Today's Devotion: 1 John 4:18 (New International Version) - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We are told not to fear, because God's love is perfect. If we fear, we cannot be made perfect in his love.

Today's Comments: What the verse above did not say that we should tolerate sin- in either others or ourselves. That is not to say that we can be perfect, either. We are made perfect in his love not because of our efforts. No, because of his love. And like him, we should do our best to love others, even if we disagree with them or their sin. I think that we can love our neighbor, but not his sin.

Today's Devotion: James 2:26 (New International Version) - As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James was not talking about being saved through works. We are saved through grace. But that grace brings good works, because we are changed by our faith, and our faith bears fruit.

Today's Comments: Why is it that sometimes, then, we try to hurt those to whom we are closest? My girlfriend and I go to two different churches. At dinner, she will tell me what her pastor said in church and then will ask what mine said. That invariably leads to an argument. I feel like she is trying to show me that her church is better. On the other hand, she accuses me of being over sensitive. Now I understand why Luther wanted to ignore James. James and Paul; they seem to create too much conflict. But maybe that is what faith is all about. If we have faith, we must get up and move. Faith does not allow us to sit still, does it?

Today's Devotion: Isaiah 49:13 (New International Version) - Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

The psalm talks about the restoration of Israel. Yet, Israel still refuses to recognize the Messiah that God sent to them.

Today's Comments: It is interesting that so much today is going on in the Middle East, wherein lie the roots of Christianity. In the last several weeks, I have been a party to many discussions concerning whether or not we are in the Last Days. One person, an Episcopal Priest, believes that Revelation was written for those who existed during the Roman Empire. Others whom I know think that those things that are mentioned in Revelation are either here or will come soon. And yet, the Bible says that only the Father knows. So we will find out, won't we?

Today's Devotion: Titus 3:7 (New International Version) - so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Justification by grace is, of course, one of the concepts that separates some of the Protestant sects from the Roman Catholics.

Today's Discussion: Of course, we must remember that good works are the fruit of steadfast faith. The Apostle James makes this clear in his Epistle. Interesting enough, however, Martin Luther had no patience for James. Many theologians surmise that Luther misunderstood James' intentions, thinking that James was really preaching a theology of salvation by works. In my opinion, Luther was wrong.

Today's Devotion: Psalm 27:1 (New International Version) - The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

The obvious answer is, "nobody."

Today's Comments: And yet, we need to be afraid of ourselves. We (including me) do things that the Lord would not be proud of. No matter what, we still need to ask him for strength. Whether it be getting mad at somebody in traffic or dealing with a vendor. We must remember that we are Christians and that we have an obligation to behave as He would want us to.

Today's Devotion: Deuteronomy 32 (NIV) 4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

The verse is lamenting the fact that God's people have neglected him. Have we also done so in New Testament times?

Today's Comments: In previous comments, I suggested that some of us were failing to heed the warnings of the Apostle Paul. Please note that I also include myself. I am no better than my friends. If I were a candidate for the priesthood, I could not, in right conscience, consider myself worthy of proclaiming to my congregation God's absolution. Nor can I see how some priests and Bishops who are living in relationships contrary to Paul's preaching can, with clear conscience, celebrate the Eucharist or proclaim God's absolution.

Today's Devotion: 2 Peter 3:10-11 (New International Version) - 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.[a]
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.

This reminds us that we will never know when the end times will come. This passage is repeated in several other book of the Bible, as well. We must be ready for that time.

Today's Comments: It is always important to try and understand the context that scripture is written in. When looking at a verse, one should read the verses before and after. Not only does one then begin to understand what the writer was talking about and the events surrounding the writing, but sometimes one discovers other interesting things, as well.

For example, if we expand the reading above to the whole chapter, we arrive at Verse 14 through 16, which state: 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

I have very close friends who would like to ignore the words of Paul. Peter is reinforcing our belief in the authenticity and the inspirational nature of scripture. We can't ignore Paul, because if we do, we are also ignoring Peter. If we ignore Peter, what else are we ignoring? I think that one is easy enough for all of us to figure out.

Today's Devotion: Psalm 91:1 (New International Version) - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

As long as we maintain our faith, we are under the protection of the Lord. He is our strength and our refuge. There is none other who can help us.

Today's Comments: Yesterday I met with Greg Peters, my Anglican Studies professor. We discussed the current situation with respect to the Episcopal Church. Is the Episcopal Church dwelling in the shelter of the Lord, or do we see its members proceeding in their own direction?

I think that Richard Hooker might say that our refuge can be found in scripture and our vehicle for communicating with the Most High is prayer. Both are important to understand what God wants of us and how to maintain a right relationship with him. If we strike out on our own, without his guidance, we are in danger of falling away from the path that he has set for us.

Today's Devotion: Galatians 6:16 (New International Version) - Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

Paul is talking about the New Covenant and his chosen people - the church. He is saying that circumcision is no longer required - not even to the Jews.

Today's Comments: I finished reading Glorious Companions by Richard Schmidt for my Anglican Studies Class. It is a compilation of writings from the Reformation to modern time. Which of the writers is right? Who has the real theology? The liberals or the conservatives, the Roman Catholics or the Calvinists? What is the truth? I think that this passage is trying to tell us that it is not the outward and visible signs of our religion that count, it is the inward faith and conviction that is important. Yet, the question still remains, at what point does one try to correct the errors of the church, when that inward faith and conviction is in disagreement, and is there a point where it is better to leave the church in schism, rather than continue in acceptance of perceived truths that are believed to be wrong and in conflict with scripture?

Today's Devotion: John 4:10 (New International Version) - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[a] our sins.

John is talking about the love of God, one of his favorite subjects. Essentially the message is similar to John 3:16, but this serves as an explanation for the Gospel passage.

Today's Comments: Putting the passages from John 3:16 together with passage from 1John 3:16 yields the following results:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 3:16 - This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Isn't that interesting?

Today's Devotion: Ephesians 3:16-17 (New International Version) - I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

We all need strength to do that which is right. It is God who gives us that strength through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today's Comments: I have a friend who lives in England who told me about the fact that she was watching a program about a family of Christian bounty hunters who look and dress like bikers. I remember back in 1990, I attended a veteran Stand Down in San Diego. There I lived with the homeless who were there for a weekend of respite, showers, and services. The security was provided by a group of Vietnam veterans who were bikers. They dressed and looked the part, but I could not have met a nicer group of men. Sometimes we spend too much time thinking about what is outside of people and don't get down to what is really inside. It is easy to forget that the Holy Spirit can work inside of anyone. It is not the appearance that counts, it is the character.