I could have expected this in the UK or even the rest of Europe but not in America where the Bible is or was still held in high regard.

We certainly are living in the ‘Last Days’ and if events like these aren't a prelude to the soon to come ‘Great Apostasy’ or in regular English...‘the falling away from the faith’ I don’t know what is.

This young girl is being placed into a position where she either has to follow God or an ungodly World belief system. Such occasions are sure to increase and will inadvertently clear the chaff from the wheat.

The Colleges ultimatum appears to be to either leave or follow their Plan to cure her of being a Christian by...
• Attending Sensitivity Training.
• Attending diversity workshops.
• Suggestion to attend a gay pride parade. 
• And to report back once a month to evaluate how these activities have effected her beliefs.

As a child I just loved to draw and scribble, not only was it a way of expressing my inner most thoughts but it was a real joy. I could never understand why others couldn’t draw and marvelled at their comical efforts. Why couldn’t they see or understand perspective, shade and expressions? I can clearly remember, years later while seated in a pub next to an empty but water patterned fish tank being astonished at the majestic scene stretching out before me that those water markings had formed. I could see woods, grasslands and distant hills that spoke of childhood adventures, honourable battles and the stuff of legends! How could such a masterpiece have been left unnoticed for so long? My girlfriend at the time could not see it nor did it appear that any of the locals had noticed this wonder in their midst. I so wanted to take it home with me or at the very least, inform all present of it’s existence, however experience had taught me to remain silent on such matters as clearly not all could comprehend the beauty and wonder that some see in this World.

But what should I say? That as Nebuchadnezzar the great King of Babylon, I too should pronounce that through the might of my power and for the honour of my majesty that I had attained this great talent, and this by the tender age of seven! Had I by so great an arduous perseverance gained such an ability or was it purchased with a great price or even earned? And what of the young supermodel, did she by her great power and might form such an lovely physique or was it by her own devious cunning and incredible wit that she carved-out from mere flesh a face that melts the hearts of men? Can we say that by shear effort alone a nine year old child surpasses his parents in intelligence? And what of the child singer who at such a tender age holds all hearing spellbound with the voice of an angel? Then if these were not earned, purchased or created from where did they spring and to what end?

Of cause the unbelieving carnal mind will say, “we just evolved that way, these things were simply passed on to us from our parents”. Then it is our parents that we should thank, that it is by ‘their’ great might, glory and power such blessings were bestowed upon us? But no, the glory today of these precious gifts has been claimed by another, whose name is on the lips of every actor, broadcaster and teacher. He is exalted from the cradle to the grave and what is this great god’s name? Evolution! Evolution who has been hosted up high upon the shoulders of science, who whilst carrying this usurper cries “All hail, glory and honour to the god of men, creator of all things”.

Yes, this senseless entity has supposingly, by shear chance finding us but dirt on a mass of rock travelling at impossible speed through space yet caught in the circle of an unimaginable flaming terror, cloaked us in such a thin expanse of air that we might begin to breath. Has enabled us to burst forth into consciousness and experience such love that our hearts sing with unspeakable joy! To be filled with the wonder of a newborn child, laugh until our sides hurt for happiness and delight at the touch of another. Then let this new god have his glory and claim his full reward for is it not then Evolution that has bestowed upon mankind a jealousy so terrible that men destroy one another, hatred so vast and complete that men wish unspeakable pain upon his neighbour, and in truth would carryout such horror if able! Yes and what glory we can bestow upon this new god? That a man desires sex with a dog, minor or even his own sex preferring to soil himself with human excrement rather than be filled with the love of a women. Oh what honour shall we bestow upon this wonderful new god? If you had been but only partially attentive you would have noticed from my words above two differing qualities, and so there is of a truth two different origins for what you have read. All good things come from God who searches the hearts of men and will reward all for whom they chose to serve who is made manifest by their deeds. For the deeds of the flesh being clearly seen in the World cling to a man even after death, ‘even’ to the day of judgment.

Whomsoever you give the glory will be made evident by your deeds. For by acknowledging Him who made all things, who searches the heart and rewards a man for his deeds, your steadfastness will be witnessed by a chaste life. But in servitude to the god of evolution, having no fear of Him who keeps account of every thought will the morals of ‘the god of this age’ manifest in your life.

So what of these gifts passed down to us whose originator is God? Should we then use them to glorify ourselves that we should be worshipped and idolised by men? Or should we give all the glory to Him who blessed us with such gifts?

For what if you through much tears, sweat and cost committed many years of this short life into training your child to become a great athlete. Only to over hear him announce that he had attained this honour by himself, and more to vehemently deny any suggestion that his parents helped him in any way! Then what shall such a great God think upon men who like cockerels with puff-out chests and out stretched necks parade themselves as gods among men desiring to be worshipped?

It never ceases to amazing me how daily events fire-up the Scriptures embedded in my heart and how they shed so much light and truth on seemingly mundane every day events. Everyone says in their own heart “I’m faithful, I’m true” but are quick to contemn others who have let them down in even the smallest way. If only we would be honest with ourselves and examine the motives and intent of our own hearts, then we would realise and understand the truth. But the truth can be hard to bare, so turning away we find relief and comfort in a lie. But these lies will fail when the piercing light of God’s truth strips away the cloak that we found so much comfort in. Who shall stand one day, naked before Him whom we have our concern.

For having no excuse, isn’t it better that we face this now, today while we still have the chance, choice and opportunity? For looking more closely at our seemingly beautiful heart through the Word of truth the picture begins to fade, the mask slips revealing a heart that is as black as coal and sick as leprosy.

