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Ecumenism

June 2012

Dr Joel Beeke update.

Dear Readers,

Last week, Pastor Ralph Ovadal and I sent out, including to a good many ministers, an article titled “Of Ducks and New Calvinists.”

The thesis, and conclusion, of that much read warning which we reluctantly sounded is that the very influential Dr. Joel Beeke is very much a New Calvinist. By way of justifying such a warning, we supplied copious amounts of documentation. That documentation included, but was very far from limited to, Dr. Beeke’s deep involvement in a grossly ecumenical organization called Refo500. Previously, some of this same information was also shared on the “Heart of the Matter” program.

Now this week, we have been informed by a minister close to Dr. Beeke that he has just agreed to sever all ministry connections to Refo500.

It is to be greatly wondered at how Dr. Beeke could ever have become involved in such a blatantly ecumenical venture in the first place! It is to be mourned that such pressure was necessary for him to withdraw from what was literally a partnership with the Refo500 consortium.

We ought now to pray that Dr. Beeke, who has so much influence with so many evangelicals, will move forward to reform his still deeply and broadly compromised ministry. See Dr. Joel Beeke – an enigma.

We hope the very best from, and for, him in that regard. We thought it only right, in view of the development mentioned, to send out this P.S. to our earlier article and ask that you forward it on to all with whom you shared that article. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ralph Ovadal, Pastor of Pilgrims Covenant Church, Monroe, Wisconsin

Ivan Foster, Minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster (Retired)

The sinister peace behind the handshake

Never was there a more joyless ‘jubilee’ for the faithful child of God than that which we have witnessed here in Ulster!

The cynical mandarins of deceitful diplomacy, in company with ecumenism’s graceless wretches who masquerade as God’s servants but who are in truth the servants of the devil (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) have manipulated the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Northern Ireland on her Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom, in a most wicked and nefarious manner. Read more…

Dr. Joel Beeke – an enigma

Dr Joel Beeke is a well known and very well liked Calvinist from the United States. He is “Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, and editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth” (Dr Beeke’s Sermonaudio site).

Many would speak of Dr Beeke’s pleasing persona and preaching style. None of these things is denied in the least. However, the company that Dr Beeke keeps on his conference-circuit perambulations does cause great concern to those anxious to obey God’s commands on separation from error, wickedness and apostasy. Read more…

Dr Paisley shares service with man he once condemned as a Romaniser and a liar

A memorial service was held on 4th June in Carrickfergus Town Hall for those involved the Bryantang bus crash 20 years ago. Not everyone involved in that tragedy was invited along to attend as a memorial plague was unveiled! A number who were involved those 20 years ago and who were also injured were never informed about it taking place.

Would it have anything to do with the fact that among those taking part in this ‘memorial service’ was Rev David Armstrong? Read more… (Link to Sound of an alarm website)

Selected news stories

Crime wave that is bankrolling terror

INLA gang ‘threatened to kill man’ over £35,000

Bloody Sunday investigation ‘must include Martin McGuinness’

John Hume knighted by Pope Benedict

Bloody Sunday probe ‘should include Martin McGuinness’

DUP Lord Mayor’s delight at launching annual Feile an Phobail

Jim Allister challenges both DPP and Chief Constable on Bloody Sunday investigation

Second SF minister in ‘jobs for Catholics’ row

Trust defends Causeway creationist display

Bloody Sunday: Police to investigate Derry deaths

Belfast City Council first in Ireland to support gay marriage…but unionists walk out before vote

McGuinness: IRA not apologising

MP’s horror at Queen, McGuinness meeting

Pope visit to NI ‘in near future’

Papal visit speculation dismissed

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke: UK plainly losing war on drugs

Anti-Protestant Bias in another Sinn Fein department

‘Giant step’ as NI leaders shake hands

IRA apology claims linked to reconciliation talks – Martin McGuinness

Sinn Fein plays down IRA general apology reports

McGuinness ‘told Queen he recognised her loss’

I recall what Martin McGuinness lent his hand to

Ruth Dudley Edwards: McGuinness embraces his defeat

Conor Murphy ‘hasn’t a sectarian bone’ says McGuinness (Then he must have no skeleton!!)

