Long Standing Strongholds...no more!

New Chris Rowe Podcast worth listening to available here. Don't forget to comment if possible. Blessings. http://shalomdublin.wordpress.com

SIgnificance and recent origins

Hubble Telescope image of Fomalhaut debris ring

While I was having a leisurely coffee at the Grand Canal basin today I heard some chaps walk by having a rather animated discussion about the significance of man in the Cosmos .  What I heard during the brief moment as they passed was that the universe was billions of years old yet man has only been around for a fraction of that time and is therefore very insignificant.  All I could think of was that they had taken the Kool-Aid like most people who are fed with the Darwinian view of the cosmos which is propagated virtually everywhere. The tragedy is that they were unaware of the fact that man's life is of far more significance and recent origin. The entire cosmos was actually created for man (and woman) and it wasn't billions of years ago but merely thousands. I know I wasn't there at the creation to witness this beginning myself but I can rest on the truth of God's word on the matter, a view that is also supported by true, non Darwinian, science

LIVING GUILT FREE

Guilt is to sin what pain is to sickness. I once got a gum infection, which got serious because the chemist misread the dentist’s prescription and only gave me pain killers and not antibiotics! The pills removed the symptoms but did not solve the problem!
When we sin, we feel the pain of guilt. People try, and do many things to get rid of this pain (spend money, use drugs/alcohol, relationships, gossip etc) without success. The “painkillers” work for a short while but then the pain returns! To get rid of this “guilt pain” we must deal with the cause, sin. But how? You need to find someone who is not subject to sin to help and heal you. The Bible shows us that God loves us. It is His plan for us is to live guilt free and united with Him. To make a guilt free life possible Jesus, the sinless/innocent one, willingly took the cause of guilt (sin) upon Himself. He allowed himself to be crucified and killed even though He had the power to save Himself! He dealt with“the cause” and opened the door for us to live guilt free. Now God can offer us complete forgiveness and a guilt free life that does not compromise His Holy justice. Jesus heals us, He does not just numb the pain!

Now back to the issue of gay marriage...

I heard to said by a proponent of gay marriage that "You are entitled to have my opinion". Huh? Of course we are entitled to opinions, as long as they conform to the liberal left...or else watch out for some language, fit for neither child nor adult!  The internet is great in many respects but it is also a gathering place for anonymous people who like to remove all doubt about their ignorance by displaying thoughts they would never utter in person.
Now back to the issue of gay marriage: If we jettison God's opinion on this among other matters we are absolutely rudderless in a sea of change.  We are simply left with what "feels" good with no solid basis. When I was a kid it "felt" good to eat sweets all day long (bad idea).  Many married people let their eyes wander and "feel" they should get involved with another of the opposite sex (bad idea). Many hot blooded teens "feel" they should follow whatever urges their hormones were leading them to, even if it meant doing acts reserved for marriage (bad idea).  If we are purely lust led animals you might understand the argument but...we are not!  Many fight this idea of a moral Creator because they feel hopelessly inadequate in meeting His standard...too right...it is hopeless, if you reject Jesus in every way, except as a piece of your curse word vocabulary.  The amazing thing is that he did become a curse for us that day he hung on  a tree, a curse for us so we can be free from the curse of sin.
Now back to the issue of gay marriage: If "feelings" are everything then why stop at 2, why not include animals, why should marriage be closed and not open? I heard 3 lesbians in USA want recognition in some bizarre union, don't ask the details! God created in a particular order (Adam and Eve you may recall) and God made sex. The fall brought corruption or perversion to the order God set and when He is rejected literally anything goes.
Now back to the issue of gay marriage: I am aware that this is hot button issue but with laws coming down the tracks in Ireland I believe it is valid to state that marriage is a gender based institution...period.  I clearly don't agree with homosexuality but when I meet gays I treat them with normal dignity and respect as people without agreeing with their sex orientation. God loves every last homosexual in Ireland and elsewhere so much that He bankrupted heaven by sending his most precious, His own Son Jesus, to take the hit for them and offer them new eternal life. Yes the bible calls homosexuality sin, as it does drunkenness, gluttony, lying, theft and lust. Did you ever get plastered, eat too much, tell a fib, download music illegally and take a prolonged look at one of the opposite sex with unhealthy thoughts...We're all the same boat...needing Jesus!

