This phrase is defined as taking an unnecessary action – such as worry and anxiety — that will probably bring into existence adverse effects. Unnecessary as the bible – which should be the rule and guide of our faith and practice of all things – tells us the following regarding such;

“…………… I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters … they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God” (Isaiah 43:1-3).

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

And finally;

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psa 55:22)
Now I can tell you’re thinking, ”Yeah right, it’s only prudent to worry about these things that concern me, I have to find a way to deal with them.” Yes your right we must face these life changing events, but in the appropriate manner. While scripture tells us to place our cares and burdens upon the Lord, we nonetheless have to seek answers or solutions. When we are overcome with worry and anxiety we decrease our connection to the Holy Spirit exponentially, we place ourselves in a position of being deaf to the word and guidance of God. Instead of worry and anxiety we must turn to God in prayer, we must talk to him as if we are talking to our best friend. But remember the best kind of friend is one that never speaks, but listens attentively.

The Lord is our best friend, he listens to our every word our every heartbeat our every thought, but he will never speak to you as I am speaking to you today. Remember it is said that God works in mysterious ways, so don’t expect some divine voice coming to you out of thin air, but pray, and think rationally with out worry and anxiety, and soon the answer to your prayers will come to you. Perhaps in a sudden flash of ingenuity which leaves you wondering why didn’t I think of that sooner? Well you didn’t think of the solution, but rather God gave it to you.

Scripture tells us to seek and we will find, knock and it will be opened to you; but it also reassures us though scriptures such as;

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (PHILIPPIANS 4:13)

I will never fail you nor forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wing’s as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

One way to renew our strength is to count our blessings given to us by God, when we calmly set down and really think, we can enumerate thousands of blessings that he has bestowed upon us. This practice then changes our frame of mind by shifting us from borrowing trouble into a state of accepting joy, and when we change our state of mind we open ourselves to the spirit and the intuitive ideas necessary to defeat or deal with those events facing us. This state of joy is what the Prophet Isaiah meant when he said the Lord will renew our strength and we will soar like eagles, run without tiring and walk without falling from fatigue. It is then, in this state of gratitude and joy that what appears to be a major obstacle in our path becomes a small hurdle that we can easily overcome.

Let me leave you today with this thought;

“……….I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

As I mentioned earlier, my mother passed the day after my twenty-seventh birthday, but before that, unbeknownst to me, she in her own hand had written this passage on a shard of paper and inserted into my bible, which I discovered sometime later after her death. Some might surmise that she was trying to tell me she would be always with me, watching over me, but in reality she was probably attempting to share with me, this the greatest blessing of all, that of Our Lord being always with us. When we enumerate our blessings in an attempt to rise above fear and anxiety, let us remember this the greatest gift of all that our heavenly Father has given us through Christ Our Lord. Amen

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.   And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.   Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.   And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:19-23

A New Birth
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” The first benefit or blessing that comes because of the Spirit is rebirth or regeneration. You know what regeneration is. It is the radical spiritual change – symbolized by baptism – in which God brings an individual from a condition of spiritual death and sin to a new condition of holiness and life. To undergo rebirth is to be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

In today’s passage we are told that the time has now come in which man can be born again by the Spirit.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” Did you notice that before Jesus says this He “breathes” on His disciples? What Jesus has done is breathe His own Holy Spirit into the disciples.

Do you hear the message that John wants to bring? He is saying that just as God’s breath made the first creation, so likewise the breath of Jesus makes the new creation. Just as in the first creation God breathed into man and gave him life, so now in the moment of the new creation Jesus breathes his own Spirit into the disciples and gives them eternal life.
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” Have you received the Spirit? Are you born again, a brand new creation, a new creature in Christ? If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, you have been given the Spirit. Now, like Augustine, you must walk and lead the new life you have in Christ.

I have counseled more than one person who thinks the new life is beyond their grasp, who think they are beyond help, who think they are forever doomed to their old sinful way of life. Perhaps there are some here this morning who think that way. Let me tell you, no person is so much in the grip of sin that he or she is beyond help and hope. The Holy Spirit can easily do what we mere humans think to be impossible.
The Blessing of Peace
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” The second benefit or blessing that comes because of the Spirit is peace.

Jesus appears to the disciples and says, “Peace be with you!” Then He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Gospel writer sees a clear connection between peace and the reception of the Spirit.

