A Holy Week message: the Blood of Jesus is sufficient

PRAYER:  Lord renew thy church beginning with me;
Lord renew the church that the church may renew the nation(s)

Quote: I read my Bible to see what men ought to do, and read the newspapers to see what men are doing.


MESSAGE:

The big news this week was President Obama's first official visit to Israel, where he again impressed upon both sides, the Jews and the Palestinians, the need for a fresh start to peace negotiations. This is a region where hardliners have ruled for many years thus sniffling any move towards  meaningful talks about peace.

Also in the news was the " haircut" demanded by the European Union as precondition for bailing out Cypriot banks. And this reduction, not in interest but in bank deposits held by locals and foreigner provoked a storm of protest and an overwhelming vote by the Parliament against such " madness". We are left to wonder what would have happened in Jamaica if the IMF had required a " haircut" in bondholders principal as was once rumored.

The situation in Syria continues be worrying as President Assad's forces continue to do battle with Syrian freedom fighters, resulting in much privation and death in that country.

Then just this morning in Jamaica, the headlines in one daily newspapers raised the issue of societal approval for the distribution of condoms to school children, as a result of the number of them in some areas who were becoming parents in school.

But trumping all other news locally and internationally, is the fact that today, Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most solemn period in the Christian calender  of events. A time when upwards of 2 Billion people across the globe, take time out to remember the Passion of Jesus Christ, culminating in Good Friday observances, the weekend vigil,  and then the glorious Easter Sunday. Thus heralding a time of celebrations, especially for those who had observed the discipline of a holy Lent.

What then did the Lord reveal as the world contemplated all these things?First a continuing word to a journalist, assorted leaders in different spheres of national life, and others in that profession, to whom the Lord has led me to write in recent times. The trigger for that message, is interesting as it marks the re-emergence in the Public Domain of one of our former Prime Ministers.

THE E -MAIL

I listened to former PM Bruce Golding on radio last evening, using one of the most famous quotes of all times to make a point at the start of his speech. " This is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end, but just the end of the beginning" - Sir Winston Churchill. And whilst the former PM of Great Britain was focused on  a critical phase in the war against the evil Third Reich of Adolph Hitler during WW 11, our former PM had his eyes on the IMF negotiations and the implications for growth in the Jamaican economy - at a  critical phase in our nation's development.

This morning as I prepared for my devotions, I " heard the Lord" saying that there is an even more famous quote for a nation and indeed the world to consider, as we prepare for Passion Week starting tomorrow - the re-enactment of THE most critical phase in God's plan to rescue mankind from evil. The gospel of John records that, after Jesus had uttered another famous Word on the Cross, " I am thirsty", and having received  the bitter wine offered to him, " Jesus said, 'It is finished'."  John 19:30  NIV.

Done! All done. Never again to be repeated. Not the beginning of the end of the fight against all evil and the Sin which had kept all mankind captive for so long, but the very end. A done deal. Praise God indeed.

Then as I " listened to the Lord, I was led to these  words, quotes from  the Prophet Isaiah through whom God foretold the coming of the " salvation" of Israel and and indeed all mankind.

" Awake, awake!

Rise up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord

the cup of his wrath,

you who have drained it to its dregs

the goblet that makes men stagger...........

Therefore hear this, you afflicted one,

made drunk, but not with wine.

This is what  your Sovereign Lord says,

your God,  who defends his people:

' See, I have taken out of your hand

the cup that that makes you stagger;

from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,

you will never drink again.....

Surely he took our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for  our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 51:17-53:6 NIV.

My friend, as you are provided an opportunity to take a break from reporting on the politics you love with such a passion ( small p),  and contemplate the Passion of our Lord;  the fact that, for all of us " who have turned to our own way", and thoroughly deserve to drink the cup of the wrath of a holy God, Jesus has taken away that cup for us. And so by his stripes we are healed. So that promise to the whole world declared from yesteryear through Isaiah, was fulfilled on that first Good Friday over 2000 years ago. All we have to do is believe and accept this free gift of salvation. I pray that you will give some thought to this " correct faith" during the week ahead.

Peace.

LWJ

cc  Bruce Golding

And then for quite a while  yesterday I was ' singing'  words I 'heard',  and then listened on YouTube......Take up your cross and follow Jesus......don't be afraid to say that you know him.

