The Nativity of our Lord

Christ is born!

Glorify Him!

No fear

I am not afraid to say it,

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Scholars say....

While channel surfing the other night, I came across a program about Christmas. The interviewer was asking certain "scholars" about the gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus. Were they historical accounts or were they something else? The "scholars" gave their opinions. Most of them were of the opinion that the gospel accounts were NOT historical. The reasons given were the usual left wing extremist, naturalist, atheist view that the gospel writers had other motives than to give a factual historic account of the birth of Jesus. Anyone with half a brain knows that a virgin cannot conceive, therefore something else is being said by the writers.

There was nothing new here. I have heard it all before. What was particularily troubling however was the fact that these so called scholars are university professors teaching this garbage to young minds full of mush. It is no wonder the church is in the condition it is. Students attending schools thinking they are preparing for the ministry, are being taught things as truth which actually destroy their faith in The Truth.

Then I come across this article by an Episcopal priest(ess). The Earthly Father - What if Mary wasn't a virgin? This article shows that my fears have come upon me. This is an old debate, but it is disconcerting when those who should know better, the ones wearing the collars and the pointy hats, are the ones spewing this nonsense.

Then I read this, Jesus the Bastard? Check it out, since I couldn't say it any better myself.

Why the courts?

Regarding the Dover School case and Intelligent Design (ID), I ask myself, why are the courts telling us what can be taught in the public schools? Should not this be the decision of the school board, teachers and ultimately the parents?

Whatever ones opinion of ID, do we want the courts telling us what can be taught in the schools? The best way to handle this is the way that eventually happened in the Dover case. The people of Dover voted out the school board members who wanted ID mentioned (not taught as has been reported in error).

Personally, I disagree with the voters of Dover, but regardless, I believe the proper way to settle this question was through the ballot box, not to bring the courts into it. Besides, I have yet to see in the Constitution any mention of what can or cannot be taught in schools. I do read where Congress will make no laws regarding the free exercise of religion.

This is just another example of the left's use of the courts to bring about what they cannot do any other way. Except in this case they did do it another way.

Power to the people (P2TP).

Judge Rules Against Pa. Biology Curriculum

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - "Intelligent design" cannot be mentioned in biology classes in a Pennsylvania public school district, a federal judge said Tuesday, ruling in one of the biggest courtroom clashes on evolution since the 1925 Scopes trial.

So much for Free Speech.

The plaintiffs challenging the policy argued that intelligent design amounts to a secular repackaging of creationism, which the courts have already ruled cannot be taught in public schools. The judge agreed.

"We find that the secular purposes claimed by the Board amount to a pretext for the Board's real purpose, which was to promote religion in the public school classroom," he wrote in his 139-page opinion.

OK, I get it. The reason for challenging ID is that it is a non-religious (secular) way to say something religious. Makes sense to me. Sort of like a Christmas tree is a way of jamming religion down the throat of poor innocent children. We need to save them from this trauma. It's time to burn all those trees right along with all the books that mention God or Christ, or heaven forbid, a Creator.

Post Abortion trauma

Abortion trauma 'can last for years'

Women who have an abortion can suffer mental distress, anxiety, guilt and shame even five years afterwards and sometimes even longer, research has shown.

No dah. A woman kills her unborn baby. It seems only natural that she would feel guilt and shame. In fact, she should. Of course, the pro abortion folk try to minimize this but the truth still wins out.

Something completely different

I thought I had seen it all, then I saw this:

Christian nudists to build village in Florida

I don't know what to say.

Dec. 7th

Let us remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country on 12/7/1941. Lest you forgot, that was the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

I wonder, if something like that happened today, would we have the same determination to defeat the enemy as that generation did. Based on what I hear from some folks in Congress and the media today, I doubt it.

Wacko Alert

Men Warm Globe, Women Feel the Heat, Group Claims

By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
December 06, 2005

Montreal (CNSNews.com) - The debate over climate change evolved into a battle of the sexes Monday at the 11th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal. The spokesman for a feminist-based environmental group accused men of being the biggest contributors to human-caused "global warming" and lamented that women are bearing the brunt of the negative climate consequences created by men.

"Women and men are differently affected by climate change and they contribute differently to climate change," said Ulrike Rohr, director of the German-based group called "Genanet-Focal point gender, Environment, Sustainability."



The Environmental Wacko's are at it again.

Left up to these kooks, being male will soon be reason enough to be taxed, imprisoned or worse.

What about transgendered persons? Are they more or less to blame?

What ever happened to common sense?

Happy St. Nicholas Day

Everything you always wanted to know about St. Nicholas can be found here.

Daily Office readings for 12/01/2005

Matthew 21:33-46

33Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Some think of Jesus as meek and mild. Just the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. In today's reading, Jesus refers to himself as a 'stone'. Not a small little stone that you can throw and skip across the water. No, this stone is hard and large enough to break those who fall on it and to grind those on whom it falls. This stone is not to be messed with.

This time of year we are reminded of the baby Jesus. "Isn't he cute." Well, this baby grew up and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. And His kingdom will have no end.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

"Just Shut Up Award"

Today's "Just Shut Up Award" goes to Senator Arlen Specter

Sen. Specter Defends Terrell Owens

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sen. Arlen Specter accused the National Football League and the Philadelphia Eagles of treating Terrell Owens unfairly and said he might refer the matter to the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs.

Specter said at a news conference Monday in Harrisburg it was "vindictive and inappropriate" for the league and the Eagles to forbid the all-pro wide receiver from playing and prevent other teams from talking to him.

Defending T.O. will not put you in good sted with the voters of PA, Senator. So, just shut up.

Thanksgiving 2005

We did something completely different for the Thanksgiving holiday this year. We met my wife's brother and sister in Las Vegas. Yes, Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin City itself.

Now I have first hand knowledge on why the nickname of Sin City. I saw in those around me, but worst of all, in me, the following seven grievous sins:

1. Pride - I can beat the odds and win this game.
2. Greed - I want something for nothing and the more the better.
3. Lust - My those girls look good.
4. Anger - Why can't I win that jackpot
5. Gluttony - Those buffet's were good.
6. Envy - How come he won on the machine I was playing all night.
7. Sloth - I am too lazy to get away from this machine.

The truth is there is nothing special about Las Vegas. The same sins are present in every city. It's just that it seems a little easier there.

Having said that, I must add that we had a good time with the family. We saw some awesome shows and walked farther than I have in a long time without swinging a golf club.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Let's change the U.S. motto

Atheist Now Sues to Take Motto Off Money

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (AP) - An atheist who has spent four years trying to ban the Pledge of Allegiance from being recited in public schools is now challenging the motto printed on U.S. currency because it refers to God.

