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Causeway Coast Vineyard - a 'citadel of confusion'!
When I read the following report from the ‘BBC News,Northern Ireland’ website, I could not help but contrast what Paul tells us of his life and experiences and the lifestyle of those leading this pentecostal ‘superstore/social club’ in Coleraine!
Paul outlines his lifestyle in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.
“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
Paul’s record of his life is far removed from that of the ‘Coleraine’ apostles whose carry-on brings the gospel into disrepute !!! What a wearing of sheep’s clothing’ goes on in the name of our Saviour!
The BBC report tells us that a report into the conduct of the former ‘pastor’, Alan Scott, identified his behaviour as being marked by “manipulation, inappropriate comments, narcissistic behaviour, and certain occurrences of public shaming and spiritual abuse”.
It is to be noted in what might be called ‘this citadel of confusion’ that the former ‘pastor’, Alan Scott, was charged with that which Paul refers to as a most serious sin. “Narcissistic behaviour” is listed by Paul as the FIRST of the features of the end-time apostasy.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy . . . . ,” 2 Timothy 3:1-2. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-30 a 3:42 pm
Ireland - the most anti-Israel country in Europe
This article is taken from the ‘Jewish Chronicle’. It was written by an Irish man and contains the usual ‘anti-British’ bias but please note its highlighting of the changing attitudes and increased ‘antisemitism’ amongst Irish republicans, north and south, as the street protests here in Ulster shows!
Demonstrators gathered at Writers Square before marching along Royal Avenue to Belfast City Hall – BBC News 15/10/23
Speakers included a number of politicians, Rev Bill Shaw and Dr Hani Mandhi who has family in Gaza – BBC News today, 28/10/23
Sinn Fein/IRA, were to the fore at these protests. That is not surprising since they have been long time allies of Hamas and employed the tactics of the Palestinian terrorists during the many years of the ‘Ulster Troubles’, kidnapping, torturing, murdering men, women and children in their pursuits of their evil cause, were to the fore at these protests! Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-28 a 7:35 pm
Evil ‘social media postings’ by Muslim medics
The following national headlines of recent days tell much about the true character of ‘Islam’!
Revealed: NHS worker celebrates Hamas terror attacks on Israel and advocates ‘flogging’ of journalists in series of disturbing online posts
NHS doctor mocks Israeli festival-goers fleeing Hamas gunmen in social media post saying: ‘If it was your home, you would stay and fight. You wouldn’t just run away’
NHS Medic Under Fire for Social Media Posts Supporting Hamas Attacks
The religion of the Muslim, commonly called ‘Islam’, began in the 7th century and has many millions of followers. It was advanced through the slaughter of its enemies and critics and opponents.
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, launched raids against many non-Muslims. Muslim sources have revealed that he launched dozens of military raids against various groups, including polytheists, Jews, and Christians. Through these raids, Muhammad became so powerful as an Arab tribal leader that many tribes submitted to him and thus declared their conversion to Islam. The word ‘Islam’ itself means “submission” and “surrender.”
It is impossible that the teaching of Islam will produce true holiness for the life-style of its founder, a model for all Muslims, was profligate and debauched. Muhammad had many wives. The exact number is disputed, but he had somewhere between 9 and 12. He also had many concubines and female slaves.
Muslims say he married these women to take care of them after they lost their husbands. Others believe these marriages were for economic and political reasons.
He was an immoral monster and a paedophile, a molester of children. Aisha was his youngest ‘wife’. He married her when she was six and consummated the marriage when she was nine. Zaynab was his adopted son’s wife, but the adoption was later revoked by ‘Allah’, the name given to the Islamist ‘god’, thus allowing Muhammad to marry her.
Despite these evil truths regarding the beginning of this latter-day heathen deception, Governments and police forces and the press are most loath to label Islam for what it is. That is because Islam, if it is deemed to have been offended or worse still, if ‘Allah’ was ‘blasphemed’, then its people will launch a terrorist ‘jihad’, a ruthless campaign of terror against the offender. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-28 a 7:10 pm
The scriptures crying out to be preached!
“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits,” Daniel 11:32.
