On
Point
Someone asked, where do the quotes come
from? The answer is from the
people who uttered them. But, how
did you find them? Oh, that. Most are from Rev Bryan Dabney, a few
from other places, but overall mostly from Bryan. He always has a few great ones to share. So, on to the On Point quotes –
Vice in a nation puts disgrace upon it.
Rev.
Matthew Henry
17th and 18th century
English pastor and author.
We have been in many a trial, but we have never yet been cast where we
could not find in our God all that we needed. Let us then be encouraged to
trust in the Lord for ever, assured that his ever lasting strength will be, as
it has been, our succour and stay.
Rev.
Charles H. Spurgeon
19th century English pastor and
author
(Morning and Evening, p. 375).
The technetronic era involves the gradual appearance of a more
controlled society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained
by traditional values. Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous
surveillance over every citizen and maintain up-to-date complete files
containing even the most personal information about the citizen. These files
will be subject to instantaneous retrieval by the authorities.
Zbigniew
Brzezinski
20th and 21st century American globalist
Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not.
Thomas
Jefferson
American patriot and third president.
Liberty... is a political situation denoting the lawful capability of
the citizen to defend himself and his near and dear without interference from
the state.
Colonel
Jeff Cooper
20th and 21st century American patriot and firearms expert
Battle planes don’t trouble us, but the observation planes we hate like
the plague; they put the artillery on to us. A couple of minutes after they
appear, shrapnel and high-explosives begin to drop on us. We lose eleven men in
one day that way, and five of them stretcher-bearers...
Erich
Maria Remarque
20th century German author
(All Quiet on the Western Front, pp. 128-129)
Propers
The Propers for today are found
on Page 195-196, with the Collect first:
The
Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
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The
Collect.
RANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that
the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that
thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Dru Arnold read the Epistle, which came from
the Third Chapter of the First Epistle of Saint Peter beginning at the Eighth
Verse. Peter tells to be of one mind, have compassion and pity for each other,
to be courteous, to give good to all our brethren, to return good for evil, to
seek peace, to do good, not just talk good. Peter tells us to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. To put ourselves in others’ places,
understand when they fall short and make good things happen.
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E ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for
railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that
ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days,
let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the
eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their
prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he
that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye
suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their
terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Today’s Holy Gospel started in
the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Luke beginning at the First
Verse. This is one of the classic stories of Jesus in the Bible. Jesus had gone down to Lake Gennesaret to pray and then
speak to the people. As they
pressed in on him, he asked Simon Peter to use his boat as a speaking
platform. Speaking from a small
boat near the beach is almost like speaking in an amphitheatre. When he finished talking to the people,
he told Simon Peter to go out and set his nets. Simon pointed out they had fished all night with no result,
but at His word, he would set his net.
The net gathered an incredible catch that Simon Peter and his friends
could not board. At that point, it
was clear to Simon Peter he was in the presence of one far greater than
himself. He fell to his knees, saying,
“Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Then Jesus said, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch
men.” From then on Simon Peter
followed Jesus.
Do not misunderstand, every day
Jesus speaks to you telling you what to do. It is your choice, you can listen like Simon Peter, or you
can ignore Jesus. He has the pony
for the lottery. He wants to give
it to you, all you have to do is accept.
While He is a bit more subtle than a Drill Instructor, the question is
the same, “Can you hear me?”
There are none so deaf as those
who will not hear.
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T came to pass, that, as the people
pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of
them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which
was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.
And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left
speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets
for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all
the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the
net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes:
and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the
other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both
the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at
Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was
astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they
had taken: and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were
partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou
shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook
all, and followed him.
Sermon –
Reverend Deacon Jack Arnold - Time and Action
Today’s sermon discussed the Collect, Epistle and
Gospel. It is partially contained
in the forewords above.
Consider these words from the
Collect:
… the course of
this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may
joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness …
In the Collect, we ask that the events of this world
might follow God’s governance or will.
Why? Because in those
places where it does, we find happiness and joy. It is that simple, it means more, reflect on that. After all, Amazing, is it not? Since the Garden, it has always been
one of the two same choices:
1. We
follow God’s Will for us, we do what is good for us, individually and as a
people or a country. It is hard
work, but easier than we imagined; we prosper when all goes well. It was all our doing, we are happy
because we were so smart.