We are to see here the fulfillment of the words spoken earlier by Jesus in the Upper Room.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.John 14:26-27

We see that when Jesus talks to His disciples about the sending of the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, He also talks about peace. The sending of Christ’s Spirit brings peace, means peace, and is peace.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” “Peace be with you.” What is this peace that comes by way of the Spirit?

To understand this peace we have to remember what Jesus said before. Jesus said, “I will leave you” (John 14:18). Jesus said, “I am going away” (John 14:28). Jesus said, “In a little while you will see me no more” (John 16:16). Jesus said, “Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief” (John 16:6). The disciples are heart-broken at the thought that Jesus is leaving. Imagine your feelings when someone close and dear to you leaves. More than one parent has been teary-eyed when a child enters grade school or leaves home for college. It is sad and tearful when someone dear leaves.

In the Upper Room Jesus makes a promise about peace to tearful, heart-broken disciples. He says,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.John 14:27

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” “Peace be with you!” In giving the Spirit we are to see Jesus fulfilling His promise to bring or give peace to those who are tearful, afraid, and heart-broken.

What, then, is this peace brought by the Spirit? It is a peace that calms those who are fearful. I think here of the appearances of the “Angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament. Time after time His appearance brings fear and trembling. Gideon sees the angel and fears for his life (Judges 6:22). Daniel sees the angel (Daniel 10) and is speechless. The angel responds by saying, “Peace! Do not be afraid.” “Do not be afraid. Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” The peace of the Spirit calms fear, gives courage, and settles the soul.

The Blessing of Joy
A “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The third benefit or blessing that comes because of the Spirit is joy.

Just before Jesus says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” John tells us the disciples are “overjoyed.” Of course they are filled with joy. Jesus died. Jesus was buried. And now – wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles – He is alive and standing among them.

This too is the fulfillment of a promise Jesus makes in the Upper Room. Jesus compares the situation of the disciples to that of a woman who suffers intense pain but is rewarded with joy at the birth of her child. He says,

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.   John 16:22

New life, says Jesus, brings joy. the parents of a new baby rejoice. In the same way, believers born-again by the Spirit, filled with new life, should also rejoice. We have to rejoice that ours is new life, new birth. We have to rejoice that ours is forgiveness of sin, salvation, redemption, cleansing. We have to rejoice that ours is life everlasting.

The Benefit of Mission
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” The fourth benefit or blessing that comes because of the Spirit is mission, purpose, goal.

Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Then He says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This reminds me of the words of Jesus recorded by Luke:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8

The pouring out of the Spirit empowers and compels the disciples to be witnesses. The Spirit is a witnessing Spirit and those with the Spirit cannot help but proclaim the good news of the Gospel – that those who believe in Jesus have their sin forgiven (John 19:23).

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Out of love, the Father sent Jesus to save the world. Out of love, Jesus sends us to continue His mission, to save the world in His name.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” If you have, then you will have a burden for missions, evangelism, out reach. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” If you have, then you will strive to hold up our missionaries with your gifts and prayers. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” If you have, then you will be a witness to Christ.

This lesson from First Peter Chapter Five has two important points, first we are to cast our cares, our worries, our anxieties on God because he does care for us, but second we are warned to be ever watchful for the devil.  Of course this second point does not only apply to the devil but to his minions, those under demonic oppression or influences.

Often these that are under Satan’s influence, lure us through deception, to do that which is counter to our goals, and all too often we find ourselves in a position that we have ventured so far off of the path mapped out by Christ and we discover the difficulties in extricating ourselves from the dilemma.  Deception by those under Satan’s control comes in many forms, it can be a business scam such as a Ponzi scheme, that once we realized we have been deceived it is often too late as the perpetrators already have taken our money or it can be simple relationships.

Consider the plight of the children of Israel, after they had ventured forth from the desert into the Promised Land.  God instructed them to wipe out their enemies completely taking neither prisoners nor slaves of the people they encountered.  News of their exploits in defeating forces, often larger than their own, spread across the land, this news was received by the Gibeonites who fearful for their lives, determined to arrive at a peace treaty with the Israelites through deception.

In Joshua 9: 3-14, we learn that the Gibeonites tricked the  Children of Israel into believing that they too were travelers in the land. The Bible tells us that Joshua did not inquire of the Lord about the Gibeonites which led to Joshua and his people to make a peace treaty. This was not pleasing to the Lord. The result was Joshua and the people had to manage the Gibeonites as slaves and many intermarried with the clan. This was never supposed to have happened because God instructed Joshua and the people to wipe out their enemies completely.