Michael Newdow seeks to remove "In God We Trust" from U.S. coins and dollar bills, claiming in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday that the motto is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.


I agree. Let's change the motto. I offer the following suggestions:

- In Nothing We Trust
- In Ourselves We Trust
- In Cash We Trust
- In Government We Trust
- In the People We Trust
- In Our Feelings We Trust
- We Only Trust In What We Can See
- In _____ We Trust - (Fill in the Blank)

Wait a minute. Which religion is being endorsed by this motto? What law has Congress enacted establishing a religion?

I don't like any of the alternative motto's listed above. Maybe we shouldn't have a motto. Maybe we should get rid of all national symbols. We wouldn't want to offend anyone, would we? No matter what symbol we use someone may be offended. So let's eliminate them all. Let's have free of symbol zones, like we have no smoking zones. No motto's, no flags, no nothing. Then everyone will be happy and we can live together in peace.

Only in America.

Don't you just love it

Our government cares so much for us, it wants to take care of our basic needs. I am so glad we elected those Republocrats.


Congress signals subsidy for TVs
By Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
November 14, 2005

The federal government wants to pay for some U.S. residents to be able to watch television -- the only question is how much. The Senate's budget bill, which passed last week, contains a $3 billion subsidy for owners of televisions that are not ready to handle the eventual transition to digital television.

My, my

Finding Said to Boost Proof of Goliath

JERUSALEM - Archaeologists digging at the purported biblical home of Goliath have unearthed a shard of pottery bearing an inscription of the Philistine's name, a find they claimed lends historical credence to the Bible's tale of David's battle with the giant.


I must confess I am a little conflicted by this news. On one hand, I am glad to see another case where archaeologists are confirming the biblical accounts. On the other hand, I wonder what archaeologists will think 3,000 years from now when they dig up a Mickey Mouse T-shirt. Will that mean that Mickey actually existed?

Sending out the Love

A big thank you to all those who are serving or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Thanks to your sacrifice we:

- Do not have to speak German, Japanese, or Russian.
- Do not have to wear a head scarf or a night shirt.
- Can worship in the church of our choice.
- Have all the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted.

May God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you.

Good question

Exploring a Parallel Universe
Why does the word evangelical threaten so many people in our culture? by Philip Yancey


I have often wondered this myself. We preach the gospel, the "good news", and yet we are looked upon as haters.

Yancey states:

Reflecting on our conversation, I remembered a remark by (C.S.) Lewis, who drew a distinction between communicating with a society that hears the gospel for the first time and one that has embraced and then largely rejected it. A person must court a virgin differently than a divorcée, said Lewis. One welcomes the charming words; the other needs a demonstration of love to overcome inbuilt skepticism.

The Gospel of John put it another way: "...men loved the darkness rather than the Light..."

It is sad

PB Frank made the following statement in Taiwan:

One of the great sadnesses of the world at present is that religions that might listen to one another and make common cause around the things that they share often confront one another with defensiveness and judgment. How sad this is when they share so much - above all compassion and mercy and love as the ground of all human relationships. How sad it is when instead of making common cause they make judgments of one another that divide the human community rather than unite it.

Hey Frank. Wake up. There are people from the religion of peace who want you and the rest of us dead. They would sooner cut your throat than talk about how we all share alot in common. So much for "compassion and mercy and love as the ground of all human relationships".

I have decided to change my thinking toward PB Frank and the rest of the looney left who walk in his ways. I have decided to pray the words of Paul to Timothy as recorded in 2 Timothy 2:24 to 26:

"24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."

I pray Frank, that you come to your senses and escape the snare of the devil.

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Roll back the clock

We are about to roll back the clock from daylight savings time to standard time. PB Frank wants to roll back the clock to another era. He still thinks he lives in the good old days of the cold war when the cry from the libs was "can't we just get along". When the hate America first crowd thought if we (USA) just weren't so mean, the Russians would lay down their weapons and the world would be a safer place. Now they think it is our fault that Korea is still separated in two, North and South. If only we would be nicer to the North, then everything would be OK.

Korean peninsula reunification affirmed by Presiding Bishop Griswold meets President in Seoul, offers message of solidarity to Korea's Anglican Church

Episcopal News Service] Emphasizing the work of Anglicans locally and internationally in support of reunification of the Korean peninsula, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold met October 25 in Seoul with South Korea's President Roh Myoo-hyun and issued a message of solidarity to the Anglican Church in Korea.

.....It is my intention now to emphasize my Church's commitment to reunification by bringing before the United States government several concerns.

I will urge my own government to reject the policy of preemption that heightens tensions and threatens the well being of peoples both in the north and south. As the two Koreas move forward towards the goal of reunification, I will urge the United States to take the following further steps:

support and promote a nonaggression pact that will move all parties toward a comprehensive peace formally ending the "state of war" that has existed since 1953 by following through in the current negotiations to pledge not to preemptively attack the DPRK in exchange for the DPRK's abandonment of its nuclear weapons program

refrain from demonization of the DPRK in favor of supporting the building of relations between the north and south which hold the promise of peace and reunification

make every effort to invite the DPRK into the international community as a full member so that the country can develop and pursue internationally recognized norms and standards for its people to enjoy, specifically to provide humanitarian relief and development assistance to the DPRK including poverty alleviation, food aid, energy development and transportation

assure access to all mechanisms for redress of grievances between U.S. military personnel and Korean civilians in the ROK.

Liberal insanity. And this guy is the leader of the ECUSA. Lord have mercy.

Daily Office readings for 10/18/2005

Matthew 11:25-30 (NRSV)

25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I recently overheard a woman at church saying she has a problem referring to God as Father. She prefers the word, parent. In today's scripture reading, Jesus refers to his Father five (5) times in three (3) verses. Now I know that God does not have a gender. But when referring to the deity, Christian tradition is to use the masculine (Father, He, Him, etc.). I don't believe it is simply a matter of linguistics however. If the english language had a neutral pronoun ( neither male, he, or female, she) I still believe the use of the masculine would be proper. Why? Well as stated above, Jesus refers to God as his father. I also believe that Jesus is God as part of the blessed Holy Trinity, and since Jesus is male then the use of the masculine to refer to God is also proper.

According to the BCP, in the liturgy, the response to the statement "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God" is "It is right to give Him thanks and praise". My parish and I am sure others as well, has changed the response to "It is right to give God thanks and praise". To many this probably is no big deal, but I believe it is symptomatic of what is wrong in today's church. In an effort to please some folks who are sensitive to these matters, we are changing our understanding of God.