Details of north-south forum to be announced

The Queen meets Martin McGuinness: a cruel gimmick forced on the Monarch by Cameron’s government

US Congressman Peter King on how Queen’s historic handshake could lead to a United Ireland

Protestant (slight exaggeration) clergyman hails meeting

The Queen-McGuinness handshake: what the body language revealed

Sinn Fein Royal gesture will seal move to the middle ground

By shaking the Queen’s hand, Martin McGuinness accepts her sovereignty

Monsignor William Lynn becomes first US priest convicted for abuse cover up

Outrage at picture of armed IRA men

IRA still have a big say in Sinn Fein, says ex-MLA and RUC man

Violent Londonderry-based Irish republican group boasts it ‘can do everything the IRA used to do’

Sinn Fein minister found guilty of discrimination

Institutionalised sectarian discrimination under Sinn Fein Rule

Sinn Fein under fire over Westminster expense claims

Sinn Fein faces two inquiries over abuse of TDs’ expenses

One in four in IRA members were informers Smithwick Tribunal told

Infanticide and bestiality advocate given Australia’s highest civic award

Exit one Terrorist, Enter Another

Former Sinn Fein MLA believes Martin McGuinness will meet Queen

Lord Maginnis has whip withdrawn by Ulster Unionists over gay slur

Maginnis hits out at UUP leader’s ‘gross mistake’ to remove party whip

Anglicans threaten rift with government over gay marriage

Priestly sins have shaken faith of Irish Catholics, says pope

Taoiseach’s promise on Kingsmills

May 2012

The International Eucharistic Congress 2012. Is this a Christian event?

By Richard Bennett (Berean Beacon). A major news item across the Catholic world for the summer of 2012 is that the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) is to be held in Dublin, Ireland from June 10th – 17th. The Congress is expected to attract 25,000 people a day, including “12,000 international pilgrims representing 99 different countries.” Read more…

What a critic has to say of our report on Ballymena Ecumenical service

Free Presbyterians attend Ballymena ecumenical service for Queen’s Jubilee

…But what was most heart-breaking for many was the attendance at the service of Dr Ian and Mrs Paisley. The man, who for many Christians, was an instructor in righteousness and a guide on the solemn issues of separation from ecumenical apostasy, sat through a service in which a Romanist priest led the congregation in prayer and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor, among other things, prayed for the dead!

Among those political figures who attended were Mr. Ian Paisley Jr., MP and his wife, Mr. Mervyn Storey and his wife. Mr. Storey is an elder in Ballymoney Free Presbyterian Church. The Mayor of Ballymena was also in attendance and participated in the service. He attends Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church. Other DUP councillors from a number of District Councils were also in attendance. Read more…

  •  Report of this ecumenical service on the Diocese of Connor website.

Selected news stories

McGuinness claims unionists open to idea of a united Ireland

Reverend Harold Good says Sinn Fein reconciliation talks ‘open and frank’

Remember IRA victims as Adams lectures you on TV

‘Independent’ policing board member is SF councillor

Orange frustration over Covenant centenary failings

NI leaders to unveil gay rights blueprint

Secret files link ‘Gerry Adams linked to ruthless IRA death squad that murdered mother-of-ten they believed to be British spy’

Sinn Fein men accompany convicted double murderer Martin Corey at funeral

15m euros spent on Archdiocese of Dublin abuse cases

Concern over Republic’s plan to cut Protestant school funding

Robinson slams ‘boycotter Ford’

Unionists question Sinn Féin’s commitment to truth and genuine reconciliation

Irish nun quits Catholic church after claiming abuse at hands of priests

Smithwick Tribunal hears RUC source ‘warned of ‘mole’ in Dundalk station

Cameron rebukes Northern Ireland Secretary over gay marriage

Stephen Carroll sentence referred to Court of Appeal

Concern after IRA bombs van and police base

Priest claims schoolgirl Emanuela Orlandi was kidnapped for Vatican sex parties

Sinn Fein now minders for dissidents

Residents outraged as bombs are found in Derry flats

The secret war games terrorists can never win

David Cameron urged to stand up to Europe over prisoner vote row

Northern Ireland Secretary, Owen Paterson says he cannot support David Cameron’s gay marriage plan

Protestants losing out on jobs – report

Smithwick Tribunal handed extension

Evangelicals hit out at bishop in same-sex row

Ministers spent £36,000 (£1,000 per day on hire cars) on US trade mission

Mother charged with directing terrorism in Northern Ireland

Seven in court after Northern Ireland swoop on alleged dissident republicans

Sinn Fein denies Martin McGuinness wants Cardinal Sean Brady to face court

Four remanded over ‘terror training camp’ near Omagh

Two brothers and a cousin of prominent dissident republican Colin Duffy appeared in court on terrorism offences

Free Presbyterian Church leaders horrified by ‘tacky’ musical

Stormont told to release SF papers

Fresh blow for Cardinal Sean Brady as priests snub rally

The Roman Catholic Church has protected evil for too long

Questions which are too hot for OFMdFM to handle

Why a mother took her teenage son to be shot by vigilante terrorists Republican Action Against Drugs

