tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68786301488056116022024-03-17T22:59:39.377-04:00Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide CommunionPO Box 128
Statesville, NC 28687Anglican Orthox Church Int'lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02887490697301534945noreply@blogger.comBlogger4045125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-3792191544410611342024-03-17T14:54:00.000-04:002024-03-17T14:54:57.915-04:00AOC Sunday Report – Fifth Sunday in Lent<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDvtmkVzDfbSgRRXimtXioXz9QovL38adItwqeyZkY3VPxbBloxr8BnfHPlyzR3i4RNg0mZWIfHjOj34eqtnbOvrO62czb01T6QmXKbPI7k3xXAAu2tPsmie56kWbMzvhPcXLjqr93OpdIYleXIU8vL8JNv9R0D6sQye3DhpjRkTt2oWz4J-SI2vlZnfJ6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDvtmkVzDfbSgRRXimtXioXz9QovL38adItwqeyZkY3VPxbBloxr8BnfHPlyzR3i4RNg0mZWIfHjOj34eqtnbOvrO62czb01T6QmXKbPI7k3xXAAu2tPsmie56kWbMzvhPcXLjqr93OpdIYleXIU8vL8JNv9R0D6sQye3DhpjRkTt2oWz4J-SI2vlZnfJ6=w303-h400" width="303" /><br /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Happy Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A1-dy8biWMmsd_3sKp38cwg-bYV_Su06/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a></span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is news from Pakistan and Bishop Jack’s write up on the Madrid trip; Bishop Jerry will have one in a week or two.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Yves and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">Jack’</span><span style="color: #333333;">s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we acknowledge without God’s great goodness and divine intervention, we cannot be preserved in either body or soul. in order to get into heaven one must be perfect. But as we all know as Saint Paul says, all fall short. So how do we get in then? In the Gospel, Jesus explained to the Pharisees before Abraham had even been conceived, He was. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has just been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Candy, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As we near the end of Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">May you see the epic week ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Hap Arnold<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxlJoqf8hw34qzsc5VBCG04uhCTMsmkxDDt0WoHDZyyQpm0WIUOQKJWHimZo7oiki4uzucgY9oM2VyQhAc2Xa3cg9api1xOXH4-j-mlL-9pwZ1C2ADz33O6ZbZLoCNyIKi4RtFGFE5eGFhTkuB0dhOv4RdVSaYxrBBl9X8hzAwbzVoB24D5PeSomEyYuhS" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxlJoqf8hw34qzsc5VBCG04uhCTMsmkxDDt0WoHDZyyQpm0WIUOQKJWHimZo7oiki4uzucgY9oM2VyQhAc2Xa3cg9api1xOXH4-j-mlL-9pwZ1C2ADz33O6ZbZLoCNyIKi4RtFGFE5eGFhTkuB0dhOv4RdVSaYxrBBl9X8hzAwbzVoB24D5PeSomEyYuhS=w102-h100" width="102" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-11315245225471775372024-03-17T13:57:00.000-04:002024-03-17T13:57:40.075-04:00Fifth Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<p> </p><p><br /></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOw4aKLJyrGWLN8s34kxsyNgqaYdqx5Ixoma3s2EpeJiOeRAJ1Eld4jPxv10NQLlAbq45Suta_RjTLP9sH08HHi_t6I7Dv6gPxzV-_KtkyJIGMvIbUgOrgKPs_Vmi3eNsQrg5oRoNgMPJF7gz3vxrmGmfpH-akMkKukIVkOE7rjONOz6q8QA4spsS9AvRY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="800" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOw4aKLJyrGWLN8s34kxsyNgqaYdqx5Ixoma3s2EpeJiOeRAJ1Eld4jPxv10NQLlAbq45Suta_RjTLP9sH08HHi_t6I7Dv6gPxzV-_KtkyJIGMvIbUgOrgKPs_Vmi3eNsQrg5oRoNgMPJF7gz3vxrmGmfpH-akMkKukIVkOE7rjONOz6q8QA4spsS9AvRY=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">Bishop Jack’</span><span style="color: #333333;">s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we acknowledge without God’s great goodness and divine intervention, we cannot be preserved in either body or soul. in order to get into heaven one must be perfect. But as we all know as Saint Paul says, all fall short. So how do we get in then? In the Gospel, Jesus explained to the Pharisees before Abraham had even been conceived, He was. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Propers for today are found on Page 132-133, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Epistle for today came from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, starting at the Eleventh Verse of the Ninth Chapter. Paul summarizes both the symbolism and the substance of the Lord’s sacrifice on our behalf. Paul opens the secret of the One Perfect Sacrifice, One Time, for All Time and All Mankind. Paul is clearly appealing to the sense of the Jews when he asks them if the blood of goats will set aside or atone for sin, how much more can be done by the Perfect Sacrifice made on our behalf?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 30.5pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>HRIST</b> being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint John, starting at the Forty-Sixth Verse of the Eighth Chapter and tells the story of Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees in the temple. Like much of John it is filled with deep explanation of Jesus and His purpose here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Knowing them looking to find the worst in Him, Jesus asked, “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” In a point central to Christianity, he went on, “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” When we hear the term Jews here, we should hear the world in general, for He spoke to all who would not hear. When they would not hear, He pointed out He sought not glory or praise from them, but only from the Father whom in reality they knew not. Here He offers the singular benefit of Christianity, “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” This concept being foreign to them, they asked if He thought He was greater than Abraham. That brought the crowning touch, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day.” Knowing He was only in his early 30s, they could not grasp how he could have seen Abraham.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In a demonstration of the non-linearity of God’s time, He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.<a href="applewebdata://FCF29327-EF46-42A8-9E0C-685D23E1F43E#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>” As might be expected, this offended the Keepers of The Law.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 24.5pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ESUS</b> said, <span style="color: red;">Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God</span>. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, <span style="color: red;">I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death</span>. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, <span style="color: red;">If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad</span>. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am</span>. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="applewebdata://FCF29327-EF46-42A8-9E0C-685D23E1F43E#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">This response was similar to God’s answer to Moses’ question, “Who do I tell them sent me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Jack Arnold</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop of the Diocese of the West </span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif;">–</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"> AOC USA</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Education and Training</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. I got back from the trip to Madrid earlier this week. I managed to get a fever and pretty bad cough, from which I am recovering. So, if I cough during the sermon, please excuse me I advance. Luckily it is not contagious on video.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFOzEOvG_bs0aNBDm0ah5D9v38syzFW_ztsyKDrdqPivVHYlJwetFmhtEw7RZKWL98T7S_hWaTXdEKByb3rqg7xOb6z1w1MxtR8L8HBKYZSMpB_6rZbFrNNKsOdU4rfEZInDItt1o7rYRNqImwwkoGZ3RrARgbEc3dyBLVw2S-3hXfXuWEp59mG2kRkhm0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1014" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFOzEOvG_bs0aNBDm0ah5D9v38syzFW_ztsyKDrdqPivVHYlJwetFmhtEw7RZKWL98T7S_hWaTXdEKByb3rqg7xOb6z1w1MxtR8L8HBKYZSMpB_6rZbFrNNKsOdU4rfEZInDItt1o7rYRNqImwwkoGZ3RrARgbEc3dyBLVw2S-3hXfXuWEp59mG2kRkhm0" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">… thy people; … by thy great goodness … may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul …<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Collect, we acknowledge without God’s great goodness and divine intervention, we cannot be preserved in either body or soul. This is a constant truth through ought the Bible, the New Testament in particular. Without God’s great goodness we simply cannot be preserved. What does asking for God’s great goodness mean for us? It means when we ask we might be governed and thus preserved by His <i>great goodness</i>, we are in effect asking for His Guidance for us, so we can be preserved in both body and soul. We acknowledge God is the ultimate good and is the source of all truth, and we need His Help if we are to succeed. This concept is constant throughout all the collects. It is constant because it is the truth. We can only follow the narrow uphill path towards heaven with His Goodness and His Guidance. As always, if we are left to our own devices and desires, we are lost. <i>Guided</i> means we need to ask, then listen to what He Tells us, then actually follow those instructions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">For those who are not perfect<a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>, following instructions can be hard at times but it must be done nevertheless. And I have found this holds true in all aspects of live not just our spiritual aspect. However, in all areas without His Guidance we are truly doomed. We must look to Him for the guidance we need to get through the spiritual and physical turmoils of this life. We must trust in Him and not in our own fallible guidance. We on our own volition cannot drive the narrow up hill path towards heaven safely, we must rely on the Holy Ghost as the perfect infallible lead car that we follow for that guidance. The Holy Ghost will always give us perfect directions, however it is on us to act on and follow those directions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Further to this thought, if we are looking to Him for guidance, we then need look to Him for safety. Safety meaning <u>only</u> the safety of our soul, our eternal life. It does not mean safety from dangers to the body here on Earth. Our bodies are still able to be physically harmed, but our souls are safe from eternal damnation, that is what safety truly means. It also does not mean we are to put ourselves at risk recklessly, but it means we are to have confidence that if we die while doing actions for Him, we are ensured that our souls will be safe and headed towards heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">However in order to get into heaven one must be perfect. But as we all know as Saint Paul says, all fall short. So how do we get in then? This is quite the accounting dilemma. How do you account us, who are very imperfect creatures as purified and perfect creatures? There is an easy solution for this and that is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our only means of being accounted as perfect when we come before God is to rely on the sacrifice and intermediary priesthood of His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to account us as perfect before God on that final day. Christ has replaced the intermediary priesthood of the Jews with himself, our one and only High Intermediary Priest. Your AOC ministers, while officially titled as priests, are not intermediary priests! The day of the intermediary priests have come and gone for us with the Old Testament in the past. We need only Christ, there are no middle men between us and Jesus. He is our Savior, our Leader, our Teacher, our Master, our Example! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ came to succeed the Old Covenant marked by sacrifices of innocent animals; killing off animals in an effort to atone for our sins really did not do the job. However as we have stated before, the Old Covenant was a needed step before the New Covenant could occur. It was a way to prepare people for Christ’s coming. They would not have understood His Message otherwise without it. Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection highlighted that His Ministry was all about action. If we truly are believers of Him, we will ACT upon His Word and not just say it. There is truth to the saying that action speak louder than words. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Gospel, Jesus explained to the Pharisees before Abraham had even been conceived, He was. In fact, Jesus was the one who created this Earth, so He has been around since before the beginning of the planet. The Pharisees could or would not grasp in their heads Jesus was who He claimed to be, the Son of God. They chose to <u>try</u> to destroy His ministry rather than follow Him. He was interfering with their comfortable way of living and deceiving the Jewish people. He was a threat to their system. They would not understand His Message, so they opted to try to destroy Him instead. Note the word try. Try as hard as they might, the Pharisees could not interfere with Jesus’s ultimate action for us, his Death and Resurrection upon the cross. Even with the truth of who He was laid bare in front of them, they still chose not to believe. Time and time again we see them confronted with the truth Jesus offers and they always choose to reject it rather than embrace the truth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This is a very common pattern with God’s enemies. Their names and appearances my change, but their inner hearts and souls have not changed over the eons. Their hearts have been blinded by their love of their selves, pride and greed. They cannot see the simple truths we see as followers of God. They look down upon us and think we are the ignorant ones, when reality is the other way around. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">They cannot, or will not, see that the priceless gift Jesus came to offer us. Jesus came to save our souls and give us eternal life, eternal life starting right then. Not just for the Jews and Israel, but the whole wide world, Jew, Gentile, Greek and all others. Jesus brought salvation and life to the entire world. That was not what the Pharisees were looking so hard for with their magnifying glasses as they examined Torah and The Law. They were looking for what would be only a temporary power, power on this physical plane. This pales in comparison to safety and happiness forever, for all eternity. Pharisees were not big picture people, and as Calvin told Hobbes, <i>We big picture people rarely become historians</i> or Pharisees, I might add. The Pharisees were very obviously not big picture people; they misinterpreted the prophecies of the Messiah. Regardless, even though some people chose to misunderstand the prophecies, He came and He made that one sacrifice, at one time, for all mankind, for all time. <i><span style="color: red;">For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life</span></i><a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Who is Jesus? Our Savior? Indeed. But, more He has been since before the beginning of the world, for He is One with I Am.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Through His Actions, we are saved.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Do ye likewise:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>ACT<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Be of God - Live of God - Act of God<o:p></o:p></b></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">All of us, that is.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">If the text of this sentence seems familiar, it is John 3.16, probably the most widely quoted text of the Bible.</span></p></div></div></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-26400658116537334472024-03-17T10:32:00.000-04:002024-03-17T10:32:23.341-04:00Fifth Sunday in Lent - Passion Sunday - The Cross - Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide - 17 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTmZdnPp1jT6-kYonbfVhyphenhyphenN9dV5LSCUxm-anSqnPsh8r7Y-QXQCgL3kaLWWvoKL4qRn8Fi6xbzf-UhT34lMMrkwkB1YComKmIy2IYxLntovDXUQ0TUr5dX0kj8Poh-dZsZp5ELZV6xoaN0FDCRP0b7BXQFwpktO711KFJlQ8ATmgIbXVsomNvbvUHKR6l/s960/Jesus%20on%20Cross%20talking%20to%20thief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTmZdnPp1jT6-kYonbfVhyphenhyphenN9dV5LSCUxm-anSqnPsh8r7Y-QXQCgL3kaLWWvoKL4qRn8Fi6xbzf-UhT34lMMrkwkB1YComKmIy2IYxLntovDXUQ0TUr5dX0kj8Poh-dZsZp5ELZV6xoaN0FDCRP0b7BXQFwpktO711KFJlQ8ATmgIbXVsomNvbvUHKR6l/w303-h400/Jesus%20on%20Cross%20talking%20to%20thief.jpg" width="303" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">commonly called Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaPTdrdOSaekEjl6tXF4VBABUHFL3fRmR0CO0VtvHb3tANt5yaRZCw4EEbO1MBycr-pcd48c4xtPaMg_FdSmvTYMZNH_4maui_NMvJF5_yrqfDNptnbFICtA-NJ98mHdOo1mpAd53O30qTyy79vZPOyWCcYOiZJZDpcFNPacVKl5f_Isds3MtbeLzjhod/s406/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaPTdrdOSaekEjl6tXF4VBABUHFL3fRmR0CO0VtvHb3tANt5yaRZCw4EEbO1MBycr-pcd48c4xtPaMg_FdSmvTYMZNH_4maui_NMvJF5_yrqfDNptnbFICtA-NJ98mHdOo1mpAd53O30qTyy79vZPOyWCcYOiZJZDpcFNPacVKl5f_Isds3MtbeLzjhod/s320/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">¶</span><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"> This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Scripture to be discussed:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #942092; font-size: 31.5pt;">H<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>AVING</b><i> therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20 </span></i><i>By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">21 </span></i><i>And having an high priest over the house of God; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">22 </span></i><i>Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Hebrews 10:19-22)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Sermon <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This Sunday bears out the Doctrine of Atonement – a term I heard another minister describe as ‘<i>at-one-ment’</i>with God. The cross reconciled us to God from the curse of Adam’s Fall and the subsequent Law which was our teacher to point out our infirmity and inability to be obedient to God in our own strength and merit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ is the realization of that true Tabernacle of which that the Church in the Wilderness *<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(see Acts 7:38)</span> was a type and picture. Christ is our Tabernacle “<i>not made with hands</i>.” “<i>For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(2 Corinthians 5:1)</span> The later Temple was an improved picture of that Wilderness Tabernacle.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Wilderness Tabernacle was lavishly furnished with silk and wool curtains, gold covered furniture, and other ornaments of gold. It was a thing of beauty INSIDE, but was rough and shabby appearance without being covered with goat’s hair. In that respect, it foreshadowed the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">2 </span></i><i>For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">3 </span></i><i>He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah 53:2-3)</span> But the Heart of our Lord was pure beauty of finest gems.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Both the Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon were oriented toward the east. This symbolizes the welcoming gate of the Son of God at His second coming. <i><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></i><i><span style="color: red;">For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matthew 24:27)</span> He is our Sun of Righteousness and His brightness is beyond comparison. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Malachi 4:2)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The doctrines of salvation, atonement, redemption & justification are all fully consummated in the Doctrine of the Cross. These are physically represented in both the Wilderness Tabernacle and the Temple. Inside the outer gate of the both stands the Altar of burnt offerings. No one enters without confronting this demand for a sacrifice as the covering of sin. On the Hebrew Day of Atonement, each family brought their lamb, or other acceptable animal. Without blemish to be sacrificed as an atonement of sin. The sacrifice of Christ is the Christians offering for sin – a continual offering which was sacrificed once-and-for-all. It is thereby an eternal sacrifice. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ is an High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek (King of Righteousness). He is the eternal High Priest and therefore the only High Priest for all time and eternity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> At the moment of His death on the cross, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, <i><span style="color: red;">Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: </span></i><i>and having said thus, he gave up the ghost</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Luke 23:46)</span> At that very moment, the Passover Lambs were being sacrificed. Moreover, During the Day of Atonement, the High Priest of Israel entered into the Holy of Holies beyond the veil to sprinkle the blood sacrifice of the people. On entry to the Holy of Holies, the High Priest must pass between the seven candles on the north side of the Holy Place and the Shewbread Table on the south. The Candles represented Christ as the Light of the World as well; and the Shewbread represented Christ as the Bread of Heaven. The High Priest stopped at the Altar of Incense to offer up the prayers of the people – the rising smoke of the incense representing the prayers of the people being wafted up to Heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The High Priest could only go into the Holy of Holies once per year, but as our High Priest, Christ intercedes for our sins continually and forever. Behind the Veil was the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron, and Manna. Above the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat symbolizing grace as trumping the Law. The Mercy Seat, to me, is a clear representation of Christ and His grace.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #942092; font-size: 31.5pt;">T</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>HEN</b><i> said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">53 </span></i><i>Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">54 </span></i><i>Jesus answered, </i><i><span style="color: red;">If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God</span></i><i>: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">55 </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying</span></i><i>. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">56 </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad</span></i><i>. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">57 </span></i><i>Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">58 </span></i><i>Jesus said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">59 </span></i><i>Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 8:52-59)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ most often referred to His divine role as the Great I AM. He was the <i><span style="color: red;">I Am</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span>of the Burning Bush before Moses, and He is our great <span style="color: red;">I am </span>having neither beginning nor end. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #942092; font-size: 31.5pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>OR</b><i> he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">18 </span></i><i>For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">19 </span></i><i>For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20 </span></i><i>And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">21 </span></i><i>(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">22 </span></i><i>By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">23 </span></i><i>And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">24 </span></i><i>But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">26 </span></i><i>For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">27 </span></i><i>Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Hebrews 7:17-27)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> By the means of the Law, we have realized our weakness and inability to be accounted righteous. But by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, we are made clean by His blood and are accounted righteous by the imputed righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have an Advocate with the Father who is our continual Intercessor. We need not other – neither saint, nor pope, nor priest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> In the Absolution pronounced by the minister in Anglican worship, the minister has no authority to forgive sins but, instead, pronounces the will of God to forgive every sin of which the penitent has confessed and repented of.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY</b><i> </i>God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon <u>you<a href="applewebdata://5713DFC6-4A52-4A84-AECD-798B622750C7#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></u></span></span></a></u>; pardon and deliver <u>you</u> from all <u>your</u> sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring <u>you</u> to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen</i><o:p></o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">Prayer of Absolution, 1928 Book of Common Prayer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The minister simply pronounces the Lord’s will to grant based on the General Confession of sins that precede the Absolution.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ is our Redeemer, Atonement, Savior, King and Lord of all. As the old minister described the Atonement, so I concur – Christ came to put us At-One-Ment with God. We are all One in Christ as He is One with the Father. He has reconciled His elect from Abraham to you and me by His cross. If we have put on the Mind that was in Christ, we are One with Him and with the Father. And if we are One with Him, we will not suffer quarrels and dissension in the Church. Such divisions is evidence of a lack of grace in the church and her members.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Let us all embrace that Oneness with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, and our Father.<o:p></o:p></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="applewebdata://5713DFC6-4A52-4A84-AECD-798B622750C7#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">In most of our parishes, the <u>you</u> is changed to <u>us</u> and the <u>your</u> to <u>our</u>, inasmuch as the minister has just confessed to his sins also and we want to make it very clear it is God who is forgiving and not the minster who has not that power.