Save Us From The Miry Pit!

Psalm 40:1-11 KJV; 2nd Sunday after Epiphany; David waited patiently and the Lord lifted him up. Let us wait on the Lord to pick us up when we fall into troubled times and periods of depressions for he surely will.

A New Year In Christ

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 KJV; Celebrate the new year for in Christ you have been made new. You do get a new start every single day!

Jesus The Same Yesterday; Today; Forever

Hebrews 13:8-17 KJV What he has done for us by dying on that cross is the gift that last for all of eternity. He hasn't changed his mind. It is finished.

The Gospel Is The Power Of God Unto Salvation

Reading from Roman 1:15-17 KJV The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation. St. Paul was not afraid to preach the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. He was not afraid to die for preaching the truth.

Translated Into The Kingdom Of God

Reading from Colossians 1:1-14 KJV We have been translated into the kingdom of God by faith in the Son of God who is our redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. We get to live in His presence even today!

Pray And Trust That Our Father Hears And Answers

John 16:23-33 KJV

Love Does No Harm

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

                                                                       (1 Cor 13:1-7 KJV)

The New International Version and the New King James Version of the Bible both translate charity as love.  Love is charitable because it puts the other's needs before our own desires. It will reconcile us when things might otherwise divide us. Real love does no harm to others as it considers not just what the consequences for oneself might be; but, what the consequences of our words or actions might be upon others. Love and charity care about others. 

When Jesus hung on that cross for us he did it out of love for us. He knowingly and willingly suffered and died so that we might live in the presence of God for all of eternity. He bore our sins on that cross for us and the consequence of that loving act for us is that we are forgiven our sins and reconciled to God our Father. We, who have sinned against God and one another so many times that we cannot count them are forgiven by faith alone in Jesus' life giving sacrifice.

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) We love others because he loves us all so much!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Prosper In Love

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

+++

What does it mean to be blessed.  I don't know about all of you; but, I have found that living in relationship with God is to be blessed. 

There are many who preach that you will have every material thing that you desire if you follow God's law. But, to prosper has more meaning than the materialistic meaning that the word has taken on.   

Prosperity for the Christian is to grow rich in the love of God and to be fruitful by sharing his love with others.  When we share his love we don't have to worry about following every law because when we love God we automatically worship and put him before all others.  When we love others we will do them no harm. We will not sin against them. 

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." 

                                                                          (Rom 13:8-10)

Blessed are those who love the Lord and who love one another for they will be fruitful in edifying the church. They will live lives abundant with  the peace of heart and mind in the presence of God that faith alone in Christ alone can bring. 

There is a prosperity that is not just about money and things. It is better to be prosperous; enriched with these things:  "faith, hope, love," for they will last an eternity while our things will not.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Departed Brothers: Fr. Basil; Fr. Nicholas

Monastery at Jacob's Falls, Eagle Harbor, MI

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

                      (John 13:34-35 KJV)

I met Fr. Basil in 1997. I was the Vicar for a church without walls in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan. I had up to five services all over the Keweenaw during any given week and by weeks end I needed to be refreshed. I needed to hear the word and not just preach it so I began attending Saturday evening Vespers on the shore of Lake Superior at the Holy Transfiguration Skete, Eagle Harbor, MI; a Catholic Monastery of the Byzantine Rite. When I first began attending worship with the monks, services were held in their living room. It has since grown greatly!

  

I always left worship with the brothers rejuvenated and ready for the coming week. For those of you who have not attended one of their services, they are completely chanted, including the readings. There are no musical instruments to accompany the chanting; just voices. The words are not drowned out by the organ. I can focus more fully on the word when I can hear it. And... they didn't even mind my chanting. After I had moved away and continued to worship occasionally with them, Fr. Nicholas had commented that he always smiled when he heard me chanting behind him because he knew that I had made the trip to be with them once again. Yes, when I attempt to sing or chant people often smile. I am a preacher not a singer! But, I love doing both. Worship at the monastery is also done  mostly standing. The only time that there is any sitting down is during the readings; unless you are disabled. Whenever I hear people complaining about  standing  too much during worship; I think of Jesus being tortured and hanging on the cross for so many hours for our sakes. 

Fr. Nicholas passed away in 2017. As I was surfing the internet this morning I stumbled across Fr. Basil's obituary. He died on November 30th of this past year. It was a bit of a shock as he always seemed so healthy. 

Despite doctrinal differences, these co-founders of the Holy Transfiguration Skete were truly brothers in Christ. I do miss them. They not only  spiritually supported me and my ministry in the Keweenaw and elsewhere, they were  supporters of many people in need whether the needs were spiritual or physical even as the brothers left behind still are there praying for and helping those in need. What I have witnessed is genuine love for others through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Time has been passing here on earth rather quickly it seems. I will not be seeing brothers Basil or Nicholas again here on earth again. But, that is okay as we look to living in the Kingdom prepared for all who believe, in the presence of God, for all eternity.

May God continue to bless the brothers of St. John's Society with love and with his peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Imprisoned

"Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.."

