Ulster or God?

Rev. Ian Paisely the First Minister of Northern Ireland and the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party today announced that he is stepping down from both these roles in May. There already has been much reaction to the 81 year old's decision, the leader of the Alliance Party, David Ford, said "History will judge whether Ian Paisley will be remembered for 40 years of saying no or one year of saying probably." Personally I will remember him for his dramatic U-turn from "Never, Never, Never" to "Possibly, Ok, How you doing Martin?".

In the interview with BBC Newsline he identified the two main pillars behind all of his decisions, including the decision to form a government with Sinn Fein, as his Christian faith and the people's best interests. This is where I strongly disagree with Paisley. Surely these are not two seperate cornerstones rather what God says is what is best for the people of Northern Ireland. Deuteronomy 16:20 reads "Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you." Paisley did not follow the path of justice when he went into government with unrepentant terrorists such as Deputy First Minister McGuiness. He chose the path of power and to placed what he believed to be the best interests of Northern Ireland over God's command. Being a politician involves tough decisions but in this instance "Big Ian" made the wrong one. Even if God's way seems harder we must follow it and trust him for the consequnces. Christ must be acknowledged as King in the daily situations we face and the governing of Northern Ireland. Pray that as in times past our country may be ruled in accordance to God's word.

The man who loved Ulster more than God?

Reaping What You Sow

The Conservative Party Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Chris Grayling (pictured right), today warned of a generation of young men who have little chance of gaining employment (STS?) with many turning to crime which he describes as a "Jeremy Kyle generation". He accurately identified one of the causes: "Family break-up often means that there is no father figure in childhood". After decades of the government undermining the family through various legislation this is the inevitable consequence. The family is God's building block of society. When it is undermined society crumbles. However I'm definately not saying "Vote Tory" because Grayling can merely see the symptom in society, not the cause nor the underlying problem, our nation's rejection of Christ the King.

Sabbath Day Online Petition

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. " Exodus 20:8-11(NIV)

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/LordsDay/

Pretty self-explanatory. I found out about this petition through Peter Loughridge who posted it on the RP Bulletin Boards but because that is read by even less people than this blog (yes it is possible!) I decided to post a link to it here on DMFWS. It needs more signatures.

As well as signing the petition to Tony (or Gordon or whoever is incharge of the country at the moment!) you can play spot the RP! When I signed I managed to spot 7, see if you can do any better!

James