Today's Devotion: Psalm 73:24 (New International Version) - You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

A review of the complete psalm indicates that the psalmist first questions and then begins to understand what his relationship with God is. He points out first that he slipped and almost found himself walking in the way of the wicked. But then, he corrects his course and reaches the understanding that, in the end, God will win.

Today's Comment: Blessed Sacrament had its annual meeting this morning. It was my last day as a Vestry Member, since the maximum that one can serve at one time is three years, and if I become ordained, I will no longer be eligible to serve again, since I will be considered to be a clergy member. However, I will serve as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention and our representative to the Deanery.

At the meeting, we were given a presentation concerning our relationship with the Episcopal Church. J.A.C. Redford presented us with a summary of the meetings of our discernment committee, and I provided background statistics on the makeup of the Anglican Communion, the loss of membership in the Episcopal Church, as well as the background concerning the current crisis--- the ordination of practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same sex unions. J.A.C. and Father David finished up with their view of our options. Father David characterized the current situation in the Episcopal Church not of one that is misguided but one of apostasy. The New Episcopal Church is being taken over by those who, like the psalmist viewed, have made the decision to walk with the wicked. J.A.C. would suggest that they are not the enemy, but they are being mislead by the devil and need our correction. Both J.A.C. and Father David suggest that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare, and in order to resist, we must put on the armor of God and allow Him to be our sword and our shield.