Boston, Syria, Jamaica and Divine Intervention

Copley Square is in the heart of Boston city. So my wife tells me, having spent a few weeks there some time ago during a training course. And that's how she became a Boston Celtics fan. I know of at least two Anglican Priests who went to Cambridge for post graduate  training,  en route to becoming Bishops. And their wives went with them for a time. Then this week all hell broke loose there! And so we became privy to the finest details of all the circumstances surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing,  mourned for the victims, wondered what went wrong in the minds of those two brothers and realized that this world was becoming smaller and smaller, and more and more dangerous.

While all of this was taking place in the USA, with CNN placing all its focus on Boston, a ticker tape running at the bottom of the screen today, quietly announced that 586 person had died in one single day in Syria. Now Syria is a place we read about a lot in the Bible, and has been in the news for some time because of the civil war taking place there. So we were not unaware about the carnage taking place in that nation. But so many in one day. Have mercy! And they have no equivalent of CNN there to inform us about the gruesome details and therefore the impact on the rest of the world is not nearly as great as it is in Boston where 3 persons died and many more were injured. What a world we live in and are about to bequeath to our children and grandchildren!

This week for me, was one of walking with a Prince, literally, and being in the company of a  Prime Minister, a Governor General and the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition,  and other senior leaders in my country as were  host to the cousin of Queen Elizabeth 11, HRH Prince Michael of Kent. An internationally acclaimed road safety advocate,  who came to celebrate with us, the Jamaica  national Road Safety Council, on the occasion of  our 20th year as a National Institution. How did we meet a Prince? In Costa Rica, via Chile, and then in Moscow.  How come? By simply a twist of fate or by Divine Intervention. I believe the latter.  Suddenly the world has in fact gotten much smaller indeed.

So in the midst of all this madness and celebration, what did the Lord say, through his Word, and " beyond the sacred page" as one of my Bishops likes to say.

First of all this matter of " Divine Intervention"  came up again. A debate which , in the language of the journalists,
 " continues to have legs" , continues to be current, ever since the Minister of National Security in my country, raised it during a speech at a church service. The context was the recent  rash of murders, the circumstances surrounding these murders, and his efforts and that of hard working members of the Police Force to date to deal with it. And his conclusion was that, despite all what has been tried, the madness continues, and so he declared that only " Divine Intervention" could solve the murder problem in Jamaica, and went on the outline what he meant by that, including galvanizing the entire society around this major national issue. As expected, many have taken him to task for even raising the issue of Divine Intervention, concluded that he was out of his depth and have been calling for his removal.

Now, even the most casual observer could not fail to note, that as with the tragedy in New Town Connecticut, during the Inter-faith service for the victims of the bombing in Boston, President Obama reached for the Scriptures for words of comfort for the American people. And so it is against this background, I believe that the Lord sent this early morning message, and I in turn sent it to a group of people including some journalists and government ministers to whom I have been writing about the " Correct faith". The question is, is it only Jamaica that needs Divine Intervention, or in fact the whole world?


THE MESSAGE

This morning whilst praising the Lord in my devotions and reflecting on words of that great hymn:

Praise my soul, the King of heaven....and in particularly the words:

....ransomed, healed , restored forgiven,

who like me his praise should sing; 

I began thinking about this matter of "Divine Intervention". And realized it's not a small matter.

In fact in the eyes of the Lord it may very well be a defining  moment in the life of this nation and raises the question " In whom do we trust". Ourselves as individuals, our collective will and power as a nation? The Police Force, the JDF, the resources at  our various Universities, the collective power of the Private Sector, the power of the State, the power of the media, the financial power of the IMF and the bi-laterals,  Petro-Caribe? Who!

And for those Christians in the media and in government, in whom do you place your trust?

When you go to bed at night! When you send off your children to wherever! When you fall ill?

When you worship in church?  Apart from being the prism through which society learns of and understands news events, when do you take a personal stand like the proverbial dog when his master is being attacked. When do you defend him. As this is not just about Bunting and his competence, or his resolve. Listen carefully to the response of the secularists, those who do not trust in the God of Gideon. "There is no divine intervention that is going to rescue Jamaica, so let's get on with the job and fight the criminals ourselves....as other countries have done" . 

Which by the way, is precisely what Bunting was saying, but he contextualized  the struggle in which all have a role to play, in this now very controversial statement .

Why describe God as the God of Gideon?  Because the story of Gideon serves as a powerful example for understanding the relationship between God and man.