I recall reading that Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, regarding his selecting of texts to preach on, that when he read his Bible, verses jumped out at him crying out,’PREACH ME’!
Now I am by no means a CHS! But his Bible is my Bible and acts it in a very similar fashion. I cannot read the chapters allocated in my Bible-reading calendar without a similar experience. My days of pulpit preaching appear to be over, but I still can tap with two fingers on my laptop and there are verses every day that demand that I begin tapping!
Today, I read the eleventh chapter of Daniel. I then went on to read 1 Timothy 4. As I read verse 6, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained,” I was reminded of what I had read in Daniel 11 and heard again the cry to seek to expound what Daniel had recorded of his vision.
Paul, in his exhortation to Timothy was referring to his opening words in chapter 4, when he said: “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things . . . .” The ‘these things’ was the Holy Spirit’s ‘express’ warning of a departure from the faith in the “the latter times’. How often the inspired writers were directed of God to disclose events in ‘the latter times”!
Preacher — how often do you expound what the Lord would have His people know about these ‘latter times’ in which we live?
Could I turn your attention to Daniel 11 and deal with the subject — ‘The character of a faithful remnant in the very last days.’
The verse 32 and the words found there will serve as the basis of this study. “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
The word ‘but’ is a word which introduces a contrast. The people here referred to are indeed a contrast to others referred to in this portion of God’s Word. Let me establish first of all that : Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-27 a 4:55 pm
Palestine and Queens University, Belfast
The following email has been received by me from Dr Edward Cooke, of Queen’s University, Belfast, Doctor of Philosophy, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.
It highlights, among other things, what I will call: “The unprincipled actions of some foreign student who are here enjoying freedom and benefits they would not have in their home lands. They avail of these benefits and liberties to seek to undermine the very society into which they have been welcomed.”
I say ‘some foreign students’ in order to offset the anticipated cries of ‘xenophobia’ from those loudmouthed ‘educated ejits’ who abound within the world of professed academia.
While it may be only ‘some’, we ought to remember the warning of God’s Word: “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour,”Ecclesiastes 10:1.
And again: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” Galatians 5:9.
A ‘few’ can do much harm, aided by a left-wing press, which shares their destructive hatred of Bible-based morality.
This is the trend about which God warns us in His Word. I have often quoted Paul’s inspired words of warning regarding these days.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away,” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
The warning of Dr Cooke has been shared with many public representatives. I wonder just what they do with such important information?
Sincerely in Christ’s name
Ivan Foster
I should state Dr Cooke’s email was sent also to many Unionist politicians, not one of whom made any reply!
They are a bunch of gutless beings, enslaved by popular opinion, irrespective of truth and righteousness!
Palestine and QUB
Without the same independent oversight auditing and regulating bodies that exist within England and Wales, the NI university sector has for decades directly and indirectly discriminated against the under-represented and marginalised Protestant, unionist, traditional-conservative, and other Christian student, research and academic communities. The award of DfE and UKRI PhD scholarships by philosophically orientated, left-of-centre, secular academics is one way in which this marginalisation is perpetrated. Another way, is in the increasing number of postgraduate students at QUB and UU who are funded by their governments. Within QUB, Chinese, Iranian and other overseas students are increasingly dominating social science, technology and engineering courses. The increase in Chinese post-graduate students in the UK is already causing alarm to UK (and American) security organisations. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-26 a 5:23 pm
My first step in understanding the apostasy of today
“So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof,” 2 Kings 4:40.
Shortly after I was converted, back in 1964, Dr Ian Paisley preached a sermon: ‘Death in the pot’. It was the means of opening my understanding to the character, source and consequences of the great apostasy which the Bible says is to corrupt and poison the worldwide body of professing Christians in the latter days!
It was my privilege to sit under Dr Paisley in those days, for he was carrying out the task given him of God — WARNING ULSTER OF THE INROADS OF ECUMENICAL APOSTASY WHICH WAS INVADING THE MAINLINE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS!
