A SPIRITUAL LESSON FOR THE YOUTH OF OUR CHURCH:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdeUygyrgjQ

   The Old Tree and the Mule  

 ~by Bishop Jerry Ogles, Anglican Orthodox Church, April 10, 2001 (prepared 24 years ago)

 "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set" Proverbs 22:28

 This past Sunday I lingered on the lawn of my second church (Union Presbyterian Church) in Ozark,
Alabama, to chat with the older members. 

This church is very traditional and old fashioned. Most of the members exceed the age of 65 years.
 The church itself is almost two hundred years old. It was organized by
Scottish people who immigrated there in the 1830's from Argura, Scotland.
 As I surveyed the lush, green Alabama surroundings, I noticed a huge
tree near the edge of the church-yard which seemed to be ancient.
 When I remarked on the antiquity of the tree, an elderly lady told me
this interesting story about it:
 "When this lady was a small girl (about 6o years ago) horse-drawn
conveyances were still quite common in the rural South. In those days, the
lady told me, there was an older man who rode his mule-drawn surrey to
church every Sunday. He would tie the mule to the old tree - which seemed to
the woman to have been of similar appearance even those many years ago.
 After several years of driving to church and tying the mule to the
tree, the old man Failed to attend services one Sunday. The old mule, however, did not forget. He appeared at church at the appointed time and went to his accustomed place of peace and safety in the cool shade of the old tree. After service, when the men of the church attempted to take hold of the mule and deliver him home, he would not hear of it. The mule went berserk and would not leave
this familiar place.  Every time the attempt was made to move the mule, he would wildly
resist so that no one dared go near him. The mule insisted, after all those many years of standing under the tree, in remaining this last time and making his final stand under the old tree. 

Finally, in desperation, a rifle was brought and the mule was killed.
 I realize this is a sad story to tell. It is sad because of the mule's
attachment to the one thing in his life that never changed and, in the last
moments of his life, he refused to move from it. But this story is also
inspiring because we are reminded that there are anchors in our lives which
never change, which remain steady and unyielding to the demands of a fickle
world.
 We, from our youth, have learned of the ancient Rock which does not
move. We have been taught to build our lives upon It and, when the rains and
floods descend, our building thereon will remain fixed and weather the
storms of life. That Rock of Ages followed after the Children of Israel as
they wandered in the wilderness. And that Rock and Fortress abides with us
daily as we are challenged by change and uncertainty. Yet, that Rock remains
steady, strong and unchangeable in the face of the storm.
 Perhaps we can learn from the sad story of the mule - that some things
are worth the dying rather than to move from them. The Holy Scriptures, the
Love of God, the Love of family and Country are all things worthy of our
immovable devotion. During these uncertain times of spiritual and social
decadence, shall we be blown about by every wind of doctrine? or shall we
stand on the Rock and Fortress which is Christ?

Quote from OMAR KHAYYAM of Persia:

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, 

Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit 

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, 

Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it. 

 More from Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-42 B.C.):

Treason -

        "A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not traitor; he speaks in the accent that is familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their garments, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared."

 (Cicero - des Republica)

Following Those Prints

Bishop Jerry Ogles

 23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him      deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Gospel of St Luke 9:23

Once on a day of Joyful Beauty and air pristine
I happened on the trail, at Jordan'sBanks, where our Lord had trod, 
And saw there in the stony edge agleam
The footprints of his nail-pierced feet upon the sod.

Along the shore of Galilee's coast
A fishing boat with sides weathered by the tempest's blast 
Lay anchored now in quiet repose
Silent witness to the Stormy past.

Onward down the River Valley green
The Footprints led to Bethany
And on the way an opened Tomb
Whose owner rose as beckoned lovingly.

On across the western plains to Sychar's well
That Jacob dug for all to quench a thirst
The prints paused briefly for a Woman Lost
Mixed there with others who came as did the first.

Quite steady on the prints led to the Temple Mount
Where tables, overturned in fury hot, 
At which the money changers made their count
And fled the Master's blistering reproach of all their lot. 

