Psalm 22 v30-31 NIV
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.
Amen! Though this may be just one more step down the road of the long defeat, yet it is but a deep and profound note in the song of victory.
For, He has done it!
The Lamb reigns.
So, here we are. Suddenly this whole General Synod thing seems to be right ahead and I’ll be seeing what I can do to help the orthodox Christian voice in that place.
You’ll find me blogging from here during that time.
As and when I will add stuff to this blog, but don’t be surprised if it becomes a little quieter here for the next while.
In the meantime, just to bang the same drum a little more, please do pray.
Pray for the Essentials effort, pray for all those going, pray for the families left behind.
Pray for those speaking, planning, voting, creating resolutions, communicating and helping in any capacity.
Pray for safe and timely transportation, both to and from, and during General Synod.
Pray for all the technical ‘stuff’, that everything would come together in that area.
Pray for freedom from sickness (I would be in that category, fighting some kind of virus at the moment).
Pray most of all that Gods will be done, and that He be glorified! May the burning fire of His love illuminate our hearts to His glory, that we may be His people, salt and light in this dark world. Glory be to God alone; Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Isaiah 5 v20 (NIV)
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
I have a little story to tell you.
The other day, while sheltering on our porch from a thunderstorm, I noticed a wasp also taking shelter in our covered wooden bird box that was hanging in the porch. On closer inspection, I noticed the beginnings of a paper nest inside this box. Hmm, I thought.
After hmm-ing for a moment, I did the obvious thing. I unhooked the box and left it, hole side up, out in the rain under the downpour. Needless to say, the wasps were non-too pleased, but what can you do, eh?
At this point, I have a confession to make. I have a penchant for feeling sorry for things. Anything. Animate or inanimate. The cute fwuffy widdle puppy and, um, that wasps nest I just left out in the rain. I just can’t help it, perhaps one day I’ll get over it. Anyway, never mind and back to the story.
Yup, this story does have a point other than outlining my character flaws for all and sundry. I was on my way to conduct an errand, and a thought occurred to me (I shall have to have that seen to as well). I thought, hey, that nascent wasps nest could be a really neat analogy.
C’mon, you know where I’m going with this…
OK, so here it is. We as a church have had a wasps nest of heresy and apostasy on our porch and, rather than doing the painful but necessary thing (which, by the way is mentioned as both necessary and painful in the Bible – y’know that book that…oh never mind) we have decided to ignore and tolerate it.
So, what happened? Well, funnily enough that wasps nest, over the course of the summer, grew, expanded beyond the confines of the box and suddenly, rather than a tiny little wasps nest we have a great big wasps nest – on our porch, stopping us getting in and out, getting the kids stung and generally making daily life difficult.
We tolerated it, and look what we became? The spectre of Catholic bishops tolerating ‘Catholic’ politicians supporting abortion and other innovations of the zeitgeist.
Simply put, you don’t tolerate wasps, you don’t tolerate sin, because if you do it just grows.
But wait a moment, where do Anglicans fit into all this, you may ask? Well, for the record I am not a good Anglican. If I was a good Anglican I would have taken that wasps nest inside and placed it at the centre of the mantelpiece. I would have watched it grow with pride, congratulating myself on my diversity and tolerance, glad that I had found it in my heart to be so inclusive. I would have been stung, and watched my children being stung and have rejoiced in this new relationship that the spirit was working within us.
Welcome, friends, to our world. Welcome to the Anglican Madhouse.
However, that is not the end. Fortunately we have a God with a track record of rescuing fools from their folly. The house is, I believe, condemned. However, there is a way out still open for those that would go. For you see, God is doing a new thing. He is not content to leave us in the result of our foolishness. Love burns in anger, but cries in mercy. Indeed, He is always more ready to be merciful than we are to receive.
My prayer is that we would perceive that mercy and in obedience walk in the paths He is opening up for us to the new dwelling places. I do not believe those dwelling places will be what we imagine, nor perhaps even what we desire. But it will be what is needed and ordained for us in this season.
The choice is before you, remain and be stung into insensibility or walk into the new paths, paths as yet untrodden. God grant us wisdom, courage, perseverance and faith! Amen!
Nest week (yes, it really is that soon), I’m off to General Synod, to report on what is going on there from the Anglican Essentials perspective.
The picture I was given the other day spoke of a modern army tank brigade setting off for the battle, armed and armoured – against a stronghold of the enemy. Now, what was impressed upon me is that any modern army requires copious amounts of fuel – think gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon!
This fuel is essential to be able to manouever, flank, attack or retreat! A tank brigade without fuel is a sorry sight indeed – you may be armed and armoured but nevertheless you cannot do anything.
Put simply, our fuel is prayer. Without it we will not be able to function. Truth be told, I have a serious antipathy to this time. Moving in the prophetic seems to make it harder when standing against the kind of evil rampant in the Church. You are open in a way that burns, both outwardly and inwardly.
So, we need you! You might not be on the front lines in this particular battle, but nontheless you are essential. Apathy and indifference are two of the sleep drugs our enemy will love to slip into our drink.
