Gerald Bray is worth listening to. In this article he covers a number of topics, including the truth of the Bible, and the situation facing the Anglican Church.

Happy Birthday Brother John!

Sorry, card is almost IN the mail.

From Peter Jones:

"The beautifully sculptured wall, 18 feet high and 300 feet long, in a majestic park in the center of Geneva, Switzerland, constitutes an impressive monument to the Swiss Reformation of the 16th century. Last week, on an afternoon off from my lectures at the Geneva Bible Institute, I went with a few of the French and Swiss pastors who were attending the conference, to visit Le Mur des Réformateurs. At the centre of the wall are four impressive statues of Farel, Calvin, Beza and Knox. Behind them in letters six feet tall is the motto of the Franco-Swiss Reformation: "Post Tenebras Lux" (After Darkness, Light), referring to the coming of the Gospel and the revival of true faith after centuries of medieval obscurity. Certainly, that old Geneva was not heaven on earth, but it still stands as a moving example of the revival of biblical faith and piety in both private and public life.

There is a new darkness over Geneva, though long in preparation.

Two hundred years after Calvin, the Swiss Romantic anti-Christian philosopher, Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778), said correctly of the Genevan pastors of his day: "We neither know what they believe or what they do not believe. We do not even know what they pretend to believe." He was referring to the disarray of sound doctrine already in the 18th century. In the twenty-first century a new, twofold expression of spiritual obscurity hovers over the church and the culture. On the one hand, the historic church, with its commitment to liberal theology, has lost its evangelical light and has adopted the message of religious syncretism. Two years ago the Dalai Lama gave an address at the Saint Peter's Cathedral where Calvin had preached for most of his ministry. On the other hand, the forces of paganism have taken over the culture. Having rejected its Christian past, the country is engaged in a radical overhaul of its basic beliefs, typified by the head of state, an openly-practicing homosexual, who appears at state functions with his lover.

One of the pastors attending my lectures witnessed a symbolic event that took place in front of the wall of the Reformers. Thousands of gays and lesbians danced in front of the wall in provocative states of dress and undress, giving an obvious finger of "deformation" to Geneva's spiritual past.

Two things remain with me:

1. Neo-paganism is a common problem wherever I go. Pagan spirituality is on the rise, remaking modern culture, in the name, of freedom and democracy, but really, in the power and inspiration of anti-Christian paganism, of which the gay parade is a fascinating symbol.

2. We are told that we are going forward to a new, global utopia of sexual and spiritual liberation. Of gay parades, Christian de la Huerta of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, states: "the wild mix of 'go-go boys,' topless lesbians and endless other sexual variations, all throbbing to tribal drumbeats" actually constitutes not a sin but "a gift, a blessing... a privilege...and a sacred service....Queer people often function as catalysts, acting as agents of change,...supporting the advancement of society."

Oddly enough, such thinking about social "progress" is taking us backwards! We are "Coming Home," as the title of a recent pagan book—affirms, home to the ancient pagan world of anything-goes-sexuality and monistic spirituality. Rewind the tape.

St. Augustine, in the fifth century AD, in the last gasps of the decadent Roman Empire, mentions parades "in the presence of an immense throng of spectators and listeners of both sexes" of obscene actors who role-played disgusting acts, joined by the public display of homosexual priests, galloi, priests of the Goddess, known for their cross-dressing, outrageous make-up, flamboyant hairstyles, ritual ecstatic dancing, and the gift of prophecy.

For radical feminists the future belongs to the worship of this same deity, as they await the "Second Coming of the Goddess." "It may be," they say, "that Sophia is about to be discerned in much the same way as she was in first century Alexandria: as a beacon to Christians, Jews, Gnostics and Pagans alike."

If there is nothing really new, and things will occur "in much the same way," then great is the likelihood that the future world system will not differ much from the polytheistic, animistic empires of old. The conflict is still between biblical theism and pagan monism. As we approach Reformation Day, October 31, 2006, it is good to remember that a courageous announcing of the original lux of the Gospel, that light that dissipated the tenebras of ancient Rome and 16th century Geneva, is surely the only answer to the growing pagan darkness of our time."

Resolution In Support Bishop Mark MacDonald and the Camp Allen Statement
(The following is a resolution offered by Jim Basinger, David Terwilliger and Bob Young at the Diocese of Alaska Convention at Wasilla, AK Oct 5-7, 2006. The Resolutions Committee dropped the 'whereas clauses' and the resolved clause was amended on the floor so as to evacuate it of any meaning. The resolution, gutted and morphed was passed.

