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A ‘watchman’, in the Biblical sense, is one who watches for significant events and who reports these to the citizens whose interests he is seeking to guard.

There are significant events taking place in the world in these times which need the attention of the people of God directed to them.

That is the duty of the occupant of the pulpit. While I do not have a pulpit, I do have a pen and I am pressed in my heart to issue a comment on these events, while I can.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

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WARS AND RUMOURS OF WAR

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet,” Matthew 24:6.

There are reports of many tragic events filling the news bulletins of late. We cannot avoid ‘hearing’ of such things. Hearts have been broken, families bereaved and that often times as a result of human folly, pride and outright depravity.

The murder of little ones, often by their own mothers and fathers, is distressingly common. It is impossible to comprehend such wickedness and cruelty to helpless little ones. Such crimes are inexplicable except when seen as but clear examples of the Biblical truth, that mankind, having chosen not “to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them,” Romans 1:28-32.

Two headlines this morning illustrate yet again the relevance of God’s Word and the omniscience of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (more…)

This report appeared in yesterday’s (23/6/23) ‘Belfast Newsletter’ and I know it will be of interest to many and the family will be remembered in prayer as they embark on their journey.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

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Northern Ireland minister and his family on a mission to Uganda to spread God’s word

A Northern Ireland minister has answered God’s call and is on his way to Uganda with his family to lead a local mission there.

Rev Ray Carscadden, who has been the minister of Coragarry Free Presbyterian Church in Co Monaghan since October 2017, is to begin a new life at the Emmanuel Mission Station, approximately 80 miles south of the Ugandan capital Kampala.

The mission station consists of the Emmanuel Church, of which Rev Carscadden will become minister, and the Emmanuel Christian School, whose principal is Noreen McAfee from Ballymoney Free Presbyterian Church, a missionary in Africa for more than 20 years.

Before travelling to Uganda, Rev Carscadden, his wife Rhonda and their children John, Isla-Grace and George were the subject of a Sending Forth Service in Dungannon Free Presbyterian Church which was attended by nearly 300 people.

Rev Carscadden, a former Science and Technology teacher at Clogher Valley Independent Christian School, was a member of Kesh Free Presbyterian Church before being called into the ministry.

Having completed four years of study at the Whitefield College of the Bible, he became minister at Coragarry Free Presbyterian Church in 2017. (more…)

As a means of setting the many outlandish events of today in context, I often ask myself: ‘Just what would my father and mother have thought of this?’

I cannot conceive of what they would make of the unspeakably ludicrous happenings in some schools today!

Children are allowed, aye, encouraged, by ‘half-witted’ teachers, to identify themselves as various animals.

Of course, sin makes ‘beasts’ of all who surrender to its lusts. Jude makes this point. “‭But‭ these‭ speak evil‭‭ of those things which‭‭ they know‭‭ not‭: but‭ what‭ they know‭‭ naturally‭, as‭ brute‭ beasts‭, in‭ those things‭ they corrupt themselves‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Jude verse 10.

But this evil, deviant and bizarre phenomenon was never heard of before.

A teacher in Belfast recently called on parents to resist the proposed educational cut-backs.

School budgets: Belfast headteacher urges parents to fight cuts

But surely there is a greater threat facing children. This utterly freakish and alien craze that has broken forth amongst the young, parents should rise up and fight it!

In truth, this depraved folly has its origins in the lawlessness that a departure from God and His Word brings upon any people guilty of such a thing. The fruit of apostasy is seen in its fulness amongst the offspring of those guilty of rebellion from God. Rebellion against God in parents brings forth rebellion by their children against them. Paul stated that one of the marks of the final apostasy was this very thing. “Disobedient‭ to parents‬” (2 Timothy 3:2) is one of the many ills that spring from a defiance of God.

It is very obvious to a candid observer of today’s society that parenting has lost its way because it has cast away the final authority on the subject — the Word of God. (more…)