                  (Philemon 1:9-11 KJV)

Greetings: 

I remember receiving word that a young friend (a former secretary) had "received life." Now in the Christian context you might assume that he has received Christ into his life; that he has received the promise of eternal life. I wish that I could say that this was so. He "received life" in the worldly context. He received three life sentences in prison, without parole. When I heard the sentence he had received, in grief, I voiced it aloud: 

"HE RECEIVED LIFE." 

Still, there is hope to be found hope in those words. It is my hope that his sentence in this world is a sign to me that he has received life eternal, although he may not realize that fact, yet. I have prayed for him often; that we would be one in Christ; that he would enter into the Body of Christ. It is painful for me to think of one so young living behind bars for another 50 or 60 years. But, it is reality. A reality that may seem cruel, but may also be the very opportunity needed for him to "receive life." This friend of mine received the consequences of his actions in this world; yet, he still has the opportunity for freedom; a freedom that is found only in Christ; for all of eternity. 

St. Paul spent a good portion of his ministry behind bars. Although scripture has no record of how many received the truth of Christ through the word spoken by Paul, I am sure there were quite a few. We read in Philemon, that he who was in prison had converted the young man, Onesimus.  I guess you could say Paul was called to prison ministry, but not in the way most of us view prison ministry. Paul was there, living it. One on one, he experienced the pain and suffering of those in prison with him. Because he suffered the same pain, he understood and because he understood others listened and received life. 

There is a prison that we don't recognize as easily as we do the earthly prison surrounded by bars and barbed wire. That prison is our bondage to sin; our bondage to the desires and ways of this world; our desires to be served rather than serve in the love of Christ. This prison is harder for us to recognize and so often we never even desire freedom from it. Many actually come to like it in these chains. Within the walls of a correctional facility freedom can be found in Christ Jesus; freedom to love and serve as the world is not competing quite as loudly for first place in your life. 

Jesus promised that: "..the truth shall set you fee." (John 8:32) However, for those of us who may be bound in a prison of worldly comforts of self-serving desires and pursuits, it's really hard to see the truth (often preferring not to see the truth, about our need for forgiveness, so we don't ask for it), remaining in bondage to sin. 

As we consider our own freedom; let us ask God to reveal to us whether we are truly free. Let us pray first for salvation, for freedom in Christ. Let us pray for one another, in love, that forgiveness in Christ be received by all God's children who find themselves in prison: both the correctional facilities and those chained to the desires of this world. Let us also pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for our Prison Chaplains and all who work in the Prison Ministry for bringing the Light of Christ into such darkened lives. 

God’s Peace – Judy

Fear And Love

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Prov 9:10 KJV)

John wrote "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8) Indeed, God is love. "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." (John 3:16)

This implies strongly that those who do not believe will not inherit eternal life. John further wrote: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18) Jesus himself said: "..., I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

God has given us life and He alone has the authority to decide whether or not we will inherit eternal life in His presence. He will know whether you believe and trust that Jesus died so that you might be reconciled to God for all of eternity. God alone, will know how much you love Him.

The knowledge of how all knowing; all powerful; how holy our creator actually is ought to cause us a little pause in the way we respect Him. The knowledge that He loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to be executed for our sins ought to be enough to stir us to love Him in return. When we live in that kind of loving relationship all fear disappears. 

May the world come to know and love Him who first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

God's Peace - Pr. J

We All Must Die

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb 9:27-28 KJV)

We all must die. These old tents that we live in deteriorate and will finally give out. But, thanks be to God who sent His Son to be a sin offering for us, all who believe in him will not perish but will live eternally in His presence.

The question that often enters my mind is why would anyone think that it will be awesome to live eternally in His presence after their bodies wear out and die, if they have no desire to live in His presence today. Eternity means for all time and all time includes today. 

Our fate is decided by the grace of God of through faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us. 

When Martha was grieving the death of her brother Lazarus, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:25-27)

Yes, our bodies will wear out. We will all die. Yet, the one who lives by faith in Jesus, will be judged sinless by the power of the blood of Jesus on the day when he returns for us and we shall live for all eternity in the presence of Almighty God.  Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

My Soul Glorifies The Lord

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

   and my spirit rejoices in God my 

  Savior,"

                         (Luke 1:46-47 NIV)

How glorious it would be if every preacher, every Christian, could just say with Mary, "My soul glorifies the Lord! He is my Savior!"

No matter how many times we are reminded that we cannot save anyone; that only Jesus saves, we still want to claim that good work for ourselves. We think that if we talk long enough and word the command to do God's will just right, that we can convince others to believe. 

Yes, share the Good News. But, the Good News is not what we have to do to be in God's grace. The Good News is about what God has done for us through Jesus the Christ. He has reconciled us to Himself through the sacrifice of His beloved Son that we might abide with Him for all of eternity.

Whatever good that we might think we do, we must remember that if in fact good has been accomplished, it is not us, but, the Spirit of Christ who works in and through us that has done these things. 

