TIME AND CHANCE MAKE BAD THINGS WORSE

The British Centre for Science Education (an anti-Creation athiest lobby group) support a campaign and petition to get any discussion of creation science removed even from religious education classes (in UK). They call it "CRISIS" (Creationism in School isn't science). Of course they forgot to insert the word "evolutionary" before science.
If this group, and their fellow Evolution supporters, are right then Jesus was a liar, the cross was meaningless and God's word can't be trusted. Personally I know Him to be the Truth, His Word reliable and the Cross and resurrection to be the Power of God manifest on earth. I find that science (not evolutionary science) supports the Genesis account. I appreciate that it is easy for either side in the debate to get emotional and just slag off the other. This seems to be what happened when Thomas Huxley debated Darwin's theory to the British Association for the advancement of science in Oxford in 1860 and had Biship Wilberforce insult him! Soon after this scientific opinion swung to the current evolutionary view.
Creation as we see it today is far from perfect and this is due to the corruption from sin and not an evolutionary act in motion!  The heart of mankind is rotten (until God intervenes and renews) and time and chance only make bad things worse. The photo is of Barack Obama today saying "Yes we can" . He's probably referring to dividing up the land of Israel (Joel 3:2) or the like (no wonder we had the windiest day ever recorded in Ireland today and he was forced to leave early by an oncoming ash cloud).  

PILGRIM TALK PODCAST NOW ON ITUNES

You can now go to the side panel and click on "Pilgrim Talk Podcast" and then subscribe to the podcast (through iTunes)  to hear myself and David O'Rourke ("Ant and Dave") in conversation about walking with God in the 21st Century. Episode 6 has a interview with PJ Hanley, Ireland's chief export to USA! We had a fab theme tune in the early episodes but the technology, and my exhausted computer, was proving too cumbersome to insert so it got dropped! Happy listening! Ant

DESSIE: DUBLIN'S DELIGHT

Dublin is a better city because of Street Preacher Dessie. He has a heart of gold and when he shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ he does it with a deep care for the hearers, even though he has to inform them of the dire consequences of their Christ-less existence. As a street preacher myself I know how important this is. We do not judge people but often pronounce God's judgment over those who reject Him. This we can't do in a heartless way. We don't preach to justify ourselves but to portray Christ who justifies the sinner. I have often listened to Dessie stop his message to engage with people, as he is doing in this photo. Many people think street preaches are simply angry people and yet testify to their approachability and grace in a one to one conversation. If you are reading this and are a bit unsure of the next street preacher let me encourage you to wait until he or she is finished and then talk to them, you will be pleasantly surprised I expect. In the meantime be glad that we live in a free country where the Geneva convention is actually practiced and Jesus is lifted high (on occasion!).

THE HAMMER

If you walked the length of North Earl Street and Henry Street in Dublin yesterday you would have encountered 4 different groups of Christians sharing the gospel. We were the eastern most of the 4 and the message, delivered by my favourite street preacher, was about the cost of sin..to God, in the crucifixion of His beloved son. A few props were employed but it seemed to be the hammer in her hand that gripped the attention of many! There was stong reaction to the idea that God can't simply forgive with out a price being paid. I reckon about 30 or 40 people gathered to hear the message and I believe it is a foretaste of what is to come as we continue to bring the undluted gospel to the people. Pray for Dublin and Ireland. We are in need of a great awakening! The photo is of Jim on O'Connell Street with Wayne Rooney trying to make his mind up!

MIRACLE

I learnt an interesting lesson today while witnessing on a crazy St Patrick's day on Grafton Street. Lee-Anne asked for a healing prayer for her cough when she was with five of her friends who were asking me tons of questions about Jesus. I asked for a miracle and her first words were mocking words "Hallelujah I'm healed". I told her not to mock... but then asked her if to take a deep breath and tell me if the symptoms had gone. They had. Her entire attitude changed and she sponged up the truth of God's love for her at Calvary. What I learnt is... Not to get angry nor to judge too quickly. Jesus Himself did not judge by what his eye saw nor His ear heard. Hallelujah! Ant

INTELLIGENT LIFE IN SPACE? NOT AS YOU EXPECT

NASA has recently discovered many planets where life might be possible. I think not. With all due respect to my budget guzzling evolutionary friends I would venture to suggest that they make a large assumption that bioligical and indeed human life just "happens" if conditions are right...I think not. Even a child understands cause and effect and that life comes from...life. Imagine if a planet was discovered identical to earth with an identical sun (suspend you rational thinking about probability to get this far in itself!). Now you have a dead empty planet. Add water and you now have..a still dead empty planet. Without the alchemy of "evolution" ( a dogmatic fairy tale for adults which any non-indoctinated kid knows is as scientific as the emperor's new clothes) the dead planet stays dead.
Dear friends let me venture to suggest that what we see around us in nature and astronomy is ..er...designed. Thank God I don't have a university post to be fired from! Oh and by the way there is life beyond the galaxies. It's mentioned in the book of Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 10. Google it!