2. We
ignore God’s instructions, doing what we want to do, not what we are supposed
to do. It turns out to be way
harder than we thought possible, in the end everything turns to weasel
spit. It was not our fault, it was
God’s fault, He is punishing us.
As long as we are human, imperfect creatures with
free will, it will never change for humanity. But, we can. We
can learn from the past and live for the future in Him who gave His Life that
we might be free eternally. This is a very similar theme to last Sunday’s
sermon, with very good reason. Doing what God Asks = Happiness, Not doing what
God Asks = unhappiness, to put it into mathematical terms!
So, how do we make our little
part of this world follow God’s will? Peter tells to be of one mind, have
compassion and pity for each other, to be courteous, to give good to all our
brethren, to return good for evil, to seek peace, to do good, not just talk
good. Peter tells us to not only
talk the talk, but walk the walk.
To put ourselves in others’ places, understand when they fall short and
make good things happen. The key word is “walk”, to act upon the teachings of
Christ, and not just utter them and not do them. All of us, including myself
struggle with this, but as long as we are DOING our best, and not just saying
it, then that is all He asks of us.
So, just how do we make good
things happen? Fairly simple, do
what God asks! This is an extremely common theme again! Doing what God asks is
the answer to all of our problems if you think about it! Don’t figure out ways
to seem to do what He asks, while doing what you want. Consider when Jesus told Simon Peter to
go out and set his nets. Simon was
tired, he was hungry, he had fished all night with no result. After making excuses, he decided to do
what he was told! The net gathered
an incredible catch that Simon Peter and his friends could not board.
That is what happened to Simon
Peter; that is what will happen to you, if you will but listen. Listening and
then acting are the key principles of this Gospel, we must listen to what He
says, and then ACT upon it.
Do not misunderstand, every day
Jesus speaks to you telling you what to do. It is your choice, you can listen like Simon Peter or you
can ignore Jesus. He has the pony
for the lottery. He wants to give
it to you, all you have to do is accept.
While He is a bit more subtle than a Drill Instructor, the question is
the same, “Can you hear me?”
There are none so deaf as those
who will not hear.
Heaven is at the end of an
uphill trail. The easy downhill
trail does not lead to the summit.
The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?
It is by our actions we are known.
Be of God - Live of God - Act of God
Bishop Ogles’
Sermon
We are oft fortunate to get
copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes.
Today is one of those Sundays.
Today’s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will
give you a lot to consider in your heart.
Sermon Notes
Fifth Sunday
after Trinity
Saint Andrew’s
Anglican Orthodox Church
30 June 2013,
Anno Domini
The
Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
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The
Collect.
RANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that
the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that
thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
And,
behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do,
that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou
wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which?
Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from
my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If
thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the
young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great
possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples,
Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of
heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and
said unto them, With men this is impossible; but
with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him,
Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you,
That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit
in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren,
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's
sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But
many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. St.
Matthew 19:16
Saint Matthew tells us of a young man who came to Jesus seeking to know what he
might DO to inherit eternal life. In the account Mark gives us of this same
ruler, we are told that he “came running” to Christ. Though there is much to be
said about how we approach Christ, there is far more meaning in how we are
changed by the encounter.
We are told in John 3 that Nicodemus came under cover of darkness, and left
with the light of heaven burning warmly in his heart. Jairus, the ruler of the
synagogue, came bearing the grief of a dying young daughter, and found his
daughter restored to life. Many came to Christ for healing, and received that
healing of the body, but left with the same dark hearts with which they came.
Some men come to Christ in the midst of the hell of battle, standing in the
mire of a foxhole, and pleading among mournful mutter of the battlefield for
salvation. Others may have come to Christ is the midst of affluence attended by
an empty misery that revealed a vacant hole in their soul that only Christ can
fill. Moreover, this rich ruler was young, according to the text. Jesus has
just completed laying his hands of love on the little children to bless them,
and then comes this young man who is, beyond doubt, quite morally good and
respectable. However, though a young man has had less exposure to temptation
than an old one, no one is without guilt – no one has perfectly kept the Law of
God.