Straight on the steps led through the narrow Way
To Pilate's seat foreboding, proud and dark, 
Past judgment seat where Peter thrice on that last Day
Denied his love for Christ and missed the mark.

Now haltingly they merge on Dolorosa's rocky lane
Where Jesus bore His heavy cross alone
Up Calvary's granite slopes of Crimson Stain
Where last He bled and for our sin atoned.

From out the tomb in Garden fair and sweet
The prints led on to Glory high and Great
And up beyond the heavens' pearl-decked gates
He now commands the hearts of all of Faith. 

©2009 (J.Ogles)
(St. Peter's, Statesville, Easter,2009)

 

 May 31. Footprints of Christ - J.R. Miller, 1890

"Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news." Luke 7:22 

John wanted to know whether Jesus really was the Messiah or not. Jesus did not present arguments to prove that He was the Messiah — but pointed the messengers to the work He was doing. The best evidence of the divinity of Christ, is not any number of proof-texts gathered from all parts of the Bible and arranged in order — but the works that Christ has done and is doing every day. 

An atheist asked a man how he knew there was a God. The man answered by inquiring, "How do I know whether it was a man or a camel that passed my tent last night?" He knew by the footprints. Then he pointed to the setting sun and asked: "Whose footprint is that?"

Look at the footprints of Christ, and see whether they are a man's — or God's. Whose footprints are those by the gate of Nain, by the grave of Bethany, coming away from the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea? Whose prints are those by the doors of sorrow, along the path where the leper, the blind, the lame, the demoniac waited for Him? Or look around at what you see now — churches, missions, hospitals, asylums, sweetened homes, cleansed sinners, renewed lives, comforted mourners — whose footprints are these? These works, wrought by Christianity, are the best evidences of Christianity. Christ wants to be judged, not by His claims — but by His works. The world is full today of the proofs of Christ's divinity.

In like manner, we must prove that we belong to Christ, not by getting certificates of church membership — but by showing in our daily lives the unselfishness, the sympathy, the self-denial, the kindness, the love — which were the highest proofs on Christ's own life of His divine mission. We must be able, when people ask us if we are Christians, to say: "Look at my life and my works — and judge for yourselves!"

 A revealing critique in 1899 by young Winston Churchill of Islam:

    In 1899 young Winston Churchill wrote a well received history of this struggle called The River War. Let me share with you a few quotes from Churchill’s book. Concerning Islam he wrote: 

    “Besides the fanatical frenzy, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist where ever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. The fact that in Mahommedan law every woman must belong to a sole man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it.” 

Finally, Churchill says of Islam,

    “No greater retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism (Islam) is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step, and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.” 

 A Persian Parable

by Saadi Shirazi

 

Far from this Man in Paradise.—" A youth, whose heart was

black with sin, appeared before the cell of a dervish (a monk celebrated

for his sanctity). He began to lament the depth of his sin,

and implore pardon. The proud monk indignantly demanded how

he presumed to appear in the presence of God's holy prophet;

assuring him that it was in vain to seek forgiveness, adding :

'May God grant that I may stand far from this youth on the judgment

day.' On this, Jesus spoke :

“It shall be so. The prayer of both is granted ; this sinner, a penitent, shall

then enter Paradise. But the monk's prayer is also granted ; he shall be

far from the youth in that day, even in torment."

Another quote from the great proponent of Republican Government - Marcus Tullius Cicero

Cicero in re Power and Law

        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.

Marcus Tullius Cicero 106-43 B.C. 

 Bishop’s Letter – Ascension Day 

29 May 2025 Anno Domini

⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 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.

(Acts 1:9-11)

 

            When I was just a very young boy, I loved to go out in the sage fields near our mountain home on sunny autumn days and just lie there looking at the high, white, puffy clouds. The only sound was the chill-autumn wind and an occasional distant droning of an aircraft. Though I have always loved planes, my curious attention was more focused on those mysterious clouds – so very high, and constantly changing. I wondered what they were made of, and how they kept from falling. I imagined some figure in every cloud. In those days, I had an unbounded imagination. I saw generals on horseback, sabers drawn, fixed in time during the charge against the enemy. 

