Verse of the Day

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Saint Peter the Apostle superseding the Second Sunday after Trinity

 thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. … If He used Peter, why not you?

Today was a Red Letter Day, that of the remembrance of Saint Peter, that is 29 June, which falls on the Second Sunday after Trinity.  Thus, we use those propers, plus the Collect for the Second Sunday after Trinity, next week – On with the Endless Green Season.

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.  Some from Bishop Jerry, many from Rev Bryan Dabney, a few from other places, some from Rev Geordie Menzies-Grierson, but overall mostly from Bryan.  He always has some great ones to share.  On to the On Point quotes –

Christ and ritualism are opposed to each other, as light is to darkness. The cross and crucifix cannot agree. Either ritualism will banish Christ or Christ will banish ritualism.
Horatius Bonar

The passion for ruling is the mother of heresy.
John Chrysostom
On self-suffiency
They [Adam and Eve] wanted, as we say, to “call their souls their own.” But that means to live a lie, for our souls are not, in fact, our own. They wanted some corner in the universe of which they could say to God, “This is our business, not yours.” But there is no such corner. They wanted to be nouns, but they were, and eternally must be, mere adjectives.
Jack Lewis
The Problem of Pain

Screwtape offers more techniques for confusing the Patient:
I have been writing hitherto on the assumption that the people in the next pew afford no rational ground for disappointment. Of course if they do—if the patient knows that the woman with the absurd hat is a fanatical bridge-player or the man with squeaky boots a miser and an extortioner—then your task is so much the easier. All you then have to do is to keep out of his mind the question ‘If I, being what I am, can consider that I am in some sense a Christian, why should the different vices of those people in the next pew prove that their religion is mere hypocrisy and convention?’ You may ask whether it is possible to keep such an obvious thought from occurring even to a human mind. It is, Wormwood, it is! Handle him properly and it simply won’t come into his head. He has not been anything like long enough with the Enemy to have any real humility yet. What he says, even on his knees, about his own sinfulness is all parrot talk. At bottom, he still believes he has run up a very favourable credit-balance in the Enemy’s ledger by allowing himself to be converted, and thinks that he is showing great humility and condescension in going to church with these ‘smug’, commonplace neighbours at all. Keep him in that state of mind as long as you can.
Jack Lewis
The Screwtape Letters

The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
Proverbs 13:9

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
St. Luke 6:46

... I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
St. John 8:12

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:7-8

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
II St. Timothy 3:1

If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
Ronald Wilson Reagan
20th century American president

Sometimes violence, even murder, isn’t the worst thing you can do to a fellow human being. Stealing his soul, taking over the management of his conscience and his mind— those are worse... Once the State consolidates its power to order what you think, it will know no restraint. If someone else can decide what you believe, you aren’t human anymore; you aren’t even you. You are at best a child, with no power, no dignity, no autonomy. It isn’t even being done with legislation anymore. Who needs law, when anything a bureaucrat says, or a pressure group, has all the force of law?... Let Congress debate endlessly, to no purpose, while executive orders, bureaucratic fiats, and threats by special interest groups fundamentally transform America... The State’s satanic lust for power will never be slaked until the human race isn’t human anymore— just a herd of two- legged cattle to be driven wherever the rulers and the experts please.
Lee Duigon
20th and 21st century American novelist
When The State Owns Your Soul, 6-19-14

See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay. If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.
Frederic Bastiat
19th century French economist and author

Regardless of the particular problem facing Americans today, too often the first question asked is, “When is the government going to save us?” At the most fundamental level, this question is a socialist response to private concerns. Free men in a free society do not look to government for solutions to private matters. Why? Because government is not God; it cannot “give” to one unless it first takes away from another. The “taking” mechanism of big government is that characteristic which tramples upon the liberty of its citizens. We do not live in a free society when the government can take our property in the form of taxes and give it to others.
Al Benson, Jr. and Walter Donald Kennedy
20th and 21st century American political commentators and authors
Lincoln’s Marxists, p. 48

The great lesson from [the Republican Primary Runoff in] Mississippi is that Republican means, more or less, that if elected the party will reward its major donors, who are just different than the Democrats’ major donors. Policy differences are about different donors, not an actual agenda to shift the country in a different direction... [the] staffers and lobbyists [who] are so invested in keeping their gravy train going... will, while claiming to be Republicans, flood a Republican primary with [Democrat] voters to ensure their gravy train continues... But this becomes a longer term problem for the [GOP]. Its core activists hate its leadership... But its [leaders] are dependent more and more on large check writers to keep their power... [and these] are further and further removed from the interests of both the base of the party and Main Street... It is a system that cannot perpetuate itself... A [tea party conservative] win would have disrupted the flow of money and redirected a crony capitalist agenda through which many make millions. The establishment had far more to lose than conservatives had to gain and it showed... Unfortunately... as grassroots activists feel further and further removed and alienated from the party, it will become harder and harder [for the GOP] to win... I’m just not sure what the Republican Party really stands for any more other than telling Obama no and telling our own corporate interests yes. That’s not much of a platform.
Erick Erickson
21st century editor of Redstate.com
The Marionettes Remain Uncut, 6-25-14

Propers
Saint Peter the Apostle. [June 29.]
The Collect.

O
 ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for today the Second Sunday after Trinity is found on Page 191:

Second Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

O
 LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Epistle for this morning comes from the Twelfth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, beginning at the First Verse:

A
BOUT that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own ac- cord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

The Holy Gospel for this morning comes from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the Sixteenth Chapter, beginning at the Thirteenth Verse:

W
HEN Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

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.

Second Sunday after Trinity
29 June 2014 Anno Domini
St Andrews Anglican Orthodox Church

Second Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

O
 LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

   15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:15-24)

This parable of today’s text was given at the home of one of the chief Pharisees who had invited Christ to supper. It is doubtless that the invitation was made out of a cordial courtesy, but out of a contemptuous curiosity to learn more of how they might entrap the Son of God.

The comment that precedes the parable is noteworthy of the casual piety with which many regard the means of salvation. Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.  The one posing the comment doubtlessly considered himself to be one of those blessed ones who would eat of that Bread in Heaven.  Many of us simply assume that we shall be among the number and smugly look around at those whose destiny we may consider in doubt. The comment of Balaam seems to best describe this lot: Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!  (Num 23:10)

     The statement, of course, is a profound truth, but the way in which it is viewed from the personal perspective may be profoundly in error. Instead of concerning ourselves about our PRESENT righteousness, we are too focused on the end of the play – how we shall DIE! We must not occupy our time with undue emphasis on End of Time matters, but rather with those issues of life itself as it exist in the here and now. In order to walk from Jerusalem to Damascus, we must take EVERY step in between. Every step is as important as the last for, if one be missing, we shall not reach Damascus.

     16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: God is the ‘certain man’. The Great Supper is Heaven itself. Those ‘many’ invited are the fullness of the Will of God for those to fill His Heaven at last. We do not know the number, but God certainly has a fixed knowledge of it. God has invited a great many to that Supper. Though an invitation may be received, it will benefit the recipient nothing at all if he fails to respond to the invitation. (“many are called but few are chosen” (Matt 20:16)

Certainly, if you hear these words and have read the Gospel, the invitation has been extended to you. But what will you do in response to the invitation? Are you presently too busy to come? Have you properties to look after that forbids your coming? Are the trifling concerns of the world preventing you? Compared to the salvation of your soul, every other consideration is trifling.

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. Jesus is speaking to the Jewish guests who have early been invited to the Great Supper. They have not yet, at this point in His ministry, rejected Him officially. Those hereditary descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – not because of bloodline and DNA, but because of geographic affinity – have been invited first to the Great Supper. “All things are made ready” in the great I AM – the Gift has been presented in the coming of Christ, the life of love and labor has been completed, the sacrifice of the Great Passover has been killed, and the first fruits of God in the Resurrection fulfilled. All is ready at great expense of the “Certain Man” who has extended the invitation. He is speaking, first, to those who have already received the invitation.

     18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. Not a few, but ALL began to make excuse with one consent. It brings the fearful image to mind of all the Jews gathered  on the paddock outside the balcony of Pontiius Pilate screaming Crucify Him! Crucify Him! “His blood be upon us and our children.” (Matt 27:25) …and so it has been, and is today. Of what worth is a piece of ground which belongs to a dying world whose coming fiery death is a stark reality of prophecy? The surgeon has scheduled you for an appointment for surgery to remove a cancer that will certainly kill you soon if not removed. Afterwards, he is leaving for Africa for many months. What happens if you miss the appointment? Will an acre of ground loom more importantly to you than the life-saving surgery?