For any ladies reading this, I did not state nor do I believe that God is male to the exclusion of female. He created both male and female and therefore both are found in Him. However, when referring to Him, as you can see I believe that the masculine pronoun is correct. If I hear someone referring to God as 'she', they will not get a rise out of me. I believe God is big enough to have mercy on them for they know not what they do.

Sanity

After reading the article discussed in the previous blog entry, More Liberal Insanity, I came across this:

Purity

There are some sane people in this world. Check it out.

More Liberal insanity

Just when I thought it was safe to go out and play, there comes this headline from the ENS:

Disaster-preparedness plans needed, Executive Council says

The title sounds like a good idea. As a former Boy Scout, I know it is always a good idea to be prepared. But in the body of the article comes this:

Regret for complicity in slavery

In other action, the council became one of a number of voices in the Episcopal Church that will ask the 75th General Convention to deal with the church's historic connections to slavery.

I know I should not be surprised by anything these mentally disturbed people come up with, but I am anyway. How many times must we express regret for something we had no part in? Considering the current state of the ECUSA in trying to redefine what sin is, this would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic.

I feel sorry for those who feel so much guilt for something they didn't do, but refuse to accept guilt for their own sins. Is this twisted or what?

Give me a break

Cathedral's Dean Kowalski calls Cindy Sheehan a 'prophet'

[Episcopal News Service] More than 1,000 people filled the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City on September 19, 2005, to hear anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and supporters on the "Bring Them Home Now Tour" rally support for a three-day march and anti-war protest in Washington, DC, September 24-26.

"We need to show Congress that we mean business when we say we want our troops [to come] home," Sheehan said.

Sheehan came to national attention this summer when she camped out near President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanding that the vacationing president explain to her in person why her 24-year-old son Casey, an Army specialist assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, died in Iraq. The effort became known as Camp Casey.

In his welcoming address, the Very Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski, dean of the cathedral, received applause when he likened Sheehan to a "prophet."

"In the Bible there are stories about seemingly unimportant, insignificant, seemingly powerless people who out of nowhere landed in the kingdom where the king was out of control and emerged as a prophet and said to the king you have lied to your people and led them astray and Cindy Sheehan is one of those prophets," he said.

Paaleeese. Equating Cindy Sheehan with the prophets of the Bible is a bit extreme. Of course the Very Rev Dr James Kowalski probably believes that the Bible is just a book of fiction and myth anyway, so who cares what he thinks.

Kowalski asked "what greater conversation could there be than about stopping war, and returning to peace?"

What makes these nut cases think we will have peace if we bring the troops home? How quickly we forget 9/11.

"We have to make the world safer and the only way we are going to do that is to get George Bush out of office," she said.

Ah, the real reason for her comments is revealed. She just hates the President and wants to see him out of office. This hate speech has to stop.

This just goes to show that the ECUSA is held captive by the same left wing extremists that have taken over the Democratic Party. The fact that the Episcopal News Service finds this story news worthy is further proof.

In my humble opinion, the ones who have lied and led their people astray are those in the ilk of Cindy Sheehan and the Very Rev. Dr.

The latest fashion statement

Do you need something to wear to the next covered dish supper or pool party? Try this on for size. (click here)

Mars warming

Mars Orbiter Spots Changes on Red Planet

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - The Martian surface has undergone dramatic changes in the last few years with the appearance of new gullies and fresh boulder tracks, new images released Tuesday show.

The photos, taken by the orbiting Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, suggest that the Red Planet is perhaps more active than previously thought.

That darned Bush Administration. His environmental policies are even affecting the surface of Mars. It is obvious Bush doesn't like black people. Have you ever seen one on Mars?

Insanity revealed

The following headlines reveal the insanity in the judicial branch of government today:

Judge: School Pledge Is Unconstitutional

and

Judge Rules Against Michigan's Partial Birth Abortion Ban

Is it any wonder that we are willing to allow the murder of innocent babies when we are trying to eliminate the mention of God in the public square?

To quote Michael Savage, "Liberalism is a mental disorder". I think this is becoming more evident everyday.

To quote Jesus Christ, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. " John 3:19

Personally, I never did like to say the Pledge of Allegiance, but it isn't the "under God" part that bothers me. It is the pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth that troubles me. The next statement, "and to the republic for which it stands", makes sense of the issue, so I quess I don't have a problem with the Pledge after all.

Yesterday, 9/14/2005, was the Feast of The Exaltation of The Holy Cross. The cross has been a symbol of Christianity for a long time. I wonder how many of us are willing to pledge allegiance to this symbol, The Holy Cross.

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Just Shut Up Award

Two new recipients of the "Just Shut Up Award":

Celine Dion and Kayne West

Please, just shut up!

I think I will also add them both to the membership of WACKO (see previous message).

Two tales of a City

Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans and the rest of the gulf coast and produces devastation second to none. As the rescue operations are ongoing and the suffering of the people continues, already the Blame Game is being played.

On one extreme, we have those who blame the Bush administration for this tragedy. Some blame 'W' for his environmental policies which are contributing to global warming which helped to produce this hurricane. Some of the real members of the We Are Crazy Kids Organization (WACKO) are accusing 'W' of wanting to help his rich oil buddies and therefore created this disaster. Now, even if he did want to help his oil baron friends, to say that he has the power to create a class 5 hurricane that will strike the gulf coast at a certain time shows that these folks are charter members of WACKO.

On the other extreme are those who blame God for this event as His punishment for the sin of New Orleans. Granted, this disaster has biblical proportions. Granted, New Orleans is known for its political corruption and of course, Mardi Gras, where sin is rampant. But to say that God decided to strike the people with a flood, denies the existence of God's covenant to never do that again. Remember the rainbow.

If we want to read the Old Testament (OT) into today's headlines we need to find some other factors as well. In the OT, when God wanted to punish sin, He first sent a prophet and in some cases, prophets, in order to call the people to repentance before the sky would fall. Where are the prophets today. Yes there have been many prophets of doom over the years, but have they been credible spokesmen for God? I think not. Remember Y2K? The prophets of doom had a field day in 1999, but they were proven wrong.

There is plenty of blame to go around in this story, but I think blaming the President and / or blaming God are extreme positions.

Rather than playing the blame game, we should use these events to ask ourselves some questions. To take an inventory of our own lives.
Are we prepared for the worst of disasters? Do I have a plan to do what is necessary in the worst possible scenario? Honestly, most of us would have to answer 'no'.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Stop the world

Earth's Core Spinning Faster Than Crust

WASHINGTON (AP) - The giant iron ball at the center of the Earth appears to be spinning a bit faster than the rest of the planet.

I wonder how long it will take the extremist environmentalists to blame this on Pres. Bush.

Daily Office readings for 08/16/2005

Mark 11:27-12:12

27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?'

This the question of our day. ECUSA, by what authority are you doing these things?

