God loves the JW's

"No thank you" the Watchtower lady said to me when I asked her if she would like Jesus to heal her back. I had been asking them why did Jesus die on the cross and their answer, like other religious people, was vague and incorrect. In the past when Jehovah witnesses called to the door I would be intimidated into a discussion about their strange interpretation of their version of God's word (the new world translation). But this time I kept it simple...because the gospel is simple. The innocent son of God dying for the guilty. I then asked Jesus for a "word of Knowledge" and I sensed God was saying that the lady on my right had a bad back. I thought "a bad back!...that's so common that seems more like a guess of knowledge" I then felt mildly convicted that I had asked God and then doubted His leading. "Do you have a sore back" I asked her...cutting across her explanation of things watchtower.."Yes she said" without hesitation. I was disappointed that she rejected the offer of healing prayer..but...I trust that God can reveal himself to her through this word. We concluded the disussion with some pleasenteries. The 2 ladies were very sincere but very lost and deceived. Only the blod of Jesus can set people free, not any religous works.
And the photo? it's of me in Limerick recently! Ant

DUMPED BY THE FATHER!

As we were on Grafton Street today holding high the matchless name (of "JESUS" of course!) 2 teenage girls came over for a chat. One said her boyfriend had dumped her just now, she was heartbroken but I told her that Jesus himself was "Dumped" at the cross when the Father rejected Him. We discussed why He suffered this rejection and how it was for our acceptance.She'd never heard the like! I gues they are too busy in the religion classes teaching them universalism and humanism that they've no time for the simple truth! .How wonderful is our God however that we can freely proclaim His word on the streets. Last week in Limerick we had to battle with the rain. Each time I stepped out of the shelter, when I though the rain was easing it would immediately come heavier! This wasn't good enough. I had a wee bit of faith for God to clear the rain but when I was then joined by my friend John (fellow Fisherman of course!) my faith rose (2 can put 10,000 to flight!) we boldly prayed and within a minute the rain had stopped and the sun was beaming...The preaching soon followed on Cruises Street to the glory of God! Ant

RICKSHAW RIDDLE

While I was out late last night on Grafton Street I got chatting to 2 Brazilian chaps who were operating rickshaws. They said they loved Jesus but as we continued the conversation I had a sense that they did not yet know Him personally. They were Roman Catholic but, despite their excellent english had great difficulty answering the question as to why Jesus willingly went to the cross. "To show His love for us" one said. I said "Well I love my wife but I wont jump in front of a luas (tram) to prove it" They were stumped. I explained, as had been patiently explained to me, a moderately devout Catholic at age 23 (25 years ago!), that He went to the cross because I was guilty and He was innocent and my sins could be dealt with by that way only. It occured to me that the thief on the cross who turned to Jesus said the very same "We deserve our punishment but this man is innocent". That is the wonderful simple Gospel or "Good News" anything different is a dangerous deception.

THE SPEECHLESS

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8)
If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ you have access to the throne of grace where pre-believers and unbelievers do not have access. I am slowly but surely learning about intercession and the above scripture speaks massively to me on the matter. They cannot speak for themselves before Holy God...but we can...and we must to bring glory to Jesus and see the lost converted. What do you think? Ant

DUNDALK HEARS TRUTH

4 of us drove up from Dublin and ministerd on the streets of Dundalk yesterday. We were joined by Maurice, the local evangelist, and then after for a brief time by a lovely african sister from the local Mountain of Fire Church. We held high the name of Jesus and preaching the matchless gospel of God's forgiveness. The first location we chose near the large Tesco supermarket attracted perhaps the most foul mouthed youths we've seen in a long time. Heartbreaking. We found that we needed to worship more on the street this time than normal to dispel the spirits of darkness. We worship by singing songs like "Jesus, all for Jesus" and "Here is love" with the guitar, closed eyes and raised voices. Worship is warfare.

When we relocated to the main street the grace flowed as did the street preaching. Car windows were rolled down and people appeared at shop doorways to hear the message. Although much seed was sown and tracts distributed there was very little one on one encounters and the hearts of too many remained cold or indifferent. We will soon see revival in the land where the Holy Spirit is outpoured and multitudes kneel on the street in brokenness and repentance...Only God can do this and now...following Dundalk ...we are burdened deeply to pray for this...Limerick next!

The photo shows Maurice, perhaps one of the most faithful and consistant street evangelists in Ireland.