Sometimes, I thought I saw angels, or castles, and every other object that occupies the imagination of youth. I was unaware, at that age, of the majesty and glory of one particular cloud that hovered over Mount Olivet outside the gates of Jerusalem, and overlooking the village of His friends – Bethany - some two thousand years ago. It was a very special cloud, unlike any others that had ever formed. It did not appear as different from any other cloud. The thing that made it special was that which the cloud was privileged to receive – our Lord Jesus Christ.  The same is true of the heart of man. We may not often tell by looks, but the difference is in whether that heart, like the cloud, has received the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord knows because He is One who looks upon the heart and not the outward appearance. 

            Jesus came into the world – into Time and Space – to work out His wonderful plan of redemption for us. He came from the Eternal Halls of Heaven into a world that had rejected Him and grown gross in sin and sparing of beauty. Upon the completion of His atoning sacrifice, He rose from the grave and, at the appointed time, ascended back into that Eternity into which no man can look from his platform on this sphere. I refer to that great Church Calendar event of Ascension Day. It occurs always on the 40^th day past Easter Sunday (on Thursday).  The Ascension of Christ is one of the five major milestones recorded in the gospels of the Life of Christ and is re-confirmed in both the Nicene and the Apostles Creeds. 

            Just before He was taken up in bodily form, the Lord spoke to the eleven Apostles (and to you and me): “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”  (Luke 24:46-49) All who believe have been endued with that “Power from on High – the Holy Ghost!” The leading question that should grip your heart is this: Have we, each clergy and laity, preached the Gospel of Christ, and the repentance and remission of sins, to every remunerative audience? Is the Gospel that we preach the full Gospel and not diluted with the soiled hands of translators and critics? THAT is the question, friend.

            As Christ ascended from Mount Olivet, He was received into that blessed cloud – out of the sight, for a time, of all beholders – but not out of mind or Spirit. That same cloud that received Christ shall be seen again at the return of Christ. We have God’s promise on that: “. . . 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.” To the weathered seaman, clouds building in the East may not be welcomed, but to those who grow and produce crops, such clouds would be a welcome harbinger of plenty. To the Christian, we should remember that cloud that received Christ when we look into the heavens. We should remember, as well, that One (King of Kings and Lord of Lords) shall receive you into that same Cloud of Glory at His return.  Remember that cloud in which God appeared on Mt Sinai in the days of Moses (Ex 19:18); that Cloud (Pillar) of Fire by Night and Smoke by Day that followed Israel in the Wilderness (And the 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. Ex 13:21-22); and remember that cloud that covered the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration to protect their frailty from the Bright Glory of God – “While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” (Luke 9:34-35) Here, as in the last day, the disciples were WITH Christ in the Cloud. Any clouds in YOUR forecast, friend?

 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AMEN.

In Christ Alone at Ascensiontide,

Jerry L. Ogles D. D. 

 +Jerry L. Ogles, D.D.
Presiding Bishop, 
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide & Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary   

 

 

 

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 LAY READER SERMON, 1 June 2025 Anno domini, Church of                        Redeemer (AOC), Fairbanks, Alaska.                                             (prepared by Bishop J. Ogles.)

 

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.” John 17:12

For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 33:22

The Collect.

O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. AMEN.

 

            “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14

 

            During the past week, we observed Ascension Day and the coming of the Comforter who is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost brings that Comfort that exists in Christ alone.  He will not speak of Himself, but bring to our remembrance all things written concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. 

            One aspect of comfort is the sense of security we enjoy in that comfort afforded by our redemption in Christ. It should be a great comfort for us to know that Christ has not lost a single soul that the Father has placed in His hands. It is as true today as it was 2,000 years ago. In our day, we are kept secure through the agency of the Holy Ghost acting on behalf of our ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

            In the 17^th chapter of the Gospel of St. John, we have the precious words of our Lord’s final prayer prior to His crucifixion. His prayer was not for an impossible comfort in His suffering on the cross, but for our comfort and security in His absence. His thoughts were forever for those who believe and who are entrusted into His hands by the Father. 