LAND OF AINTS AND SCHOLARS

Once upon a time Ireland was know as the land of saints and scholars. Education standards here are pretty good today so perhaps we are still a land of scholars...but sadly we have become a land on "Aints and Scholars" as God is largely ignored among most people. With a general election campaign underway and much national debate about Economics happening I decide to quietly prepare a list of questions for candidates before they came to the door. The questions were quite simple and direct and covered the following issues: Abortion, The Constitution, Environment (obsession), Europe, Government size, Homosexuality, Israel and Seanead (proposed senate abolition). I should get an idea of how God fearing they are by their answers.
I am also aware that we should pray for our leaders and perhaps when they call and I shake their hand I'll hold on and ask them if they'd like me to pray a prayer of blessing for them...that might be a first in their experience. My good friend Tomas Kennedy told me that he was in the past helping a Christian upholsterer hang curtains in the Dail chamber and at the back of the curtains were written in Irish "Righteousness exalts a nation"(ref. Proverbs 14:34).
I heard today that  a prominent journalist who had acted as a foreign correspondent for BBC and had seen horrible things said that he "lost his faith in humanity". The sad news is that he had to see such horror but the good news is that he is on the first rung of salvation which is: Understanding that man is not good. The second step is: Understanding I am not good! Aha...now it all make sense why Jesus willingly died, namely, the only good man dying for us baddies to satisfy Holy God's justice. Food for thought.

TESTS TO TESTIMONIES

After a turbulent few weeks where I went through some test (pre-requisite to a testimony!) I found myself with my good friend Jim witnessing for Jesus in Liffey Street on Dublin's northside this afternoon. After being approached by a chap who spoke of spirituality, without a relationship with Jesus, I asked if anyone ever gave their lives for him. Amazingly he said a friend of his did. I said that that was what Jesus also did but that His death meant we had access to forgiveness because of the payment made for our shameful sins. He soon asked what he should do. I said that for too long people have been telling you what to do but that I believed he knew himself what to do. I offered to join him in prayer to receive Jesus but I was prompted by God to not lead him in the words. He shook my hand, asked God's forgiveness and ended up confessing Jesus as his Lord. To God be all the glory.

A while later another chap approached and he too turned to the King. Did I get their numbers for "follow up": No. Do I care about their spiritual well being: Yes . Times have changed in many respects and we live in an information age where most have ready access to online Bibles and information about Christian gatherings etc.. I gave both these people gospel tracts I had written and pointed out my name and mobile for texting or ringing. My experience is that they never do but I do trust that they continue to walk with God...That's what counts! What remains of primary importance... in my humble opinion... is that as witnesses for Jesus we simply introduce people to our best friend and not simply to a church system where the focus of their dependence is not on the King Himself.

The photo was taken on the Curragh (where I come from) and reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 53 :"We all like sheep have gone astray, each has turned to his own way but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all"

SANTA DIDN'T TAKE IT IN THE NECK...

"What's all this about?" the 2 girls asked as they approached me standing on my stool on Grafton Street yesterday amidst the busy Christmas shoppers. "We're here representing Jesus...can I ask you a question?". They were very keen to be asked anything and so I asked: "Why did Jesus come at Christmas?" after looking at each other they both said "I don't know...Why?". "He came to die" I said. "That's a bit forward" one replied. A discussion ensued where the simple and powerful message of the cross was communicated. Conviction was rising and then... one of the girls mobile phones rang and they quickly excused themselves and vanished. We had some excellent discussions and thousands witnessed the soon to be birthday boy's name lifted high!  I asked some people what the difference between Jesus and Santa Claus was. Again I was asked to give the answer and it was; "Santa didn't take it in the neck for your sins". Now we love Santa but she doesn't really compare. The day culminated in a new saint entering onto a relationship with Jesus and it was glorious..not to mention the 3 people who received miraculous healings! Christmas is a great time to witness for Jesus, ring me on 087 9795454 if you are free to join us in the city centre. We plan to be out next Saturday afternoon.