We assume that God did not want his people to take in their enemies as slaves or concubines so as to protect them from diverging from their culture and traditions by introducing beliefs and customs of the people that resided in the promised land prior to the arrival of the Israelites.  Assimilating the philosophies of others can at times result in the dominant culture being diluted by inclusion of traditions and beliefs other than its own.

By not consulting God first, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, Joshua failed his people by leading them down a path contrary to the commandments of God, and by the time that they had discovered the Gibeonites had deceived them, it was too late, they had already gone too far and had to honor their treaty.

How often do we do the same thing, that of failing to adequately consulting God first before we venture down a path, only to discover at a later date we were deceived and it is now too late to make changes without dire consequences?

So in this modern world what are we to do, we can’t hardly do as Joshua and the Israelites did and make slaves of our adversaries that have deceived us, can we?  Perhaps one of the best things to do is to extricate our selves from the situation as gracefully as possible, then consider what Christ said in regards to not throwing our pearls before swine or sowing seeds in hard places.  We can learn from our experiences and resolve to never make the same mistake twice, and while not judging those that have deceived us, wipe the dust from our feet and move on.

God must have anticipated certain events in the lives of His children that would cause them to become “worry-warts.” Even the most mature Christians today are quick to labor under the burden of anxious and excessive care. We worry over personal concerns, family woes, financial woes, cares of the past, and cares for the future, things we haven’t done and things we have done.  When we have been deceived we must always look forward and not backward,  we must not worry about the past, or place guilt upon our shoulders for having been deceived.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

The Apostle Peter saw this anxiety  as a heavy burden and offered us some wise counsel for dealing with it. Peter’s advice is to cast all our problems upon God. We are to throw the cares that distract us, wound our bodies and souls, and that lay heavy on our hearts, upon the wise and gracious providence of God. You can do that because “he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Isn’t that awesome? You and I don’t have to carry the burden of our worries. God is willing to release us from our cares, and take our concerns upon Himself.

On the 21^st day of April in the year of Our Lord 2010, the most Reverend Francis John Sahuque, Archbishop of the Holy Name Of Jesus Anglo Catholic Communion, in a Pontifical Rite, did Consecrate W. Edward Crabtree as a Bishop, with other clergy and visitors present.  On the insistence of Bishop Sahuque, the newly made Bishop as his first act, did ordain Deacon Ann Crabtree as a Priest.  Bishop Crabtree and Mother Ann did then concelebrate the Mass of the Holy Eucharist as Bishop and Priest as well as husband and wife.  A meal was served following Mass, the food and good fellowship was enjoyed by all. [photo - left to right: ++Francis Sahuque, Mother Claire Sahuque, Mother Ann Crabtree, and +Ed Crabtree]

Our Gospel reading for the fourth Sunday of Easter From the Book of John (John 10:22-30) makes reference to Our Lord Jesus Christ being in the temple and walking through what was known as Solomon’s porch or portico during the Festival of the Dedication which began on 25th day of December according to the Gregorian calendar. This festival marked the event of the Syrians being driven from Israel and the corresponding miracle.

In the year of 169 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes, the ruler of Syria, came to Jerusalem and vented his anger at Israel for what happened in Egypt, even though Israel had nothing to do with the outcome of his losses in Egypt. He killed men, women, and children and carried away the golden altar, the Seven Branched Menorah, and other golden and silver vessels, along with other sacred treasures.

To him the God of Israel was nothing. Full of contempt, he sacrificed a pig on the altar of the Temple to his Greek god Jupiter. He then cooked the pig and poured the broth from its cooking on to the Holy Scrolls of the Torah and upon the altar, polluting it. He forbid the Jews to observe their religious rites concerning circumcision, the observance of the Sabbath, and laws pertaining to clean animals. He especially forbid the study of Torah.

The Syrian army was defeated and driven out of the country in 165 B.C. Rejoicing, the Jews went to the Temple to do a clean up. They rebuilt the altar and made new holy vessels. Judah Maccabee proclaimed an eight day holiday for the “Dedication” of a purified Temple.

Why the eight day holiday? The Menorah, in the Temple, had to be lit again, so the Israeli soldiers searched the Temple, but could find only one flask of oil for the lighting of the Menorah that had already been prepared and not contaminated by the Syrians,. This flask of oil was only enough for one day and the preparation of fresh oil required a week’s time. The Menorah had to be lit, so they used the one flask of oil, and a miracle happened. Instead for one day, the oil lasted for eight days – just long enough for the priests to compound and consecrate more oil.

