From Romans 11

"The tension between divine election and human rebellion constitues a contradiction that our finite minds cannot fathom.  But we must affirm both truths, even if we cannot reconcile them."  John Stott

We Are Finished

The 2011 Meetings of the Provincial Council and the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America are completed.  Here in Long Beach, CA we covered a lot of material...
we approved two new dioceses,
we approved two new dioceses "in formation,"
we elected four new bishops to the College of Bishops,
we heard some wonderful Bible teachings,
we approved an Ordinal (Ordination Services) for ACNA,
we worshipped together,
we approved recommended standards for seminaries who offer Anglican studies,
we prayed together,
we passed some corrections and additions to the Canons of the Church,
we heard reports about what the Lord is doing around the country in and through various ministries of the Church, and
we enjoyed good fellowship.

All good things!  Can't wait to get home.

The Inside of All Saints' Anglican, Long Beach

The College of Bishops at work

All Saints' Anglican, Long Beach

Words on Prayer

The goal of prayer is the ear of God, a goal that can only be reached by patient and continuous waiting on Him, pouring out your hearts to Him and permitting Him to speak to us.  -- E.M. Bounds


Do not pray for easy lives.  Pray to be stronger men!  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.  Pray for power equal to your tasks.  -- Phillip Brooks


Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.  -- Saint Augustine


To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.


Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. -- John Bunyan


From Great Men Bow Down by Gordon Lawrence

ACNA Provincial Council

This past Tuesday and Wednesday I have been in meetings of the Provincial Council of the Anglican Church of North America in Long Beach, California.  I am not a meeting kind of guy, but it has surely been exciting to see and hear of the what the Lord is doing around this embryonic season of this fresh Anglican movement in the United States.

Some of the ADOTS folks who are here: Susan Burkart, Betty Shanks, Phil Ashey, John Welchel

Archbishop Ian Ernst of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean teaching  the delegates

Adults are coming to the Lord.  Adults, not just children, are being baptized.  And new churches are being planted.  The life and vitality of the Holy Spirit in this new movement is just plain exciting!!  The best part of this experience... being with long-time friends in the Lord.

Now for the College of Bishops meeting... and to find the beach -- this is LONG Beach.

Here in Long Beach

Never been to Long Beach, California before.  Driven past it, but never stopped.  What a surprising find!!  I am here for the Provincial Council Meetings and College of Bishop meetings for the Anglican Church in North America.  Will be here all week.  A beautiful place to have meetings.  Too bad there isn't any liesure time built into the schedule.  May have to make some!

Keep us in your prayers as we make decisions on behalf of the whole church.  This is a wonderful group of people who love the Lord and wanted to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah.

The Queen Mary in Port

I HAD to take this picture

Airport Adventures

A few weeks ago I had to fly to Virginia for a bishop's function.  Having lived in Atlanta most of my life and having a wife who was a flight attendant, I usually know my way around.  I usually plan on extra time to make sure I am always at the gate at least 30 minutes before the flight is supposed to leave.

On this trip to the airport, I left in plenty of time allowing for traffic, etc.  Well sure enough, the expressway was clogged up, and that put me behind schedule. When I arrived at the Park and Fly lot, I still had plenty of time to catch the plane.  I parked and stepped onto the shuttle van and the lady gave me my parking receipt.  But we just sat there!  After about 7 or 8 minutes, I asked her why we were not going anywhere.  She said, "Oh, you need to get on that one over there."  ???  So I unloaded my luggage and when over to the other shuttle.  Sat down.  And then we just sat for another five minutes!

When I arrived at the security checkpoint, time is starting to get tight.  I looked at the line and said to myself, "Good, a short line."  After I got in the line, it did not move.  The minutes kept ticking away.  I am starting to sweat now.  The man in front of me was gracious and let me ahead of him.  Once through the security area, I began to run.  I even ran down the escalator to the subway leading to the terminals.  I heard the "voice" at the subway train saying, "the doors are closing."  I leaped in just in time to which two ladies laughed at me and said, "You just made it!"  I looked at my watch and said, "we'll see."  At which, they laughed again.  When the subway train arrived at the correct terminal, I went into a full sprint (even up the escalator!) all the way to the gate.  I arrived just before they were closing the doors.  Walked in and sat down, and said "thank you Lord!"

Today, I am flying out to California.  I allowed even more extra time today.  Everything is going well, and then the underground subway train stops in between stops.  We just sit there.  Minute after minute goes by!  I am three minutes away from pulling the emergency door release, and the train begins to move.  I arrive at the gate two minutes before the doors close.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do His pleasure -- Psalm 37:5


Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight -- Proverbs 3:5,6


Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him -- Psalm 37:7

Night Visions from Jerusalem

Our last night in Jerusalem coincided with the beginning of the Jerusalem City of Lights Festival and a full lunar eclipse.  The Old City of the Jerusalem was divided into several different colors and a long string of light (red, or blue, or green, orange) went along the street for people to follow.  The following pics are some of the street scenes.  Although the pictures I am using don't show the crowds, there were literally thousands of people walking along the streets enjoying the different light presentations.

Inside of Christ Church

This guy is over twice the size of a human

Visions From the Day

Overlook of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus

Russ Killebrew with Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley in the background

Alton Wilson listening to a teaching

Myra Pruitt and Beverly Thomas

My wife with the Eastern Gate in the background

Doesn't this picture make a statement?

Overlook of Jerusalem from inside a chapel on the Mount of Olives at a spot commemorating Jesus weeping over the city.  These are glass windows behind the Altar Table allowing one to see the city from inside.  The church is shaped like an upside down tear-drop

Inside the Church of the Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives

Sue Tomlinson and Mary Lou Boone in the Garden of Gethsemane

Inside of a "pit" in the bottom of what many think was Caiaphas' house in the wealthy section of 1st Century Jerusalem

At the Garden Tomb on the outside of the Old City of Jerusalem

Bethlehem and Yad Vasheem

We went into the Palestinian Authority's territory today and went to see the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  The place where Jesus was born is surrounded by three churches: Orthodox, Ethiopian, and Roman Catholic.  Bethlehem is always an interesting experience.  My heart goes out to the native Arab Christians who are quickly being overwhelmed with Muslims.

After a shopping spree in Bethlehem at an Arab Christian Store and lunch, we went to the holocaust memorial, Yad Vasheem.  Lord, may humanity never repeat such a horrible atrocity!!

Starbucks Bethlehem style!!

A church in Bethlehem - notice the barbed-wire

Entering the Church of Nativity

Rick Pruitt and Alton Wilson Outside Yad Vasheem with Jerusalem in the background

Jerusalem's Walls at Night

Wonderful dinner tonight at Christ Church.  Temps in the high 50's at night and upper 70's in the day.  Shalom from Jerusalem.