September musings
The wedding planning continues. We've got it narrowed down to 2 invitation styles. The special music, food for reception, and photographer are lined up. We still gotta plan the honeymoon (that I WON'T post here--not till we come back......! : ) )
Still gotta get fitted for my tux, gifts for groomsmen, guest book, and petals for my daughter Cheyenne the flower girl. We can't think of anything else--it's getting late and we're tired.
Been trying to keep up with all the Anglican news. The Windsor bishops and the Global South Primates meet tomorrow until Friday. Let us pray for faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and to His Word the Bible to be shown throughout the world in all groups who are Anglican and Anglo-catholic in tradition.
The Lord is reminding me of late of three things our order has tried to emphasize--humility, compassion, and faithfulness. We must be faithful to the Lord Jesus and to his Word the Bible. We must show His love, compassion, to all. And we must exemplify humility, that people may see the Lord Jesus in us. I think this one is the hardest. We all have some pride that we would do well to lose, myself definitely included. We should worry less about making ourselves look good, and more about making the Lord Jesus look good to the world.
The Hermitage of St. Francis in the Woodland Heights is my small home here in Houston. Of course, it is named after St. Francis of Assisi. When Shirley and I marry, and move this hermitage to Oklahoma City, we have to change its name: we worship together in OKC as the Chapel of St. Francis. So, after discussing it with Shirley, we think we're going to change the name of the hermitage to "Mercy House" hermitage, focusing on God's mercies to us, His covenant mercies to us His people.
Br. Francis
Monday, September 18, 2006
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Church thoughts
I have tried very hard to hold off on making any comments here concerning the crisis in the Anglican branch of the Church today. I will make these few comments here tonight.
The Church is not about us--it is about Jesus. We are to receive Him, draw close to Him, and serve Him with our whole lives. He is the unique God-Man, the only way to be saved. He fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah. He lived a sinless life, one of simplicity and compassion. He died for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification. As far as people in other world religions, I would say this: Jesus said that if we seek Him, we would find Him. I take that to mean what it says, that if any person sought Him, he or she would find Him. He will reveal Himself to that person. All will have an opportunity to see Jesus for Who He is, and be able to receive Him. I am sure of that because the Scriptures teach that.
The Church is to "teach all things I have commanded you," Jesus said. That means the Bible, and the plain meaning of any verse or passage is usually the one that is correct. When we have question about the interpretation of a verse or passage, our practice is to go to what the Church Fathers wrote--what did they say about that. We may then also go to the writings of the monastics and to the Reformation leaders, especially those who were in the English Church. But we go to the apostolic traditions as written by the Church Fathers first.
The Scripture teach us as believers in Jesus to show love and compassion to all. We are to share Him with the world. We are to hold to the teachings of Scripture and serve Jesus above all else. Love does not mean that we say sin is OK. It means we love all, reach out to all, and help each person live the life in Jesus that we're called to live. And we are to stand with all orthodox (in doctrine) believers around the world.
We should be in prayer for the Church, that in whatever it is in error, God will correct it. That wherever it is corrupt, He will purify it. Wherever it needs renewal and reformation that He will bring that. And He does that through us His people as we serve in the world.
I believe that is all I need say. I won't use my blog to rail on events or on specific people. We must pray for them. We must pray for Church leaders that they will be faithful to Jesus and to His Word the Bible.
Br. Francis
I have tried very hard to hold off on making any comments here concerning the crisis in the Anglican branch of the Church today. I will make these few comments here tonight.
The Church is not about us--it is about Jesus. We are to receive Him, draw close to Him, and serve Him with our whole lives. He is the unique God-Man, the only way to be saved. He fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah. He lived a sinless life, one of simplicity and compassion. He died for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification. As far as people in other world religions, I would say this: Jesus said that if we seek Him, we would find Him. I take that to mean what it says, that if any person sought Him, he or she would find Him. He will reveal Himself to that person. All will have an opportunity to see Jesus for Who He is, and be able to receive Him. I am sure of that because the Scriptures teach that.
The Church is to "teach all things I have commanded you," Jesus said. That means the Bible, and the plain meaning of any verse or passage is usually the one that is correct. When we have question about the interpretation of a verse or passage, our practice is to go to what the Church Fathers wrote--what did they say about that. We may then also go to the writings of the monastics and to the Reformation leaders, especially those who were in the English Church. But we go to the apostolic traditions as written by the Church Fathers first.
The Scripture teach us as believers in Jesus to show love and compassion to all. We are to share Him with the world. We are to hold to the teachings of Scripture and serve Jesus above all else. Love does not mean that we say sin is OK. It means we love all, reach out to all, and help each person live the life in Jesus that we're called to live. And we are to stand with all orthodox (in doctrine) believers around the world.