Pope's Big Bang ...or whimper?

It's being posted across the web, blogosphere, twitterati and facebook as news...yet we've heard this before. The leader of the Roman church, quite nice chap in many ways, has reiterated what he was told in chemistry class and said God used the big bang and evolution, or something to that effect. This has been official Roman Catholic policy for a while, but it causes problems of Biblical proportions. Now before you post me the latest Dawkins directive or simply steam off in a predictable rant against a view that is nowhere to be found is our PC text books (which uses language of absolute certainty for an event at which nobody alive or in living memory attended (i.e the beginning)) let me make a very simple point as follows:
The word of God is child like clear that death entered the world because of disobedience to God (ahem..sin..ssssh don't mention the war!). We expect atheists, those chaps who have more faith than me (by believing all this amazing cosmos, nature and microorganisms arrived by total chance with no brain input from anyone), to promote the idea that death is part of the process in giving life as we see it today. The Bible portrays the very opposite in saying that the creation, which The Maker called "very good" was indeed perfect and then became corrupted by a malfunction (i.e rebellion against the Creator or ssssh don't mention the war! "sin"). This same Maker said "If you sin you'll die". Why doesn't the scripture record Adam (assuming he was the first fully upright ape man) saying to God in reply "Die?.. but I'm standing on the bones of generations of ape men and other simpler creatures so you can't be telling the truth, sorry!".  I could go on, but my dog is looking at me asking for a walk before I go to bed so I'll sign off here. In conclusion I'd like to state that too many confuse the creation with the corruption and when they observe an imperfect world today, beautiful but ugly also, they think we are on a journey towards perfection, not knowing that in the past before that fruit got nicked...'twas a perfect world where man and woman walked with Maker.  Now the mission of Jesus, the innocent, satisfying the justice of Holy God by his death, so we could legally be forgiven when we turn and believe, makes sense for the first time and the last enemy (aka death) can be defeated. Wow.

TIME TO GO NIGHT FISHING AGAIN

This Friday (18 July 2014), God willing, we will be night fishing in Temple Bar Square between the hours of 9.30 and 11.30. If you know Jesus, pray for an outpouring of the Spirit of God through our work. The revellers, tourists, stag parties, hen parties and others all have a Father who is calling them and on occasion some hear the call and respond to the wonderful life giving gospel of grace. Many ignore us but we are there for the one who turns. As an evangelist it is always exciting but so too is sit sobering to see the utter hatred many have for God who graciously is giving then their next breath and heartbeat. If you don't yet know Jesus then come out and find us (just look for the Jesus signs) and ask us what its all about...it could be the smartest move you ever made.

Election of a Different Sort

Politicians ! { Poly = Latin for "Many"  Ticks = Blood sucking creatures} They're all the same ! Full of promises that are null and void when the last ballot box closes!

It's not just Politicians.

We are all the same - God said  " We all like sheep have gone astray,  each to his own way"

Zero Tolerance

Imagine if it was a crime to live a less than perfect life and you were arrested.  The legal team accusing you had full information on all your failings.  While you prepared your defence saying "no one is perfect'  you discover to your horror that the judge himself is perfect and because of the law has no discretion to pardon you.

Oh dear, how sad, yet how true to life when we consider the message of  God's word - Worse still it says that the outcome of sin 

(any sin) is death (eternal separation from God).