            Christ is our Ark of Salvation just as surely was the Ark of Noah God’s salvation during the Great Deluge. He is the Door of the Ark that none can close save Christ Himself. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

            No one can know the Father without knowing the Son, Jesus Christ. Christ is not, as the NIV and other spurious translations aver, the ONLY Son of God – but He is the ONLY BEGOTTEN Son of God. The elect are sons and daughters of God by means of adoption while our Lord Jesus Christ is the very issue of the Father. He has the very nature and character as the Father. That which belongs to the Father, belongs to the Son by the Testament and Will of the Testator. “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.For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. Hebrews 9:15-22

            The prayer of our Lord pleads that the Father will keep His elect one in Him as He is One in the Father, and we, therefore remain One in the Father and the Son. (v21) 

            The Lord concludes His prayer with a powerful principle of Love: “ . . . the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26 Without that love, how can any claim sonship with the Father. Without that love, none could adhere to the summary of the Law of the Ten commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  38 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.”. Matthew 22:37-40

            Do we have that love of Christ that defines the Christian character and describes a life of sacrifice and kindness to others? Just as 1 Corinthians 13 counsels, without that love, all other of our works are useless. 

            Our Old Testament reading from Isaiah describes nature of Christ in four distinctives: Judge, Lawgiver, King and Savior. 

Christ is our Judge. As we are told in John 1:1-4, He is the Word, and it is by His Word that we are judged. Though we do not judge others by whims of emotion or opinion, we are commanded to judge with righteous judgment which is the same measure by which our Lord judges sin. 

Christ is the Lawgiver. Whatsoever our Lord defines as sin, so must we define sin. Sin is the transgression of the Law – short and simple. (see 1 John 3:4). The Law of Commandments is clearly provided in both the Old and New Testaments, but the Law of Love is the Anchor upon which those Commandments hang. Love is the one characteristic that enables us to do no intentional harm to any other – but to do good to all inasmuch as it is possible. If we love our parents, we will not bring shame or dishonor on their names. If we love our neighbor, we swill not allow him to go without food or clothing. Our love for God is evidence of our salvation for it was our Lord who loved us first. Our love is a reflection of His own love. (1 John 4:19)

Christ is our King, in fact, He is the King of Kings. His majesty sits enthroned in the hearts of all who love Him. From the Temple of our hearts, His kingship overseas all of our actions – the very motivation of our hearts. We bow humbly before Him and seek always to do His will and earn His royal favor.

Christ is our Savior. Of greatest concern to the redeemed sinner is Christ as our Savior. While we were yet dead in our trespasses and sin, He quickened us and made us alive in Him. We could do NOTHING to earn that great salvation, it was all a work of His Sovereign Grace. (see Ephesians 2:1-4) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

As our Collect avers, “ . . .  exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.” Since Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we must follow Him wheresoever He goes – not only to the shores of Galilee, to the banks of Jordan Waters, to His rest in mountain prayer, but also to the way of the cross in dying to self (as He did) and living for others. Not only do we suffer death to self, but resurrection life in Him, and ascension to the Father as He ascended. 

May God bless us all with a renewed spirit of love and obedience as we follow in the steps of our Master, Judge, King, Lawgiver, and Savior. 

 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

 Archbishop Thomas Cranmer - HOLY SCRIPTURE: 

"If there were any word of God beside the Scripture, we could never be certain of God's Word; and if we be uncertain of God's Word, the devil might bring in among us a new word, a new doctrine, a new faith, a new church, a new god, yea himself to be a god. If the Church and the Christian faith did not stay itself upon the Word of God certain, as upon a sure and strong foundation, no man could know whether he had a right faith, and whether he were in the true Church of Christ, or a synagogue of Satan."

Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ

J. R. Miller, 1890 

May 29. Needless Doubts 

"Calling two of them, John sent them to the Lord to ask: Are you the one who was to come — or should we expect someone else?" Luke 7:18-19 

John did not doubt the Messiahship of Jesus that day beside the Jordan, when from the cloven heavens, the radiant Dove descended upon Him and the Father's voice was heard in loving approval. Nor did He doubt in any of the bright days that followed. It was only when it grew dark for John himself, that he doubted.

That is just the way yet with many people. When everything is bright and sunny — they think they have surely found Christ, and they believe He is their friend, and their hearts are full of joy. But when troubles come and things begin to go against them — then they wonder whether, after all, they have really found the Savior. They begin to question their own experiences. "Am I really a Christian? Was that really conversion, when I thought I was saved? or is there some other experience that I must yet have?" Christ does not do just the things they thought He would do for them. Their religion does not support them as firmly as they supposed it would. If they are indeed Christians — then why does Christ let them suffer so much and not come to relieve them? So they sink away down into the Slough of Despond, some times losing all hope.

See how unnecessary was John's doubt. Jesus was indeed the Messiah. John's active work was done, and he was now to glorify God by suffering, and soon by martyrdom. 

Just as needless, is all anxiety of Christian people in their times of darkness. Of course we must have some earthly trials. Christ does not carry us to Heaven on flowery beds of ease. We must expect to bear the cross for many a mile. The true way for us, is never to doubt Jesus. Suppose there are clouds — the sun still shines behind them undimmed. Suppose we have failures, trials, and disappointments — Jesus is the same loving friend as when there was not a speck of trouble for us in all the world.

 THE UNBLEMISHED SOUL 

 

"He kept his soul unspotted

As he went upon his way,

And he tried to do some service

For God's people day by day;

He had time to cheer the doubter

Who complained that hope was dead;

He had time to help the cripple

When the way teas rough ahead;

He had time to guard the orphan,

and one day, well satisfied

With the talents God had given him,

he closed his eyes and died"

 

~Epitaph  – Unknown

 NAMES & TITLES OF OUR LORD, sponsored by the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide.

28 May 2025 by Jerry Ogles

Today’s Title is that of the Branch

(TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO)

Click on the URL to view the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZokcmKlq09A

Zechariah 6:12 – “Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.”

 

To whom does this verse refer? It is to the Lord Jesus Christ who is a Branch from His Father in Heaven. Though the earthly Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed, as was the Temple of our Lord’s Body, He rebuilt that Temple in three days (referring to Himself).

 

Now, in the Gospel of St John, we are told that we, the elect of God, are the branches. How is this so? Christ is the Branch that emerged from the Father, and we are the lower branches that the great Branch produced as the Vine of the Lord. The spiritual nutrition for the branches come solely through the Vine just as all our good works come from God and not of our own doing. The branches are powerless of producing any fruit except by the provision of that spiritual energy that the True Vine provides. If cast off from the vine, the branch is immediately dead to life and to fruit.

 

In the Gospel of St John 15:1-6, we find: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

 

Just as in the case of tares among the good seed, false vines among the good can form near the Vine called shoots. They produce no fruit at all and, in fact, starve the nutrition which the Vine provides to the branches. If the union of the branches to the Vine is severed, the branches will wilt and die. They have no life to sustain them. These breaches are caused by false preachers and idle workers of the vineyard – men who deceive and corrupt the Word of God. Their influence on the branches causes them to become sterile of good fruit. They will be removed and burned as useless under brush.

 

The smaller branches must remain productive. To guarantee their productive nature, the husbandman of the vineyard must trim excess foliage from the branch. When Christians become too comfortable in their station, they may need pruning as does the branches of the Vine.

 

The great Branch, or Vine, itself must remain above the dirt and grind of the earth. It is pure and untouched by evil influences just as is our Lord. The fruit produced, too, must remain separated from earthly contact, else it will rot and die. 