Some say it happened this way: They poured the oil into the Menorah and lit it, upon arriving the next day, the Menorah was still lit. This happened for the full eight days, and thus the eight day holiday was established. Another way was this: The priest emptied the oil into the Menorah and lit it. The next day he would come to put more oil in the Menorah, as was his custom, knowing quite well that, this time, the flask would be empty. But lo, the flask was full again, he then put it in the Menorah for that day.
The miracle was that this went on for the full eight days. No matter how the miracle happened, this was the work of the Lord, for His people Israel. The people rededicated the Temple for worship.

So our Lord was walking through the temple during the festival the Jews had established to remember that event and he was surrounded by the Jews who once again demanded of him to prove himself as the Christ. In this encounter between Christ and the Jews it is hard to say which is more strange, the gracious words that came out of his mouth or the spiteful ones that came out of theirs. John’s Gospel tells us that the Jews gathered around him and said, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” The Pharisees wanted nothing more than for our Lord to utter something concrete that they could use against him, some heretical statement that would be a justification for them to take action and persecute our Lord.

But Jesus answered “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;” He is saying here that his works, those miracles that he always did in the name of the Father, should have been enough to indicate to the Pharisees that he was indeed the son of God, that he was of the Father. But having seen him perform these works in the name of God the Father, they, the Pharisees were still unbelievers. He further explains to them “…but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” In my opinion what he is saying here is that because of their unbelief that they are not of his followers, his sheep. Those that believe in him, that follow his words, his teachings, he will give eternal life.

As we recite the Confession of Sin in our Liturgy let us take a moment to consider what it is saying; “We confess that we have sinned against you, by resisting your will in our lives.” We are admitting that as a people, a global society that we have sinned as a whole, by failing to heed the teachings of Christ, the word or will of God. We confess that we have sinned against our neighbors, by not honoring them as you would have us to do. We confess that we have sinned against ourselves, by not living according to your will and in your ways. We confess that we have sinned against your world, by abusing and wasting the gifts of your goodness. We ask the Father to Reach out his saving hand and rescue us from our sins.

Consider the actions of that long ago king of Syria who was so full of contempt for the God of Israel that he sacrificed a pig on the altar of the temple, an act that must have been the ultimate slap in the face of the people of God, let us consider the possibility that his action could be seen as a metaphor for some of the actions of people today that routinely show contempt for the core teachings the meanings of the words of God as revealed through Christ Jesus. As we go through this week let us contemplate and take pause to enumerate the diverse ways that our society shows contempt for God by not heeding the teachings of his only begotten Son.

This is my personal prayer, what I hope for, long for, that he will forgive, restore, and strengthen me as a Christian and a minister to give witness to his works and promise. To give me the strength to rise above the worldly and walk in his light, always providing an example to others so that they might see the true wisdom and promise of our Lord’s works. That I might be and that each of you might be as shining beacons in the night guiding others away from the dangers in darkness. That our light might be bright and burn unceasingly as that lamp did in the temple on the first festival of the dedication, so so long ago. That we as a church might build a grass roots movement that will open the eyes of others, that will allow others to hear what our Lord said so that we and all our people may someday be counted by him as being among, a part of the number of his sheep, those sheep that he will know and call each by name.

Finally let us reflect upon the joyous tidings proclaimed by the Psalmist that we read today, that by believing in Christ we might experience that blessing.

Be joyful in the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness and come before his presence with a song. Know this: The LORD himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age. AMEN

In This Issue………

Pastors Corner
28 February Homily

Pastors Corner

Welcome to our new church bulletin, which utilizes the Word Press blogging program.  Our old bulletin was in a separate blog directory, but by now creating the bulletin as a separate category in our main blog, the bulletin will show up in our Facebook home page.

It has been a very busy time here at OSOTWR, with many developments and new programs in the planning stages.  A couple of important developments regarding the future chapel, (1) we have received a much appreciated and unexpected donation from a friend of OSOTWR whose name we will not release at this time as we have not had the presence of mind with all the happenings here, to even ask him if we had his permission to report his gift. (2) Rev. Ann and I have decided to convert (temporarily – pending the arrival of a larger building) one of the buildings that is already located here, into a chapel.  It’s small but will accommodate but should accommodate 10 – 12 people easy.  Our thinking is that at least we will have a church home for the time being, without having to use our dining room.