Some come to Christ out of poverty, and others out of opulence; but it is not
the manner in which we come that is decisive, but the manner in which we leave.
This young man probably desires the best of heaven now that he has acquired the
best of the world. It has always seemed logical to his material mind that
anything that is valuable must be acquired through some great labor or price.
Of course, he is right – but who would be qualified to pay the price for the
free grace made available in Christ. Did Jesus not pay with his last measure of
blood for us?
The divine mind of Jesus sees beyond the outward appearance into the heart. He
will test this young man’s faith and desire. Let us examine the text as
written:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life? This young man came to
the right Person and for the right reason. Once we have come face to face with
Christ, how should we present our petitions? Should we call Jesus a good
teacher (Good Master), or should we recognize Him as our Lord? This improper
address to Jesus was the first error of the young ruler. What was the second?
“. . . . what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
I can understand the young man’s naiveté in believing that he might DO
something to earn his own salvation. This had always been the approach to gain
wealth in his family. When I was a child, I, too, wondered what I must give for
Christ to save me. Our society is a performance driven society. There will
always be a fair price for a loaf of bread produced by the Baker Hanson. But
the cost of the Bread of Heaven cannot be reckoned in earthly measure. It cost
the Father His only Begotten Son, and the Son His own life’s Blood. How could
we ever begin to place a value on THAT? The question itself presumes that good
works can gain Heaven. This also is true, but the good work must be done by the
Son of God and not by you or me. There is nothing that you or I can do to earn
salvation for that price has already been paid. The young man did not recognize
Jesus as the Son of God which is apparent by the manner of addressing Him;
however, Jesus will reveal that error promptly. Now see the Lord’s response:
Why callest thou me good? there is none good
but one, that is, God? This verse has been misinterpreted time
and again by men who have missed the point just as the young ruler had done. Is
Jesus saying that He is not good? Heaven forbid, NO! If there is only One who
is good, and that is God, then certainly Jesus is good because Jesus IS GOD! So
Jesus is fathoming the depths of the young man’s understanding just as He has
fathomed the depths of your understanding prior to your own salvation.
Jesus then tests the young man’s understanding, not of Himself, but of the
means of salvation: “……but if thou wilt enter
into life, keep the commandments.” Jesus is presenting salvation
in its most simplistic form. Simply keep ALL of the Commandments perfectly, and
you need not worry of doing more. Of course, Jesus knows that no man can be
worthy of perfect obedience to the Commandments of God. We too often try to
bargain with God for His blessing: “Lord, if you will only grant this one
request, I promise to faithfully attend church” or some other act of works.
Jesus asks this young man this question not only for his own good, but that of
those listening by. The young man believes that he has been good and
moral. And by the standards of the world, he probably has been so; but the
standards of heaven are not the same as those of the world. The righteousness
required to gain the gates of Heaven must be PERFECT righteousness! No man can
be so.
The man’s response exposes his sheer ignorance of the obedience required by
God. He saith unto him, Which? Can we pick and choose
which Commandments of God are worthy of obedience? The response of Jesus is
intended to include ALL of the Commandments, but Jesus only makes direct
reference to those that involve our duties and obligations to others. Jesus,
for a purpose, has withheld stating the Commandments that express our duties
and obligations to God.
Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. You may recall that once, when challenged by a scribe
regarding the most important commandment, Jesus responded: The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The
Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely
this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment
greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31) Jesus, at that time gave
both parts of our obligation under the law 0 first to God, and then to our
fellow man. He summarized the law according to Deuteronomy 6:4,5 and Leviticus
19:18. So why did Christ, here, only quote half the lawful duty of man? As I
mentioned earlier, Jesus is leading the young man to recognize his lostness
for, if we fail to recognize that we are lost and condemned by our own lack or
righteousness, we can never come to terms with our need for repentance. Let us
see how the matter will come to light.