An elementary understanding of the prophetic significance of the scene in 2 Kings 4, led on to the opening up of such verses as 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
And also 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Dr Paisley frequently referred to these Bible passages and others akin to them in his preaching back then and I drank in his expositions! Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-25 a 2:07 pm
Hamas fugitive living the high life in London
In its accommodating and ingratiating attitude toward Sinn Fein/IRA, the London government has initiated a disposition toward terrorism that hamstrings it and hinders it in its dealing with pro-Hamas protests.
It cannot call the native terrorist, ‘fish’ and its foreign equivalent, ‘fowl’!
The following article, which appeared over the weekend in the ‘Jerusalem Post’, highlights the London government’s compromise.
GB News also carried the story — Horror as it emerges Hamas chief lives in a London council house
The Prime Minister may speak out boldly when visiting Jerusalem but how pathetic he and his government are at home!
It all foreshadows the drifting toward that moral climate which will end in “ . . . all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear,” Revelation 13:3-9.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
The UK’s ambiguity on the subject of terrorism
Hamas fugitive living the high life in UK-funded London home
The two-story property comes with a garden and a garage, and is located only a 10 minute drive from the nearest synagogue.
(Report in Jerusalem Post — copied from The Times)
Muhammad Qassem Sawalha, a Hamas terrorist who ran operations in the West Bank, has been enjoying life in a British, state-funded home in the London borough of Barnet, The Sunday Times has reported. Barnet also houses one-fifth of all British Jews. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-23 a 4:21 pm
A most marvellous "memory loss"!
“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins,” Isaiah 43:25.
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee,” Isaiah 44:22.
“In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve,” Jeremiah 50:20.
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea,” Micah 7:18-19.
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more,” Hebrews 8:12.
Memory loss and old age go hand in hand! It is both vexing and inconvenient to suffer memory loss and many a mental struggle takes place as efforts are made to call to mind that which has ‘mysteriously’ disappeared from our memory bank.
Now, the Lord does not suffer from such an effect of ‘old age’ but we may use the term ‘memory loss’ regarding His memory of the sins of His elect. Micah says of their sins that God will “cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” That which sinks into the depths, of the seas is termed ‘lost’ in the language of the mariner. The bed of the world’s oceans and seas are littered with vessels long lost and never seen by human eyes again.
Even so it is with the sins of God’s people!
The verses at the head of our article are but some of the verses from the Bible which set forth God’s most merciful ‘putting away’ of even the memory of the sins of His pardoned people.
I am sure I am not alone in having a horror of my sins being revealed before mankind at the judgment! How blessedly sweet and comforting it is to read words like those of the texts above, when tortured by such thoughts. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-22 a 11:11 pm
Why we should love the Jewish people
As the introduction to this article states, it is the substance of two school assembly talks, in Kilskeery Independent Christian School, I gave to the children back in 2016 to mark ‘Holocaust Memorial Day’, January 27th.
It states some truths that are very relevant in the light of the upsurge of hatred toward the Jewish people, not just on the borders of Israel but reports of anti-semitism are coming in from many lands where there is an ignorance of what modern society owes to the Jewish race.
I trust that it is a blessing to you.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
Why we should love the Jewish people
(Holocaust Memorial Day 2016.)
The substance of two school morning assembly messages given in Kilskeery Independent Christian School, by retired minister and school administrator, Rev Ivan Foster, on 27th and 28th January.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,” Genesis 12:1-3.
It is clear from the first words spoken to Abraham, from whom sprang the Jewish people, that he and his descendants would be those about whom there would a division of opinions. There would be those that would “bless” them and there would be those who would “curse” them!
Those that “bless” them would be blessed of God and those that “cursed” them would be cursed of God. They were, in heaven’s eyes, a very special people.
On this day in 1945, there took place the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp. With that event the world was given irrefutable evidence of the cruel and satanic attack upon the Jewish people by Nazi Germany. It has been set as a day to remember that dreadful wickedness.
Today I want to tell you why we should and must love the Jewish people.
1. OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WAS A JEW.
We are given the Saviour’s ancestry repeatedly in the Holy Scriptures.
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” Matthew 1:1.
