“The LORD is compassionate and

gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 103v8

Number 16

Turn Back Home! 1

Is this all life has to offer? 2

“I’m not an atheist” — Einstein

2

Do you love me? 3

Wordsearch 4

Depression 4

About Us... 4

Inside this issue:

Turn Back Home!

Cross alk

How many of us think of God as the ‘one who loves’? We read that ‘God so loved the world’ overall, but, does he really love me? The Bible says that he does.

In a modern day equivalent of a well-known parable of Jesus, an angry, rebellious and resentful teenage girl runs away to the city. Within a few days she runs out of money. Without real friends she becomes broke and homeless. To survive, she turns to life on the streets. Life gets really tough really quickly, and it’s not long before she’s introduced to hard drugs. Within months, she is destitute and depressed. One night, as she huddles alone in the damp cold, a sudden longing for home surges up within her. “Why am I doing this to myself?” she thinks. “Here I am feeling like this, and back home it’s warm and there’s plenty to go around...” She wonders whether she would be accepted back, and what she would say. Suddenly a desire to go home overwhelms her.

As she travels, she remembers some of the awful things that she said to her parents, and how they got into great debt because of her. She knows that she doesn’t deserve to be accepted back. But something draws her on.

Able only to leave a message on their answering machine, she wonders if they will welcome her. She fixes her hair and tries to make herself look good. As the bus comes to the stop, she sees not only her parents, but her brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles smiling in anticipation. As she gets off the bus, her parents run towards her and embrace her. Her apologies are smothered by hugs and kisses. Overjoyed, they all go home to a

welcome party. She knows that she is back home where she belongs.

The beautiful greeting for that teenage girl is a picture of the truth that whenever any of us turns back to God, he not only receives us with open arms, but he is so delighted that he and the angels in heaven celebrate. Christ’s suffering on the cross is God’s immensely loving way of unblocking the path for us to return to him. His arms are extended to every one of us. If you haven’t already done so, will you turn to them now, or away from them?

How deep the father's love for us How vast beyond all measure, That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure.

(S. Townend)

Article based on the parable of the ‘Prodigal Son’ (Luke 15v11-24) as told in Philip Yancy’s book ‘What’s so amazing about grace?”

C o l i n G l e n C h r i s t i a n F e l l o w s h i p C u a l l a c h t C h r í o s t a í G h l e a n n C h o l l a i n n

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,

whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the

Word of life.” 1 John 1v1

Page 2

I was in my twenties and at a stage of life when I was going clubbing, dancing and in relationships. However I was becoming fed up of the destructive thought patterns going through my head and came to a point where I was feeling very low. I had a very low self esteem, and sometimes had suicidal thoughts. Although, I was young and supposedly still had everything to live for, I had a question: is this all life had to offer?

During these dark days of my life I was staying with my grandparents in a village near Drogheda, where I came from. There was one particular day when I was battling with thoughts, feeling like a failure. I went upstairs to the bedroom and just switched on the radio. The radio happened to be tuned into UCB (a Christian radio station). There was some Bible being read and an affirming voice full of encouraging

words. I distinctly remember that moment. It was actually God calling out and speaking His words of hope right into my spirit, cutting through the confusion and depression.

At that point I made a decision. I said to God that if this is you, I want to give my heart to you and follow you. I want to leave my life of sin at the cross and take the life you have given me through Jesus Christ.

That was thirteen years ago. Since then my life has been changed. I began to develop a deep sense of compassion for others and had a new hope and purpose which meant I would never go back to those days before I tuned in and listened to God’s Word. I am currently studying an applied Theology course with the Irish Bible Institute (Dublin) and am looking forward to see how God will use this to help others in the future. S. McDonagh

Is this all life has to offer?

Darwin’s publication, ‘The Origin of Species’ has its 150th anniversary in 2009. It is widely assumed that his theory explains away the need for a creator God. Just as it is also widely believed that science has made religion and faith obsolete.

