Kirk means church

Charlie Kirk's message was the same words our pastor used in a letter to the congregation, "The way of Jesus is the saving alternative to the cycle of escalating violence in which everyone loses." The word KIRK means church. Charlie offered facts and evidence to answer the lies of his enemies who stalked and threatened him. He told them about Jesus. Unfortunately, there are people in many churches that hate President Trump so much, that they'll not hear the message of Kirk or anyone else who admired or worked for the President. In fact, without the filter of MSNBC or CNN or the liberal MSM they'd probably never heard Kirk speak on campus or at a conservative gathering. We supported his organization "Turning Point" primarily for Kirk's pro-life and pro-family views, including his outspoken facts about sexuality. We didn't listen to his podcast. We missed a lot. Some, including the New York Times are rushing to correct the lies they printed or said.

Words actually are violence, even with the guarantees of our First Amendment. "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery," Mark 7:21. The week before Kirk was killed, there was the murder of the Ukrainian woman, the murder of a retired veterinary professor at Auburn walking her dog, and the murder of an elderly couple in Queens who were tortured, killed and set on fire. Maniac who killed elderly NYC couple inside their home makes chilling admission  And shortly before that children were murdered in a Catholic church during Mass. Three of the men were black with criminal records, and prior charges, released into the public to commit more crimes by liberal judges. Two of the men were white and had their minds twisted by leftist lies about sexuality, supported by the Democrat party. Christians should be speaking out about why half the nation votes for the people who allow this.

Slow down by Iamson

 I was listening to "Pray as you Go" this morning and the song selection was "Slow Down" by Iamson.  That's not a song that "speaks" to me, because at 84, I couldn't go much slower.  But the message is more about where we put our focus, I think. Even when my body won't move, it seems the mind is busy.

https://genius.com/Iamson-slow-down-lyrics

Slow down, where are you going?
What's so important that can't wait?
Tell Me, what are you seeking?
What is it that's keeping you from bringing Me your questions?

Making churches relevant

 This is one more article about why mainline and evangelical churches are shrinking (i.e. dying, becoming irrelevant).  Unfortunately, the author after attempting to describe the problem--cultural suicide--suggests finding a new vision.  Huh?  Have they tried Jesus? This is an irrelevant article about why churches have become irrelevant.

The author is still quoting William Sloane Coffin.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/gloriouslife/2021/01/how-mainline-churches-closed-themselves/

Supporting the Democrats on abortion

On Resurrection of the Dead day you'll be asked about your support of the party that has killed millions of helpless babies, because Jesus IS coming back. He said there are sheep and there are goats. He has said some go to Hell and some go to Heaven. By their own actions he'll know who has done what. Matt 25 makes that clear.  You've said you don't approve, yet you support the Democrats and all the media that push abortion for any reason and any stage of life. No one gets elected as a Democrat if they don't support the euphemism "Women's health," or "Women's right to choose." Pelosi and Biden defy their church's teaching, yet you support them. And the Bishops who look away will have to answer to Jesus some day.

According to CDC in a decade 143 babies were born alive during an abortion out of about 9 million. Is 143 struggling, squirming live babies left to die OK with you? If you include the previous decade the number is 362. What number is good for you? And those 8 or 9 month aborted developed babies, not born alive whose brains were sucked out or limbs sliced off in utero so they wouldn't be "born alive" and therefore legal. Their body parts are sold. Do you go along with Democrats on that? If you read through the Gospels, Jesus can ask some really tough questions. I don't think "I don't vote" or "I didn't approve" is going to get you past that judge.

Palm Sunday 2021, All Glory, Laud and Honor

 Many churches are still on a limited schedule, buildings locked during the week, ministries of service that involve person to person contact closed, and even if meeting with social distancing, hymn singing is discouraged.  I've heard from friends who have changed worship locations that Shiloh Mennonite (London, OH) and Grace Fellowship (Upper Arlington, OH) and Resurrection Lutheran (Hilliard, OH) continue to have congregational singing. Today is Palm Sunday when Christians celebrate the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem.  Normally, and nothing is normal these days, at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, we would pick up a palm branch on the way into the sanctuary, wave the palms from the pew and sing with gusto . . .

All glory, laud and honor,

To you, Redeemer, King,

To whom the lips of children

Made sweet hosannas ring.