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-19977509700394302092024-03-16T19:57:00.002-04:002024-03-16T19:57:50.191-04:00Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called Passion Sunday<p> </p><p><br /></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVnqCy84YbPyX_pp65GmmwpGYOetkGDeIHmlaoF3JQNS8LvNwFNVNzydl8S5r7jo1ndlhPRzgPVYgcRDbjtTJ9q2FmkobDfSmiZnxUxfSQOoPqW7ovBeP9OF4ZmeUAlMASpeMyiBnJjk42n5hyR-2fp3YFN7aVtNetUFRSNeN6hLsfXnGw5QzUHEwfd9Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVnqCy84YbPyX_pp65GmmwpGYOetkGDeIHmlaoF3JQNS8LvNwFNVNzydl8S5r7jo1ndlhPRzgPVYgcRDbjtTJ9q2FmkobDfSmiZnxUxfSQOoPqW7ovBeP9OF4ZmeUAlMASpeMyiBnJjk42n5hyR-2fp3YFN7aVtNetUFRSNeN6hLsfXnGw5QzUHEwfd9Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">commonly called Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Collect<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The COLLECT for Passion Sunday relates to the just and orderly government of the people of God in His trust and preservation. This COLLECT, too, is taken from the Gregorian Sacramentary.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> The original (in the Latin) for <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">‘</span>thy people<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span> was<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i>familia</i>. I prefer the older term for it means the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">‘</span>Household, or family, of God<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>and that is what those who trust in God should be called.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> The government of God is just and equitable, and all governments incorporate to some extent the Laws of God for governance, but those that corrupt aspects of these laws in contempt of the Maker are those tyrants and despots that are so common in our day around the world. I need not remind the Christian that ALL just laws derive from the Law of God and are subordinate thereto. The French economist and Parliamentarian, Frederick Bastiat recognized this principle and very well articulated it in his short commentary entitled, <u>The Law</u> of 1848. But even sooner than this, the Holy Bible also held forth the same principle lest any forget:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>It is</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i>better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 118:8)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>We ought to obey God rather than men</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 5:29)</span> I hope no minister of God ever doubts his allegiance to God over the traditions or deceits of man-made government. If the government forbids the admonition of sins such as homosexuality, abortion, or adultery, I hope every Christian and minister reading this devotion will be faithful to his Christian vows and follow God rather than man. If the laws and purposes of government become contrary to Scriptural truth, then they are not legally binding on the Christian. God did not give us a conscience to be squandered away at the bar of government.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Our Founding Fathers well knew the legitimate limits of governmental power and included a clear definition in the Declaration of Independence <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> an oft disregarded formulary of our freedoms: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“</span><b><i><u>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. </u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">—</span></u></i></b><b><i><u> That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, </u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">—</span></u></i></b><b><i><u> That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness</u></i></b>.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">”</span> Declaration of Independence, unanimously ratified by the Thirteen United States of America, 4<sup>t<i>h</i></sup><i> </i>July 1776, Anno Domini. Governments that are righteous will also enforce laws that are righteous.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>ready to every good work</u></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Titus 3:1)</span> Every good work is not possible under the tyranny of oppression and religious persecution. It is noteworthy that the Founding Fathers of the most flourishing Republic in history acknowledged the Source of legitimate governmental powers to descend from God.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">We petition, in today<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s COLLECT, for God<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s government and preservation of His own people.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i><u>WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon</u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></u></i><b><i><u>thy people</u></i></b>. Our prayers have no effect on the government of the ungodly, but they indeed do have application to the national character and morals of the nation in which His people dwell. You will recall from 2 Chronicles 7:14, that well-worn petition and counsel for national healing:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(2 Chron 7:14)</span> Though modern-day America has become overpopulated by heathen and luke-warm Christians, only those who are called by HIS name, with serious intent, will suffice in prayer. All the false professor and legal idiots do not need to offer prayer at all for no one would hear them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“………</span><b><i><u>that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul</u></i></b>.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>What result may we expect if we are a nation well-favored by God for our faith and obedience? The amazing testimony of America in her first 175 years has been characterized by faith and righteousness before the Lord.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">7</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">8</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">9</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">10</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Prov 3:7-10) </span> The blessings of God on a nation obedient to His laws are inexhaustible and extend not only the health of the soul, but the health and preservation of the body as well.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 33:12)</span> What a tragic downfall that is destined for the favored-nation who has known well the blessings of God but, yet, has fallen for the filth and slop of the world <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> a nation that once honored God in all her public institutions and expressions, but has now abandoned every reference to God and embraced the sins of abortion and homosexuality along with every other abominable thing.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> It has long been the yearning of my heart that I could write in truth and good conscience of my beloved nation<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s turn back to the God that gave her standing from her ancient founding; but I cannot do so. I have prayed that God would place a hook in our hearts, if we awaken not to our peril, and draw is by force back to His favored ground. He may do so yet, but I fear we are approaching that impasse of which Jeremiah prophesied. He at first preached repentance for national salvation, yet, the apostasy became so great and tragic that he changed his prophesying to a preaching of going into bondage as a chastisement, and then a national salvation based on repentance from the land of bondage at Babylon. How earnestly I pray that such bondage will not overtake our beloved America, but if it cause a national repentance, I plead that the Lord will bring it on sooner rather than later. It will be a sad day when the American Song is sung in bondage to strangers as in Babylon:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">1</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>By the rivers of Babylon, there</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>we sat down</u></i></b><b><i>, yea,</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>we wept</u></i></b><b><i>, when</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>we remembered</u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i>Zion. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">2</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof</u></i></b><b><i>. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">3</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>For there</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>they that carried us away captive required of us a song</u></i></b><b><i>; and</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>they that wasted us required of us mirth</u></i></b><b><i>, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 137:1-3)</span> Will it not be far more edifying to sing our national song by the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers than on the riverbanks of some strange and hateful enemy of our people? Unfortunately, the enemy is encamped among us today and will have a song in mirth of Christ and our God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Again, beware the fateful words of that ancient Roman proponent of Republican forms of government, Marcus Tullius Cicero:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>Power and law are not synonymous. In truth they are frequently in opposition and irreconcilable. There is God's Law from which all Equitable laws of man emerge and by which men must live if they are not to die in oppression, chaos and despair. Divorced from God's eternal and immutable Law, established before the founding of the suns, man's power is evil no matter the noble words with which it is employed or the motives urged when enforcing it. Men of good will, mindful therefore of the Law laid down by God, will oppose governments whose rule is by men, and if they wish to survive as a nation they will destroy the government which attempts to adjudicate by the whim of venal judges</i></b>. 42 BC.</p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-78113713271496635672024-03-15T17:19:00.002-04:002024-03-15T17:19:46.064-04:00Live not by lies – 15 March 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOUCBsIggMmJo8KOjHMWM25hjeIjREs4bjm9og9A2NUxjGNKwW4YlwdHzcI8NQCgOXtUFghLAj5CxAe4HYdcoIoFzcnccV3WsngO92qvcdTFCNK0DR8Wv2Z9R-TpLp8iZd3OTWQVKyx3zswVUaxXEKN6JEs80fGwetN9O4GV29UczIVGttAHYP4VeeqosY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1408" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOUCBsIggMmJo8KOjHMWM25hjeIjREs4bjm9og9A2NUxjGNKwW4YlwdHzcI8NQCgOXtUFghLAj5CxAe4HYdcoIoFzcnccV3WsngO92qvcdTFCNK0DR8Wv2Z9R-TpLp8iZd3OTWQVKyx3zswVUaxXEKN6JEs80fGwetN9O4GV29UczIVGttAHYP4VeeqosY=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">HE</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;">10 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;">11 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Jeremiah 17:9-11)</span><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> It is common knowledge to the committed Christian the heart (even our own) is deceitful and easily led aside from the truth. But by faith and conviction, the Christian disregards the beguilement of satanic sirens of destruction to lead us from truth and into abject deception – such deception as arises to delusions of titanic proportions. Are we not approaching the realization of those delusions? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Serpent of Eden has longed plotted to destroy the man that God had made from the beginning – through abortions, homosexuality, wars, famine, poisonous drugs, and ruthless attacks on the Holy Estate of Matrimony. According to the <i>Worldometer</i>, the population of the world has reached 8.1 billion in 2024. The degenerate, so-called elites, propose that the world population be reduced radically to merely one billion. Of course, that would not include the lunatics who propose such a reduction. But those who are left would be perceived as pawns of those elites pulling the puppet strings. What philosophical debauchery!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Merely twenty years ago, who would have believed we would be scolded for denying a man can become pregnant, or that men could compete in women’s sports, or that the greatest enemy of the world’s environment was man himself. Yet these very denials of science are being foisted upon our youth from kindergarten to college . . . . and, unfortunately, the ruse is working.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> A great Christian and Russian patriot who stood up against the lies of the so-called ‘elite,’ by refusing to play the game of making belief in Marxist delusions, wrote the following statement upon being exiled from Russian following long imprisonment there:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252);">Yes, at first it will not be fair. Someone will have to temporarily lose his job. For the young who seek to live by truth, this will at first severely complicate life, for their tests and quizzes, too, are stuffed with lies, and so choices will have to be made. But there is no loophole left for anyone who seeks to be honest: Not even for a day, not even in the safest technical occupations can he avoid even a single one of the listed choices—to be made in favor of either truth or lies, in favor of spiritual independence or spiritual servility. And as for him who lacks the courage to defend even his own soul: Let him not brag of his progressive views, boast of his status as an academician or a recognized artist, a distinguished citizen or general. Let him say to himself plainly: I am cattle, I am a coward, I seek only warmth and to eat my fill</span></i><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252);">.</span> Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Live not by Lies, 1974<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> There is One who knows the heart of man intimately and He has privileged His elect to invite Him into their hearts to sit as Sovereign and Lord of all. His Holy Word is the only assurance of truth and grace. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The very center verse of the Bible is found in Psalms 118:8 – <i>It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man</i>. It is no accident this verse is at the heart of Scripture. The principle is loudly reinforced in the New Testament: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>We ought to obey God rather than men</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 5:29)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Our introductory text contains a curious illustration – <i>As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool</i>. There is a belief among the people of the Middle East the eggs of the partridge, which she lays on the ground, are often stolen by other predators. To compensate for the loss, the partridge steals the eggs of others and hatches them as her own; but, once hatched, the babies run to their natural mother leaving the surrogate alone and unloved. Truth lies trampled in the streets of the thorough fares of man, but when truth is discovered, it rises up to claim its own and leaves the impostor childless. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Lord God has given us Divine and Immutable truths by which to conduct our lives. The truths, or partridge eggs, of other false ideologies and philosophies will never profit us, but will leave us loveless and without our Godly Parent. Those who deny the natural and moral law of God will likewise end in ruin: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Is it not high time for us, as Christian and lovers of our land and family, rise up <i>en masse</i> and loudly proclaim the truth over the delusional voices being sounded from the very towers of governmental power?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 30.5pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>RY</b><i> aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression</i>. <o:p></o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah 58:1)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-82367894108335292342024-03-12T21:45:00.002-04:002024-03-12T21:45:36.497-04:00Hymns of the Church - I heard the voice of Jesus say– 12 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKO4jnDGxvx9bc1UcNKCWGi2s_J_EskjBkQyTgHPErm1NDcodDoWfzWuQOOd-Uxl8-koBMeva2qcZJKj2JmtY8CjMv17fQm1OX4MCSnOcwWWtW0a1ZOgEJ7Iv9VQqamG0vryms3ROAO0MsgFdD0EOlan0BhFdtRYrit2q_nTG9Vd8z3wronmj5hjPVkaJA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="353" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKO4jnDGxvx9bc1UcNKCWGi2s_J_EskjBkQyTgHPErm1NDcodDoWfzWuQOOd-Uxl8-koBMeva2qcZJKj2JmtY8CjMv17fQm1OX4MCSnOcwWWtW0a1ZOgEJ7Iv9VQqamG0vryms3ROAO0MsgFdD0EOlan0BhFdtRYrit2q_nTG9Vd8z3wronmj5hjPVkaJA=w400-h163" width="400" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">G<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>O</b><i> forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">12 </span></i><i>And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Kings 19:11-12)</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This beautiful old hymn is the work of the beloved Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) who wrote this, and many other hymns, while serving as minister of the Church of Scotland, and later the Free Church of Scotland. The tune I prefer is <i>Sarah-Elizabeth</i> by Amanda Husberg. Bonar has recorded the voice he heard of Jesus in many of his classic hymns. If you have yet to hear the voice of Jesus, you will doubtless miss the depth of this beautiful old hymn.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>I heard the voice of Jesus say<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"> I heard the voice of Jesus say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Come unto Me and rest;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">lay down, thou weary one, lay down<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">thy head upon My breast.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I came to Jesus as I was,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">so weary, worn, and sad;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I found in Him a resting place,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and He has made me glad.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I heard the voice of Jesus say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Behold, I freely give<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">the living water, thirsty one;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">stoop down, and drink, and live.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I came to Jesus, and I drank<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">of that life-giving stream;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and now I live in Him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I heard the voice of Jesus say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I am this dark world’s Light;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and all thy day be bright.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I looked to Jesus, and I found<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">in Him my Star, my Sun;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and in that Light of life I’ll walk,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">till trav'ling days are done.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i> <b>1 I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down thy head upon My breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, so weary, worn, and sad; I found in Him a resting place,and He has made me glad. </b></i>We hear the voice of our Lord in sundry places and under some surprising circumstances, but He speaks in soft and whispering tones to the heart and not the ears. He seldom speaks in the ballroom, the cocktail lounge, or the gambling halls; but even in those venues, He is able. The beloved Apostle of Love, John, was the young man who laid his head upon the breast of Christ at the Last Supper. He loved Jesus unconditionally for he understood, as a young man, that Christ first loved Him unconditionally. Many a heart-broken father or mother came destitute of hope to Christ on behalf of their darlings, and Christ always satisfied the compulsion of love in healing or raising from the dead. He still does! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>2 I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give the living water, thirsty one; stoop down, and drink, and live.” I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him</i></b><i>. </i>The downcast woman of ill-repute heard that voice of Jesus offer the Water of Life at Jacob’s Well outside the gates of Sychar. Her life was changed and made anew at the very utterance of His grace. She left her empty bucket at the well and went home rejoicing. She gained credibility as a woman of faith and all beleived her testimony. The Water of Life is not costly to the beneficiary (in fact, it is free), but of great cost to the Benefactor who purchased it with His own blood on the brow of Calvary. If one drinks of that Flood, it will become an over-flowing stream of grace in the lives of its possessors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>3 I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light; look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.” I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun; and in that Light of life I’ll walk, till trav'ling days are done</i></b><i>.</i> Jesus is truly the Light of the World and our Sun of Righteousness; but He is also our Bright and Morning Star to lead us through the long, dark nights of this world of trouble and hurt. <i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">16</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Revelation 22:16)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">That Morning Star is the brightest in our night Heaven and becomes the Sun of righteousness that shall arise with healing in His wings.<i>“</i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">2 </span></i><i>¶ But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Malachi 4:2)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-11672169264618756632024-03-10T19:51:00.000-04:002024-03-10T19:51:07.327-04:00AOC Sunday Report – Fourth Sunday in Lent<div style="text-align: left;"> <br /><o:p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffHbkYaSwP2UPN2V0RcVJUVhfTiKey-5_46Daz2AyE-FTrt9MPKK0KG9pACPwVNg-ohECx6QnRNwTvRNgOykeNv7afxAMN8y7Lr9haA-OMzKzQS2RoTF25Bg0q5r4rwmgELm7GMv6TsH0pt6V-dcxm5Fbo_VSjxbNpkvfavRxqHvVLi4ri3cHbCuh-te3/s800/basket.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffHbkYaSwP2UPN2V0RcVJUVhfTiKey-5_46Daz2AyE-FTrt9MPKK0KG9pACPwVNg-ohECx6QnRNwTvRNgOykeNv7afxAMN8y7Lr9haA-OMzKzQS2RoTF25Bg0q5r4rwmgELm7GMv6TsH0pt6V-dcxm5Fbo_VSjxbNpkvfavRxqHvVLi4ri3cHbCuh-te3/w400-h297/basket.jpg.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /></o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Happy Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1046Pguf8EQyo7EU4Are7Q1FOQrOwuUvl/view?usp=sharing" style="color: #954f72;">RIGHT HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy and Dennis; inasmuch as Jack is in Madrid, you get one from me, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="color: #333333;">My brings the propers together. and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">My</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"> sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, as is often to the case we acknowledge to God we have fallen way short of our goals He set for us; the Collect goes on to provide an accounting irregularity to solve our problem. Paul is right on point when he talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. Before we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit we were like the son of the bondwoman and enslaved to sin. Once we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit and have made an effort to transform our lives from our old sinful selves as the son of the bond, to the better selves, we are now sons of the freewoman. John tells the story of the feeding of the five thousand. In the middle of nowhere, two thousand years from the nearest McDonalds, the disciples looked to Jesus to fill the needs of their congregation. Jesus took what they had and gave them what they needed; “for he himself knew what he would <b><u>do</u></b>.” He <b><u>acted</u></b> to help them. Do ye likewise. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has just been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As we near the end of Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">May you see the epic week ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Hap Arnold<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">PS – The pictures are in no particular order, I am not that good. But, next week there will be captions and everything,<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-28086922087096913572024-03-10T18:50:00.002-04:002024-03-10T18:50:40.834-04:00Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent - 10 March 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdGho_G7yK7y-v5oGADcuj8gc2gPXKiyL1vw52A6wa-vwVJ0GdC6yTlsnDaCv73JFD-ZETZhLFp9G0a-vxkKbmCXoLn6dI5GdDk5ioUjal6POFHvetn_TqUSWuDOixZ8H0ROqXURCzFmgM0-N94OP5nC-kT2QTdut7yQ9sIEAC6V4Mc09lk_L9itTcwh2/s786/Collect%20Lent%2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="786" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdGho_G7yK7y-v5oGADcuj8gc2gPXKiyL1vw52A6wa-vwVJ0GdC6yTlsnDaCv73JFD-ZETZhLFp9G0a-vxkKbmCXoLn6dI5GdDk5ioUjal6POFHvetn_TqUSWuDOixZ8H0ROqXURCzFmgM0-N94OP5nC-kT2QTdut7yQ9sIEAC6V4Mc09lk_L9itTcwh2/w400-h299/Collect%20Lent%2004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 30.5pt;">G<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>RANT</b>, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="break-after: avoid; color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>S</b><i> it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one</i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 3:10)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="break-after: avoid; color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>OR</b><i> all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 3:23)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Collect<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> We must have learned long ago in our childhood Bible school there is not anything we must do to go to Hell. Hell is where we are headed the moment we are born into the world. If we simply do nothing, then we shall surely wind up in the fires of Hell. Similarly, there is nothing we can do to earn eternal life – it is a gift of God to those who believe. If you have believed upon the name of Jesus Christ, then you have responded to God’s call as His chosen and elect. Our good works will not keep us from Hell, nor earn for us an entrance into Heaven. But faith, responding to the Grace of God, will, indeed, gain for us such an entrance to Heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> All comfort and all grace is from God. It is never earned, but comes ‘paid on arrival.’ It is, as the Collect avers, a grant and not a wage. Thankfully, we are not paid wages for our wages would result in a loss of grace. <i>For the wages of sin is death</i>; (sin ALL have sinned, I prefer to forgo the wages to which I am entitled, don’t you?)…. <i>but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord</i>. (Romans 6:23) It is so clear and simple, isn’t it? We have all earned our suite in Hell, but God has made a free provision for us in His mansions on High. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This prayer of Collect comes from the Gregorian Sacramentary.