     19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Certainly, oxen may be more important to the depraved of faith than coming to the Great Supper in Heaven. How can one night of nuptial bliss surpass the eternal joys of heaven. Did not God give the oxen, the land, the wife? Yet, we have no time for HIM! What is it truly that prevents inquiring men and women from coming all the way to Christ? It is the deceitfulness of riches: He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  (Matt 13:22) Remember the ship is like the Church. It is made for the sea just as the church is made to be in the world. But when the sea begins to get into the ship, and the world into the church, the resulting shipwreck will be tragic. Those who simply do not desire to serve will always have SOME excuse to delay. The longer the delay, the greater the thorns that choke away the remaining life until…it is too late!

     Bear in mind we do not discuss any ordinary invitation – it is issued by the King of all Kings. Is it wise to refuse? 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. The purpose of God in bringing the full number of His Elect into the Kingdom will not be abrogated by the small wills and weaknesses of men. He will fill His Supper with those who respond in earnest to His invitation. – even if He must enlarge the list of those invited. So here, in accordance with His foreknowledge and providence from the beginning, He sends for those who will genuinely respond, outside those first invited: the poor, the crippled, the suffering, and the blind. We all may easily fit into this last category. Before we knew Christ, we were absolutely blind. Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? (John 7:48)

22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. The angels have expanded the list, yet still there remains room for others. Thank God that there does remain room for others, for those others are those who read, and the one who writes, these sermon notes. The maimed, the poor, the halt, and the blind have responded to the invitation ahead of those prominent ones who were privileged to come and have rejected the invitation. There is STILL room – even today!

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. God sends His ministers into the four quarters of the earth seeking those who will respond to His gracious invitation. God will have His House filled with those who desire Heaven more than the riches of this world….not half-full, but wholly full with His predetermined number. The net is cast in the darkest depths of the sea where hope was forlorn and depravity beyond measure. The Gospel will go out to the heathen and the Gentiles. In fact, all of the Household of Israel – those who are Children of the Promise in Abraham. These does not require a blood heritage except the blood of Christ. It is doubtless that the Pharisees gathered around Christ understood fully His parable and were enraged by it. How could those vulgar Gentiles be placed ahead of them in gaining the privilege of Heaven? How, indeed? By faith!

24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. Heaven will not be a home-delivery proposition. IN order to taste of its delicacies, we must come to it by way of the Householders Son. He has bought and paid for your invitation with His own Blood. He is the “ Way, the Truth, and the Life” and none comes to the Father but by Him. How shall you trample His Blood underfoot by refusing the gracious invitation to come?

Jesus has sealed your invitation with these words: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matt 11:28-30)

How have you responded?

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action
Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California
The weekly service for the Church of the Faithful Centurion was actually held on Saturday evening due to the presence of the Thomas Family (plus Scott) from Okinawa and the propers used were those for the Second Sunday after Trinity.

Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.

Consider these words from the Collect:

who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name

We must acknowledge God will help and lead us if we will look to him for that help and leadership.  We need His Help, in the form of the Holy Ghost, to direct our hearts, minds and souls to look to Him for that Help in our time of need.

Speaking of time of need; when do we need God?  Only when we are falling short of perfection.  That would be all the time, 24/7/365, all 52 weeks of the year. We always need God's help, sometimes we recognize the fact, and sometimes we do not. We pray to God that we will always recognize the fact and act upon it.

The Epistle is a great illustration of why we need guidance from the Holy Ghost all the time.  If we want God’s love, we have to love those around us.  That is pretty easy.  It is easy to love people.  The problem is that we actually have to act on that claim of love, not just say we love them.  That is slightly harder, but still very doable, with God's help. We have to give of our time and effort to help those around us who have problems. We have to give our 110% in our time and effort to help those around us. John tell us “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

So how far do we have to go to fulfill our obligation to love our fellow beings?  We have a leader, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is not only the Propitiation for our sins[1], but who set the standard for our performance.  As John reminds us, “He laid down his life for us.”  So, too much work or I don’t have time are probably not valid excuses. We should not go straightaway to offer excuses, but put our minds and souls and bodies to work into actually loving our fellow beings.

Speaking of time, many times people put off church for other “more important” things, do you?  Like the certain man who made a great supper, the Lord sets aside a time every week for us to worship with Him.  Actually His time is pretty flexible.  The Lord’s worship can be done at times other than 1000 on Sunday morning if you really do have to work, you have weekend duty, you are on alert or something you really cannot get out of.  But, where are your priorities?  Is a football game, a fishing trip or just plain sleeping in the “reason” for your failing to show for the great supper?  When you fail to plan ahead, you plan to fail.  Always plan ahead, planning ahead is a plan to success.

The Gospel is about more than just going to church, it is about priorities.  We need to put the things that are really important in the list of things to do above the things that are not really important.  We need to think about what is important to us and to God.  Sometimes they are different.  Then, we need the Holy Ghost to get our priorities in order.

People do what is important to them.  When they feel guilty they come up with excuses, but in reality, they please themselves. We should seek to please God and not ourselves.

So, what we need to do is ask the Holy Ghost for help to make God’s agenda ours; thus when we please God, we please ourselves.  A win – win situation.

If we do not make time for God, how do we expect Him to make time for us?  If we will not diligently study the lessons He has left for us, how can we expect to know what He wants us to do?

Do you recall the words of GK Chesterton:

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”


We need to come to church and read the Bible so we can find out what God wants.  But, the idea is not to find out what He wants so we can work around it or live with it, but rather live in it.  That is a rather difficult concept for a lot of people. Think about the 613 Mosaic laws and the Pharisees who made a good living telling people how to comply with them to the letter and still do just what they wanted to do. 

If we find out what God wants and decide to actually do it instead of avoid it, we are still faced with an often huge problem of where do we get the strength to accomplish this task.  The answer is circular, from God, the Holy Ghost.  He never asks us to do anything we cannot do good enough for Him if we rely on Him.  Never. 

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 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:

Healing for Souls
Psalm 23, Acts 15:11
Feast of Saint Peter
June 29, 2014

There is sickness in our souls.  Every one of us is afflicted with this sickness.  Its symptoms and effects are everywhere.  We see them in the daily crime and war reports we call “news.”  We see them in the way people talk, in the way they drive their cars, and in the way they treat one another.  Few people will dispute the idea that the world would be infinitely better if people simply lived according to the commandments and principles found in the Bible.  Yet it seems fewer still have any intention of even a half-hearted attempt to live by them.  Such people are not always overtly evil, according to the standards of the world.  They may even appear to be good.  Yet a serious look into their psyches will reveal that they live for themselves rather than God.  From the beginning they break the very first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods.”

Why do people do this?  It is because of the sickness of the soul we call sin.  We are terminally ill with sin.  And this illness causes us to do evil as surely as the flue causes us to run a fever.  Sin is the disease; sins are the symptoms, death is the prognosis. “Death” as used here means separation from God.  It means to be separated from Him now in this life, and to be separated from Him forever in eternity.

Separation from Him here is often recognized by a general feeling of dread, meaninglessness, and a deep, deep sense of discontentment in the soul.  It is also expressed in the self-destructive ideas, and habits that harden into a life-style which increases our discontent and dread.  The philosophers called this “existential angst.”  The Bible calls it being without God in the world.  It calls it “darkenss” and it calls those in that.darkness, “lost.”  This is what I mean by the sickness of sin.

Separation from God in eternity is called, “hell.”  It is a place of suffering, where the fire never stops and the worm never dies.  Terrible as that is, it is as nothing compared to the knowledge that, “I could have had Heaven.  I could have had God.  I could have gone to that place of eternal joy instead of this place of eternal sorrow.  All I had to do was trust Jesus.”  According to the Bible, those in Hell are eternally “lost.”  So, today, at the very start of this emphasis on healing, I want to strongly emphasise the very single most important and absolutely necessary foundation of all healing.  That foundation is the atoning life and death of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

There are millions of people who are willing to trust Jesus for this life but unwilling to trust Him with eternity.  By that I mean they trust God to provide for their physical needs, but think they are going to get into Heaven by the merit of their own goodness.  This is folly.  Imagine yourself standing in front of God trying to convince Him to let you into Heaven by telling Him how good you were in life.  Take your time.  Time is meaningless there.  You can take a decade or a century, though I doubt you will need it.  Do your best to show yourself in the best light possible.  After you are finished, imagine an angel coming before God with a Bible in his hand.  Imagine him opening that Bible to Exodus 20 and reading the Ten Commandments.  Now imagine another angel coming to stand before God. This angel opens another book and begins to read a list of all the times and all the ways you have neglected to keep, or flagrantly broken each one of these commandments.  These angels are like witnesses in a courtroom, and every time the second angel speaks, the fantasy of your own goodness is crushed by the reality of your sins.  When he is finished, there can only be one conclusion; you will never enter Heaven on the merit of your own goodness.