Sent from my iPad

Comment: The most profound gift that the Christian church offers the world is that, no matter what challenges confront us, whether in the Middle East, in Europe, in the USA,  or in Jamaica; whether it be a moral issue, an economic issue or a political one, in terms of access to the Almighty God, and His desire that all mankind who He created, should follow His will, all issues have been resolved on the Cross of Calvary. It's all done. And all that we are required to do is to believe on His Son and our lives will be filled with an assurance of peace, and a promise of deliverance,  even when we are confronted by many and varied challenges

For a couple of weeks now  I have been led to read, reflect on and pray according to the words of one of the most wonderful hymns in all of Christendom. It's a hymn we use in the Anglican church as we prepare for, or whilst partaking of the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion. And  I just read in Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship, that The Apostles teaching which guides the church, places a high priority on a) Preaching the Word, and  b) Participating in the two great sacraments of the church - Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. As we read the words of the hymn below and reflect on them, note carefully the basis on which all believing prayers ascend right up to throne of heaven - the one true pure immortal sacrifice. Noe carefully also the reason why we can approach a holy God - only by the Blood of Christ. Note also that the recollection of the events of Good Friday and the that of Easter Sunday form the only basis on which we can carry, not just our friends, but equally so those who persecute us, into the presence of God. Note also, that it is the participation in this sacrifice of God why we can be delivered from every touch of ill, and every stain of sin. Praise God.

AND NOW , O FATHER, MINDFUL OF THE LOVE
THAT BROUGHT US, ONCE FOR ALL, ON CALVARY'S TREE,
AND HAVING WITH US HIM THAT PLEADS ABOVE,
WE HERE PRESENT, WE HERE SPREAD FORTH TO THEE
THAT ONLY OFFERING PERFECT IN THINE EYES
THE ONE TRUE, PURE, IMMORTAL SACRIFICE.

LOOK, FATHER, LOOK ON HIS ANOINTED FACE,
AND ONLY LOOK ON US AS FOUND IN HIM;
LOOK NOT ON OUR MISUSING OF THY GRACE,
OUR PRAYER SO LANGUID, AND OUR FAITH SO DIM;
FOR LO! BETWEEN OUR SINS AND THEIR REWARD
WE SET THE PASSION OF THY SON OUR LORD.

AND THEN FOR THOSE, OUR DEAREST AND OUR BEST,
BY THIS PREVAILING PRESENCE WE APPEAL;
O FOLD THEM CLOSER TO THY MERCY'S BREAST,
O DO THINE UTMOST FOR THEIR SOUL'S TRUE WEAL;
FROM TAINTING MISCHIEF KEEP THEM WHITE AND  CLEAR,
AND CROWN THY GIFTS WITH STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE.

AND SO WE COME; O DRAW US TO THY FEET, 
MOST PATIENT SAVIOUR, WHO CANST LOVE US STILL;
AND BY THIS FOOD, SO AWEFUL AND SO SWEET,
DELIVER US FROM EVERY TOUCH OF ILL:
IN THINE OWN SERVICE MAKE US GLAD AND FREE,
AND GRANT US NEVER MORE TO PART FROM THEE.

Finally, a few weeks ago whilst reflecting on this very hymn, it triggered a message from the Lord, this time to leaders in my church. A message which goes deep down into the soul and culture of our people, and which practice we could do well to emulate.

THE E-MAIL

The poor and the destitute in this land, use the term " placing everything  under the Blood ( of Jesus)", as their way of saying that they trust completely in the Crucified One for all their needs.  As I was reminded in my office yesterday. We Anglicans may not speak like that, or pray like that,  but whenever we celebrate the blessed Sacrament, as the hymn writer says, " And then for our dearest and our best, by this prevailing presence we appeal", by this Blessed Sacrament we can appeal to God for mercy. And by no other means.

This morning as I read one the passages of Scripture which has touched my heart, time and time again every time I am led there, and then reflected on the words of the hymn below, I was moved to place all those who are " under my tent" the entire world, " under the Blood of Jesus". I pray God that we will all be touched by the Word and " beyond the sacred word' as Bishop Daniel often says. And leave languid prayers and dim faith behind as we appeal by " The Blood of Christ" to God Almighty for ourselves, our dearest and our best, our church and our embattled nation

" But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord., for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3: 7-11. NIV

Amen.