You are the King of Israel,

And David's royal Son,

Now in the Lor's Name coming,

Our King and blessed One.

https://youtu.be/h3a8fTTrAdE

https://youtu.be/zxzhFsuBijs

One of the commenters at the Indian site, Prashant L. Nemani, left this information; 

Words "Gloria, Laus, Et Honor" (Latin).Author: Bishop Theodulph Of Orleans [760- 821], Circa 820. Theodulph was born into the Italian nobility in 0761, but decided on a life of religious service. His first position was as abbot of a monastery in Firenze (Florence), Italy. In 781, Charlemagne appointed him Bishop of Orleans, France. However, this flourishing career came to an abrupt end with Charlemagne’s death. Louis the Pious suspected Theodulph of secret loyalty to political leaders in Italy, the country of his birth. These suspicions led to Theodulph’s imprisonment in Angiers in 818. His predicament is reminiscent of Paul’s incarceration in Rome. Like Paul, Theodulph’s faith sustained him inside cold stone walls. It was there he wrote ALL GLORY, LAUD AND HONOR, and there that he died in 821. Translated from Latin to English by: Rev. (Dr.) John Mason Neale [1818-1866], in 1851.

The President's Christmas Message

 https://youtu.be/XIIP6Tq_iqk

For Christians, this is a joyous time to remember God's greatest gift to the world. More than two thousand years ago, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. He said, ‘Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.’ The angel told her that she would give birth to a baby boy, Jesus, who would be called the Son of the Most High. Nine months later, Christ was born in the town of Bethlehem. The Son of God came into the world in a humble stable.

As Christians everywhere know, the birth of our Lord and Savior changed history forever. At Christmas, we give thanks to God and that God sent his only Son to die for us and to offer everlasting peace to all humanity. More than two millennia after the birth of Jesus Christ, his teachings continue to inspire and uplift billions and billions of people all over the globe. His Divine word still fills our hearts with hope and faith. And, Christians everywhere still strive to live by Jesus' timeless commandment to his disciples, ‘Love one another.’   Dec. 3 National Christmas Tree lighting

What if Jesus had returned the summer of 2020

I think the parable Jesus told in Luke 12:39-48 might be worth looking at.  The master had put a faithful, trusted steward in charge of his servants and the steward thought it would be awhile before the master came back.  He behaved badly and encouraged bad behavior among the other servants. Things didn’t go well—the steward was cast out with the unbelievers.

“From Christ to Emancipation,” Townhall.com Wednesday, July 8

From Christ to Emancipation, the mob is determined to erase history Blinded by their rage, the Left targets Christ, Grant, and Lincoln in the name of the revolution By Bishop Aubrey Shines We’ve all heard the phrase, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions,” but, as I’ve watched the unrest that continues to play out in our cities, I think it’s safe to say the “activists” who have taken over left the good intentions behind some time ago. First, they came for only the Confederate statues. Then they came for our Founding Fathers, and now they’re coming after President Lincoln, General Grant, and even our Savior Jesus Christ. In case you don’t know what I’m referring to, last month Shaun King, who is a prominent voice in the Left’s Woke class, called for the removal of any statues of Christ with European features because, apparently, those too are now a symbol of white supremacy. As a minister, it pains me to see such an asinine and narrow view of the Messiah. Not only is it shortsighted, but Mr. King is missing the entire point of Christ; what he may or may not have looked like doesn’t matter, but his message about love and reconciliation with others does. Christ walked the earth 2,000 years ago. None of us can ever know what the Savior actually looked like. Logically, it’s reasonable that different cultures would depict Him in a way they would know. White Europeans aren’t any guiltier for depicting Jesus as a white European in Renaissance art than Africans or Asians are for portraying Him as an African or an Asian in their artwork. Moreover, the Messiah’s message has nothing to do with the pigmentation of one’s skin. In His time on earth, Jesus extended God’s love to both Jews and Gentiles; Samaritans, Romans, it didn’t matter. Furthermore, what Mr. King suggests is the next step on an already dangerous path. Statues of Christ are found on the grounds of churches, and churches are separate entities from the government (look it up, it’s in the Constitution). This means Mr. King wants his Antifa friends to trespass on private property to destroy other private property. I would be shocked, but these people see themselves as revolutionaries; they live by their own rules, and no amount of reasonable discourse will stop them. And if statues of Christ that look too white have to come down, how long will it be before statues of Abraham, Moses, or Jacob have to come down if they look too white? Does this mean Michelangelo’s historic sculpture of King David needs to be destroyed because it looks too white? How long will it be before any white statues come down, regardless of whether or not the person in question enforced white supremacy? I fear that last question is already being answered. We’ve already had a statue of General Grant ripped down. Didn’t he bring an end to the Civil War by forcing Robert E. Lee to surrender? He, if anyone, should have a thousand statues up for every one Confederate statue; Grant ended the war and saved the Union. But because he is a 19th century white man with a beard in a military uniform, he must come down! So say the misguided who ignore their own history. The statue of Teddy Roosevelt, one of the greatest conservationists in American history, is being removed from in front of the New York Museum of Natural History. The reason? Roosevelt is apparently more prominent than the adjacent statues of a Native American and African American. This must mean Roosevelt only stood for imperialism and the patriarchy, never mind the fact we would not have our national parks were it not for him. Oh, and he was the first president to entertain a black man for dinner in the White House, namely Booker T. Washington. The mob even wants to attack the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, without whom there would be no Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Memorial, a statue of Lincoln helping a freed slave to his feet, has stood by the White House since 1876. The mob’s excuse for this one is that the statue endorses “white saviorism,” even though the statue was funded by ex-slaves. If they stopped screaming and listened for a moment, maybe the misguided young folks trying to trample President Lincoln’s legacy would realize this. If Mr. King and his ilk insist on this path of destruction, I ask him to remember that Christ’s message is about forgiveness. He and the Antifa thugs tearing our country apart will always have a chance to be forgiven, even as they try to erase our history. I hope he knows this. I will be praying for him to understand it. Bishop Aubrey Shines is the founder of Glory to Glory Ministries and chairman of Conservative Clergy of Color.  Bishop Aubrey Shines, is available for comment on this op-ed. To schedule interviews with Bishop Aubrey Shines of Conservative Clergy of Color, please contact Will Hadden at whadden@sbpublicaffairs.com or call 703.739.5920