The only way to enter Heaven is to let Jesus get you in.  Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”  He is the way to Heaven because He gave Himself for your sins.  You have heard much about how Jesus took your sins on Himself and suffered your sentence on the cross.  But that’s only half of the Gospel.  The other half is that He put His righteousness on you.  So God spiritually speaking, no longer “sees” you sins.  When He looks at you He sees only the righteousness of Christ, and you are welcomed into Heaven just as you would be if you had never sinned at all.

So the first part of spiritual healing is the healing of your soul from the penalty of your sins.  You receive this healing by trusting what Jesus did on the cross to get you into Heaven.  It is simply a matter of believing He is God in the flesh; that He died in your place for your sins, and you are forgiven and regarded by God as completely righteous and holy.  We call this “faith,” and I have just described the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone.  It means we can’t earn it by our good works.  We simply trust God to give it to us through Christ.  The Apostle Paul described it better than I.  He wrote, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”

Those who trust Christ to heal them of the disease of sin have a different prognosis.  We are going to live.  There is still much therapy to endure.  There is still medication and surgery to be done on our souls.  But we are on the way to wellness.  We are healed in our souls.  It is that medication and therapy and surgery that I want to talk about next Sunday, for these are the means by which God works healing in your soul.

I hope you have let Jesus heal the disease of your sin.  I hope you have asked Him to take your sins, and to give His righteousness to you.  I hope you have consciously decided to stop trusting your own works, and to let His sacrifice on the cross make you acceptable to God.  There will never be any further healing of your soul until you trust Jesus for eternity. You may drug away some of the pain of life.  You may mask it through drugs like material wealth, worldly pleasures, self-indulgence, and other things that make you temporarily forget you are sick.  But those things merely hide the symptoms.  They don’t cure the disease.  In the end, you die in your soul, that eternal death I spoke of a few minutes ago.  But there is no reason to allow this to happen to you.  Trust Jesus.  He will heal your soul.

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.

Second Sunday after Trinity

The gospel was the parable of the great supper (St. Luke 14:16-24). The Rev. Matthew Henry noted that this parable illustrated our Lord’s presentation of the gospel message to the Jews of his generation. He bade them come to his supper that they might enjoy the benefits of the gospel and become what God had intended for them to be: the sons and daughters of God and co-heirs with Christ in glory.

We also learned from this parable that most would not accept, so our Lord then sent his servants to call those who were poor, the maimed, and the halt and the blind. Now these characteristics were not meant to be understood only in their literal sense, though our Lord does extend his calling to persons who are so afflicted.

Those whom he referred to as being poor match the description of those identified as such in the Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (St. Matthew 5:3). To be made fit for the kingdom of heaven, we must rid ourselves of those earthly desires and passions that conflict with the Christian life. Our Lord said, No man can serve two masters... (6:24a) which clarifies the point being made. Before we can truly know the love of God, we must first establish a relationship with him in Christ Jesus. To be poor with regard to the spiritual aspects of this world opens the way for us to be filled with the Holy Ghost. How many people who bear the name of our Lord are so poor in their spiritual life precisely because they are filled with the spirit of this world?

A maimed person is one who has been rendered unable to walk and must crawl to get around, or else have others assist him. The maimed are those who realize that their lives have been crippled by sin and are seeking to be relieved of their handicap by the Great Physician and Healer of men’s souls. Jesus Christ offers us spiritual healing which we cannot get anywhere else. He also can heal us of our physical ailments as well, if it is within his purposeful will so to do. How many so-to-speak Christians are crawling through this life because they will not heed the Master’s call and thus finding rest and healing for their souls?

The halt, or limping, are those who, though technically crippled, are able to get around. While having some capacity, they nevertheless see the need for a Saviour to assist them. How many Christians-in-name-only are so crippled in their faith that they simply hobble along through this life as they refuse to accept our Lord’s calling to follow his path and keep his commandments and be healed?

The blind are those who have not the ability to see their way to spiritual happiness but desire to have a guide to God. They will come to our Lord’s supper only if the true servants of God will lead them. How many who claim to know Christ are blind to him because they have placed their trust in false teachers and ministers: who have convinced them that God’s word is flawed, or some how too vague for them to understand?

Those initially called might well be classed as spiritually poor, maimed, halt and blind much as the members of the current Laodicean church are, wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked (Revelation 3:14-19) . One’s spiritual condition is therefore determined by whether or not one truly has a heart for God and desires to do his will as expressed in his word written. Is the Lord inside your heart, or is he outside knocking to come in?

Now let us consider the excuses of those who did not come the great supper. The first person called responded with, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it. As the Rev. Matthew Henry noted concerning this man, “His heart was so much on enlarging of his estate. Those that have their hearts full of the world and [are] fond of laying house to house and field to field, have their ears deaf to the gospel invitation.” St. Paul once admonished, For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence (I Corinthians 1:26-29). While there is nothing unbiblical in a person acquiring property; the real message here is: if you are putting the acquisition of earthly things ahead of communing with God, then you have no heart for him.

Many souls who bear the name of Christ know who he was, but not who he is. They go through this life bowing before the gods which hold their interest and their hearts. They have so compartmentalized their lives with everything they have to do to advance themselves during the week on one side, and a smidgen of time on Sunday (and maybe on Wednesday evenings) which is reserved for God on the other. God is not considered apart from the appointed time on their schedule and they rarely apply godly principles in their commercial interests much less their private moments. They do not understand that all of life is subject to God. What a rude awakening they will have on Judgment Day when they hear the words of our Lord, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity (St. Matthew 7:23b).

But before you take the position that such a view is too harsh, consider Article XIII of our Articles of Religion which states in part that, “Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ... “ Just because one did a good work in the name of Jesus Christ does not mean that such a person is in fact a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. The unregenerated person’s works possess no salvific qualities for no man can be saved by the works of the flesh apart from a lively faith in Jesus Christ, and a heart to do his will. Our Lord said, If ye love me, keep my commandments (St. John 14:15).

The second excuse given was that of a man who had purchased a yoke of oxen and had not tried them out. What could be more important for our spiritual health and well-being than our fellowship with the Lord? When other things are more important than spending time with the very person who suffered in our place— who made it possible for us to have eternal life— one would have to question that person’s relationship with the Godhead. We should follow the example of David who said, I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD (Psalm 122:1). What greater joy is there? Who better than the King of kings and Lord of lords should we desire to break bread with? How can anyone who claims to love God, refuse such a wonderful offer? And yet, many who bear the name of Christ do so every day by rejecting God’s word written because they want to live life on their terms and not on God’s. They will miss heaven because they refused the calling of God’s Son to come and feast with him.

At every administration of the Holy Communion, we obey the Lord’s commandment to break the bread and drink from the cup of his table until he comes. We do so in remembrance of his sacrifice for us. And we rejoice in his offering of grace to us, for it is by means of his grace that have that blessed hope of eternal life in his kingdom. But in order to gain admission to his place of rest and reward, we must respond in the affirmative to his calling because his all sufficient grace is made available to whosoever will not “whosoever won’t.”

The third excuse was made by one who had just taken a wife. The Law said that such would serve as an excuse for a man going to war (see Deuteronomy 20:7). But the issue at hand in our parable is incongruent with this excuse as one is being called to attend a feast and the Law did not excuse a man from his religious duties if he had recently taken a wife. As the Rev. Matthew Henry noted, “[The man] pretends that he cannot [come] when the truth is, he will not.” Our Lord said, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple (St. Luke 14:26). What he meant is clear: he that would not love the Lord more than all else is not worthy to be called his disciple. We have to put the Lord first in all things.

When our Lord communicated this parable, he revealed the true spiritual states of those who were listening. Not many were willing to accept him as the Messiah much less follow his teachings because they had other plans in mind. The Devil loves to insinuate in our minds “other plans” that we would forget our true purpose which is to have fellowship with our Saviour. For it is only through such that we are freed from the tyranny of Satan’s grasp. We are thus enabled to join the feast and fellowship with the very person who came into the world to save us because he first loved us, and laid down his life for us— taking the punishment that we rightly deserve— so that we could have a place in his kingdom forever.

We Christians have been redeemed from sin, death, Hell and the grave by the blood of Jesus Christ. So when he bids us come, we ought to, out of pure gratitude, drop what we are doing and come to him with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts for that is what a true child of God will do. May God touch your heart today to do his will and walk in his paths always.

Let us pray:

H
oly Father, you have given to us the gift of eternal life by means of the shed blood of thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ ; may it please thee to inspire us to grow daily into his likeness; that being so transformed, we might be made more effective witnesses for thee in this sin-darkened world; and this we ask in his most precious name. Amen.

Have a blessed week, Bryan+
After Church Hospitality
We need snack pictures!  Come on, help us out!

People in our Prayers - http://faithfulcenturionprayerteam.blogspot.com/
Why? Prayer is an extremely important activity.
It is not that God knows not our needs, for He surely does. Yet, Jesus commanded us to ask God for those same needs. In addition to the obvious of asking God for help, offering thanksgiving and the like, prayer helps us focus our thoughts on how we might do God's work.