Now for the comforting news

The Judge  struck the hammer confirming your guilt but before the guards take you off in chains the judge removes his wig and cloak, steps down, comes to the guards, offers to take your place, gets handcuffed and is lead off to the cell.  While you stand there speechless the judge looks back and says to you "you're free to go - I'm paying the price"

This actually happened

Your death sentence was taken by Jesus personally so that you could be forgiven and released from sin's power, addiction and consequences.  You can now have a personal friendship with God through Jesus because God's justice is satisfied by his death.

What now?

Get to a private place, Apologise to God for your self centred life, talk to Him now, ask His forgiveness and invite Him into your life as boss. Be prepared for an internal transformation. He is listening and will answer - believe me.  Make your election to God sure.

AVOIDING DISASTER

We’ve come a long way since the Titanic sank due to the absence of a two-way telegraph system. Iceberg warnings were not picked up because first class passengers had the poor telegraph operator occupied sending frivolous greetings on this new gadget.  Disaster due to poor communication.

The inventor of the clockwork radio was motivated by the tragic spread of AIDS in Africa due to poor basic health information. This in turn was due to lack of radios caused by the high cost of replacement batteries. Another disaster due to poor communication.

Today communication is the buzz word with texts, internet, e-mails and mobile phones everywhere.  A goalkeeper recently conceded a goal due to a call on his mobile.  Yet with all these methods of talking we still seem to have a big problem with our communication with God.

Doesn’t voice mail annoy you?  You’ve made the effort and taken the time to call someone and lo and behold they can’t hear you!   Worse still is the message “Voice mail has not been activated”.  God had that same feeling, only much worse, when Adam hung up on Him in the garden.  His and Eve’s sin separated them and broke the line of communication.  How tragic. No wonder the world is so messed up.  The source of all wisdom, love and life, God Himself, has been largely cut off.

Communication can however be re-established along with a wonderful relationship with God, when we allow Jesus to take our sins.  That’s why they call it good news, He died, the good guy for <nsert your nick-name>  the rebel. Now all that remains is for you to communicate by talking honestly and openly to God in the same way as you would talk to a friend. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved from  a disaster due to poor communication.

Want to know more?  Then talk to Jesus directly… now.

COSMIC EXPLOSION QUESTIONED

Patrick's Day in Dublin on Grafton Street is an Evangelist's dream. It is packed with people, all out for a good time and with plenty of time on their hands to ask questions about Jesus. I nearly went hoarse, and that was without any street preaching!  Many heard about God's love for them as shown by Jesus at calvary for the very first time. One group of people said that their mate was an atheist. I asked if I could shake his hand and they were quite surprised at this. I congratulated him on having more faith than me as he believed that all these people enjoying St Patrick's day are the result of a cosmic explosion in the past. I asked him if he thought we came from monkeys, to which he replied "of course" I then asked where the monkeys came from. "There was a big bang". "Oh I said they're was a bang and then monkeys arrived". "I didn't say that " he said. "Where then did the monkeys come from?" I asked. He then admitted that he wasn't sure and so we all witnessed the conversion of an atheist to an agnostic. It was all done with much humour but to get people to think I believe is a great first step.
Another lady asked me about Jesus and I asked her her name and when she said "Hannah" I asked if she knew what it meant and she said "no". After telling her it meant grace and that Hannah in the Bible cried out to God for a child (Samuel) who became a prophet, she was riveted. I then informed her about GRACE: God's Riches At Christ's Expense and you could have bowled her over with a feather.  There were many other encounters, one being with a buddhist girl.  I asked her what the source of her (reincarnation) information was and she had no answer.  In evangelism we are not trying to outsmart people at all but often many untruths have to unravelled to open the door for the light of the Gospel. The Photo shows Jim and Aengus busy holding church. Overall we found a great degree of openness in our many discussions and we trust that God will work on the many hearts for His glory.