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <i><u>GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved</u></i> Please note the quality that triggers grace – it is MERCY. We have seen many clergy come and go in our church and in others that are within our purview. The single thing that distinguishes a true minister of God from all others, regardless of a parchment attesting by man’s hand that they are ministers, is the single quality of that Compassion and Mercy that was in Christ. It matters not how hard they labor, how long their hours, how accomplished their sermons, or how broad their experience; if they have not the Compassion of Christ for the little children, for the widows and orphans, for their fellow men and women in all walks of life, then they are not true ministers of God. If their concern is more for personal reward than for the additions to the family of God, they are without hope as ministers. Are we judgmental against others? Remember that same judgment will be levied against you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Being in the midst of the Lenten Season, we may be feeling overwhelmed by the sense of our sinful unworthiness, but bear in mind that even our unworthiness cannot compare with the altogether worthiness of Christ to redeem us. Just as on the mountain two thousand years ago, He is still able to spread a table before us in the wilderness of our sins.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> How is it that the Grace of God is a comfort? When we know that it is the Grace of God that has saved us, and not any personal merit we may boast of, then we are comforted in not wondering always if we have done quite enough to earn our salvation. We are comforted as a little child in knowing that, though we have displeased our parents today, their love for us has not diminished. We are as love in our disobedience as we were loved in our times of favor. But the child, like the Christian, must learn through parental discipline, to improve on his incorrigible behaviors under the father’s counsel and discipline. If you are recipient of the grace and call of God, He will not turn you lose for childish misadventures. Did He not tell us: ….<i>I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee</i>. (Heb 13:5) As far as I know, Christ has never lost any that belonged to Him for as He prayed the night of His betrayal in the Upper Room<i><span style="color: red;">: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled</span></i>. (John 17:12) Of course, the son of perdition – Judas Iscariot – was never a follower of Christ, for the Scriptures tell us that he was a devil. (see John 6:70)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> I hope we will know with certainty at the conclusion of this devotion we deserve to die for our sins, but Christ Himself died in our stead. Now we are blessed to have a Heavenly comforter to strengthen us through the feeding of the Bread of Heaven just as that ancient multitude was fed, nourished, and comforted on the mountain slope overlooking the Galilean Waters. Have you enjoyed that comfort and strength today?<o:p></o:p></p></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-60573667365515888452024-03-10T18:40:00.000-04:002024-03-10T18:40:11.431-04:00Sermon Notes - The Feeding of the 5,000 - Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide - Fourth Sunday in Lent - 10 March 2024 Anno Domini<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L0ImYRpnpmewSFh0DuXK2TYp6_sWHhp3Ci4FNdplIg1hz8anYywYOdHEIU2OevxY6hQ1HyrMBjNNbJUHkZnPO3fCuq7FSRZSeqJIzvEcYratSfkW8SIYsmFJDXVaydFrtkDrEZwyq4c3-OoPfrQW3W9oXr8A6PkWSqUHvIUF4YEHAt_onoE2a8KiCEND/s800/basket.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L0ImYRpnpmewSFh0DuXK2TYp6_sWHhp3Ci4FNdplIg1hz8anYywYOdHEIU2OevxY6hQ1HyrMBjNNbJUHkZnPO3fCuq7FSRZSeqJIzvEcYratSfkW8SIYsmFJDXVaydFrtkDrEZwyq4c3-OoPfrQW3W9oXr8A6PkWSqUHvIUF4YEHAt_onoE2a8KiCEND/w400-h297/basket.jpg.webp" width="400" /></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Bishop Ogles is in Madrid to consecrate two new bishops into the service of the Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide. He sent us this assessment of the Collect for today, as well as his sermon.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>The Sermon</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> Over the past several years, I have often preached this text, and usually on this 4<sup>th</sup> Sunday in Lent. The text itself is pregnant with spiritual meaning that is clearly overt and plain to the understanding; however, I want to look at this same passage through a slightly different prism on this special Sunday before Passiontide on next Sunday.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQShgdZgltIzj_NKLhPb0WF7yyF0hayxzVI2dZjW8FAm58bnvZgZw5cTwwFsl8aKr8a32hp7l2DhtN22uqrWBUbDTCIFTYt29cP9Amy5xr6l3X269Ub2kYumigepFKW_ZUSccq3SW3cbZlPmo1cJBWjxC0K-Li7u9bYGeMK9kIzDYv7IqXv-Zpg7J4s6AH" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQShgdZgltIzj_NKLhPb0WF7yyF0hayxzVI2dZjW8FAm58bnvZgZw5cTwwFsl8aKr8a32hp7l2DhtN22uqrWBUbDTCIFTYt29cP9Amy5xr6l3X269Ub2kYumigepFKW_ZUSccq3SW3cbZlPmo1cJBWjxC0K-Li7u9bYGeMK9kIzDYv7IqXv-Zpg7J4s6AH" width="197" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> Bearing in mind there is no word in Scripture expressed without great purpose, let us observe the introduction the text itself makes to the mountain-top event which is related in the feeding of 5,000 men and at least a similar number of women and children. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i>After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. <b><u>And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh</u></b></i>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>First<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Note a great multitude followed Christ, but HOW did they follow Him? Christ being, at this time, ascended into Heaven, a great multitude still follows Him. But we do not follow across the ethereal expanse of empty space just as the multitudes did not follow Jesus ACROSS the Sea of Galilee. Their fervent determination to follow caused them to follow in whatever route was open to them to follow – AROUND the Sea! Whatever path leads us to Christ is a GOOD path!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Second<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><u>N</u></b>ote the REASON that the people followed Him. They followed Jesus for spiritual reasons based upon the miracles that He had performed in their sight. His Miracles are not the great reason we should follow Christ, unless we are referring to the Miracle of Love He has demonstrated in His Redemption of lost sinners. But bear in mind, the reason for their following was spiritual and not carnal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Third<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><u>O</u></b>bserve Christ does not always make it easy to follow Him. It sometimes includes bearing a cross – in fact, it ALWAYS includes bearing a cross. So we should not hesitate to follow Him (not only around the Sea), but also up the Mountain of Bread! Jesus loved to pray and to commune from the Mountain tops because the higher one climbs; the less of the world is there which surrounds us. The world falls sharply away so that when we reach the mountain peak, there is only the sky that surrounds us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Fourth<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Mark the OCCASION of the event. <b><i><u>And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh</u></i></b>. In that day, the Passover was, at the time, a Jewish feast that pointed directly to that Lamb of God sacrificed before the foundation of the world, but illustrated in the unblemished lamb sacrificed in long-ago Goshen under whose blood the Children of Israel were Passed Over by the Angel of death that terrible night in old Egypt. <i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">18 </span></i><i>Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">19 </span></i><i>But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20 </span></i><i>Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Peter 1:18-20)</span> It is the point made of the PASSOVER that I wish to emphasize today. That symbolic lamb of the old Passover is now fully realized in the true Lamb of God who was about to miraculously and spiritually feed far more than five thousand people (when women and children are accounted for). The Passover is no longer a mere Jewish feast, but is now consummated in the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Eternal Passover!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> This Feeding of the Five Thousand has strong Communion implication for the Christian Church. The mystery of it is in the Bread itself – not the numbers alone!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> There are national holidays that are observed in every nation. The most important of national holidays usually center upon the date of founding of the nation (4<sup>th</sup> of July in America, for example). The 4<sup>th</sup> of July is not commonly celebrated in Britain, or Germany, or China – but only in America. There is, however, a holiday (Holy Day) that is celebrated more often that annually, and in almost precisely the same manner, in every country in the world in which Christians live and worship. That Holy Day is Holy Communion. Truly, it is the Passover of the Lord to the Church. The crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord are the church’s nation foundation day, and we observe that day in a continual spirit of spiritual Presence of the Lord and of remembrance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>And the Passover……was nigh</i></b>. Were this not important for us to know, it would not have been included in our text for today. The extraordinary symbolism of bread to the very spiritual nature of Christ is emphasized throughout Scripture – sometimes overtly, and sometimes in shadows. The Manna that came down from Heaven to the children in the Wilderness was not simply a spilling over of the bread pans of Israel – it came miraculously and with spiritual meaning. It satisfied their famished spirits and souls. The Bread of Presence in the Tabernacle on the shew Bread Table just before the Most Holy Place symbolized the spiritual Presence of Christ in Tabernacles of flesh to us today. The Bread Crumbs from the Master’s Table for which the Syro-Phoenician woman pleaded with humble and persistent heart symbolized the same. Even bread crumbs are still bread, and just a small measure of that Bread from Heaven was enough for her – and enough as well to feed 5,000 in our text. It is this very point that I believe our Lord is making here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Passover of the Jews had been celebrated for centuries with a boring sense of ceremonial obligation. They had forgotten the great depth of meaning it had for them in Egypt, and would now have for all peoples. We, too, often receive the Holy Communion with dull sense of its meaning and importance to us in sharing in the real Spiritual Presence of our Lord at the Table. What great spiritual power opened the eyes of the Two Men on the Road to Emmaus to the identity of their beloved Lord? He had related to them on the way all of the Old Testament Scriptures that spoke of Him, yet they did not recognize Him. When He took the bread in hand at their table, they still knew Him not; but when He BROKE the BREAD and gave to them, their eyes were opened to His Presence. It should also be true of our eye-scales dropping away at the reception of the elements of Bread and Wine of the Last Supper.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><ol start="1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Your attention is invited to consider the manner of the miracle of Bread as Jesus performed it.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><i>When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, </i><b><i><span style="color: red;">Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?</span></i></b> Jesus spoke this question rhetorically to fathom the waters of Philip’s faith. He had no intention of ‘buying’ bread, for the Bread of Heaven is not for sale. He knew precisely that He would miraculously feed the people from just a small morsel of fishes and loaves. <i>Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding</i>. (Prov 23:23) There seems to be a lot more selling of the truth (of man) than buying the truth of God in today’s churches.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Philip, just as you and I often have done, failed the test of faith. <i>Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.</i> Even if there was a king’s ransomed of gold, no amount of money could have purchased an adequate supply of bread near a seaside mountain. Even all of the bread in the bread shops of Capernaum would not have been sufficient to feed so many.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There is only a tiny grain of faith expressed by the good man, Andrew: <i>One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?</i> Had Andrew not believed that the Lord could somehow make the five barley loaves and two fishes of the boy expand to feed thousands, he doubtless would not have raised the issue. Sometimes, it is only a small grain of faith, as small as a grain of mustard seed that is needed to open the abundant granaries of Heaven. Another point to note in this narrative is that Jesus will use whatever resources of faith and materiel we have available to accomplish mighty works. It does not take much – He could have fed them from thin air had He desired. He also allows even little children to be used in furthering His work.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>And Jesus said, </i><b><i><span style="color: red;">Make the men sit down</span></i></b><i>. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.</i> There is no hungrily standing in line when the Lord feeds us. <i>He makes us to lie down in green pastures</i>. When we are sitting down, we are not taking credit for any of our own works, for it is Christ who works in us and not we ourselves. <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="5" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Does Jesus not do ALL things well? <i>And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.</i>He gave out no blessings from Heaven without first giving thanks. Can we not, at least, follow His example in this before meals? He allowed the disciples a hand in His work. He allows you and me to be involved as well in His work of the Church. Someone must serve the meals, someone must PREPARE the meals. Someone must preach. Someone must prepare the Lord’s Table. Someone must light the candles. Someone must welcome guests. Someone must go out in the community and seek out the needy, etc. What a privilege that each of us is a perfectly shaped stone to fill a particular void in the Temple of God.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="6" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, </i><b><i><span style="color: red;">Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost</span></i></b><i>.</i>Waste not, want not! my dear mother used to say to me. The gifts of God are too important to be wasted. Many men live miserable lives because God has called them to exercise a gift of Preaching, and they have refused the call. By the way, like crumbs, the fragments are still Bread. Those who were privileged to serve the bread (much like clergy) were also the ones who were called upon to take up the remnants and to clean the tables. <i>Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.</i> At times, we may regard the small churches as simply fragments of God’s church, but they may amount to a far greater treasure of Bread than that with which we began to serve. After all were fed from five loaves and two fishes, observe that twelve basketfuls remained of that pitiful beginning.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="7" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It is possible to believe in Christ the WRONG WAY! <i>Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.</i> This is a commendable beginning of faith; however, such faith that is based on signs and wonders alone may get derailed into a great abyss of error. <i>When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.</i> The people who were fed viewed the miracle as a sign of great power (which it was). But they desired to employ that power to further a carnal, and not a spiritual, agenda.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">That Bread of the Mountain was not a common bread, but spiritually created bread. It was a preview of that Bread of Life that was the Incarnate Lord and Bread of Heaven. Just a taste of Jesus can amount to a complete change of life. Like the elements of the Communion, a little goes a long way!<o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span> </p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-81105000432667263472024-03-10T14:06:00.000-04:002024-03-10T14:06:31.530-04:00Fourth Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Hap’s Sermon – With Video<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0a4x5YAp95HFV9W0BkrWOu_BFa-u0UIWI--ecnU1hhgpeEOIkVCNvrT8cHf1Lg1_N6mA4F0JdOpXnlvVf1wxf0m-80mwUQs1rxTjFVVq1R15_ZJ15AMipBXVPUU7mZ8Pd1NWPQ0zIUNIEf5awc-aShRnY42GYifqJMHHeyWxepwXZJCT2s9Ur48rI3JE9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0a4x5YAp95HFV9W0BkrWOu_BFa-u0UIWI--ecnU1hhgpeEOIkVCNvrT8cHf1Lg1_N6mA4F0JdOpXnlvVf1wxf0m-80mwUQs1rxTjFVVq1R15_ZJ15AMipBXVPUU7mZ8Pd1NWPQ0zIUNIEf5awc-aShRnY42GYifqJMHHeyWxepwXZJCT2s9Ur48rI3JE9=w400-h297" width="400" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">With Bishop Jack in Madrid, you get a sermon from Bishop Hap. H</span><span style="color: #333333;">is sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop H</span>ap<span class="MsoHyperlink">’s sermon looks at the </span><span class="MsoHyperlink">unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span>. In the Collect, as is often to the case we acknowledge to God we have fallen way short of our goals He set for us; the Collect goes on to provide an accounting irregularity to solve our problem. Paul is right on point when he talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. Before we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit we were like the son of the bondwoman and enslaved to sin. Once we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit and have made an effort to transform our lives from our old sinful selves as the son of the bond, to the better selves, we are now sons of the freewoman. John tells the story of the feeding of the five thousand.In the middle of nowhere, two thousand years from the nearest McDonalds, the disciples looked to Jesus to fill the needs of their congregation. Jesus took what they had and gave them what they needed; “for he himself knew what he would <b><u>do</u></b>.” He <b>acted</b> to help them. Do ye likewise. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Propers for today are found on Page 130-132, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 30.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">G<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>RANT</b>, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 31pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Epistle for today came from the Fourth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians beginning at the Twenty-First Verse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Paul talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. These two, the bond under The Law and the free under The New Covenant. The people of old are the people of The Law, 613 laws by which they must abide. Perhaps more properly said in practice that they must work around or evade those 613. Yet, they cannot comply with all the laws nor even work around them. They are doomed to failure with no help from God. As people of The New Covenant, the original and <b><u>real</u></b> New Deal, we have only to comply with two laws or rules; To love the Lord with all our hearts and to love our neighbor. Actually, those two are much harder to fully comply with than avoiding the 613 laws of The Law. But, we have the key – Jesus Christ. He came to earth not only to lead us to heaven, from the front; but to be a propitiation for our sins, to make us account as perfect to God to allow us to come into His Land.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 50.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">T<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ELL</b> me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This morning’s Gospel comes from the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St. John beginning at the First Verse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" style="height: 55px;" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" height="41" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 41.05pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 41.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">J<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ESUS</b> went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, <span style="color: red;">Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? </span>And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, <span style="color: red;">Make the men sit down</span>. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, <span style="color: red;">Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost</span>. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Hap</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"> Arnold</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop Coadjutor</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Hap brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Hap’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: purple;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: purple;">https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezUFY3jlLEMtZ-gBDdRvSc1di30KujpJspJhYkwnjZ3NJoV4CKVqSc_po_RmZ3V43m0UxBCYpMmnM0HfBNbGVGIPT4I-tMN1QYkzh_-8VYv2Yk6bdZt9tUHl6cpSw32EIKlGcAI4bcCt-DjVwwhKVQCHjZY0VvDuY25mb9SzuulLbqMluSfxBUTG5Lyjw/s1282/240310%20Hap's%20Sermon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1028" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezUFY3jlLEMtZ-gBDdRvSc1di30KujpJspJhYkwnjZ3NJoV4CKVqSc_po_RmZ3V43m0UxBCYpMmnM0HfBNbGVGIPT4I-tMN1QYkzh_-8VYv2Yk6bdZt9tUHl6cpSw32EIKlGcAI4bcCt-DjVwwhKVQCHjZY0VvDuY25mb9SzuulLbqMluSfxBUTG5Lyjw/w161-h200/240310%20Hap's%20Sermon.jpg" width="161" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 30.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">G<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>RANT</b>, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="text-decoration: underline;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">… we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved …<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the Collect, as is often to the case we acknowledge to God we have fallen way short of our goals He set for us. We are also acknowledging we deserve to be punished for our failures; by His Grace we are relieved of our well deserved punishment. Jesus laid down His Life so we might be free from eternal damnation. That we might be accounted as perfect at our final judgment, not that we might be perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In order for us to enter heaven, we have to be accounted as perfect. Most of us know we are so far away from perfect, it would not seem to be possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How then can we get into heaven, if not by our own means?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The answer is simple. God has provided the Way, the one true Way, by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so we might have eternal life, and He also sent the Holy Ghost to help guide us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At that final judgment day, if we stay the course and follow God’s guidance, we can be accounted as perfect through the Grace of God’s Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Paul is right on point when he talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. Before we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit we were like the son of the bondwoman and enslaved to sin. Once we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit and have made an effort to transform our lives from our old sinful selves as the son of the bond, to the better selves, we are now sons of the freewoman.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The son of the bondwoman represents not only our state before Christ; but also those who refuse to follow Him. They are stuck in bondage to their own sinful selves and can never exit that state, except they allow the Holy Ghost into their hearts and redeem themselves. It represents the state of all those who do not have the Holy Ghost within them and us before we let the Holy Ghost into our hearts to regenerate us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The two are representative of the two covenants with God, the bond under The Law and the free under The New Covenant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The people of old are The People of The Law. Six Hundred Thirteen Mosaic Laws each of which they were to follow. They really did not attempt to follow them, rather to avoid being seen to break them. A very complex and even more difficult life to live, to comply and uphold those laws and failing. It did not work that well. We still fail miserably at times, but we only have two laws, which we will hear about in a second. They are still hard to follow at times, but impossible to skirt with fancy reasoning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The important thing to remember about the 613 laws is they could not accomplish what Christ accomplished with His Sacrifice and establishing the New Covenant. The Holy Ghost helps us along the journey to this goal, to bring us to eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The New Covenant is so much less complex than the Old Covenant. It is much easier to remember the ways of the New than the Old. It is more efficient than the Old Covenant. However, the New Covenant requires that our actions match our claimed belief in Jesus, God and the Holy Spirt. However, tempting as it may be to discard the Old Testament entirely, we must remember that the Old Covenant had a purpose. The Old Covenant had to come first to get people’s hearts ready to follow the New Covenant. For the New Covenant could not be introduced, or in other words, Jesus could not come to Earth until the people were ready for His Teachings. The Old Covenant was a stepping stone to the New Covenant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remember this from Holy Communion:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">T<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HOU shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Under the New Covenant, we have only two laws with which we must comply. But, there is a catch. We are not to just avoid breaking those two laws, we must actually live them in our hearts, souls, minds AND bodies. We must <b><u>act</u></b>ualize them. It is the common theme of Action not just Diction, that appears in sermons past here. The only way in which we can follow these two laws is we have to put them into practice in our day to day lives, which requires Action and not just Diction. The New Covenant is not about following the Law perfectly, but it is about living the spirit of the Law to the best of our abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This requires we act based on what we can and should do, not what we want to do. What we want to do will not get us the results that acting from following God’s word will. The results may or not be obvious right away, but they will be soon enough. A hard principle to follow; but in the end, it is the easiest way and worth the struggle to trust God instead of worrying and or doing what we want to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What we want to do is very rarely if ever in congruence with God’s Word. We have to realize this and shift our behaviors to be in line with God’s Word and Will. We must recognize what we want to do will not benefit us as well in the long run as what God wants us to do. This is very hard, but it can be done with the help of the Holy Ghost. We just have to let Him into our hearts and provide us that guidance. Once we receive that guidance than we should act upon that guidance. In John 6:30 Jesus tells us, <i><span style="color: red;">For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me</span></i>. If Jesus strives to do His Father’s Will, how much more should we do so?