The Prayer Team of the Church of the Faithful Centurion was established to help our members and fellow Christians pray for those in need and to give thanks as well for the blessings we have been granted.

Who can be on the list? Do I have to be a member of the Church of the Faithful Centurion to be prayed for?
No! The only qualification to be on the list is that you want our prayer team to pray for you. We are Christians and are happy to pray for you, no matter who you are. If you want help from God, you are our kind of people.

What is the commitment from the prayer team?
Each member of the team will pray for the desired outcome at last once per day.

How do I get myself or someone else on the prayer list?
You can email one of the prayer team leaders: Jack - jack@faithfulcenturion.org or Dru - dru@ faithfulcenturion.org, or call the church office at (619) 659-3608 or fill out a prayer card at church.

What should I ask for?
Depends on what you want. Some people merely want God to be asked to heal their ills and be mentioned by their first name, others want a specific outcome and / or have more of their personal information known to the team. Ask for what you want. It is your desire and need for prayer the team is attempting to meet. For typical examples, see the list below.

Updating the Team
If you are on our prayer list, or if you have submitted a person that you have asked us to pray for, please update one of the team members or Hap in person, by telephone or email. It helps to be able to pray specifically for these individuals including their specific needs; plus if they get better, it is nice to give thanks!

Please note that on the yellow (maybe green or orange if you get an old one) cards at church, you can ask that those to be prayed for have their names disseminated to the prayer team. Those names will be said in church and appear here. Or, you can ask that their names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Hap will know to pray for them.

Prayer List Notice – If you have someone on the prayer list and their needs have changed, please let us know.  We’d like to update our prayers to reflect the need and most important to give thanks!

Travel
The Thomas Family and Scott Potter are on travel from Okinawa, to San Diego, Phoenix and then around the Western United States for almost all of July.  Please pray for their safe travels.

Birthday
Terri Jennings celebrated her 58th Birthday on 26 April 2014.

Anniversary
Rev Rick and Virginia Reid celebrated their 35th Anniversary on 7 April 2014.

Move
The Thomas Family is now in Okinawa for a second short tour.  Please pray for this new assignment to go well for Kurt and for Mary and the kids to make new friends.  In particular pray that Kristyna and Mitchell will develop good friends and schoolmates there so as to further their development as both Christians and citizens.  Give thanks the safe move and ask for continued good developments.

Departed
Sasha left for home Friday, 20 June 2014.  A very very special young lady with a husband and two children who had cancer for which all treatment had been tried unsuccessfully.  Give thanks for Sasha’s time here on earth and please pray for comfort, strength and understanding for her husband and their family.  Please pray the family can let God carry their worry, fear and sorrow so that they can do their best.

Dennis left to be with our Lord and Savior on 30 May 2014, after a relatively brief struggle with cancer.   Please give thanks for His time here on earth and pray for comfort, strength and understanding for Linda his wife and their family.  Please pray the family can let God carry their worry, fear and sorrow so that they can do their best.

Sherry Tester, mother in law of Stephen Cord (Rev Jack’s mentor during his almost four years at WGU) passed away after a heart attack on 16 May 2014.  Please give thanks for her time here on earth and pray for comfort, strength and understanding for Charles, her husband of 56 years, as well as her daughter Jennifer, Stephen and their family.  Please pray the family can let God carry their worry, fear and sorrow so that they can do their best.

Danahurt passed away unexpectedly on or about 16 May 2014. Please pray for his Family and Friends as they adjust to this unexpected situation.

George Knoop, age 78, a Missionary Aviation Fellowship member was murdered by a Haitian with a knife on 13 May 2014 while trying to help the people of Haiti.  Give thanks for his time here on earth and pray for comfort for his family who remain behind.  Neither freedom nor faith are free, please remember that before you turn from either.

Brian Smith left for home on 21 April 2014, after a long battle with lung cancer; it cannot be said the cancer won, he is with the Lord in victory.  He was able to do what he wanted and needed to do until two days before his death, for that we are all grateful.  His only concern about leaving was for his wonderful wife Melany who of necessity remains behind.  Please give thanks for his safe passage and pray that Mel will keep her trust in the Lord and let Him carry her worry.  As a side note, today is Brian’s birthday and we remember him the more.

Three hundred Korean high school students perished in the sinking of Korean passenger vessel, SEWOL, on 16 April 2014.  Please pray for peace of mind, soul and heart for the families of those who perished.  Please give thanks for the bravery and compassion of PARK Ji Young, aged 22 years, who remained on board to help rescue as many souls as possible. She even gave a student her own life vest. Her body was later found floating in the frigid waters of the sea.  Ask God to help the families deal with their grief.

Nearing the end of their time here on earth
Jere Wolf (Melanie Zimmer’s dad) is nearing the end of his time here in the Shadowlands; Congestive Heart Failure and a blocked aortic valve are causing all kinds of problems and resulting in kidney shutdown.  Treatment has failed.  Jere has decided to go home and be with his family for his last bit here on earth.   Please pray for Jere and his family, in particular his wife Doreen and daughters Cindy and Molly (or Melanie) to keep their faith strong in the Lord as he prepares for the trip home.

Alan is a victim of metastasized colon cancer already destroying his liver. His youngest sister has put aside her hard-earned career to care for her brother in these days on earth. Please pray for him as he prepares to go home to be with his family who have gone before him. Please pray for comfort, understanding, strength and guidance for Alan and his family who will of necessity remain behind.

Paul has dementia but seems do be doing well in the Nursing Home today.  Pray he will eat and that his family will be together in one accord as they take care of him

Saundra is in ICU with congestive heart failure after a heart operation.  She is aged and frail.  Saundra is near the end of her time here on earth.  Please pray for comfort, understanding, strength and guidance for Saundra and her family who will of necessity remain behind.  Pray for the love of God to stay foremost in their hearts.

Polly is in hospice care with dementia and spinal stenosis.  Please pray for her as she prepares to go home to be with her family who have gone before her.  Pray for the faith of her family to build and the transition to be good. 

Homebound or Infirm
Lily is the caregiver of her elderly husband Harold; she fell down the stairs and has a break that will take six weeks before she can  be on her feet again. Please pray for rapid healing for Lily and for a plan to form that will make things tolerable for both of them.

Paul has dementia but seems do be doing well in the Nursing Home today.  Pray he will eat and that his family will be together in one accord as they take care of him

Martha and Irene both have Alzheimer's Disease. Pray that their hearts will stay close to Jesus.

Walter has many health issues and is growing weaker and weaker. Pray Walter will learn to be able to swallow correctly.

Joan has had serious medical problems that have kept her confined.  On 26 September 2013, she took a fall. Please pray that in the weeks ahead her health will remain stable.

Lou has aspiration pneumonia.  Please pray for the infection to be knocked down and for her continued recovery.

Norma, Sara’s mother is in a state of deteriorating health, both physically and mentally, with both dementia and Alzheimer’s.  She is slowly drifting away, though she still recognizes Sara and prayer gives her a sense of peace.  Please pray for both Sara and her mother to put their cares and worries on God’s shoulders so they can deal with the many problems involved.

In need of a miracle or understanding of God’s Plan
Dennis, nephew in law of Rev Rick Reid, had a seizure at work on 28 April 2014, and was hospitalized at the Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN; he went home; he is back in Emory Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia after complaining of what he thought were migraine headaches.   An evaluation found a mass of veins enlarged on right side of brain called arteriovenous malformation (AVM).  This is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins. An AVM is usually dates to birth.  It can develop anywhere in the body but occurs most often in the brain or spine.  A brain AVM, which appears as a tangle of abnormal arteries and veins, can occur in any part of your brain.  Blood vessels an rupture, causing bleeding in the brain.  It is possible for a brain AVM to be treated successfully.  Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating Dennis and for them to pay attention and do their best.  Pray also for trust in the Lord for Dennis and his family that they might find peace and strength in Him.

Sarah, wife of Rev Geordie (AOC – UK), has been treating for ovarian cancer.  The treatment has not worked and she has been advised her time here on earth is short.  Please pray for a miraculous remission; that Sarah’s remaining time here on earth might be good.  Help Sarah, Geordie and their family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Leon McKay suffered a stroke a few weeks back that has left him unable to speak and while undergoing evaluation the doctors also found he has a very aggressive cancer. Please pray for a miraculous remission; that Leon’s remaining time here on earth might be good.  Help Leon and his family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Rev. Thomas Brooks is not improving and being kept alive by artificial machines. Please pray for a miraculous recovery and if that not be God’s Will, a rapid passing to home. Help Thomas’ family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry

Ronnie has kidney cancer that has spread and the surgeons are very concerned. Please pray the medical team to formulate a successful treatment plan and for a miraculous remission; that Ronnie’s remaining time here on earth might be good.  Help Ronnie and family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Levi was cancer free for 4 years and just discovered he has kidney cancer. Levi has a great deal of faith and said whether he is healed or God takes him home he will be fine. Please pray for the medical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome.  Pray also that Levi and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.  In particular, please pray for pain relief; Levi is 22 years old.