NEVER FORGET HIS LOVE

Chris Rowe + Myself with music by Jim Feeley

After the king extended grace to the servant who owed him a fortune this same servant grabbed another person by the throat on the way home demanding that much smaller debt be settled. He had the unfortunate tossed in jail without mercy. Do we do this. You bet we do. Those who saw this were grieved and reported it to the king. Unforgiveness is grevious and a true scourge amongst humanity and, dare I say, some of God's people. We have been forgiven when Jesus extended grace and mercy to us when we deserved the judgement of law. Then we turn around and act legalistically towards others. Lord have mercy! Jesus came with grace and truth, can we in His name come any other way?  This message is for all the evangelists out there. Never forget his love and grace when administering truth to the people.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE?

This is the title of one of Wayne Jacobsen's books and understandably it struck a chord with many. As a former pastor his focus now is on relationship with God as opposed to the formal structures of organized religion. This really challenges "clergy and laity" alike (including pentecostal "clergy and laity"). In my recent interview with Wayne I was quite disarmed by the way I would ask general questions about churchy matters and get answers which always focussed on Jesus. I was very impressed with his openness, honesty, freshness and humour....and his advice to Run, Run, Run from legalism. Here is a link to interview at pilgrimtalk.wordpress.com

Who do I have in my coffee shop?

Grafton Street on St Patrick's day is a sight to behold. It is crowded with people young and middle aged, the old of course having more sense, and the vast majority have little or no idea of St Patrick's message (i.e. the message of the cross). We spent about 2 and a half hours, in the freezing rain, sharing the truth with enquiring people as we held our (waterproof) "Jesus" signs high. A certain member of our small band, who has been known to silence streets with her preaching, was herself silenced by the high volume background noise of the day.

Despite this there were numerous valuable witnessing encounters. On one discussion a young chap said "are you a creationist" to which I retorted " Of course. Are you an evolutionist?" when he replied in the affirmative I asked him about his own lineage and after he mentioned the fish I asked how could it be that the gills he breathed through could suddenly become lungs. The discussion was always good natured in that I cared about these people, actually it was God caring through me as I might have acted differently if left to my own resources!

On another encounter a young girl (15 I guess) approached me to tell me that she loves Jesus and she has just been to Lourdes. I asked her if that is what she would say to God at the gates of heaven if she died to which she said yes.  I then informed her that this was idolatry as she was trusting in her own works and not in the work of Jesus at the cross. As I relate this story please understand that I didn't communicate it with a "smart Alec, holier than thou and judgmental" attitude, far from it, I simply wanted her to look to Jesus like never before and realize the futility of her own efforts to please Holy God.

I know God is changing my heart, bit by bit, because of my reaction to those who openly mock and laugh, as some did. By God's grace I can point at them who raise their voices against Jesus and declare out loud something like "Jesus loves you sir!" It can arrest the demonic activity in  a moment and I am motivated to say that in the conviction that Jesus wishes none to perish but all to come to repentance.

We were blessed when a Brazilian family joined us for outreach, encouragement and fellowship afterwards over a cup of coffee. There was such love and encouragement between this merry band of seven  that the coffee shop owner at the end asked me who we were....Roll on Revival!

OUTREACH PLANS 2013

Joe preparing for his trips outside Dublin

God has called us to bring the good news to the people of Ireland. As well as street outreach in Dublin 10 day trips are planned for 2013 to towns around Ireland (midlands and east coast generally). If you wish to join our ad hoc band of street evangelists for the day then contact Anthony (087 9795454) for details and we would be delighted to see more workmen and women for the glorious harvest fields. Our only agenda is...Jesus. Details are on the sidebar under "Outreach Calender"

Finished with Syrup

photo by lkireland (on instagram)

Pilgrim Talk 68: Finished with Syrup

When you taste honey you can truly say "I'm finished with syrup". The best will spoil you for the good and so it is with the sure promises of God. Even though we battle through set backs and disappointments we can press on because the One who gave the promise is, and always is, faithful. William Wilberforce persevered for a long time to see the abolition of slavery and while he almost gave up the fight..he didn't. He was motivated by a dream and couldn't settle for anything short of this. Enjoy this episode where Ant and dave again chew the spiritual cud. Listen here

EVANGELISM: MOTIVATED OR TERRORIZED?