" Early in the morning, Jeru-Baal ( that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Median was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord said to Gideon, " You have too many men for me to deliver Median into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own  strength has saved her, announce now to the people........" Judges 7:1-3 NIV

Perhaps it's time for us as individuals, who go to church Sunday after Sunday, to decide like Joshua....as for me and my house we will serve the Lord....in whom do we place our trust?

As that is the issue which has been raised by Bunting whether we perceive it or not. I would suggest, very humbly, that this is no ordinary news item to be analyzed and discussed by other persons. But an opportunity that the Lord has provided for us to decide if indeed,  we have been " ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven", only, only by divine intervention. In the Name of Jesus Christ in Nazareth, the crucified and risen Savior. Amen

sent by my iPad

Comment: The motto " In God we trust " appears on  one of the bills  or coins n the USA. Every contender for the office of President of the USA always closes his or her speeches by  exhorting " God to bless America".  What does this really mean. Do they remember,as we should that the God to whom they send their prayers and exhortations is the same God who told the children of Israel through the prophet Gideon that His Sovereign will is that He should get all the praise and glory and honor. And not the Minister of National Security , nor the President of the USA, or Prince Michael or Queen Elizabeth 11, nor Margaret Thatcher, nor Nelson Mandela!

Perhaps we need to meditate on he words of hymn we use in the Anglican Church as we celebrate holy Communion.

Here O my Lord I see thee face to face......and then the last verse which says;

I have no other help but thine; nor do  I need

another arm save thine to lean upon:

it is enough, my Lord, enough indeed,

my strength is in thy might, thy might indeed.

The Second one came just yesterday. Again as I was conducting my devotions in the early morning, the following message came to me. And I sent it out again to some journalists, but a smaller number this time.

THE MESSAGE

David sinned greatly with Bathsheba. Saul sinned also. Both were confronted God's prophets. Nathan and Samuel. One was restored and became even greater. The other lost his crown forever. What was the difference between the two Kings? Saul tried to justify himself, to  explain away his sin of disobedience, whilst David repented immediately. And out of that experience, he  wrote Psalm 51,  which has helped so many persons who have sinned greatly to repent.
Repent and be restored today, for as in the days of Noah, and in our present " Boston" times, you never can tell what the day will bring.
Peace.
LWJ
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.

 Comment: My country continues to  debate  the moot,  " who run tings: God or man" ! Who is in charge?  In whom do we trust? Who should we obey?  The sad thing is that this debate has been ongoing for Millenia. As this is the very same issue which Satan raised with Adam. Did  God really say that? Did He really mean that you should not eat of the fruit of the tree of life?  And consequently, it took Divine Intervention, borne out of Divine love, for the debate to end.  On the Cross of Calvary!  When by the Blood of Jesus " every stain of sin, every stain of rebellion",  was washed away and cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. And until, and unless, as a people, as a nation, and  as a world we accept the verdict on the cross, the madness in Boston and in Syria, and in Jamaica will continue. Regardless of whether Presidents, Kings or Prime Ministers or journalists think otherwise. For the world is indeed a very small place in its destiny is in the hands of the Sovereign God of  Abraham,, of Gideon and of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - the Crucified and Risen Lord.

Amen

Of Princes and Heads of State and Christ the King and Son of God who died on an old wooden cross

So Margaret Thatcher, the ' Iron lady' of British politics is dead. Her passing dominated the news both locally and internationally  early this week. A no-nonsense lady she was, with passionately held views about governance in the 21st century, and which  inflexible position  alienated some, but  at the same time, endeared her to others. Even in death she proved controversial with many greeting the news with celebration, with one wit wishing, ' may she rust in peace', whilst others attributed to her the turn around in the fortunes of British Industry and Trade.

Tomorrow, those of us involved in the promotion of road safety, along with Government officials will welcome another Brit. This time however, not a politician, but  a member of the British Royal Family. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent,  will be a guest of the local National Road Safety Council. And whilst here he will meet with high ranking members of the state, visit several locations and deliver the keynote speech at an Awards Banquet where former Prime Ministers, and the current one, will be honored for their leadership in this area of national life. Having been involved in the planning for this event, one has gotten a fair taste of how the, 'high and mighty', live and move. It 's been  quite an experience dealing with Palace,  Kings House and Jamaica House, protocol and convoys and the trappings of power.

