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April 26, 2005
Where Anything Is Okay
Its difficult to refrain from reacting to instances like this. Check this out: "Back by popular demand and once again stripping off for a charity calendar – but this time they’re getting wet!" These are the doings of an Anglican boys choir. The 2005 Heavenly Hunks Calendar will be the third calendar for which members of Portsmouth Cathedral Choir have posed. And note what their Bishop had to comment on this:
The Bishop of Portsmouth, The Rt Rev Kenneth Stevenson, has fully endorsed this project, which has been set up by the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association, and said: "'I support anything that involves young people having fun as part of the church and congratulate these lads who have bared more than their souls to raise money for these charities!"
It is instances like these people have to put up with in today's world whether it is ECUSA or the Anglican Church. The church is meant to teach and educate its faithful in faith and morals, as a faithful steward until the Lord comes. That is what Christ meant when He said, the Counselor will reprove the world of sin (because they don't believe in me), of righteousness (because I am away and gone to the Father), and of judgement (because the prince of the world is judged).
The second reproval is worth considering. Even though the Master is away, we cannot do anything and everything and teach people to do the same. The responsibility of the church is to take care of His flock faithfully in accordance with His words.
Wait a minute! Here's more!
The latest regarding Bishop Gene Robinson, is that he is reinterpreting the Gospel to fit his homosexual agenda. In the latest Christian Challenge, there is a reference to this fact. Gene Robinson seems to have alluded to the fact that Christ could have been gay himself, because one of his disciples, it was said, he loved the most and he hung around in groups of men. Can you believe it? This is the path down which they are leading their flocks. We have responsibility to safeguard and teach. We will be judged on this. Here is a watch word for the clergy: More has been given to you; much will be expected of you.
A word of caution to those that are disenchanted with ECUSA and are wanting to join the Anglican Communion: Such a consideration is worth pondering in terms of instances and issues like these -- homosexuality, abortion, etc. It is not just ECUSA becoming wayward.
Some argue that Christ had not said anything openly about these practices. However, if we worship God in SPIRIT and TRUTH, the Spirit of the Living God will make everything clear, when you ask for His guidance with the sincere heart.
Posted by frleo at 8:54 PM
April 22, 2005
Earth Day
God's own gift to us is the Earth, the wonderful abode that the Creator intended for humanity. Caring for the Earth begins with deep respect for the planet and ensuring that we keep its environs clean so that we may responsibly hand over this very Earth to our generations to come. While we appreciate and thank God for the wonder of creation and the habitat for humanity, let us remind ourselves that we need to use this home responsibly so that our children and children's children will still have a home that is safe and good.
Let us remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi: In giving we receive. In other words, what we sow we will reap. What we give to the planet Earth will be returned back to us naturally. So let us take care and use this planet and its resources responsibly.
Posted by frleo at 3:03 PM
April 18, 2005
Apologetics: The Art of Defending Faith
Our way of growing in the Faith is by knowing Him more clearly, loving Him more dearly and following Him more nearly, day by day. But there are also moments when we need to be involved in Apologetics (defense of the faith). In this regard, the following press release has been provided to the local newspapers:
What Went on at The 1977 St. Louis Congress of the Episcopal Church?
The 1977 Episcopal Church Congress at St. Louis brought about the change from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer to compromise theology and liturgy, sowing seeds for the current spiritual and moral crisis in the church today. What REALLY happened at the Congress? Come and listen to the inside story from the person who gave the opening address at the Congress in 1977. Captain Walt R. Swindells, member of the United Episcopal Church of North America, a traditional Episcopal church continuing in the faith once given to the saints, will speak this Sunday, April 24th at 9:00 am at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church (UECNA), 1803 W. Emma Avenue, Springdale. All are welcome.
Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn about historic events which led to the establishment of the Anglican Continuum.
Posted by frleo at 5:47 PM
April 13, 2005
There Is Hope Within The United States!
The "faith once given to the saints" has been subjected to much compromise to fit the convenience of some individuals. Faithful people are therefore constantly challenged by the proponents of such compromise. Those who abide by Scripture and Tradition are not necessarily conservatives; They are merely faithful. Those who abdicate from Scripture and Tradition are apostates. The faithful are being punished for their stand by the apostates.
Recently, in Connecticut, Bishop Andrew Smith of ECUSA threatened to punish six of his priests who followed the dictates of their conscience and opposed their Bishop's support of Gene Robinson. The vestry of one of these faithful churches in Connecticut put forth a powerful letter to Bishop Smith, denying him permission to meet with their pastor in private. This voicing of moral convinction in unison was an expression of the power of the people. Pat Robertson, in his show last night on CBN, commented that these priests and their congregation just need to leave this apostate church and move on to join the Anglican Communion.
