Teach Me Thy Ways

Psalm 119:57-64 KJV; 8th Sunday after Pentecost; We confess that we don't always keep the promises we make to God and we ask the Lord to teach us the way he would have us go.

Get To Know Him And Be Refreshed

Hosea 5:15-6:6 KJV; Know God and be refreshed.

Saved By Faith Alone In Christ Alone

Rom 1:16-17; Rom 3:21-26; Eph 2:8-9; Reformation Sunday 2022; we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone and not by anything that we could possibly do.

Bless The Words Of Our Lips

Psalm 19:14 KJV May all that we think and say be acceptable to the Lord.

We Cry Unto The Lord

Reading from Psalm 138 KJV - We cry to the Lord; He hears and answers. His mercy endures forever.

Heaven And Earth Will Pass Away

Gospel according to St. Mark 13:31-33; We do not know the day when heaven and earth will pass away; but, be prepared for death to this world is inevitable.

Shepherd Of Our Souls

John 10:22-30 KJV

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.

God's Handiwork

Psalm 19:1-6 KJV

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

+++

It is a very rare evening or morning that I do not look to the heavens to see the beauty of God's handiwork. This morning the almost full moon lights up the clouds in magnificent splendor.

Take the time to look around and see and enjoy the beauty of God's handiwork in the heavens and on earth! If you live in the city where you can see neither the moon nor the stars because of the artificial light or the air pollution look around and see the awesome creative ability of God in his people.

God's creation declares his glory. We can see it more clearly when we take the time to look for it; when we take the time to look outside of ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Advent: Be Prepared

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

                                                                                            (Luke 21:25-36 KJV)

On this first Sunday in Advent we look to and prepare for the day we will celebrate the birth of our Savior on Christmas day. We are also reminded to prepare for the day when he will come again in full glory.

The gospel according to St.Luke reminds us to be prepared. Stay away from the things that will steer us away from our preparation to receive Christ and his kingdom in all of their glory. 

The things of this world can be great distractors from living our lives in the Kingdom of God, in the presence of God. Stay awake! Be aware! Prepare for the day that you will meet your maker and savior face to face.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Acceptable To The Lord

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

One of my favorite daily prayers first prayed by King David that the Lord would bless the words of his mouth so that he would speak to the glory of God. He prays that all that he thinks and says would glorify Him.

May God grant that all that we say and think and do will be acceptable in his sight and glorify His Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Be Deceived

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

                                                                                 (Eph 5:6-14 KJV)

These are troubling times. It can be difficult to discern the truth. So much of what we hear is coming from political or personal agendas and bias'. It is true in the world at large; but, it is also true in way too much of the church. People promote themselves. They make money from distorting or exaggerating the truth; sometimes from outright lies. Those who live as though these lies are truth find themselves confused as they live in the darkness.  It is difficult to find your way when the darkness surrounds you. 

But, a light has come into the world. The light who is Jesus the Christ sheds light onto a dark world. His light shines into our lives. If you really want to be "woke" you will need to step into the marvelous light of Christ.  Wake up and live life in Christ! 

The light of Christ; the truth in Christ unite us. It will bring us together in loving fellowship. Leave off; stay away from those who would deceive others to their own advantage with their vain words. Step out of the darkness of deceit and walk in the light of Christ that you might know the truth and live an abundant life.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Psalm For Good Friday

Psalm 22 is a reminder of one of the darkest days in history. But, the darkness of that day has brought us great joy as the darkness turned to light for all who believe in him. With tears of both sorrow and joy for the covenant sealed with his blood as we observe his death with our eyes looking forward to the resurrection.

Psalm 22 KJV

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. 

Love In Deed And Truth

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18 KJV)

I have witnessed a lot of not so loving actions over the past year.  It amazes me that so many profess that we have to have more unity and love; that if we love we will strive for justice for all people. When in fact they speak of love; but, their actions show otherwise. 

Riots that included damage to personal property of others and attacks on others do not in anyway show love of neighbor nor does it show justice. Calls for unity while verbally attacking people who do not agree with one's principals or lack of principals. Verbal attacks can very well be deeds as they are attacks against the spirit. Physically or verbally attacking those who will not compromise their beliefs by encouraging harmful and or sinful behavior is not in any way a show of love. It does do much harm.

We can talk about unity, peace, justice, and love 'till the cows come home. Yet, if out of one side of the mouth we speak of these things and out of the other side comes hatred and false accusations we are only deceiving ourselves when we claim that we love. But, we are not and cannot deceive God regarding the state of our hearts. Until we actually start acting in love toward one another it is just fruitless talk and often harmful speech. 

Jesus showed his love and mercy for us by dying on the cross for us. May God help us to love one another not just with words but in deed and truth. And, may God help us to not compromise the truth. Only when we live in the truth will there be any real semblance of peace and love. We need to quit justifying our sinful behavior by trying to put the blame on others. 

A word of wisdom regarding mercy and truth from Proverbs: 

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." 

                                                                                    (Prov 16:5-7)

A man's way pleases the Lord when he shows love by acting upon both mercy and truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Your Words In My Mouth

"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." 