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent

This morning at 6:30 I’ll go to our Lytham Road campus of UALC for the imposition of ashes.  Merriam-Webster explains:

Lent

“Lent traces back to Old English with the meaning of "springtime." In the Christian church, the word refers to a period of spiritual preparation for Easter, a feast that commemorates Jesus' resurrection. In Western churches, it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and one half weeks before Easter, and is, traditionally, a time of penance and of a 40-day fast (excluding Sundays); the duration of the fast is patterned on Jesus' praying and fasting in the wilderness (or desert). In Eastern churches, it begins eight weeks before Easter, and both Saturdays and Sundays are excluded as fast days.

In addition to penance and fasting, the devout often choose to give up certain pleasures, such as sweets or weekend binge-watching, as a way of remembering the suffering of Jesus. If you see that forgoing something is beginning to put a person in a bad mood, find or make them a Jack-a-Lent (originally, a Jack of Lent), a stuffed puppet traditionally set up as a target to be pelted for fun during Lent and destroyed on Easter Day. It might be a good diversion.”

A simple prayer: Jesus, here I am, it’s Norma

When people ask how our family is doing in this difficult time, I usually mumble something like, just pray for a miracle, that's really all we need. That said, so many people have been Jesus with skin on we're so very grateful. Cards, e-mails, meals, invitations, even visits from complete strangers. Even the really awkward conversations that quickly become a tale of woe about their own problems, are meant well.  I read a story this morning about prayer, I'd like to share (from Magnificat, Nov. 2019, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, pp. 248-249)

Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan (d. 2002) was a prisoner of the north Vietnamese for 13 years, and after his liberation people suggested he must have had a lot of time to pray. He told them he was often so exhausted from the confinement and silence, he couldn't say a single word, then he told this story.

"There was an older man named Jim who would go to church every day at noon for just a few minutes, and then he would leave. The sacristan was very curious about Jim's daily routine, and one day he stopped him to ask: "Why do you come here every day?" "I come to pray," Jim answered.

"That's impossible! What prayer can you say in 2 minutes?"

"I am an old, ignorant man. I pray to God in my own way."

"But what do you say?"

"I say: 'Jesus, here I am, it's Jim.' And then I leave." After some years, Jim became ill and had to go to the hospital, where he was admitted to the ward for the poor. When it seemed that Jim was dying, a priest asked, "Jim, tell us how it is that from the day you came to this ward everything changed for the better? How is it that the patients have become happier, more content, and friendlier?"

"I don't know. When I could walk around, I would try to visit everyone. I greeted them, talked a bit with them. When I couldn't get out of bed I called everyone over to me to make them laugh, to make them happy. With Jim they are always happy!"

"But why are YOU happy?"

"Well, aren't you happy when you receive a visitor?" asked Jim.

"Of course, but we have never seen anyone come to visit you."

"When I came here I asked you for 2 chairs. One was for you, Father, and one was reserved for my guest."

"But what guest?" the priest asked.

"I used to go to church to visit Jesus every day at noon. But when I couldn't do that anymore, Jesus came here."

"Jesus comes to visit you? What does he say?"