JESUS SIGN

Double click the image, enlarge to A4, print out and follow the instructions! If you love Jesus you will never regret it! Glory to God. This is the sign that has been lifted up throughout Ireland, UK and the nations of Europe, in the Phillipines and in Burundi in Africa. Versions of it have been lifted elsewhere also. This is the Name that demons are scared of...and they have good reason! The Holy Spirit will lead you and give you the words to say when curious onlookers ask what you are doing. I have done all sorts of evangelism but this way is special...believe me! So get printing cutting going and lifting. Be blessed and be a blessing! Anthony

BANKRUPTCY AND BLAME

Talk of bankruptcy is very much in the air and the chill wind of fear that circumstances might overwhelm our society is not too far away. Let me take this opportunity to remind you, dear reader, of the greatest cosmic bankruptcy ever namely: the giving of Jesus, the Son of God, by God the Father for us rebels. (I've got a son too but I'm not giving him up for anyone!) Reject this and you are pitifully abandoned with a set of false hopes that will only disappoint with tragic consequences, believe me.
We live in a world that is four square anti-Christ. Vast swathes of religious nations violently oppose faith in Jesus, despite it's indisputable merits. In western Europe when a governemtn minister (O'Cuiv) even mentions prayer he is publically ridiculed or when another politician (Conor Lenihan) plans attending a friend's book launch where the sacred cow of Darwinism is questioned he is forced to cancel.
Our Father in heaven could hardly be blamed had he not bothered with telling Noah to build an ark. The truth is mankind is utterly corrupt. In Ireland the masses are blaming bankers and politicains yet hypocritically are happy to fiddle the system for themselves. Finger pointing as a means of hiding guilt is nothing new having started in the garden of Eden when Adam blamed God for giving him Eve.
If you have yet to apologize to God for your own guilt and shame and believe that Jesus took this on Himself 2000 years ago and through His resurrection now offers you personally forgiveness and new life PLEASE DO IT TODAY. God Bless.
The picture is of the cover of "the Origin of Specious Nonsense" by John J. May, seditious material in a humanist Europe!

YOU CAN TRAIN IN JESUS' CLASSROOM!

This Tuesday you can join myself and others including Katey Moreland of The Word of The Lord Ministries in the Dublin leg of her all Ireland Evangelism and Prayer Walking. Come at 1pm to 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1 where after some orientation we will be in Jesus' classroom "The Street" for some effective ministry and evangelism training from the wonderful Holy Spirit. If I was a swimming instructor I could hardly teach without a pool or the ocean. Likewise evangelism is not learnt in  a classroom but out where people are at. See you there. Ant

FINGERPRINTS...BUT WHOSE?

A Suicide bomb explodes in a middle eastern marketplace. Whose fingerprints are on such an act  those of God or satan? I would say satan because I know he came to kill, steal and destroy. Some would say God because they see such self sacrifice and killing as part of their twisted "holy war". On a normal day we can't see God nor satan face to face but be sure of this we can see a world full of fingerprints! Remember this: the devil never created a thing in his life but only perverted what God the creator made. Murder (including hatred), theft and destruction are his fingerprints, forensic evidence that he has been involved!  Where you see glorious life and blessings of every description including the beauty of creation ... give thanks to God and above all thank Jesus who made God known to us.  Detect the Divine! 

TRINITY: THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY BIBLE?

A very well known believer on national television (RTE) here in Ireland said that the Good Book was the most important thing in his life. Commendable you might think...but...it was a pity he did not give "Jesus" as the answer. Let me give you a very simple illustration. I invite my friend to dinner but when he is with me I ignore him and become totally absorbed in the letters he wrote me instead! Sounds a bit rude and weird (and a reflection on lack of real relationship). Some believe in the holy trinity of The Father, The Son and The Holy Bible. Please don't think that I am belittling the Word of God, far from it. In the beginning was The Word...and the Word was God. In John chapter one Jesus is called "The Word" but never forget this: The Word is a person, not a doctrine nor a set of principles!