Finally, also in the news this week, two high ranking members our society had very public ' emotional moments'. And they were not unrelated. One, the wife of the Governor General, following the news of the shooting death of a policeman by criminals, in delivering a speech, admitted that on account of the dastardly act, involving someone who had once been part of the security detail at Kings House, she felt like leaving Jamaica and going elsewhere.  Of course, very quickly and during the same speech, she reaffirmed her hope in her country and desire to be a continued  part of the process of building a better nation. The other, was the Minister of National Security, whose mother had died recently, and he, also on reflecting on the number of killings that had taken place in our country recently, despite the best efforts of the police, suggested that only divine help could rescue this country. and in doing so got all choked up.  He too, in the same speech, explained that divine help, in his view, would come through more involvement of various partners in the society working together... with the Lord's direction ( my words) ...to achieve that goal.

As you can imagine both comments provoked much debate on the social media and even main stream media also, with one prominent journalist  arguing that God only helps those who helps themselves- thus betraying a widely held, but highly inaccurate understanding,  of the God of the Judeo-Christian faith.

So in this midst of all of this news of the rich and the powerful, the famous and the mighty, the Lord spoke.
First of all, perhaps appropriately, through the mind of one of the great theologians of our time, a German pastor who lived in the time of Hitler, and whose quest for power in the early days, he warned his people, and urged then to resist.
The following notes were sent to leaders in my church, in three part message. I will add comments to each section.

Excerpts from The Essential Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Bonhoeffer: The same before and after Lent.

I continue to be fascinated by him and also severely challenged.
Excerpts from :

Jesus Christ and the Essence of  Christianity: December 11, 1928

An Address to the Church in Barcelona.

SECTION ONE


Whether in our time Christ can still occupy a place where we make decisions on the deepest matters known to us, over our own life and over the  life of our people, that is the question which we will consider today.
Whether or not the Spirit of Christ has anything  final, definitive, and decisive to say to us......we all know that Christ has been, in effect,  eliminated from our lives. Of course we build him a temple, but we live in our own  houses. Christ has become a matter of the church, or rather, of the chuchiness of a group, not a matter of life...Religion plays the role of the so called Sunday room into which one gladly withdraws for a couple of  hours but only to get back to one's place of work immediately afterwards.

However,  one thing is clear: we understand Christ only if we commit ourselves to him in  a stark " Either-Or".  He did not go to the cross to ornament or to embellish our life. If we wish to have him, then he demands the right to say something decisive about our entire life. We do not understand him if we arrange for him  only a small compartment in our spiritual life. Rather, we understand  our spiritual life only if we orientate it to him alone or give him a flat " No".

However, there are persons who would not even bother to take Christ seriously in the demand he makes on us by his question: will you follow me wholeheartedly or not at all?  Such persons had better not mix up  their own cause with with the Christian  one. That separation would only help the Christian cause, since they no longer have anything in common with Christ. The religion of Christ is not a tidbit after one's bread; on the contrary, it is bread or it is nothing. People should as least understand and concede

Comments: The essential question that mankind of all ages.... whether Kings or Princes, whether Prime Ministers or Governors General, whether paupers or people of insignificance to the power brokers..... must grapple with, is whether or not, the Son of God has any role to play in our lives! And if so we have to accept the fact that He demands an input into our entire life, and not just a part of it.


SECTION TWO

Ethics and religion lie in the direction of human beings towards God. Christ, however, speaks alone, entirely alone, of the direction of  God to people; not of the human way to God but of the way of God to human beings..........The essence of Christianity lies in the message of the sovereign God to whom alone belongs glory over all the world.  it is the message of the eternally other, the one who is far above the world, yet who from the depths of the divine being has mercy on the person who gives glory to God alone. God is the one who goes on the  way to people in order to seek vessels of God's glory where human persons are no longer anything, where they become silent, where they give way to god alone.

Here the light of eternity shines down on those who are ever neglected, insignificant, weak, ignoble, unknown, inferior, oppressed, despised; here it radiates over the houses of prostitutes and tax collectors........here the light of eternity has been cast on the toiling struggling, and sinning masses. The word of grace spreads across the a stale sultriness of the big cities, but it halts before the houses of the satisfied, the knowledgeable, and the " haves " of this world in a spiritual sense. It speaks  over the death of individuals and peoples, its everlasting word: I have loved you from eternity; remain with me; thus you will live. Christianity preaches the unending worth of apparently worthless and the  unending worthlessness of what is apparently so valuable. The weak shall be made strong through God and the dying shall live....