Ray Daley is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and served his country during the Korean War era. Ray is taking chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Meanwhile his son Trevor is in the hospital in a coma and seems to have lost the will to live.

Pat has been under treatment for colon cancer for sometime.  He has had major complications the last few days and your prayers will be appreciated by family and friends.

Dorothy had pneumonia, on checking her lungs they found tumors which permeated the lung area.  Further investigation found a primary site in the colon, with the lung being secondary.  It would appear there is no viable treatment at this time.  Please pray for a miraculous remission; that her remaining time here on earth might be good.  Help Dorothy and her family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Scott, one of our Lord's ministers who collapsed a week ago and is in the ICU of a Medical Center since he had a pulmonary embolism, with a concurrent infection of several bacterial agents. He has stopped breathing on several occasions, and may have undergone brain damage. He currently is on DNR. Please pray for recovery so that he will continue to do his Lord’s calling.

Becky has fourth stage metastasized lung cancer and is not doing well with chemotherapy treatments.  Please pray for Becky and her husband as they are together during this difficult time in their lives.

Jane has fourth stage cancer and is not doing well.  Please pray for Jane and her family as they are together during this difficult time in their lives.

Larry Howes suffered a fairly severe stroke. 4 December 2012, doctors replaced a valve in a shunt that had been put in about two weeks before, and Larry responded very well.  He was able to go home.

Pray also for confidence in our Lord for Larry and his family.  Larry needs a miracle, pray for one.  Please.

Colleen has been battling pancreatic cancer over the last year and it has now spread to one of her lungs.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Christine has cancer of the colon, which spread to her liver; she is receiving chemotherapy and is having difficulty eating.  Please pray for the medical team treating her to pay attention and do their very best; pray also for confidence in our Lord for Christine and her family.

Todd and Kenny have both been fighting osteocarcinoma for over five years and have been told their time here on earth is nearing its end, absent a miracle from God.  Both are ready to go home and leave the pain, but would like to stay.  Please pray for them and their families.

Surgery
Weir is a survivor of two malignancies (prostrate and colon). Recently Weir underwent further tests and he will have to have almost all of his large intestine removed. His surgery was Friday 28 March 2014.  All will appreciate your prayer.

Timothy Howes, age 90, is expected to undergo resection surgery for a twisted bowel on 16 March 2014, due to his age and other complications this is an extremely tense surgery.   Please pray for the surgical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome.  Pray also Timothy and his family, in particular his son Rev Ken, to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Melody Summers of Gold Creek, Montana has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  She is a very special person in the Gregr family’s lives. Please pray for the surgical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome.  Pray also Melody and her family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.  Pray for a special miracle for her and her family.

Mario has early-diagnosed prostate cancer and had surgery. Pray for complete remission and that Mario and his family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Dustin who was injured in a work accident when stainless steel sheet metal fell on his right hand.  His thumb was severely injured as some of the bones were crushed. Dustin will have surgery on Thursday 22 August 2013, to reconstruct and reset his thumb. They do not expect him to lose his thumb. Please pray for the surgical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome.  Pray also that Dustin and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Eddie has upcoming bladder surgery.  Please pray for the surgical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome.  Pray also that Eddie and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Testing and Treatment
Paul has been in and out of the hospital for several weeks. Pray that the Doctors will find out what is wrong with him and he will be healed.

Dennis had a stroke on 30 May 2014. Pray for his wife and family during this time of recovery Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Dennis and his family, most particularly his wife; as well as for God's guidance for the neurologists and other medical people treating him they might find the best course of treatment and allow Dennis to heal completely.

Liz Strauch had a pineal cyst, which in the end responded well to a surgical draining last year.  Since November 2013, similar symptoms have returned.  A CT Scan turned up what is thought to be either a new cyst or an enlarged pineal gland.  More testing, including an EEG is in the works.  She can no longer work. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Liz and her family, in particular her husband Ken and sons Caleb and Nathan; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Liz to heal completely.

Steve fell from a roof Saturday, 5 April 2014. His injuries were multiple, extensive, severe, and life threatening.  He is slowly making improvements. He still has a long road to travel and is still in great need of prayers. Yours are very much appreciated.  Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Steve and his family; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Steve to heal completely.

Faye is in the hospital because she is weak has been receiving blood transfusions. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Faye and her family; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Faye to heal completely.

Tom has heart and kidney problems. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Tom and his family; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Tom to heal completely.

Harold has had a severe stroke.   He is now home, but his family is looking for a rehabilitation facility to help him recuperate.  Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Harold and his family; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people caring for him that they might find the best treatment facility to allow Harold to heal completely.

Nathan has a tumor near his heart and had unsuccessful surgery. Please pray for strength, courage and understanding for Nathan and his family; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Joe has had a preliminary ALS diagnosis. Pray the final diagnosis will something that will allow him to continue taking care of his devoted young family.  Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Joe and his family; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Mark had swelling and fluid buildup in his lungs.  It appears things may be getting under control.  He needs to use a Bi-Pap mask to breathe until his lungs clear and he hates it.  Pray that he will be able to adapt so his lungs can clear.  Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Mark, as well as for his family, and for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Preston is reacting poorly to recent neck surgery and now has problems with his liver count; Physicians feel that dialysis will help. There may be a blockage in the bowel and an operation might be necessary.  Please pray for the medical team to pay attention and to their best to determine how to help Preston and for a good outcome.  Pray also that Preston and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders while Preston does his best to facilitate a return to good health.

Marianne is hospitalized with a perforated colon. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Marianne, as well as for her family, and for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Erica has a non-malignant Brain Tumor which cannot be surgically removed due to the size and location.  They are going to attempt chemotherapy. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Erica, as well as for her family, and for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Brenda is in the hospital because of bleeding on her brain. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Brenda, as well as for her family, and for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Mackenzie is a young girl with leukemia. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Mackenzie, as well as for her family, and for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Mack has had diabetes most of his adult life. Circulation in his legs is very bad and doctors are considering amputation. Please pray his medication will help and he will not face amputation. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Mack and for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Michael has been diagnosed with lung cancer recently after making it through gastro intestinal cancer last year. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Michael and his wife Gayle; as well as for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Ken Strauch has been tired and is anemic, he had a colonoscopy which found a pair of polyps which were removed and are being tested.  Just for good measure they found he has a hiatal hernia with ulcers, basically part of his stomach is pushed up into his esophagus and is bleeding from there.  Sounds there may be surgery involved. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Ken and for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Adriano is in the hospital due to high sugar and high blood pressure. He is very weak and will appreciate your prayers.

Heather recently found out she has cancer.  Please pray for peace of mind for her and for the medical team treating her will be guided to the right solution.

Jim has had an aneurism and blood clots. Pray that healing will come.

Georgia has liver and pancreatic cancer. The doctors are evaluating whether to do surgery and how to tackle the disease. Georgia is a faithful Christian and she will appreciate your prayers. Pray for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find out the source of the problem and best course of treatment.  Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Georgia and her family.

Lana’s doctor found something on her lymph nodes and ovaries. Pray for God's guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find out the source of the problem and best course of treatment.  Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Lana and her family.

Healing
Casey has strep throat along with her mother Deanna and Grandmother Virginia. Please pray that the other members of the family may stay healthy while those with strep throat recover quickly and rapidly.

Meg recently found out she had heart problems causing low blood oxygen levels, loss of focus resulting in an emergency room crisis. As a result of the symptoms she made errors on the job that caused her to lose her job. She is grateful for the excellent medical care she has received and optimistic, feeling with God's intervention in her life her health may be reversed and a new job will become available.

Barbara has serious problems with her Sciatic Nerve.  Please pray for guidance for those treating her, for relief of the severe pain, for trust in our Lord for Barbara and her family, for healing.

Donald is in the hospital and had his leg amputated on 14 April 2014. Pray he will adjust and healing will begin.

Dallmus has lost 40 to 50 percent of his sight. Pray he will learn to cope with the situation and that he will trust in God to heal as He will.

Lucius Dabney (father of Rev Bryan Dabney) is now at home recovering from an infection.  Please pray for a complete healing of the infection and return to health.

David has many concussions and unable to go to school, read books, watch TV and has headaches and migraines. He has trouble sleeping and his family will appreciate your prayers for this 10 year old young man.