"He says: 'Jim, here I am, it's Jesus!'" Before dying, Jim smiled and gestured with his hand toward the chair next to his bed, as if inviting someone to sit down. He smiled for the last time and closed his eyes.

The Cardinal continued. When my strength failed and I could not even pray, I repeated: "Jesus, here I am, it's Francis." Joy and consolation would come to me and I experienced Jesus responding: "Francis, here I am, it's Jesus."

The Kingdom of God is among you

"The Kingdom of God is Among You [within you]." How often I've heard that, or read it, and found the explanation (mine or theirs) unsatisfactory--especially the quibbling over the translation. As a protestant, particularly a Lutheran, I always get to be the Pope, the theology professor, the preacher of the day, the one who knows best, and most of the time, that's daunting. The words were heard in Jesus' spoken language, recorded in Greek, translated to Latin, and retranslated into hundreds of languages in multiple versions written and edited and published by people with beliefs and biases. But I like what Pope Benedict XVI wrote in "Jesus of Nazareth," Ignatius Press, 2007. He's has a great mind, and a fabulous translator.

"The new proximity of the Kingdom of which Jesus speaks--the distinguishing feature of his message--is to be found in Jesus himself. Through Jesus' presence and action, God has here and now entered actively into history in a wholly new way. The reason why now is the fullness of time (Mark 1:15), why NOW is in a unique sense the time of conversion and penance, as well as the time of joy, is that in Jesus it is God who draws near to us. In Jesus, God is now the one who acts and who rules as Lord--rules in a divine way, without worldly power, rules through the love that reaches to the end (John 13:1) to the cross . . .

In this context we understand Jesus' statements about the lowliness and hiddenness of the Kingdom; in this context we understand the fundamental image of the seed. . . in this context we also understand his invitation to follow him courageously, leaving everything else behind. He himself is the treasure; communion with him is the pearl of great price."

The book (in Latin) was developed before he became Pope, and his preface is worth looking at.

https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/preface-from-jesus-of-nazareth.html?

Jesus at the “bedside” of the aborted child

Imagine if you can. . .it may not be a bed, or a table—might be a medical waste can. The baby might be alive and struggling.  There’s never a medical reason for a 3rd term abortion.  “. . . but the disciples rebuked them.”  Tragically, Jesus has disciples, church members of many denominations and groups from Catholic to Baptist, from Orthodox to Methodist, who are rebuking these children.

“People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.”

Mark 10:13-16

Bernie the Christian basher

In his hectoring of OMB nominee Russell Vought, Sen. Bernie Sanders showed himself to be the enemy of all religion. He attacked Vought for his religious beliefs as expressed on a blog called the Resurgent. Vought when questioned about something he wrote on his blog simply restated his Christian belief: that salvation comes through Christ alone.

But Sanders, who is not a Christian nor a theologian, and apparently not even a good American concluded that this Christian belief stated by Christ himself made Vought unfit for public office. “I would simply say, Mr. Chairman, that this nominee is really not someone who is what this country is supposed to be about.”
From The Catholic Thing,

Sanders has attacked the basics of the faith; I guess he thinks it's like bringing down a florist or baker. But Jesus didn't say "I'm one of the ways. . ." https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life/

What Jesus never said

Although he was commenting on students’ relationships with town and university through the centuries beginning with St. Scholastica riots in 1355, David Warren adds something we all need to remember: 

“That Christ never preached “equality,” I note in passing. The poverty He exemplified had nothing to do with an economic doctrine, and He had nothing to say about the political order, besides: stay aloof from it. His message was to each embodied soul – to all sinners – and He addressed them with the authority of God. They might hear Him, or shut Him away.

It was enough that He nailed our sins with Himself to the Cross, resurrected Himself body and soul, ascended into Heaven, having plunged into Hell. But also He founded an unearthly institution, as we read in Acts – that “at the sixth hour” He let down a great sheet from Heaven to Earth, a figure of His Church, that we be received up into it.

And all the tribulation of the world will stand against it, will pull us down.” https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/05/12/end-of-term/

Was Jesus really born in December?

I have been told the Christmas story all my life--not the one in Luke (although that was read to us every year at a Forreston school assembly by the principal, John I. Masterson), but the one about how Jesus wasn't really born in December and the early evangelists used that story to coincide with the winter solstice celebrations. Taylor Marshall says that is a myth that began as a polemic against Christianity to question the historicity of biblical Christianity. In 2013, he wrote a book about it, and you can download it. "God's Birthday; why Christ was born on December 25 and why it matters." Saint John Press, 2013.
 https://www.dropbox.com/s/z0fpjv5ttmm4knc/God's%20Birthday%20text%20Dec%2017.pdf?dl=0