Comments:  The fundamental difference that the Christian message offers is that, in Christ,  God is no longer an unfamiliar and distant Almighty God, but One who has reached out to mankind; One who has revealed Himself to mankind in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And so God in fact inclines to the sinner, the sick, the weak. And not to those who think they have power, and are healthy and have no need of God. That's why, unlike some of my countrymen and women,  I thank that God that our Minister of national Security is " having an experience of a dark night of his soul". And appealing, desperately or not, as some would characterize his " emotional moment', to a God who inclines to the helpless.

SECTION THREE

Has Christianity only pointed to another religion, a new idea or culture? Has it shown only a human way to God that has not yet been used? No; the Christian idea is the way of God to people and has  as its visible objectification of this, the cross. Here lies the point where at which we are accustomed to urn away shaking our heads about the Christian cause. The cross was probably first set at the center of the Christian  message by Paul. Jesus has said nothing about this.  And yet the correct meaning of the cross of Christ is nothing else  but than radical development of the concept of God held by Jesus himself. It is, so to speak, the historically visible form which this concept of God has assumed. God comes to people who who have nothing but room for God - and this hollow space, this emptiness in people is called in Christian speech, faith.

This means that in Jesus of Nazareth, the revealer, God inclines to the sinner. Jesus seeks the companionship of the sinner, goes after him or her in boundless love. He wants to be where a human person is no longer anything. The meaning of the life of Jesus is the demonstration of this divine will for sinners, for those who are unworthy. Where Jesus is, there is the love of God. However, the demonstration becomes complete not when Jesus or God's love exists where the human person lives in sin and misery, but only when Jesus also takes upon himself the fate that hangs over every life, namely death. That is when Jesus who is God's love really dies. Only then can persons be certain that God's love accompanies and leads then through death.

The death of Jesus on the cross of criminals, however, shows that the divine even finds its way to the death of the criminal. And when Jesus dies on the cross with the cry, " My God, why have you abandoned me". ( Mark 15:34), does this mean that God's external will to love does not abandon people even when in the experience of being abandoned by  God, they are plunged into despair?  Jesus dies really despairing of his work, of God, but that of all things just signifies the culmination of his message that God so loves people that Jesus takes death upon himself for their sake as proof of God's own will to love. And,  only because in the humiliation on the cross Jesus demonstrates his won and God's love for the world, resurrection follows after death. Death cannot restrain love. " " Love is stronger than death".

That is the meaning of Good Friday and Easter Sunday; the way of God to people, leads back to God. In this way Jesus' own concept of God is joined together with Paul's interpretation of the cross. Thus the cross becomes the central and paradoxical symbol of the Christian message.......

The answer to another question follows from this interpretation of the cross of Christ.: what are we to think about other religions? Are they as nothing compared to Christianity? We answer that the Christian religion as religion is not of God. It is rather another example of a human way to God, like the Buddhist and others, too, though of course these are of a different nature.  Christ is not the bringer of a new religion, but rather the one who brings God. Therefore, as an impossible way from human to God, the Christian religion stands with other religions. Christians can never take pride themselves on  their Christianity, for it remains human, all to human. They live however by the grace of God, which comes to people and comes to every person who opens his or her heart to it and learns to understand it is the cross of Christ. And, therefore, the gift of Christ is not the Christian religion, but the grace and love of God which culminates in the cross.

Comments: Many are quite mistaken about Christianity. It's all about God 's grace and mercy, as manifest in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. And not about rules, and regulations, protocols and the enjoyment of the trappings of " God's power".  Such other things belong in Palaces, and Kings House and Jamaica House. And to other Religions like Islam, Jehovah's  Witness, and Judaism. That's why the Seventh Day Adventists, and others, need to be so careful with their restrictions and laws and edicts. Less they stray from preaching only Christ and Him Crucified, and whose life's journey and revelation of God climaxed on an old wooden cross on Calvary. Shocking to the human sensibilities, but the essence of the power of God. Young Bunting has caught a glimpse of the truth. We must encourage him in the face of strong opposition from " powers and principalities".

Finally a message to all who struggle in life. And which message was sent to friends in that club, in the following way:


The challenge may be: Illness; Leadership; persecution; walking with Princes and Kings and Prime Ministers whilst remaining faithful to God; even death, even sudden death.  But in the midst of it comes a word from God. That His love is indeed new every morning;  and sufficient.