We should be in prayer for the Church, that in whatever it is in error, God will correct it. That wherever it is corrupt, He will purify it. Wherever it needs renewal and reformation that He will bring that. And He does that through us His people as we serve in the world.
I believe that is all I need say. I won't use my blog to rail on events or on specific people. We must pray for them. We must pray for Church leaders that they will be faithful to Jesus and to His Word the Bible.
Br. Francis
Home stretch
Well, we're in the home stretch--we have just 3 months til the wedding. You would think we'd have all ready--but alas, we don't. We met with the wedding coordinator last week. We're still trying to decide on a photographer. I think the catering is decided. The special music may be on discs. I'm discovering that a small wedding has just as many details to work out as a large one. We need to put our lists together of folks to invite, and trying to keep it under 300. We've asked our bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honor and best man. My best man will be my Dad--he's put up with me for 43 years, so I think I should honor him. (I don't think he knew what to do with the whole monk thing at first, but I think he's OK with it now. He calls my habit a "robe." Dad is a Methodist believer, and raised my brother and I in that branch of Christ's Church, and it is in that church that I was baptized at age 13. I first received Jesus as Lord and Savior, as far as I can remember, at my grandmother's Baptist church in Spring Hill, West virginia, at age 12.)
Shirley and I are excited, and happy about what God has done, and about moving to OKC. The plan is to continue our Tuesday night Bible study and Evening Prayer group at Todd and Becca's, hopefully until close to Thanksgiving, and we welcome you if you're in Houston. I have begun to do Evening Prayer at St. John the Divine Church at 5 p.m. Wednesdays, just before spoken Eucharist there at 5:30. Join me if you're here in Houston.
Lots of discussion in the past week or so about the move, logistics, jobs, etc. It will be interesting. We know our God is with us. I cannot tell you how good it feels, cannot describe the awesome feeling we have as we're obedient to King Jesus. He is worthy of all praise and the giving of our lives to Him.
If you're in the OKC area, and are called to do rock music for the Lord, email this drummer-monk and let's get together when we get moved up there. I am called to put together a band when I get there. Looking forward to it. The psalmist said to "play skillfully with a loud noise" unto the Lord. There are some of us who have been spoken to by the Lord to put together a contemporary Eucharist. This band would play that, as well as other things.
OKC bound! I am ready--the crime rate here in Houston continues to rise, and we have a shortage of cops. We are ready. OKC or bust!
under the mercy,
Br. Francis
Well, we're in the home stretch--we have just 3 months til the wedding. You would think we'd have all ready--but alas, we don't. We met with the wedding coordinator last week. We're still trying to decide on a photographer. I think the catering is decided. The special music may be on discs. I'm discovering that a small wedding has just as many details to work out as a large one. We need to put our lists together of folks to invite, and trying to keep it under 300. We've asked our bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honor and best man. My best man will be my Dad--he's put up with me for 43 years, so I think I should honor him. (I don't think he knew what to do with the whole monk thing at first, but I think he's OK with it now. He calls my habit a "robe." Dad is a Methodist believer, and raised my brother and I in that branch of Christ's Church, and it is in that church that I was baptized at age 13. I first received Jesus as Lord and Savior, as far as I can remember, at my grandmother's Baptist church in Spring Hill, West virginia, at age 12.)
Shirley and I are excited, and happy about what God has done, and about moving to OKC. The plan is to continue our Tuesday night Bible study and Evening Prayer group at Todd and Becca's, hopefully until close to Thanksgiving, and we welcome you if you're in Houston. I have begun to do Evening Prayer at St. John the Divine Church at 5 p.m. Wednesdays, just before spoken Eucharist there at 5:30. Join me if you're here in Houston.
Lots of discussion in the past week or so about the move, logistics, jobs, etc. It will be interesting. We know our God is with us. I cannot tell you how good it feels, cannot describe the awesome feeling we have as we're obedient to King Jesus. He is worthy of all praise and the giving of our lives to Him.
If you're in the OKC area, and are called to do rock music for the Lord, email this drummer-monk and let's get together when we get moved up there. I am called to put together a band when I get there. Looking forward to it. The psalmist said to "play skillfully with a loud noise" unto the Lord. There are some of us who have been spoken to by the Lord to put together a contemporary Eucharist. This band would play that, as well as other things.
OKC bound! I am ready--the crime rate here in Houston continues to rise, and we have a shortage of cops. We are ready. OKC or bust!
under the mercy,
Br. Francis
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