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Action will always benefit our spiritual state compared to inaction. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are compelled to act upon our faith. Perhaps not what we want right at the time, but certainly what we need then and in the eternal future. In the middle of nowhere, two thousand years from the nearest McDonalds, the disciples looked to Jesus to fill the needs of their congregation. Jesus took what they had and gave them what they needed; “for he himself knew what he would <b><u>do</u></b>.” He <b><u>acted</u></b> to help them. Do ye likewise:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">ACT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail; the easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Be of God - Live of God - Act of God</span></b></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-20843634097641858902024-03-05T20:24:00.003-05:002024-03-05T20:24:26.525-05:00Hymns of the Church – Beautiful Savior – 5 February 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 9pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNggrItux9hVrinJkF4O21YobmiBuaxFq2-OpsfGkHb1yfgGsS8NxkgyVBVj0xj7kpGy9jhipw6iWvvm6f8K4tRuE7ZA_QqVTjTjvqkTXGMdf25RFpHkH-9rJFZfZHzjJzphBK3-1Ur9KgzQYy3bBR4klPFz24zNBWwyjHHHbcjCUyz2CszxPJ3cu18fe/s578/Beautiful%20Savior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="578" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNggrItux9hVrinJkF4O21YobmiBuaxFq2-OpsfGkHb1yfgGsS8NxkgyVBVj0xj7kpGy9jhipw6iWvvm6f8K4tRuE7ZA_QqVTjTjvqkTXGMdf25RFpHkH-9rJFZfZHzjJzphBK3-1Ur9KgzQYy3bBR4klPFz24zNBWwyjHHHbcjCUyz2CszxPJ3cu18fe/w400-h300/Beautiful%20Savior.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </span></div><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">M<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Y</b><i> beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">11</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">12</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">13</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">14</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Song 5:10-14)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>. . . . fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Song 6:10)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> I have written of this hymn before, but choose to do so again for its beauty as a rose unfolding with time. We may consider the beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ to be fully comprehended in an instant of time, but with the passage of those moments, we see even more glorious and resplendent beauty in His magnificent Personage. I was reminded of this great old hymn by a dear friend recently, and could not resist a re-visitation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The hymn is known as the Crusader Hymn for it was sung by the children who, en masse, marched off to their demise to its notes on Crusade from Europe. All were captured and enslaved, or died, during the event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> A fond memory written, in indelible love, on my heart was to hear this great hymn sung at breakfast time during retreat in north Alabama by the Samford University Acapella Choir under the able direction of the good Dr. L. Gene Black in 2002. The choir was comprised of some 200 members, and their harmonious singing of this hymn lifted us all to the very gates of Heaven. The most popular modern version of the hymn is entitled, <u>Fairest Lord Jesus</u>; but the original translation by Joseph A. Seiss – a Lutheran theologian – was entitled <u>Beautiful Savior</u>. It is Seiss’ translation I will comment on in this devotion. The lyrics of this hymn were written by Jesuit scholars (date unknown), and the tune is a Silesian folk tune called <i>CRUSADER</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Beautiful Savior, King of Creation<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Beautiful Savior, King of Creation<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Son of God and Son of Man!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve Thee,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Robed in the flowers of blooming spring;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Bright the sparkling stars on high;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Than all the angels in the sky.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Son of God and Son of Man!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Glory and honor, Praise, adoration<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Now and forevermore be Thine!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Beautiful Savior, King of Creation Son of God and Son of Man</i></b><i>! </i>Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Master Artist who drew out and flung the stars into their orbits at the early instant of Creation. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and thus the King of Creation itself since <i>All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made</i>. John 1:3 (KJV) He placed the sun and moon at their stations, and artfully fashioned the mountains, meadows, seas, vegetation, and you and me. When we view the multi-colored and beautiful sunrise, how much more of beauty must be the Artist who fashioned them! Our Lord Jesus Christ is both the Son of God, and also the Son of Man. Possessing both natures, He was able to relate to us the character of the Father, and to redeem us from our sins as the unblemished Lamb of God.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown</i></b><i>.</i> How can we truly love and adore a Lord of such high majesty and power? How could the sinner, over-burdened with guilt and the filthy rags of sin, presume to love One of such exalted Nature? <i>We love him, because he first loved us</i>. 1 John 4:19 (KJV) We could never have approached the Throne of Mercy and Grace had the scepter not been lowered to us. He is the Light of our souls and the Light of Life itself: <i>In him was life; and the life was the light of men</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 1:4)</span> Nothing of greater meaning or beauty can exist for us than the One who gave us life by the giving of His own Life; the One who became our Day Star of Light in a dark sky of sin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Jordan River, like the life of our Lord, is a short river with its origins in the snowy heights of Mount Herman. As it flows south, it creates a beautiful band of green life on its way. It spills into the Sea of Galilee which teems with life. Emerging on the south tip of that Sea, it continues through the wilderness – down and down to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea. The Jordan dies in the desert Wilderness just as our Lord died in the desert Wilderness of our sins. The Dead Sea is dead because it surrenders not a drop of the Water of Life which it receives; but the Wilderness of sin could not hold the Water of Life that came down from Heaven, for He arose as victor over death and sin. <b><i>Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in the flowers of blooming spring</i></b><i>;</i> everywhere our Lord goes, He gives life and light to the wilderness darkness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Our Lord places a melody in our hearts, and a burning Light in our souls. <b><i>Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He makes our sorrowing spirit sing</i></b>. The song He gives us a divine and heavenly one: <i>Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah 30:29-30)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high;</i></b> The sunshine, the moonlight, and the sparkling stars are things of great beauty; but these are simply the icing on the cake of Creation. What of the sons and daughters of God? Since these things were made for our comfort, must not our Lord consider us to be of even greater beauty in His Crown? <i>When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 8:3-5)</span> The crowning achievement of God’s Creation is the man and woman which He created in the Garden eastward at Eden. Though many souls have been misappropriated by the serpent of that Garden, the Lord knows, and shall reclaim, His own from among them: <i>And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him</i>.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> (Mal 3:17)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i> <b>Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels in the sky</b>.</i> Jesus does, indeed, shine brighter and purer because He is the Personification of Light. Without Him, all is darkness and there could be no light to shine. <i><span style="color: #fb0007;">I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 8:12)</span> Some have questioned this as a contradiction of Matthew 5:14 in which our Lord tells His people <i><span style="color: #fb0007;">Ye are the light of the world</span></i><span style="color: #fb0007;">.</span> This is to be viewed in the same sense as we consider the light of the moon. Any elementary astronomy knows that the moon has no light except that which it receives from the Sun. Likewise, no Christian has any light except that Light which it receives from the sun of righteousness and the Day Star of our salvation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The last verse is a benediction to all that precedes it: <b><i>Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration Now and forevermore be Thine</i></b>! Can you imagine anything more beautiful than the strong and Everlasting Arm that reaches down to pull your drowning soul from the swirling waters of the sea of sin? He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords – of ALL kings, and of all LORDS. We cannot honor, praise, and adore Him enough. But that of which we are capable – our ALL – is due Him. And that will be enough. If we are crowned with the Ensign of Love, if we are called and chosen according to His purpose, if we love as we are loved, we shall not suffer shame or damnation. The River we cross at last shall be a glorious Jordan whose far banks are lit continually with the Light of our Beautiful Savior.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-52826351496656651662024-03-03T20:29:00.000-05:002024-03-03T20:29:28.881-05:00AOC Sunday Report – Third Sunday in Lent<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifd3tP7z2T1ZNqidCYKRGTdjl08G9d6-Kh9Pa8Q2ybcLRG14ndwIGsF4uEpbccXy5W66dE15Yi_2KQzUQdSM73_X4gjKNLelVu5yyxLIJ8QGcicgmPkKHpIuVo3rTYa_8afFfqrqzkV8nLK8k0MC3wT6oCEX5GkyJCfh5DS9w2r7tY7k0H-9VxfAF9Vywk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="469" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifd3tP7z2T1ZNqidCYKRGTdjl08G9d6-Kh9Pa8Q2ybcLRG14ndwIGsF4uEpbccXy5W66dE15Yi_2KQzUQdSM73_X4gjKNLelVu5yyxLIJ8QGcicgmPkKHpIuVo3rTYa_8afFfqrqzkV8nLK8k0MC3wT6oCEX5GkyJCfh5DS9w2r7tY7k0H-9VxfAF9Vywk=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Third Sunday in Lent.<br /><o:p> </o:p><br />The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xR-4EiTjWjwye1qdiw95QMkqoxWfVAG/view?usp=sharing" style="color: #954f72;">RIGHT HERE</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify;"> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Dennis and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we are about half way through Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, and see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. Paul tells us in order to live out our faith, we need to make our actions match our stated desires. One man cannot serve two masters. Remember <span style="color: red;">where your treasure is, there will your heart be also</span>. We can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Bishop Jerry also provided this lovely video presentation, Salt <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> Who we are to be as a people - <a href="https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt;">https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I cannot recommend this video enough.</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">You will really really enjoy it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who is been in ICU for well over a month now with Covid then work your way through Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As we are over halfway working our way through Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">May you see the epic week ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6BEVMaoZoLYhnkMX7XUVPPIrn_Ni449-ZiY08TwYkelSQxBB1tjTQNMVxEKDgneJHsyn5rk-Gs9MyKKmMmVAAICfnDAXe_XMyhjacCd5bo083wKEiDAZ9NvOeXbkENqI8oC5FJnOwBgbKO-pvGaaMLm6XNR07ktrpBsB-X_YQbBdNvPDyS2CG3yG0YSO/s158/Hap%20Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6BEVMaoZoLYhnkMX7XUVPPIrn_Ni449-ZiY08TwYkelSQxBB1tjTQNMVxEKDgneJHsyn5rk-Gs9MyKKmMmVAAICfnDAXe_XMyhjacCd5bo083wKEiDAZ9NvOeXbkENqI8oC5FJnOwBgbKO-pvGaaMLm6XNR07ktrpBsB-X_YQbBdNvPDyS2CG3yG0YSO/w90-h88/Hap%20Signature.png" width="90" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hap Arnold</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-65953559733562287402024-03-03T19:24:00.003-05:002024-03-03T19:31:10.638-05:00Sermon Notes - Third Sunday in Lent - House Divided - Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide - 3 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTXNYbX9ndIRWqEu5xB91t4SE1Xc69NqjjnOQsf9LMgc0mhtYnQnb_YdtPve6hVEEflnhfu2qGK5MD6ETRf2fbHxGgrfaj8WYcMYsWV7I55GGgNF72RQ74QjLu72etSM0G3xZQOsiNzRyHuVeJgAiLZwUyMrpR2-CYjJCl-N85i2d5EBXRtguuxXZbdp6C" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="469" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTXNYbX9ndIRWqEu5xB91t4SE1Xc69NqjjnOQsf9LMgc0mhtYnQnb_YdtPve6hVEEflnhfu2qGK5MD6ETRf2fbHxGgrfaj8WYcMYsWV7I55GGgNF72RQ74QjLu72etSM0G3xZQOsiNzRyHuVeJgAiLZwUyMrpR2-CYjJCl-N85i2d5EBXRtguuxXZbdp6C=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></div><b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Bishop Ogles</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span><span style="color: #c10ab5;"> Sermon<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Presiding Bishop<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s sermon notes. Today is one of those Sundays. Today<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Bishop Jerry also provided this lovely video presentation, Salt <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> Who we are to be as a people - <a href="https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt;">https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT1SsAN-TdrxqWxZwAkZYoTt29M-SUry-59-G1beBQBvga0P1Gz_iZIgkjwiRSRpW_PfbdAZjJPwFi0jmZcTgO8GLkKunUj5WVHWMW4kI75BBlrPWss0M2jNsF8cyyAyg5SE3bsJ9TvTTkBfZJ1D9eVDdmg9NPMOKzkv9UR6RPLQjgL-BhjpqTUkwWK-X/s406/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT1SsAN-TdrxqWxZwAkZYoTt29M-SUry-59-G1beBQBvga0P1Gz_iZIgkjwiRSRpW_PfbdAZjJPwFi0jmZcTgO8GLkKunUj5WVHWMW4kI75BBlrPWss0M2jNsF8cyyAyg5SE3bsJ9TvTTkBfZJ1D9eVDdmg9NPMOKzkv9UR6RPLQjgL-BhjpqTUkwWK-X/s320/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I cannot recommend this video enough. You will really really enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E </b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>The </b><b>Gospel<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Luke 11:14-27</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></b></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. <sup>15</sup> But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. <sup>16</sup> And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. <sup>17</sup> But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. </span></i><i><sup>18</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. </span></i><i><sup>19</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. </span></i><i><sup>20</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. </span></i><i><sup>21</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: </span></i><i><sup>22</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. </span></i><i><sup>23</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. </span></i><i><sup>24</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. </span></i><i><sup>25</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. </span></i><i><sup>26</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.</span></i><i> <sup>27</sup> And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. <sup>28</sup> But he said, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Yea rather, blessed arethey that hear the word of God, and keep it.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ presents to our hearts, minds, and eyes a very stark lesson on the power of sin, darkness and death.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></b></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">A person is possessed of a devil, or evil spirit. This person has all his faculties of speech and communication, but the presence of an invited and evil guest into his heart has deprived him of the ability to use his God-given powers to speak and to communicate. It happened 2,000 years ago, and it has been happening in all intervening times to include the modern day.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Note the wonder of the people at the restoration to health of the formerly possessed person. The world is always surprised and misinterprets the works of God.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When we hide the Word of God in our hearts, we are strengthened against the ArchEnemy of our Souls – the Devil! <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Ps 119:11)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">However, when we have a divided heart to admit even a small and cherished sin to remain in our hearts, it will grow and take possession of the whole organ.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Allowed sin always masters a man in time. The man may loathe his master, yet he obeys him; he may fear his master, yet still he does his hateful bidding.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Light always overcomes darkness because light is a positive value. Darkness has no real force. It is the absence of virtue – of righteousness. Even a tiny candle will dispel a roomful of darkness. <u>But we must light the candle</u>!<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">God has given us His Word to light our way and illumine our dark hearts.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Ps 119:105 )</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>15</sup></i><i> But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. <sup>16</sup> And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The modern church seeks signs and wonders! They must have always some present wonder and presumed miraculous sign to legitimize their faith, but what saith Christ?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>1</sup></i><i> The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. <sup>2</sup> He answered and said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. </span></i><i><sup>3</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? </span></i><i><sup>4</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.</span></i><i> And he left them, and departed</i>. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have been provided enough evidence for our faith and more in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – a well-documented historical event of history.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The doubters accused Christ of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out devils.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">What does this term, BEELZEBUB, mean? Lord of the flies – another word for DEVIL. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When a dead body, or even excrement, is exposed to the light of day, flies cover it and lay their eggs thereon. Later, maggots appear on the dead. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">These unbelieving and wicked observers accuse Christ of bringing a lower form of life from filth. But Christ never resurrected maggots, but totally restored and healthy human beings. His power was the Creative Power that created man in the first occasion in Eden.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Beelzebub<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><u>The Lord of the Flies</u> is a book by British novelist William Golding and, for some reason, is required reading in most American schools.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is a sordid tale about a group of kids who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The story is set during the Atomic War and plenty of references are made to the fact. <span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">However, the real key to the story lies in the role of Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Beelzebub has a central role in the story as he represents the Beast, or evil, that dwells within all humans. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Beast cannot be hunted and since it dwells within all humans, humans are all guilty because mankind is sick.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The destruction of mankind is a point that Golding makes apparent often in this novel. He establishes early on that Beelzebub is a force within all humans that drives them to destroy and maim. (a perfect description of Satan as well as the sinful nature in all men and women born upon this earth)<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Simon – loner who knows that the evil in every man’s heart can only be fought by reason and virtue. Murdered sadistically by all the others.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This book is an unhealthy book for one primary reason: <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It ignores the <u>God Equation</u> and offers a <u>human, rather than a spiritual, remedy</u>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>. <sup>17</sup> But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. </span></i><i><sup>18</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ knows our hearts. He sees our nakedness always. Nothing is hidden from Him – even our thoughts and motives are revealed as a book written.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ says: “…..<i><span style="color: red;">a house divided against a house falleth”</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If you ask the average historian who said this, they would tell you, Abraham Lincoln. But Lincoln was simply paraphrasing the Bible.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is ridiculous to allege that good can result from the spirit of evil.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>19</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was once involved with a local Korean minister who desperately wanted to acquire a new building for the church, but he did not want to inform the people of the plan. He knew, since they were paying for the building, they might object to the cost. I advised him to inform the people and conduct prayer services to determine the Will of the Lord in the matter and to enlist the support of the people.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">He became upset with me and later told a mutual friend: “That brother Jerry is good man, but He too much Bible!”<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">No one has ever, before, or after, paid me such an unintended compliment.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When you launch out courageously into the deep waters of God’s Word, there will always be the nay-sayers who gather to condemn you and impute false motive to your seeking. But, just as Father Noah did, keep building the Ark of Hope and Faith.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i><i><sup>20</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. </span></i><i><sup>21</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: </span></i><i><sup>22</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. </span></i><i><sup>23</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. </span></i><b><span style="font-size: 2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Compare with </i>Luke 9:49-50:<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">49. </span></i><i>And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. <sup>50</sup> And Jesus said unto him, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.</span></i><i> </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If a Roman priest stands and condemns homosexual marriage and abortion of innocents, will we today stone him for being Roman Catholic?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This might be Christ response to the book, Lord of the Flies -<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>24</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. </span></i><i><sup>25</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.</span></i><i><sup>26</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.</span></i><i> </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We are unable to clean and garnish our own hearts. This is the work of God, through His Word, and the working of the Holy Spirit.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If we renounce our sin of lust and greed, and remove them from our repertoire of sins, soon a greater and more wicked bag of sins will inhabit the place left vacant. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">God’s Word, being Light, is necessary to dispel the darkness from our hearts. We are unable of our own strength and merit.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The book which I mentioned, obviates this principle and would leave men more destitute of virtue than before the attempted amendment.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If we have not yet surrendered our souls, unconditionally, to Christ, we are set for a fall to a lower point than before our feeble resolution to better ourselves.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Human reason is not the answer. We need God in our lives. We need His Word in our hearts. We need the old heart regime to be filled with goodness – not simply devoid of evil.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">A vacuum always draws on the environment. It always seeks to be filled. If we presumably empty our hearts of evil, we cannot keep them empty. Something will force its way in and occupy by force our Soul’s bastion. But if Christ resides there, there will be no room for the devil.