dangerous deception

HE’S COMING SOON!

(November 24, 2023) Brian Bell  shares comfort in these troubled times…

As we look towards the end of 2023 we find the world still facing many difficult if not intractable issues.

Most recently and topical has been the situation in the Middle East centred on the nation of Israel and its conflict in Gaza. Naturally, it has caused a lot of controversy around the world, even here in my homeland of Northern Ireland where there are conflicting views about who is to ‘blame’ for the conflict and what to do about it.

Noticeable ‘End times’ resurgence
I have also noticed that it has caused a resurgence of ‘end times’ theogogy within the family of Christian believers and how the present conflict sits within that framework.

In the present situation my resolve is not to get sidetracked by speculative end time scaremongering… but rather keep with what I know is truth and try to ‘hold the fort’ to quote that old cliché and hymn. And I pray that it is so with other Christians around the world!

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MY PEOPLE

(November 01, 2023) Dr Jim McClure shares … 

Over these past few weeks we have been shocked, sickened and stressed by the horrendous events that have been taking place in Israel. We have been confronted by the graphic details of unimaginable acts of human depravity.

This has not just a battle between Gaza and Israel about ‘land rights.’ It is intrinsically much more profound than that.  What lies behind all this hatred and hostility which has caused such unimaginable carnage?  Why is this tiny nation of Israel the focal point of so much animosity?

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CARING AND CARRYING

(November 29, 2022) Dr Robert McQuillan warns an ‘over-caring’ Christian…

Dear Dr Robert

I care for people and I follow that command of Jesus to care for, to love anyone who is mt neighbour. Some of those I’ve been interceding for, praying for, has me thinking a lot about them, even during the day and sometimes awakening to do so during the night. They have what I call heavy problems and… well, I can only describe what’s happened this way. I’ve been feeling heavy myself, deeply sensitive to their hurts and it’s as if I feeling their burdens on my heart. This making me feel down – yet some of them seem to be getting free of their problems. Am I making myself clear here. Maybe this all sounds too mixed up. Sorry. ‘Weary Will’ (not real name).

Dear ‘Weary Will’

Hold it right there! Yes, I understand you, how you’re feeling, that heaviness that you’ve encountered. To help you, I’ll go straight to the point! The problem is that you’re not just caring, you’re wrongly carrying!

Yes,  you’re doing right in caring – as all Christians should for anyone that we consider ‘Luke 10:25ff neighbours’ and in every way we can. But one thing we can’t do is this: we can’t carry them! This is a mistake that Satan has lured well-thinking Christians into and it has eat away at them, stealing their own happiness, even causing sickness.

I urge you to recall that you’re a servant of Jesus, not our Lord Himself! Only Jesus can care to the extreme of carrying sicknesses, heartbreak, hurts and  burdens that we humans experience.

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JUDGING OTHERS

(March 05, 2022) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, shares a concern about Christians’ attitudes …

These are certainly very difficult days for Christians as we seek to comply with political requirements and changing social and moral values which, at times, may appear to violate our Christian convictions.

And how Satan can use this confusion to His advantage!

Difficult decisions
During these past two years this has been brought into focus as we have considered our response to some of the political requirements and medical recommendations relating to the coronavirus.

Church leaders frequently have been faced the task of trying to determine the right course of action to take. Concerning attending worship services at church they had three main choices…

(1) Close their churches until the pandemic is over,

(2) Keep their churches open to all and possibly spread the virus, or

(3) Compromise by having a service for the vaccinated and another for the unvaccinated. 

I don’t believe that the solution to this problem is easy. Church leaders, with a good conscience, have often chosen different routes. 

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