Creation, Evolution & Intelligent DesignCreation, Evolution & Intelligent DesignCreation, Evolution & Intelligent DesignCreation, Evolution & Intelligent Design Based on religious texts like the Bible, ‘Creationism’ states that God created the earth. Based on scientific observation, ‘Darwinian Evolution’ theorises the evolution of the universe. In between is ‘Evolutionary Creationism’ which accepts that God created the universe using evolution.

Also based on scientific observation, and not on religious texts, many top scientists (religious and non-religious) have recently concluded that there is ‘Intelligent Design’ in the universe. For example, science shows that the universe needs to be so incredibly finely-tuned to allow the world and human life to exist. Scientifically, it is virtually inconceivable that it was not designed—just as it is impossible for a

Ferrari to exist without great designers. Darwinian Evolutionists propose that this happened by chance,1 with minutely low probability, without supporting evidence.

Where does the evidence lead?Where does the evidence lead?Where does the evidence lead?Where does the evidence lead? Christians can find that Intelligent Design provides evidence to support their belief in Creat ionism or Evolutionary Creationism. However, it appears that many people, including some academics and scientists, interpret the evidence to suit their existing beliefs to the contrary. Yet, others have bravely changed what they believed. Once called ‘the world's most influential philosophical atheist’, Professor Antony Flew titled his recent book ‘There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed his Mind.’ From his earliest works, he resolved: “We must follow the argument wherever it leads.”2

What would Darwin think?What would Darwin think?What would Darwin think?What would Darwin think? If Darwin were alive today, his analytical approach may even have led him to conclude that there is a God - or at least

(Continued on page 3)

“I’m not an atheist” — Einstein

“You don’t have to turn your brain off to believe in God”

“I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will

betroth you to me in faith-fullness. And you shall know the LORD. I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’ ” Hosea 2v19-20 & 23

Page 3

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Do you love me?

In the musical “The Fiddler on the Roof”, Russian father Topol ponders his five daughters’ marriages. His thoughts then turn to his own marriage. After 25 years of providing for his family, he asks his wife, Golde; “Do you love me?”

Marriage often begins with a joyful honey-moon period. But over time, feelings can fade. Thoughts can arise such as; “our love has gone” and “what am I getting out of this?” Attempts to rekindle the flame may seem impossible, and separation or divorce may seem to be the only options.

Golde initially responded by telling Topol off for even thinking along those lines. Do all those years of cooking, keeping house, caring for children, and being faithful to him, not prove that she loves him? Has he taken her for granted? He asks the question again. Eventually, they both affirm that they really do love each other.

While their marriage could have done

with more romance and joy, it reflects a biblical truth that marriage is built on the foundation of ‘giving’ to the other person. It is not just feelings, but actions as well. When both give, both receive. When no-one gives, no-one receives.

Some marriages are dysfunctional. So too are some relationships with God. We often relate to God with just a shopping list of prayer requests. We use him to help us through our difficulties—we treat him as our personal assistant to get us through the day or week. Often, we blame him when things go wrong, but don’t thank him when they go well. And we don’t spend time just listening to him, by reading the Bible, or keeping the Lord’s Day special. If any of this is true of us, then we’ve broken some of the Ten Commandments1 —we’ve been unfaithful to God. A marriage partner would not stand for this type of relationship, but we expect God to.

In dysfunctional relationships, painful separation or divorce can be the eventual outcome. With God, if we don’t mend the relationship, we will suffer a painful separation that lasts for eternity.2

Like a loving spouse, God wants to restore the relationship. If you want, you could respond by saying and meaning this prayer;

“Father, forgive me for how I have treated you. Thank you that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for what I’ve done wrong. Please help me to love you as I ought to. Please help me to follow Jesus as my example, and trust him as my Lord and Saviour.”3

1 Exodus 20; 2 Mk 9v43, Mt 25v46; 3 John 3v16, James 1v22-25

that there is a great Designer. After all, this is what Einstein concluded as he stated a sincere belief in a “God who reveals Himself in the harmony of all that exists.”3

In the end, science cannot prove or disprove the existence of God. But it can give us evidence to point us towards the conclusion that God exists. Faith without facts is foolish. But faith based on the knowledge of God as he has revealed himself to us in the Bible, a faith which is supported by scientific evidence, is not only reasonable, but should be seriously considered.