Some possible answers:
1. By the authority of my feelings.
2. By the authority of society.
3. By the authority of my world view.
4. By the authority of the Holy Spirit. NOT
5. By the authority of my left wing extreme, elitest sub-culture.
6. By the authority of the spirit of this age.
7. My mommy told me to always play nicely with my friends.

Feel free to add your own answers.

Thumb in the dike

Lutheran Assembly Stays the Course on Human Sexuality

According to the Living Church report, it looks like the Lutherans have held back the tide, at least for now.

Delegates to the 9th biennial Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Orlando rejected proposals to allow a local option for the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of gay clergy,

However, the tide is still pounding on the walls.

The status quo was affirmed when an amendment that would explicitly ban same-sex blessings failed to pass on a vote of 418-541, as did an amendment that stated that pastoral care for same-sex couples did not include the blessing of unions, 415-580.

In comparison, the following is a copy of a statement published in 2003 from the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).

How refreshing!


SCOBA STATEMENT ON MORAL CRISIS IN OUR NATION

August 27, 2003

As members of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), representing more than 5 million Orthodox Christians in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we are deeply concerned about recent developments regarding “same sex unions.”

The Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, 2000 years of church tradition, and canon law, holds that marriage consists in the conjugal union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage is blessed by God as a sacrament of the Church. Neither Scripture nor Holy Tradition blesses or sanctions such a union between persons of the same sex.

Holy Scripture attests that God creates man and woman in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27-31), that those called to do so might enjoy a conjugal union that ideally leads to procreation. While not every marriage is blessed with the birth of children, every such union exists to create of a man and a woman a new reality of “one flesh.” This can only involve a relationship based on gender complementarity. “God made them male and female… So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8).

The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage reflects the union between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). As such, marriage is necessarily monogamous and heterosexual. Within this union, sexual relations between a husband and wife are to be cherished and protected as a sacred expression of their love that has been blessed by God. Such was God’s plan for His human creatures from the very beginning. Today, however, this divine purpose is increasingly questioned, challenged or denied, even within some faith communities, as social and political pressures work to normalize, legalize and even sanctify same-sex unions.

The Orthodox Church cannot and will not bless same-sex unions. Whereas marriage be-tween a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness.

As heads of the Orthodox Churches in America and members of SCOBA, we speak with one voice in expressing our deep concern over recent developments. And we pray fervently that the traditional form of marriage, as an enduring and committed union only between a man and a woman, will be honored.


AMEN, AMEN!!

Daily Office readings for 08/09/05

Mark 10:1-16 (NRSV)

6But from the beginning of creation, "God made them male and female." 7"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh." So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'

That about says it all, don't you think. This passage creates a problem for many on the extreme left. First of all it mentions creation by God, not very PC. Then it mentions male and female, not very PC either.

What God has joined together, let no one separate. What God has not joined together, let no one else do so.

Toon is on target

Same Sex Affection, Holiness and Ordination. Dr. Peter Toon responds to "To Set Our Hope on Christ", the essay presented by the ECUSA to the ACC in Nottingham during the week of June 20, 2005. Dr. Toon gives an excellent account of how the ECUSA got to where it is today.

When I read the following I said, Whoa!

Yet, despite the risks involved, my conscience persuades me that I must offer a critique, and a serious one. Why? Because I believe that this essay is built upon a foundation of sand rather than rock, and before the penetrating eyes of the Lord it falls to the ground in pieces as the winds of divine reality blow over it. Further, as a friend noted, “not only is the language warm and humble, it struck me that it goes even beyond this—it is beguiling and seductive. This document seems to be an attempt to seduce us into the belief that lust is holy, and so the choice of language. We are presented with an argument, yes, but not really of the kind a theologian should make, but rather of the kind that a temptress would make in luring us to her bed. The authors whisper in our ears all those flattering little lies that we so much want to believe….”

It is a long article but well worth it.

U2 on G8

Bono says the G8 deal marks "...the beginning of the end for poverty...". I wish it were true, but pa-leeese.

We have all seen the pictures of the starving children and feel pity for them. We want to reach through the camera lens and offer immediate assistance. The problem is that there has been assistance given over the years. Lots of it, both from private and public sources. Where has it gone? Answer - Into the pockets of government officials.

In my humble opinion, the problem in Africa is corruption, not poverty. If the money sent to Africa actually got to those in need, we would have a different story.

Then there is the idea of forgiving the debt to these nations. Forgive my ignorance, but how is that going to put food in the belly of that starving child. The only ones being helped by forgiving the debt are the same corrupt governments that used the money for there own selfish interests in the first place.

One other question for all of these rock stars: how much of your income is going to help the poor in Africa? I bet one could feed alot of starving children for what is earned from one hit record or hit movie (Mr. Pitt). Perhaps Bono and the others do contribute a large amount, but couldn't they do just a little more. I bet they had plenty to eat today.

Religion of peace?

Four London Blasts Kill 40, Injure 700

So much for the religion of peace.


At last a Muslim organization that condemns a terrorist attack. ISNA Condemns the Terrorist Attacks in London

Now, if only the Muslim leaders in the Middle East would do the same.

A bad day

Astrologer Sues NASA Over Comet Mission

MOSCOW (AP) - NASA's mission that sent a space probe smashing into a comet raised more than cosmic dust - it also brought a lawsuit from a Russian astrologer.
Marina Bai has sued the U.S. space agency, claiming the Deep Impact probe that punched a crater into the comet Tempel 1 late Sunday "ruins the natural balance of forces in the universe," the newspaper Izvestia reported Tuesday. A Moscow court has postponed hearings on the case until late July, the paper said.


No wonder I am having such a bad day. That explains it. The natural balance of the forces in the universe have been ruined by the actions of a few men on the blue planet. I didn't realize we were so powerful.

A good read

Tom Wright's address to the ACC is a good read.

Shipwreck and Kingdom: Acts and the Anglican Communion
closing address to the meeting of the Anglican Consultative CouncilNottingham, 28 June 2005 by the Bishop of Durham, Dr N. T. Wright

After reading it, I was motivated to change the subtitle on this blog.

Jesus is King and Lord!

Very Interestink

The ACC Meeting in Nottingham has produced some interesting headlines.

From the BBC - US Church excluded for gay stance

From the London Times - American churches shown door as gay row deepens

And this from our friends at the Episcopal News Service - ACC affirms Communion-wide listening process, members' voluntary withdrawal

There is nothing like a little difference in perspective. Is being booted out the door a voluntary withdrawal action?

A happy ending

Missing Boy Scout Leaves Utah Hospital

A rare event. A happy ending to a news story.