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>27</sup></i><i> And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. <sup>28</sup> But he said, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Yea rather, blessed arethey that hear the word of God, and keep it.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ is not interested in elevating our human image – He seeks to alter it completely – to restore it to His own intents and purposes evidenced in the Garden at Eden.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Hearing and knowing God’s Word is not enough for as James has said:<b> </b><i><sup>19</sup> Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. <sup>20</sup> But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Saving Faith will always be reflected in our daily lives – the things we say and do, the manner in which we love and respond to those in great distress.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Remember the Love of Christ was not simply a fondness, but a sacrificial, compassionate love that always expressed itself in action. When He saw, He had compassion.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-73666759546678308272024-03-03T12:44:00.000-05:002024-03-03T12:44:38.383-05:00Third Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKdHbMXyJP2u_7x-TTEVLbFsuU63Wp78T_MDPsI7omEJSDgviu3JfV0zF_Rxy1mPL9lUc6h_53bL2zz62yHOoIvouRNq4WrSpB5oPv15ZGKDtbQDlaG0Co2fPxyEfCV_yFltO3Qpsr7T8sbezuptyqReh5YJ8qBfmyu00CqJhC9Lr6MljjE3zMeUcqT_vA" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="469" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKdHbMXyJP2u_7x-TTEVLbFsuU63Wp78T_MDPsI7omEJSDgviu3JfV0zF_Rxy1mPL9lUc6h_53bL2zz62yHOoIvouRNq4WrSpB5oPv15ZGKDtbQDlaG0Co2fPxyEfCV_yFltO3Qpsr7T8sbezuptyqReh5YJ8qBfmyu00CqJhC9Lr6MljjE3zMeUcqT_vA" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY</a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></o:p><span style="color: #333333;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Bishop Jack<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we are about half way through Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, and see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. Paul tells us in order to live out our faith, we need to make our actions match our stated desires. One man cannot serve two masters. Remember <span style="color: red;">where your treasure is, there will your heart be also</span>. We can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.</span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Propers for today are found on Page 128-130, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E </span></span></b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LMIGHTY </span></span></b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Epistle for today came from</span></span><span style="color: navy; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> </span></span>the Fifth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians beginning at the First Verse. He echoes the advice of St. James in his general epistle to be Christians, not just claim to be followers of Christ, when James wrote, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 50.5pt;">B<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">T</span>his morning’s Gospel comes from the Eleventh Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke beginning at the Fourteenth Verse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 39.5pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ESUS was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, <span style="color: red;">Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bishop Jack Arnold</span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anglican Orthodox Church of the United States</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Training and Education Department</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Diocese of the West</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bp Jack brings</span></span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: purple;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: purple;">https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc5ZwW9YdylghPSdG6_6HG9W4ryymQC1Jod1Lu_DSnUo5P-bM9AK3y2F4Qc8oeqX3dJyYn6zjOe0jTu87wm5MSzMSXTAh4kk8uW1xMjGCBqXIqCPnZqVTVeExDta9ixl5HbcYO2DYKTSquMuWyv3q2Fb6jKy3AwEY-zngxM_fIAG2vA4pnOTVdXhm_crW/s1412/240303%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1172" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc5ZwW9YdylghPSdG6_6HG9W4ryymQC1Jod1Lu_DSnUo5P-bM9AK3y2F4Qc8oeqX3dJyYn6zjOe0jTu87wm5MSzMSXTAh4kk8uW1xMjGCBqXIqCPnZqVTVeExDta9ixl5HbcYO2DYKTSquMuWyv3q2Fb6jKy3AwEY-zngxM_fIAG2vA4pnOTVdXhm_crW/w166-h200/240303%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" width="166" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we are about half way through Len<br />t, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><div style="text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E </span></span></b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">… look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies …<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, and see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. That also means we are looking for His Help which comes in the form of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will assist us in the process of changing of our hearts to actually have “hearty desires” to do His Will and to be “humble servants”, not our usual and customary self-centered selves. Quite a combination of thoughts in a small bit of verbiage! It is amazing how much we can put in a short sentence if we use words to their best advantage! If we will be follow Him, He will <i>defend us in all assaults of our enemies</i>. <a href="applewebdata://84779E00-0C3C-4635-A1DC-549DC7D7AB94#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: purple;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> If we will not accept His Help, He will not force it on us. Back to that old, “Thy will be done.” The question arises once again, from whose mouth does it proceed, ours or God’s? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today’s Epistle and Gospel share the same theme. This theme is centered around action. In order to <u>be</u> a Christian, you have to <u>act</u> as a Christian and not just say we are. And we cannot try and please both man and God, we have to pick which master we are to serve God, or Satan/man/mammon. I know who I want to serve, do you? Faith without the actions to back it up is a false and meaningless faith. Sadly there are too many people in this world today who call themselves Christians who do not truly act like Christians. We must strive to not be like those people, but strive to be Christian not just in name only but in deed as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In light of this, there are two phrases particularly worth remembering, “<span style="color: red;">a house divided against a house falleth</span>” and “<span style="color: red;">He that is not with me is against me</span>.” Middle ground exists, but it is quicksand. Eventually one has to choose a side. Everybody has to make that choice sooner or later. It is very clear to us what side we should choose. The only rational side to take is that of God, the side that will lead us to eternal life not that of eternal death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And, we cannot keep with the opposition. It is the natural part of the history of the Bible and of life. We have to choose to follow God, as there is no other reasonable option, which will give us the result following God will result in. We must decide who we will follow. We do not have true faith if we do not act upon the words that our lips speak, of believing in Christ and His Father. We must emulate the example that Christ Himself set for us in His ministry of action. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Speaking of His ministry, Jesus set the ultimate example for us to follow for action. Saying we are Christians and actually being Christians are two different states of being. It is like the difference between saying we are going to the grocery store and actually getting in the car and driving to the grocery store. It is quite easy to say we are Christians, it is quite another to act like we are. Acting like Christians is a lot harder than just saying we are but it is something we must strive to do if we are to be more like Christ. This will be something that we work on for the rest of our earthly lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In his Epistle, Paul tells us in order to live out our faith, we need to make our actions match our stated desires, very much in line with the thought above. Paul calls us to avoid those actions that are unbecoming of Christians and we need to walk in the light and not the dark. Given our fallen nature it can be a difficult task sometimes, but with the help of the Holy Ghost, it will be easier. We need the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts and listen to His advice to stay on the trail of the light and not fall into the pit of darkness. He talks about uncouth behavior of those who are of this world and not of God. He says that those folks have no inheritance in the kingdom of God, so let us strive not to be like them. He is warning us not to let our natural desires overcome us, but let the Holy Ghost in so we can desire what is good for us, versus what is not good for us as our natural tendency is. This can be a hard thing, but it is something that we must do all the same. We need the Holy Ghost’s help to fight our natural tendency of wanting bad things. We should be doing our best to emulate Christ’s example as much as we are able.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As we have discussed many times, action is the central theme of the Christian faith, which was first shown with Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection. He came to act for us, not just to talk or meditate; His great plan involved action, though it was painful, it was His action which released us from the wages of sin. We have to follow His Example that He set for us and live our lives in a manner that reflects we believe the Gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Think about the Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is very important to be unified in our worship and maintain mutual support; a team always beats individuals. That is not to take away from individuality, but rather to note we need to remember whose side we are on and work together with our teammates. If we are not working together, then we are not truly united under Christ’s banner. And if we are not truly united, then we will not get anywhere in spreading the Gospel for all to hear, learn and understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We might have individual personality differences, but as long as we all believe on Christ and His Death and Resurrection and Gospel, then those differences we might have with others are minor and not worth arguing or fighting over. We must cast aside our personal feelings about the minor differences and focus on how we can work together with our fellow Christians to further His Mission here on Earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christ himself came not to unite the world, but to divide it, father against son. In Matthew 10:32-34 He says “<span style="color: red;"><span style="background: white;">Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”</span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"> </span>He is saying here He has not come to unite the World, for the World is not on our side. But to clearly divide the world to show who is with God and who is against God. He came to highlight who is for Him and who is against Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For as earlier explained, one man cannot serve two masters. And also the saying of <span style="color: red;">where your treasure is, there will your heart be also</span>. In this life by reading </span>through Scripture we can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him. </span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You must keep constant vigilance against backsliding, for a fallen Christian is in worse shape than one who was never exposed to The Word. In order to maintain the constant vigilance you have to always act upon your faith. The Epistle and Gospel both talk about the curious dichotomy; you are saved by faith, Jesus’s faith, and your faith alone saves you, not what you do; yet if you have faith, you must act on that faith</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">. </span></span>To maintain your Christian course, you must truly turn a new leaf, and not slip back into the old man. This is one of the most difficult challenges as a Christian, but with the help of the Holy Ghost, we each can do it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You must receive the Word, hear it, and act upon it and spread it joyously to others, in order for your faith to have any meaning at all. Otherwise we will have been for the worse than if we never had heard the Good News. It is not a gift to selfishly lock up, but to share and give to others. That is the true joy of the Good News. It is most certainly more blessed to give than to receive in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You must grasp your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your savior and your repentance is the beginning of your life as a New Man in Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Will you slip? Without doubt. But, when you do, will you again repent and continue to do your best to follow the Word of God, the Light and the Truth? All that matters is you get up and do your best not to do what you did to slip. Life is a continuous learning process. Indeed, if you are a Christian that is what you must do. We will always slip up in our lives, that is in our fallen nature. But we have to get up and get back on track, using the Holy Gospel to guide us like the instruments in an aircraft. We cannot trust our feeling, but only our instruments (God’s gift of Holy Scripture). You are called to believe and act on those beliefs to the best of your ability. If you do not, then prepared as you were for life, you will so be prepared for the pit. As you read Luke, remember the second half of the Book of Luke is The ACTS of the Apostles, not thoughts, wishes, prayers or meditations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For, “<span style="color: red;">blessed are they that hear the word of God, and <b><u>keep it</u></b></span><b><u>.</u></b>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 26pt;">ACT<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Be of God - Live of God - Act of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://84779E00-0C3C-4635-A1DC-549DC7D7AB94#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: purple;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A Collect for Peace – <u>1928 Book of Common Prayer</u> Page 17</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-41173694269354983462024-03-03T11:37:00.002-05:002024-03-03T11:37:36.695-05:00Lent 03 Collect – 3 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmZhZ1v_I4luVHf7BcZS0NzxapgG7iqEMlAVY1Jxs5g0FeyQKHyrixtIgTx1uygymdlC5_MNQGjJZBaGO3ZYP035U6PUx55YpJOnYxFKiRiJP0F9fsDYBWzmoSzPHSFYm-Ho98Njh51e7_ZbdTvaZ7ZIREplQEPQd8SmF9n3eUCgZoC6_8ekxgo_uRtCV/s718/Lent%2003%20Collect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="718" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmZhZ1v_I4luVHf7BcZS0NzxapgG7iqEMlAVY1Jxs5g0FeyQKHyrixtIgTx1uygymdlC5_MNQGjJZBaGO3ZYP035U6PUx55YpJOnYxFKiRiJP0F9fsDYBWzmoSzPHSFYm-Ho98Njh51e7_ZbdTvaZ7ZIREplQEPQd8SmF9n3eUCgZoC6_8ekxgo_uRtCV/w400-h378/Lent%2003%20Collect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E </b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Those who wear their religion on their sleeve need not appeal to God for defense. Their defense against the spiritual powers of darkness, great though those powers be, will remain the arm of withering flesh. Pride is its own reward and can never be coupled with our prayers for God's protection and grace. Humility is a rare commodity in today's world. After all, do we not all need a positive self-image? What good will that false self-image be in the grave of worms and decay? We even train our youth to believe that they must have a good opinion of themselves. Good opinions of our own worth will scarce purchase a drop of water in the fires of hell. It is only when we realize that without humble love we are "nothing worth" (as stated in the Collect for Quinquagesima) can we be worth a glance of grace from heaven. This is another Gregorian Collect that was composed when the enemies were at the gate. The Roman Church at the time of the original writing of this Collect was not yet so `full of itself.' It was not lifted up in pride, but prayed daily for the preservation of body and soul from those monsters without the gate, and the demons from within the gate. Is it any different today except that the Church is too asleep to know?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <i><u>WE beseech thee</u></i> Here is another vivid portrayal that our prayers in public worship are communal – that is, these prayers are timeless and worthy of being lifted to God with hearts united in the faith we profess. The prayer following can be uttered in the heart of every worshipper to good profit. This is one of the strengths of Prayer Book worship. Individual prayers of extemporaneous nature may contain elements unrelated to the other worshippers, or may even contain appeals to things contrary to our doctrine and faith. But all of the prayers of the Prayer Book are based on sound biblical principles and truths. To whom should our prayers be directed? To <i><u>Almighty God</u></i>! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> "…<i> <u>look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants</u></i>…" What are hearty desires except those desires that have been filtered by love and faith in the most intimate chambers of our hearts? Can a proud and boastful suppliant have such hearty desires? I doubt that they can have. Their desires are based on a proud mind and flesh, not a humble heart. How does God view pride? Not very highly, I'm afraid. It is pride itself that separates us from the grace of God: <i>The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts</i>. (Psalms 10:4) <i>The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate</i>. (Prov 8:13) Space does not afford the luxury of quoting many more verses of God's condemnation of pride, but those already provided are sufficient to the point. Just remember, the mighty Lucifer fell as a result of pride.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> "….<i><u>and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty</u></i>." Truly this is the Right Hand of Supreme, Sovereign Authority. I may swear an oath with my right hand uplifted, or sign a bank note with my right hand of authority; but my right hand is limited to the feeble power of man alone. The right hand of a king has serious implications, but the Right Hand of the King of Kings seals every truth and judgment. If God stretches forth His Right Hand, you may be sure that Heaven and earth may be shaken.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> "…..<i><u>to be our defence against all our enemies</u></i>…" God's defense is not a limited defense, but will defend against ALL enemies. While we all were once enemies of God, those who have been received by grace may now appeal for that powerful arm of defense in the Almighty. What defense do we need always? It has a direct bearing on a defense from the spiritual powers of darkness that assail us daily; and it has a relevance to the Gospel text for this Sunday from Luke 11:14-28. If we may consider the world a jungle (and it is definitely so from a spiritual perspective), we pass through that jungle with a thousand hungry eyes watching our every move. At the first stumble (at sin) those eyes inform vicious claws and teeth to attack. That is the devil's way, and it has not changed an iota since that Old Red Dragon fell from Heaven as lightning. He has never, and WILL never, be anything other than the mortal enemy of your soul. <i>Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour</i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Peter 5:8)</span> If it pleases you to sin, just be ready for the devouring lion. As God said to Job from out of the whirlwind (regarding that dragon, Leviathan): <i>Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more</i>. (Job 41:8) The same is true of Satan – his power is beyond that of man to oppose. Only God can win the battle against such a vicious creature.<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-35475438050893590132024-02-29T22:41:00.000-05:002024-02-29T22:41:05.285-05:00Hymns of the Church – Jesus Paid it All – 29 February 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord) originally posted 7 April 2015<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL96OkzR8CGrtRouKJgavBcOWv3xLxkeuox6TN9EDGglKARYl9q9sJw2tlBruvGFWlX12izEER1tcC8P0EI_dRzGaqPJAQpPhzfJwKfm_Muky3dWAiiMgFtxtVKLOekZy9GM-_eB4wd7zpWf92tyFOcpTb68UN7sqdEirtiLMCIa0P9YYkEW5t49eiEgGY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL96OkzR8CGrtRouKJgavBcOWv3xLxkeuox6TN9EDGglKARYl9q9sJw2tlBruvGFWlX12izEER1tcC8P0EI_dRzGaqPJAQpPhzfJwKfm_Muky3dWAiiMgFtxtVKLOekZy9GM-_eB4wd7zpWf92tyFOcpTb68UN7sqdEirtiLMCIa0P9YYkEW5t49eiEgGY=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">2</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">3</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">4</span></i></b><i> And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, <span style="color: #fb0007;">Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?</span> </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">5</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, <span style="color: #fb0007;">I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.</span> </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">6</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, <span style="color: #fb0007;">Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.</span></i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 9:1-6)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"> “These Christians are an exasperating lot,” thought Saul (later the Apostle Paul) as he journeyed to Damascus to murder and maim any Christians he found there. “They seem to fear nothing or no one, yet pretend to a faith of greater enlightenment than our religious teachers of the Jews. Their ill-intentioned faith seems to have turned the world upside down. They must be destroyed, along with the memory of their supposed Savior, Jesus,” he mused as he went on the way with his escort on that dusty road to Damascus that day. But Saul never completed the mission he had planned. Why not? Because he heard a Voice unlike any other voice he had ever before heard. “<b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;">Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;">?</span></i>” The Voice carried with it the tone of Authority and Divinity. Saul KNEW this was no earthly Voice. Saul knew this was a Voice from Heaven, but WHO was it? “<b><i>Who art thou, Lord</i></b><i>?</i>” he asked with trembling voice. Once he knew the Voice to be that of Jesus, suddenly the error of years of false learning dawned on poor Saul. This was the very Jesus against whom Saul was going to war against in Damascus. That ‘was’ became an eternity. Saul never again warred against the Lord Jesus Christ or His people. That Voice changed Saul’s life forever, and in an INSTANT! It will change the life of all who hear it!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;">This wonderful old hymn is by Elvina Hall and was published in 1865. The music, All to Him I Owe, was composed by John T. Grape.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;">There is a truly wonderful and soul-inspiring testimony regarding this hymn that happened not long after it was first published. The story takes place in London under the Preaching of Rowland Hill – a rather colorful and lively evangelist: “<i>While he was preaching in a park in London to a large assemblage, she was passing in her carriage. She said to her footman when she saw Rowland Hill in the midst of the people, "Why, who is that man?" That is Rowland Hill, my lady." She had heard a good deal about the man, and she thought she would like to see him, so she directed her coachman to drive her near the platform. When the carriage came near he saw the insignia of nobility, and he asked who that noble lady was. Upon being told, he said, "Stop, my friends, I have got something to sell." The idea of a preacher becoming suddenly an auctioneer made the people wonder, and in the midst of a dead silence he said: "I have more than a title to sell -- I have more than a crown of Europe to sell; it is the soul of Lady Ann Erskine. Is there anyone here who bids for it? Yes, I hear a bid. Satan, Satan, what will you give? 'I will give pleasure, honor, riches -- yea, I will give the whole world for her soul.' Do you hear another bid? Is there any other one? Do I hear another bid? Ah, I thought so; I hear another bid. The Lord Jesus Christ, what will You give for this soul? 'I will give peace, joy, comfort, that the world knows not of -- yea, I will give My life for her eternal life.' Lady Ann Erskine, you have heard the two bidders for your soul, which will you accept? And she ordered the door of her carriage to be opened, and came weeping from it, and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the great and mighty Saviour, is a bidder for your soul to-night. He offers you riches and comfort, and joy, peace here, and eternal life hereafter, while Satan offers you what he cannot give. Poor lost soul, which will you have? He will ransom your soul if you but put your burden upon Him. Twenty-one years ago I made up my mind that Jesus would have my soul, and I have never regretted the step, and no man has ever felt sorry for coming to Him. When we accept Him we must like Him. Your sins may rise up as a mountain, but the Son of Man can purge you of all evil, and take you right into the palaces of Heaven, if you will only allow Him to Save you</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Jesus Paid it All</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">I hear the Savior say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">“Thy strength indeed is small;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Child of weakness, watch and pray,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Find in Me thine all in all.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">Jesus paid it all, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">All to Him I owe; <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">Sin had left a crimson stain, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">He washed it white as snow.