News Bulletin.

I have made no secret of the fact that, with regard to Covid-19, I am something of a "conspiracy theorist"! I am also what has become known as an "anti-vaxxer". Okay, I reckon that I may have lost a number of friends just by posting those two sentences!

However, I have not made those decisions lightly, and unthinkingly. I have made them because I have gone to the trouble to do some basic research of my own, and not simply swallow all that the politicians, and the mainstream media, have churned out - in the UK; in France; and, it seems, in the rest of the world!

When one checks, for example, the actual number of deaths that are attributable to only Covid-19, then one discovers that they may be less than what is experienced with influenza! I use the word "may" simply because it is difficult to obtain totally accurate figures from any source! Of course, I don't expect anyone to take my word for it! Do your own research. It could be a real eye-opener!

However, in the book of Deuteronomy, in the Tanakh (the Old Testament of the Christian Bible), and in chapter 7 is a far more serious warning that any given out about Covid-19 - and this one is genuine! I would encourage you to read vs 6-16. Overall, that passage is a positive expression of the blessing of YHWH. It expresses His willingness to help those who trust Him. But that's not the whole picture! In v.10 we read: He "requites to their face those who hate Him, by destroying them; He will not be slack with him who hates Him, He will requite him to his face." 

Did you catch that "News Bulletin"? YHWH alerted His chosen people to be 'on the lookout' - not for bad men roaming the streets, but for a good God Who will destroy all those who hate Him!

It's true. A virus, however harmful it may be, is far from the only thing to be feared. Much more fearful is Almighty God! Even although He is merciful, and full of compassion, His awesome holiness makes all other kinds of fear look mild by comparison. 

In Matt. 10:28, we have these recorded words of the Lord Jesus: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell." "It is not hell-fire we are to fear, but it is God; without the stroke of Whose justice hell itself would be no punishment, and Whose frown would render heaven itself insupportable." (Adam Clarke's Commentary). This is the God who is described, by the writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus, as "... a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29).

Just before I was about to publish this post, I received an e-mail that included these words:

"The God Who can speak the billions of galaxies into existence with the “breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6) is a God Who can cast ungodly men into eternal hell for their defiance and rebellion against “the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4)."

We may not like to face this sobering truth, but Almighty God will not always be patient with those people who have no love or respect for Him. That, I would suggest, is a "News Bulletin" that we cannot afford to miss - or to ignore!

For Scottish readers (although others may also read - and pray!).

The following is a copy of an e-mail that I received from Dr Donald Boyd, Leader of the Scottish Christian Party, for which Party I have, myself, stood in the past at both Holyrood and Council elections.

I share it here for the benefit of those who may be confusing the SCP with the SFP.

If you do not have a vote in the forthcoming Scottish elections, please pray that it will be conducted honestly, and that the will of Father God be done in Scotland.

Hello all,

I have been asked about the Scottish Family Party (SFP).  Some people are confusing the Scottish Family Party with the Scottish Christian Party, especially as the SFP is appealing to Christian voters.

Scottish Family Party

The SFP has no clear definition of the family.  On North Highland Radio on 4/12/2019 the SFP leader Richard Lucas said that "the Scottish Family Party doesn't have a policy on same-sex marriage", begging the question on its definition of the family.  The leader of the Scottish Family Party stresses that the Scottish Family Party is not a Christian party https://twitter.com/scotfamparty/status/1195071629375787010 and distances the SFP from this label.

One of the Scottish Family Party candidates on regional list candidate for the Highlands and Islands is a bisexual, ex-porn star who is considering marriage to his current partner https://www.facebook.com/ScottishChristianParty/posts/4188607771182425 He says that the Scottish Family Party 'best represent my views on life and society' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9437661/German-gay-porn-star-turned-fireman-43-runs-Scottish-Parliament.html

Scottish Christian Party

The Scottish Christian Party has put the country ahead of the Party in this election because of the threat to the Christian constitution of Scotland. 

The SCP is supporting All For Unity.  I am the SCP candidate on the Highlands and Islands Regional List for the All For Unity Party.

The Regional Ballot Paper is PEACH coloured and it has only the name of the Alliance.  This is how it will appear on your Regional Ballot Paper.

[graphic of ballot paper that has not pasted!]

Put your Cross in the box but don't mark any other boxes or your vote may not count.

Feel free to pass on this email to those whom you think will be interested.

Dr Donald Boyd

Leader: Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"

Twitter: @DonaldBoyd7

https://twitter.com/donaldboyd7

www.donaldboyd.org

'Righteousness exalts a nation' Proverbs 14:34

Do you have time - for God?!

Clearing out my Inbox, I came across this from many years ago (yes, I'm a hoarder - ask my wife!). Rather than send it as an e-mail, I thought that I would edit it, and post it on the blog. I hope that you will read to the end!