It certainly is possible that some of the things he learned from his father and from scouting helped to keep him alive. I quess those evil boy scouts aren't so bad after all. ACLU, put that in your pipe.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

When you think you have seen it all

From the "When you think you have seen it all" file, comes this from the AP:

TAMPA, Fla. - Terri Schiavo's husband buried her cremated remains Monday, inscribing on her bronze grave marker "I kept my promise."

What promise was that? Did he promise his new live in honey that he would have his wife legally killed and keep all the money? Did he promise to have her killed by dehydration? Did he keep his promise to love and honor her in sickness and in health 'til death (not legally administered through barbaric dehydration) do us part?

Doesn't the inscription on the grave marker usually say something in honor of the deceased?

I'm sorry, I think this is a new low. What did her family ever do to him to warrant this type of treatment? Just twist the knife a little more, there Michael.

Flag Day 2005

Long may she wave!


After 9/11/2001, we saw the stars and strips everywhere. Today is Flag Day and I have seen barely a mention of it anywhere.

I thank God that I was born in the USA. I count my blessings everyday.

Long may she wave!

Just Shut Up Award

Todays Just Shut Up Award goes to former President Jimmy Carter.

Carter Calls on U.S. to Shut Down Gitmo

ATLANTA (AP) - Former President Carter on Tuesday called for the United States to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison to demonstrate its commitment to human rights.

He is probably longing for the good old days when Americans were held hostage in Iran.

Hello, we are at war. I sure am glad he isn't President now. If he and his like were in office during WWII, we would be speaking German today. Or maybe Japanese.

In an effort for full disclosure, I voted for the man in 1976.

Sunday 6/5/05

The Gospel lesson for Sunday 6/5/05 was:

Matt. 9:9-13 (ESV)

9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

The problem with the Pharisees was that they did not recognize there own need of a physician. Later, a Pharisee did recognize his need and wrote these words found in 1 Tim. 1:15: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. The writer of course, was the Apostle Paul. He also wrote: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23. The point is clear. Jesus came to save sinners, of which we all are. Yes, including me and you.

What is often missed in this story are the words of Jesus to the tax collector, "follow me". And the reaction to those words, "and he rose and followed him". Jesus calls sinners to repent and follow Him. I read nowhere that Jesus overlooks, condones, or excuses the sin. That would be like a current day doctor telling a patient with lung cancer that it is OK to smoke. A physician would not do that. Jesus calls us to be healed.

As the old hymn goes, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back."

Happy days are here again for the MSM

I guess it is only human nature to remember the glory days. After the recent fiasco's with Dan Rather and Newsweek, the main stream media (MSM) is having an orgasm over the revelation of the identity of 'Deep Throat'.

Ah yes, oh for the glory days of the MSM, when they were the only show in town. When there were only three TV networks and they were all saying the same thing each night. When the news was only brought to the public each night at 6:30 and mom and dad would watch Walter over the dinner conversation. And best of all, when bringing down a President was the righteous thing to do. If only they could find a Deep Throat now to bring down this President, which they hate.

Dream on MSM. Oh the times, they are a changin'.

Daily Office readings for 6/3/05

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'

This parable is the basis of the "Jesus Prayer"; Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. The Jesus Prayer is sometimes referred to as the 'prayer of the heart'. As the parable teaches, God is interested in our hearts, not just the outward signs. If our hearts are humble and pure, then the correct actions will follow.

Click here for more information on the Jesus Prayer.

Trinity Sunday 2005

The Gospel lesson for Trinity Sunday was:

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This passage is often referred to as the Great Commission. "Go and make disciples". Of course we also have the first reference to the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, when I heard these words this time, I was struck by the ending of the passage. "Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you".

The reason I was struck by these words is that we do not hear very often any more that Jesus gave us commandments to observe. Part of being a disciple of Jesus is to learn to do just that, observe the commandments. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to obey the commandments at all times.

What commandments though? Obviously, the commandment of love. Love God with our whole being and love our neighbor as ourself. Jesus also gave us the commandment to love one another as He loved us.

There is another commandment that is not talked about much anymore. That commandment is to repent. Yes, I said repent. When Jesus began His ministry He said, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". When Peter spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, he answered the question "what shall we do?" by saying, "Repent and be baptized...". Could this be Peter obeying the instruction of Jesus to "teach them to observe all that I commanded you"?

Repentance is the first step of discipleship. The first step in a long journey that requires a humble and contrite heart.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

"Trust and Obey
for there is no other way
to be happy in Jesus
but to trust and obey."

Protecting the innocent ?

Woman sues Marple Newtown School District over Bible ban
By MARTHA RAFFAELE, Of The Associated Press 05/12/2005

HARRISBURG -- Kindergartner Wesley Busch looked forward to the day when his mother would visit his suburban Philadelphia elementary school and read aloud from his favorite book -- the Bible. But Donna Busch said she was denied the opportunity after a principal who appeared agitated said Wesley’s cherished book wasn’t welcome in a public school classroom. She said the incident led her 6-year-old son to conclude that reading the Bible is bad.

Well, we wouldn't want those innocent children hearing something from the Bible now would we. It might harm their little minds full of mush.

Warning - what you are about to read may be dangerous to your health.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

What is wrong with this picture?

The following headlines are real:

(AgapePress) A pro-family group in Massachusetts is blowing the lid off an obscene homosexual education conference put on by the Boston chapter of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).


AgapePress) An elementary school in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been threatened with a federal lawsuit after its principal told a group of young students they cannot study their Bibles during recess or even bring their Bibles to school.

So, it is OK to hand out obscene literature to school children, but we can't let them read the Bible. And then there is this one:

...The American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal judge to jail public school teachers and administrators for allegedly violating a court-imposed ban on school prayers. It's the fourth time the ACLU has told Judge Ginger Berrigan that officials in Louisiana's Tangipahoa Parish are flouting her prayer ban. This time, the ACLU says an elementary school teacher repeatedly held prayers in her fourth-grade class, encouraged students to bring their Bibles to school, held Bible studies in the school cafeteria and admonished students who did not show up. In addition, the ACLU cites a prayer "in Jesus' name" that was recently given over a high school's public address system while the principal sat by silently. The ACLU says school officials' violation of the prayer ban "must result in their removal from society." [AP] Whaaaat... "must result in their removal from society"? What does that mean?

Has this country gone nuts? Oh I forgot, the only obscene thing in this world is the Bible and the name of Jesus. Everything else is fine. The MSM goes nuts over alledged mistreatment of the Koran, but it is OK to remove someone from society who prays in the name of Jesus.

I think I am going to be sick.

Daily Office reading for 5/18/05

1 Timothy 3:1-16 (NRSV)

1 The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, (According to the ECUSA, it is OK to leave your wife as long as it is for a man. If it was for another woman, then you would be disqualified. ) temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,...

