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Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
The utterly astonishing headlines that filled the media websites in the UK in the last 24 hours are epitomised in the one that appeared on the local BBC website yesterday, the anniversary of the launching of the divisive and duplicitous ‘Good Friday Agreement’ some twenty-six years ago.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigns after rape charge
The headline is inconceivable and overwhelming and it has left many in Ulster deeply shocked.
The Word of God states: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father,” Matthew 10:29. What that teaches us is the absolute sovereignty of God. Nothing happens that is not under His absolute control.
As I pondered the above news headline and the increasingly horrifying further revelations, such as that issued by the police which indicated that Mrs Donaldson has also been charged, my mind sought refuge in the Word of God!
Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife to face court on charge linked to his sex crimes case
The basic truth of our system of justice states that a person is innocent until PROVEN guilty, nevertheless the political career of Jeffrey Donaldson is over for there is really no come-back from such a situation, even if a court were to find him innocent!
As I pondered this distressing situation, there came into my mind a portion of God’s Word.
Here it is:
“Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:1-8.
This portion teaches that nothing, absolutely nothing, happens that is not part of the divine plan and purpose. I looked particularly at the words, “Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Click to read more…
Posted on 2024-03-30 a 6:21 pm
Allies abandoning and Enemies Encircling — Jacob’s day of trouble draws on!
“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it,” Jeremiah 30:7.
It is most fitting that the ‘weeping prophet’ should tell us of the day of ‘Jacob’s Trouble’!
It is even more fitting that the One Who will save Jacob out of his day of trouble should give us a clear picture of that dreadful time for the people of Israel.
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 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,” Matthew 24:14-22.
Any who have the least knowledge of Bible prophecy will have heard of ‘the time of Jacob’s trouble’. Click to read more…
Posted on 2024-03-28 a 10:42 pm
Salute to faithful and principled work of Christian Institute director Colin Hart
A letter from the presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster:
As the officers of the presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, we wish to be publicly associated with the tributes already paid to Mr Colin Hart, previous director of the Christian Institute, who suddenly passed away earlier this month (Tributes to key figure in ‘gay cake’ battle, News Letter, March 19).
We extend to his family and his colleagues our deepest sympathy, assuring them of our prayerful support in the midst of their sorrow.
We pay tribute to Mr Hart’s memory for his faithful and principled adherence to the moral and spiritual tenets of God’s Holy and Infallible Word as he directed the work of the Christian Institute.
Scripture states that “The memory of the just is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7).
We salute Mr Hart’s memory, and we thank God for his influence for God’s glory in our nation over many years.
Rev Samuel Murray, Moderator of Presbytery,
Rev Ian Brown, Deputy Moderator of Presbytery,
Rev John Greer, Clerk of Presbytery.
Posted on 2024-03-25 a 5:40 pm
A warm welcome awaits you at . . . .
Posted on 2024-03-25 a 6:00 am
The boastings of a fool!
In his final words to his nation as he announced his resignation as leader of the Republic of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, boasts of that which he claims to have achieved but which is in truth in utter defiance of God and all that is holy.
“I am proud that we have made the country a more equal and more modern place when it comes to the rights of children, the LGBT community, equality for women and their bodily autonomy.” (Belfast Newsletter)
He is openly a sodomite and as such he has encouraged the people of the Republic of Ireland to defy God and go further down the road of embracing and sanitising and legalising abortion, sodomy, same-sex marriage and the perversions of the ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender’ lifestyle.
It is this that he is proud of!
In the light of God’s Word, which of course Leo Varadkar rejects, there is a coming day in which his pride will dissolve into bitter despair as he reaps the eternal consequences of his perverted lifestyle and his evil influence upon his country.
God’s people have long anticipated that day as they have endured the vexation of the rebellion of a godless world.
“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.
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,” Jude 1:14-21.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
Posted on 2024-03-20 a 3:43 pm
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.
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’.
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.
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!
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
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!
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!
“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
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
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