In today's wired up world people form relationships in a very shallow way (Think of Facebook's definition of "friends" for example). The temptation is there to spend too much time indoors in front of some sort of electronic display terminal to the detriment of real relationships. At the very heart of the (true) Trinity (Father Son and Holy Spirit) is RELATIONSHIP. The GREAT news is that wherever you are at morally or spiritually God wants to know you and when Peter in Acts 2 said "Repent" he was speaking to a people who thought they already knew God.
The photo is of Franklin Lobos a rescued Chilean minor embracing his daughter Carolina.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2024973_2199758,00.html#ixzz13fwTPRua

BLOODY RELIGION OR BLOODY USELESS?

There is no forgiveness, according to God's Word, without one thing. Do you know what it is? Many say it's "sorrow". Sorry wrong answer. The answer is found in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 9, verse 22 and it is BLOOD. Now before you all go a bit bonkers and become raving Jihadists let me hasten to add that it the Blood of Jesus not ours! Maybe my blood would pass screening at the blood bank in Dublin and be acceptable but it wouldn't pass God's screening in heaven because sin has contaminated it. I am glad that when I die and stand before the throne of God the Father will look at Jesus perfect blood paid for me and not at mine and thereby welcome me in forever.

If this message offends you it shows that you are in spiritual darkness and need to surrender, not to me or a religious system but to God Himself and ask His forgiveness in light of Jesus' sacrifice. If Gospel means "good news" then a bloodless Gospel is not Gospel at all and if it ain't a Bloody Religion it's Bloody Useless! The photo is of Red Blood cells manufactured not by chance (as the faithiests would spoof to you) but by God in Heaven.

IS GOD DOING A GOOD JOB?

"I don't think God is doing a good job when you look at the trouble in the world" The Gent said to me on Saturday night at about 1am on Grafton Street as we discussed the gospel. I asked him and his wife (I assume) if they had children and they informed me they'd 2 teenage kids. I said that they might be the best parents in Ireland yet still get a late night call from the local police saying their kid was on drugs and had comrmitted an awful crime. I then said God in heaven is a parent but should not be blamed for the waywardness of his kids! They got the message...and plenty of food for thought about Jesus who loved them so much to come down on earth to take the rap for their wrongdoing.
I have never used this illustration before nor even thought about it but I found it yet another example of how the wonderful Holy Spirit gives you wisdom on the spot. Without a shadow of a doubt or a hint of an exaggeration I can honestly say that the vast majority of what I have learnt about evangelism...is by evangelizing. If you know Jesus let me encourage you to find someone who goes out weekly on the streets and "tag along". You will never be the same again and , more importantly, God will use you to push back the kingdom of darkness.

FRONT DOOR PROTEST OR BACK DOOR EMBRACE?

S

What do we have today at the end of "Ramadan"? During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins (no forgiveness available without the shedding of the innocent blood of Jesus), pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils (no real way of reformation without getting the "new heart and new spirit" promised by the new birth in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit), and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds (Our own righteous deeds are as filthy rags before Holy God and only the works of God done through us by faith in Jesus are of value). In short the intention might be noble but without Jesus (the One who died on the cross)...it's a waste of time. 

Tomorrow an american pastor is putting Christians in persecuted Islamic countries at risk by burning Korans (not a good idea). Many want to be at the front of an abortion clinic protesting but few are at the back door giving hugs to the broken and exploited women. Many want to offend the lost and what they hold dear but few reach out in love to them. There is a time or peace and a time for war (ecclesiastes). Tomorrow remember is September 11th so the depth of some peoples demonic depravity must not be forgotten and tyrants (read Ahmadinejad) ought to be brought to account before they develop nuclear capability, especially with such a public bent on the destruction of Israel. Now  put all that in your pipe and smoke it! Blessings. Ant

THE EXHAUSTION OF RELIGION

Face it lads: Religion is exhausting! But Jesus is life giving! How do I know that? Experience. Religion is endless and you are always inadequate...always! Yet with Jesus we can enter the sabbath rest of His acceptance if we are truly converted and "Born Again". And if we have this relationship with the King be prepared for relentless persecution from angry religious people who don't share the same peace. They have been fighting all their lives for something we simply walked up to the cross for and freely received..how annoying is that!

FISHING ON MY DOORSTEP

So they spent €360 million to bring regular crowds to my neighbourhood...so I could fish I guess! Tonight I tested the waters for the first time and positioned myself by one of the major exits from the new Lansdowne Road / Aviva stadium after the Ireland against Argentina football match. I simply held up the precious name of JESUS for about 10,000 people to see as they filed past. Pray that revival comes to Ireland because only 3 of the people were believers!

A PRIZE COURGETTE?