We remind everyone to be praying for the victims of the 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile, with special intentions for those that are alive but still buried in the rubble and debris, and of course the families whose loved ones perished in the untimely disaster.

Finally we remind everyone of our inspirational newsletter “The Way Of The Lord” (TWOTL) which can be found at http://crabtreeinternet.com/newsletters/the_way/ be sure to check out past issues which can be found by clicking on the tab labeled “Index Of Past Issues”  You can subscribe to TWOTL by sending a e-mail with the word ‘subscribe’ in the subject field to: the_way_of_the_lord-request@crabtreeinternet.com

…..TWOTL  is a publication of our publishing ministry “The Lighthouse On The Corner Ministries http://lighthouseonthecornerministries.org

28 February Homily

Through illustrative metaphor, our Epistle and Gospel readings for today teach each of us important lessons, that many who think they are saved, simply are not.

The apostle points this out in his reference to those that are enemies of the cross of Christ.  While we might assume that this refers to non-believers, we also have to consider how it applies to Christians that simply don’t get the point of Christ’s message.  Jesus said

When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.

We see a similar message in Matthew 25

Then the King will say to the people on his right, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world.   I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes,  naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.’   The righteous will then answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?   When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you?   When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’   The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!’   “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Away from me, you that are under God’s curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels!   I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink;   I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.’   Then they will answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?’  The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.’   These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life.”

Each and every day we see people doing terrible things to Christ’s followers, those that try to do their best to live by his message.  Politicians, Bankers, and captains of industry, men and women who claim to be born again, but none the are like the ones on his left In the passage from Matthew,  the ones that ignored or mistreated those that Christ referred to as the least important.

I have maintained and will always maintain that our Father want us to be happy, to have a certain degree of material items, but when greed and lust turn the material into false idols, and mankind tells their young that all that matters is success, regardless of the cost to One Of These Least Important ones, then there is a problem.

Paul tells it like it is when he wrote to the Philippians

Php 3:19 They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world.

So it is not only our duty but in our best interests to set a good example in all things, to lead by precept and example, bearing witness to our Brethren that they need to reconsider, to reevaluate their priorities and decide if short term success on Earth is better than ever lasting life in heaven.  Let us remember the words of Christ;

“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able

Amen

In the process of self-denial, many traditions require one to “give up something” — to abstain at least during the Lenten season from taking part of or using that particular vice. I was thinking today how wonderful it would be if everyone resolved to give up hate, animosity, and the desire to control the lives of others.

“But Wait,” you say, “the Lenten custom of ‘giving up’ or abstaining is traditionally seen as doing without something you like, and not the negative attitudes and lifestyles such as the need to control others!”

To those of you that would suggest that fact to this balding, portly, Priest, —- I reply to you with a heavy sigh and troubled heart, and humbly point out that there are many in this world that thrive on hate, animosity, and the mind control of others, those that savor these negative attitudes just as you and I might savor a thick juicy steak, a glass of a fine aperitif, or even a mug of one’s favorite brew.

Sadly, our diverse media, on a daily basis reports headlines detailing the suffering and in some cases death that innocents have experienced at the hands of these troubled souls. Consider the number of accounts we have heard of children that have been enslaved, in some cases for years by adults for the purpose of satisfaction of the desires of the flesh. Consider the cases wherein people have recounted the suffering they have experienced at the hands of false prophets that were so controlling that the lay person had to go to the minister to receive his/her permission for such simple things as the choice of cell phone vendors.

And many of us have heard of or know matriarchs and patriarchs that thrive on maintaining hate and animosity within their own family groups — dividing the family and in effect conquering so as to control the family, people who do not seem happy unless turmoil is constantly boiling in their lives and the lives of their spouses, children or siblings. To all of these that thrive on hate, animosity and control, would it not be nice if they discovered self denial – at least during Lent – by giving up these habits? Would not it be wonderful if they abstained from their desires that hurt and deny others, by denying themselves of these negative vices?

“…..Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Usually, little children are not full of hate and animosity, until they have learned these undesirable attributes from adults or older children. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all followed the golden rule, treating others as we would want to be treated, and I ask how many actually want to be the receivers of hate and animosity or to be controlled by others? Why can we not be as little children in the symbolic sense and cast off hate, greed, etc.

And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in saying this thou reproachest us also. And Jesus said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Luke 11:45,46,52

We might ask how often people place the burdens of hate, animosity, control, greed, and even false guilt and never lift a finger to help their victims bear these loads? How many would not enter into the light of God’s grace and strive to prevent others from doing so?

