrew origin and carries the meaning of ‘Jehovah is gracious’!

Dr Ian Paisley (centre) Rev John Wylie (right) and Rev Ivan Foster (left), several years after their release from prison, together again, waiting to board a flight at an airport.

As I look back over the 58 years since that incident, I see nothing but God’s graciousness to me!

I’m rejoicing night and day
As I walk the narrow way,
For the hand of God in all my life I see;
And the reason of my bliss,
Yes, the secret all is this:
That the Comforter abides with me.

He abides, He abides;
Hallelujah, He abides with me!
I’m rejoicing night and day
As I walk the narrow way,
For the Comforter abides with me.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2024-01-04 a 6:17 pm


Cruel China's crusade against Christianity -- a warning!

Rev. Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission

Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake,” Matthew 24:9.

Many millions of Chinese people have, in times past, been won to Christ under the gospel. No greater example of this can be found than in the ministry of Hudson Taylor (1832-1905). It was said of him: “No other missionary in the nineteen centuries since the Apostle Paul has had a wider vision and has carried out a more systematised plan of evangelising a broad geographical area than Hudson Taylor.”

Under his and his associates’ labours, many thousands of Chinese were converted to Christ and mission stations and schools founded. He spent fifty-four years in China and it is calculated that he was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country, starting 125 schools and the establishment of more than 300 stations of work with more than 499 local helpers in all 18 provinces. A devout Baptist, he was the founder of the China Inland Mission.

However, that harvest field came under great and increasing persecution due to the rise and eventual victory of Communism over all its opponents some seventy five years ago. On October 1, 1949, Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The announcement ended the costly full-scale civil war between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT). The creation of the People’s Republic of China also completed the long process of governmental upheaval in China begun by the Chinese Revolution of 1911. The 1911 ‘Revolution’ brought to an end the long succession of ‘dynasties’, a form of ‘feudalism.’

The story of Hudson Taylor’s labours is a great read for any young Christian. He was, to a large degree, the epitome of the Christian missionary!

Today, the suffering of God’s people in China is increasing as Communism continues its callous and cruel crusade against that which is defines as a myth and a delusion! That Bible Christianity is no mere ‘myth’ may be seen in that the orchestrated barbarity of the powerful Communist Party in China cannot eradicate it. Rather, despite all that the Christians are called upon to endure, a remnant patiently and peacefully remains faithful to Christ and His cause and continues to see souls saved. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-03 a 5:06 pm


God’s Purpose for Gaza

This message was preached at the monthly meeting of the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony in the Bible Presbyterian Church hall, Kilburn, London on 25th May 2012.

Upon reading it I was struck at how some of the statements in particular correlate very much with events in today’s Gaza over the last three months.

The text of the message has just been published in the SGAT magazine, ‘Watching and Waiting’, January — March 2024 and we have received kind permission to reprint that article here on ‘The Burning Bush’.

I trust this proves helpful and informative.

Ivan Foster



God’s Purpose for Gaza

(Jeremiah 47)

By Ivan Foster

(This is a summary of a message preached at a meeting of the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony on 25th May, 2012).

I have enjoyed studying this subject in God’s Word and am confident that I have benefitted from the study.  God has a purpose even for such a small entity as Gaza and it is the privilege of Christians to know the purpose of God.  God has revealed in very minute detail what He is going to do in the future regarding obscure nations, even nations about which we may not know much.  I believe that it is vital for us to give attention to anything that God has revealed; our neglect of whatever God has said in His Word will lead to ignorance, which inevitably will be to our cost. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-02 a 11:27 pm


A Very Happy 2024 to all our readers

From Rev Ivan & Mrs Ann Foster

This colourful male Great Spotted Woodpecker visited our garden in the Spring of ’23.

We are hoping to see more of him in the new year.

May you see and experience in 2024 much of God’s rich mercy, the CREATOR of this beautiful creature.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint,” Isaiah 40:31.

Posted on 2024-01-01 a 1:01 am


A good start to a new year . . .

If we can find men like Mahath, Joel and Kish etc!

“Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, and said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place,” 2 Chronicles 29:1-5.

I read this chapter on the morning of December 24th. As I read it I thought that the way Hezekiah started his reign provides us with a wonderful example of how we should start 2024!

King Hezekiah removes the idol of the bronze serpent during the cleansing of the temple

Of course, what King Hezekiah desired would never have been accomplished were it not for the faithful labours of the Levites who are named by the Lord in the verses 12-14. Surely the listing of their names and those of their fathers is a wonderful example of how God honours those who serve Him and the fathers responsible for the instilling of a spirit of concern for the testimony of God and the purity of His House in their sons!

I. THE LEVITES WHO TOOK ON THE TASK OF CLEANSING THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ACTED IN RESPONSE TO THE CALL OF THE KING. 

“He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place,” 2 Chronicles 29:3-5.

The state of God’s house and the conducting of the services within it are of great concern to our King, even the Lord Jesus Christ. We surely recall how it was He started and concluded His three year earthly ministry. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-01-01 a 12:01 am