Posted by ajenkins on April 1, 2010 under Devotionals, Just A Thought | 
Never before have I lived a Holy Week like this. My back injury has forced me to a very different role during this most important week of our Faith. For those of you who were part of our journey through James’ letter, I have found comforting wisdom in James 1:2-4. I have had to constantly look deeply into that mirror which is my Lord’s Word and His Life. And yes, I have found joy there and new revelation of what “Holy” means and more importantly, what it produces.
What has this pain, this helplessness, this Holy Week produced in me? It has comforted me in the arms of unconditional love. This week, this unbelievably important week I have been unable to do anything for the people I love, for the ministry I love, for the faith moments I love to celebrate, and for the Lord I love to serve. I have been helpless and worthless and yet, I have experienced afresh the love of my crucified and risen savior for this helpless and worthless person. For that I can “count it all joy.”
To the many of you who are praying, loving and offering me help, thank you. Please know that my salvation is purchased by my Lord, but my soul this week has been purchased by your prayers. Numbers 6:24.
Posted by ajenkins on January 15, 2010 under Editorial Response, Just A Thought |
Editor’s Note: This repost is from Dr. Albert Mohler’s blog. This is Dr. Mohler’s response to a statement made by the Rev’d Pat Robertson that the Haitian earthquake is God’s judgment of them. Dr. Mohler is president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
Excerpt: “Why did no earthquake shake Nazi Germany? Why did no tsunami swallow up the killing fields of Cambodia? Why did Hurricane Katrina destroy far more evangelical churches than casinos? Why do so many murderous dictators live to old age while many missionaries die young?”
Does God Hate Haiti? Full article…
The images streaming in from Haiti look like scenes from Dante’s Inferno. The scale of the calamity is unprecedented. In many ways, Haiti has almost ceased to exist.
The earthquake that will forever change that nation came as subterranean plates shifted about six miles under the surface of the earth, along a fault line that had threatened trouble for centuries. But no one saw a quake of this magnitude coming. The 7.0 quake came like a nightmare, with the city of Port-au-Prince crumbling, entire villages collapsing, bodies flying in the air and crushed under mountains of debris. Orphanages, churches, markets, homes, and government buildings all collapsed. Civil government has virtually ceased to function. Without power, communication has been cut off and rescue efforts are seriously hampered. Bodies are piling up, hope is running out, and help, though on the way, will not arrive in time for many victims.
Even as boots are finally hitting the ground and relief efforts are reaching the island, estimates of the death toll range as high as 500,000. Given the mountainous terrain and densely populated villages that had been hanging along the fault line, entire villages may have disappeared. The Western Hemisphere’s most impoverished nation has experienced a catastrophe that appears almost apocalyptic.
In truth, it is hard not to describe the earthquake as a disaster of biblical proportions. It certainly looks as if the wrath of God has fallen upon the Caribbean nation. Add to this the fact that Haiti is well known for its history of religious syncretism — mixing elements of various faiths, including occult practices. The nation is known for voodoo, sorcery, and a Catholic tradition that has been greatly influenced by the occult.
Read more of this article »
Posted by ajenkins on January 8, 2010 under Anglican Events, Devotionals, Faith At Home, Just A Thought |
If you need inspiration:
Lately in the Prayers of the People you may have heard us praying for Paul and Cheryl Minor of All Saints, Belmont. They are the Reverends Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Cheryl Minor, the Co-Rectors of All Saints Episcopal Church in Belmont, Massachusetts. We are praying for this couple and their church as we begin to create a Resolution #3 relationship with them and All Saints. Resolution #3 was one of the resolutions passed at our Diocesan Special Convention back in October of last year. That resolution encouraged us to form pastoral relationships with parishes and dioceses, both domestic and foreign to aid and support them as God forms a new Global Anglicanism. Many are paying a high price to defend and proclaim the orthodox faith, the Good News of Salvation bought for us by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Just as some are dying for their faith in parts of the world, Paul and Cheryl are paying a high price to proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord. Paul has just been restored to active sacramental ministry after being inhibited for two years by Bishop Shaw of the Diocese of Massachusetts. The power of the church has always been built on the blood, the hardships of the martyrs. I pray the hardships the Minor’s are enduring may inspire you in your own faith and growth. Acts 7:55,56
If you need information:
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Posted by ajenkins on under Anglican Events, Just A Thought |
MARTIN NIEMOLLER’S ACTUAL ADDRESS TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, 1968
The following is the exact text of Martin Niemoller’s address to the U.S. Congress. There are as many versions of Mr. Niemoller’s address, (some call it a poem) as there are people who quote him.
Here is Martin Niemoller’s actual address to the U.S. Congress along with the page in the Congressional Record where it appears.
The exact text of what Martin Niemoller said, and which appears in the Congressional Record, October 14, 1968, page 31636 is:
“When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the Catholics,
I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists,
I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned.
Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church —
and there was nobody left to be concerned.”