I ARISE TODAY
Patrick Ireland

Verse: Psalm 4.....though I walk through......I will fear no evil.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guide me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From the snares of the devil,
From temptations and vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar or anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

And this Blessed Assurance of God's love for us  finds its ultimate manifestation on the cross of calvary where God in Christ died for us and for all mankind.
May God's peace be with all today and in particular in the days and weeks ahead. And indeed for ever.
LWJ
Sent from my iPad

Insecurity at home and abroad: Never Again says the Lord in and through Christ Jesus

The Anglican Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman islands, Dr. Howard Gregory addressing the recently held 143rd  synod of the church, quoted the rally cry of the Jews after their experience with the Holocaust, " Never again", in respect to how, in his view,  the political leaders here have used populist policies or have been distracted by electioneering, thus leading to the economic predicament that the country faces.

The young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seems to be  either  blissfully unaware, or singularly unimpressed,  by a world, which is for the most part, united in its determination that, " never again" shall we have nuclear war on this earth. Not after the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki! So as the North Koreans continue to threaten the USA and its allies with a nuclear attack, even the China, who support the Pyongyang regime, felt the need to issue a thinly veiled rebuke that " no state should sow chaos, and that they would allow mischief on their doorsteps. Suddenly the world seems a more dangerous place.

Back home in my country, on my way to church this morning, in the midst of a very bustling part of city Kingston, the now familiar yellow police tape, surrounding a crime scene, announced yet another murder. At minutes past 7:00 am this morning! Perhaps it's time to follow the example of the Bishop and cry out as a nation, " never again", shall life become so cheap, and come to a such sudden and inglorious  end on the streets of our cities. No doubt this is part of the reason, along with the inevitable political machinations,  why there is a veritable media frenzy over reports in my country that the Minister of National Security was held up whilst spending time with friends over the long Easter weekend. The sentiment is that " never again" should he who is responsible for the security of the nation, be placed in such an embarrassing, and potentially dangerous, situation.

Also in the news was President Obama's decision, occasioned by the consequences of " sequestering" in the USA, to give back a small part of his salary. In a largely symbolic,  but perhaps politically astute, show of support of those who have been badly affected by the cut back in government spending. Accordingly the Jamaican government, in general and our Prime Minister in particular, have been under pressure from the local media to follow suit.

In this midst of this, what can only be described as, reckless International adventurism by North Korea, murder most foul in my country, and calls for sacrifice, so that never again, shall we walk this way as a people and as a world community, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of North Korea, China, the USA and Jamaica spoke. The Almighty God who holds the future in His very safe hands, regardless who seem to have power in the world, spoke in clear terms.

A MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH LEADERS...THURSDAY MORNING

Yesterday I was led to these words, which came to me as I began my devotions with praise.

When he (The Holy Spirit) comes he will convict the world of guilt in regards to sin and righteousness and judgment.  John 16:8 NIV

Then this morning, again as I began with praise, I was led to the words of this glorious hymn which we sing regularly in the Anglican Church:

Praise my soul, the King of heaven............ransomed healed restored forgiven.

Finally, a reflection on this profound truth, of how I, and all mankind whether you believe or not, have been restored by grace to a right relationship with God after we all have sinned and turned away, led me to the famous passage of Jesus restoring Peter. He who had denied Jesus three times.

" When he had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ' Simon son of John, do you love me more than these"....John 21:15. And not insignificantly, Jesus posed the question three times.

Sometime during Holy Week, not sure when, I heard the following, " Jesus came to tell us that man should not live by bread alone.

Take home lesson from all of this: I doubt very much if you can really love the Lord Jesus, unless the Holy Spirit has convicted you of Sin......how we have denied Christ in our lives in one way or another. Whether like you my friend carrying the sin of unbelief that in Christ alone there is salvation,  or for others ignoring the great offer of mercy extended by God.....or knowing him and committing all kind of evil as many of us have done.

So my friend perhaps you are , potentially, in a better place than others who claim to love him, but have never admitted, nor understood how far away from God they or we all were, until Christ died for all of us. For them the words of the Revelator is important:

" I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth"

Revelation 15-16

The problem for you my friend, and all who depend on their intellect and who claim to have no need for Christ, the only way to God,  in their lives, those who live by bread alone, and not by every word that comes from God, is that the next few verses are very challenging.

You say, ' I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

But then comes the great offer of hope and restoration again;

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

I recall reading many years ago a quote from he who was once an atheist, C. S, Lewis, something to the effect, that if we could ever see how filthy we appeared before a Holy God we would recoil from our own shame.