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh,” Romans 1:3. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-20 a 4:15 pm
The time of Jacob's trouble
Here is an article on a topic about which many have only the vaguest notions. We are commanded to ‘search the Scriptures’, especially where they deal with the ‘last days’, in order that we might ‘discern the signs of the times’, Matthew 16:3.
Events in Israel are very much as a clock which indicates to us that that tells us that we are drawing nearer to the end of this age and the return of the Saviour in glory.
I trust that this study is a help to all in understanding what lies ahead for the ancient people of God in their homeland.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE
“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.
The student of the Bible cannot hear and see reports of the recent horrific scenes in Israel, wrought by those who are the ‘spiritual’ descendants of the Philistines of old, if not the actual progeny of that race of haters of the ancient people of God, without thinking of our text.
Ezekiel the prophet of old refers to the Philistines, the former occupants of that area today known as ‘the Gaza strip’, in this manner. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred,” Ezekiel 25:15.
Note the term, ‘the old hatred’! That is what lies behind the terror attacks of late and the many like acts of savagery of which the present-day Palestinians have been guilty. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-18 a 8:47 pm
Funeral of Mrs. Evelyn Nesbitt
Today it was my privilege to take part in the funeral today of Mrs Evelyn Nesbitt, a long-time member of Bethel Free Presbyterian Church.
She went to be with the Lord following a road traffic accident involving her car on Wednesday, October 11th.
Here is a recording of the simple tribute I paid to a godly Christian mother who was a friend for many, many years and a supporter of our witness.
Posted on 2023-10-16 a 8:44 pm
Sammy's sufferings!!
Sinn Fein’s views on Hamas makes it harder to sit down with them, says Sammy Wilson
Sinn Fein’s response to the murderous Hamas attack on Israeli civilians makes it hard to sit down with them, Sammy Wilson said.
So declares the headlines in the ‘Belfast News Letter’ article of 16th October, 2023.
Now I find that hard to swallow for the simple reason that the DUP was able to sit down with Sinn Fein in 2007 AFTER they had manifested every form of support for the murder of many of the DUP’s own kith and kin by the the terrorists of the IRA, some of whom were prominent members of Sinn Fein, such as Martin McGuinness.
That terror campaign had gone on for decades, had cost thousands of lives and injuries of men, women and children. Sinn Fein still gathers at the graves of dead IRA murderers to celebrate and honour their ‘heroic’ depravities and never once have offered any form of regret for the campaign, but rather have insisted that they had no option but to engage in terror — an opinion not shared by even the Government parties of the Irish Republic!
This being so, since in 2007 the DUP went back on the most solemn and oft-repeated vows never to join Sinn Fein/IRA in government and boasted of their most happy working relationship with Sinn Fein/IRA, why should Sammy and Co now find it hard to go back to Stormont and sit with them after they have shown support for foreign terrorists — the same terrorists they were supporting in 2007?
I suggest that the time has come that the circumstances surrounding such a return now does not include the ‘cushion’ of the hope of an end to terrorism here that made their decision in 2007 somewhat palatable and acceptable to all too many Unionists. That ‘cushion’ being absent, the raw political greed and ambition and the absence of any political principle is being felt most uncomfortable by many of the DUP’s supporters.
Sammy Wilson is conscious of the fact that they may well cut their own throat, politically speaking, by throwing over yet again many avowed promises to remain out of Stormont until the outrageous ‘de facto’ expulsion of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom under the terms of the ‘Windsor Agreement’ is ended by the London government.
That has not happened, no matter what ‘Sir’ Donaldson may claim. He and his party know that, but they also know that their ‘withdrawal protest’ is rapidly running out of steam.
All that remains for them is to generate the impression that they have achieved something by their actions and ‘whitewash’ the stark facts of their failure, eat humble pie and crawl back to Stormont.
That is what is hurting Sammy Wilson!
Posted on 2023-10-16 a 5:46 pm
‘Belfast Newsletter’ - Today's Editorial
Here is the ‘Editorial’ from today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’.
I believe it is worth a read!
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
Ben Lowry: Sinn Fein ambivalence about Hamas and its refusal to condemn the terror group does not make the return of Stormont any easier
People round the world who have been troubled by the Hamas mass assault on Israel will have had their own most upsetting moments.