Joe recently joined us for some outreach and we are blessed to have one of the most "chilled out" fishers of men you could imagine. Here he is outside the Aviva stadium after the recent American football game

It's been a while since the last post, mostly because of the time I have been giving to Radio and Podcast work (see Pilgrim Talk on the left hand side of this page) but I thought I'd "catch up" with a few thoughts. It's hard to believe that the weekly podcasts have been going for more than a year and that we have a small audience but my main passion remains EVANGELISM which means getting the good news out. Jesus did a truly amazing job at Calvary and we are the delivery boys with this message. The rising tide of secular humanism, atheism and Darwinism, especially in churches, make this message more vital than ever. 

Evangelism is the one word that motivates some believers and terrorizes others. Why is that? We have all witnessed bad evangelism done under compulsion, yet some of us at times have experienced God's grace operate through us in sharing His message on occasion and the feeling is truly irreplaceable. It is this type I encourage yet I know we don't do so that we feel good, we do it because of our hearts for Jesus and for the lost (..ehem..pre-believer).

AND THE CROWDS ROAR!

CONGRATULATIONS to Katie Taylor. When I heard the enormous roar she received in getting her gold medel at the Olympic games in London yesterday I immediately thought that that roar will not compare with the roar she will receive when she enters the gates of heaven. Not just her alone but all who have their trust in Jesus will receive a roof lifting ovation in due course. That my friends should spur you on to achieve Gold in your life regarding the call of God.

IMAGINE IF....

IMAGINE IF…

There were no monkeys in your ancestry, but only people.

IMAGINE IF you were not the product of a series of accidents, but were in fact intelligently designed.

IMAGINE IF the Designer allowed free will, even if it meant the risk of a malfunction in His creation.

IMAGINE IF this malfunction made the created people different, offensive and incompatible with Him.

IMAGINE IF He continued to care for His creation after this malfunction happened.

IMAGINE IF all the wicked acts from all ages that were caused by this malfunction were concentrated and put onto the shoulders of the Creator's innocent Son.

IMAGINE IF He died as a result and this satisfied the perfect Creator's justice.

IMAGINE IF the Innocent died for the guilty.

IMAGINE IF you failed to believe this, turn your life around and ask His forgiveness and imagine if you continued for now and eternity in hell to live a separated life

IMAGINE WHAT A MONKEY YOU'D FEEL.        

WHY BOTHER WITH THE HORRIBLE CROSS?

I often ask people "Why did Jesus die on the cross?"
"Because he loved us"...Well I love my wife but I wont jump in front of the Luas to prove it, that's stupid!
"Because the Romans nabbed Him"...He was the creator of the universe and had power to save himself, yet He willingly went like a lamb to the slaughter. He even told the guy who ratted on Him (Judas) to go do his thing! (not something you normally tell a betrayer to do!)
"Because He wanted to prove a point"...He was already God almighty, the miracles proved that.
"Because He wanted it"....Why then did he ask the Father to take away this cup of suffering from Him at the Garden of Getsemane? In Himself He didn't want crucifixion but He obeyed His Father in becoming the acceptable sacrifice for sin.

The true answer can only be understood when we realize that God is Holy and the only ever truly innocent person Jesus took it on the neck for you and me who broke God's perfect law (lying, stealing etc..). The Hebrew scriptures say that anyone hung on   tree is cursed. He became a curse for us so that we could be set free from the curse of sin.  Without Jesus and His forgiveness we are truly GUILTY...Yikes!

...WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU (Acts 1:8)

Here's my current top ten reasons why we need the Holy Spirit:

Only He convicts the world of sin

Only He gives us true motives

Only He gives us the ability to be representatives of Jesus

Only He gives eternal life

Only He can help man to give honour to God

Only He can give us the word we need to share the gospel

Only He can teach us how to conduct ourselves

Only He convicts the world of (His ) righteousness 

Only He gives true power

Only He leads to Jesus

Without the Holy Spirit in our ministry we are in a sorry and sad if not dangerous place. Fill us Lord!