Lotto Scammers, Champs and God's best gift to all mankind: Christ Jesus

The often used quote from Charles Dickens', The Tale of Two Cities, " it was the best of times, it was the worse of times...." summed up well the news about my country week. The bad news, the worse of times, came early in the week. Reports of of what a friend described as " terrorism" emerged from the  US Senate Hearings on the Jamaican Lotto Scammers. How persons with a Jamaican accent reportedly called unsuspecting, naive and cognitively impaired elderly American citizens, most of them living alone, and scammed them out of their hard earned retirement earnings. How these highly sophisticated and persistent scammers reportedly would call individual many times for the day, seduce them into thinking that they were loved or cared for, and or threaten them repeatedly, causing them to loose weight, suffer immeasurably and in some instances die. How they were reportedly told that they had won millions of dollars and needed to send money in order to secure their prize money. It broke your heart to listen to the disgusting way in which our Jamaican brothers and sisters reportedly used other human beings for their own nefarious ends. And so we wondered how did we ever get there, and more importantly, how do we as a people " dodge this bullet" which threatens our tourist industry, our banking sector and the good name of our nation.
The good news, the best of times, came late on the weekend. This is " Champs" time in Jamaica, when the eagerly awaited rivalry in Track and Field events  between high school students in the " greatest show on earth", a veritable battle royal, is  joined once again at the country's National Stadium. People travel from all over the world to come to Champs. Journalists worldwide have now discovered Champs! Our Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller does not miss this event unless something extraordinary happens. The nation virtually comes to halt  as Rabalac, Fortis, True Blue and others on the boys side, and the girls from Holmwood, Edwin Allen, and Vere and others  put on a show almost as good as the Olympics. And Champs this year did not disappoint, as new Usain Bolts, and Shelly-Ann Frasers, and VCB's  made it the most recording breaking spectacle ever, as record after record tumbled. When the dust cleared Calabar on the boys side were victorious, and Holmwood Technical on the girls side won,  but only just by a few points.

In the midst of this, murder most foul took place again, 'O my God have mercy', in Jamaica and the world welcomed a new Pope. And the Lord spoke a word to his servant, and many others no doubt. But I can only share what I  hear.

First up a message to a one journalist in particular, but also to many others in general, on aspects of the Lotto scam.

THE MESSAGE

I listened last evening to DJMiller's BTH on RJR,  with shame and disgust,  to the news, nay not just news but indeed revelations, coming out of the US Senate hearings on The Jamaican Lottery scam. Hearing all of this  I  felt deeply hurt on on account of  the pain and suffering meted out to  elderly and  vulnerable persons in North America by my fellow Jamaicans. The details were graphic and showed up the kind of evil with which we have to contend in this country.  And that's the story that's being told all across the world today. Side by side with the story about  the newly appointed Pope of the Roman Catholic Church

Then this morning, just now in my devotions, whilst searching for another hymn, I came across the words of the hymn below, and which  words urge us to tell a far different story. One of peace and light. As then and only then will our  people turn from the darkness of evil to the kingdom of love and light. I would  urge all of us to help to tell this story to our people. A story no doubt the new Pope will also share with the world.

1.    We've a story to tell to the nations, 
    that shall turn their hearts to the right, 
    a story of truth and mercy, 
    a story of peace and light, 
    a story of peace and light. 
Refrain:
    For the darkness shall turn to dawning, 
    and the dawning to noonday bright; 
    and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth, 
    the kingdom of love and light. 

2.    We've a song to be sung to the nations, 
    that shall lift their hearts to the Lord, 
    a song that shall conquer evil 
    and shatter the spear and sword,
    and shatter the spear and sword. 
    (Refrain) 

3.    We've a message to give to the nations, 
    that the Lord who reigneth above 
    hath sent us his Son to save us, 
    and show us that God is love, 
    and show us that God is love. 
    (Refrain) 

4.    We've a Savior to show to the nations, 
    who the path of sorrow hath trod, 
    that all of the world's great peoples 
    might come to the truth of God, 
    might come to the truth of God. 
    (Refrain)

The second message was sent to a friends in my Church who occupy positions of leadership.  The message is  in note form, but should be easy to follow. The main point is what this great song writer drew to our attention:

" Against evil, divine truth is quick and powerful".

As a church we have to rediscover this eternal truth. The same truth about which Martin Luther King Jnr reminded us in a reflection from him which  I used in one of the recent Sunday night messages. Evil cannot continue to reorganize itself forever. There comes  a check point in  history, and Christ, The Divine Truth, Word made flesh is that checkpoint. Because the Word fearlessly and properly understood and preached by the Power of the Holy Spirit will in due course destroy evil which is the work of the devil. All children of God, all disciples of Christ must be on a mission, a young woman in my church pointed out this morning. And this mission is clearly recorded in the book of Philippians in the second of the Scripture  readings  appointed  for the Anglican Church worldwide for this the Fifth Sunday of  Lent.