Feargal’s words reminded me of an old blog that I’d given-up on some time ago, so I set about to find it. A pointless task really as there was more chance of me revealing Christ to Richard Dawkins than finding that file. So, I've had to re-write it and as far as I can tell, this is very different from my original.

Abraham, Isaac and Abimelech

When Abraham dwelt in Canaan (today’s Israel) he journeyed south towards the Sinai near Egypt. In doing so he passed through the region of Gerar whose King was Abimelech. Knowing that his wife Sarah was a beautiful women Abraham feared that the Philistines would kill him for his wife’s sake and so he told Sarah to tell them that she was his Sister. However, unaware of their marriage status the King took Sarah for his own.

However, before Abimelech came near to her God spoke to him in a dream and said “You are a dead man for she is a man’s Wife”. Fearing, Abimelech protesting said “He said she was his Sister”. God informed Abimelech that aware of this truth He had spared him by keeping him from touching Sarah, He further informed Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet of God. As you can imagine Abimelech, up early the next morning immediately set about warning all of his subjects that a prophet was amongst them and that Sarah was his Wife. Summoning Abraham and still fearful, he bless Abraham and Sarah with many blessings sending them on their way with great riches. Before Abraham departed he prayed for Abimelech and his people. As during the period Sarah was under his care none of their women nor animals had conceived. God answered Abraham's prayer and healed them all. Verse 15 of this account recorded in Genesis 20 tells us that Abimelech then told Abraham that he could dwell anywhere in his land he wished.

Some years later, driven by a famine Isaac Abraham’s Son, also found himself in the region of Gerar where an older but still living King Abimelech reigned. With the local Philistines showing an interest in Rebekah, Isaac's beautiful Wife, Isaac resorted to the same old tactic as did his Father before by declaring Rebekah to be his Sister. After a long while in the land King Abimelech looking out of his window noticed Rebekah and Isaac play fighting, as only lovers do.

Who was it that Abimelech was fearful of offending, was it not God? When we consider Abimelech’s previous experience with Isaac's father Abraham and his run-in with God, we can see that Abimelech had learned to fear the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. An attitude that had truly saved him from a multitude of sins and blessed him greatly as it does all who fear Him. However, verse 12 really begins to highlight the blessings that fearing the Lord has on the heart of a man.

But why did God bless him so when he sowed seed in Abimelech’s soil, what was so special about the land of Abimelech?

Many of the physical narratives in the Old Testament have a spiritual application for us under the New. We live in a new dispensation and under a new covenant (agreement) with our God. And when I first read Genesis 26:12 I couldn’t help but notice it’s similarity to the New Testament’s parable of the Sower. This parable and it’s interpretation is recorded for us in both Matthew 13 and Mark 4.

The Parable of the Sower - Matthew 13

The Parable	Jesus' Interpretation
3 - And he told them many things in parables, saying: A sower went out to sow.	18 - Hear then the parable of the sower:.
4 - And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.	19 - When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 - but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.	20 - As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 - yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
7 - Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.	22 - As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
8 - Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 - He who has ears, let him hear.	23 - As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

When Isaac sowed his seed into Abimelech’s soil it brought forth one hundred fold because Abimelech, as we have seen Feared God! It is a picture to us that only those who fear the Lord have hearts that will prosper God's Word sown in their hearts. It will grow and bring forth a crop of righteousness even to eternal life. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness and faith (Galatians 5:22). But as good seed sown into poor soil will bring forth sour fruit how much more then will wicked seed sown into bad soil bring forth a crop of vile fruit! Paul speaking of those whose hearts are fixed on this age, exposes their thoughts when he says.

For without any understanding of the Scriptures ‘this appears to be all that there is’. And if this is all that there is then we take whatsoever we can and God help any who gets in our way. Faithfulness is foolishness and long-suffering a flaw. When a Wife has spent her body baring children, cast her off and find a younger. And women, unsatisfied with their lot seek for the rich man, despising their vows of marriage taken before a mighty God. Fallen Man's cry is ‘all is fair in love and war’ which spoken of as though some legal document cast off all restraint. Even the words ‘life is too short’ is paraded as their justification. But still, even these lies can not suffice as still hearing the muffled cry of a desperate conscience, stopping their ears they need to beat it down until, at the last it too falls silent.

I recall many years ago when discovering an overgrown Church. The roof had long since collapsed but amazingly there were still remains of the old pews that had once seated long gone congregations, now broken and crumpled. It was an amazing sight from a house that I was working on. All the stonework having been overgrown with ivy made it appeared like some immense green plant growing high in the middle of an old forgotten wood. Looking out from among the ruins with a breeze on my face I could see one single well kept grave surrounded by three foot grass, still tended by the living.
I thought of how many others had peered through this now glassless frame, those that had stood here but were now long gone. Of the rings of laughter and joy that had filled this Church now silenced. What of their passions, what of their lust and their pride of life? All these are now out of their reach but one thing remains . . . their deeds. Unless removed in life they now stick to them like chocolate to the face of a child who has been at the biscuit tin while his parents weren't looking. Now if in Hades, how they must wish they had changed those filthy garments while they still had the chance! But now they know for a certainty, that very soon they will be led before the almighty. And like the drunken fool who has soiled himself before all...they will at last understand their shame.

Now you are certain that I think myself above all!  lofty with my head held high. Well consider carefully why I turned to Christ, because I dared look in the mirror and search my heart, and what I saw shocked me. With a humble heart I say this, “if you think you are a ‘good person’ you are blind and have not seen the truth”.

Well, I started with a song and so I shall end with one, in fact one of my favourites. This song although sad, beautifully epitomises the Worldly saying “All is Fair in Love and War” and thus Man's total destain for the sanctity of marriage and faithfulness to one another.