Barbara Apple fell the week of 11 January 2014, in her home, breaking her right humerus (the large upper arm bone) in a spiral fracture, which cannot be set.  Movement is very painful and due to a total lack of energy, she is more or less bedridden.  Healing does not seem to be going well at this point.  Pray for inspiration for those caring for her that they might find the appropriate treatment.  Please pray for Barbara to put her trust in the Lord, look to Him for strength and for her to gain energy so she does not lose the mobility she has; pray for a full and rapid recovery.  Please pray also for her husband Bob who is taking care of her that he might be comforted and strengthened in this time of stress.

Gladys has breast cancer and has had a lumpectomy. She needs to take a year off of her work to have chemo treatments.

Alwin Jack has had a stroke and recently has had a relapse.  Please pray for those who treat Alwin that they might chose the best possible treatment and pray for peace of mind for Alwin during the recovery phase.

Sylvia Lee, Sandra Lee’s mother, had been suffering from undiagnosed kidney failure; doctors finally figured out what the problem was and offered her “hospice care”, a second opinion suggested dialysis.  She is now on dialysis.  Please pray for strength and vitality to return to her and for peace of mind for Sylvia and her family, as well as their continued faith and in God as the Great Physician. They pray for help to listen to God's voice and guidance through this journey together.

Carolyn has Multiple Sclerosis with complications. Pray Carolyn and her children will be close to our Lord Jesus Christ as they and family members help to ease the problems.

Jeong was in an auto accident and sustained a serious back injury.  Please pray for a full and rapid recovery.

Dale was hospitalized Sunday 25 August 2013, after a heart attack. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating him and for peace of mind for Dale and his family.

Gil Garcia developed a bed sore which precludes sitting and is now confined to his bed.  Gil has very smooth and delicate skin, please pray for a rapid healing of the sore so he can get out of bed and move around in his chair.  Gil spent almost a year in the hospital the last time this happened.  His faith and his attitude are almost beyond belief, he is an example to us all.  But, we pray this time he will heal quickly.  Pray also for his lovely wife Mary who takes care of him.  Pray for both of them also for strength to deal with the loss of their son Bernie.

Bill had malignant growth removed from a lip last month and seems to be experiencing a re-growth of the cancer.  He asks your prayer for the medical team treating him and for peace of mind for himself.

Hank has osteoporosis, which has caused him a great deal of pain and inconvenience in the past few years. Pray for his healing and that his medical bills will be met.

Evelyn is an elderly woman who has had problems with her eyes and is now blind. It appears some sight will return shortly, pray for that to happen!

Joanne has begun kidney dialysis as a result of kidney failure due to extensive chemotherapy. Additionally she cares for an adopted drug addicted baby who is now nine years old.  Please pray for her to keep her faith, to let the Lord carry her worry and concern and to give her strength.  Pray also for those treating her that they might pay attention and do their best.

Mr. N. Anand is in the hospital and is seriously ill. He is being encouraged to pray for repentance of his sins and to depend upon our dependable God for a cure and recovery of his health. Pray that he will be a strong witness for Christ.

Jacob has been going through some dental procedures and has some pain and aggravation with the numbness. Please pray for comfort and strength for him, as well as for guidance for the medical team treating him that they might pay attention and do their best.

Jean fell and broke her ankle in three places.  She will be in the hospital for rehabilitation for the next 6 weeks.  Please pray for comfort and strength for her, as well as for guidance for the medical team treating her that they might pay attention and do their best.

Bud and his wife for their continued welfare and enthusiasm.  Bud has been advised of an aneurism in his heart of a size not mandating immediate surgery.  This comes at a time when he has sole care of his wife who recently broke two vertebrae and thereafter sustained pneumonia.

Virginia has Sinus and Allergy problems giving her severe problems.  Pray that the Doctor will discover why it continues and find a cure.

Steve Thornell had a brain aneurysm, which was found before it burst.  He is home from the hospital and working hard on recovery. He lacks energy from seven days in the hospital.  His doctor told him he has to make serious life changes. One of the two main arteries in the back of the head is now completely closed.  He must take blood thinners, he has thick blood and recent chemotherapy made it worse.  Steve has always operated at 110 percent, he needs help to slow down.   Please pray for trust in the Lord and a full and rapid recovery.  Pray for peace of mind for Steve and his family.

Arlen is receiving treatment for lung cancer and recently experienced a ruptured colon during treatment. She is alone in Oregon but does have a friend who has traveled a great distance to be at her side. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Arlen.

Oscar discovered some time ago he had blood clots in his leg and lung.  He has been treated for them and has not been cured. He now will be facing surgery.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Angela had an ischemic stroke (clot). Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Angela. Please pray also that she and her family might put their worries on our Lord’s back so she can work hard towards recovery.

Nora had a stroke mid February 2013. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Nora. Please pray also that she and her family might put their worries on our Lord’s back so she can work hard towards recovery.

Linda has been hospitalized for several days with a gastrointestinal problem.  Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Linda.

Dester is suffering from unknown skin and diseases.  Please guide the medical team treating him to find out what the problem is and cure it.  Pray also for Dester to trust in the Lord.

Lee has Arterial Fibrillation; the medical people are not sure how to help her.  Please pray for guidance for the team treating her and for Lee and her family to make the right decisions regarding treatment..

Nell recently adopted two children and has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Mary Lou has been suffering with seizures. She was in the hospital with a 24 hour monitor and is being sent home from the hospital with two medications and orders to return in 2 months for another MRI to review whatever is going on in her brain.  Please pray for guidance for the medical people treating her, as well as peace of mind and trust in God for her and her family.

Kathleen has spent the last two weeks in the hospital.  She has been diagnosed with colitis, shingles and possibly colon cancer. Pray she will be comfortable and begin to heal.

Rachel has Mitochondrial Myopathy.  This is a hereditary disease of the muscles and they do not have a cure for it. Part of her pain is her family does not believe she is indeed ill, as she appears to be just fine. Please pray her family will learn the truth and be supportive of her; pray also the medical people treating her will find the right measures to minimize the disease.  Most particularly pray for Rachel’s trust in God.

Nicolas is in the hospital with serious symptoms of a heart disorder. Please pray for peace of mind for him and guidance for the medical team looking for the cause and cure.

Mrs. Baek an elderly women fell and injured her spine.  Doctors cannot repair the spinal injury due to her age. She fell again the morning of 12 December 2012, breaking her collar bone which is also untreatable. Mrs. Baek is in severe pain and will appreciate your prayers.

Juanita is a young girl who was in a coma because of a blood disease.  She has not come out and is gaining strength. They are awaiting results from blood samples.  Her family thanks you for your prayers and asks that you continue.

Barbara had an accident while cooking and the pressure cooker blew up in her face, causing second and third degree burns over her face and upper body. Because of this she has incurred kidney problems and may need a transplant.

George had foot surgery.  Please give thanks for the surgery and pray for a full and rapid recovery.

Nellie is in the emergency room of a hospital in a great deal of pain.  Please pray for peace of mind for her and guidance for the medical team looking for the cause and cure.

Lauralee Meade underwent a lumpectomy on Friday after Thanksgiving.  A further anomaly has been discovered and she had additional preventative radiation treatment.  Please pray for a complete remission of the cancer.  Pray also Lauralee will maintain her great attitude and trust in God.

Kevin Gerhart discovered cancer on his neck.  He underwent radiation and chemotherapy.  Please pray for the medical team treating Kevin that they might pay attention, do their very best and find the source; that the treatment might be successful and he might live a long and healthy life to His honor and glory.  Pray also for trust in God and peace of mind for Kevin, his wife and family.

Bill, Sara’s husband, had a third abdominal surgery on 22 November 2011, to remove a tumor.  Bill is doing better keeping the doctor’s instructions, for which we are all grateful, including taking chemotherapy once a day for one more year.  He has decreased the consumption of alcohol and eating at least mostly properly.  Please pray for help for him to continue do all this.  Please pray also that Bill might turn his heart outward to help those around him, as well as live a long and healthy life to the honor and glory of God.  Pray also for peace of mind for Bill and his wife Sara.

Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) has had a chest infection, perhaps viral, but seems to be getting better.  She actually sent an iMessage last week, but did not hang around for a response a minute later!  Please pray for continued peace of mind for Mrs. Kay and her family.  Give thanks for her trust in the Lord and her positive attitude.

Matt Alcantara, age 16, came back with ZERO SCANS again in December 2013!  Matt has Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a very rare and often lethal form of cancer with limited treatment options.  This is a disease that is about 90 percent fatal in a couple of years.  He has no hip joint on one side, but he walks and swims!  Courage?  Guts? You bet! Please also give thanks for the great faith of Matt and his entire family.  Their faith and trust is a wonderful example for each and every one of us.  But, now is not the time to stop praying.  Actually, it never is the time to stop praying!

Judith Clingwall, is afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  She is currently in Laurel Place, an extended care facility in Surrey, British Columbia.  Judith's condition has worsened recently. Please pray for her to take an active part in her own life, for her strength, peace of mind, trust in God and remission of the disease so she might return home to her family.  Pray also for strength for her husband Martin as he deals with all the problems and stress of Judith’s situation.