I pray God that, while the offer stands available,  you, and others, will  accept and believe in the God,  who is,  in the words of the hymn writer,  " slow to chide and swift to bless", and who came  not for the healthy, but to call sinners like me and you to repentance.

Peace.

LWJ

Sent from my iPad

Comment: the key point here is that since Christ came as man, since He died on the Cross at Calvary, and since He was raised by power on that fateful Easter Sunday, " never again" will mankind be separated from the Almighty God.  Never!  Never again will evil be allowed to rule the earth, and ruin the life  which man was made to enjoy - close fellowship with the Creator God. Yes, there may be well be very difficult times ahead for mankind. In fact nuclear war may yet happen again. Who knows! But because of that one fact of life, that God in Christ  came and became man, suffered and died, and was raised from the dead, we can celebrate the victory over sin and death and evil. Whether in Pyongyang, or on the streets of city Kingston where life has become so cheap. The key things for all mankind to apprehend, whether they be King, President, Prime Minister or pauper, is that all of us are " wretched, pitiful, blind, poor and naked, before a holy God". And that we need to purchase " gold, white clothes and salve" from God, in and through the shed Blood of Christ the lamb of God, so that we may  become rich, clothed and see - gain the righteousness that comes in and through Christ and Christ alone. So that truly , " never again" will we be subject to the wrath and terror of God - much worse than even nuclear disaster.

Finally, this morning during my devotions, whilst praising an Almighty God, and being led to read Songs of Solomon about the mystery of a woman's  love and marriage,

again, the words of John the Revelator came into my head.

 
 " Day and night they never stop saying:
 
 Holy, holy, holy
 is the Lord God Almighty,
 who was, and is, and is to come.........
 
 You are worthy, our Lord and God,
 to receive glory and honor and power,
 for you created all things,
 and by your will they were created
 and have their being.......
 
 You are worthy, to take the scroll
and to open its seal,
 because you were slain,
 and with your blood you purchased men for God
 from every tribe and language and people and nation.
 You have made them to be a kingdom of priests
 to serve our God,
 and they will reign on the earth......
 
 To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
 be praise and honor and glory for ever and ever.
 
 Revelation 4:8-5:13 NIV
 

 
 
 
Then I was reminded on the words of a wonderful hymn which, inter alia, among other messages, speaks about how we may love this Almighty God, even though he is so powerful. because of Christ.

My God, how wonderful thou art,

thy majesty how bright,

how beautiful thy mercy-seat,

in depths of burning light!

How dread are thine eternal years,

O everlasting Lord,

by prostate spirits day and night

incessantly adored!

How wonderful, how beautiful,

the sight of thee must be,

thine endless wisdom, boundless power,

and awful purity!

Oh, how I fear thee, Living God,

with deepest, tenderest fears;

and worship thee with trembling hope,

and penitential tears!

Yet I may love thee too , O Lord,

almighty as thou art,

for thou hast stooped to ask of me

the love of my poor heart.

No earthly father loves like thee,

no mother, e'er so mild,

bears and forebears as thou hast done

with me thy sinful child.

Father of Jesus, love's reward!

What rapture will it be,

prostrate before thy throne to lie,

and gaze and gaze at thee.

Final Comment: It is a shame, and a great travesty, that He who by the shedding of His precious Blood, purchased man for God from every tribe, and language and people and nation,

should be the subject of much debate rather than obedience in this " modern " world. Like the Jews, we who love Him who we fear " with deepest tenderest fears", He who " stooped" and became man so that we can love him, commit to saying, " never again". Never again will we allow sin to rule over us. We may sin, we may do what is wrong and even evil, but it shall not rule us again ever. Because we are assured of forgiveness in and through Christ Jesus, once we repent with a sincere and contrite heart.

Never again will we allow the desire for vengeance to rule over us - and threaten an entire peninsula. Never again will we allow our sexual desires to rule over us - and thus provoke the firestorm that is raging in our country about how to prevent teenage girls from getting pregnant whilst in schools. One suggestion is to give out condoms. Clearly coming from a worldview that does not believe that the worse thing that can happen to anyone, is not to die, or to contract AIDS or to get pregnant, but to be eternally separated from God, because of persistent disobedience. And woe to those who cause " these little ones to sin".

Never again will we allow our desire to survive, despite the most difficult circumstances, to push us to the point of taking someone's life,  in order that we might live - thus opening the gates of murder and envy and malice, all of which conspire to cause blood to flow on the streets of city Kingston.