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">For nothing good have I<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Whereby Thy grace to claim,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">I’ll wash my garments white<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Lord, now indeed I find<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Thy power and Thine alone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Can change the leper’s spots<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">And melt the heart of stone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">And when from my dying bed<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">My ransomed soul shall rise,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">“Jesus died my soul to save,”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Shall rend the vaulted skies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The most wonderful thing about the unbelievable meanings of this hymn is that they are very true and believable to all who will hear the Voice of the Lord. “<i>I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all</i>.” It is beyond doubt that Saul, too, recognized his utter weakness before that Personage that struck him down and blinded him with His brilliance on Saul’s Road to Ruin. That Road to Ruin became Saul’s Road to Light. He heard the voice of Jesus, and that was ENOUGH! Saul did find in Christ his “All-in-All”! <i>Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Col 3:11)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> “<i>For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim, I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.</i>” True, Saul had no good thing to give, but his intentions were full of bad things – just like you and me before we heard that Voice. “<i>As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one</i>:” <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Rom 3:10)</span> By the way, grace is not something to be earned or purchased. Grace is the free gift of God. It is unmerited and undeserved mercy. The Prodigal Son (you and I) was covered with the finest robe his father had to offer to cover the filth of the pig sty. Imagine! You and I, too, are covered with the finest White Robe of Righteousness that Heaven has to offer – a Robe purchased at the immeasurable expense of the Blood of our Lord and Savior! The miracle of forgiveness – and that is what it truly is – is beyond our understanding. How can we wash our dirty rags of sin to a white splendor in the crimson blood of Jesus? Yes, and even whiter than snow? It is the red stains of His blood that bleaches out the black and sickening stains of our sin. He is our Lamb of the Passover!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> “<i>Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone, Can change the leper’s spots And melt the heart of stone</i>.” If we are depending on the slightest iota of our own power to cross Jordan Banks, we shall be drowned in the deep; for our power can avail nothing of salvation. He is the only resurrection power that acts as a magnet to pull up that metal of similar nature to Him. We will be like Him because we have taken on that Mind which was in Christ Jesus! The leper’s spots are blemishes in our feasts of righteousness that is made of sin. Given a White Robe each morning by way of repentance and forgiveness, it has horridly defiling spots by evening time. But Christ has made the Mercy Seat available to all who will plead their cause to their Advocate seated by the Father. The stony heart is cold and hard, but the volcanic fountain of Christ’s love will melt even that stone, and replace it with a heart of flesh upon which He has written His Table of Laws.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> My dear friends, regardless of your present age and health, there awaits every reader of this devotion a room of dying determined by the will of God. When we are children, we believe, mercifully, that no such day and hour will come; but come it surely will, and not always at the expected moment. “<i>And when from my dying bed My ransomed soul shall rise, “Jesus died my soul to save,” Shall rend the vaulted skies</i>.” Please bear in mind that the Lord, our God, has reserved an escort for you at the moment of death – an escort of the angels of Heaven. It will be the first VIP escort for many of us. Notice the deference paid to the saint of God, as opposed to the sinner, at death. In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we read: “<b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;">22</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;"> And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and <u>was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom</u>: the rich man also died, and was buried</span></i></b>;” (Luke 16:21-22) Remember the old negro spiritual: “<i>Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Coming for to Carry me Home</i>?” It was a band of angels that was coming after that dear old singer, and that band was coming to carry him home! “<i>A band of angels coming a’ter me, jes’ a coming for to carry me home</i>!” I hope I will meet that old gentleman beyond the stormy Banks of Jordan Waters. Jesus paid for our travel fare but we must accept the ticket!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Refrain</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><b><i> “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.</i></b><b>”</b> It is true! Jesus paid it all on that terrible instrument of torture called a cross. We can never give to God a single thing. All of Creation belongs to Him alone. But we can surrender our souls (which belong to Him) back to His loving care. We are able to surrender those souls because Jesus paid it all at Calvary! The crimson gashes of the whip made in Pilate’s paddock; the gaping and crimson wounds on His sinless brow made by the crown of thorns; the terrible and painful crimson wounds on His feet and hands made by the Roman nine-inch nails: and the horrific wound made by the spear to His divine and Holy side by the lancer which drains crimson blood and water – all were made to pay for the laundry bill of our crimson sins. His blood washes – not just white as snow – but WHITER than snow. Snow flakes are formed by the condensation of ice crystals about a particle of dust or smoke in the upper atmosphere. So at the heart of every snowflake is a particle of impurity. But the blood of Christ removes even that particle of impurity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;">Please consider the gems of truth in a single verse of the Psalms: “<i>Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow</i>.” <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalms 51:7)</span> Hyssop is a popular purgative in Asia. It cleans out the alimentary canal. It cleans the INSIDE of the body. If we are cleaned by God from within first, we shall appear every whit as white, and even whiter, than snow in the outward appearance. But if the filth remains at our core, the impurity remains in the heart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-82597031990035114332024-02-29T11:08:00.000-05:002024-02-29T11:08:38.370-05:00Hymns of the Church – My hope is built on nothing less – 29 February 2024, Anno Domini<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Palatino;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5PdA4xEom3LOxKOcs_Qon4yiu-MIajMBTK7p6IimONnBu0D-U1zZVoZ4uuAbtN9gs1HyloKUrKQD-9NVeoKufeNo9Is8N2OyEfid_ugu17xtWFYmNxVhWQuDX8atuQRY8rIuqsqCJQ2-HkyrWplNcwxEf5ul87sA3hLStEKa6d7cJWrTJWurvENFOeYA7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="664" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5PdA4xEom3LOxKOcs_Qon4yiu-MIajMBTK7p6IimONnBu0D-U1zZVoZ4uuAbtN9gs1HyloKUrKQD-9NVeoKufeNo9Is8N2OyEfid_ugu17xtWFYmNxVhWQuDX8atuQRY8rIuqsqCJQ2-HkyrWplNcwxEf5ul87sA3hLStEKa6d7cJWrTJWurvENFOeYA7=w400-h306" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Click here to listen and watch:</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkpwtl8AYsQ" style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkpwtl8AYsQ</span></a><u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 31.5pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">HEREFORE</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will like him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: <span style="font-size: xx-small;">25</span> And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. </span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Matthew 7:24-25)</span><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> This hymn is much older than the impression it gives in its casual, but profound, meanings. Composed in 1822 by Edward Mote (1797-1874), It is a hymn which points to the anchor of Hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. The tune is <i>SOLID ROCK</i> by Edward Bradbury in 1863.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0a3f64; font-family: Palatino;">My hope is built on nothing less</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">My hope is built on nothing less<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">than Jesus' blood and righteousness;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I dare not trust the sweetest frame,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">but wholly lean on Jesus' name.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">all other ground is sinking sand;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">all other ground is sinking sand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">When darkness veils his lovely face,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I rest on his unchanging grace;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">in every high and stormy gale,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">my anchor holds within the veil.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">His oath, his covenant, his blood,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">support me in the whelming flood;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">when all around my soul gives way,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">he then is all my hope and stay<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">When he shall come with trumpet sound,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">O may I then in him be found:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">dressed in his righteousness alone,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">faultless to stand before the throne. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">.</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> Verily ‘nothing less’ nor ‘nothing more’ than the blood sacrifice of our be saved, and certainly our trust should be fixed on Christ and upon no mortal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">2 When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">] </span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">In is in the darkest hours that His Presence may be most keenly felt. This is because there is little of the world to distract us from being stayed on Him and His Word. The Anchor that holds within the veil is that Holiest of Holies made accessible by His death on the cross when that veil was torn from top to bottom as Jesus became our High Priest and only Intercessor with the Father. His grace is unchanging.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">3 His oath, his covenant, his blood, support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">]</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> When the rolling billows burst upon us past the shoals, we are swamped in despair; but then comes the strong arm of Christ to lift our fearful souls from the deep. He knows our frame and He knows what limits we can bear. His oath is the only covenant of import to us: “</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Palatino;">He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">4 When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found: dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">] </span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">When the angelic groomsmen sounds the trumpet for the Marriage Feast, we must have our lamps trimmed and full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, elase we may be cast away from entrance. Being in Christ is an assurance of security and being imputed with His righteousness. There can no evil, sin, or death exist in Christ who is our eternal abode.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain </span></b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">. </span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Christ is that huge, immovable Rock that cannot be moved. When we stand on the Jordan Banks at the latter end of our days, our feet shall not falter or stumble if that rock is our support. But the sands of unbelief and unrighteousness will offer only the sinking gloom of the eternal Deep.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-78058582699348451322024-02-25T13:54:00.002-05:002024-02-25T14:18:26.687-05:00 AOC Sunday Report – Second Sunday in Lent <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiy6dtbnzh1-6VdTVpVpq55Az3MdLkWtoMtTuybmG6CtmY1816_XddBJngFTWOzUaEhNukj7YY2WyM8v90MDwdYJ1BiyfFFn-9qFDRMoN3dBOfIKX8fs0Vr_BuFWM2AfwYOH5gEqbsJlxKw39pZ6KIQH2_fFqmiJ3KX2ZsPUj19BPq6pTqZbY0rLCzKhBzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="4800" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiy6dtbnzh1-6VdTVpVpq55Az3MdLkWtoMtTuybmG6CtmY1816_XddBJngFTWOzUaEhNukj7YY2WyM8v90MDwdYJ1BiyfFFn-9qFDRMoN3dBOfIKX8fs0Vr_BuFWM2AfwYOH5gEqbsJlxKw39pZ6KIQH2_fFqmiJ3KX2ZsPUj19BPq6pTqZbY0rLCzKhBzw=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Happy Second Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17o2JxjupxcFgo4rge1ut1AEcpcYNbwiN/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Igor and Jack. In addition, as normal we have a sermon from Rev Bryan, it is particularly good today; I’d like to point that out and ask you to give it your special consideration. <span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon can be viewed on video</span> <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">’s</span> sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we acknowledge to God that we cannot direct our own lives; if we listen to our own selves we are without guidance. Paul tells us to keep our bodies under control of our minds and our minds to be guided by God only, He helps move us on course. Matthew gives us a fine example of faith that demonstrates how we must be guided by faith in our Lord. The woman who cries unto Jesus is a Gentile, just like us. Just like us she longs for His Mercy and will not give up. <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<span style="color: #0563c1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who is been in ICU for well over a month now with Covid then work your way through Shamu, Tricia, Laurie and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As we work our way through Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">May you see the epic week ahead<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUejsshpgjirmT9ISa7DzW4B8L6YxqhMaE9wtPQVfj0r-bn7GPWA9MC0wNNIEM1Qhf-o-duhSD9yD9wcAEiPB6bKTMsT3obttSe7-M23gQzFcdxPdMYpmFWwT51KtL43ZKDI5GyfNSq6UQw3aAXEhPhdp-Xku4gZOz05u4FvBr5Yqb6y9DuqMXUOIAUqV/s158/Hap%20Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUejsshpgjirmT9ISa7DzW4B8L6YxqhMaE9wtPQVfj0r-bn7GPWA9MC0wNNIEM1Qhf-o-duhSD9yD9wcAEiPB6bKTMsT3obttSe7-M23gQzFcdxPdMYpmFWwT51KtL43ZKDI5GyfNSq6UQw3aAXEhPhdp-Xku4gZOz05u4FvBr5Yqb6y9DuqMXUOIAUqV/w100-h97/Hap%20Signature.png" width="100" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Hap Arnold<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-63186493200352387792024-02-25T13:23:00.000-05:002024-02-25T13:23:18.713-05:00Second Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkPO2m4Pk1BGMby2kXFpmZvDP2Qk-WcFiY0eyaYq5VPMUpjSUCOtOL3wYf0N3DfNCfUA0Wbn3noJn_f5tcfx6n5wpfdIc9ZoeNJ-dgC-GRkjr_0L6CDSxk_DUZK6GmbhBmZSfQNfRxFtdtVs_f_nOgPUlphCMVGRD_JXF8URazx0VB21oMY665AtYesyc/s1600/Dogs%20under%20the%20table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkPO2m4Pk1BGMby2kXFpmZvDP2Qk-WcFiY0eyaYq5VPMUpjSUCOtOL3wYf0N3DfNCfUA0Wbn3noJn_f5tcfx6n5wpfdIc9ZoeNJ-dgC-GRkjr_0L6CDSxk_DUZK6GmbhBmZSfQNfRxFtdtVs_f_nOgPUlphCMVGRD_JXF8URazx0VB21oMY665AtYesyc/w400-h268/Dogs%20under%20the%20table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we acknowledge to God that we cannot direct our own lives; if we listen to our own selves we are without guidance. Paul tells us to keep our bodies under control of our minds and our minds to be guided by God only, He helps move us on course. Matthew gives us a fine example of faith that demonstrates how we must be guided by faith in our Lord. The woman who cries unto Jesus is a Gentile, just like us. Just like us she longs for His Mercy and will not give up. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Propers for today are found on Page 127-128, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The Second Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">T</span>he Epistle for today comes from the Fourth Chapter of Paul’s First letter to the Thessalonians beginning at the First Verse. Apparently the Corinthians were not the only church founded in a Red Light District. In this letter Paul is telling the people to refrain from random sex and get married. Paul is starting into the beginning of his New Man concept. We are called to be as God wants us to be, not as we would be without His guidance and help. God does this, not that we would miss fun, but rather that we would enjoy happiness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoBodyText" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the Fifteenth Chapter,<b> </b>beginning at the Twenty-First Verse. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: 24.5pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ESUS</b> went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, <span style="color: red;">I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel</span>. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, <span style="color: red;">It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs</span>. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, <span style="color: red;">O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt</span>. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This story surfaces again in the Book of Common Prayer in the Prayer of Humble Access, in the Book of Common Prayer, Page 82:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. <u>We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table</u>. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. <i>Amen.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop Jack Arnold</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church of the United States</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Training and Education Department</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Diocese of the West</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video </span><a href="https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0" style="color: purple;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0" style="color: purple;">https://youtu.be/-TVbL9-aRj0</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjjM-huPiUy4jg1L9CTj2a8ufxYwMShMiQlWpLjRBlQ-hogUt251PBgRtuwitp_bEe6dTCukwHW8Ro8VQ8cpqmGZSyizEJtH12ThoOtRaY4XSDqRxkc0hQUjFbkLr1NlOiGGc-ZrQhEiH-IK9zpqgiJJ6ArmdVGcTxkgElKl6D9H9iPOskEyX7HB639LpJ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjjM-huPiUy4jg1L9CTj2a8ufxYwMShMiQlWpLjRBlQ-hogUt251PBgRtuwitp_bEe6dTCukwHW8Ro8VQ8cpqmGZSyizEJtH12ThoOtRaY4XSDqRxkc0hQUjFbkLr1NlOiGGc-ZrQhEiH-IK9zpqgiJJ6ArmdVGcTxkgElKl6D9H9iPOskEyX7HB639LpJ" width="200" /></a></div><br />Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Second Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">… we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul …<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Collect, we acknowledge to God that we cannot direct our own lives; if we listen to our own selves we are without guidance. Consider the airplane flying, it orders its movements according to Polaris, the Pole Star of True North. If a pilot flies guided by his “inner self” he soon knows only where he is: at the controls, and little else. Like the pilot who needs to know where the True North is so he can orient himself, we need God’s guidance to move towards our goal of eternal life with Him. While flying my aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions or IMC , I have to rely on the aircraft instruments as our bodily senses lie to us about our aircrafts true altitude. So too do we have to rely on Scriptures for our guidance on the path towards heaven as our natural inclinations will also lie to us on our true performance.. This is why we cannot rely on ourselves to navigate towards heaven but we need the help of our spiritual navigator the Holy Ghost.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The first step of getting onto the narrow uphill path towards heaven is that we have to let Him into our hearts in order to let Him guide us. If we do not do this, then how can we expect to have Him guide us, if we are not open and ready to receive Him and His Guidance? We would be perpetually lost and would never make it onto the narrow uphill path towards heaven. This is why need the help of the Holy Ghost to be our infalliable co pilot and help guide us on the narrow uphill path towards heaven<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Thus, when Paul tells us to keep our bodies under control of our minds and our minds to be guided by God only, He helps move us on course. He tells us to avoid the things that can sabotage our journey towards God and can physically hurt both our souls and body. These things he lists out are things that would derail us if we engaged in those activities. We must seek to not do them and to instead remain on the courseline that the Holy Spirit has outlined for us. This ties in very well with the collect’s request for God to keep us outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls. It links the theme of both spiritual and physical moderation extremely well. If we stay away from the things that would derail us, we will find our journey on the narrow uphill trail to be much easier than if we didn’t stay away from those things. The Holy Ghost will help us avoid those negative activities and moderate our spiritual and physical lives if we will allow Him in and listen to His Guidance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Being honest with others and especially ourselves is one of the most important things we can do. If we are not honest with ourselves to start, how can we be honest with others? The worst person to lie to is yourself after all. For only by living our faith can we demonstrate that we in fact have faith. For professed faith with no action when you are able to act is not real. You must actualize what you claim to believe. We must put our nice words into action and not just leave them as words. We are called to be as God wants us to be, not as we would be without His guidance and help. God does this, not that we would miss fun, but rather that we would enjoy true happiness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Keeping evil thoughts under control can be a difficult task, but we do not have to face it alone, we have the Holy Ghost in our lives and other Christians and friends that support us and guide us, that can help us battle evil thoughts. This is not a battle that we should be fighting alone, but with support from the Holy Ghost and our Christians and other friends. This proves that Christianity is not a solitary religion but a social one. We need the help of our fellow believers if we are to succeed at the race of Life. Of course we need to be willing to talk to our good friends within the Church about our problems and evil thoughts and listen to their advice, and more importantly to the Holy Ghost’s advice to combat these evil thoughts and drive away the temptations of the devil. Christianity did not flourish because its followers were hermits, it flourished because its followers evangelized the religion throughout the known world. It is an active religion and it requires its followers to actively participate in it by spreading the Good news. It would never have spread as far as it did if it was a hermetic religion. Keeping our thoughts under control can be almost impossible at times but with the help of the Holy Spirit it is not impossible at all.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Matthew gives us a fine example of faith that demonstrates how we must be guided by faith in our Lord. The woman who cries unto Jesus is a Gentile, just like us. Just like us she longs for His Mercy. In her case, she asks only for the mercy rejected by others, the crumbs of the Master’s Table<a href="applewebdata://D2AAF5F2-511A-44B6-B3A3-EC99BA32A88F#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: purple;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>. This is the essence of our faith, we are not worthy to dine at His Table, no more than dogs are meet to dine at our table. Yet, what is left over is more than enough for us. And we are content with that, knowing what miserable creatures we are. And, even more important, even knowing what miserable creatures we are, Jesus offers to share His Table with us. This woman had just as much faith in Jesus as the Faithful Centurion. She had faith that He would share His Mercy with her and heal her Daughter. She was rewarded for her faith by Him healing her daughter. The key in all of these interactions that Jesus had with these people, is that these people had tremendous faith in Him. We must have that same faith and we must show it in our lives by carrying out actions consistent with his message.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">He is not content for us to grovel for His crumbs. If He offers His love for us, should we not love Him back, by acting upon our faith? If you truly believe, you are compelled to act upon the faith you have. Action is the key cornerstone of the Christian faith. Jesus afterall laid down His life for ours on the cross that we might have eternal life, the ultimate example of action. If He did that for us, it would be behoove us to act upon our Faith and follow His Example of helping others and leading them to God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is also important to understand if one loves God, He still has the exact same amount of love available for any other person or group. His love is infinite, even if it wasn’t, love multiplies in use! We do not have to worry about God running out of love at all. There is more than enough to go around!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Recognize how poorly you do with your own guidance, accept His Guidance, stay on course and accept the fruits of that action. Realize that you will make mistakes multiple times in your life, but what counts is that you turn back to God and do your best not to make that same mistake again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is but one way to heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">That easy to find, easy to follow, easy to hike path does not lead to the summit where eternal life in the real world awaits. Open your heart to the Holy Ghost, use His Power to follow our Lord to God who awaits in heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Be of God - Live of God - Act of God<o:p></o:p></b></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://D2AAF5F2-511A-44B6-B3A3-EC99BA32A88F#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: purple;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sound familiar? Check out the Prayer of Humble Access, Holy Communion, BCP Page 82.