Kennedy “unsurprised” by Smithwick revelations

100,000 forgotten victims of the Troubles

Sinn Fein’s forked-tongue approach just doesn’t cut it

Thatcher ‘advised not to fuel Garda collusion talk’

Margaret Thatcher ‘played down collusion’

Members of IRA ambush squad named during tribunal sitting

I’m not apologising for my £10,000 Stormont postage bill: Ian Paisley jnr

Peter Robinson in bid to keep Stormont advisers row out of the courts

IRA man was ‘bravest of the brave’ – McGuinness

Setting the Scene to Mark the 1916 Rising at Stormont

Jim Allister Calls for Official Marking of RUC Centenary

McGuinness urges people to help police jail RAAD members

‘Sinn Fein intent on removing British tradition’ – McCrea (Why are you in coalition with them then???)

Sam Smyth: SF’s policy is hypocrisy — on both sides of Border

Real IRA brothers use an axe to hack off victim’s fingers

Fury as Sinn Fein oppose soldier’s name going on town war memorial

Gerry Adams is in no position to lecture anyone on abuse

Under-fire church to break from tradition – (Update on ecumenical shenanigans in Ireland!!

How ecumenical Protestants fare in Roman Catholic Ireland

Differences over “gay marriage” in Conservative Party

Catholic Church is not for respectable people

US election: Mitt Romney leads Republican attack on Barack Obama and gay marriage

Church of Ireland Synod blasted for ‘homophobia’ after vote on marriage

Church of Ireland U-turn on gay row motion

Northern Bank robbery man’s conviction overturned

Man who warned RUC that former Det Sgt Owen Corrigan of Dundalk Garda was an IRA mole, later abducted, tortured and killed by the IRA

Heated exchanges over unmasking of RUC source at Smithwick Tribunal

Cardinal Brady Should Resign

‘No healing until cardinal resigns’, abuse victim Brendan Boland says

Front page of historic Ulster Covenant missing

Police could have stopped Omagh bombers: relatives

Martin McGuinness signals he is ready to meet Queen if Sinn Fein leadership green lights historic U-turn

DUP asleep at the wheel on Higher Education Strategy

Obama touts gay marriage stance at Hollywood fundraiser, as event raises nearly $15M

DUP criticise DPP for dropping Derry Easter rally charge

Catholic Church braced for new child sex abuse scandal in Republic of Ireland

We’re ready to back TUV Bill banning ex-prisoners from adviser roles, reveals SDLP man

Justice Minister Dodges Reporting to Assembly on Police Investigation into Roman Catholic Child Abuse Scandal

A former Garda sergeant was named as a trustworthy IRA informer

Gay backlash ahead of CoI debate on sexuality

Former Christian Brother John McCabe jailed for abusing three boys

Vatican ‘miserably failed’ abuse victims says Martin McGuinness (or the case of the kettle calling the pot black!!!!)

DUP-Sinn Fein tension over advisers

Questions about McGuinness haven’t gone away, you know

Victim says church hasn’t changed and demands Cardinal Brady resign

Dissident republicans ‘have remote detonation capability’

SF advisor’s pay held over ‘security checks’

Salary row over Sinn Fein aide

Association of Catholic Priests discuss Church’s future

Scientists Admit IVF Has High Rate of Abnormalities

Finance department will not pay for McArdle replacement

Dublin archbishop in Brendan Smyth inquiry call

Republican Action Against Drugs admits shooting two men and says it will shoot more

RAAD’s campaign of terror must be brought to an end

Can Good Friday Agreement compare to the Easter Rising?

Cardinal Sean Brady: McGuinness and Gilmore critical

RC Theologian calls on Cardinal Sean Brady to resign

Poots voices concern at Cardinal’s actions – (What about your Department’s killing of embryos, Mr Poots??)

Pope donates $250,000 for disaffected Anglicans

Police urged to probe abuse claims

Cardinal Brady will not resign over ‘abuse failure’

Cardinal Sean Brady vows to remain as former RUC officer says failures let abuse go on

Victim, Brendan Boland calls on Cardinal Sean Brady to resign

Another man abused by Brendan Smyth blasts Cardinal Seán Brady and calls on him to resign

Pressure mounting North and South on Brady amid calls for police to step in

Convicted IRA bomber opened a “harrowing” exhibition about 9/11 victims in Belfast

Martin McGuinness denies contact with Smithwick Tribunal

Allister Hits Out at Anti-Unionist Higher Education Strategy – While DUP are Absent

Cardinal Brady ‘failed to act on sex abuse claims’

Victim of pervert priest says cardinal Brady took notes as he told of vile assaults

Cardinal Brady ‘failed to warn parents of abuse claims’

Vatican adds voice to support for Cardinal Brady

Brady ‘betrayed’ by officials over abuse

Time for Police involvement in Brady Affair

McGuinness is really in charge (Letter to the Editor)

Donegal shooting was paramilitary-style attack

Police patrol may have spooked terrorist team with 600lbs van bomb

PSNI says republicans have lied to tribunal

Smithwick Tribunal told IRA ‘believes evidence deliberately false’

Collusion probe ‘is a significant issue for top republicans’

Stormont accused over pro-Irish student plan

€10 Million of Euro Money to Terrorists

McGuinness calls for end to UK link

Jim Allister slams Sinn Féin over terrorism

Allister Pays Tribute to Army During Newry Bomb Matter of the Day debate – and raises MPs “personal experience”

Unionists pan ‘leprechauns and donkeys’ all-Ireland tourism drive

A Mecca for Terror Tourists

UUP MLA hits out over Robinson speech

Not a ‘City of Culture‘ but ‘A city of murderers’

March 2012

Ethics of IVF provision for lesbians raised in Stormont debate by Jim Allister MLA.

Click here to read a speech by TUV leader Jim Allister during this morning’s (March 20th) debate on IVF in Stormont.

The footsteps of Patrick

The Gospel of Christ came to Ireland over 1500 years ago. Despite many attempts by Satan and his agents God has been pleased to maintain His truth in this land. Following its first planting the Gospel was carried by men whose hearts the Lord had touched into many neighbouring countries: Scotland, England, Wales, France, Germany, Switzerland and further.

God has been pleased, in some measure, to do again in these latter days what He did in those distant days. May the land, now associated with terror and strife, become known again by the title it was then given, “The land of Saints and Scholars.” Read more…

Ireland before the seventeenth century plantation

A knowledge of the history of Ireland is a very beneficial and precious thing and that for a number of reasons.

1. History displays the merciful dealings of God with our forefathers.

2. Such a knowledge will do much to expose the lie of Rome that has bred the spirit of Irish nationalism based upon the myth of a pure Irish race that has ever been fervently Roman Catholic.

3. It will go far toward removing the feeling of insecurity and of guiltiness at being in Ulster that many Ulster Protestants suffer from as a result of Rome’s persistent lie.

Read more…

Spiritual Warfare and Marriage Campaign

[This article originally appeared in the English Churchman (Edition 7839 of 25th February 2012) and is republished here by kind permission.]

There are times when as Christians we look around and wonder. The state of the church and nation is so weak and we ourselves are little better. What can we do but cry out to God? The UK presently faces one of the most serious challenges to our society, the re-definition of marriage to turn it into an abomination. The Government proposes to allow the attempted joining together of two men or two women to be called a marriage. Read more…

Is there a way for terrorist murderers to obtain “forgiveness for their past”?

A recent news story in the Belfast “News Letter” (29th February) carried the headlines: ‘Former IRA men ‘seeking forgiveness for their past’. It featured a report on the work of the ‘Crossfire Trust’ in South Armagh. It is funded by The International Fund for Ireland, an organisation set up by the British and Irish governments in 1986. It would be correct to say that it is an ecumenical organisation which has the objective of combatting sectarianism.

The article also featured a lengthy statement by a man the newspaper termed “a south Armagh peacemaker”, Mr Ian Bothwell. He has been involved in community work in south Armagh since the late 1970s. Mr Bothwell’s “Crossfire Trust” website makes reference to his desire to remind the people of South Armagh of “God and His love for them”.

However, in the “Newsletter” article, Mr Bothwell’s proposal for “a new way forward between paramilitaries and victims in the area” is clearly a social and political solution to the murderers’ anxiety. Read more…

Featured news stories

 

Robinson hopes Catholics join DUP

Jim Allister Responds to Robinson’s Carson Lecture

Danny Kennedy MLA ‘hopeful’ over meeting on Kingsmills

Garda document ended up in hands of the IRA

FORMULA FOR POLITICAL SUCCESS TODAY – UUP leadership hopeful John McCallister says he would back Down in an All-Ireland GAA final and has no problem with gay pride events

Crime gangs ‘a bigger threat than IRA were’

Relations between Vatican and state ‘not very good’

Taoiseach Kenny says no schedule exists for a unified Ireland

Boston College IRA tapes saga: Senator Schumer steps in

Police in Londonderry refuse to confirm or deny if Provisional IRA is linked any criminal activity between 2010 and 2011 (We wonder why????)

Bertie Ahern to resign from Fianna Fail

Two-thirds of benefit claimants fit for work

Cardinal Brady will not resign despite Vatican report on cleric abuse

Church renewal starts with cardinal

Former Methodist minister Macaulay jailed for child images

Pensioner who died after fall at care home ‘lay on the floor bleeding for up to 10 minutes because Muslim nurse was praying’

Stormont trying to kill off Freedom of Information

Fianna Fail moves to expel former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern

Party may expel former taoiseach

Taoiseach’s office stained – current Taoiseach Enda Kenny

Ahern denies taking bribes after report

Bishop Patrick Walsh defends handling of sex abuse case

Priest to stand trial for alleged sexual assaults

Vatican’s empty gesture is betrayal of abused children

‘No change’ to gay NI adoption law

Paisley Jnr’s Rio statue move was distressing (Click here for the original story)

Mahon report into corruption in the Irish Republic found that former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern failed to tell the truth

Mahon Tribunal – Key Findings

Ahern evidence about money ‘untrue’

Ahern ‘failed to tell truth about money’

Gay marriage is not a ‘human right’: European ruling torpedoes Coalition stance

Vatican reports on Irish child abuse scandals

Vatican report into clerical sexual abuse advises changes for would-be priests

How many died because of Dublin’s border policy?

Joint Commemoration of Centenaries with Sinn Fein – But no time to debate return of portrait of HM the Queen

Jeremy Clarkson’s blasphemy is just ‘everyday language’, says BBC

GAA and Gay Pride? ‘I did both years ago’ – Mike Nesbitt

Gay marriage: UK Government to introduce law change

Former Irish justice minister has rejected claim that Jack Lynch ordered gardai not to cooperate with the RUC

I was named after Ian Paisley, but hurling is part of my heritage, says DUP mayor

DUP Mayor cheers on Loughgiel Shamrocks’ hurler

Sinn Fein: Mary McArdle’s departure isn’t linked to Provo murder – TUV challenges that assertion!!

Loyalist spokesman – “We respect your rights, you respect ours”

Smithwick Tribunal: Taoiseach called bombing a ‘political crime’ – therefore no help was to be given to RUC

Gardai ‘told not to aid bombings case’

Dublin ‘must reveal IRA collusion’

Allister challenges Mervyn Storey and North Antrim DUP on GAA and standing for “The Soldier’s Song”

Jack Lynch ‘told gardaí not to assist RUC’

Revealed: how the SF culture minister Caral Ni Chuilin aims to exert an iron grip on what key bodies say

IRA men were about to shoot at us, soldiers will tell inquest

CoI rector: bishops are failing us over gay row

‘Rifles found’ close to the bodies of IRA pair

Victims remembered in Stormont silent tribute

Catholic monarch could put Church of England in peril, bishop warns

Watching fate of the southern Protestant

Embrace gay marriage, says new dean of St Paul’s

Archbishop of Canterbury in fresh push to dissuade Anglicans from defecting to Roman Catholic Church as he stresses moves to bring the two churches together !!!

Abuse survivors to meet Cardinal Brady

Church hails ‘relaxed’ talks on homosexuality (Relaxed over what God calls an “abomination”!!)

NASA man ‘sacked for his beliefs’ (He promoted his views on intelligent design)

Ulster Unionists look for new leader after Tom Elliott’s resignation

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Elliott QUITS as UUP leader – First Interview

Jim Shannon uses parliamentary privilege to name Letterkenny mayor he believes was responsible for the murder of a part-time UDR member in 1982.

How a king’s judges were hunted down – a little bit of history!

Stormont has 161 press officers, more than Belfast has journalists – (Maintaining the “lie” is costly!)

Too late for IRA to rewrite history (See: Is there a way for murderers to obtain forgiveness….)

Stepping back in time on the Covenant trail

Unionists sceptical on SF’s ‘sorry’ call (merely part of SF’s political game, especially since terrorism is still defended by them!)

No bitterness over Abercorn bombers 40 years on

No amount of excuses can justify murder

Statistics on rate of homosexuality

Church in Ireland at a breaking point says RC Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on “60 Minutes”

Two arrested over Belfast city centre murder – now believed there was no para-military involvement

Sinn Fein chairman: IRA should say sorry for hurt caused (but not for the ‘war’)

Man shot dead in Belfast in republican assassination

DUP simply bowing down to terrorist shrine