By Ben Lowry
Published 14th Oct 2023, 04:42 BST
Updated 14th Oct 2023, 11:55 BST
SF could have said it had sympathy for the circumstances that gave rise to Hamas but contempt for what it did
It might have been the news about slaughtered Jewish babies. It might have been the young Israeli woman, bundled out of the back of a Hamas vehicle on her arrival in Gaza, then being pulled by her hair into the front of the vehicle, her trousers soiled with apparent blood, seemingly dazed by an unfolding nightmare.It might have been the glimpse of other kidnapped women, briefly seen inside a car surrounded by screaming Islamic fanatics, also looking delirious with fear. Those going to Gaza face probable torture and/or death.
It might have been the young Israeli woman screaming in fear, being held down on a motorbike towards captivity in Gaza, as a her desolate boyfriend is led off on foot by young men.
Or it might have been one of the more subtle moments of horror, when you see tense Israelis drained in fear in their homes as they are carefully grilled by Hamas about the whereabouts of their family.
Perhaps the moment that has had most impact on me is the Nova music festival, where almost 300 bodies of murdered young people have been found. It encapsulates so much of the horror of that day, which Jews are calling their worst since the end of the Nazi terror in 1945.
You can see above stills from videos of the festival, held in southern Israel, within about four miles of the border with Gaza. The person who took the footage on the left ranged around the young people dancing, at dawn at around 640am, as the ‘party for peace’ was ending. The video maker then seemed to notice moving dots in the sky. It was Hamas killers coming in on gliders.
Shortly after that clip there is another piece of film which shows police urgently trying to move the dancers, realising that something is badly wrong. They can’t easily get the young folk to move, and you can see a happy young woman, languidly waving to her friends to follow.
Within minutes the Hamas killers were shooting at the festival goers, sending them fleeing across the desert. There is footage of burnt out cars of festival goers, as the escapees were attacked, and reports of people hiding in the woods.
Some internet researchers have pieced together bits of film of the Nova massacre from sources including phones, drones and the dashboard cameras in abandoned cars. It transpires that Hamas were roaming around the site looking for people to kill, or taking money and personal possessions off corpses, six hours after the attack began. The image above right shows a gunman at 930am, hunting for more prey. And dashcam films show they were still there three hours after that.
We know from reports of Nazi and other mass shootings in history that some people escape being killed by falling down and playing dead. Imagine lying at Nova still amidst dead bodies (there were piles of them in parts of the site), no doubt hoping that the killers would move on, and that the Israeli forces would be there soon, in a country normally so adept in its security. Anyone who did that would have had to lie still for six or more hours, presumably turning over in their head every eventuality and hoping that the killers would not set fire to the music festival tents or move between bodies shooting them to be sure. When I first heard of the Hamas raids on Saturday I assumed they would have been brought under control within a couple of hours. In fact it was Monday before order was restored in all locations.
This weekend was an outworking of the stated Hamas to wipe Israel off the map and remove Jews from the region, if need be by genocide. It is one of the worst moments in European history in decades. Everything has changed for Israel and its sense of its own vulnerability.
As it happens I don’t like the Irish republican view of the Middle East is ugly and they don’t like the views of supporters of Israel such as me. There is no space in this column to debate the merits of de-merits of Israel, which I think a state that is a living manifestation of the Jewish genius, surrounded by semi failed states which have medieval attitudes to social issues.
Sinn Fein, indeed most of nationalist Ireland, has a pro Palestinian view of the region. The Republic of Ireland is one of the most unfriendly states towards Israel in the EU. But SF has gone further, and some of its leaders have met Hamas.
It is what happened since Saturday that has been telling. Some intelligence experts have said they badly misread Hamas, that for all its fiery rhetoric it had merely seemed happy to consolidate its control of Gaza, which Israel evacuated in 2005. SF could have said that it had sympathy for the circumstances that gave rise to Hamas but contempt for what it did. Instead it has barely mentioned the terrorist group since the slaughter, but SF politicians have pointed to the Palestinian flag which, at this time, seems a subtle endorsement of the Hamas attack.