With huge crowds on Grafton Street a few of us went out on Saturday (St Patrick's Day) to hold high the name of Jesus and witness and preach the gospel. We had a very busy day with not a few interesting encounters and one to one discussions. While I do believe we sowed eternal seed I can't deny that we need a new pentecost on the streets in Ireland. 

We are currently reading the glorious accounts of God's visitation to the Hebrides Islands in the 1940's. Duncan Campbell was a humble servant used by God in this revival and he wrote a jaw dropping account here http://www.revival-library.org/catalogues/20thcentury/campbell.html

It is slowly dawning on me that...there is no Plan B to such a visitation.

AN END TO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR

When someone's life is characterized by destructive behaviour that is a sure sign of spitiual activity in that person which is not godly. When Lucifer was cast out of heaven he took a third of the angels and it was to Earth that they were cast down. You and me (ie mankind) has a three fold nature: spirit, soul and body. The spirit is the real you andis the part where God can inhabit by His Holy Spirit. The soul is the mind, will and emotions and don't forget that animals who have no spirit do have a soul. Finally there is the body, the bit we can see and the place where the 5 senses reign.
Jesus arrived one day at a place on the shores of the sea of Gallilee and met a naked mad man. It transpired that this man was possessed, not in his spirit but in his soul, by many demons. The demons themselves begged to stay on earth longer and so Jesus cast them into the nearby herd of pigs (the pig's souls that is). The swine then promptly committed suicide by jumping off the cliff. The man was instantly and completely set free and "in his right mind". Great story...and it's true.
We have all heard that Jesus came to save the lost (includes us all..and His mother!) but few know that the word used in the original greek text is "Sozo" which means to "save, heal and deliver". This is exciting. The work of Calvery was to save our spirits, heal our bodies and deliver our souls from demonic activity, put a different way: it was a complete work! Remember that He publicly displayed every demonic power as defeated after His death (see Ephesisans Chapter 4). Now that's how we can truly see an end to destructive behaviour. Good News!

BEWARE OF NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Beware of new year resolutions! I say this becuase the greater danger for believers is that they put the focus on their ability at the cost of "learning the unforced rhythms of grace" and receiving Jesus's supernatural help in everyday matters. I know I could lose a few pounds and apply more discipline in a few areas but is a simplisic resolution to do this going to help? I think not. In fact it could prove counter- productive in that I would set off the long distance race with a great sprint of enthusiasm only to collapse in failure and disillusionment.
With increasing chaos in the world around us surely this year, like last year, can be a year of greater intimacy with God Himself. When we are close to Him we know our own worth. Think of this. Value is determined by the price one can obtain for something. I might want to seel my car but if nobody wants it at all it has no value, beyond scrap. If on the orther hand it was a unique high value vintage car attracting great interest it could be worth a lot of money. How much is a person worth? (that is: you and me). God our creator gave up His most precious only Son Jesus, His very life, for you and me and this act demonstrated beyond doubt that God sees us as priceless.
Have you ever noticed how people change when they stop feeling worthless and start to see themselves lved and valued. It is quite awesome. Surely this good news (Gospel) we have has such power to change people.

Modern day account of Jesus...

Jesus walks into a Church (2011)...starts to move in the power of the spirit, couple of people get out of wheelchairs, and a few people recieve their sight... people are amazed and overjoyed...However after a short time the some people get very upset...Guess who they are? , yes, right first time The Pastor and his elders..." Who does this guy think he is" they mutter between themselves..and the Pastor, bless God, decides to signal to his ushers, quickly they approach this unshaven rebel, and ask him to leave. "Show some respect" they say as they escort him off the premises.. A religious lull returns over the congregation,"doesn't he know we have a service to run in here" , they whisper at the front of the Church, as they return to a form of Godliness that deny's the power... Does this remind you of any particular Characters in scripture...?