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my
youth up: what lack I yet? Though it is unlikely that this man has
perfectly kept these quoted commandments, it is true that, even if he had,
there is a greater one that he has omitted in obedience. Jesus felt compassion
on the tortured mind of the man. He gave him one more opportunity to open his
mind and heart to Christ: If thou wilt
be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Remember: only
perfection is acceptable in God’s Heaven. Jesus, knowing the heart of the man,
suggested the very Commandment which the man had so egregiously broken from his
youth – the very FIRST COMMANDMENT! I am the LORD thy
God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou
shalt have none other gods before me. (Deut 5:6-7) Jesus is
attempting to show the man that he has not even kept the FIRST Commandment,
much less the others. He has allowed something to come between him and his God
– that something (idol) is RICHES.
Did the man understand now, or, like many sinners, did he choose not to
understand? But when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful: for he had great possessions. The young man could not
argue with the truth that Jesus exposed, but he was inclined to his idol over
the salvation that Jesus offered. The Christian is like the earth bathed in the
radiance of the Sun (God). It has life and light everywhere the warm rays of
the Sun appear. But, if any object (Lunar eclipse) is allowed to come between
the earth and the Sun, the earth will be in darkness. That is the same darkness
of any man who allows wealth, sex, or mind altering drugs to come between him
and our Lord. He will remain in darkness if he holds to the idol and rejects
his Maker. In the end, the young man was no different from Judas Iscariot who
went out on the night of his betrayal into eternal darkness. He then
having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. (John
13:30) So do all who forsake Christ: O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that
forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in
the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
(Jer 17:13) Perhaps the same names that Christ may have written upon the earth
before the accusers of the Woman taken in Adultery.
Are you amazed that the young man was not accounted righteous before God? If
so, you are in good company for the disciples, too, were amazed: When his
disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be
saved? We judge books by the cover and people by the outward
appearance, but God looks INSIDE the book, and INSIDE the heart to judge.
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With
men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. I
have known some really rough and untamed men in the profession of arms over my
long career with the military. They were men who used vulgar and unseemly
language and who were accustomed to the vicissitudes and dangers of many
battles, but, contrary to my own judgment of these men, some were changed in a
heartbeat from a ruffian to a humble saint of God. That which may appear
impossible with man is certainly possible with God for He is a God of impossible
results!
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and
followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
As was usual,
Peter spoke more out of emotion and ignorance than true understanding. When had
Peter forsaken all? Did Peter not yet cherish his life? Did he not deny Christ
three times the night of His betrayal? Peter, too, is thinking that he was
deserving some special consideration for that which he felt he had done above
and beyond the call of duty. In short, he believed in the false works of
supererogation. It is not enough to follow Christ a certain distance and no
more. The rich young ruler had done as much. But Christ expects His disciples
to follow Him ALL the way. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in
the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye
also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And
every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an
hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall
be last; and the last shall be first.
In the wise counsel of God,
there are many who appear first in the eyes of man but are last in the eyes of
God. The overriding point is this: We shall lose NOTHING in following God. We
shall receive a hundred fold of that which we surrender for Him. But do not
jockey for first place in the Kingdom of Heaven, else you will have the mirage
disappear at the last moment.
Bishop
Dennis Campbell’s Sermon
Bishop Dennis is a brilliant
speaker. He is able to take
biblical precepts and make them perfectly understandable, even to me. Oft he provides the text of his sermons
and I take the utmost pleasure in passing them on:
Christians
Trust
Psalm 62, 63, Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 18-23, Matthew 19:16
Fifth Sunday after Trinity
June 30, 2013
Our
Scripture Lessons for this morning appear at first glance to cover a variety of
subjects, and, indeed they do, but a common thread runs through them. It
is a thread that actually runs through all Holy Scripture, Old Testament and
New, and that thread is, trust in God. And so, the topic for this morning’s
sermon is, “Christians Trust.”
Solomon’s
words in Ecclesiastes 2 are about the untrustworthiness of the pleasures and
trinkets of the world. They are untrustworthy because they promise to
give happiness, but cannot give it. Real happiness is a condition of the
soul, therefore, physical things and worldly pleasures cannot give it.
That is Solomon’s point in his book, which we call Ecclesiastes. Solomon,
the third king of ancient Israel, started his reign well, but gradually his
heart was enticed away from God by the power and wealth at his command.