" I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the  fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3: 10-11. NIV.

It is only this focused approach to the Christian faith, to be on a mission to know Christ, and then to make him known, that the Divine truth will be unleashed against the kind of evil that is destroying  both lives within and without Jamaica. 

THE MESSGAE

I woke at 5:00 am this morning. For no good reason.  Usually even if I wake up, with trust in God, and with prayer,  I fall asleep again. But this mooring was different. So wondering if the Lord had a a Word, I got up and began praying. And the following reflections and Words came into my mind.
The key thing is the need to focus always on the poor and the needy........
And there is a connection between the work we do in road safety and scammers. They both need to be set free from captivity. The devil plans to kill one set suddenly and thus reduce the nation's human capital. He plans to use the other to do evil. 


THE REFLECTIONS INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT

Disciples of Christ are always seeking to minister to the poor....in as much as you have done this to the least of my brothers you have done it unto me....understanding...feeding the hungry....providing clothes for the naked....water for the thirsty....and perhaps most important.....freedom for those held in captivity....by the Devil...by the Spirit

Recall the women who was held captive by the devil...made infirm by the Spirit and who Jesus set free....Matthew .....remember that those who are disobedient in this world are held captive by the spirit of this age....Ephesians

How then does one treat with scammers....we don't have the luxury of just condemning them as Jesus died for them too...they too are being held in captivity.

Bonhoeffer...Jesus sent out a little band of men,.....the Apostles....we will always be few in number....do not expect large crowds to come flocking seeking the kingdom God....ask the God of the harvest to send workers...we cannot just go on our own imagination and zeal and reap a harvest....Jesus has to call us....or someone else....what we need to do is as...pray that the Lord will sent people
But divine truth sets captives free....

THE ROD THE SERPENT AND HOLINESS
Horatio Bonar
2 Kings 18:4

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made for him, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it ( It was called Nehustan.....I had a patient by that name....she was a Jehovah's witness....and we became very good friends...in the midst of serious theological debate.....she died a few years ago)

Against evil, divine truth is quick and powerful. It acts like  some chemical ingredient that precipitates all impurities and leaves the water clear. It works like a spell of disenchantment against the evil one, casting him down.. It is the " sword of the Spirit," with whose keen edge we cut our way through hostile thousands. It is the rod of of Moses, by which we divide the Red Sea, and defeat the Amalek, and bring water from the desert rock( see Exodus 14:16; 17;6). What evil, what enemy within or without, is there that can withstand this unconquered and unconquerable Word?
Satan's object at the present is to undermine that Word and to disparage its perfection. Let us then more magnify it, and make constant use of it. it is indeed only a fragment of man's language, made up of human letters and syllables; but it is furnished with with superhuman virtue.

The rod in the hand of Moses, what was it? A piece of common wood. Yet it cut the Red Sea in two. That serpent on the pole, what was it A bit of brass. Yet it healed thousands ( see Numbers 21:9). Because that wood and that brass were connected with omnipotence, conductors of heavenly electricity. END OF QUOTE.

So as we approach Palm Sunday, with a  new Pope to lead the Roman Catholics, and a new Archbishop of Canterbury waiting in the wings to be enthroned as spiritual leader of the Worldwide Anglican Church,  let us reflect on the best on times in our nation and the world, and equally so the worse of times. On the one hand God has given the best He has to offer. The free gift of His Son, whose death we remember each Good Friday, or when we celebrate holy Communion. And all who believe in Him will get the same wages - Eternal life with a loving caring Creator God, not matter what life has thrown up for that person on earth. But on the other hand, the Devil has prepared the worse of times for all who reject the free gift of Eternal Life with Christ. Eternal separation  from God. And  not just  a life  reserved only  for scammers and murderers, but all get the same wages - eternal death.

We all need to choose well. Whether we are established athletic stars, or stars in the making! Whether we are leaders in the Church, Bishops or Popes or occupy the pews! Whether we are journalists who bring " bad news" each day, or evangelists who bring " good news"! Whether we operate at the highest levels of society or scrounge for garbage in the streets like madmen! Whether we serve and protect as good cops, or become  " judge and executioner" like what is alleged in many instances in my country. Judgment awaits each person on earth whether we believe it or not. As the young people in Jamaica would say:  " A so de  ting set".  Which when translated means, that is how the Lord God Almighty has ordained it.

Holy Week then, which cometh soon,  is as  good a time as any,  for persons to make life changing decisions. I pray God that all of us will. And seek to be on a mission to  know Christ. For our sake, but also for the sake of scammers, and others who would make our lives hell. As God loves them too, and gave up His life on a Cross,  so that all of us who have sinned and fallen short of His glory,  may have a new life. That's the story we have to tell. Amen

Chavez, a disciple of Castro; and disciples of Christ. Morality and Discipleship

The prayer which undergirds this Ministry was never so needed as it is tonight. As there is indeed a difference between a nominal Christian and and a Disciple of Christ. And it is this difference which will help to redeem a dying world or let it remain the same. As a Church, the body of Christ, we therefore, have much of which to repent. And Lent is a good time to do so.

" Lord renew thy church, beginning with me:

Lord renew the church, that the church may renew the nation(s)."

The big news in my country, in the Latin American and Caribbean Region, and indeed across the world was the death of Hugo Chavez. This Venezuelan President who died from  complications associated with cancer, was a friend of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. As Hugo Chavez acted on an initiative began under another President, and was known across the Caribbean as the "father" of the Petro-Caribe fund which inter alia, provided a facility where we could access oil at reduced rates.  And therefore  both our current leader Prime Minister Simpson Miller and former leader P. J. Patterson responded to news of his passing with deep regret and shared fond memories of the relationship they had had with him. Chavez was also an acknowledged  " disciple" of Fidel Castro, and saw himself as a champion of the poor, in his own country and across the Region. And like Fidel was not afraid to " take on " the mighty USA. But on the other hand others saw him as controversial figure, who decimated the Venezuelan economy with his leftist policies and was a dictator whose firebrand rhetoric caused many to flee to the USA. This week also in my country the Annual Grace Kennedy Foundation Lecture ( one of our large and more successful companies which exports food and other things to the USA and Europe) featured  a Lecture entitled: Moral Dis-ease. Making Jamaica Ill? re-engaging the conversation. And before a packed ballroom in a large hotel in our capital Kingston, where there was standing room only, the UWI/Boston College/ Cambridge University trained Anna Perking made the case that MDS - Moral Degenerative Syndrome - was making the Jamaican society very ill, and suffering at its very core from a form of moral disease. No doubt this very timely lecture has already spawned a lot of debate in a country where murder, rape, corruption and injustice   are " hot button" issues, affecting the lives of countless persons thus triggering much, fear, anger and a sense of helplessness. So for me the Word of God which came in various ways this week was such a joy, and like a well watered area in the midst of a desert. Just this morning, as I  prepared for soul for worship, and giving thanks for the past week,words spoken to Abraham, the " Father" of the three great religions of the world, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, took on a whole new meaning. Especially within the context of the Theme for our Lenten studies this year,  " Discipleship". " Do not be afraid, Abraham. I am your shield, your very great reward". Genesis 15:1 NIV Why? Many thoughts flew through my mind. If humans beings, including Christians believers ( and who therefore ought to be disciples of Christ, and not Castro, or Obama, or Michael Manley, or Marcus Garvey or any other charismatic leaders that history throws up from time to time)  ever took these words seriously, our world would be quite different. Just think about it. If God himself, in Christ Jesus, was truly our very great reward -all that we needed and wanted in life - then would there be any famine in Africa spawning those awful pictures which flash across our television screens year after year. If our goal in life was to seek God and God alone, would there be so much waste in North America - millions of pounds of food, and other things go to waste there annually, and no doubt in Europe and parts of Asia? Would there be any fertile ground for leftist politicians like Chavez, and Castro and others to flourish? Would there be any sexually disease in the world? Would there be any HIV/AIDS?  Would there be any  rape and its awful consequences? Would there be any broken marriages caused by infidelity, physical abuse or plain lying, if we were satisfied with seeking God alone and therefore committed to a monogamous relationship with a partner of the opposite sex. Committed to the vows taken before God and man. Committed to being there for our children in the same way God declares that " He is our shield, our very great reward". Committed to forgiving our neighbour, and more so, to loving our enemies, as Christ taught us. Would we be guilty of killing each other over a cell phone? Would there be any need for " scamming our neighbours in North America, and then justifying it by labeling it " reparations" in the dance hall setting. And which examples were quoted in an attempt to validate the diagnosis  of MDS during the Lecture on Moral Dis-ease in Jamaica. Would we be so stressed out about life in IMF controlled Jamaica, or high inflation riddled Venezuela or " sequestered" USA, if we believed that God is our shield and therefore there is no need to worry about tomorrow or fear the past. In fact just yesterday I came upon a quotation from an unknown source which makes the point much better than I can. I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking:  ' My name is I AM.' He paused. I waited. He continued, 'When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WAS. When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I Will Be. When you live in this moment, It is not hard. I am here. My name is I AM. The And which of us can claim not to be guilty, very guilty of being profligate and wasteful of the resources of this earth and which could be shared more compassionately with others in greater need. So it's not just the people in the rich countries, but a feature of human life that needs serious analysis and action. No doubt part of the reason why MDS is such a  pernicious problem in Jamaica. This week I continued my Lenten devotion discipline of reading Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship, and the following thoughts grabbed my attention. THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CAREFREE LIFE " Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break though and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness! No man can serve tow masters: for he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold on to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ( Matthew 6:19-24)  The life of discipleship can only be maintained so long as nothing is allowed to come be ween Christ and ourselves - neither the law, nor personal piety, nor even the world. The disciple always looks only to his master, never to Christ and the law, Christ and religion, Christ and the world. He avoids such notions like the plague. Only by following Christ alone can he preserve a single eye. His eye rests wholly on the light that comes from  Christ, and has no darkness or ambiguity in it............  Worldly possession tend to turn the hearts of disciples away from Jesus...earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected. In the wilderness God gave Israel the manna every day, and they had no need to worry about food and drink. Indeed, if they kept any of the manna over until the next day, it went bad. In the same way, the disciple must receive his portion from God every day. if he stores it up as a permanent possession, he spoils not only the gift, but himself as well, for he sets his heart on his accumulated wealth, and makes a barrier between himself and God. Where our treasure is, there is our trust, our security, our consolation and our God. Hoarding is idolatry.  But where are we to draw the line between legitimate use and unlawful accumulation?  Let us reverse the word of Jesus and our question is answered: " Where thy heart is, there shall your treasure be also.". Our treasure may of course be small and inconspicuous, but the size is immaterial; it all depends of the heart, on ourselves.. And if we ask how we are to know where our hearts are, the answer is very as simple -everything which hinders us from loving God above all thins and acts as a barrier between ourselves and our obedience to Jesus is our treasure, and the place where our heart is.  But Jesus knows that the heart of man hankers after a treasure, and so it is his will that we should have one. But this treasure is to sought in heaven, not on earth.  And as I write I recalled another Word from God which came to me during my devotions this week. " Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your minds on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourself of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of its Creator. here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, But Christ is all, and in all.   Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put n love, which binds them together in perfect unity. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks to god the Father through him. Colossians 2: 1-16 NIV Some final thoughts: Becoming baptized in the Christian faith, and becoming a member of the church is a start. Then one has to learn the discipline of becoming a disciple of Christ; a lifelong journey. There is world of difference between being a morally attuned or even accomplished person and being a disciple of Christ. This issue came up during the Lecture on Moral Disease in Jamaica. And is a real live issue for many secularists, who have been having a " field day " in my country, writing in response to the ( unapologetic ) decision of the headmaster of a local high school, to have a " crusade" at his school, thus giving the students an opportunity to respond to Christ's call to follow Him - and become  disciples. The argument presented at the lecture, and which undergirds the general argument by the secularists, is that one does not necessarily  have to be a Christian to be moral.  Perhaps!  But the more important question is how does this kind of  "morality" in the long run, help to renew a broken relationship with the God of Abraham. And which question, in the final analysis,  is the only real issue with which mankind has to contend. How does a Morality which is fashioned without the Cross of Calvary, help persons to believe and accept that " God is their shield, their very great reward"?  And without which goal in life, history will forever throw up a Chavez, a Castro, even a Marx and a Lenin. Without which goal in life, there is no relief from dis-eases like HIV/AIDS, no relief from broken marriages, no relief from rape and pillage, no relief from famine and privation, no relief from murder and violence. No relief from idolatry, malice, anger, rage, . No forgiveness of our enemies, much less loving of those who persecute you. Can we dare claim that Christianity ushers in this kind of " utopia". Clearly no. But hear this! Every time, and everywhere  a true disciple of Christ eschews violence, and hate, and anger and rage for the sake of Christ; every time and everywhere a committed child of God, who is prepared  die to self and take up his or her cross " clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and peace" for the poor and the destitute and the forgotten in this world for the sake of Christ; every time and everywhere a disciple of God spends him or herself  seeking justice for others and heralds righteousness in their personal and corporate lives for the sake of Christ, " the kingdom of God " is breaking in on earth, as it is in heaven. And the final event which will herald the destruction of the heavens and the earth as we know it, is the return of Christ and His rule over all the earth .So the issue of whether of not Chavez was a disciple of Castro, a friend of Jamaica, a believer in Christ, is not the important one. The real question for the entire human race which is going to determine our fate at the end of time, and not just at the end of anyone's life; the real issue is not whether or not we were moral beings and thus helped to temporarily check the moral dis-ease in our respective countries. But rather, whether or not we were disciples of Christ! Whether or not we ignored the sacrificial death of God's only Son! Whether or not  we choose to follow Christ, and not let mammon get between us and Christ. We may wish that Chavez' soul rest in peace. And others too when they die. But that is not for us to decide. Only the One who the Bible reports has the right to say, " Away from me I did not know you".  The implication of which is that we did not follow the Crucified One. But rather someone, or something else. I pray God that we will use the opportunity still available to us, and take up our cross and follow Christ. And not Castro, nor Obama, nor Chavez, nor our lusts and possessions, and imaginations and that which power provides so temporarily and fleetingly. Amen.

Evil in the USA, Syria and Jamaica: Rescue from evil and Sin in Christ Jesus

This past week has seen continued debates on hot issues across the world. President Obama continued in his quest to have same sex marriages become legal across the USA. The new American Secretary of State  and former Presidential candidate, John Kerry, started logging his own travel miles when he traveled to London and promptly announced a humanitarian aid package for the Syrian rebels. Once again he called for President Assad to step aside, in an effort to end a conflict that has so far claimed 70,000 lives. Here in Jamaica, a former embattled Prime Minster, Bruce Golding, whose decision to, in his own words, " defend the human rights", of a known crime boss, Christopher Coke, cost him dearly, resurfaced in the public space this week with a well written and well received article on the IMF and Jamaica's option. And another parliamentarian and former cabinet minister, Daryl Vaz, in what could only have been a " light moment", or a moment of madness,  suggested that given the kinds of problems Jamaica faced, the consideration of the use of an ancient evil practice, abhorred by most well thinking persons, could be justified. This in the context of his  response to the introduction of bills in the lower house, among which, was one dealing with evil powers,  and which pieces of legislation, he Vaz, thought were  not priority items at this time given the nature of the challenges facing the country. The take home lesson! There are some things you do not even consider in jest in the public space. Or anywhere for that matter.  Sadly also the specter of evil continued to raise its ugly head with the killing of his two children by a father and then the inevitable suicide.

And so our Father in heaven, whose Son came and died, to set people free from being captive to evil - sin and death - which were introduced into the world when Adam considered Satan's questions, rather than just obey the Lord,spoke through His Word and His inspired word.

First up, the Word of God from the Epistle of John, which was written to a journalist and others, in an ongoing exchange about the " correct faith".

Two aspects of the correct faith feature in this passage that I just read this morning. One is another eyewitness account of the life of Jesus Christ. The other is a focus on sin, without which acceptance, that we are all sinners, we will never  love the Lord Jesus with all our heart. We may know Him as a great Teacher, and Good Man, as some Religions confess, but never as Savior. Which is the essence of the correct faith, and which knowledge triggers absolute surrender, as we are no longer our own, but have been bought  (for God's use and  purpose ...thy will be done and not mine) by the price of His precious Blood.

" That which was from the beginning, we have heard,  which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of  life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare it to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have  fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ( a prayer repeated week after week in the Anglican church before confession of sins). If we claim we have sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

My children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world"

1 John1-2:1-2. NIV

Something to think about my friend as you trust other eyewitness ( of various kinds, electronic and human) and their accounts of  fumes, of activities and conversations in the Parliament and of mayhem in our city. 