 

As Christian believers, we must produce good fruit through works worthy of the name, Christian. We are not to while away our days in idle leisure, but labor as good servants of the owner of the Vineyard – our Lord Jesus Christ – our Branch! 

 

It is my prayer that each branch in the church be watered and hedged about to produce the rich and wholesome food of the soul for all generations.

 

Until we meet again, God bless and keep you in His love and grace.

Goodbye.

 

 Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ

J. R. Miller, 1890

 

May 28. Loss of Faith

"Calling two of them, John sent them to the Lord to ask: Are you the one who was to come — or should we expect someone else?" Luke 7:18-19 

        John the Baptist was in prison — it certainly was not a very cheerful place to be in. We ought scarcely to be astonished at his temporary loss of bright faith. Yet a good many people think it strange that the grand, brave John the Baptist, could really have been in doubt, and scarcely believe it. "It is not possible," they say, "that such a great, heroic man should ever waver in his confidence." They forget that John lived just in the dim dawn of the gospel, before the full day burst upon the world. He had not the thousandth part of the light that we have in our day; and yet do we, with all our light — never get depressed? The truth is, there is not one of us who is not sometimes disheartened — without a hundredth part of the cause John had!

        But that is always the way. We are amazed at every other person's blindness, or dullness, or unbelief — but not at our own! Other people's failures look very large to us — but we never see our own at all. We wonder how Moses once, under terrible provocation, lost his temper and spoke a dozen hasty and impatient words; while we can scarcely get through a single sunny day, without a much worse outbreak upon a far slighter provocation.

        We wonder how the beloved disciple John, with all his sweet humility, could once show a carnal ambition for a place of honor, while we ourselves are forever scrambling for preferments. We say, "Isn't it strange that people would not believe on Christ when they saw all His power and love?" Yet we do not believe in Him any more fully than they did. We can scarcely believe that John the Baptist grew despondent when his trials were so great — though most of us are often plunged into gloom by the merest trifles. Many Christian people get more despairing over the gain or loss of a few dollars, or a little pain — than John did in his really great trials!

 I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS -

a Hymn Devotion for 27 May 2025 Anno domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide. (Bishop Jerry Ogles)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1–2

 

            This is a remarkably beautiful and biblical hymn, one of more than 6,500, written by the Anglican cleric and co-founder of Methodism – Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Though a figure in the formation of Methodism with his brother, John, Charles Wesley never left the Anglican Communion. Before his death, he penned these words: “I have lived, and I die, in the Communion of the Church of England, and I will be buried in the yard of my parish church.” Like most hymns of Charles Wesley, the lyrics of this hymn are derived solely for Holy Scripture.

TO THE HILLS I LIFT MINE EYES

To the hills I lift mine eyes,
The ev­er­last­ing hills;
Streaming thence in fresh sup­plies,
My soul the Spir­it feels.
Will He not His help af­ford?
Help, while yet I ask, is giv­en:
God comes down; the God and Lord
That made both earth and Heav­en.

 

Faithful soul, pray al­ways; pray
And still in God con­fide;
He thy fee­ble steps shall stay,
Nor suf­fer thee to slide:
Lean on thy Re­deem­er’s breast;
He thy qui­et spir­it keeps;
Rest in Him, se­cure­ly rest;
Thy watch­man nev­er sleeps.

 

Neither sin, nor earth, nor hell
Thy keep­er can sur­prise;
Careless slum­bers can­not steal
On His all see­ing eyes;
He is Is­ra­el’s sure de­fense;
Israel all His care shall prove,
Kept by watch­ful pro­vi­dence,
And ev­er wak­ing love.

 

See the Lord, thy keep­er, stand
Omnipotently near!
Lo! He holds thee by thy hand,
And ban­ish­es thy fear;
Shadows with His wings thy head;
Guards from all im­pend­ing harms;
Round thee and be­neath are spread
The ev­er­last­ing arms.

 

Christ shall bless thy go­ing out,
Shall bless thy com­ing in;
Kindly com­pass thee about,
Till thou art saved from sin;
Like thy spot­less mas­ter, thou,
Filled with wis­dom, love and pow­er,
Holy, pure and per­fect, now,
Henceforth, and ev­er­more.