Vince (age 15), reoccurrence of Osteosarcoma, recent testing found a nickel sized tumor in his lungs.  The doctors are consulting with a specialist in Houston.  Please pray for guidance for the medical team and for peace of mind for Vince and his family.

Thanksgiving and Continued Healing
Mary Thornell had surgery on 30 October 2013, at the Riverside Community Hospital to remove a huge mass along with about ½ her colon and part of her lower bowel.  Mary finishes chemotherapy 17 June 2014.  Tests the week of 2 June 2014 showed totally clear scans.  For now, treatment is done after the last chemotherapy session.  Please give thanks for the great result and also for the strength, guidance and peace of mind our Lord gave Mary and her husband Jim, as well as daughter Janice and son Jimmy, she underwent treatment.  Please pray she will stay free of the cancer in the future.

Eli a two month baby is back home after going to the ER the night of 28 May 2014, not able to breathe.  Please give thanks for her recovery and pray for strength, courage and understanding for Eli’s family; as well as for God's guidance for the neurologists and other medical people treating Eli they might find the best course of treatment and allow Eli to heal completely, as well as for strength and understanding for the parents.

Jim has been hospitalized and had several operations for cancer the last few years.  The physicians discovered a number of spots; but his exam was better than expected-prayer changes things and he thanks you for your prayers. Please continue him in prayer for he will have another scan in April.

Al had an abscess found on his liver for which he was hospitalized, it turned out to be benign and will not require surgery, he has been released from the hospital.  Please give thanks for this good result and pray for continued healing.

Elma is suffering from cancer.  She was taken home from the hospital on the advice of her Doctor.  We were asked to pray that Elma’s remaining time here on earth might be good and that Elma and family might put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.   Since then, Elma's Bishop told us a great Miracle of the Lord is working over Elma.  Doctors sent her home to die, but now she seems to be doing all right.  On behalf of her, thank you for all of your prayers. Please continue praying for her complete healing.

Ian Allen had back surgery on 5 February 2014, which went very very well.  He is home and pain free.  There is a recovery process head, but he has his daughter with him for the next week to help with that. Please give thanks for the surgical team paying close attention, doing their very best and for a good outcome.  Pray for peace of mind for Ian and his family as healing continues.

Erica had surgery on 7 January 2014, for a non-malignant brain tumor.  They got most, but not all of the tumor, things seem good for now.  Please give thanks for the surgical team doing their very best and for a good outcome.  Pray for peace of mind for Erica’s family as healing and treatment continues.

Jim Curl had a stroke November 2013; he has recovered pretty well, but still has memory issues.  Jim asks that you give thanks for his great recovery and pray that his memory will continue to improve.

Please join together in thanking the Lord for strengthening Christopher, a young man with psychological problems who departed meds to a bad effect, for his maintaining healthy discipline the last six months, and join together in praying that he continue to be infused with strength and rationality.

Dennis has heart problems; now the medical people treating him discovered a large mass on his liver which turned out to be a cyst!  Please give thanks for this great development and pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Dennis and for God's guidance for the medical people treating him that the contemplated surgery might go well.

Dwight had major oral surgery, for which he gives thanks.  He is recovering slowly and asks your prayers to speed the process.

Mike was very ill in hospital.  He is doing much better now and his family asks you to give thanks for the miraculous recovery.  Mike is a veteran who has served his country when she called. Please pray he will open his heart to God so He can make Mike’s crooked road straight and pull him towards the summit rather than to the pit.

Dick’s left arm was amputated after treating for Merkel Cell carcinoma over a year ago.  He is now believed to be cancer free and is waiting to be fitted with an artificial arm. Please join Dick and his family in giving thanks to Our Lord Jesus Christ for his recovery as well as for their trust in God.

Traci had surgery colon cancer on 27 December 2012.  The surgery went very well and she appears to be cancer free.  But, she had a pulmonary embolism and another clot in the artery to the spleen which will keep her in the hospital for at least several days. Traci is beginning to be weary of her medical situation. Please pray that she will not become despondent.  Pray that she will open her heart to God’s Grace that He might enter in to her heart and strengthen her.

Bob Smouse had shoulder surgery on 28 November 2012. While the surgery went well, he is still in pain and would also appreciate prayers for continued healing and the pain to subside.  He promises to work very hard on recovery therapy.

Carol Stone, the sweet wife of Mike Stone, recovered far better than expected from a severe brain bleed, but fell recently and broke her hip.  She still requires 24 hour care, which Mike provides with little help

Please pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Mike, guidance for the medical team treating Carol and strength for Carol as well as faith and trust.  No one can ever understand the why of these things here on earth.  Sara who passed this request on asks that you pray in both faith and hope.

Business
Mark’s business is in difficulty.  He works in a shrinking field, of which he is one of the country’s true masters, but there is little work available.  He asks that you pray that he can find a way to survive in his industry, which he loves and needs his talents.  Pray he can find new sources of business and new ways of doing things, perhaps someone to partner with to better use his talents.  Pray also for those who work for and with him that they might do their best to help.

Financial Guidance and Employment
Charlie is coming along in his need of both spiritual and financial.  Charlie feels that he has no skills, which is clearly incorrect, but nonetheless he feels that way.  While on the one hand, he knows that is not right, on the other hand, he is having a problem shaking that belief.  Ask that God send the Holy Ghost into his heart for guidance.  In addition, Charlie needs God’s guidance as to how to handle his life from this point forward.  After many years in the aerospace industry, he is looking for a place to employ his talents to the mutual benefit of a company.  He asks that you pray for God to guide him to a new place to allow him to gain an even financial keel.

Tracey is out of employment and has not received her unemployment compensation or found a new position; please pray these problems will be resolved.

Carmine is looking for employment. Pray God will guide her and she will accept his guidance; something she has not always done, so your prayers will be especially appreciated.

Chris and several others at his firm were let go after many years of faithful service.  Please pray that they might find a company that can use their considerable skills and dedication to their mutual benefit.  Pray also for those who remain behind that they might find peace in the confusion caused by the departures.

Doug recently became unemployed from his job of 18 years. He has been applying for jobs, but unable to get one at this time.  His wife is working; this is not enough for the family. Please pray he will find employment with a firm that will be able to use his considerable skill and hard work to benefit both the firm and the family.

Catherine and Lewis are at a low ebb due to a struggle for employment. Your fervent prayers will be appreciated.

Lori is considering a potential change in her employment.  Please pray for God’s guidance in considering all aspect of her potential work.

Rodriguez Family are looking for work. It seems many obstacles have been put in their way of finding employment.  Please pray they will find employment with a firm that will be able to use their considerable skill and hard work to benefit both the firm and the family.

Sarah is concerned about the future with her company.  She would appreciate prayers for her continued employment and that her firm might find more and better ways to use her considerable skills.

Financial Guidance and Healing
Timothy and Sharon had their home foreclosed the morning of 15 April 2014.  They are experiencing spiritual, emotional and financial crisis at the current time. Please pray for God’s guidance as to how they might handle the financial difficulties in which they have found themselves and more importantly have them draw closer to God and each other.

Linda, Rick, Christian and Sawyer are a family experiencing spiritual, emotional and financial crisis at the current time. Please pray for God’s guidance as to how they might handle the financial difficulties in which they have found themselves and more importantly have them draw closer to God and each other.

David and Lorna are having financial problems.  They are trying to find a smaller home which may be more affordable.  Lorna has had an ongoing battle with brain cancer, her trips back and forth to the hospital have drained their finances to the point they sometimes struggle to have enough food in the house.  Pleaser pray for Lorna’s healing and guidance on how they might handle the financial difficulties in which they have found themselves.

Guidance
Marie has suffered the loss of her husband, her job and her pet all in a short period of time. Please pray for peace of mind for Marie, as well as for trust in the Lord for her and those around her that she might adjust to the changes in her life and move forward to the honor and glory of our Lord with His Help.  (140607)

Mitten has a Christian talking to him about Christ. Mitten does not believe and does not seem to care.  Please pray Mitten will see the light.

Luis Martinez had a heart attack on 1 November 2013, and seems to have recovered fairly well.  His wife Selma passed away on 12 April 2014.  Please pray for peace of mind for Luis, as well as for trust in the Lord for him and the rest of the family.

Kristen, Rickey and their two children ask you to pray for grace, wisdom and understanding as they attempt to cope with infidelity, separation and possibly divorce as a result of backsliding from the Lord into the World.

Erica is having school exams for the next several weeks. Please pray her mind will be open to what she has learned and her heart opened more and more as the years go by to Jesus.

Aaron has a problem seeing is where his life should be leading him.  Please pray that he can listen to his father Paul and those around him who want him to work hard and obtain a real education now rather than just coast towards oblivion.