Such faithful ministers of God and their faithful people need not look to Africa for apostolic oversight. There is hope within United States. There is The United Episcopal Church of North America (UECNA), which rejected ECUSA's slippery slope from the very start, 30 years ago. UECNA continues to be faithful to the faith and morals codified in the Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer is what we use in worship, adhering to theology, liturgy and all the great time honored values they encompass. UECNA is biblically sound, sacramentally orthodox and apostolically valid. We will continue serving the Lord until His Second Coming.
If your ECUSA church is struggling against tremendous odds to remain true to the traditional values of your beloved Anglican faith, please visit St. Gabriel's website and the website of our national church, The United Episcopal Church of North America. There is hope within the United States!
May His blessings be with you as you stand up for the truth. The truth will set you free!
Posted by frleo at 10:53 PM
April 11, 2005
Seeking Your Prayers
Tonight, as a pastor, I feel out of my wits. Many of my sheep are in need of God's healing touch. So I am reaching out to the rest of the flock seeking your powerful prayers for their health and well being.
I need your prayers for a person who has resigned to let go of his life and spending last few days on this earth, after having been treated by so much of chemotherapy. I feel for his family to accept such a difficult decision. I need your prayers for people who are undergoing surgery in the hospital tomorrow morning.
Heavenly Father,
You know our thoughts and minds and bodies. Let your Holy Spirit support and sustain, heal and comfort them through these moments of their surgery. Thou knowest us Lord through and through. Be near those who are in need of thy loving touch right now. In Jesus' name we pray. AMEN.
Just as I was typing this tonight, I receive a call from my brother that he has problems with the heart.
I know that God is near to us than we can imagine. He will continue to care for us. I entrust everyone in His loving hands tonight as I retire to rest.
Posted by frleo at 9:29 PM
The Good Shepherd Sunday and UECNA
Wow! What a great reflection for the church to ponder on the character and qualities of a faithful shepherd of Christ. Just as He is the GOOD SHEPHERD and not a hireling who will run for life in case of danger and leave the sheep to the onslaught of the robbers. Nor the shepherd of this calibre would mislead his flocks to terrains that are not safe and dubious. This imagery of the good shepherd applies to our times, our church leaders NOW more than ever.
Rooted in the Scriptures, enshrining tradition, a good shepherd would lay down his life for his sheep just as the GOOD SHEPHERD did. We are the flock and He is the Shepherd. We need to listen to His voice and get to know Him just as He knows each of us individually.
A pastor in today's circumstances needs to be faithful to this GOOD SHEPHERD and protect the flock entrusted to his care with truth, integrity and honesty, ever leading them closer to the heart of Christ.
The United Episcopal Church of North America, is not interested in owning properties and wealth (As a matter of fact, the property where the churches are, belong to the people) but is deeply focussed on the spiritual care of the flock entrusted to its care. We do not compromise on Scriptures or tradition and the great familial values of the traditions we have inherited and will be passing on to the generations to come.
Posted by frleo at 12:00 PM
April 8, 2005
Adieu Great Shepherd!
The world has lost a great spiritual leader and a shepherd. Regardless of who the local representatives of the church are, Pope John Paul II was a charismatic spiritual leader who constantly guided his flock to the heart of Christ.
As we have committed him to the earth, we pray that he will share the kingdom promised for us since the foundation of the world and the kingdom for which he tirelessly worked.
I remember his great pilgrimage to India in 1987 and my own pilgrimage to Rome and my concelebration of the Papal mass with him in November 2001. It was a privileged moment to be celebrating the Holy Eucharist with the holy man of God. For all the great memories he has left us, for all the great values he defended and stood for, we owe him a debt of gratitude.
May he rest in peace Amen.
Posted by frleo at 5:09 PM
April 6, 2005
Prayer Request
Let us pray for Marlien Burney as she is undergoing surgery today at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville.
Posted by frleo at 12:23 PM
April 3, 2005
Reflection on Life
These days we have been witnesses to many kinds of ending of life: the sudden ending of life in the case of massacred school teachers and students, forced termination of life in the case of Terri Schiavo, the sudden unexpected death of Bill, our own Jim Webster’s brother, and the natural passing away of a great apostle of Christ, Pope John Paul II. When tragedy strikes us so close to home, we are rendered speechless. It is worthwhile to ponder death so that it gives us appreciation of life.
We must accept, for one thing, death cannot be at one’s call except the call of the Creator. Death does not discriminate how young or how old a person is. That is His call and whenever or however he calls we need to be ready. And so is life. We did not come into this world at our choosing of the time, place or the family into which we were to be born. Life is God’s gift. A well lived life is our gift back to God. No one has control over life except God.
Sitting in my Life Science class of the Counselor Education program, thoughts were shared on Terri’s death and the way her life was terminated. In a land where animals enjoy special treatment, and where punishment would be meted out should one be found treating animals with cruelty, a fellow human being was starved to death. Of course, it was a matter of choice and respecting the wish of the dying, claimed another. However, if her death was a natural one, none of us would have questioned, because it is natural that we all meet our end, either because of sickness or accident.