</span></p></div></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-55592174721517069422024-02-24T21:28:00.000-05:002024-02-24T21:28:32.436-05:00Lent 02 Collect – 25 February 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0l-cThFFALJ8Jr-NkrHgilDAXgimOOQg2m2x_4naRg65Trc1CcaYueIS4DhyMz3ZLIjQYlkV5XB5KWZ7OxTtIy9JcbdYCaDsX7B7KtQK1cCfG7OUlH1-bkKa5lpd-1zxzPIzhvP9yO1RZ0CPlZcbSojmxPV9CGW2zP5q1-PXHhJokC2Frju97X4WvnbHz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="500" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0l-cThFFALJ8Jr-NkrHgilDAXgimOOQg2m2x_4naRg65Trc1CcaYueIS4DhyMz3ZLIjQYlkV5XB5KWZ7OxTtIy9JcbdYCaDsX7B7KtQK1cCfG7OUlH1-bkKa5lpd-1zxzPIzhvP9yO1RZ0CPlZcbSojmxPV9CGW2zP5q1-PXHhJokC2Frju97X4WvnbHz=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The Second Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"> This COLLECT is taken from the Gregorian Sacramentary composed at a time when 6<sup>th</sup> century Rome was under constant peril from without and within. The Collects of the time reflect that earnest spirit of devotion that was revisited at the time of the Reformation. The translation of these COLLECTs into English during the Reformation aroused the ire of those from whose country they originated. Rome was furious with the Reformers and, when given the opportunity of power, burned them at the stake or committed some other unmentionable atrocities against them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"> There are at least four salient points recognized in this COLLECT: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: black;">Our God is the Lord that SEES us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: black;">We are powerless to help ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: black;">We seek to be kept under the shelter of His wings of mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family: Palatino; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: black;">Being kept by God in the covert of His shelter, we shall be defended both inwardly, and outwardly, from all perils.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: black;">Our God is the Lord that SEES us.<i><u><o:p></o:p></u></i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="color: black;">ALMIGHTY God, who seest</span></u></i></b><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><span style="color: black;">There is an excellent example in Genesis of the maid, Hagar, whom the Lord saw in her grievous distress. After fleeing from the harsh treatment of Sarai, Abram’s wife, into the wilderness, the Angel of the Lord ‘found” her by a fountain of water. It goes without saying that a person must be lost before they are found; however, the eyes of the Lord followed her every step all the days of her life. He ‘found’ her at the point of need for which He answered that need. He told Hagar to return to her mistress and that God would bless her progeny. <b><i>And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me (Beerlahairoi): for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me</i></b>? (Gen 16:13) God finds the lost often by the wells of waters just as the Samaritan woman who was found by Christ at Jacob’s Well. There was a second time when Hagar fled into the Wilderness of Beersheba having been cast out with God’s approval from the presence of Isaac and his mother. Again, in the midst of the Wilderness of Beersheba, her water was exhausted and her child, Ishmael, was famishing. Not able to bear his death, she left him under a shrub and wandered a bowshot distance away. As she was weeping bitterly (God had already provided a well of water at her very feet though she knew it not) again the Angel of the Lord spoke to her in tender and comforting tones (see Genesis 21:14-21). Then were her “eyes opened” and she saw the provision of God before her in the form of a well of water. We are often so blinded by our tears of doubt and fear that we cannot see the blessings that God has provided for us.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: black;">We are powerless to help ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="color: black;">We have no power of ourselves to help ourselves</span></u></i></b><span style="color: black;">. What great thing did you bring with you into the world when you were born. not only penniless but, naked and helpless as well? What power had you then, and what power has you now? It is certain that you shall leave this world with no more than that which you brought into it at birth. Every breath, every heartbeat, every sunset, every comfort of the cooling breeze has been sent to you as a gift of the Almighty; so of what will you boast? The light from the most remote of star has been sent under the power of God’s creative genius. The cycles of rotation of the planets, their gravitational fields, their weather patterns – all – have been set into motion by the natural laws God inculcated at the moment of Creation. And you He created in darkness so that all of your hairs were number long before you saw the light of day. So you are some power to reckon with? Maybe not! So from whence cometh your help? <b><i>I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth</i></b> (Psalms 121:1-2) We have no power to do good apart from that power of the Holy Ghost working in our members.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: black;">We seek to be kept under the shelter of His wings of mercy.</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="color: black;">Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls</span></u></i></b><span style="color: black;">. When the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the waters cascaded down from heaven in the Days of Noah, where was the place of safety – IN THE WORLD, OR IN THE Ark of God? Did God tell Noah to <b><u>GO INTO THE ARK</u></b>, or did He tell Noah to <b><u>COME INTO THE ARK</u>? <i>And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark</i></b>. (Gen 7:1) The place of safe keeping is ALWAYS the Ark of God that He has prepared for us. What is our place of safe-keeping today? It is the Ark of Christ. In Him there is no death or danger. Christ never said GO unto Me, but COME unto Me. The world today is mad and drunken with sin just as it was in the days of Noah. So where shall we seek shelter? We must flee to Christ. He can not only heal and save us, but He can heal and save nations that turn unto Him.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: black;">Being kept by God in the covert of His shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">What advantage is there in claiming sanctuary in Christ? <b><i><u>“….that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul</u></i></b>.” We pray for bodily protection so that our souls may serve better and longer. But all that remains when the body decays is the soul and spirit of man. At the hour of our death, if our souls have been made righteous through the imputed righteousness of Christ, they shall find a good and happy lodging with Christ. If not, they shall be relegated to the only other destination reserved for Satan and his angels – Hell. But the works of God always begin with the inner heart. Once this has been made clean through the shed blood of Christ, then the outward appearance and outward body will reflect that cleanness that is inward. We do not desire to appear as the “whited sepulchers” of the Pharisees that are white and refined on the surface, but full of death and filth within. If our precious treasures are on deposit in heaven, our outward form will reflect the beauty of that bank.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"> As is always true, we ask these things “….<b><i><u>through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen</u></i></b>.” Those things that we ask THROUGH and BY the Name of Jesus Christ will always be those things which it is His will to grant, not our own wills prevailing. So the right prayer will always include the <b><i>proviso</i></b>, “nevertheless thy will, not mine, be done.”</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-1697744249109028062024-02-24T20:49:00.000-05:002024-02-24T20:49:48.933-05:00Sermon Notes - Second Sunday in Lent - Second Lesson, Evening Prayer - Pray without ceasing - Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide - 25 February 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIN9R7pkmdchu-jkiuUhFyYwQWZ4pg1ugFS8NNYXjFD2I2oKdtfBG_TVrtyk34cC66UEYbwOzU6ZXPWC0BkyPSh1S9y3T6NxJRW3bFAXjN-msSv8HD9urqv0nycbVreiNpDRhSUwxs84yMdde23b8An-wn-R1maHQKhaPU-BO9hVX_l4xXWtV5yTrL331/s1021/persistent%20widow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1021" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIN9R7pkmdchu-jkiuUhFyYwQWZ4pg1ugFS8NNYXjFD2I2oKdtfBG_TVrtyk34cC66UEYbwOzU6ZXPWC0BkyPSh1S9y3T6NxJRW3bFAXjN-msSv8HD9urqv0nycbVreiNpDRhSUwxs84yMdde23b8An-wn-R1maHQKhaPU-BO9hVX_l4xXWtV5yTrL331/w400-h301/persistent%20widow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Palatino; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Bishop Ogles</span></i></b><b style="font-family: Palatino; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span><span style="color: #c10ab5;"> Sermon</span></i></b></div><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Presiding Bishop<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 168.95pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 324.55pt; margin-top: 22.75pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 138.9pt; z-index: 252356608;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:////Users/haparnold/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image001.jpg"><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s sermon notes. Today is one of those Sundays. Today<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart. Bishop Jerry also provided this lovely video presentation, Drag Net of the Kingdom - <span style="color: blue; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/nXYulgpRYqc" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/nXYulgpRYqc</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlsp1lRVGVBmJSVEj1M-P5nCpwvkBEhFw6NWDQjq8LsERVBPwG2vNBus3H_RarqbQAUqlsHSKYnakDKJdGlWih6sLv5va_AuyabLGBcWbhgTVd-_FXhoYQf0DJpgdgeRcu4KBUffNhsSbdo8frqKIKm2pRqe7VTMWkIrD4v6MmNlOb6sl6k2Ezgqrwr6u/s416/Rev%20Jerry%20006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlsp1lRVGVBmJSVEj1M-P5nCpwvkBEhFw6NWDQjq8LsERVBPwG2vNBus3H_RarqbQAUqlsHSKYnakDKJdGlWih6sLv5va_AuyabLGBcWbhgTVd-_FXhoYQf0DJpgdgeRcu4KBUffNhsSbdo8frqKIKm2pRqe7VTMWkIrD4v6MmNlOb6sl6k2Ezgqrwr6u/s320/Rev%20Jerry%20006.jpg" width="263" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br /> </i></b><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The Second Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 26.4pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">One great acknowledgment that stands out in today’s Collect for the Second Sunday in Lent is this: Since our father Adam partook of the ill-natured tree in the midst of the Garden, Man must still find himself constantly relying upon that OTHER Tree in the midst of the Garden at Eden which he rejected – the Tree of Life. Because of that rejection, we are full of sin and incapable of helping ourselves. We even return to, stop and listen to, and partake of the ill-fated fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It is only the Mercy and Grace offered by the Tree of Life that keeps us from constantly appealing to the serpent of the other tree. This Collect originates in the Gregorian Sacramentary. For a fuller study and brief meditation on the Collects, I recommend The Collects of Thomas Cranmer, by C. Frederick Barbee and Paul F.M. Zahl. (Erdmans, 1999)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sir Francis Bacon has said: “<i>A man’s nature runs either to herbs or weeds. Therefore, let him seasonably water the one and destroy the other</i>.”<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><b>Second Lesson<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Evening Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 26.4pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; <sup>2</sup> Saying, </i><i><span style="color: red;">There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: </span></i><i><sup>3</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. </span></i><i><sup>4</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; </span></i><i><sup>5</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.</span></i><i> <sup>6</sup> And the Lord said, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Hear what the unjust judge saith. </span></i><i><sup>7</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? </span></i><i><sup>8</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? </span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Luke 18:1-8)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">This parable clearly points to the importance of faith exercised through prayer. We have in the Parable, a contrast:<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">…There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="layout-grid-mode: char; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><u>A politically powerful judge and no doubt wealthy by the standards of the day, who does not fear God or man</u> , and<b> </b><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i><i><sup>3</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 3pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="layout-grid-mode: char; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>A poor widow with no political or social standing who had been oppressed, but who feared God and believed in the power of righteousness and persistent prayer. She was incessant in her pleas for justice. She NEVER gave up on seeking justice, and believed , though she was powerless, that justice would be gained through her persistence in bringing her case. Before Christ, women were property and not entitled to rights or privileges.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The unrighteous have momentary advantage over the righteous because they are not bound by just restraint. They make their own rules, but the righteous must abide by justice. But the wicked also like to be left alone to their wicked devices. They do not wish to be constantly reminded that they are wicked. They do not want others to notice, therefore, <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Persistence in prayer, as in Olympic sports, bears its own reward, however, prayer <u>without faith</u> will is simply amount to useless babbling. Why would you plead endlessly to your parents for some desired gift if there were no hope in gaining the thing begged for? Or why study without measure when your final grade will have no possibility of being improved thereby? Or why save your money and invest in gold or silver if there were no prospect of getting a handsome return?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Let us refer to the Book of James Chapter 2, beginning at the 14<sup>th</sup> Verse:<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 26.4pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>HAT</b><i> doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? <sup>15</sup> If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, <sup>16</sup> And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? <sup>17</sup> Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. <sup>18</sup> Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. <sup>19</sup> Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. <sup>20</sup> But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">How did the unjust judge respond to the lady’s petition?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>4</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; </span></i><i><sup>5</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The wicked lack the promise the righteous own in knowing <i>all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose.</i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 8:28)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">So the woman has, at least, the satisfaction of knowing that justice will certainly come, either now, or later.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jesus counsels us to take a lesson from this appeal of the poor widow and the results accomplished through persistent petition.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i>And the Lord said, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Hear what the unjust judge saith.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Christ is telling us the same principle applies in prayer.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">We know from the record of history despots and evil-doers all have eventually met their doom. The Caesars of history are remembered with revulsion…..the Hitlers, Mussolini’s, Stalins, Pol Pots, Maos, etc have fallen before the creeping advance of time and wield no power or respect of generations today at all. The same is true of Kim Il Sung who is a rotting corpse in a grave in North Korea.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">But the righteous, as Moses, Elijah, and Enoch, are in the presence of heavenly bliss and are fondly remembered by the righteous.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">How will God hear the prayers of His elect?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. </span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">God will always act at the proper hour. He does not rush to judgment as do men. He considers a thing, and then does it. Moreover, He knows, better than we, the proper answer to our prayers. When we grow strong in knowing the Mind of God, our prayers will more often reflect the will of God in all that we pray for.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Lord’s prayer – <i><span style="color: red;">…thy Will be done</span></i>!<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i>…..</i><i><span style="color: red;">O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.</span></i><i> </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matt 26:42)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">….O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.</span></i><i> </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matt 26:39)</span> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The last sentence of this parable should be troubling to us:<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">This last question is a rhetorical one, and designed to give us pause to think on its significance. What does the Bible say about these last days before the return of Christ?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 26.4pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>HIS</b><i> know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. <sup>2</sup> For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, <sup>3</sup> Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, <sup>4</sup> Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; <sup>5</sup> Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. <sup>6</sup> For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, <sup>7</sup> Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.</i><b>……</b><i><sup>10</sup></i><i> But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, <sup>11</sup> Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. <sup>12</sup> Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. <sup>13</sup> But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(2 Timothy 3)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">You can see this being fulfilled around you this very day. Not only do the wicked deceive, but they are also being deceived because they are evil, and the company they keep is evil.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">What is the Christian response to this growing wickedness?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i>But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; <sup>15</sup> And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Do not respond as the men before the Great Flood while Noah was building the Ark. Their hearts were darkened and they took up vile affections…..what were these affections? The same as those for which God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">What are some of the signs? Friday an earthquake shook the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Saturday, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded devasted Conception, Chile and surrounding areas. In January, what happened in Haiti?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">What about wars that are proliferating around the globe? There is war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, Africa, and now Yemen. Does God know of these events?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 26.4pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> Jesus answered and said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Take heed that no man deceive you. </span></i><i><sup>5</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. </span></i><i><sup>6</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. </span></i><i><sup>7</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. </span></i><i><sup>8</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> All these arethe beginning of sorrows. </span></i><i><sup>9</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. </span></i><i><sup>10</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. </span></i><i><sup>11</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. </span></i><i><sup>12</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. </span></i><i><sup>13</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. </span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matt 24:4-13)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">These very events are being fulfilled as we speak.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">What should the Christian do in these days?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i>Pray without ceasing</i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Thess 5:17)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">and <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 26.4pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>OR</b><i> yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. <sup>3</sup> For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. <sup>4</sup> But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. <sup>5</sup> Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. <sup>6</sup> Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. <sup>7</sup> For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. <sup>8</sup> But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. <sup>9</sup> For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, <sup>10</sup> Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Thess 5:2)</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Pray with a fullness of faith that righteousness will come to those who seek it. Justice always follows in the righteous steps of God’s people.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Even in our infirmity, God will sustain us always.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-13825838179642412832024-02-22T17:46:00.003-05:002024-02-22T17:46:52.712-05:00Clouds are the dust of His feet – 22 February 2024, Anno Domini<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDAVYnedhemQsnGtisz2__zOHG8JrQ1APTe5L9yAfBcluSW3U-0Vd_2foPJ2DNiUnc1trTF5FppGCgOvkeJD2n9BJ4pHPkxGrx5ggsCYAAfCoZE6WVeA6InhV0TL47mY172UK7Q-kCyE6SHKLw8oqYvhbMoB9TQLCr8PUoULbJMgeatiraglfSC67PQ8Rc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDAVYnedhemQsnGtisz2__zOHG8JrQ1APTe5L9yAfBcluSW3U-0Vd_2foPJ2DNiUnc1trTF5FppGCgOvkeJD2n9BJ4pHPkxGrx5ggsCYAAfCoZE6WVeA6InhV0TL47mY172UK7Q-kCyE6SHKLw8oqYvhbMoB9TQLCr8PUoULbJMgeatiraglfSC67PQ8Rc=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 29.05pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 34.5pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>HE</b><i> </i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Nahum 1:3)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Anyone familiar with my devotions is aware of my fascination with clouds. That fascination began while I was a young child in visualizing courageous knights in armor, great sailing vessels, and even angels depicted in the puffy white mists in the sky above. Those depictions of my imagination have matured and been refined in my understanding by the numerous references to clouds in the Holy Scriptures.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> It has been speculated there were no clouds in Eden –the first clouds appeared with the first rains to fall, and, later, provided the backdrop for God’s promise to Noah expressed by the Rainbow of Seven Colors (not the six of those who pervert the institution of marriage). The Bible continued from that day of Noah until the close of the biblical Canon to use clouds to illustrate some mystery of God’s doing. <i>And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Genesis 9:12-15)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> One powerful display of the Cloud appeared as the Children of Israel were encamped at Etham near the Red Sea. <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>T</i><i>he LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Exodus 13:21-22)</span> The shroud of Cloud and Pillar concealed the Presence of the Lord inside for in the crossing of the Red Sea, <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians</i>, <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Exodus 14:24)</span> God then destroyed the Egyptian army by releasing the flood waters of the Red Sea upon them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The biblical references to clouds are too profuse to enumerate in this devotion, but I will point out the places that I feel salient to our appreciation of them. Our Lord is often clothed in the clouds of Heaven. His garments are as thick clouds: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 18:11)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Though clouds most often signal the gift of life-giving rains on the parched earth of the soul, there are clouds that are false signals – they have no water of life like the false prophets of our own day and time: <i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></i><i>These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(2 Peter 2:17-18)</span> They speak with soft words and swelling praises of men, but omit due homage to their Lord and Maker.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Though clouds conceal, they do, also, at the discreet will of God, reveal truth to us. A sterling example of this truth is found on the Mount of Transfiguration when our Lord Jesus Christ communed with Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the prophets of the Old Testament). The disciples, being enamored at the vision, desired to build a Tabernacle to the three; but a cloud descended and covered them. When it rose, it revealed only the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets – Our Lord Jesus Christ. <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matthew 17:4-5)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Perhaps our greatest hope and prospects are hidden in the clouds that will herald the coming of the Water of Life and Bread of Heaven – our Lord. When he left us to return to the Father, a cloud received Him in His ascent. The two angels assured the disciples, . . . <i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></i><i>they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 1:9-11)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Perhaps we, too, should keep our eyes focused above lest we miss the epic event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-56700014443658798262024-02-20T19:59:00.002-05:002024-02-20T19:59:46.462-05:00Hymns of the Church – Sunset and Evening Star – 20 February 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMiLQbIJIBc3sHJRogQ3nKZvyGDraoo43T6pf9NQQtwsgpt6KBN2jQZVzociPjUOjxbATZER1eTWTfgQ2j_cyIy8EbTCl3k1EJ9WAM5A9OjUQ1pMzb7spv9oo1QsniEbktvb0QqPQhV01z-bWpQem-G9xEOqswqkixvHOT_DAtNIo7pBvBqos3gxPP1sUu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMiLQbIJIBc3sHJRogQ3nKZvyGDraoo43T6pf9NQQtwsgpt6KBN2jQZVzociPjUOjxbATZER1eTWTfgQ2j_cyIy8EbTCl3k1EJ9WAM5A9OjUQ1pMzb7spv9oo1QsniEbktvb0QqPQhV01z-bWpQem-G9xEOqswqkixvHOT_DAtNIo7pBvBqos3gxPP1sUu=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">L<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ET</b><i> the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. <o:p></o:p></i></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Colossians. 3:16)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This is a beautiful and a slightly melancholy hymn composed by the great British writer, Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1889. I first knew it as a poem which we read in the 5<sup>th</sup> grade of elementary school (<i>Crossing the Bar</i>), but just found its musical score as a hymn. Needless to say, this hymn is in the public domain. The tune is the work of Samuel Beazley of the same title. Tennyson is a man for whom I share a high respect with all the men and women of the English-speaking world. His writings were mostly tender, thoughtful and possessed of great beauty in verse.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i> </i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: center;"><b>Sunset and Evening Star<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">Sunset and evening star,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">And one clear call for me!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">And may there be no moaning of the bar<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">When I put out to sea;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">But such a tide as moving seems asleep,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">Too full for sound and foam,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">When that which drew from out the boundless deep<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">Turns again home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">Twilight and evening bell,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">And after that the dark!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">And may there be no sadness of farewell<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">When I embark;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">For, though from out our bourne of time and place<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">The flood may bear me far,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">I hope to see my Pilot face to face<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">When I have crossed the bar.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i> <b>Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar When I put out to sea</b>;</i> This hymn comes close to being the requiem for its writer. Tennyson suffered from depression following the death of his son, Lionel, enroute from India with jungle fever. His wirings suffered for a time, but he rallied to write <i>Crossing the Bar </i>in 1889<i>.</i> Of all the blows of mortality, the cruelest was the death from <i>jungle fever</i> of his younger son, Lionel, who had fallen ill in India and was returning by ship to England. Lionel died in the Red Sea, and his body was put into the waves <i>Beneath a hard Arabian moon/And alien stars</i>. Tennyson died three years later in 1892. Yet, these lines express a heart of love for his fellows and family. Loved very nearly as much as Queen Victoria at his death, he desired no excessive mourning at his passage into etertnity. The end-call of death is clear and certain, and one must obey, but one should not go into that long night screaming and clutching to the gift of life. It is best, always to put out to sea in calm winds. At the moment of death, the billows subside, and a gentle peace follows in its wake. <i>Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit return unto God who gave it</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Ecclesiastes 12:7)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home</i></b><i>. </i>For some death comes up as a specter, but to others as a soothing balm of the soul. We grow old and afflicted with the common ailments of age, and this makes death far less frightful if we know of our destiny beyond the curtain of time. <i>But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Thessalonians 4:13)</span>Life is a cycle. We were made from scratch by the hand of God, and He will, at last, reclaim the spirit with which He has imbued us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell When I embark; </i></b>How often have I fallen into a sound sleep after the buglers sounding of taps in the military. That is what death truly is – it is taps for the body, and renewed life for the soul. We need the rest from a life of struggle and care, and God gives us songs in the long night of the soul if we have followed Him. Tennyson views our existence as a ship on the seas of life. The evening bell sounds, and it is time for sleep. If we truly believe the promise of our Lord’s many mansions, we will not look back as we weigh anchor for the Eternal Sea.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>For, though from out our bourne of time and place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar</i></b><i>. </i>Just as Fanny Crosby has repeatedly claimed in her many hymns, the elect shall see Christ face-to-face once we have breached that stormy passage across Jordan Banks. We are pilgrims in this land of sorrows, but then, in that far distant shore, we shall be citizens of Heaven. <i>In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Revelation 22:2-4)</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-9785459982575123542024-02-18T15:58:00.000-05:002024-02-18T15:58:46.066-05:00AOC Sunday Report – First Sunday in Lent <p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6-Y8rOzR8z9ATtgQ9bQ50XEzgFKqE72iKY7Mwf9cfTHZjkPidhYXjG6gdq6ZepmkrPKE9ZHltkETA6wdy_Pv8tCYuumFHnlV_gGv36ZpYb-zVG43IhP63s7Kqe2aEmSXZR67ZfWJEnkxJ_cYZP4mrQ6M8yDKBNQy28bpTAN4I7FFG2sL3Gf108Uo1stG/s800/temptation-of-christ-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="800" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6-Y8rOzR8z9ATtgQ9bQ50XEzgFKqE72iKY7Mwf9cfTHZjkPidhYXjG6gdq6ZepmkrPKE9ZHltkETA6wdy_Pv8tCYuumFHnlV_gGv36ZpYb-zVG43IhP63s7Kqe2aEmSXZR67ZfWJEnkxJ_cYZP4mrQ6M8yDKBNQy28bpTAN4I7FFG2sL3Gf108Uo1stG/w400-h253/temptation-of-christ-2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy First Sunday in Lent!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ynRxDkPmBDWtwW3X9PltDZTYbFh6633Z/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy and Jack; as well as Rev Bryan. Each one of them is quite different and I think you will find them very interesting. <span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon can be viewed on video</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M" style="color: #954f72; text-align: justify;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;"> -></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M" style="color: #954f72; text-align: justify;">https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation</span></span> In the Collect, we ask God to help us change our natural evil tendencies so we can live life here His way and honor His wishes so we can be truly happy. Following the thought of the Collect, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace God has given us. He tells the people when they needed him, He was there. The gospel, The Temptation of Christ, is really about <i>Want</i> and <i>Need</i>; two words, used interchangeably in both our speech and thought, that do not mean the same thing. But, Jesus knew. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There are always a lot of people who need your prayer, today is no exception. I don't know why I write this, there'll never be an exception. I beg you to take a little time to pray, it won't hurt you at all and that may do you some good. Please start with Kenneth's family, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie and work out from there.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As we enter into the season of Lent you may wish to consider these words from Robert E. Lee:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">The best way for most of us is to fast from our sins and to eat what is good for us.</span></i></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anyway, there is a lot going on in the world. Without God help you are not going to make it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Godspeed,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1nHXn3ke1vzQV7VNw2-9fsv997oa3_F524qNCAgAyZ371rWCeuOzMTRJ2AbAGSjXRKlPGQ4Yh0eGaSU9pAX15zzODHfZYkUcHOGyMlea8swsHPgKMKiKOF4Pt39jAVQrdwWNev2SQu1J2vfn1OMRGEeG8xJ-uBZOaKGsASwHYUKVJSQIjhIXjLeTmHNS/s158/Hap%20Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1nHXn3ke1vzQV7VNw2-9fsv997oa3_F524qNCAgAyZ371rWCeuOzMTRJ2AbAGSjXRKlPGQ4Yh0eGaSU9pAX15zzODHfZYkUcHOGyMlea8swsHPgKMKiKOF4Pt39jAVQrdwWNev2SQu1J2vfn1OMRGEeG8xJ-uBZOaKGsASwHYUKVJSQIjhIXjLeTmHNS/w108-h105/Hap%20Signature.png" width="108" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hap Arnold</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bishop Coadjutor</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-63002647888234358122024-02-18T15:15:00.000-05:002024-02-18T15:15:52.869-05:00First Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKZrZpdC08T9ZbkJscA6R4NNnPR0d8f3bjjNeYwVe8eZRPTlmosRW-eGpEln7erAnTMmwaDDKm5vKqCpnIMKFzZlg-F6VDdL4uSOrbK9QjEhMVyPcqGsqRDzIhr5ItfPFon7VIN8YtlVDzsDNYyE_ZjcQrFBR5CXk-NnxN439_FuflUg2hZ5P6u5Xq-hW/s400/temptation-of-christ-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="400" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKZrZpdC08T9ZbkJscA6R4NNnPR0d8f3bjjNeYwVe8eZRPTlmosRW-eGpEln7erAnTMmwaDDKm5vKqCpnIMKFzZlg-F6VDdL4uSOrbK9QjEhMVyPcqGsqRDzIhr5ItfPFon7VIN8YtlVDzsDNYyE_ZjcQrFBR5CXk-NnxN439_FuflUg2hZ5P6u5Xq-hW/w400-h253/temptation-of-christ-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation</span></span> In the Collect, we ask God to help us change our natural evil tendencies so we can live life here His way and honor His wishes so we can be truly happy. Following the thought of the Collect, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace God has given us. He tells the people when they needed him, He was there. The gospel, The Temptation of Christ, is really about <i>Want</i> and <i>Need</i>; two words, used interchangeably in both our speech and thought, that do not mean the same thing. But, Jesus knew. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">The Propers for today are found on Page 125-127, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The First Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 30.5pt;">O<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b> LORD </b>who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">T</span>he Epistle for today came from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, the Sixth Chapter, <span style="color: #262626;">beginning at the First Verse</span>. In what at first appears to be an incomprehensible single sentence, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace that God has given us. He tells the people when they needed him, he was there. They need to be there for those around them. They must not frustrate God’s work by showing up late, or not at all. Those around us are watching our actions in the time of testing. We have been given eternal salvation by Jesus’ sacrifice, the understanding of the Gospel by the Holy Ghost. We are at this time dying here on earth, yet progressing towards eternal life in the next world, in Jesus’ world with His help. While we may never be wealthy here on earth, our actions can make our fellow Christians wealthy in spirit beyond measure. <span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If you claim to be a Christian, you know what is right. If you are a Christian, you do what is right, you don’t take a vote to see what the right course of action might be. Right does not change with public opinion and we must do the right thing. It is our actions that count, in good times or bad. We are Christ’s ambassadors to this world, unfortunately we do not have diplomatic immunity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 49.5pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain; (for he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation;) giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">This morning’s Holy Gospel came from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the Fourth Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. This portion of the Gospel tells the story of the temptation of Christ. In many respects, it shows how little the devil understands of Christ, and through Him, of us. If you understand how little the devil really offers you and how much Christ offers, the temptation is ever so much less. The devil is often referred to as the deceiver or dissimulator. His forte is deception, he seems one thing, is another. Offers what he has no intention or ability to deliver. Ignores the inevitable result of accepting his proffered help or inside track.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">He clearly knows Jesus is the Son of God. There is no doubt in his mind. So, having understood that, consider what he offers Jesus in temptation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">Remember, Jesus has fasted 40 days OF HIS OWN CHOICE; he who has no real power asks Jesus to turn stone into bread to show His Power. This to the Son of He who delivered manna daily to the Jews in the wilderness for 40 years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Cast thyself down and let angels catch thee; this to He who walked on water.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Up to the mountain lookout – Here is it all yours if you worship me. This to He who as it says in Psalm 95:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">In his hand are all the corners of the earth; * and the strength of the hills is his also.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">The sea is his, and he made it; * and his hands prepared the dry land.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">O come, let us worship and fall down, * and kneel before<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">the Lord our Maker.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">For he is the Lord our God; * and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The devil promised Jesus nothing that was his to give, nothing that would help Jesus in the real world beyond the Shadowlands. He never does. The devil is all about shortcuts. Remember, if the shortcut was the best way, it would not be a shortcut<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Like the temptation of Jesus, the devil never delivers what we need, only what we may want short term. Remember<span style="color: #262626;"> as little as the devil understands of Christ, so he understands little of us. He will never offer you real help. Remember that and the temptation is ever so much less.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Fourth Chapter. This portion of the Gospel tells the story of the temptation of Christ. In many respects, it shows how little the devil understands of Christ, and through Him, of us. If you understand how little the devil really offers you and how much Christ offers, the temptation is ever so much less.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 50.5pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>HEN</b> was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, <span style="color: red;">It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God</span>. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, <span style="color: red;">It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God</span>. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, <span style="color: red;">Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve</span>. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">THE EXHORTATIONS.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="color: #d80000; font-size: 10pt;"> ¶ At the time of the Celebration of the Communion, after the prayer for the whole state of Christ’s Church, the Priest may say this Exhortation. And Note, That the Exhortation shall be said on the First Sunday in Advent, the First Sunday in Lent, and Trinity Sunday. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>EARLY</b> beloved in the Lord, ye who mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how Saint Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves, before they presume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent you truly for your sins past; have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men; so shall ye be meet partakers of those holy mysteries. And above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man; who did humble himself, even to the death upon the Cross, for us, miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death; that he might make us the children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should always remember the exceeding great love of our Master, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained for us; he hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries, as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death, to our great and endless comfort. To him therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, let us give, as we are most bounden, continual thanks; sub- mitting ourselves wholly to his holy will and pleasure, and studying to serve him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop Jack Arnold</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church of the United States</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Training and Education Department</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Diocese of the West</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AL6DfH_H3j7QG1QoJHNY66fGvoqWUvvHe8WZ9JyV-YJvY-BDjAPswzwVwN07H0xNlOqVj6N2L1r0f7wERNIfFBVb5HkqOm-Q50Ly2u8OUJeVgqdLLcYEYf2skR_b6hN3ZuOzujFsGWiKCtx8wfXl25_Jrb637xs21nj7-aBBI0H4k3Z-QjvuClBrvBrW/s1406/240218%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AL6DfH_H3j7QG1QoJHNY66fGvoqWUvvHe8WZ9JyV-YJvY-BDjAPswzwVwN07H0xNlOqVj6N2L1r0f7wERNIfFBVb5HkqOm-Q50Ly2u8OUJeVgqdLLcYEYf2skR_b6hN3ZuOzujFsGWiKCtx8wfXl25_Jrb637xs21nj7-aBBI0H4k3Z-QjvuClBrvBrW/w241-h320/240218%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The First Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #8a0a89; font-size: 30.5pt;">O<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b> LORD </b>who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">… Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory …<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Collect, we ask God to help us change our natural evil tendencies so we can live life here His way and honor His wishes so we can be truly happy. This is the basic message behind most of the collects because it is truth. Without His help, we end up with what we want, not what we need. And what we want is not always good for us, but what we need is always good for us. We are asking for God’s help to differentiate between our wants and needs. Lent is the time in which we focus on fighting our sinful selves and working with the Holy Ghost to reconcile us with what God wants for us. This is what the collect is referring to when it talks about abstinence. The collect is calling us to subdue our natural fleshly desires with the help of the Holy Ghost. What we want is not the same as what we need. Lent is the time in which we focus on separating our wants from needs and concentrating on what our needs truly are. We need the Holy Ghost to help us in this endeavor for sure. By ourselves we would fail miserably at this task, but with the help of the Holy Ghost we will surely succeed. We just have to listen to what He says and then put His Words into action.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We are asking him to help us fight our human nature and follow His divine nature, we are attempting to replace our nature with that of God’s. It is a long and difficult road we must travel, doing this, but we are going to be much happier in the long run if we at least do our best. <i>Do or do not, there is no try</i>, Yoda is quoted as saying, and I find it applicable here and in my own life. We have to act, not just say we are going to act, but we must physically perform ACTIONS!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Want</i> and <i>Need</i>; two words, used interchangeably in both our speech and thought that do not mean the same thing. Think about that!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Following the thought of the Collect, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace God has given us. He tells the people when they needed him, He was there. Following his example, we need to be there for those around us. We must not frustrate God’s work by showing up late, or not at all. It all goes back to Jesus’ saying, <i><span style="color: red;">No man can serve two masters</span></i>. We have to choose who we are going to serve God or Satan/Mammon and then once we have chosen to serve God, we need to do our best to be there for Him and His People. Action and not just dictions alone are needed to serve God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Our actions reflect whom we truly serve, God or the Forces of Satan. Which side will you serve? You in the end have to choose one side or another. Pick the winning side now, which is the Forces of God, and you will have a rich everlasting life. Where our treasure is, our heart will be there also to quote Jesus. So let us make sure our treasure is heaven and not on earth where moth and rust corrupt and thieves break through and steal. If our treasure is in heaven, there it is incorruptible and thieves do not steal. When times are tough we need to remember where our treasure truly lies and it is not in Earth, but in Heaven. The key to winning this battle for souls is to never ever ever give up and to trust in God and Dread Naught. It may get gloomy and depressing sometimes but as long as we turn back to God and His Scriptures and the Church for comfort than all will be well with our souls. And also remembering when we are finished running the race here on Earth so to speak, we will get to spend eternity with God, Jesus and our family who have gone before, it makes bearing the trials and the tribulations of this world a lot easier.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When the Devil attempted to tempt Christ, he showed how little he knows of Him. It also shows how arrogant the Devil truly us to even attempt this. He was very foolish to think that his attempts to tempt Our Lord would work! If we emulate our Lord, it shows how little the Devil will be able to tempt us with his deceit. Jesus provides us with the perfect template to resist Satan and his wiles. Do not even entertain them for a fraction of a second, and just tell Satan to Get Thee Hence! If we follow Him we will be able to withstand any temptation that arises as our Lord showed for us in the desert 2,000 years ago. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">Consider how little the Devil really offers you and how much Christ offers, the temptation is ever so much less. The Devil is often referred to as the Deceiver or Dissimulator. His forte is deception; he seems to be one thing, but is another. He offers what he has no intention or ability to deliver. He actually has zero ability to deliver on his large promises, he has no right to give away what is not his! </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">The Devil clearly knows Jesus is the Son of God. There is no doubt in his mind. So, having understood that, consider what he offers Jesus in temptation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">Remember, Jesus has fasted 40 days OF HIS OWN CHOICE; now comes the devil daring Him to show His Power by turning the stone into bread. This to the Son of He who delivered manna daily to the Jews in the wilderness for 40 years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Cast thyself down and let angels catch thee</i>; this to He who walked on water.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Up to the mountain lookout – <i>Here is it all yours if you worship me</i>. This to He, who as it says in Psalm 95:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">I<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">N</span></b> his hand are all the corners of the earth; * and the strength of the hills is his also.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">The sea is his, and he made it; * and his hands prepared the dry land.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">O come, let us worship and fall down, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">For he is the Lord our God; * and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The devil promised Jesus nothing that was his to give, nothing that would help Jesus in the real world beyond the Shadowlands. He never does. Jesus knew this and we would be wise to remember this. Unfortunately people who do not have the Holy Spirit within them do not see thus and sadly allow themselves to be deceived by the Devil. We have an advantage in that we have the Holy Ghost and if we listen to Him we cannot be deceived by the Devil.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have to realize the devil is all about shortcuts. Remember, if the shortcut was the best way, it would not be a shortcut. The devil will not help us at all in the long run, if you look at things from the eternal perspective. That is what we need to keep in mind every time he tempts us. And doing the right thing in the end will be far easier than if we tried the devil’s shortcuts. We have to remember that what the devil offers us will pale in comparison to what God has to offer us and that the way of the devil will cause us more pain here on Earth and a lot more pain after we leave Earth. If we keep that in mind, it makes it ever so much easier to fight off the Devil and his temptations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The temptation of Jesus is no different than the Devil’s attempt to tempt us! The Devil never delivers what we need, only what we, in our imperfection, want. This is where knowing the difference between our wants and needs will really put us on course for salvation. If we recognize that his temptations are preying on our desire for our wants, we can shut down the temptation by focusing on what we need. He can’t understand what we really need, he only knows what we want. This is an advantage we have over him. We understand what we truly need; if we remember it, then holding off against the temptations is easier. Remember<span style="color: #262626;"> as little as the Devil understands of Christ, the same way, as we are in God, so he understands little of us. He will never offer you real help. Remember that and the temptation is ever so much less.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #262626;">Or, as my grandfather said, “Keep your eye on the donut, not on the hole”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is but one way to heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">That easy to find, easy to follow, easy to hike path does not lead to the summit where eternal life in the real world awaits. Open your heart to the Holy Ghost, use His Power to follow our Lord to God who awaits in heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: start;"></span></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Be of God - Live of God - Act of God</b></p></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.com