Solomon had the money to buy whatever he wanted and the power to command people
to do his bidding. Money and power are good things, if used well. A
person can do much good with money and power. A person can also do much
harm. The harm comes when a person begins to value money and power and
the things they can procure, more than he values people, morality, and
God. That was Solomon’s mistake. Solomon began to think of himself
as the owner of Israel and its people, rather than the servant of them.
He used the land for his own profit, and forced the people to work as his
servants to build his wealth and power. This is the constant tendency and
temptation of power. Solomon fell under that temptation, as many public
servants, both civil and ecclesiastical have also fallen, and continue to fall
even today.
We do
not have to be as rich as Solomon to be as selfish as Solomon. In fact, I
see people at every level of the economic scale living as self-indulgently and
selfishly as their means and opportunities allow. Look at the way people
have transformed the word “freedom” to mean “licentiousness.” Claiming to
stand for freedom, people have become wildly selfish, devoting themselves to
the gratification of even their basest desires and lusts.
Nor is
this limited to those we would consider evil people. The young man in our
reading in Matthew was a very moral man. When Jesus told him what he
would have to do to merit or earn eternal life, Heaven, he said, “All these
things have I kept from my youth up” (Mt. 19:20). I believe the man had a
few blind spots in his view of his own goodness. He was able to
conveniently overlook some things in his past conduct that did not measure up
to the letter of God’s law, let alone the spirit of God’s law. But it is
true that he conducted himself well and had a great measure of moral
success. By all human standards he was an exceptionally good man.
But not by God’s standards. And Jesus points this out in a way that
grieved the young man’s heart. Give your goods away, He demanded.
“[G]o and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor… and come and follow
me” (Mt 19:21). The man would not do it. He loved his wealth and
possessions more than he loved God. Let me say this in more pointed
language, because this is terribly important; he did not trust God to be better
and more valuable than wealth and possessions. Let me say that again; he
did not trust God to be better and more valuable than his possessions. Therefore
he kept his possessions and give up God.
I want
to look at Psalm 62 for a few minutes, because it elucidates this point in
three short and solid points. Its first point is; God’s people trust
God. This is the main point of the Psalm and it occupies seven of the
Psalm’s twelve verses. It is stated most clearly in verse 7, which is the
culmination of the Psalm; “God is my health and my glory; the rock of my might;
and in God is my trust.” Let this be our motto as we travel this world;
whether we live in riches or poverty, in worldly peace, or in persecution, “God
is my health and my glory; the rock of my might; and in God is my trust.”
The
second point is, Trust God. It is made primarily in verses 8-12, and is
made in such statements as; “O put your trust in Him always, ye people; pour
out your hearts before Him, for God is our hope.” I think this point is
made for both believers and unbelievers. It is possible for believers to
become discouraged and even angry at God. I even think it is possible for
believers, true believers, to doubt, and to experience times when we don’t
really trust God. I actually think most believers have very little faith
in God. Most of our faith is in our feelings and opinions. We trust
God as long as we feel like He is close to us and helping us. In reality
God is there for us at all times, maybe even especially in those times when we
don’t “feel” like He is. Maybe He wants us to trust Him, not our
feelings. But know this; God will never leave or forsake you. The Author and
finisher of your faith will complete the work He has begun in you. So to
you who trust God, trust God.
To the
unbeliever, this point is an exhortation to give up unbelief. God has
good things for you. In Him there is pardon for your sins, mercy for your
weaknesses, and help and strength for your soul. I turn back to Matthew 19, and
Christ’s promises to the disciples, who have forsaken all to follow Him (Mt.
19:27). They have put their whole trust in Jesus, for this life and
eternity. And what does Jesus say to them? You will sit on thrones
in Heaven, and you will have eternal life, life in the presence of God,
enjoying His love and richest blessings forever (Mt. 1928-30). Why give
up these riches for a few trinkets and pleasures that will fade very
soon? Trust in Christ and be saved.