Posted by ajenkins on December 29, 2009 under Just A Thought |
As you make your plans for a new year, a new decade are you willing to wear the little medals of life? All of us, no matter how “with it,” no matter how disciplined, no matter how peace-filled have something we want to change about ourselves. Whether it is right or wrong, the right time or the wrong time, the New Year is the time that we all think about change. As you contemplate what you want to change this next year I wonder, are you willing to wear little medals. Little medals are the incarnational signs of change. Little medals may be the sore muscles and calluses of a new exercise program. Little medals may be the tired eyes from the reading you’re finally doing to enhance your mind and thereby your life. Little medals may be the writer’s cramp you have because you’ve finally decided to journal. Little medals may be the boredom you first experience as you allow your brain, your soul to experience your own life instead of the constant stimulation of a make-believe life portrayed through the many video portals that assault us today. Little medals may be the frustration you feel because change comes so slowly. Little medals will be the joy and radiance you feel when you realize this is your life and not someone else’s. Little medals? Are you ready and willing to wear the little medals of life?
Posted by ajenkins on December 28, 2009 under Just A Thought |
Have you ever been hurt by someone trying to help? I call them misguided comforters. Usually they are fine, faithful, well-meaning Christians who are misguided in their faith. They are misguided in that they believe that if they help you, fix you, they will be fixed. They are sort of “parasite pastors.” You may recognize them by their disproportionate concern for you and your trouble.
Not sure about misguided comforters. Go ask Job. In the Book of Job, he was being “helped” <smile> by his misguided friends. The three friends did everything they thought was helpful and none of it was. Recognize this?
If you have ever been hurt or offended by misguided comforters, notice when Job’s wealth was restored (Job 42:10). Pray for the misguided comforters in your life and watch God go to work.
Posted by ajenkins on under Just A Thought |
How do we know that Christianity is true? There are two tests of any valid worldview – that it is intellectually credible and existentially satisfying. The main evidence for the truth of Christianity is Jesus Christ himself. If we look at the magnitude of Jesus’ claims and the evidence of his life, we are led to the conclusion that Jesus is who he says he is.
Jesus Christ has data. Miracles performed. Worship received. A younger brother, James, proclaimed Him as “Lord” (Kairos Kurios). Christianity is not only intellectually credible. It is not only existentially satisfying. Christianity is TRUE!
Posted by ajenkins on December 26, 2009 under Just A Thought |
Avatar is a movie with great hype and appeal. I’m sure many of you will see it and enjoy it. In fact, I encourage that. But I also encourage you to know a bit about the movie, the theology it projects, how it will affect your perspective of God and HIS Creation and your place in it.
A small cul de sac (you know I love those). The understanding of “avatars” is important to understanding the difference between the Jewish/Hebraic/Christian understanding of God and the Eastern view of gods and avatars. This is particularly important to understand the Book of James and James’ association with his elder brother Jesus.
Enjoy Avatar, but know what your watching!
This is reprinted here from Focus On the Family’s “Plugged In” movie reviews.
Begin quote: Go Epic or Go Home! That’s James Cameron’s way. His last feature film, 1997’s Titanic, became the highest grossing of all time (without inflation being factored in). And his other résumé entries include such well-known bombasts as Aliens, The Terminator and its sequel, True Lies and The Abyss.
Big, every one. And Avatar is bigger and bolder than them all.
Read more of this article »
Posted by ajenkins on December 9, 2009 under Just A Thought |
If you had only 160 characters to communicate the message of Christmas, what would you say? Rev. Matt Ward is the pastor of Emmanuel Café Church at the University of Leeds in England, and he’s decided to text his Christmas sermon to his congregation because most are students who will be home for the holiday.
Because Café Church caters mostly to college students, Ward says that he’s never with his flock during major Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter. “This is a bit of a challenge for a church community but there are still ways to celebrate ‘together’, even when we’re not in the same place at the same time, he recently told christiantoday.com.
“I thought a Christmas Day message would be one way of doing it, but what can say about the Incarnation of Jesus within those sort of text limits?! I haven’t attempted it yet in Twitter’s 140 characters. That really would be a challenge.”
His Christmas text sermon reads: “Christmas. A time of being with family, gr8 or not. Even in a manger Jesus is born in the heart of family. Whatever 2day brings remember Emmanuel, God IS with us.”
What would you write if you had to communicate a Christmas message in 160 character.
By Mike Potter: Texting the Christmas Message
Posted by ajenkins on December 7, 2009 under Faith At Home, Just A Thought |
Upcoming Faith At Home Seminar
Recently I was asked how as a Sr. Pastor I could spend my time with Directors of Christian Education learning of and promoting the faith at home methodology of Christian faith transformation? Didn’t I have more pressing priorities with which to concern myself? It was their thought that this issue of discipleship was more to be in the hands of the directors of Christian education. My response was that there is not a more important issue than this. That my job, my call, my passion from the Lord is lives that are being healed, redeemed, set free and transformed by a growing and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. I don’t do church to grow the club. I shepherd peoples that they might experience the life that Jesus Christ purchased for them with His own blood. Read more of this article »