(Continued from page 2) You don’t have to turn your brain off to believe in God! 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse#Anthropic_principle

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Flew and links 3) Time Magazine, “Einstein and Faith,” 5/4/07, by Walter Isaacson. The title of this article title is a quotation also. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1607298,00.html

NOTE: See also www.bethinking.org/science-christianity/

View current and past copies of Crosstalk online at www.cgcf.net

Wordsearch

The words are from the parable that the article ’Turn Back Home’ is based on. (See Luke’s gospel 15v11-24). Solution is available at: www.cgcf.net/misc/wordsearch.htm

Photo credits: P1 ’Welcome’ originally by Stephen Baack; P2 club by Nenortas Photography; P3 wedding by Sanden, Ferrari by Jerome Pagunsan

T F L A C E N I M A F C B

A T S N I A G A H A O W S

C C N E S T A T E M T C I

M E H I R E D T P Z O G N

A B L D C S W A S N P G N

L F Z E G U S O T E N N E

I C R C B S A I R E B O D

V O P E I R N R Z T D L N

E U G O G U A I E E H B G

V N N T E N T T A H E Y F

Z T H D C I O T E G T U R

A R M S C D H L A E L A L

F Y F T Y O U N G E R D F

AGAINST DEATH

ALIVE ESTATE

ARMS FAMINE

BEGAN FATHER

BEST HIRED

CALF LONG

CELEBRATE LONGER

CITIZEN SINNED

COMPASSION WORTHY

CONTINUED YOUNGER

COUNTRY

Contact: John and Elaine Duffy � � � � 42A Cloona Park, Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast, BT17 0HH ���� (028) 90600323 ���� johnduffy@cgcf.net ���� www.cgcf.net ☺☺☺☺

We are a non-denominational Christian Fellowship in West Belfast. We do our best to provide a welcoming environment where people can come and share

Christian fellowship. We try to live out our Christianity in a way which is relevant to the culture of our own local community. We have no formal links to other churches or organisations. We just call ourselves 'Christians.'

We believe that many people want to know the peace of God, the sense of freedom and forgive-ness from the guilt of past sins, a fresh start and a deepening knowledge of a loving God working in their lives. We believe that the key to receiving these is to trust in Jesus. He said; “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14v6). He also promised; “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11v28). We believe in God's Word, the Bible, as the ultimate basis of our beliefs.

If you would like to find out more about us, or join with us for any events, ring or email

(contact details below), or see our website (in both Irish and English) at www.cgcf.net

♦ Sunday services Join us for Sunday worship services: 11am—12.15pm. Everyone welcome. Ring for details including location, or see the website calendar for more info.

♦ ‘Open House’ Bible Study We meet on Monday evenings for Bible study with supper/chat. Join us as we look into the Bible to see what God is saying to us, and how it is relevant to our lives today. Everyone is welcome - just turn up, or ring for more details. Every Monday 7.30-9.30 pm.

♦ Prayer Meetings On the Third Thursday of each month. 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.

♦ Women’s Bible Study Join us as we chat and discuss a topic or passage from the Bible together over tea. Fridays 11.30am—1pm during term time. Everyone welcome. ‘Open House’ and Women’s Bible studies and prayer meetings are at 42A Cloona Park.

♦ At Home If you would like to look into the Bible in your own home instead of coming to one of our meetings, call us, and we will try to arrange something.

About Us...

“This book gives new hope to those who struggle with depression, and those who seek to help them. Dr. Ed Welch writes compassionately on the complex nature of depression and sheds light on the path toward

deep, lasting healing.” “Depression is suffering.” While medication can greatly help with the symptoms, we sometimes long for ‘practical’ steps to overcome depression, or support someone going through it. This book clearly fills this gap, from a Christian counselling perspective. These pages can help provide hope, purpose and perseverance, not only for the depressed, but for their carers too. It’s the kind of book that many people have longed for.

Depression

Dr. Ed. Welch, New Growth Press