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."
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Saturday, May 21, 2005
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
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
Thursday, May 19, 2005
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.
(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.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
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?
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?
Monday, May 16, 2005
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.
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.
Monday, May 02, 2005
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.
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.
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