Be sober, alert and aware, and please be our fuel trucks!!
I was perusing the Anglican Church of Canada General Synod website, when I came across an Article titled ‘A General Synod without walls’. It starts off so:
“This fellow eats with sinners and tax collectors.” Luke 15
As our General Synod approaches, the issues before our church come into sharper and shaper focus, and the volume of the commentary – both the sheer amount of it, and its loudness, grows. In a fractured world, there is before us the specter of a fractured church. All it will take for that to be realized is for us to persist in seeing each other as “positions” instead of persons. And in particular, to see each other as “outside” and “inside”, or “onside” and “offside.”
We are not the first generation to be tempted in that direction. In the time of Jesus, there were hard boundaries, boundaries that defined a person as clean or unclean, as included or excluded, as “us” or “them.” I have absolutely no doubt that if we come to General Synod looking for reasons to impose such boundaries, to build such walls, we will find them.
Read the rest of the article here.
Does this not seem entirely reasonable? However, upon reading the whole article, a thought came into my mind. A sheep pen needs walls, for this is what helps protect the flock. There are still ravenous wolves and roaring lions out there whose only intent is to devour the flock.
In fact, this is a good analogy as to what is happening at the moment, as erstwhile sheep are doing the utmost to break the walls down. Success, in their terms, would seem to be having a sheep pen with no walls. You can put the sheep into the pen through the Gate, and they are then free to wander off in whatever direction they fancy.
Because, y’know, we are so enlightened these days, and wolves / lions, well they were just simplistic fables for a more primitive time, don’t you know? That is, until one finds the lion of lust, or the wolf of despair only too alive and well when grazing in the fetid fields of the world.
To address the writer, what he is doing is confusing two things. First, there are human walls. Some human walls are necessary, just like garden walls, they help define our existance. We need that information to relate to each other, for example are you a member of my immediate family or are you a stranger? It may help me to judge better whether I should trust you with my children, for instance.
Of course, these garden fences can become thick castle walls, overgrown with ivy, rank and fetid, as we take natural division and turn it into intolerance, hatred and irrational fear. That’s where sin comes in. And, if those are the walls he is addressing then yes, tear them down!
However, I would argue that it is not what is actually happening in practice. In practice, the walls that are being torn down are Gods walls, the walls that are not intended to curse and restrict, but to bless and protect. Adults no less need walls than do our children – I know of no parents who can bring up children without defining boundaries. Why then do we imagine that God would be any less a loving parent? Truth is – there is danger and evil out there, and we are more than able to fall for it, become part of it, revel in it. We are fallen people, even while we are redeemed. We are the now and the not yet. The walls are the walls of the sheep pen, and are to us a blessing.
The writer, either purposefully or not, misdirects us by bringing forward a laudable aim, that of tearing down the rank weed infested castle walls of our lives, and uses that to cover what is actually happening, the tearing down of the sheep pen!
To man those walls and seek to repair them is not hate, it is love. To confront people with the truth is not hate, it is love. To seek a more excellent way is not hate, it is love.
You have to wonder why, when us humans were made a little lower than the angels, that we are referred to as sheep? Animals?! But that is the truth, having swapped the truth for a lie, subsuming what was made in Gods image for the carnal – in a very real sense we have become animals – all of us, like lost sheep, have gone astray.
The work that Christ has done in us is just as I have said – the now and the not yet. We are His – yet the old self still wars within us. Hence, by the grace of God, we need a sheep pen – one with walls. Those who would tear down the pen, even while crying freedom, are the worst deceivers – both deceived and deceiving – promising freedom while ensnared themselves.
Peter had it right, I think:
2 Peter 2 (New International Version)
1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
17These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
From here with additional ‘editorial’ (and yes I know this is fast becoming old news, but you do have the dubious benefit of my editorial, so read on):
B.C. Anglicans back same-sex marriages
The majority of the Anglican Diocese of B.C. representatives are in favour of the church blessing same-sex marriages, and have urged their delegates to the national conference that will decide the issue to approve the controversial topic which is splitting the church.
A survey of delegates yesterday at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria comes at a sensitive time in the Anglican church worldwide. Schisms have developed between countries with large Anglican populations over whether the church should bless same-sex marriages.
One hundred and two delegates at a special session for representatives from Vancouver Island and Gulf Island churches said they are in favour of same-sex unions being blessed. They want the issue dealt with in Winnipeg June 19-25 at the national synod, an assembly of church leaders or delegates that discusses and decides upon church affairs.
Funnily enough, this is something I can agree with, let’s have this issue dealt with. Like many folk, I really do not want to go on with years and years of this stuff. Not that it matters too much what I want or anything. 😉
“It’s clear the church is moving forward,” (it’s certainly moving somewhere) said the Very Rev. Peter Elliott, a keynote speaker at the meeting here and the highest-ranking openly gay cleric in the Anglican Church of Canada. “The Anglican Church is a big tent mess. We love and celebrate diversity , and people have the freedom of expressing their convictions.” (Welcome to the Church of Anything Goes. I rather think the charge of Anglicans becoming universalists who dress funny is not entirely without merit.)