But that cry of never again, coming from the depths of human misery occasioned by the horrors of the Holocaust during World war 11, can only be assured when we place our trust in He who holds the future. The Almighty God who allowed  His people to cross the Red Sea on dry land, but ' the horse and rider of the Egyptians, He threw into the sea", and they perished.

I pray God, that Kim Jung-un may come to his senses and seek peace instead of war. That leaders in America and in Jamaica, at all levels, may acknowledge the greatness and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and seek Him , and pray, " while you may be found; surely when the mighty the waters rise. they will not reach them ". Psalm 32:6

For when knows when the waters of life may rise suddenly and find us unprepared and unprotected.

In Jesus mighty name we pray..

Amen!

An Easter Message: Jesus Christ is Risen indeed

I read my Bible to see what men ought to do; and read the newspapers to see what men are doing - John Newton

" Lord renew the church beginning with me. Lord renew the church that teh church may renew the nation(s)...a prayer for this Ministry

INTERNET MESSAGE

Not even the dastardly act of the shooting death of a father by gunmen whilst walking with his son, near to the Prime Minister's official Residence, could take away my joy this morning. Not even the news of the banks re-opening in Cyprus could,  I am sure,  compare with the joy that Christians felt this morning in that country. Not even the news  of Usain Bolt, set to make  500,000 UK pounds tax free, for running two races over there, could overshadow the news of this past week and in particular today . Why? Because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead over two thousand years ago, and this is the day that Christians worldwide celebrate this event that has irrevocably changed the course history. No matter how much controversy surrounds this fact, both within and without the Christian Community, this truth   is deeply  rooted in the minds of millions of people across the globe.

And so we celebrate. We  rejoice that  Christ is risen indeed! And because He lives, because He was raised to life anew as a human being, we too can live a new life, in and through Him, despite the fact that outwardly we may not seem to have changed much. But inwardly, if we trust and obey, supernatural things are working in and through us, by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit of God. So we believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Triune God, as revealed to us by the Paschal mystery of Jesus, the Redeemer of the world.

I have been reading the great and wise theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he who paid the ultimate price with his life in the struggle against the evil of Hitler's Nazis,  all Lent, and even up to last evening.

A couple of things he asserted, are worthy of mention on this great day.

One is that, as Christians, we are to careful not to separate the Incarnation of Christ, The Crucifixion of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ. As all three aspects of the life of Christ are inter-related. The Incarnation, speaks of the love of God for all Created things. That's why God became man,  in order to redeem human beings and the also the earth - both of which were affected by the Sin of Adam. Christ's death of a Cross, the crucifixion brings the final judgement over all creation - the " death sentence" of the world. We, al of us who now live under the symbol of death - the cross - can chose to despise it and bring judgment on themselves. Or acknowledge it and thus achieve their won salvation. Finally, the Resurrection of Christ  reflects God's love and power which brings death to an end, and calls a new creation to life..."making all things new".

The relevance of this to a dying world, is that we the Baptized are called by God to be " light and salt". Two points are relevant in this discussion. One is that whether people around us accept it or not, whether they believe it or not, it is the "light and salt" of the Christian Community which keeps the world from being utterly corrupt and completely separated from God, and thus subject to God's wrath. Therefore Easter, the new life that we have in and through Christ brings a great responsibility.  The light of the believer must shine. It cannot remain hidden by  indifference to fallen humanity, struggling to find meaning and purpose in life. It cannot remain hidden because we are fearful, or on account of our selfish ambitions, or greed  or be guilty of those things which unbelievers strive for and  after - power, and pride and fame and fortune. The life of a believer, the Easter people  must be salt in a corrupt society, where injustice and corruption and immorality flourishes. Otherwise we will bring judgment upon ourselves, and our lives will be deemed to be worthless and fit only to be thrown away.

Hence Bonhoeffer used the Word of God to challenge his readers.

" You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light so shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16.

Thus in our long journey through Lent, learning about Christian Discipleship, subjecting ourselves to lenten disciplines of fasting, praying and doing good, denying ourselves of various pleasures, traveling with Jesus through the suffering and rejection of  Good Friday, waiting in vigil for His resurrection, we rejoice in this new day with new possibilities for our personal lives and that of the nation. One of the key things that our Rector drove home in a powerful sermon this morning is that, " because our God can raise the dead, we are a people of hope". Thus when things seem hopeless, when things seem impossible, when things cannot be explained or understood, we do not lose hope, as that is exactly the position that the disciples of Christ found themselves on the day of the Crucifixion. And even up until they encountered the " empty tomb" and heard these fateful words, from two witnesses, two angels of God,  that have changed history for ever. " Why are you looking for the living among the dead"?.