15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Unfortunately, the "pillar of the truth" appears to be crumbling. If we would only follow the directions given to us. The apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was giving us instructions on behavior. He did not recommend an "anything goes" lifestyle. He gave us "ought to's". This is what you ought to be doing. Being married to one wife sends a message of faithfulness, loyalty, steadfastness, and most of all, love. All of which are qualities a leader in the church should possess.

Daily Office reading for 5/17/2005

1 Timothy 1:18-2:8

5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,
6 who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right time.


One God and one mediator between God and mankind. So much for many paths to God. I wonder why this is so difficult to accept by some folks. They would rather reject this statement and the statements of Jesus himself about being the only way to the Father. I ask myself, who am I to reject what Jesus says about himself?

Daily Office reading for 05/16/2005

Luke 13:1-9

1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

There is that "R" word again, repent. I just can't seem to get away from it. No matter how hard I try to justify myself, I am confronted with the fact that I must repent. My way of life must change to become His way of life.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Daily Office reading for 5/2/05

Luke 9:18-27

20 He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

This is the $64,000 question. Who do we say that Jesus is? Is he just another teacher or prophet? Is he just a carpenter? Is He Saviour and Lord of all? I vote for the later.

23 Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

So much for cheap grace. There is a cost to being a follower of Jesus. It costs everything.


Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Go House. Come On Senate.

House Passes Abortion Restrictions for Minors

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday that would make it a crime to take a minor across state lines for an abortion and create a national requirement for parental notification for underage women seeking to terminate a pregnancy.

Finally, common sense wins out. A minor girl cannot take an aspirin in school without parental consent, but she can have an abortion?

May the Senate and the President follow through with getting this passed into law.

Go to jail for Home Schooling

GERMAN AUTHORITIES SEND HOME SCHOOLING MOM TO JAIL

GUETERSLOH (ANS) -- Pressure is mounting on Christian home schooling parents in Germany. A mother living near Guetersloh has been sent to jail for six days because she and her husband refuse to send their children to a state registered school. They also refuse to pay fines of US-Dollars 115.


Lest we forget, one of the main reasons our ancestors came to this country was to escape religious persecution. Apparently there continues to be persecution in the old country. The question is, how long before the same thing happens in the good old US of A?

In my opinion, the number one cause of the destruction of the family is compulsory education in government schools. Home schooling is the only sure defense, that is why it is under attack.

A new Papa

The left wing extremist main stream media continues to show there true colors. In reporting the election of the new pope, they used such terms as; controversial, conservative, rigid, hardliner, enforcer and fundamentalist. They even went back into his youth and brought up the fact that he was a member of the Hitler Youth Program.

Imagine, the Roman Catholic Church choosing a leader who actually believes what the Church teaches. How dare they.

Put up yer dukes

The Washington Times reports - "Gay Bishop Backs Planned Parenthood"

I am shocked that a man of "peace", a man of the cloth, a man with a pointy hat would use such fightin' words as these:

"Our defense against religious people has to be a religious defense. ... We must use people of faith to counter the faith-based arguments against us," he said.

"We have allowed the Bible to be taken hostage, and it is being wielded by folks who would use it to hit us over the head. We have to take back those Scriptures,"

But this quote takes the cake: "What an unimaginative God it would be if God only put one meaning in any verse of Scripture," Excuse me, how many meanings are there in this verse, "Thou shalt not murder" ?

And if that wasn't bad enough, he said this, "I know, in the end, that I'm going to heaven, and so are you," he said. "You and I can do this work no matter how hard it gets, because we know we're going home." I shouldn't be, but I am still amazed at the audacity of some people. If they all do make it to heaven, I wonder what they will say to the millions of children unable to live a life in this world because of there actions.

Lord have mercy.

Lectionary readings for 4/14/05

Luke 5:1-11

Verse 8 - Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. "Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself." (The Message)

This was Peter's reaction to having his boat filled with fish at the command of Jesus, after having been fishing all night without a catch. Peter was aware of the holiness of Jesus and responded accordingly by falling to his knees.

There is quite a difference between the response of Peter and the actions of many in todays church let alone the whole world. Peter immediately fell to his knees. We try to rationalize our behavior. Peter's focus was on Jesus, but our focus is often on ourselves. Instead of "Master I'm a sinner", we say "I'm OK the way I am".

I think it is time to again recognize the holiness of Jesus. He is not "the man upstairs". He is the Word made flesh, the eternal Son of God. And in response say, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

Holy God
Holy and Mighty
Holy Immortal One
Have mercy on us.

Keep your dirty money

The "Living Church" reports, Bishop Laments Break with Ugandan Companion Diocese

Bishop Creighton of the Diocese of Central PA issued this, Statement Regarding the Diocese of South Rwenzori, Uganda.

In the interest of full disclosure, I live in the Diocese of Central PA (DCPA) and Bishop Creighton is my bishop. Bishop Mike is a very nice gentleman, however he doesn't have a clue. He suffers from the disease of liberalism ("Liberalism is a Mental Disorder", Savage).

This is the second diocese that has dissed DCPA since the General Convention of 2003. First was the Diocese of Recife in Brazil and now the one in Uganda. You would think the Bishop would take the hint. However he is blinded by his disease.

He states, "...our Gospel understanding that when people were labeled as “sinners and wrong doers” Jesus invited himself into relationship not out of relationship." Doesn't that sound like a liberal, equating money with relationship. As I recall, Jesus said, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" and he dealt with the money changers with a whip.

The Collect for Easter 3 seems very appropriate: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O God, open the eyes of those that are so blinded, including me.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Gene comes out some more

I don't usually visit the Planned Parenthood website, but having been informed of Bishop Robinson's interview I checked it out. See "Bishop V. Gene Robinson Talks To Planned Parenthood.

I realize he is following the ECUSA line on abortion, which is bad enough, but the way he does it shows his contempt for those who do not agree with him. Amazing how tolerance is the word of the day, until a conservative expresses their opinion, then tolerance is thrown out the window.

A few excerpts from the interview:

The reason I love the Episcopal Church is that it actually trusts us to be adults. In a world where everyone tries to paint things as black or white, Episcopalians feel pretty comfortable in the gray areas. What is gray about, Thou shalt not murder?

I'm sure there must be individual congregations, and certainly individuals, who are off the deep end about this issue... So much for tolerance of diverse opinions. If standing up for the life of the unborn, infirmed, aged, handicapped, etc is going off the deep end, let me put on my swim trunks.

And then we absolutely stand behind a woman's right to choose. I think that's a responsible place to be. I don't think it is responsible to stand behind the right of a women to KILL HER BABY.