The 102 people who voted in favour of same-sex marriages being blessed and wanted the issue dealt with at the synod represented 51.7 per cent of the delegates. Hmm, not as solid as one might think in a predominantly revisionist diocese.
Another 27 people voted in favour of same-sex unions being blessed, but thought the issue should wait. And wait, and wait and wait……….
A total of 45 people said they should never be blessed, and 19 delegates were unsure.
The survey was taken so that the 10 delegates representing the area at the national conference would know local thought on the issue.
“It is useful for us to know the mindset of the synod delegates as a whole,” said Martin Henry, one of the delegates.
Same-sex blessings came to the forefront of Anglican debate in 2003, when the diocese of New Westminster on the Lower Mainland gave parishes the option of blessing same-sex marriages. (The couple is married, and then receives a church liturgy.)
Elliott is the dean and rector of Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral, in the diocese of New Westminster, the only church in Canada to give same-sex blessings to already legally married couples. Info on Dean Elliott here.
Several other parishes took exception. Eight conservative Vancouver-area parishes quit the diocese. Four of those joined the anti-gay Anglican Church of Rwanda. ‘Anti-gay’ is used in this context as a slur.
The issue also caused a stir in the church worldwide, particularly in more conservative countries, such as parts of Africa where it is still a crime to be gay, even punishable by death.
Worldwide, the church is grappling with how to move forward with such strongly held disparate views. Some fear the church will split, or that there will be full membership and associate membership, depending on the stance on same-sex blessings.
Pray for those who were at that synod seeking to restore the B.C. diocese to the better path – I have it on good authority that it was deeply painful time for them. While you’re at it, mindful of the last post, let’s pray for all those at the BC synod, that God may bless and guide them.
There are a number of folks in our Church that move in the area of prophetic visions, dreams and the suchlike. As such, I thought I might share with you one of those dreams. The preface is from 2 Peter 2, the text for our current sermon series, which formed the backdrop to the dream.
2 Peter 2 (English Standard Version)
12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing.
I was riding a horse on a high plain, and as I looked down away off in the far distance there were small fires burning brightly. An small animal acting rabied or possessed was leaping at the flames, it seemed like he was trying to put them out, one by one.
When he appeared to be having trouble putting them out, he moved on up the hill rapidly. The horse I was on was afraid as the animal came up the hill, I thought if we were quiet he would not bother us, so I steered the horse gently, hoping not to attract the animals attention. I saw a place to take cover and we moved into it, he could not have seen us, but it was like he could smell us and was close and raring to attack. As I peeked out of where we were taking cover, there was a huge animal, seemingly gentle and lay asleep. I had not seen the large sleeping animal lying there when we went in!
The large animal seemed like it had already been badly hurt, but his face and body had clean white bandages. The large animal arose , and we were safe.
I then was moved into a different place safely. And now for some reason I was preparing to lead the prayers. The names that I started to pray for were John Spong and Michael Ingham, and the words of the prayer that came forth were those words we prayed the other day at prayer time: BCP page 39 For the Universal Church. (It was amazing, because in daylight, I could have not repeated that prayer as I do not know it that well!)
This was my perception: The fires are lit by God, and the devil / principalities / powers are seeking to put them out (compare with the vision for the lighthouse, again light in a dark place, guiding beacon is a theme). Failing to do so, he will seek to attack the brethren; the place of safety to be found will be guarded by Him whose wounds have healed us.
Then we see from a different perspective that we are called to pray for our enemies, for those who would seek to persecute us, for that is our Fathers will.
What do you think? I’d be interested to know……
I remember where I was, and what I saw. There was a twist on that day, as things were set on a new path. It was a kairos moment, and a warning for those to see who would see. At that point the economy (in particular) and military were put under judgment as the idolatrous gods that they have become.
It seems to me that the political was protected on that day, because the president acknowledged the Lord (note the 270 degree turn in the final suicide plane as it headed initially for the White House). Not for any other reason either, not for a great administration, perfect policies, partisan politics – simply because he acknowledged the name of the great I AM.
Now, I see the same swift stroke as does Susan, I see a sudden cathartic action, recently I saw in my minds eye the avalanche. We will prepare now in Christ, or we will be overcome.
We did not wake up on 9/11 but merely stirred. Now will we sleepwalk into destruction? Will we wake this time, or will it prove equally as transient as before – like with the last king of Israel? There, the weight of judgment brought things to an end even when the people made a gesture in the right direction.
This time, will it be enough?
Lord, have mercy.
I don’t think (nor do my plants) that you should get snow at the end of May. However it has been noted that the weather does not care overmuch what I think. Ah, well…
We broke the 1 day record for snowfall, surpassing the previous 5cm with a new 7cm record. And yes, that poor plant did survive!
OK, time to ‘fess up one of the things I’ve been up to behind the scenes in preparation for the Anglican Church of Canada General Synod. If you go visit here, all will be made clear!
The Age To Come 