THE SPARK

12 saints met today in St Patrick's Park and retraced the lines of the poddle river as it would have flowed in the time of Patrick when he baptised people there 1500 years ago. With the Country in crisis we called out to our sovereign Lord for mercy. Legally this country is built on the foundation of Jesus (read the preamble to the Irish Constitution and be amazed), yet morally this nation has forgotten such roots and godly history. Today was a small act in many ways but I believe it was a spark which will fan into a flame. Next year a larger prayer gathering will be held at the cross in Phoenix Park entitled "Dedicate Ireland". Paul O'Higgins wrote to Tomas Kennedy recently about this and said "...We would envision that this would be a large gathering of believers and that we would rededicate the land to Jesus Christ and ask cleansing from all blood guilt and idolatry.
This will be to lift up no man except the Man Jesus Christ..."
I found it odd in one way that God would call me (with Tomas) to call the meeting we had today. I say this because I see myself primarily as an evangelist and street preacher and not an "intercessor", yet I was gripped by the conviction that we must take simple steps of obedience as God leads regardless of what we think! I also had the conviction that God would show us the details of what to do on the day...and this He certainly did!...Oh to the joy of carrying out the will of the Father.
One thing God showed me in the Spirit during the prayer was that in the past the fire of God came on believers at this location from where they spread out across the land and yet again God will send us out as firebrands across this nation to bring the eternal life changing powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. Ant

RELIGION WONT FOOL GOD!

"A debt we can never pay off ourselves is what Jesus is willing to deal with if we come to him in faith". This topical word amongst others were the content of the street preaching on the main street in Drogheda today where my good friend Jim and myself went. Again God manifested HIs glory in revealing a word of knowledge on a girls sore shoulder and followed up with a healing miracle. In the conversations we had a few people understood, probably for the first time why Jesus died for them.

Drogheda is a religious town and both times I preached I felt a leading to say that Religion will not get you to heaven or reconciled to God. "You can fool man with religion but not God"

Of course you are invited!! but don't come under obligation! A few of us are gathering before God to ask him for mercy for Ireland at this troublesome time. WE NEED HELP and OUR HELP COMES FROM THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Of course banks, govrnment, IMF, EU may be used in the recovery process but we must see through all this to the hand of God and call out to HIm! We also are not keen to see the economy "bounce back" only for multitudes to be again decieved by riches and end up seperated from God for now and eternity.
The location of our meeting is significant I believe in that underneath our feet will be the Poddle river which was the location of many baptisms during the days of Patrick. Indeed it is reported that the first church he established in Dublin was located on an island in the middle of the Poddle river at this location. I believe that in his day the glory of God was manifest in this land and that once again we can cry out to HIm for a fresh outpouring of the wonderful Holy Spirit. Go to http://www.amiando.com/prayandfast.html?page=256417 for details.

VALENTINE'S DAY OUTREACH

My friend Dave Kinsella came to Dublin today and I was glad to join him and some others at North Earl Street to preach and witness for Jesus. We met a young man who had hatred and murder in his heart towards his childhood abuser. My good friend Jimmy helped explain about forgiveness and the fact that it was not an emotion but a decision of the will...and an essential part of our own reconciliation to God. I told him that unforgiveness was like swallowing poison and expecting your enemy to die. By God's grace the man humbled himself, spoke words of forgiveness and asked Jesus then to forgive him and come to be his Lord and saviour. . . What a joy it is to serve our wonderful King! AB

The photo was taken in Temple Bar Square last month..No I'm not busking but worshipping the King. Why you ask? Read Psalm 149 for the answer. I believe that there is gret power in lifting Jesus higher in worship as well as in name with the sign!

BE READY FOR THE NEXT RECESSION

What a shock this one is! No need to go into detail but it was certainly:
* a surprise
* beyond man's control
* Scary
So we got into debt, with everyone egging us on like banks, marketing, peer pressure and our own ego. Now we dearly wish we had no debts. All of this, although vividly real to us, is only a mirror of what is REALLY going on.

We all have a debt before our creator God which can't be paid off...or can it? God knew our hopeless state and sent Jesus His son to be crushed on the cross for our sin. If we get on our knees and ask His forgiveness we can have A NEW START with a CLEAN SLATE! ...not based on our "goodness" (boy what a myth!) but based on His blood paying the price of our rebellion against Him.

It's appointed to a man to die once and then comes judgement. Why not be ready this time!

ANKLE MIRACULOUSLY HEALED!