As we go through Lenten season reflect upon these thoughts that are offered for contemplation, and perhaps even pray that we as the followers of Christ can through our good example lead those we refer to in this editorial away from the darkness that prevails over their hearts and souls, so that someday innocents will no longer suffer at the hands of troubled individuals or cults.

Matthew 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

When he came to Nazareth, which was ostensibly his home town, he went to the temple on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. Opening the scroll to the words of the prophet Isaiah he read;

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

In my opinion this is a profound statement not just because Christ goes on to tell those in the temple that he is the anointed one, the messiah, but the implication that God has anointed or appointed him to preach to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted as well as to heal physical disease and deformities.  He was also to give hope to those in captivity, those who are captives to sin, Satan, and the ceremonial law of the ancient Jews as well as the convoluted laws of mankind, to set at liberty those that are disadvantaged or spiritually bruised by a society that seeks to deny God’s Children to come to him.

In The Sermon On The Mount, Jesus explained his ministry by telling us the following;

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Even in those days people were mistaken to believe that the wealthy were blessed, those that were unrepentant and or boastful of their material prosperity or ill gotten gains.  But Jesus tells us that the poor in spirit, those that are humble, who come to God in humility are the blessed.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

They that morn for sin, for their own sins; the sin of their nature, indwelling sin, which is always working in them, and is a continual grief of mind to them; the unbelief of their hearts, notwithstanding the many instances, declarations, promises, and discoveries of grace made unto them; their daily infirmities, and many sins of life, because they are committed against a God of love, grace, and mercy, those who mourn also for the sins of others, for the sins of the world, the wickedness that abounds in it; who likewise mourn under afflictions, spiritual ones, temptations. These, how sorrowful and distressed they may appear, are blessed

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

By which is meant, not justice and equity, as persons oppressed and injured; nor a moral, legal righteousness, but rather the justifying righteousness of Christ,

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

for righteousness sake: on account of their righteous and godly actions, their religious life sets a mark upon, and distinguishes them from other persons, this brings upon them the hatred and anger of the men of the world:

Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

So as we come to the Lord’s table today, let us remember these and the manifold blessings that he has bestowed upon us and give prayers of gratitude as we let our light so shine before mankind, which demonstrates our faith and good works.

Traditional denominations “seed” new churches or missions with the financial support of existing congregations.  The donations from Brothers and Sisters in Christ of one community, helping to create a church home for Brethren in a neighboring community or perhaps in a locale far far away.  None the less ministries of traditional denominations have this support structure, a luxury that independent ministries simply do not have.  Often times those ministries that are independent of the more traditional denominations, conduct home or house church, the worship service being held in the minister’s home or perhaps the home of one of the laity.

We have heard stories of faith detailing how barns or other out buildings (even garages) have been lovingly transfigured or remodeled into make shift houses of God.  Some say this is how it was with the early church, meeting in various places without the benefit of a structure built for the express purpose of worshipping God.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them Matthew 18:20

With this verse as a corner stone and the history of the faith of the early Christians as a foundation, modern day house churches have built upon this concept, some remaining as congregations meeting in a member’s house and others going on to build beautiful but usually small structures of worship.  We must never lose sight of the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ preached in the temple as well as out of doors, where ever there were ears to hear and hearts to receive his message.   He was just as comfortable preaching on a hill top, at a street corner, or in a synagogue, it made no difference to him, and we should reevaluate our preconceived notions of what a “church” is, be a massive mega church, a grand cathedral, or the home of a member of a small group ministry/congregation.  We should always keep in mind the message of Matthew 18:20 remembering that he is always in our midst where ever we are gathered together in his name.

Here in the US, to my knowledge we have never known a decade when we as a people were so divided by anger and hate, when even the church itself has become divided along lines — not Catholic versus Protestant – but liberal versus conservative, inclusive versus exclusive, traditional versus progressive.

Let us celebrate the birth of Christ with faith and works in an attempt to make the new year and new decade far more improved than the one we are bidding farewell too, let us resolve to make the new year/decade one dedicated to the word, the words of Christ.  Let us resolve to bridge the gaps and overcome the fear that has prevailed among our own people, the fear that leads to anger and hate.  Let us look at the story that a small child offered so much hope that he changed the world.  And let us metaphorically give birth once again to that child and the joy and hope that his birth brought into the world.

With that thought in mind, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and New Year.  May the God of peace and love continue to delight to dwell with and bless each and everyone one of you.