The
third point, in verses 3 and 4, is a warning to the wicked. It calls them
a tottering wall and a broken hedge. “Ye shall be slain all the sort of
you,” it says. The Bible makes it very plain that the ungodly will not
have any part with Him in Heaven. Instead of eternal life, they will
inherit eternal death, a living death, forever. Why suffer that
fate? Believe in Christ and be saved. Trust God.
Now it
just so happens that the Collect for today is about trusting God.
“Order,” guide the world and its people so that we may live and serve God in
peace. That is the first part of the prayer. The second part is
more important, for it asks God to help us find our peace in Him; to “joyfully serve”
Him. In other words, it asks God to help us trust Him.
The
Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
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The
Collect.
RANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that
the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that
thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
+Dennis
Campbell
Bishop,
Anglican Orthodox Church Diocese of Virginia
Rector,
Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church
Powhatan,
Virginia
Rev Roger Jessup
Saint Joseph of Arimathea
Anglican Orthodox Church in Chester, Virginia
What follows was prompted by
a very heartwarming message I received from a good friend. The message and pictures showed dogs protecting and
partnering with American soldiers in combat.
********************
Truly a great bond and the
unconditional love and devotion of a dog is in a class all by its self. I
sometimes sit with my dog (a Golden Retriever) Brinkley; and wonder how God
could pack so much love in a fur coat.
On another subject: In my
heart I knew that the Defense of Marriage Act was just another maneuver by the
'Elites' to buy time to allow the corruption of our society. There is probably
only one real Christian and Constitutionalist on the Supreme Court - Clarence
Thomas. From reading his many dissents from the majority a great moral
character shines through. The others, even those with claims of morality,
manage to slip and slide so that there is always a majority willing to put junk
science and pop culture above the Constitution and Christian Values.
A comforting thing to note
is, that although the judgment of God is certain on both the nation that allows
and the wicked that empower abominations, the truth still stands at the
heavenly altar and is distilled in the teachings of God through the prophets
and His person Jesus the Christ.
If you are in despair please
read the Minor Prophets especially Ezra and Nehemiah. After this nation has
suffered divine judgments, if the faithful remnant remains both faithful and
prayerful there will be a new nation either in this world or in that New World
where all who mourn shall be comforted. Jesus himself will wipe all tears from
our eyes.
This is a preview of my
heart's burden for America and our now dead Republic. Pray that God will grant
strength for the struggle and give us all courage to stand for the truth revealed
in the Holy Scripture. When the present heaven and this earth shall pass
away--still that Word will stand.
Rev Roger
Rev Bryan Dabney
of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon
We are fortunate to
have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you
want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, expouse the
truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I
commend it to your careful reading.
Fifth Sunday after Trinity
In the General Epistle of Saint James, Third Chapter, verses 8-10, we
read, but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men,
which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be
There is a line out of a recent western movie that seems appropriate to
mention. In a particular scene, one of the characters has just finished a
cursed-filled diatribe to which the other character responded, “You kiss your momma
with that mouth?” How often do we hear those around us “venting their spleens”
with vile and bitter language? Some do such without much thought; while for
others it is a conscious act of verbal violence meant to demean and degrade. In
Psalm 32:9, we are instructed to be, ...not as the horse, or as the mule, which
have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle... which
means that we ought to exercise self-control in all that we do. The fact that
one can be urged to revile others with language that is not the least bit
conducive to edifying reveals that person’s level of self-restraint, or as the
limbo dancers are asked, “How low can you go?”
Probably the most used epithets are those which contain the name of
God. The Third Commandment reads, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy
God in vain... (Exodus 20:7). This sin is now so much a part of our vocabulary
that many will utter his holy name without even thinking about. God gave us
that commandment to remind all humanity that he is the Almighty God, the LORD
of hosts, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is
(Acts 4:24). We have been made in his image and after his likeness, but we are
finite and he is infinite. God is pure. God is holy. God is perfect. We are not
to call upon him if we are not ready to truly address ourselves to him. Ergo,
to flippantly throw his name out to others as an exclamation is demeaning to
his glory, and to use his holy name in an epithet, is blasphemy. Still, have
you ever noticed how people are so quick to treat our heavenly Father with
disrespect? Why can’t they use the name of some pagan deity? I remember in an
old tv series from the 1950's, one of the principal characters used the
exclamatory phrase of “by Jupiter” or the like to express his level of either
approval or disapproval of a particular action. But in today’s world— across
every field of endeavor— you will hear not only vile and vulgar language being
used in ordinary conversation, but you will also hear the LORD’s name being
used in such profane speaking.