After the street preaching today (by my anointed wife) outside the old town hall in Bray (now McDonald's) Jesus healed a young chap's ankle. Supernaturally God revealed a word of Knowledge to me about the injury and after the prayer the chap ran off and back (when I asked him to) and testified to his friends about the healing. Much traffic and many other people heard the word of life today. Street evangelism gives you more hunger...for more evangelism because the harvest is rich. Next week we plan to be at Temple Bar Square and next month in Drogheda. Oh that the people of Ireland would humble themselves before the King of Kings. As I said to a small gang today "If you are ever going to get to Heaven religion will have nothing to do with it. It will only be by Relationship with Jesus".
The photo is of Jim warming up with 2 brothers form Mountain View CF behind. It was a pleasure and an education to see them move in the anointing of the Holy Spirit as they operated in their spiritual giftings. Thanks Aengus and gang for coming!

IRELAND STREET OUTREACHES 2009

There may be one, there may be 5 or there may be more but outreaches are planned Outside Dublin throughout 2009 on a monthly basis. See the dates and places on the sidebar! What do you need to come? A new heart and a new spirit. If you are lacking this it is freely available from Jesus Christ, bought not by your good deeds but by HIs perfect blood. The detail agenda of each outreach is available from God after the event (what fun it is to be led by the wonderful Holy Spirit!). If you know Jesus then you know us! It's all for him. We are part of a church but the outreach promotes no church only Jesus. If you love to share your faith..join us. If you don't know how to or are scared of sharing your faith but wouldn't mind some training...come stand beside us and learn. Either way you are more than welcome!and finally...If you are a Dawkinite who thinks God is a myth...come out and talk to us! Ant (O87-9795454 aba@eircom.net)

GLORY DESCENDS ON THE TEMPLE (BAR)

I can honestly say that God’s glory descended on Temple Bar today as we ministered on the street. It started when the busker we prayed would move on eventually did. I respect buskers as they are seeking an honest few bob but often the music they play is not the most conducive to a move of the Holy Spirit! After he’d gone I took out my own guitar and began to worship. I wasn’t seeking any crowd nor money but I do understand the power of praise and how, on the street , it can clean up the spiritual atmosphere. When my wife arrived and joined me in singing “All for Jesus” it wasn’t long before she was ready to preach and boy did it grab attention.

The foot traffic began to stop and listen to the message about those who insulted Jesus at the time of His trial. It was anointed. As she was finishing and giving an invitation to people to approach those holding up the name of “Jesus” to find out more about a relationship with God a young man approached and I ended up talking to him. He was in a desperate state, had run out of a rehab programme and wrestled with serious thoughts of ending his life that day. He prayed with us but I know the battle rages on at present for him. I explained how the enemy is a liar and can’t get at God but is trying to get God by killing you and bringing you to hell forever…but God’s love is reaching out to you. This man was in a war, one that Jesus already won at Calvary.

Earlier in the day I spoke to a lovely young chap who was utterly deceived by athiesm. He admitted he wasn’t even open to any persuasion. I then told him that Jesus is alive and can heal any sickness he now has in his body. I then asked the Lord where any such pain might be. “Do you have a sore shoulder” I asked. “I have a dislocated shoulder” he admitted. I asked him if he’d like healing prayer and he said no and began to walk away. As he did I said that God knows everything about him and loves him dearly. He had rejected religion but had never heard the gospel. He was now rejecting Jesus but I believe that he may one day turn. This I pray for.
After the preaching a group of 5 hardened Dub late teens went by with some smart alec comment. I called them back and declared that Jesus heals today. The lad with the huge black eye asked for prayer after which he admitted to feeling better. I was a bit surprised the blackness was still there but they went on without delay and I would have loved to have heard the chat among them after they’d gone.
Apart from the above thousand saw the name of JESUS lifted high. To God be ALL the glory. Next week it’s Bray…so Pray for Bray!! Ant

The photo was taken a few weeks ago on Grafton Street. I find our message gains relevance when ambulences show up...it reminds people of their vulnerability. See if you can make out anything in the reflection!

LOVE YOUR ENEMY...AND THE SAINTS!