                                                                                   (Jer 1:4-9 KJV)

Now, in order for prophecy to be heard it must be spoken. Words must be used and they must be heard for the prophecy to avail anyone. When the Lord informed Jeremiah that He had ordained him to be a prophet to all nations, Jeremiah was not convinced that he was up to that vocation. But, the Lord told him that he was because He would be with him and He would tell him what to say. He touched Jeremiah's and said, "Behold I have put my words in they mouth."

Like Jeremiah, we are often not sure what words to use to share the word of the Lord with others. We are often not sure what words to use to tell people about the love of our Lord Jesus. Yet, if we don't use words the Good News will never be heard. 

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17)

Help us Father by putting your words in our mouths so that we might tell the world about your great love and mercy toward us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Perverse Or Wholesome Tongue?

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. 

                                                                                     (Prov 15:1-4, 7 KJV)

God does see both the physical and mental abuse that goes on in this world. Nasty tones and attitudes do indeed stir up anger. They stir up hatred. They stir up division. 

It is human nature to become angry when offended. It is more Christ-like not to act upon that anger. It is best to walk away for your sake and everyone else around you. If an angry person is in need of aid help if you can and if they are willing to let you. But, do not become so involved in their lives that you risk the chance of becoming a person filled with anger yourself. Nothing good will come of it. The book of Proverbs reminds us: 

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. (Prov 22:24-25)

The world is full of anger and hate. But, we do not have to be. In Christ we have been born again. We do not have to live the old life that included so much anger. We can live in peace with joyful spirits when Christ abides in us and we in him.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (2 Cor 13:13)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Acceptable In His Sight

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Psalm 19 is one of my favorite prayers from scripture. I pray it before just about every sermon or message that I share aloud. Pastors like to talk and sometimes the words of our lips can get away from us as we jump from topic to topic on subjects that have more to do with personal agendas than anything that will glorify God. We are all sinners, sanctified in Christ Jesus. As sinners, we ought to pray that the Lord, himself, will guide our lips and our hearts in a way that is acceptable to him.

Lord, God, help us to speak those things that will be acceptable in your sight. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Cussing

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Eph 4:29 KJV)

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (Prov 15:4)

People swear, I get that. Every now and then the most kind and gentle people utter things that they wish they hadn't uttered. But, I am not sure why some people think it is acceptable to use four letter cuss words in every sentence that comes out of their mouths or in every post that they post on social media.  

These curses can be very hurtful and destructive to others even to people we care about. 

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rom 13:10)

Words can either a curse or a blessing. What will they be? May God bless the words of our lips that they might edify and not harm others. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Curses And Blessings

"He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!” When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys." 2 King 2:23-24 NRSV

Over the years I've gotten pretty accustomed to hearing curse words. I mostly ignore it. But, listening to people curse every time they speak causes me to get a knot in my stomach. Hearing God's name used recklessly makes me a little more than anxious. I hear words come out of people's mouths and I wonder if they realize that God is listening. When we desire that someone be harmed and we think or speak it; they are not just harmless words. Every word, whether it is a blessing or a curse, is like a prayer before God.

The story of Elisha cursing the boys and the bears coming to retaliate against them for disrespecting and bullying God's prophet is a bit disturbing. It can make one really uncomfortable to think that God would answer this prayer (curse) in such a devastating fashion. It causes me to wonder if Elisha had any clue that God would respond in such a dramatic fashion or did the curse simply slip from his lips in a moment of anger or maybe fear when he faced the mob of forty-two alone? But, he was not alone. God was with him.

God doesn't normally send bears to protect His prophets. But, there is no doubt that He is with all who serve Him and He listens to their pleas. Be careful of what words slip through your lips. If someone offends you consider the possibility that they did not mean it the way that it sounded or looked to you. It is up to each of us to decide whether whether our own words will be the words of a bully, a curse in God's name, or if they will be the words of a blessing; God hears it all. Be careful of what you pray for. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Choose Justice; Choose Peace

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

                      (Prov 13:20-21 KJV)

I have been accused of being legalistic on more than one occasion. I am not (at least not usually). I have been accused of it because I truly prefer to attempt to obey the law and not offend God or harm any other persons.  I would genuinely love to live in peace. I consider obeying the law, no matter how trivial the law may seem, as a small way to keep peace around me and in the world. I am not saying that I never break the law. We all sin in some ways and breaking the law is sin because it causes a break in community. Sometimes, we do this with intent. At other times, it just happens. It may possibly "just happen" because we haven't bothered to think about the consequences of our words or actions. Often, our desire to break with the law, causes damage to ourselves or others. There are  consequences to our words and actions whether good or bad.

However, there are times, that we might (must) act in peaceful civil disobedience for the good of others; for the sake of justice. When we do this we also acknowledge that there still may be consequences. This is also not to say that there are not any times when we  might actually have to defend ourselves or others for the sake of justice and hopefully peace. Conflicts and wars are, at times, necessary to protect ourselves or others.

But, to follow in the ways of anyone whose purpose is solely to profit themselves without considering others is not the wise path to follow. There will be consequences. Hanging out with those who would consistently do what might harm others; that might harm society as a whole, is not wise. It will lead you on a path that is not according to the will of God. That also is not to say that you should never minister to them. We definitely should. But, do so with the integrity and with the strength to say no when you are invited to join in the sinful; the unlawful, way.  

Choose justice. Choose to live in peace and do what is right in the eyes of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J.