To the hills I lift mine eyes, The ev­er­last­ing hills; Streaming thence in fresh sup­plies, My soul the Spir­it feels. Will He not His help af­ford? Help, while yet I ask, is giv­en: God comes down; the God and Lord That made both earth and Heav­en. The hills and mountains of the earth point directly to the Lord who is their Maker. If we wish to fellowship with God, we must follow their directed guidance – LOOK UP! The melting snows of Mt. Hermon feed into the Jordan River as it cascades down those rugged slopes to the Galilean Valley below bringing life and beauty to an otherwise arid land. The earth itself is a spiritually arid wilderness without those Waters of Life gushing forth from Heaven as an everlasting Fountain. What a blessing to know that the very Sovereign of the Universe deigns to come to us in our poverty to lift our unbecoming yokes.

Faithful soul, pray al­ways; pray And still in God con­fide; He thy fee­ble steps shall stay, Nor suf­fer thee to slide: Lean on thy Re­deem­er’s breast; He thy qui­et spir­it keeps; Rest in Him, se­cure­ly rest; Thy watch­man nev­er sleeps. How can we pray always amidst the cares and labors of this life? We do so by making our life itself into a living prayer to God. The daily life of a Christian is a continual sermon on the bounteous benefits and blessings of God. We are incapable of any good thing apart from the Lord Jesus Christ working in and through us. Our good works are not ours, but His. Our faults and shortcomings are ours to lay claim upon alone. Though we, through a failure of faith, may slip and stumble, the strong Right Hand of the Lord is right beside to lift us up on our feet again and put us on the Way. Just as the Apostle of Love, John, lay his head often on the breast of the Lord, so should we feel that close comfort and fellowship with our Lord. We may rest in security knowing that our Savior never will leave us nor forsake us. 

Neither sin, nor earth, nor hell Thy keep­er can sur­prise; Careless slum­bers can­not steal On His all see­ing eyes; He is Is­ra­el’s sure de­fense; Israel all His care shall prove, Kept by watch­ful pro­vi­dence, And ev­er wak­ing love.Christ has defeated that primitive enemy of the soul – death and hell. Nothing can break the bonds of love that bind us to our glorious Redeemer – not even death itself: “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 That reflected love that our Lord showers down upon us constitutes the walls of defense around our souls and spirits. His love is empowering to the point of total security and that imputed righteousness that exists only in Christ.

See the Lord, thy keep­er, stand Omnipotently near! Lo! He holds thee by thy hand, And ban­ish­es thy fear; Shadows with His wings thy head; Guards from all im­pend­ing harms; Round thee and be­neath are spread The ev­er­last­ing arms. Until his hand was grasped in the strong Hand of the Lord, Peter sank into the swirling torrent. Christ is always near at hand to pull us out of the depths of despair and save us from our own lack of faith. If we keep our hearts stayed on Him alone, we shall not sink in those waters of the world of flesh at all.  His everlasting arms, as those of the Eagle, surround and enfold His elect and, if we falter, He soars beneath to catch us on the beams of those powerful wings of love.

 Christ shall bless thy go­ing out, Shall bless thy com­ing in; Kindly com­pass thee about, Till thou art saved from sin; Like thy spot­less mas­ter, thou, Filled with wis­dom, love and pow­er, Holy, pure and per­fect, now, Henceforth, and ev­er­more. The elect of God are kept as a Garden Enclosed and hedged about to protect from the rodents of sin and weeds of deceitfulness. We are blessed as we leave the safety of the sheepfold and are likewise blessed at our re-entry at the close of day. We are filled with wisdom and knowledge which are the beginnings and underpinnings of faith in Christ. We are purchased with a price far beyond man’s comprehension or ability to pay. We, who can do no righteousness, are accounted righteous in the love and embrace of our Lord Jesus Christ by God, the Father of Grace and Mercy.