Look how proud I am with the giant courgette I grew. Moments later we sliced it and ...it was rotten on the inside and useless. It makes me think of how easily it is to be fooled by appearances. I cant speak of others but  know that apart from Jesus there is no good thing in me ...only rotten smelly mush like this courgette! I know the humanists would disagree and argue "man is basically good". Maybe good but not perfect and there lies the problem. We would all be outraged if a murderer was told by a "loving" judge that he was forgiven and could go home! We all want justice for others but go into denial when it comes to ourselves before Perfect (Holy) God! Either take your own punishment or believe that Jesus took it and turn to Him for a forgivenesss that can be given legally! Normal Fishing resumes this Saturday in Dublin City Centre, join me if you can!

THE WHISPER BEFORE THE SHOUT

Last weekend I declined 2 invitations to witness for Jesus. This was unusual but to be blunt i didn't quite feel up to it. The truth I now realize is that I had not of late spent much intimate time with jesus in the inner room, the very place where i receive the strength and the word and instruction I need. "What you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs" Luke 12:3 might be talking about revelation of ungodly secrets but it also applies to Godly revelation we hear when we privately get with the King. Now that I am returning to this inner room I expect to be out upsetting the enemy in Dublin and beyond. Hallelujah! Photo shows people on Grafton Street listening to the Word of God. Comments are now moderated but I promise to upload all comments which relate to the blog content, even those I don't agree with like Darwin, Dawkins and Delusion (all pretty much the same thing!). What will be filtered out is spam!

FREEDOM FROM RELIGION

Religion has given to God the character of the devil in order to manipulate and control behaviour. While God created “relationship” man created “religion”. Religion will always tell you that you are inadequate yet will offer no real hope of change. Religion kills but God gives life. God operates through love and free will and not by manipulation and force.
Will you again consider God but this time outside of the terms and language of religion. A good judge wont let a rapist off and the ultimately good Judge, who loves you, ensured that Jesus the innocent paid for every one of your crimes against HIm. Your forgiveness is offered as you read this because it has been fully paid for. The good news is that good! Religion involves “holding on” yet God speaks of surrendering. Pride hates that but I implore you to humble yourself now before the Maker of the universe. Time is short and not guaranteed so turn from religion to Jesus today.

HOPE

Recently I was witnessing on Grafton Street and some radical muslim gents with anti-Israel t shirts came up to me and asked questions. I asked the main chap "You are a muslim. Tell me how to get to heaven". He proposed a bunch of actions and rules to which I asked "If I do that will it make me good?" "Oh no it wont" he admitted. Here lies the problem of Islam and all religions...they don't make you good or holy and yet God is holy! Take Jesus' death out of the picture (as muslims do when they believe he was substituted on the cross by Judas!) and you are left without hope. Thankfully He did die for all and so we have hope when we turn to Him.

PERMISSION FROM ABOVE

It turned out it was just me and Jim fishing in Tallaght, with countless angels of course. I arrived early and scouted out the area around the Luas terminal and boy was it a ghost town! I then went to the big people magnet which was the Square shopping centre, a huge place, and although it was not crazy busy there was a reasonable number of people milling around the west entrance near the cinemas. When Jim joined me we took the guitar out and opened with "When the Saints go marching in". I knew we were on private property and might not last long but felt led of the Lord to go ahead anyway. "You need permission for that" said the burly well dressed security man, with his even more burly accomplice. "We have permission" I said without hesitation. "From whom?", "From the owner of this centre" I replied. "Who was that?" he said. "God almighty" said I. They then turned and left but I didn't feel a liberty to carry on so we packed up and went to Rathmines where we had a glorious time proclaiming Jesus and chatting to a few, all the time hold up high the wonderful name of the precious Lamb of God, The King of Kings, the matchless Name above all names, JESUS! The video is a birthday greeting recorded in Rathmines for Kyle Holland's 50th. He was the first guy I saw pray for the sick on the street...and that was 26 years ago!

DOES GOD JUST LOVE YOU WHEN YOU ARE GOOD?

Does God just love us when we are good? Of course not. He hates our sin but always loves us. (Remember John 3:16) If you don't believe this then not only will you find it hard, if not impossible to come back to him when you stray but...you will withhold HIs love from others who are not walking  in grace. What a transformed church we would have if people not only believed this but acted it!! Text me if you can join us next Saturday for street evangelism in Tallaght next Saturday afternoon. I think we've 3 confirmed so far.