The Soldier proudy told David that he had killed King Saul "the Lord's anointed" and waited for his reward with a smile...But he was judged and lost his life! Read about it in 2 Samuel Chapter 1. This is a solemn warning for us to not destroy, or boast in putting down, God's people. We know Saul had tried repeatedly to destroy David yet David mourned his judgement and death. Too often we as believers gloat in the demise of a saint whom we deem to be "missing God". The more I go on with Jesus the more curved balls I can get from some believers...yet they are people dearly beloved of the Father and for whom Jesus died. We are called to love our enemies, for whom Jesus also died, so how can we bypass the saints! Remember satan's plans are always to destroy and bring division...always.

Of late God has called us to be part of Every Nation Church in Dublin. This is both exciting and daunting. It is the church previously pastored by my dearly missed and departed friend Ray Shiels and I trust that God knows what he is doing placing us here!

In parallel with this I believe God has called me once monthly to take our 7 seater car to various towns around Ireland on the last Saturday of each month to do some street outreach for Jesus. As I write Bray, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick, Wicklow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Newbridge, Roscrea and Carlow are on the agenda. Plans are in formation and my earnest desire is that they re the plans of our Wonderful Holy Spirit and not Ant!! Let me know your thoughts.

Photo shows Oliver last year in Temple Bar getting the attention of the Law and the Ladies!

GOD IS NOT ALL-FORGIVING

Okay...Come down off your high horse and consider this. There was once a judge who sat in authority in the courts of the land. Regardless of the crimes brought before him he always said to the perpetrator "I forgive you..you are free to go". What an absurdity! Such a judge would be a BAD Judge..or more to the point he wouldn't be a judge at all because he would have no regard for the law. Is God in heaven, our creator, a judge or not? If He is He cannot be "All Forgiving". Too many people on the street say he is all forgiving but our call as believers is to explain that Jesus died as the payment for our guilt before Holy (perfect) God. When the pin pricks of guilt hit we must avoid the temptation to lash out at the messenger saying "Don't Judge". God is a judge and I too judge Molesters, Terrorists, Rapists, Thiefs and Gangsters. God goes further and judges all men and finds all guilty and then places that guilt on His beloved son's shoulders, let's Him take the rap and offers not a universal amnesty but a promise of forgiveness to those who turn to Him in humility. God is forgiving but not all forgiving and without the shedding of (His) blood there is no forgiveness. Happy New Year.

THE BLOODY GOSPEL

"With many other words he warned them and pleaded with them" Acts 2:40. How few do that today! Most preaching is of the variety which is scared to warn and plead. What's the root of this? Is it rampant humanism in the body of Christ? Is it compassion turned sour and into "devil petting" or is it a lack of faith and knowledge of the fate of the unconverted? I'm all for compassion...genuinely!. I'd be lost without God's compassion but if we decouple compassion and love from the bloody message of the cross we immediately are in heresy. John 3:16 and 17 shows God's love manifested in the crushing of His only Son...the only way the Justice of Holy God can be satisfied. When I was recently preaching on Grafton Street about this "Bloody Gospel" someone spoke to me after, one to one, and was offended by such mention of violence. He thought this was similar to a radical islam message. I explained that the only blood this referred to was the innocent blood of the Lamb of God and that other human blood was useless as it was unholy and a worthless currency for redemption before Holy creator God.

WHO WILL CRY WITH ME?

Today a man in his late forties went to Howth with a single intention: To end HIs life. He was heartbroken over a rejection by his daughter and was also living a life on methadone. He cried out in prayer and then changed his plan. Hours later he was walking in Temple Bar and met myself and 3 brothers lifting up the Holy name of JESUS. He was bitter over a previous church experience but God gave opportunity to minister to him, pray for protection, minister the gospel of salvation, healing and deliverance and invite him to a place of healing to which he promised to come tomorrow. He may come...or he may not but my sincere prayer is that the destroyer would not have him but that he would fall on the rock which is Christ. That is one side of the story...the other side is that thousands of others today looked the other way and rejected Jesus. Who will cry with me over these two stories?

The Photo is of George Whitfield preaching at Leeds in 1749...I look forward to meeting that chap!

Who does the work?

We have turned the Church into some kind of hand out welfare programme where people come and Watch! No wonder it's half dead! The five fold ministers job is NOT TO DO ALL THE WORK but to equip the Saints for Work (Read Ephesisans 4:11-13). We should have more activity outside than inside! I am an evangelist and my job is to equip and train people to share their faith...not to have them sit back and watch me do all the work myself. a Healthy body is a functioning body not a "Couch Potato". I love hearing gifted teachers and preachers but God's plan is that I'd be trained by them and get up and out with this training. We need bums off seats not just on seats!!!