All glory belongs to God! Let us rejoice and give Him the glory!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Suffered Once For All

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18a NRSV)

He suffered in order to bring you to God. He did not suffer so that we could be rich here on earth. He did not suffer so that we could be famous or even a little popular. He did not suffer so we could have everything we ever desired. He suffered in or to bring us to God.

He suffered so that we who had no access to the Kingdom of God might have access. He suffered so that we might be reconciled to God and to one another by the blood that he shed on the cross for us.

He suffered that you might be forgiven your sins and be reconciled to God for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lead The Way

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."  (Col 1:9-12 NRSV) 

We pray for one another. But, what do we pray for? 

I know that I pray for a lot of people for a lot of things. Some of the things I'm asked to pray for sometimes seem a bit worldly to my senses. That does not stop me from praying for them. I include in all of my prayers that their ears, their hearts, and their minds might be opened so that they might know God's will for them. I pray that they will have a better understanding of the way in which God would have them go and that God would empower them to follow in that way.

I know of no greater gift that one could have than to be able to live the life that God intends for them; today and for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Refuge From The Storm

For God alone my soul waits in silence,

   for my hope is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

   my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

   my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
   pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.  Selah

                       Psalm 62:5-8 NRSV

Storms in the south; storms in the north, in the east, and in the west! The storms this past week or so and the storms that are impending have surely shaken many people. They have destroyed much property. They have brought fear into the hearts of many. We have yet to see if the storm in the south has taken any lives. We will see what is left; who is left, when the waters recede.

There is nothing that we can do when a storm approaches; but, to do whatever  we can to attempt to protect lives. Stationary property is at the mercy of the wind and the water. There is nothing we can do about that. One day it is ours. The next day it is gone. Even though this Psalm of David confesses that neither he nor we should be shaken; I cannot say that I am not shaken at the losses. 

I am shaken at the loss at the loss of life and property. But, I am confident that my soul is safe. I am confident that all who believe that Jesus died that we might live will indeed live in the presence of God for all eternity. In that I am not shaken. 

Sadly, we will suffer many losses in our lives here on earth. But, not one who believes will suffer from the loss of their life in the Kingdom of God. We remain confident that God is our deliverer. He is our fortress and refuge. In Him we shall trust for our deliverance; for our salvation; for our eternal life in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Who Will You Follow?

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”                                                                                           John 6:67-69 (NIV)

To whom shall we go indeed?! Shall we listen to someone other than the One who gives us eternal life? Shall we follow anyone other than the one that gives us the spiritual food needed to sustain us for all eternity? 

Not all of the people who were following Jesus wanted to hear this. Like many people today they went away from Jesus looking for things that would satisfy them in this world. Spiritual things are okay as far as they go. But, many, including those who claim to be Christians, prefer things of this world rather than the Kingdom of God. 

As Joshua asked the Israelites so we must also ask ourselves: "choose this day whom you will serve.." And, prayerfully, we will all respond: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:15)

May God grant us the faith that we should all follow and serve Jesus Christ, who is our bread of life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Rock

Be to me a rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress, to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.

                                            Psalm 71:3-4 NRSV

 

Sully is a huge English Mastiff. He is a rock. He goes about his business steady and sure. You can nudge him; but, unless he wants to move, it's not going to happen. Fortunately, he is a gentle giant and listens quite well. He is totally non-aggressive; but, if he's standing by your side, most people would think twice about approaching you in any manner other than in a most amiable way. 

 

Jesus is our rock of refuge. He is our fortress. The unjust and cruel will not prevail over those who dwell within the walls of that fortress, which is the Body of Christ. As much as I trust that by Sully's side I will be safe; I only see him a few times a year. But, Jesus is with me always. It is he who will save and keep us for all eternity.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J 

His Words Endure Forever

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matt 24:35-6 NIV)

Way too many Christians spend more time worrying about and even predicting the end of the world. This predicting of doom and gloom takes the focus off of the promises of God. It brings fear into the hearts of many when there is no reason to fear. It refocuses us so that we are not listening to or really hearing the words of promise and hope. The Lord's words will never pass away and his words are a promise that all who believe in him will live for all eternity in the presence of our Father in heaven. (John 3:16, John 14:1-4)

It is time for us to refocus and hear the words; the promises, of the Lord and not the doomsday predictions of humankind. After all; none of us can know the day or time. Only the Father knows. 

Hear the Good News and rejoice: The Kingdom of God, a place in our Father's house, has been secured for all who believe in him by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live in the Kingdom Today!

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  (Philippians 3:20 NIV)


Yes, we live here in this world; but, our hope is to enter into the heavenly kingdom for all eternity as promised to all who believe. The Kingdom of God, we are told, is eternal. So what are you waiting for? Why do we wait to enter that Kingdom until after we pass through the gateway of death? Eternity is forever. There is no end to eternity. There is no beginning. These words, "You have eternal life," what do they mean to you? Do you believe that eternal life begins after death or are you already living in eternity? Our citizenship is in heaven. The Kingdom of God has already broken into this world. Live your life as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom today. Do not wait until tomorrow! Live life in Christ.


God's Peace - Pr. J.