Great Quote from Martin Luther

Martin Luther..."My conscience is captive to the Word of God... to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me."

Christ Church Atlanta

I had my first visitation today as an Anglican bishop at Christ Church Atlanta. While on our way to the church which is located in Buckhead, Allison and I saw a buck cross the road on Habersham Road. Having been around Buckhead all of my life, this was the first time I have ever seen a buck in Buckhead!!

David Charney, Alfred Sawyer, Me

Me, Allison, Memory Sawyer, Alfred Sawyer

Christ Church is a delightful congregation which meets in the Atlanta International School (my old high school - North Fulton). Alfred Sawyer is the rector and his Associate is David Charney. This congregation is serious about standing for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a religious and secular culture which is constantly dismissing the need for people to come to Him.

It was great to be in such a memorable place with a large number of people whom Allison and I have shared fellowship over the past thirty years. I preached on Philippians 3:17-21 a sermon entitled: "Living as We ARE, Not as We WERE." Administered Confirmation and shared at the Lord's Table. Great day of worship!!

Food for THOUGHT

From James Allen -- "Good thoughts and actions never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles."

Been thinking about what I have been thinking about!!

Do we really reap what we sow? Gal.6:6-8. Yes, we do. So what am I sowing in my mind? Am I constantly sowing what I hear in the news or from the gossip trail or from my pastoral counseling? If I do not sow the Word of God, the awareness of God's Presence, His Beauty in the creation all around me, and WHO the Scriptures say I am "in Christ," then the fruit of my life becomes more and more worldly and chaotic. But if I will sow God's "good" in my life, I benefit by reaping the fruit of a Spiritual life, and the peace which passes all understanding.

Been meditating on Philippians 4:8 -- "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think on these things."

Wesley on Spending

Another friend, the Rev. David Roseberry, Rector of Christ Church, Plano, TX, posted the following questions John Wesley would encourage folks to ask before they made a purchase. Perhaps, we should apply them to our purchases....

1. In spending this money, am I acting like I owned it, or am I acting like the Lord’s trustee?


2. What Scripture requires me to spend this money in this way?


3. Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice to the Lord?


4. Will God reward me for this expenditure at the resurrection of the just?

Wesley also encouraged someone to pray a prayer like this before a purchase:

“Lord, thou seest I am going to expend this amount on that food, apparel, furniture. And thou knowest I act therein with a single eye, as a steward of thy goods, expending this portion of them thus, in pursuance of the design thou hadst in entrusting me with them. Thou knowest I do this in obedience to thy word, as thou commandest, and because thou commandest it. let this, I beseech thee, be a holy sacrifice, acceptable through Jesus Christ! And give me a witness in myself, that for this labor of love I shall have a recompence when thou rewardest every man according to his words.”

A friend sent me this quote by John Wesley. Worth meditating on and living out...

"...love is the highest gift of God;

humble, gentle, patient love;

that all visions, revelations, manifestations whatever, are little things compared to love;

and that all the gifts above-mentioned are either the same with, or infinitely inferior to, it.

"It were well you should be thoroughly sensible of this, -- `the heaven of heavens is love.'

There is nothing higher in religion;

there is, in effect, nothing else;

if you look for anything but more love, you are looking wide of the mark, you are getting out of the royal way.

And when you are asking others, `Have you received this or that blessing? 'if you mean anything but more love, you mean wrong; you are leading them out of the way, and putting them upon a false scent.

Settle it then in your heart, that from the moment God has saved you from all sin, you are to aim at nothing more, but more of that love described in the thirteenth of the Corinthians. [1 Cor. 13] You can go no higher than this, till you are carried into Abraham's bosom."

October Column

Read my October Newspaper Column at http://www.awordfromthelord.org/page.asp?pg=October%202010.

A Quick Visit to London

LAMBETH PALACE

Forty-eight hours after I was consecrated as an Anglican bishop, I was eating dinner at Lambeth Palace sitting next to Jane Williams (ABC's wife) and Nicky Gombel (the founder of Alpha). I was there at the invitation of Graham Tomlin regarding St. Paul's Theological Centre of St. Mellitus College in London, an innovative approach to theological education. Being at the place of such history, especially for Anglican Christians, was very inspiring and uplifting. We ate dinner in the Palace dining room surrounded by paintings of former Archbishops of Canterbury, and the whole building dripped with Anglican history of which I have read about many times.

Pippa Gombel, Jane Williams (wife of ABC), me, Rev. Nicky Gombel in the historic dining room in Lambeth Palace. Notice the painting of ABC's from the past in the background.

St. Paul's Theological Centre offers a solid theological education with ministry preparation and training which is based in the local church. Rather than sending a person off to an isolated location, teaching is given in a church setting in amidst of a faith community. The curriculum calls for the person to be in school 1/2 time and serve in a church the other half. This offers much potential for training for the pastorate and for lay ministry for the new Anglican movement in the U.S. As we are attempt to share Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him and plant new churches in communities throughout the land, this program is a possible equipping tool which can be easily implemented.

STANDING IN FRONT OF "THE" PAINTING OF THOMAS CRAMNER

This was my first time to London. I look forward to going back with my family and visiting the places where so many incredible acts of Christian faith, charity, vision, and sacrifice occurred.

Now A Bishop

Wow! I don't know how to describe the past 48 hours. Being ordained and consecrated a bishop was an incredibly humbling, awe-inspiring, and meaningful experience with the Lord and the people of God. I am really at a loss for words at the moment as it will take me a while to be able to put into words what the Lord is doing.

Being able to be in the presence of the godly men of the Lord who are serving as bishops was such a privilege.

The outpouring of love and encouragement has been most inspiring.

And today we confirmed and received over 40 new members in the church! Blessed be the Name of the Lord. May Jesus be praised and honored!

The service was incredible (should be able to watched on anglican.tv).

Ordination and Consecration Service

On this coming Saturday, October 9th

at 1:00 p.m.

at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta,

I will be ordained and consecrated an

Anglican Bishop in the

Anglican Church in North America for the

Anglican Diocese of the South.

You are invited if in town, or if not,

You can watch on Anglican.tv.

I covet your prayers!!