Who ya lookin at?

Adam and Eve were God focussed before sin and then after sin they became self focussed, becoming aware of their nakedness and hiding from God. What Gospel are we bringing to people today? Is it the message about the holiness of God, the depravity and lostness of man and the sufficiency of the death of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ...or...is the message that they are beautiful and need only to realise it! I first heard this message from my brother about 25 years ago when he was a Hare Krishna and spoke of the need for "self realisation" that we are in fact gods!! Sadly I am hearing this message again in Christian circles when I should be hearing the gospel!

We are all made in God's image but boy has sin corrupted all and seperated all from Holy God. That's why all religions utterly fail. They all deal with "self improvement" but what improvement to imperfection can produce a holy person whom could live with a Holy God for a second or eternity? Sin has a price and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. The justice of God must be satisfied. I truly deserve eternal hell. Why? Because I broke the perfect law of God! The last unholy guy in heaven got turfed out and took a third of the angels with him. Since that day no more unholy are getting in. We don't need to be telling people they are "good" when they are in fact monstors of iniquity whose only hope is a humble sorrow and repentance and turning toward God in faith in light of Calvary...Anything else is Humanism.

FREE SURGERY..NO WAITING..NO SIDE EFFECTS!

While I was getting a lift home from my son's rugby match yesterday by my friend he complained about his sore elbow. He even mentioned the possibility of needing surgery to have it fixed. He had been lifting heavy things from his attic following a clear up at the end of a messy divorce. Some object had slipped but his pal was below so instead of instinctively letting go he held on and did painful damage to his elbow.

I said I knew a surgeon who was free of charge, could operate without side effects and could do it all instantly! When we got home and were having a cup of coffee in my house I again asked if he'd like Jesus to heal him now. I showed him Jesus' promise in Mark 16 "they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" He admitted to being a skeptic on these matters. I said God is not looking for faith from him at this time. He then asked me "what if I don't get healed". I said we'd talk about that later if he didn't get healed.

I then held his elbow and asked the risen Christ to heal him. I felt a small heat and minor vibration then and I knew God was touching him. I then asked him to flex his elbow and lift up something. At this stage he went "Bug eyed" and testified to a complete healing in amazement. It was then that I got to clearly explain the difference between religion and a living faith in the risen Jesus who proved his divinity by His resurrection. To God be ALL the glory. What I learnt from this was the way the heart is opened by the miraculous. Now I'm HUNGRY!

Ray meets Jesus, in person.

Time itself will vanish in heaven I believe. We only use time down here because we need a measuring stick for the brief "vapour" before eternity so we can wisely rest, plan and be good stewards of the opportunities and resources God gives us. Jesus was never frantically carrying around a massive list of good works to do. NO. He simply acted in obedience. Clearly that's our call too. I don't know about you but I know for me the challenge is HEAR God. How can a kid obey his parent if he can't hear them!
My dear friend Ray Shiels, pastor of Every Nation Church in Dublin went to be with Jesus this week. He was one who recklessly obeyed God and thereby inspired many. I miss him but rejoice at the thought of him in the presence of Jesus. God bless and surround Caludine, Jack and Sam. Read the tributes on Wolfie's blog at http://wolfinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/tribute-to-my-hero-friend-ray-shiels/#comment-1200 (cut and paste this url into the browser window)

Debt Purge (God's style)

Man's plan: Enslave others in debt if you can get away with it. God's plan: The Jubilee (Read Leviticus 25) where debts are purged on a periodic basis. If debts are not purged (wiped) periodically then they will wipe themselves in due course (toxic debt they call it). Like all violations of God's principles there are consequences when ignored. A wee bit of other news caught my eyes recently "The World Health Organisation and UNAIDS, the UN agency that co-ordinates the global fight against Aids, said there was compelling evidence that the operation can reduce infections among heterosexual men by up to 60 per cent." (Times 28-3-07). I'm not suggesting us lads do anything dramatic but I love when "science" thinks they've discovered something new which was already written by God Himself.
Peter the fisherman spoke of nuclear physics (2 Peter 3:10) when under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The writer of Hebrews spoke about quantum physics and the binding force of the atom in Hebrews 1:3. David wrote of "the paths of the seas" in Psalm 8:8 thousands of years before Matthew Maury plotted them for the first time in the 1800's (His inspiration was indeed Psalm 8!). God's word is full of Gems, many yet to be unearthed but the primary gem is the purging not of debt but our sin by the bleeding and dying of a chap who was entirely innocent (indeed the only ever innocent one) Jesus Christ. Wow! He will give you a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3)

COUSIN LOSES HEAD AT DRUNKEN PARTY

Haven't posted much of late.The reason is because I have not been fishing for souls but have been ministered to by God almighty and built up following a number of trials my close friends might know about.