On Sunday Gerry Adams, as the scale of the massacre of Jews was becoming clear, posted on X (formerly Twitter) an image of the Palestinian flag in West Belfast and wrote: “The Mountain Speaks! Free Palestine.”
When it turned out an Irish-Israeli woman was murdered at Nova, Mary Lou McDonald wrote: “Thoughts and prayers with the family and friends of Kim Damti as they endure the heartbreak of the loss of her young precious life. A trauma that should not be inflicted on any family”
No mention of Hamas. The same form of wording could have been applied if she had died in a flood. Ms McDonald later said of an Israeli action: “Barbaric. Act of criminal aggression.” Her specific criticisms are of Israel.
The X timeline of Michelle O’Neil, who proclaims herself first minister for all, nowhere condemns Hamas.
This could not have happened at a worse time amid bids to restore Stormont. It is an almost perfect illustration of how political opposites have to share power in NI at all times – unless the rules are changed to exclude unionists (they would certainly never be changed to exclude nationalists).
And while UK ministers are showing the world their full support for Israel and contempt for Hamas, they are piling pressure on the DUP – amid an Irish Sea border – to return to power with a party that has reacted as Sinn Fein has done to this immense Jewish trauma.
Ben Lowry is News Letter editor.
Posted on 2023-10-14 a 10:16 pm
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth
“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself,” Psalm 94:1.
I read this Psalm this morning as part of my daily Bible reading. It was scheduled for reading today in ‘Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar’.
I could not but notice how appropriate the Psalm is, given the news from Israel over the last couple of days. I would like to take note of some lessons we should learn from recent events in the Holy Land in the light of God’s eternal Word.
This Psalm has not the author’s name attached to it but it is commonly believed to be David. If that is so, it is some 3000 years old and yet its words indicate an application to today’s circumstances which but emphasise the everlasting relevance of the Word of God.
I. THE TITLE GIVEN TO GOD IN THE OPENING WORDS IS ONE THAT EVERY MAN SHOULD NOTE!
He is the God to Whom ‘vengeance belongeth’. He is One Who will demand an account of all men for their actions.
1. This is something every individual should note. That well-known verse in Romans 6, underscores a truth men wish to ignore: “For the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. Sin is followed by judgment, something sin has worked for and which will, in due time, be paid by the God of Justice. The verse goes on to say. “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The ONLY alternative to man’s sin and the eternal judgment that it will bring upon the head of the perpetrator is “eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That is what is offered FREELY in the gospel. Man has but to believe and receive the message set for in Holy Scripture to be delivered from that judgment which his sin will inevitably bring upon him at death. This we are taught by Paul the apostles “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” Hebrews 9:27. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-09 a 5:51 pm
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Christian, in the light of the terrorist activities in Israel, please heed the divinely inspired prayer request.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.” Psalm 122:6-8.
The Editor
Posted on 2023-10-08 a 9:56 pm
Dublin case against preacher dismissed
Posted on 2023-10-07 a 9:29 pm
Statement by TUV
A full page advert which has appeared in the ‘Belfast News Letter’ and the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ which should be read by all Unionists!
Statement by TUV
TUV launches full page newspaper adverts this weekend against any unionist acceptance of the Windsor Framework
Under the banner ‘A time to be vigilant and strong’, the advert pointedly proclaims the Protocol succeeded where the IRA failed – it pushed the border to the Irish Sea! It then sets out seven reasons why Stormont can’t return, including the warning that to operate Stormont under the Protocol is to accept that never again will Northern Ireland be a full part of the U.K., but part of an evolving all-Ireland.
Referencing recent remarks by Leo Varadkar, it declares ‘The Protocol is Varadkar’s path to Irish unity’.
Before reminding readers of the DUP’s seven tests and urging strict adherence to them, the advert warns against false promises, identifying laws merely protecting NI to GB trade or Westminster, rather than Stormont, leading on Protocol implementation, as things which will do nothing “to rectify our annexation into the EU or rid us of the Irish Sea Border or colonial rule.”
