Bible Verse of the Week - Romans 1:16-17:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Today's Devotion:
In this world we are to expect problems and inconveniences (John 16:33). But because of the salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ, these problems are only temporary. Let us pray that we can get through the day knowing that our reward is yet to come and that once we arrive at our final home, our troubles will be gone forever.
In this world we are to expect problems and inconveniences (John 16:33). But because of the salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ, these problems are only temporary. Let us pray that we can get through the day knowing that our reward is yet to come and that once we arrive at our final home, our troubles will be gone forever.
Today's Comments:
This weekend, at Blessed Sacrament, we were visited by Bishop Keith Ackerman, Episcopal Bishop of Quincy, IL. What a marvelous intellect, and what a quick wit. We had four baptisms and eleven confirmations this morning, and what a wonderful experience it was to see. Water that was used for the baptism came from the Jordan as well as other important places from around the world. Father David, my pastor and priest, Father Michael Eldred, Father Earle Fox, and Father Richard Avery performed the baptisms, and Bishop Ackerman did the confirmation.
Last night, we had a potluck dinner for the Bishop, and tonight, Rita Falkner, a fellow vocationer and postulant for Deacon fixed a wonderful dinner for us. At this point in time, the Episcopal Church has rejected the call of the Anglican Primates (Arch-Bishops) to halt the ordination of practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions. It is bishops, like Keith Ackerman, who, in my opinion, are willing to speak the truth that the scriptures teach.
Christ was not politically correct, neither should we be. While, as Christians, it is our duty to minister to all sinners, it is not our duty to enable their sins. If the Episcopal Church looses its participation in the Anglican Communion, due to the unilateral actions that it is taking, it will be the Bishop Ackerman's of this world who will be able to offer us shelter that can keep us connected to the Anglican Communion. I pray that those who administer the Episcopal Church will somehow realize that justice is not the reason for our relationship with Christ. Our relationship in Christ is one where we, without reservation, let him into our hearts and lives, and he protects us in His Grace. We all need forgiveness, and we need to ask Him for forgiveness from all our sins, including immoral homosexual and heterosexual activity.
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