Outside the crowd gathers, five times the size of the Church as the rebel preaches the message  has power and Authority, not like the ones they are used to.. as the "leaders off the Church come out and hear Him, they are infuriated, as some of "their people", are listening as well as all these people...Who are you submitted to or(by what authority do you do these things).. one of the leaders shouts out.. I do nothing unless, I first see my father doing it first..who are you submitted to, I am in Him and he is in me..
That's complete independence, your off man , they shout as they depart..
But the people remain, and many are healed ....And his followers grow....

The situation worsens, to the extend that many have joined this new sect, the Church leaders are worried and upset , and they have all lost many, of "their people", to this loose canon , who does'nt seem to want to submit himself , to anyone, except the Holy Spirit..He wont even relate to us, and we don't relate to him...
probably because we are of a totally different spirit..

They plot and plan.......

Modern day Pharisees
Author-Sean Cronin

2 WRONG ROADS + 1 RIGHT

I heard it said that Islam has only 2 ways to get to heaven, one being try and have your good works exceed that of the strictest pharisees...lotsa luck!...and hopefully God will be in a good humour the day you die and have arbitrary mercy on you...(bit of a gamble to put it mildly!). The other way is to give your very life for God in Jihad or holy war, a more guaranteed method (if only it was true!). Contrast this with the way God revealed through His Word and by His Holy Spirit through Jesus, namely that God Himself in Christ would actually die for us, the (only) innocent for the guilty (all of us). Now perhaps you can understand the contrast between these 2 faiths and the utter foolishness of saying both "Jesus was a good man' and "Your good works will get you to heaven". Many nominal Christians sadly have their trust in their good works and not the Good King who bled for them...Think about it.

CAN RTE NOT FIND A YEC?

On the Pat Kenny radio show this morning there was a mini debate between atheist Michael Nugent and a chap called Migeul DeArce of TCD Genetics Institute. The title was 'That This House Believes in God' and Athiest Michael put the valid question to Miguel "When did man get a soul". Now the problem was that Miguel DeArce believes in both creation (God)  and evolution and so his answer was predictably low on substance. I have often stated on this blog that anything less than 7 day young earth creationism is inconsistent with Biblical truth (and plain false also by the way). Adam had no ape ancestry and had not only a soul (animals have that) but a spirit which made him, and the missus, different. It would be nice to see Pat get a YEC (Young Earth Creationist) believer to take on an atheist next time and not a theistic evolutionist who, by the way, does not believe in biblical truth. In the beginning God created.. is a trustworthy statement. The Bible talks about a liar but it's not the author.

STATING THE OBVIOUS (+ STANDING WITH ISRAEL)

When I witness on the street for Jesus I typically avoid distracting discussions, especially political ones where most people's views can be quite polarized and not for turning. I am however struck by the irony of the stance people are taking today in condemning violence (rightly so) and supporting the establishment of a state (Palestine) that has the destruction of it's neighbour in its charters. I couldn't wait for the Irish Times to publish my letter so here it is!:
Madam,
Both Hamas and Fatah deny Israel the right to exist and continue to facilitate indiscriminate rocket launches against them. Despite this and the recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization a large portion of the western world seems drunk on the idea of supporting them in their breakaway declaration of statehood. Ireland would be wise to take a stand in this lunacy and join USA, and perhaps other nations in standing up for what is right. If the IRA in the height of their violence campaign had declared some kind of a country while murdering protestant and other civilians would it have been right to give them a state of any description? I think not. The Irish peace process involved talk not breakaway declaration. Israel needs our support by us speaking out and voting in the UN against this lunacy at a time when ethical and moral blindness seems to be descending on the international body politic.
Yours sincerely, Anthony Brabazon....Comments are welcome but rants will be binned!