Kieran Beville

The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland introduced a ban on abortion by recognising the right to life of an unborn child. This is now under scrutiny, and a campaign is underway to "repeal the 8th." Foreign money heavily funds this well-organised crusade, and there is pressure being brought to bear on Ireland by international bodies, like the United Nations and Amnesty International. It is important, therefore, that people are informed. Although this book is intended to address the Irish context at a particular time in its history, it will enlighten anybody from any continent who wants to think through these issues that go to the heart of the family. By implication, we are confronted in these pages with the question "What kind of culture do we want to pass on to our children?" Legally endorsing abortion would have grave consequences for the individual and society. The author addresses the relevant topics in a manner designed to foster ethical discussion in a broader debate. It comes at a crucial time in a nation's struggle for identity in a world that is beguiled by a culture of death. There is, undoubtedly, much more that can be said on the issue of abortion but this intentionally short book is designed to kick-start conversation rather than be an exhaustive treatise on the topic.

Journey with Jesus through the Message of Mark is an insightful and engaging survey of Mark's Gospel, exploring each major section of the text along with key themes. It is a work that can be enjoyed by laypersons as well as pastors and teachers. Pastors will find the abundant use of illustrations to be helpful in preparing their own messages and as such, it will find a welcome place in the preacher's library. Simply, powerfully, with great precision, and exegetical accuracy, Kieran Beville masterfully brings us on a life-transforming journey. Readers will be both inspired and challenged as they hear the words of Jesus speaking afresh from the page of Scripture and experience the ministry of Jesus in a spiritually captivating way. The author has a pastor's heart, a theologian's mind, and a writer's gift. His style is gripping, as he beautifully explains and illustrates Mark's Gospel. Kieran Beville has done a great service to the church, and especially to true believers, who desire to grow in grace, increase in their knowledge of truth, and experience the intimacy, joy, and undeserved and unspeakable privilege of walking, as disciples, with Jesus.This book is ideal as a study companion for Mark's Gospel. One can read a section from the gospel and then read the corresponding section to receive a fresh viewpoint and a practical application. The author often helpfully refers to background and historical information from the Ancient Middle-East that would not otherwise be easily understood by modern western readers. Many times, there will be cross-references to other passages of Scripture, thereby connecting Mark's writing with other important passages from the Bible. Other times the author provides insights from current events, history, literature, church life, or his rich personal experience. These draw out the ongoing relevance of the Gospel of Mark. Journey with Jesus is coordinated with the chapters of Mark. Each section is divided appropriately with the modern scholarly understanding of the Gospel. The volume concludes with helpful essays on "Who Killed Jesus?", "Judas Iscariot" and "Pontius Pilate."

In an age obsessed with physical and psychological health the author emphasizes the importance of spiritual well-being as an essential element of holistic health for the individual Christian and for Christian communities. This work constitutes a template for a spiritual audit of the local church. It offers an appointment with the Great Physician that no Christian can afford to ignore. Developing Healthy Churches: A Case-Study in Revelation begins with a well-researched outline of the origins and development of the church health movement. With that background in mind the author, aware that throughout the history of the church there have been a number of diverse views about how Revelation ought to be interpreted, presents the reader with four distinct interpretive models. These are the idealist, preterist, historicist, and futurist. Beville explains these interpretive approaches simply and critiques them fairly.Revelation is a complex but intriguing book which presents seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. However, this easy-to-read work will take readers to the heart of the matter by taking them to the heart of Jesus. The historical and cultural background provides fascinating insights to the meaning of Christ's words to those churches then and to all churches now. The author elicits essential application for the church today. He presents timeless and timely truths in a fresh and forthright manner. The reader is informed about issues of particular historical significance in a way that has contemporary resonance. Here is a work that cautions about complacency, confronts compromise and challenges the carnality of Christians in contemporary culture. Beville tells us not only what Jesus desires from his disciples but also what He demands. Thus, this work presents uncomfortable truth for comfortable churches because it allows the voice of Jesus to be heard with clarity amongst the clamor of church activity. Christians who want to restore their vision and vigor will find this book immensely profitable.

This is a comprehensive study of euthanasia and assisted suicide. It traces the historical debate, examines the legal status of such activity in different countries and explores the political, medical and moral matters surrounding these emotive and controversial subjects in various cultural contexts. The key advocates and pioneers of this agenda-driven movement (such as the late Jack Kevorkian, popularly known as "Dr. Death" and Philip Nitschke, founder of Exit International) are profiled. Not only are the elderly and disabled becoming increasingly vulnerable but children, psychiatric patients, the depressed and those who are simply tired of life are now on a slippery slope into a dystopian nightmare. The spotlight is brought to bear on the Netherlands, in particular, where palliative care and the hospice movement are greatly underdeveloped as a result of legalization. These dubious "services" are now offered as part of "normal" medical care in Holland where it is deemed more cost-effective to be given a lethal injection. The vital role of physicians as healers in society must be preserved and the important but neglected spiritual dimension of death must be explored. Thus a biblical view of human life is presented. Death and bereavement are universal phenomena and people of all faiths and those of none have a legitimate right to comment. However, the historic Christian tradition is struggling to be heard in the clamor for personal autonomy and civil liberties in a multi-cultural society that is becoming increasingly secular. This work provides an ethical framework in which euthanasia and assisted suicide can be evaluated. These issues are on the radar indicating a collision course with Christian values. It is time for Christians to be alert and to present the case that these are not satisfactory solutions to legitimate end-of-life concerns.