Peace

LWJ

The second message was written to senior members of my Anglican Church and it underscores the tenacity of evil forces. The kind of evil that has been let loose in Syria, where people are being slaughtered by their own security forces. The kind of evil which once held once held our forebears captive during slavery. The kind of evil which Martin Luther King jnr gave up his life in his struggle to set  free the descendants of slavery  in the USA. The kind of evil which once enslaved our people as they practiced witchcraft and other such madness. The kind of evil which President Obama is promoting as the leader of a liberal democracy, where understandably, what he may well consider  the "human rights",  of all citizens will have to be protected. But  as a self-avowed Christian, he has to be made aware that the faith which he professes does allow for self-interpretation, but rather demands that we follow the teachings of the Apostles, who were the first followers and disciples of Christ. The rejected  (by men) and crucified One. That's what triggered the meeting of the early Church and the subsequent drafting and acceptance of  the Nicene Creed in the third century. Thus it  is all well and good to try to be all things to all men, as a good politician and a humanist, but that kind of philosophy does not a Christian make. As the sinless One Christ, died so that mankind  may sin no more, and to be presented blameless before a Holy God. And so the promotion of same sex marriages, when God ordained that a man shall leave his mother and father and become one flesh with his wife, can only be described as evil. And constitutes one of the great challenges for the Church in this modern world. But thank God there is a checkpoint in the universe against all evil. Sooner or later, then this well intentioned, and likeable man will have to make a choice as the Apostle Peter and others throughout history have had to do. To please man or to please God. I pray he may choose wisely!

A message received during my devotions this morning and directed to be shared with you.
LWJ

GOD'S MERCY

We must never underestimate the power of the kind of evil which entered the human race through Adam. And which rebellion against holiness, a pure and undivided relationship with God, continues in every human heart to this day. A situation which can only be remedied by the power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us, because of the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. And this kind of evil is manifest in may and varied ways, so that the battle is continuous and  therefore we  need to be constant in seeking discernment so that we can distinguish idols in our lives from what is good and wholesome. Pride, self-confidence, anxiety, unhealthy ambitions, plain disobedience, malice,  lust, greed and idolatry,  anger, fretting,  whenever  we are determined to have our own way - and they are many others -  are not always obvious, but the end result is the same; collectively or individually they cause us to deny Christ - cease from following  Him.

This is the lesson that I have gleaned from being inspired to read the events preceding the death of the three central figures of the Christian life. Our Lord Jesus, Moses and Paul. Interestingly, and perhaps even more than interesting, but profoundly so, all three recorded episodes involved  not just the central figure, but also the "leaders of the Church". Moses and his successor  Joshua; Jesus and his disciples, Peter in particular; and Paul and the overseers, the bishops of the the Church.

The first one I read this morning was the song given to Moses by the Lord, as recorded in Deuteronomy  32; and the reason given by the Almighty in Deuteronomy 31: 14-29.
The second one is recorded in The Book of Acts chap 20:17-37.
And the final one was found in John 13: 36-38.

I would urge you to read them together. A sample of each:
" And the Lord said to Moses: " You are going to rest with fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering...... Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them...........I know what they are disposed to, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath. So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.


From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.........Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of  all  men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you to whole will of God......Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them

Then Jesus answered, " Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.

Finally a comforting word from Martin Luther King jnr.  from a meditation entitled , " The Death of Evil", using Exodus 14: 30 as the inspiration.
...This tells us something about evil that we must never forget, namely that evil is recalcitrant and determined, and never voluntarily relinquishes its hold  short of a persistence, almost fanatical resistance. But there is a checkpoint in the universe: evil cannot permanently organize itself.

So we thank God for Jesus, and His shed blood on the cross of Calvary, and whose atoning sacrifice,  is the checkpoint  in the universe against evil. So that we and all of God's people can fight valiantly against evil  which constantly wars against our individual,  and the collective, soul of the Church and the world. And so we join with the hymn-writer and cry out, " O Jesus draw thou nearer and shield my soul from sin" ( O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end). Amen.




Sent from my iPad

Final Comments: It ought to clear to all of us who read the accounts of Moses, Jesus and Paul, speaking shortly before completing their work here on earth, except for Jesus, whose " work" was His actual death and subsequent resurrection, that what they warned us about is coming to pass. From in the very church is arising evil of kinds, wherever there is disobedience to God's Word. Which is what denying Christ means!  And that as Moses understood well, the intention of the human heart is to commit evil unless it be transformed by the grace of God. Thus murder and  greed and injustice and anger and idolatry and arrogance and malice and the pursuit of " bread alone" is rampant in this world. But thank God that evil cannot continue to organize itself forever. There is a checkpoint. And it happened on Calvary. And He alone, Christ the soon coming King will reign forever. Not evil. So we thank God that there is an offer of repentance for all who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Whether in the USA, in Syria, in Europe, in Africa, or in Jamaica. Whoever they may be. Prince or pauper! They too were made in the image of God, and Christ died for them. And they will receive the same wages as everyone else who has turned from evil and accepted Christ as Savior, if they repent. O Jesus draw thou nearer and shield our souls from evil.