May Quote of the Month

Yes, your eyes do not decieve you, its me..........Alastair! Sorry faithful readers and true believers, my commitment to the DMFWS cause has been lacking of late as exams are on at the minute but i'm here with this months quote (I resisted to change quote of the month to picture after James last post!)

After Answers in Genesis were recently at the Waterfront, Lorna came home with a DVD on Noahs Ark and after watching I came across a quote which after the latest appeal for GO Team members should gear you up for action this summer!

God has no fans.......we are all players........get in the game!! Dr. Charles Ware

P.S Ryan Giggs told interviewers this week the Champions League Trophy was quite like a Chocolate Orange..........."its not Terrys, its mine......."

John Terry

Careers and Empty Dreams

Every Thursday I have two periods of school for "Careers" lessons. Recently we were told the principle reason for going to university was those with degrees tend to earn more money, our teacher pointed to this article from the Guardian as evidence. Don't get me wrong, I hope to go to university too but money isn't the motivation. We can swallow the world's philosophy so easily.

Here's what the Writer to the Hebrews said of Moses:

"He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of
Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." Hebrews 11:26

I don't think Moses would have chosen a career based on money, he was looking to the reward beyond this life. Don't buy into the world's empty dreams.

A Tragedy In The Making

Major on the Minors

This is the fifth part of the series "How to be a Completely Ineffective Church Member" by Rev.McCullough which have previously appeared in the Messenger.

Communication from the dark side states that we do not need much counsel on this line of pursuit of ineffectiveness, it seems to come so naturally to us. There are several strands of thought that you simply must never pursue lest your slip sliding away into the vague mists of ineffectiveness come to an abrupt end: namely the glory of God in all you do, growing in Christian maturity, reaching the lost with the gospel and developing church life so that the world is aware what grace can do in people’s lives.

It is much more beneficial to give your time, thought and energies to dwelling on the minors of life. On a personal level when you read your Bible major on the minors: who the author of Hebrews is, was behemoth a dinosaur, did Adam and Eve have a belly button! On no account start any in depth Bible study with a good reading note or devotional commentary. Do not make any effort to get to grips with the central doctrines of who God is, who man is, what propitiation, justification and sanctification are, or grapple with the work of the Holy Spirit, or what the Bible says about heaven and hell. Stick to the focussing on the minors: should we use shortbread or pan loaf for communion; did the disciples drink alcoholic wine at the Lord’s supper or just grape juice; how far west did Paul actually journey. With regard to your minister major on his minors: he doesn’t wear a collar, he has a rather strange way of pronouncing certain words and of course that strange eye catching twitch. Don’t think about his faithfulness and compassion as he preaches the Word or his attentiveness to your great aunt Sally when she was dying in the nursing home.

In CY you want to ensure that your whole programme is based round minors and not majors. Each year have a good smattering of topics like: should we call it Sabbath or Sunday; should minister’s wear clerical collars or not; should Christians tithe their gross or net salary; should jeans be allowed in church; should God only be addressed by Thee and Thou. After a few years of such debates your young people will be ready for majoring on the minors in the wider congregational level. At a congregational level it is vital that whenever you get the opportunity drop in the Bible version debate. This discussion is excellent for clogging up the wheels of progress and even usually adds in a few grains of gravely disharmony. You want also to give a good deal of your time to considering the wording of the New Psalter. Spend hours pouring over each of the carefully translated psalms comparing them with the words you know from your past. Try and engage as many others as you can on these matters.

Whenever opportunity arises for discussion on the way forward for your congregation, again the minors are best for ineffectiveness. Stick to things like: should the psalm tunes be up on the board for visitors; what colour of paint will send out the best message to passers by. Avoid like the plague any discussion regarding how to enhance the spiritual life of the members, what could be done to foster family worship or how to help the elders in their Christ given task of oversight.
Try and help those in leadership to see that they should be focussing much of their thinking and energy on whether we should or shouldn’t use communion tokens, what dress style is appropriate for worship. If you hear of any straying unto topics like addressing the life threatening seeping away of our young people, helping ministers be better preacher and pastors; in service training for elders, plans for revitalising weak congregations and stimulating growth or even days of prayer, beware for all your efforts at ineffectiveness will come to naught.

Bible Bit to avoid: II Peter 1:3-11

Rev.David McCullough

Dromore RPC

Abortion Petition

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy"
Proverbs 31:8-9

"to attack the human being in the womb and kill him or her is to assault God. God is making the child. God is weaving a unique image of his divine glory with the purpose of imaging forth that glory in the world. Killing the child is an attack on God's glory and is treason against the Ruler of the universe."
John Piper on Abortion

"Since 1967 there have been almost 7 million abortions, now 200,000 a year, with one in four pregnancies ending in abortion. The 1967 Abortion Act is open to amendment during the passage of the current HFE Bill, so there is now a genuine opportunity to reduce abortion numbers. We must be alert as well to the agenda of the pro-choice activists, abortion providers and some MPs who will push for further liberalisation of the law."
Alive and Kicking Alliance

Please sign the petition.

Incase You Missed It...

If you chose to go to something organised by the Ulster-Scots or BannerNI instead of Dromore last Friday Night, Dr.Collin's talk is now available to download from the church website. The related guest service is also available.

Suicide- The Signs to Watch For, The Hope to Find
Dr. Andrew Collins

Hope in a Hopeless World
Rev.David McCullough

The Practice of Godliness

The Practice of Godliness

Jerry Bridges

Navpress

Available from Amazon for £6.34!

Often the best Christian books are the ones which are easy to understand but hard to put into practice. It can definately be said of this book. If you've read Bridges' "Pursuit of Holiness", this is the "how to" sequel to that best-seller and is full of practical advice on living a godly life and growing in Christian character. According to the author "This book should be more studied than read" and having read through it I understand what he means. It has been firmly placed on my "Books to read again" list and I intend to not merely read through it again but study it as Bridges suggests. I would recommend this book to all Christians and I think it would be especially helpful to read it with someone else so that you can discuss how to apply it in your life and encourage each other as you work through the practical message which Bridges brings.

"For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8

What a Weekend!

Ever wish that you could be in more than one place at once?

Suicide -The Signs to Watch For - The Hope to Find
Friday 18th April
7:30pm
Dr Andrew Collins
Venue: Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church



Who are the Covenanters? - From the Killing times to the 21st Century
Friday 18th April
7.30pm
Includes Presentation by Professor E.Donnelly
Venue: Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church, Newtonabbey



BNI Conference - Take my life and let it be...
Friday 18th April
Liam Goligher (Duke Street, Richmond)
John Woodside (Drogheda Presbyterian Church)
Venue: Stranmillis College, Belfast Register Online



Hope in a Hopeless World
Sunday 20th April
7pm
Rev. David McCullough
Venue: Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church