When faced with the subject of "God", many of us think: I don't have time for this. This is especially true if the topic arises when we are at work! It's really inappropriate. However, could it possibly be that this kind of thinking is exactly what has caused a lot of the problems in our world today?

We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning,
maybe, Sunday evening,
and at a midweek service (unlikely 'though that is today!).

We do like to have Him around during sickness
and, of course, at funerals.
However, we don't have time, or room, for Him during work or play,
because that's the part of our lives we think we can, and should, handle on our own.
May God forgive me for ever thinking
that there is a time or place where..
HE is not to be First in my life.
We should always have time to remember all that HE has done for us.

Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."
Not ashamed?

Yes, I do love God.
HE is my source of existence and Saviour.
He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I would be nothing but, with Christ, I am constantly strengthened. (Phil 4:13)

Easy vs. Hard

Why is it so hard to tell the truth, and yet so easy to tell a lie?
Why are we so sleepy in church but right when the sermon is over we suddenly wake up?
Why is it so easy to delete a Godly e-mail, yet forward nasty ones?
Of all the free gifts we may receive, Prayer is the very best.   
There are no costs, but wonderful rewards. GOD BLESS!

Some additional thoughts: 

Isn't it strange how simple it is for people to trash God, and then wonder why the world's going to hell in a handcart?  

Isn't it strange how someone can say "I believe in God", but still follow the satan! (who, by the way, also "believes" in God)?
  
Isn't it strange how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing? 

Isn't it strange how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

Actions speak more loudly than words!

The Lord Jesus had been speaking about His Father, and some Jews who were present, responded: "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did." (John 8:39-40). There was a great difference between what those Jews said, and what they were doing. 

Our words, if they are to be taken seriously, must be matched by our actions. Those enemies of Jesus had closed their minds to the truth. They steadfastly refused to believe that the claims of the One Who stood before them might be valid; that He might have brought fresh truth from YHWH. They made the claim that they were Abraham's children but, as Jesus pointed out, they were not acting as Abraham did. When messengers of God went to him, he welcomed them (Gen.18). These Jews were seeking only Jesus' destruction - and they were doing so in the name of religion!

But not only did these Jews claim to be the children of Abraham; they also claimed to be the children of God! (v.41). To this, Jesus replied "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me." (v.42). To make loud boasts of standing in a particular relationship with Almighty God; to make fervent claims to being religious; means nothing at all unless attitudes and conduct correspond to those claims. In this the Jewish leaders failed - and failed badly!

Although the pressure of other work is slowing me down, I continue to work on the fourth volume of my book series (see the heading). It is entitled "Living the Faith", and is based on the Letter from James. That letter is full of practical advice. I write, in the introduction: 

« When we come to this letter, it should be with certain questions in our minds – questions such as, “Do my actions agree with my beliefs?” “Do I ‘practice what I preach’”?

In the letter, James shows us how we may transform our belief into behaviour; our theory into practice; and our doctrine into true discipleship. The letter is about the inter-relationship between belief and behaviour, for the true disciple of Jesus. »

Great disservice may be done to the cause of the Christ by those who profess to be His disciples, but whose deeds do not match their words. It was the American Ralph Waldo Emerson - the 19th century essayist, philosopher, and poet, who said "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." The world will believe the message that we bring, not merely because of what we say we are, but because of what we show we are, by the way in which we live. 

I had never heard of the Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev until one of those who endorsed one of my books mentioned him in the endorsement. However, I discovered an interesting saying of his that it is "the extravagant acts of human love which constitute the credible currency of Christianity".

If you and I claim to be disciples of Jesus, let us be sure that our actions speak - at least as loudly as our words!

Communion

It was back in 2008 - remember those days when we were free to meet regularly, without any concern about 'social distancing' or the wearing of masks! - that, during Communion in the fellowship with which we then worshipped, the following words came to me. I published them, on this blog, that evening with the comment that: "It’s never going to be classic literature, but the thoughts are sincere, and intended to bring glory to the Lord." I found a hard copy at the weekend, and decided that it might be an encouragement to someone of I posted it again.

It’s only a tiny piece of bread, but it speaks of a God above
Who came, in the Person of the Son, to show how great His love.

It’s only a tiny piece of bread, but it speaks of atoning death
As Jesus completed His earthly work, and breathed His last human breath.

It’s only a tiny piece of bread, but it speaks of new life for me.
It reminds me of all that Jesus did, on that cross, at Calvary.

It’s only a little cup of wine, but it speaks of the Saviour’s blood
Shed on that cross, for all mankind; fulfilling the sacred Word.

It’s only a little cup of wine, but it speaks of the mighty flow
Of the mercy of God, to a sinner like me, and the grace that e’en I might know.

It’s only a little cup of wine, but it speaks of great sacrifice
As it spurted from head, hands, feet, and side; and the soldiers threw their dice.

It’s only a tiny piece of bread, and a little cup of wine;
But, each time I partake, I rejoice once again, in His wonderful love divine.

Blessings, and shalom.