How does God’s name vainly uttered aid the user? In point of fact, it
doesn’t. The wicked are notoriously shortsighted and forgetful, but God is not.
On that terrible day of judgment before the Great White Throne, they will be
judged for every idle word that came forth from their mouths. What agony there
will be on that day. There will be no escape, no appeal, and no advocate to
stand beside them in their defense. God will hold them accountable for every
vile jest, every filthy word, and every blasphemous remark. I have heard it
said that the unregenerate excuse the use of their verbal barbs and wicked
language with the offhand comment of, “Oh they’re just words.” Really? Such
persons are being disingenuous at best and lying at worst. I would vote for
them being liars because only the grossly unintelligent would not know that
taking the LORD’s name in vain, especially when it has been hurled at another
in a barrage of insults, is forbidden. These offenders know what they intend in
their use of such language, and throwing God’s name into the mix adds weight
and garners attention. It adds to the shock factor and is suppose to diminish
the subject of the insult. How tragic that the name of God has become a tool to
reduce another human being both mentally and emotionally. That is, after all,
what cursing another was meant to do otherwise the speaker would not do it.
The apostle Paul reminded us that we should, ...put off all... anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth (Colossians
3:8). Yes, the unregenerate of the world will, under the influence of evil,
seek to have us lose control over ourselves releasing, as it were, those things
in our minds that were once part of our old nature under the regime of the
world, the flesh and the devil. But we must not permit it. The apostle urged us
to be in control— to have self- control— so that we do not open the door to
sin. When we vilify others in ways meant to harm them, then we are acting beyond
the pale of biblical authority. God did not tell us to use bad language in our
Christian witness. To rebuke, to chastize, or to admonish does not give us the
right to use the devil’s tools in God’s service.
Now, you might say, Reverend, what can I do as a newly born-again
Christian to overcome my past use of such words? Well, the answer is: You have
to keep watch over your own self much as a soldier keeps his watch over his
encampment. You have to be watchful. You have to be vigilant. You cannot expect
Satan’s minions to take a break, to go on vacation or the like in their
campaign against you . You have to stand your watch over all your faculties for
that is your godly duty. You cannot be an effective Christian without
exercising self-restraint. If you once were person given to harsh language,
strive to rid yourself of it by learning new ways to express your feelings
without resorting to vulgar comments. You should also seek God’s pardon for
these and other errors. Our great and loving God has promised to forgive and to
forget any sin which you bring before his throne of grace through the blood of
his only begotten Son. But it is not enough to ask for forgiveness, one must
then live in obedience to his will and commandment ever after. For only through
a life devoted to God, will you truly reflect that state of liberty from the
bondage of sin, more particularly, the sin of the loose and cursing tongue. Our
heavenly Father loves us and he wants us to live eternally with him in his
kingdom. The reviler, the blasphemer, the mean- spirited curser, or the like,
cannot enter therein. So let your words be seasoned with salt and keep your
tongue under control for that is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Let us pray,
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Ood and gracious God, who has not cursed us, but
has blessed us with the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ; grant that
by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost we thy servants will reject the language
and customs of this world in order that we might embrace thy wholesome language
which is from above. For this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
Have a blessed week, Bryan+
Praise
God for our Church Effort in India under Bishop John Nakka
Greetings to you in the most
precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
We are indeed happy to
announce and inform that we have declared the erection of a new Diocese-Missionary Diocese of West Bengal
for the India Christian Mission
Church and a new Bishop is going to be
Consecrated on 11 July 2013 in Calcutta. He is Rev. Dr. Sukumar Sarkar who worked for 13 years in
different capacities in the Church in West Bengal. He is a good Priest in good
standing.
Kindly pray for the
Consecration Service on 11 July 2013.
In Christ,
+John
The Clergy,
The Officers and the Faith
India
Christian Mission Church-at-large, ELURU, India
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