1. Whereas Bishop Mark MacDonald joined with other bishops in The Episcopal Church (TEC) at the Episcopal Diocese of Texas’ Camp Allen Conference and Retreat Center to work for the unity, integrity and vitality of TEC and the Anglican Communion, and

2. Whereas the gathered bishops issued a statement on September 22 in which they affirmed their faith in Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life – the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures, set forth in the catholic Creeds, and to which the historic Anglican formularies bear witness, and

3. Whereas it was their clear sense that General Convention 2006 did not adequately respond to the request made of The Episcopal Church by the Communion through the Windsor Report and the Primates at Dromantine – requests which included moratoria regarding church discipline and order, and

4 Whereas Bishop Mark and those bishops gathered at Camp Allen expressed their regret, on behalf of themselves for those actions with which the Windsor Report was concerned, and

5. Whereas they accepted and affirmed the Windsor Report as necessary for the healing of the breaches in the Communion and for ecumenical relationships and endorsed the development of an Anglican Covenant, and

6. Whereas they affirmed the teaching of the Anglican Communion, as expressed in successive Lambeth Conferences, including the resolutions of Lambeth 1998 (among which is Resolution 1.10), and

7. Whereas they recognize the need of some for alternative primatial relationships, and as it is their hope and prayer that their fellowship can contribute to our Province’s life within the Communion,

Therefore, be it resolved that this 2006 Diocesan Convention express and record its support for our bishop and the Camp Allen Statement which endorsed the Windsor Report recommendations, expressed adherence to the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 as the teaching of the Anglican Communion, so that unity and truth prevail in the Anglican Communion.

Result?

Whereas' 1-7 were eliminated and the Resolved clause was changed to:

Therefore, be it resolved that the 2006 Convention of the Diocese of Alaska expresses and records its support for our bishop in his continuing efforts to bring about reconciliation in TEC as exampled by the Camp Allen Meeting, so that unity may prevail within TEC and the Anglican Communion.

Forgive and forget? We certainly know that God forgives all our sins through the death of Christ. However, is it correct to say that God also 'forgets' our sins as well? If he forgets our sins, does that not imply a denial of his omniscience?

Further, we know how hard it is for us to forget offenses committed against and by us, even if forgiveness is extended and or received.

We can understand the difficulty of forgiving an unfaithful spouse after they have confessed their sin to the offended party.

I remember this question being raised by Bishop Festo Kivangere of Uganda who wrote a little book, I Love Idi Amin, even after Amin attempted to murder Festo. I think Festo would say that God's forgiveness is so exhaustive that not a remainder of our sin remains, not even in his memory bank. Why? Because the cross of Christ removed all sin from us, and also removed God's just anger from us as well. He can now look on us 'just as if I never sinned,' because of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 'Love so amazing so divine...'

Further, the Bible supports the adage that God not only forives but forgets as well:

Isaiah 44:22; Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19; Isaiah 38:17; and Jeremiah 31:34 all use images which can only be understood as God forgiving us, and forgetting our sins as well.

We won! A&M 34, Oklahoma State, 33

Following is the resolution as presented at the 2006 Diocese of Alaska Convention:

Therefore, be it resolved that this 2006 Diocesan Convention express and record its support for our bishop and the Camp Allen Statement which endorsed the Windsor Report recommendations, expressed adherence to the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 as the teaching of the Anglican Communion, so that unity and truth prevail in the Anglican Communion.

 This is the revision which, by the way,
did pass, but not by much:

Therefore, be it resolved that the 2006 Convention of the Diocese of Alaska expresses and records its support for our bishop in his continuing efforts to bring about reconciliation in TEC as exampled by the Camp Allen Meeting, so that unity may prevail within TEC and the Anglican Communion.

Oh yes, 'Gig' em' Aggies. Big game against Okie State in Stillwater.

The Diocese of Alaska had a convention a few weeks ago. Our church, All Saints, Anchorage AK offered three resolutions. A fourth was added by several clergy, including yours truly. While the first three were soundly defeated, the fourth was accepted...after it was changed to say something quite different than what the authors intended. In this fourth, we supported our bishop, Mark MacDonald in his efforts to bring unity and truth to bear on TEC (The Episcopal Church) by signing the Camp Allen Statement.

All this from a diocese which a year ago supported Windsor and a diocese whose bishop has never wavered on Windsor, and showed considerable courage in signing the Camp Allen Statement.

Anyway, this was the third straight convention in which the issues arising from the approval of Bishop Robinson were discussed and voted on.

I think people have simply become so hardened in their positions, that further 'dialogue' is really futile. Either we believe the moral teaching of the Bible or we don't.

You've heard of born again Christians? (Is there any other kind?). I'm a back again believer, having already attempted a blog and gave up trying. But I'm back again.