These very sentiments were unceasingly echoed by the world’s greatest spiritual leader, Pope John Paul II. He was a true disciple of Christ and walked and talked the way of the gospel. Two decades ago he ushered this concern, Culture of Life. From cradle to grave, from womb to tomb, human life must be treated with dignity and respect. Thereby he defended the defenceless, the vulnerable, the voiceless in their right to life -- be it the unborn, the handicapped, the sick, the aged or the dying. The whole world mourns the death of Pope John Paul II, and also celebrates his life -- the way his life mattered to the million especially to the voiceless, the vulnerable, the defenceless and marginalized. Today we are able to celebrate his memory because of his faithfulness to Christ and the Gospel. Even when his life was under attack, he forgave his assailant, heeding the words of Christ, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
Our life or death can be celebrated if it is rooted in Christ, i.e., “what we are and what we can become”, can be turned into something beautiful for God, given our existence on this earth. Let us ask ourselves, "What can I do for God today?" Or at the end of the day, "What have I done for Him today?" Each one of us can be the doer of the word in our schools, at work, in our families, in the community. This could be a life well lived, and that could be our way of thanking God.
Death could be despair, cruel and meaningless, if we do not have faith. Our faith would be absurd if Christ did not indeed rise from the dead, after his suffering and death. Yet, in the midst of our absurdities, Christ stands among us and gives us Peace: “Peace be with you”. Christ is here, where two are three are gathered in His name. Christ comes in even if we should shut ourselves in as the disciples did in today’s gospel. Open the doors of your hearts to Christ, the late Pope John Paul would say. Let Him come in and breathe peace and comfort, confidence and faith, hope and assurance. “Be not afraid for I have overcome the world." If we let the Son of God into our lives then that is eternal life, St. John says in today’s epistle: God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Let us make of our lives something beautiful for God. As His disciples, we can love Him with our whole being and care for our fellow human beings with utmost concern, merging the vertical –- God and us -- and the horizontal –- others and us, creating the dimensions of the cross in our own lives. Each of us can be living crosses during our lives on this planet earth.
Posted by frleo at 1:35 PM
April 2, 2005
RIP Pope John Paul II
We join in the celebration of the life and demise of John Paul II, the bishop of Rome, the faithful servant of God who walked the gospel way of life and has been an inspiration for all ages.
Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May His soul rest in peace. Amen
Posted by frleo at 2:49 PM
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II. The greatest legend of our times. The most humane and deeply spiritual servant of God. It is a very sad moment for the entire world as we see his life ebb out of him gradually.
He has fostered the Culture of Life, aculture which respects the lives of everyone and moreso the vulnerable and disabled. It encompasses the concept of respecting life from the cradle to the grave with dignity and respect. It is very sad to see the health of this great shepherd deteriorating. The Most Rev. Stephen Reber, our Presiding Bishop, says that we have a brother in Pope John Paul II as the shepherd of another part of the body of Christ.
Having grown up in the midst of the communist regime, John Paul II became a champion of the downtrodden, the vulnerable and the oppressed, while preaching the Gospel to the length and breadth of the world. Let us pray for this great servant of God as he leaves for the eternal paradise that is promised for all.
Posted by frleo at 10:44 AM
April 1, 2005
Pope John Paul II - Great Apostle of Christ
It is very sad indeed to see the ailing Pontiff stand at the window and bless the crowd. It is heartening to see him struggle to speak as his hands raised in blessing the thousands.
We join the millions in our prayers for this great apostle of Christ. He has been the travelling pope, pilgrim pope and the compassionate one. We pray for God's holy will to accomplish. Let us join him in union of our prayers as we pray: Thy will be done !
Posted by frleo at 4:51 PM
The Culture of Life
In my Life Science class of my Counselor Education program, we touched on this sacred topic of LIFE. It was great to see the awareness of everyone upon the tragic conditions of Terri Schiavo's death. In a country where animals are given utmost care, where laws are created to protect them from persecution and torture, we all witnessed a fellow human being literally starved to death.
This is good consideration for all of us: where do we stand with regard to compassion and mercy? Perhaps we need to revamp our value systems or listen to our hearts more than getting involved in the political debate. Let us remember that the whole world is looking up to our great nation. Also, let us remember that today it is somebody's turn, tomorrow it will be ours.
The Culture of Life needs to be esteemed, appreciated and upheld. Life is a gift from God. We have no right over it. Just as while coming into the world we did not get permission from God, so we will return.
One contemporary hymn put it this way:
How many years have I here?
How many years have I to go?
How many years have I here?
I really don't know.
But someday will be my going home day
Someday when the Lord will call
Someday the Lord will call for me
There's a day for each and all
I just have to be ready for
that great and glorious day
I just have to be ready to
follow right away.
We do remember to pray for our brother Pope John Paul II as he has been a great apostle of Christ, in defense of the culture of life. Certainly, he has been the greatest blessing to the world and to the church. We join the rest of the catholic brethren and pray for God's holy will.
Posted by frleo at 7:40 AM