AOC Two

T HESE  things said he: and after that he saith unto them,  Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.   12   Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.  13   Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.    (John 11:11-13)             The Church has long struggled with the issue of physical death and in what manner it should be related to the people. Of course, the Bible provides all necessary for that obligation. Yet, there still hangs a pall of mystery over the issue of our death.             Our Lord was abundantly clear that the death of a saint is nothing more than a sleep. The body, at death, falls into a deep sleep; but the spirit returns to God who gave it.     ...

I  WILL  declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.  23   Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.   24   For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.  25   My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.  26   The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.   (Psalm 22:22-26)             Can you imagine anytime in the future when you simply do not exist – no thoughts at all, no memory, no feeling? It is difficult to imagine. Of course, every one has a soul that has a destiny – a destin...

A ND  he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.    (Genesis 4:10) W HAT  hath God wrought!    (Numbers 23:23b)             How does a wife get the husband off the couch and away from TV news in an expeditious manner? By exclaiming ‘Company is coming!’ At least that has always worked with me since I like to gather many books around my easy chair, many opened lying flat upon the floor. It would not impress the most careless of housekeepers. I would immediately arise, pick up the books, take them into a back room and place them face open about the floor. I would also gather up house slippers and any other bits of informal attire scattered about the premises. We learn to hide our unkempt laundry very well when company is coming, don’t we? Don’t deny it – every person reading this text has had the same experience. It is...

A ND  it came to pass, as he sat at food with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.    (Luke 24:30-31) B EHOLD  my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit (o. pneuma) has not flesh and bones, as all of you see me have.   And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.  (Luke 24:39-40)             Here is another hymn by the greatest of all American hymnists, Fanny Crosby. In spite of my well-stocked library of hymnary, I could find no references to this beautiful hymn. As in all of her hymns, Mrs. Crosby adds the strength of her own testimony in the lyrics. Blind from infancy, Fanny learned to see the unseen and hear the unspoken things of God. Her vision of God was enhanced by her blindnes...

Happy third Sunday after the Epiphany! The AOC Sunday Report is RIGHT HERE . There are really great sermons today from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack and Bryan.  You will find each quite different and very interesting. As always there are a lot of people that need your prayers. Please start out today with Jim Flanagan and work out from there. There is an epic week ahead but you were not even going to notice it, let alone find it, without the help of the Holy Ghost. Godspeed, Hap Church Faithful Centurion Descanso, California

The Third Sunday after The Epiphany. The Collect. A LMIGHTY  and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. When Blind Bartemaeus and the leper called out to Christ, they did not first request healing, but mercy. When we plead the Lord to look mercifully upon us, all things needful will be done unto us when He does. His right Hand is the arm of unconquerable Strength. Not only does He heal the Body; not only does He defend against danger.; and not only does He heal the Spirit forlorn and hopless. Instead, He lifts our unbecoming yoke and concentrates our vision on the upward looking Gates of Paradise. A ND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus sai...

A ND  Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.  15  And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.  16  And she went,  and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot : for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.  17  And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.  18  Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.  19  And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with...