So as we continue to live in dread of the high murder rate  in our nation. As we continue to mourn with those who suffer loss. As we continue to grapple with huge economic problems occasioned by low productivity, owing too much money, anemic export performance,  profligate spending by successive administration over the years, a run-a-away  dollar ( worth almost  US 1 cent). As we continue to witness the growing number of prostitutes peddling their wares on the "Portmore backroad, and in high society in more sophisticated ways. As we continue to witness the growing number of "schoolers" who are becoming parents. As we continue " reap " the effects of the ill will generated between the two political parties over the years and which tribalism has  served to tear apart  communities  and promote the kind of internecine warfare which has contributed to the violence in our society.  We do not lose hope, because we know that God can and has raised the dead, to new life. So we are not to be guilty of looking for solutions, for salvation for ourselves and our country, from the " dead way of living" that the world offers. The dependence on police strategies.The dependence on the IMF. the dependence on the Private sector ingenuity and entrepreneurship. The dependence on the negotiating skills, and leadership skills and creative skills of    our political leaders. The dependence on the resurgence of the middle class and a new value system which will promote a new morality in our land. As important as all those things are! Rather we are to be assured by the Incarnation, the Death and Resurrection of Christ, that the God who created this world, has the power, loves His Created order, and has come to make all things new and will be with us forever. All because of Christ. This is the message of Easter to the believer and all who would seek to know the truth.

Evil and wickedness, pain and grief,  will not reign in Jamaica, or in the USA or in Syria forever. It will come to en end one day. All because Christ is risen. 

So for those of us, like me who spend this weekend praying, along with others,  without ceasing,  for someone close to me who is desperately ill, let us draw comfort from the fact that God can raise the dead, if He so choses. And even if He does not, we are called to trust Him and be confident in His power, and not to panic and fret, as that does not help anyone. And thank God on this day when we celebrate new life, He has shown that He has so  chosen.  And we place tomorrow into His very safe hands.

In the same way many of us who have been praying for our nation, and for more personal issues, perhaps financial, perhaps relational, perhaps related to the office environment, or the school, perhaps the grandchildren or the children, perhaps the devil is so powerful in the temptation you are facing, perhaps it is a loss of faith in God. Whatever!  Let us rest assured that God is able! And He has shown this by raising Jesus from the dead. All other calamities, be it the tragedy of sudden death from whatever reason, the tragedy of war, the tragedy of famine, the tragedy of rape, of HIV/AIDS, or injustice of whatever sort, Jesus suffered as much, and then  more and died, styled as a criminal, but lived a sinless life. And was indeed as the Roman guard cried out soon after Jesus died and supernatural things began to take place around him, " truly he was the Son of God".

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

So we continue to pray for each other, and for this nation and the nations of the world, for Nelson Mandela, for that little boy who lost his dad so tragically, so senselessly and so horrifyingly, and for the whole world, and for fallen humanity. With hope and faith in God as mirrored  in the words of the songwriter whose song was referenced by my rector Rev. Sirano Kitson this morning during his Easter sermon

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

And we close by praying according to the Word of God found in 2 Kings: 6-15. NIV

" When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ' Oh, my lord, what shall we do?' the servant asked.

' Don't be afraid', the prophet answered. ' This who are with us are more than those who are with them'.

And Elisha prayed, ' O Lord, open his eyes so he may see'. Then the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

O God open the eyes of that brother, that sister, that husband, that wife, that child, that politician, that businessman or woman, that professional, that prostitute, that murderer, that rapist, that atheist, that agnostic, that con artist,  all of us dear Lord, that we  may all see ourselves around the cross of Christ. That we may hear Him cry out , " My, God, my God, why has thou forsaken me,  as the weight of our collective sins separated Him from the Father He had known before time was created. That we might hear Him cry out, " Father forgive them for they know not what they do".  That we may all be convicted of sin, the 'filthy  rags' that we all wear,  and thus feel  the need for salvation. And come to appreciate the grace that " saved a wretch like me". And then fall down and accept the forgiveness that  God in Christ offers on the Cross of calvary and worship and trust in God. And who knows how God may change this nation. And that nation. And that nation. All because of Easter. All because of the love of God that passeth all human understanding Amen!.