Danielle has accepted Christ as her Saviour. Pray she will read the Bible and meditate on His Word so she can grow in him.

Helene and her family ask your prayers for them as they deal with the loss of Alan, husband and father.

Stephanie seems to be very deeply into post partum depression after her baby was born prematurely.  Please pray for her Mother in Law who is going a great distance to help Stephanie and her new Grandson.  Pray that Stephanie will be able to direct her attention outward, rather than inward.

William is an elderly man living with his Son and Daughter in-law. William is causing trouble in the family because of his demanding ways and continually using bad language. The family is at wit’s end to know how to handle him and will appreciate your guidance and prayers.

Caitlin is in the grip of the Prince of Darkness; she thinks there is escape from reality in drugs.  The saddest part is that reality is not as she sees it.  Her family is despairing as they can do nothing to help her and ask that you pray for the Holy Ghost to enter into heart and show her the need for change before it is too late.

Nathaniel is in spiritual turmoil.  His family and friends will appreciate it if you will keep him in your prayers for him to find the root of his trouble and accept God’s help to heal his heart.

Sam and her two children that have been living in a shelter and are to lose their place there.  Please pray a place will be found they can stay in and recover.

Please pray Darlene will surrender her life to Christ.

Norrie is facing daily exams in the weeks ahead.  Pray for calmness and concentration and to do the best possible.

Jonathan is addicted to drugs.  He is now in jail awaiting trial. His parents and friends will appreciate it if you will keep him in your prayers for him to find the root of his trouble and accept God’s help to heal addiction.

Beth is suffering from ungodly treatment in her marriage.  Please pray God will guide her in her behavior, actions and thoughts that she might be able to lead her husband to God so her marriage might prosper to the benefit of them.

Brandon a young man from a Christian family who married a year ago and almost immediately became estranged from him family. As a result he has had a serious problem with keeping the civil law. Please pray for Brandon that he will return to the Lord and the many problems will be eventually settled. Pray the hurt he has caused so many will be helped with our Lord’s care and love.

Dennis has some decisions to make and will appreciate our Lord's guidance.

Earl to read and understand Scriptures he has been given.

Jeanette has had many members of her family die from diabetes and several are near death now. Jeanette does not know the Lord and is despondent and perplexed about her family and herself.  Please pray she can open her heart to allow the Holy Ghost in to bring her knowledge and understanding.

Dr. Elizabeth Raj is teaching a biblical approach to the psychological problems facing many in our society today. She is battling against the growing influence of worldly psychology adopted by the churches themselves. Elizabeth constantly stresses answers are found between the covers of that precious Book, the Holy Bible.  Please pray for encouragement, strength, fortitude and courage for her.

Daniel and Danielle are experiencing family strife as a result of custodial issues with a daughter.  Please pray they and those they strive with might look to the child’s best interests in their time of difficulty and disagreement; to work for her best interests and not use her as a weapon amongst themselves.

Abigail is a teenager who has behavior problems.  She feels she is in an area of mental darkness.  Please pray that she might look to God for help and not within herself.

Sara asks that you pray for guidance for her as she deals with the stresses of her family and life.  Pray that she can separate those things which she can affect from those things which she cannot and give her grace to accept that she cannot do everything and can only change those things within her control.  She asks for God’s help for her business so that she might remain gainfully employed while keeping up with the needs of her mother and husband and healing her own problems.

Jacquie to open her heart to God and accept His Love and Grace.

Hap asks you to pray he might be able to trust God will help him make the right decisions at the right time and not to worry uselessly, to change those things he can change, accept those things he cannot change, sleep well to be able to do the correct things with a clear head and that he will open his heart to the Holy Ghost.

Anglican Orthodox Church
From Bishop John Nakka of our Church Family in South India. We must know, but by the grace of God, we could, and may, experience the same in our own land:

Dear ALL,

I am so painfully writing this mail as we are very very suffering a lot politically and  also due to separation of our State. No power for around 10 to 12 hours in the cities and more than 12 hours  in the villages. No enough drinking water, very hot summer.... Politically we are now really afraid as the sectarian hindu religious background parties took over the Union and State Governments. We are a religious minority in India and now our hearts started beating fast and do not know what happened  for us in the near future. WE ARE REALLY UNFORTUNATE. We may live like a second grade citizens and we need to face a very hard persecution as was the Hebrews in Egypt. The persecution was already started and around 05 issues were reported for abuse, warnings and stopping the conventions etc., during this week alone i.e., just within a week after Mr.Modi took over the charge.

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS IN INDIA.

yours fraternally in Christ,

+John.

Christians in the Central African Republic are experiencing the ravages of a war between the Muslim and Christians. We have both ministers and members of the Anglican Orthodox Church in Central African Republic. Please pray for God’s guidance and protection for all persecuted Christians and those around them.

On 21 March 2014, Faith Theological Seminary in Gujranwala, Pakistan graduated a class. Please pray the Holy Ghost will fill the hearts of the graduates as they go forth to spread The Word of Jesus Christ our Saviour

Rev Paul Thompson, pastor of Christ Anglican Church (AOC) in Oakland, Iowa, asks you pray for the Holy Ghost to enter the hearts of their congregation that they might find better ways to serve our Lord and bring the Word to those around them.  

Rev Rick Reid asks that you pray for Saint Andrews Anglican Church in Newton, North Carolina.  They would like to see their congregation grow to the point is it self-sustaining and vibrant.  The congregation asks that you pray for the Holy Ghost to enter into their hearts and inspire them to do their best to further His Will.

Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Orthodox Church is under a lot of stress.  We all are, but they need even more prayer.  Rev Roger Jessup, their wonderful minister, is pressed by the duties of a primary care giver, in addition to all the worries of this world.  They have one of their family’s primary breadwinners who will be soon unemployed, absent His intervention.  As Rev Roger said so eloquently, "We must pray for those who mean us harm and deprive us of our property are our enemies: Our LORD has so commanded us."  We must pray they will see light and cleave to it while turning their backs on the Prince of this World.  Equally important, we must pray that the Lord will raise up a political leader from among us as He has done in the past.  Pray also for trust in God for each member of the parish and for them to find economic relief.

Armed Forces & Contractors

Airman Donny Patton (Hulbert Field, Florida), Jordan (USMC – Fleet Marine Force - Pacific), Trevor (USAF - KC-10 Boom Operator – New Jersey), Trevor (USN – Whidbey Island, EF-18 Pilot), Kurt Thomas (USN – Camp Foster, Okinawa)

Persecuted
Around the world, Christians are under attack, not only in the Muslim world, but from Hindus and others in India.  Also, they are under continual attack in the name of “Separation of Church and State” in the western world, as it becomes actively atheist or pro-devil buddy.  Please pray for God’s guidance and protection for all persecuted Christians and those around them.

Thanksgiving
Bishop Jerry Ogles, Executive Secretary Betty Hoffman and Rev Jack Arnold give thanks for safe travel to Kenya last week to welcome the church there into the Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide Communion. 

Roy and Janet Morales-Kuhn and their daughter Liz give thanks for travel to visit Liz and Southern California.

Various Special Requests
Nathalie is teaching English in a small western Ukrainian town where they are having so many problems. Pray for Nathalie and others around the world who are standing up for Christian principles in their countries.

This is a horrible time for the people of India, Christians in particular; they are having problems with Hunger, Bank Closings, Transportation and Schools not functioning.  Pray for the Leaders and Members of our Church in Eluru Andhra Pradesh. Pray their basic needs will be met and God will be close to them in this time of need.

Lisa discovered her 9 year old daughter Mariah had been raped. This is in the court system now and we know that prayers are needed for this family. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16  Lisa says she feels the power of your prayer in God’s hand on her heart.

Please pray for all the people of Egypt; Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt is asking your prayer as the supporters of the deposed Mursi government, with the support of the United States government, have been attacking Christian churches--Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox.  They destroyed the car of Anglican priest Rev. Ehab Ayoub.  The people of Egypt, the people of the United States need our prayers, even more so the people of the Muslim Brotherhood that they might repent of their evil and know God so the rest of the people may live in peace.

We ask that you pray, please ask God that the Holy Ghost might give you insight into how you might make the lives of your friends and family better.  Remember helping others is not just those who you don’t know!

Please join us in praying that the Free Teen Guitar Class will be continue to be an opportunity for God to work in the lives of the kids and their families.  Please ask God to guide the class to new opportunities to make Him known to others.  Help us to let the love of our Lord shine through us into their lives, putting Him first, so that He might enter in to their hearts and lives.

The near future, as well as Next Sunday
4 July 2013 – Independence Day– Morning Prayer - Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

6 July 2013 – Third Sunday after Trinity– Morning Prayer - Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

13 July 2013 – Fourth Sunday after Trinity– Morning Prayer - Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

20 July 2013 – Fifth Sunday after Trinity– Holy Communion - Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA