Inspiring, sensational, momentous were words used to describe Barack Obama’s speech to the people of Ireland in College Green. One said it was like a ‘huge weight lifted off our shoulders’ another ‘it has given us a renewed vision’. Certainly Obama is an inspirational speaker and he has the capacity to not only create vision but make it sound possible. With great enthusiasm the President of America reminded the Irish people of their great courage and ability to fight through hard times. “We’re people, who never stop imagining a brighter future, even in bitter times. We’re people who make that future happen through hard work, and through sacrifice, through investing in those things that matter most, like family and community.” To great applause Obama added: “I know it’s a hard road, but it’s one that the Irish people are more than up to the task in achieving”. It was a welcome message, and considering all we have faced over the last two years it inspired hope and encouraged us to dream our dreams to make Ireland better. And with his Cúpla Focail Obama raised his arms to the crowd;”Is féidir linn” (Yes we can!)
And that is the Big Lie. The history of the world has proved that mankind can’t. Ever since Man walked the earth we have tried to make things better. With every war and every economic collapse we turn yet again to ourselves with great resolve and whisper to each other: “Is féidir linn” (Yes we can!). But the reality is we can’t and Obama’s words are as hollow as ‘Bob the Builders, Yes we can!!’ Once again we have fallen for the great lie that we can do it. But isn’t that the mistake that has been made right from the beginning? Throughout the history of the world we have placed ourselves at the center, we have become ‘god’, and we continue to sound the mantra ‘Yes we can’. When will we learn that we simply can’t. If we want to see true and lasting change then we must change. We must put God back in the center where he deserves to be and we need to re-orientate our lives around him. To admit that we can’t and let God rule our lives is to bring about the world we all desire, a world of peace and prosperity – paradise itself.

After hundreds of years of occupation and oppression by the ‘Old Enemy’ the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, was invited as a guest to the Republic of Ireland.

Now on her final day the response to the visit has been quite amazing. For many it ends a chapter in our history, marked by violence and hate and opens up a new chapter of peace and reconciliation for a new generation. It seems the Old Enemy is now a Good Friend! While there is still a long way to go, it brings together what so many on this Island have been working on for years, most notably our President Mary McAleese and her Husband Dr Martin McAleese.

Last Evening the Queen attended a concert of Music, Theatre and Fashion attended by over two thousand guests. One of the most poignant moments was when Olivia O’Leary gave a short speech outlining just how far we had come and the significance of the event. There were a lot of symbolic moments in the visit – The Garden of Remembrance, Croke Park and then as Olivia pointed out ‘The Curtsey’. Apparently our female Politian’s were rather concerned that they would have to ‘Curtsey’ before the Queen, a very strong symbol of submission. Well, a very thankful Olivia O’Leary discovered that it was not protocol for everyone to bow before the Queen – because that would have been a step too far, friends yes but not subjects!

It does not matter to me if people Curtsey or not, at the very least it is a sign of respect, but I would not push the matter.

But it did remind me of another Royal Visit.

The Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah), God’s anointed King, visited this earth Two Thousand years ago. He came uninvited, and even though he made the world, the world did not recognise him (John 1v10). The Christ came to rule not by oppression and occupation but through service and sacrifice. He came to serve not be served and give his life as a ransom. He came to invite rebels like you and me not just to be his friends but to submit to him as King – the true King. He is the God who made us and owns us, and we can choose to be is loyal subjects or rebel subjects. Either way we are his subjects. One day this King, the true King, will return again and all those who have bowed the knee in submission will be welcomed into his eternal kingdom forever, a kingdom marked by peace and the absence of all violence. A Kingdom where religious, political and racial boundaries are shattered forever and people live united under King Jesus. If we refuse to bow we will be shut out from his presence forever. It’s not a question of being just good friends, we must be his loyal subjects. When God’s King does return we are told that ‘at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Including Queen Elizabeth and President Mary McAleese) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord’ Phillipians 2v10-11.

We may not have to bow or Curtsey to a Royal today but the question remains have we bowed the knee to King Jesus?

The last 24 hours has been dominated by the killing of Osama bin Laden. Ten years ago very few of us would have recognized his picture, but following the 9/11 attacks he has rarely been out of the news. Today our news papers are covered with reports and pictures of how a US special units team ‘The Seals’ raided bin Laden’s hideout which resulted in a fatal shoot out. In the days to come the security experts will assess how effective this will be on the war on terrorism while the media will analyse the international relationship between the US and Pakistan.
My intention is not to speculate but to ask what our response as Christians should be to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The scenes outside the White House and at Ground Zero suggest almost a party atmosphere. A joyous celebration that the FBI’s most wanted has been assassinated. Flags and banners have been waved triumphantly as the one held responsible for 9/11 has been finally been removed. International leaders have also joined in, but with greater reserve, as they thank President Obama for his determination and resolve to hunt down the world’s most infamous terrorist.
Of course if I had family or friends murdered on 9/11 or by any other Al Qaeda cell I think I too would be rejoicing – we must never forget the devastation and destruction on human lives caused by the ideologies of Osama bin Laden.
But is ‘joy’ the right response?

Well perhaps the way to answer that is to ask How would God respond? I think the bible reflects a God who is both grieved and satisfied.
One of the great pictures of God is found in Exodus 34v6-7. ‘The Lord the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands , and forgiving wickedness rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished..’ Here is a God who is simultaneously loving and just. This is worked out throughout the bibles story.
We meet a God who is so loving that ‘he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live.’ Ezekiel 33v11 This is reflected for us again in the New Testament ‘Godd is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’. So is God waving banners in delight that Osama is dead? No I don’t think so. I think God is grieved, saddened that someone made in his own image has died without turning to God in repentance (As far as we can know).
But through the bible we also meet a God who delights in justice. He hates when people are wronged and he desires that justice be done. ‘For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.’ Isaiah 61v8 Osama bin Laden has certainly robbed people of life and security, and God has made it crystal clear that God’s justice will be done. This is expressed most clearly on The Day of justice. The picture is one of celebration as God’s justice is done. ‘Hallelujah…for true and just are his judgement’s’ Revelation 19v1-2. So is God unmoved by what has happened? No I don’t think so. I think God is satisfied, that his longing and desire that justice be done is being worked out.
Our response ought to be measured. We should be both grieved and satisfied.
In line with God’s revealed character we should grieve over the loss of any life. To face God without repentance is to face an eternity in Hell, separated forever from all that is good and beautiful. This is not something to rejoice over. We should also be satisfied that justice has been done. That one who took so much life and bought so much suffering has been removed and can hurt no more. A picture of what God will ultimately do.
But perhaps there is one other response. We should be humbled.
One day God has promised that Justice will be done. One day he will come again and put all wrongs to right. He will remove all evil not just terrorists and murderers but gossips and liars! He will establish a new world, a world we all want that is free of evil and is good and perfect. Thankfully Jesus Christ has come to deal with God’s justice, so that we can be forgiven, changed and transformed. If it were not for Jesus we would have no hope at all. Now that is worth celebrating and being joyful about!

You really begin to the understand the limits of language when you have children.  One of the struggles I’ve had is reassuring them at times that the fairy tales and adventures we read them are “just stories” and yet also talking of the Bible as a “story”.  So we have to talk about the idea of a “true story” and a “make believe story”.

Of course it is, as it has always been, fashionable to dismiss the Bible as little more than a collection of fairy tales.  But maybe there is *some* truth in comparing the story of the Bible to fairy tales, or rather see fairy tales in light of the Bible story.

Someone else has found a much better explanation of this sense of why we like stories.  So here’s some thoughts on story, C. S. Lewis, Tolkien and fairy tales from Tim Keller.  If you love stories or film, then click to listen:

You can read online Tolkien’s profound essay, “On Fairy-Stories.”