It's time that we re-familiarize ourselves with our sacred text, so that we can interpret it for the world, and not let the only voice that Americans hear from a Christian standpoint be those wildly conservative voices. Oh my, those wild conservatives who speak the words of the faith handed down to us by the apostles. Very wild, very wild.

That's enough, I can't take any more. Suffice it to say, I am not in agreement with the Bishop on this subject. I wonder if we are still in communion even though he thinks I am wild and have gone off the deep end?

Lectionary readings for 4/8/05

1 John 3:1-10 (NRSV)

1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God. 10 The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.

Is everyone a child of God? It appears from this reading that the answer is 'no'. There are children of God and children of the devil.

The Amplified Bible translates verse 10 as follows: By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).

In the flesh, we carry the nature of our parents. In the spirit, we do the same. The children of God have His nature (self giving love) and the children of the devil have his nature (love of self).

For further thoughts, see my posting from 3/4/05.

Lectionary reading for 4/7/05

Luke 3:1-14

8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance.

There is that 'R' word, repentance. John the Baptist tells the crowd that repentance must actually mean something. There must be a change of heart that will produce a change in behavior. Just getting a bath does not make the heart clean.

Eugene Peterson translates the passage this way. 7When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? 8It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as "father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there--children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. 9What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire." (The Message)

Restoring chaos out of order

Dennis Prager has an interesting article titled "The Left's Battle to Restore Chaos".

Genesis 1 (English Standard Version)

1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was withoutform and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Antichrist no more ?

I must confess that I am a bit surprised by the attention that the death of Pope John Paul II is receiving. The MSM is giving it almost 24/7 coverage. They all have representatives in Rome to cover the story. On the other side of the coin are the glowing statements made by many evangelical leaders, who in the not so distant past would have referred to the Pope as the Antichrist.

See Christianity Today for further discussion on this issue.

Lectionary readings for 4/1/05

Acts 4:1-12

11 This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.'
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Oh my. This sounds very exclusive. Peter, who is preaching, seems to be very closed minded. How dare he say that there is salvation in no one else.

I'll tell you how he dare say this. Verse 8, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,... Peter filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the source of this declaration. So, if you have any argument with the idea of Jesus being the only way of salvation, take it up with the Holy Spirit.

In the gospel reading for today, John 16:1-15, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. Verse 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. So, if you don't like what the Holy Spirit says, take it up with Jesus.


Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Theresa Schiavo 1963-2005

Theresa Schiavo died today, 3/31/2005.

Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon her.

Lectionary readings for 3/30/05

John 15:1-11

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. These are powerful words. Some would have us believe that Jesus is just another teacher. What other teacher says this about himself?

Just as a branch cannot live apart from the vine, so we can do nothing apart from Jesus. We have no life apart from him.

Lord have mercy upon us.

Keep hope alive

Jesse Jackson Prays With Terri Schiavo's Parents

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) - The parents of Terri Schiavo met and prayed Tuesday with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who called her impending death "an injustice."

Amazing. I actually agree with something Jesse Jackson said. Where was he a week ago? I bet if Terri Schiavo were an African-American, the libs would change their tune.

Hall of Shame

The new inductees to the Hall of Shame are:

Michael Schiavo - the man who is having his wife Terri, legally killed.
George Felos - the lawyer who thinks a women starving to death looks beautiful.
George Greer - the judge who is allowing the legal killing of Terri Schiavo.
The Florida Legislature - the body of government that ran for the hills and did not protect Terri Schiavo.
The Florida Supreme Court - did not protect the life of Terri Schiavo.
The Federal District Court - did not protect the life of Terri Schiavo.
The U.S. Supreme Court - did not protect the life of Terri Schiavo.
Governor Bush - after exhausting all the legal remedies (so he says), did not protect the life of Terri Schiavo.
President Bush - did not protect the life of Terri Schiavo.

Congratulations to the new members of the Hall of Shame.

Christ is Risen

Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed.

Collect for Pascha

Collect of the Day: Pascha

O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in security and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Holy Saturday

Collect of the Day: Holy Saturday

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so may we await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Culture of Death

Today is Good Friday. The day when we remember the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The people cried, "crucify him, crucify him!".

Today we also are watching the death of a disabled woman in Florida, Terri Schiavo. Some people are crying out, "just let her die in peace".

What can we learn from this? If nothing else, we live in a culture of death. Is it any wonder, when the society is trying to exclude any reference to God in the public square, that death is seen as a good thing? Since God is the source of life, if we exclude Him, we are excluding life. Death becomes the norm. If we take away the source of light, we become comfortable in the darkness.

What are we to do? I say, stand up for life. Stand up for Jesus. Stand up, Stand up, STAND UP!!!

Collect for Good Friday

Collect of the Day: Good Friday

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Maundy Thursday

Collect of the Day: Maundy Thursday

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Wednesday in Holy Week

Collect of the Day: Wednesday in Holy Week

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Where are they?

Today, the Federal judge ruled that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube should not be reinserted. In affect, sentencing her to die.

Where are the ones who are always speaking about justice? They are silent.
Where are the ones who say they are concerned for the poor and helpless? They are silent.

The silence is deafening.

WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Collect for Tuesday in Holy Week

Collect of the Day: Tuesday in Holy Week

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Monday in Holy Week

Collect of the Day: Monday in Holy Week

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God is Great

Life in Death Valley

Unusual Rains Have Death Valley National Park Blooming

Isaiah 35:1-2 (ESV)
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

Our God is an awesome God!!

What's up with Florida

Over the last several years, the state of Florida has been the scene of some crazy news events.

1. Elian Gonzales, the six year old boy who survived the escape from Cuba, only to have Federal agents take him from his aunt's home at gunpoint and return him to Cuba.

2. The 2000 Presidential election and the famous hanging chads.

3. Terri Schiavo, the woman whose husband wants to kill by removing her feeding tube. Nothing seems to be able to stop the effort. Lawmakers at the local, state, and federal levels are trying to intervene.

Is there something in the water or is the sun too hot?

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick

An Irish Blessing in honor of St. Patrick.

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Now boys...Please play nicely

Presiding Bishop: Primates “Out for Blood” at Meeting

The devil is a liar and the father of lies and the devil was certainly moving about Dromantine, the site of the primates’ meeting in Northern Ireland, the presiding Bishop said, according to accounts from several bishops who spoke to THE LIVING CHURCH on the condition that their names not be revealed. The primates were “out for blood,” Bishop Griswold told them.

Now Frankie, it's not nice to call your friends "the devil". Play nice.

Can't you boys just get along.

The Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh; the Rev. Canon Bill Atwood, general secretary of the Ekklesia Society; the Rev. Canon Martyn Minns, rector of Truro Parish, Fairfax, Va.; the Rev. Canon David Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council; the Rev. Canon Kendall Harmon, canon theologian of the Diocese of South Carolina; and Diane Knippers, president of the Institute for Religion and Democracy, were singled out for opprobrium by the Presiding Bishop for their behind-the-scenes roles at Dromantine.

Duncan to Frankie: "Sticks and stones may break my bones........"

Seriously, Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of healing by the power of the Devil. I quess there is nothing new under the sun. Duncan and the others are in good company.

WACKO Alert!!

Judge Says California Can't Ban Gay Marriage

I think this judge is a charter member of the We Are Crazy Kids Organization (W.A.C.K.O.)

Heaven help us.

Lent 5 - Raising of Lazarus

We heard again the story of the raising of Lazarus. I began to wonder, what was Lazarus doing during the time Jesus was in the grave. The scriptures do not mention him again.

I can imagine he may have been with his sisters, Mary and Martha, encouraging them by saying, "Hey, look at me. I was dead and now I live because of him. He promised to return in three days. Let's wait and see what happens." He may have been looking for the twelve to tell them the same thing. Since most of them had run away and were in hiding, he may not have found them to encourage them in there time of fear and despair. Or he may have met up with them in the upper room and said, "Hey look guys. He told us he would be killed and would return in three days. I'm here because of Him. Look at me and believe."

Again, we don't know, but I can only imagine. Lazarus would have had quite a story to tell of his time in the grave. I think it possible, one reason Jesus brought him back from the dead was to be an example to the others as to the power of God while Jesus was not with them. Those three days were probably very long ones, not knowing what would happen. But Lazarus would have been a living icon of what God can do.

Lectionary readings for 3/11/05

Rom 8:28-39 (ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These are the most comforting words to me. I can't add anything to them. Read them again and let it sink in.

Lectionary readings for 3/9/05

Rom. 8: 1- 11

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I know this is Lent, but I must shout out, Hallelujah, Glory to God.

John 6: 27- 40

John 6:40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day."

Another shout out. Hallelujah, Glory to God.

Senate rejects Schumer amendment

Senate GOP Gains Victory on Abortion Vote

The Schumer amendment to the Bankruptcy Law was an obvious attempt to silence Pro-life demonstrators. The Republicans finally stood their ground and defeated Chuckie.

Thanks be to God.

Just be quiet

Five mainline protestant leaders call Bush's 2006 budget 'unjust'

[Washington, D.C.] Leaders of five mainline Protestant denominations representing more than 20 million followers in the United States today called President Bush's 2006 federal budget "unjust."


I bet these same people are the first to invoke the "Separation of Church and State" any other time. Funny thing, they don't want the Ten Commandments posted in public, they don't want restrictions on abortion, but they want to tell the Feds how to spend other peoples money.

From me to them, "Just shut up". I'm sorry, to be more polite, "Just be quiet".

Lectionary readings for 3/8/05

John 6: 16- 27

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"
26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal."

Jesus feeds the 5000+. That evening, He walks on the sea during a storm. The crowd finds Him on the other side and wonders how He got there. We often judge the crowd in our 20/20 hindsight. I wonder what I would have done if I were there. Would I be amazed? Would I fall at His feet and worhsip Him? Would I join the crowd and ask for more in order to satisfy my belly? I don't know. I hope I would have heeded His words and worked for that which gives eternal life.

It doesn't really matter what I would have done if I was in the crowd, since I wasn't. It does matter what I do now, however. Lord, help me to follow you as you wish.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Nightly News

I didn't see this on the nightly news. I wonder why not. Finally, some common sense.

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, March 7, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee signed a new law into effect Thursday that requires parental consent for girls under 18 years of age before having an abortion.Huckabee told legislators at a signing conference Thursday that the measure is another step in the protection of life. The Senate approved the bill, sponsored by Little Rock Republican Jeremy Hutchinson, last month by a 27-3 vote.“I just can’t comprehend a society where a child can get an abortion without a parent's permission, yet can’t get an aspirin at the school office without that permission,” said Republican Sen. David Bisbee in Senate debate of the bill last month, as reported by arkansasnews.com.Bisbee argued that, as a serious medical procedure, abortion occasionally ends in tragedy. “What do we say to those parents if that child dies? That we're sorry, we thought you might get upset? Here's her body?”

British Understatement

The Church of England Newspaper editorial regarding the Anglican Primates meeting:

Anglicans will be deeply grateful to the Primates for their wisdom and theological faithfulness at Newry. At last they have realised that they can actually take action, they are freed from the mantra that no action could be taken against maverick elements. The Anglican family has conducted itself with exemplary courtesy towards a divergent group, but at the end of the day no family can allow one member to destroy it. The Primates have decided, and not before time, to be Primates of the global family and to remove privileges from the wayward member. In sporting terms, the yellow card has been shown to ECUSA and her Canadian sister, a time for reflection has been called. The family as a whole can breathe again and relax now that the vexatious sisters have been sent away to reconsider their future. We sincerely hope that the three years out of the Anglican Consultative Council does indeed help.
(Emphasis mine)

So much for the famous british understatement.

Lectionary readings for 3/4/05

John 8:33-47

41 You are indeed doing what your father does.' They said to him, 'We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.'
42 Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.
44 You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.'

I have often heard it said that everyone is a child of God. Jesus seems to be giving us a contrary view. Some are and some are not.

On the basic level of creation, we can say we are all children of God since He is our creator. However, Jesus is making a differentiation of the heart. Who does our heart belong to? Who owns our affections? The first commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord you God with your whole being. The second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Unfortunately, I don't have the wisdom or the insight to know who is and who is not a child of God on this level, as Jesus did. He knew the hearts of those He was speaking to and could make these statements. The Pharisee's certainly thought they were the children of God, but Jesus tells them otherwise. Since I can't know with 100% certainty, I guess my job is to treat everyone the same, as if they were a child of God. That way, if I error, I error on the side of good rather than the dark side. Have I come full circle?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Spirituality

A good read. Christianity Today has an interview with Eugene Peterson regarding Spirituality.

Lectionary readings for 3/3/05

John 8:21-32

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'

..."the truth will make you free." This is another one of Jesus' statements that is often quoted, or should I say misquoted. We never hear the beginning of His statement, "If you continue in my word". The Amplified Bible puts it this way, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.

So, it looks like there are some preconditions to knowing the truth. Abiding in, holding fast to, and living in accordance with the word of God.

Let me let you in on an inside secret. The truth is not a system of ideas that we give mental assent to. The Truth is a person. His name is Jesus. "I am the Way the Truth and the Life"... John 14:6

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us