If your cousin and greatest supporter had his head chopped off because a wicked king because he made a rash promise during a moment of seduction and manipulation at a drunken party ...how would you feel? More to the point if you withdraw to a private place and then had crowds following you looking for something would you not be tempted to tell them to get lost for a while?..Not so Jesus (Matthew 14:14) "He had compassion on them and healed their sick". Guys...the pity party is officially over! The needs of the lost have not gone away...and nor has God's compassion towards them. He wishes none to perish but ALL to come to repentance and the knowledge of God through Jesus.

Photo shows Leonidas' wife lifting high His Holy Name in Burundi.

CANT DUMP ADAM WITHOUT DUMPING JESUS!

The Creation moments website had a fab article today. Look lads..wake up and smell the coffee!! We have let the athiests and humanists whip the foundation from under our noses as we have let them put Genesis on the same footing as Santa Claus! Lord have mercy on them but they are in for some awful shock when Truth is revealed in person in the clouds!!
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
What does the Bible's teaching on creation have to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Well, let’s see what happens to Christ's work of salvation if creation is untrue and God actually used evolution. Death in the animal kingdom must have come into the world long before the first man and before sin. If death is not a result of sin, why did Christ have to receive the penalty for sin by death on a cross? So, in challenging man's origin, evolution challenges the origin of sin and its effect on man. Thus, evolution challenges the very heart of Christ’s work! The Bible tells us that all Scripture was given to make us wise unto salvation. That includes Genesis. John's Gospel tells us that all things were created through the Word Who became flesh.

We see that Word in action in Genesis One when we read, “That Word Who made us and everything is the very same Word Who came and purchased our salvation.”

So Genesis, right from the very first words, is actually the beginning of God's revelation to us of the Person and work of the Son of God - our Savior, Jesus Christ. If we reject God's revelation about His Son in Genesis One, we have only part of a Savior - and only part of Christ is no Christ at all!

And the photo... The woodpecker hits the tree so hard and fast that if he didn't have amazing shock absorbers he'd crush his skull. If he didn't have special claws on this feet he couldn't stay on and ...wait for it...if he didn't have an amazing long tongue wrapped around cavities in that amazing shock absorbing skull he couldn't lick up the prey through the newly bored hole!! Now O Evolutionist tell me which awesome bit of these 3 evolved first!! What a designer our God is! Have a fab day. Ant

A Wild Thought!

Here's a wild thought: Jesus rose from the dead! I have had people on the street get all serious and sincere on me, tilt their head and stare at me with "loving" concern while they softly and seductively ask "Do you really believe that?". Oh how the foul breath of the enemy permeated the mind and messages our unguarded thoughts in suggesting that we never really thought deeply enough about this cornerstone of our faith. Then I have felt the warm envigourating breath of God well up inside me as I proclaim to the "enquirer" "I do..really!".

Now fast forward your thoughts to an average religious service in Ireland or the western world where a professional minister with a head education exceeding his heart education, consumed and bedevilled with a philisophy of man centered humanism and a view of "god" created in man's image. Such a man or woman has an authority bestowed on him by fellow unregenerate sin enslaved man as oppose to by a Holy God. I have heard such ministers embrace the ways of this world in a shocking way and misrepresent God almighty with astonishing ignorance of the truth. They believe in the universal salvation of all..a most deadly and dangerous doctrine in the light of the fact that upon death ( a 100% statistic) eyes will be truly open to the depravity of man and the Holiness of God and His address (heaven). If Jesus walked the earth again today like he did before He would be again crucified by the Irish and other nations...don't doubt it or flatter yourself with the thought that we are "better". No we are better at covering up our rottenness, that's all.

We need the message proclaimed: The reconciliation of Love and Holiness. Jesus Himself took God's wrath when he clothed himself with all the sin of humanity. Your judgement was on Him..Aha...now you see why the resurrection matters! It proves Jesus was God, had no sin of HIs own and can forgive you while the justice of Holy God is satisfied. Without the shedding of (His) blood there is no forgiveness...No wonder the devil hates the resurrection!