Explaining the timing and purpose of the adverts TUV leader Jim Allister said, “After a week of relentless spin to try and force unionists to accept the Irish Sea Border, TUV has taken out these full page adverts in weekend papers to spell out the realities of the Windsor Framework and set out the reasons why Unionists can’t return to Stormont.
“This is a seminal moment for Unionism and therefore we want to be clarion clear on the irretrievable folly of succumbing to the pressure to restart the engine of Stormont under the Protocol and with Sinn Fein at the wheel. Boxed in by a one directional Protocol, Stormont will only ever help, not hinder, the insidious process of our detachment from the U.K.”
Posted on 2023-10-07 a 8:35 pm
New book available
Posted on 2023-10-06 a 11:04 pm
The amazing grace of our God
Princess Kate talking to the little Ukrainian girl
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them,” Isaiah 11:6.
I was made to think of this verse this morning when I saw the headline on a newspaper website. This verse refers to a future time of blessing when the Lord Jesus shall take up the throne and government of this earth as is recorded in Revelation 11:15.
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
That event will usher in the time of blessedness, peace and holy knowledge as prophesied by the Psalmist. “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name,” Psalms 86:9.
It is a time when every facet of life on this earth will be gloriously changed. Even the animal kingdom will know the benefits of Christ’s reign as our text at the head of this article indicates. A great ‘tameness’ will come upon them to the degree that even “a little child shall lead them”. The words “shall lead’”carries the meaning of ‘carry, guide’. It speaks of animals such as the wolf, the leopard and the young lion submissively yielding to the hand of a mere youngster. When we think of the recent news reports of so-called domestic dogs killing infants within the homes in which they are kept, this verses truly speaks of a great change indeed.
The phrase, ‘a little child shall lead them’, is often applied to the influence of the young upon their elders with regards the things of the gospel. One of the elders in Kilskeery FPC, many years ago, was first made to think of eternal matters when his little daughter, who was a pupil at Lisbellaw FPC Sabbath School, spoke to him in words akin to, Daddy, you will go to hell if you don’t get saved!’.
It is this application of the words that sprang to my mind when I read a headline in one of yesterday’s news’ websites. Kate Middleton reveals how listening to her daughter Princess Charlotte sing a hymn made her ‘very happy’ as she meets young refugees from Ukraine.
That same topic appeared again in today’s press and as I saw it I was reminded of the verse above and the application commonly given it.
One ‘hymn’ that Princess Charlotte sings and which makes her mother, ‘Catherine, Princess of Wales’, to give her her proper title, happy, is entitled ‘Shine Jesus Shine. This is disclosed in a recorded conversation between the Princess and a little Ukrainian girl in the article. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-05 a 5:55 pm
Pope tries again to overturn the Bible
Not for the first time, the Pope of Rome has suggested a way round the clear teaching of God’s Word!
This Pope is following in the footsteps of his antichristian predecessors and is seeking to overthrow what God says and supplant His Word with his own perverted reasoning.
The mass, the confessional, the nunneries and the monkeries are all the fruit of the perverting thinking of minds deceived and deluded by sin and the devil. Romanism is the predominant charlatan group within ‘Christendom’!
When the Saviour said to the Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it,” John 8:44, it was in response to their continued opposition to Him and His Word. The whole chapter 8 records their hatred and ends significantly with the words: “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by,” John 8:59.
With regards so-called ’sodomite marriages’, God has repeated uttered the most clear denunciations. In the last but one reference to ’sodomy’, in the Bible we read: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire,” Jude 1:7. Let me repeat the clear statement made by Jude, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which signifies the attitude of the God of Heaven toward sodomy and sodomites. “Giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” There is the ‘eternal’ consequences of this wickedness and no amount of sophistry and subterfuge by the pope and popery can alter that eternal truth!
It is no thanks to Popery that there is still a Bible in existence and the true gospel is still proclaimed in this world by a remnant. Popery has burned the Bible whenever it could and when that is beyond its power it, as the Pope is doing, seeks to corrupt and distort and by-pass its true teaching. Click to read more…
Posted on 2023-10-03 a 4:24 pm
You are invited
Posted on 2023-10-01 a 1:13 am