Flowers in Israel - Part One

On my recent trip to Israel, I could not help but to notice all the different types of flowers.  Most of these have been imported since the nation was reformed in 1948.

Visit to The Advent

I visited The Advent on the eastern edge of downtown Atlanta and dedicated their newly renovated worship space.  We had a good evening of worship and fellowship.

Fr. Dale Brown outside of Manuel's Tavern

Me with Jullian Linnell, Executive Director of Anglican Frontier Missions

Advent's New Worship Space

John Newton on God's Judgment of Nations

John Newton, an Anglican pastor who wrote the hymn, Amazing Grace, said the following in a sermon preached in England of a day of prayer and fasting for the nation (Feb. 21, 1781).

Communities, as such, in their collective capacity, are visited and judged in the present life. And, in this respect, the Scripture considers nations as individuals; each having an infancy, growth, maturity, and declension. Every succeeding generation accumulates the stock of national sin, and there is a measure of iniquity which determines the period of kingdoms. Till this measure is filled up, the patience of God waits for them, but then patience gives way to vengeance . . . When God is exceedingly displeased with a people, it is not necessary, in order to their punishment, that he should bury them alive by an earthquake, or destroy them by lightning. If he only leave them to themselves, withdraw his blessing from their counsels, and his restraint from their passions, their ruin follows of course, according to the necessary order and connection of causes and effects. 

LORD, Have Mercy upon us!

CHRIST, have mercy upon us!
LORD, have mercy upon us!

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. - 2 Timothy 4:1-4

A New Building for Christ Church, Highlands/Cashiers

The people of Christ Church, Highlands/Cashiers, gathered last night to dedicate their new worship space to God and be challenged to get on with reaching their neighbors with the message of the Jesus.  Fr. Jim Murphy and their dedicated lay leadership have worked tirelessly to prepare a place where Anglicans could gather for worship and center their ministry-efforts to reach out in the Name of Jesus with the Gospel of Salvation and the healing power of God.  I preached on 1 Timothy 2 calling the church to be a church of prayer for all people; to be a church with a heart for all people; and to take the Gospel message to all people.

One of many beautiful views around Highlands and Cashiers

The Sun is setting over the mountains as the clouds roll by

Christ Church, Highlands/Cashiers located in Cashiers, NC

Fr Jim Murphy and parishioners, Nina Bugg and Sondra Redfern

With long-time Heroes of the Faith: Bishop Alex Dickson and Alden Hathaway

Church Leaders Gather

It was a privilege to gather with the leadership of the Anglican Church in North America last week at Nashotah House, Wisconsin. To worship, discuss important issues, to envision, enjoy rich fellowship, and spend much time in prayer before the Lord, was indeed a good week. Still becoming who God has called us to be for the 21st Century, the Anglican in North America has an exciting and rich vision to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

Representatives from all parts of the church gather to examine the business of the church: the laity, deacons, priests, and bishops

Bishop Bill Atwood addresses the College of Bishops

The Anglican Diocese of the South's Participants in Provincial Council (missing is  Bishop David Anderson)

Dressed UP for worship!

Dinner with Long-Time Friends

Wedding, Confirmations, Ordination, and Provincial Council

How can my godson be getting married???  It seems like yesterday we were visiting his parents in the hospital after he was born!!  I had the privilege of participating in the marriage of Whit McGreevy and Mary Pat Bradshaw this past weekend at Pawleys Island Presbyterian Church in South Carolina.  Great time with long-time friends and reconnecting with old friends.

Whit and Mary Pat

Thanks to Billy Hodges, I was able to return to preach and welcome new members at Holy Cross, Loganville on Sunday morning.  Over 20 folks made public their commitment to Jesus Christ and become members of the Anglican Church.

Billy Hodges and his plane!

Sun setting at 8000 feet. Notice the horizon above the sun (its the  cloud haze)

Welcoming New Members at Holy Cross

Monday night brought the ordination of Aaron Prosser to the Deaconate. Deacon Aaron is a student at Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconson, a place which teaches the orthodox Christian faith and trains ministers of the Gospel.

Deacon Aaron and Sarah and their kids

This week the leaders of the Anglican Church in North American are gathering at Nashotah House for our Annual Provincial Council and College of Bishops meetings.  We are trying to keep the main thing the main thing!!!

The Anglican Church in North American Gathering for business, worship, and fellowship

Archbishop Bob Duncan Addressing the Council: Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing!

From Petra to Amman

Dinner!

Breakfast :)

More Desert

Small World!! Visit with a parishioner, Sam Juett, from 15 years ago in Monroe, GA, who now lives in Amman.

A neighborhood in Amman

Another neighborhood in this huge city which dates back 3000 years

Yes, we found the chocolate chip cookies!!

It is time for dinner

Night life and sidewalk cafes in Amman

I couldn't resist...  my love of motorcycles.  This guy is sitting on the exact motorcycle which  I am  motor-cycle sitting for James back in the States!

Petra -- Memories from the Past

On our second day in Jordan we traveled through the desert up to Petra, the remnants of the ancient home of the Nabataeans.  The incredible carvings in the rocks for the tombs of their kings and prominent citizens were amazing, but what was even more amazing was God's handiwork in the natural rock canyons, caves, and colors.  Once a powerful and wealthy civilization, there is nothing left but the rocks and hints of the beautiful home these people once enjoyed. The Scripture emphasizing tentativeness of human existence on this planet from Isaiah 40:6f came to mind as we were hiking along the ancient trials and roads of Petra...

All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
		The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
		The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Peter quotes Isaiah in this way... “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1 Peter 1:24,25 ESV)

This is actually carved from the stone rock face

This detail is carved from the rock face -- over 2000 years old

The sun sets over Petra

Hello Evening