AOC Two

    B Y  faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.  (Hebrews 11:31)   Throw out the lifeline across the dark wave  goes the opening line of an old Gospel hymn. That lifeline was one of spiritual salvation as much as it was to save from the swirling tide. But there is another lifeline proffered in Holy Writ that begins at Eden and ends at Revelations – The Scarlet Cord of Sacrifice and Redemption. That Cord was conceived in the Mind of God long before the worlds were formed, and God’s only Begotten Son was designated to be the ultimate realization of the Salvation it afforded. We have the primitive picture of the blood sacrifice in Genesis 3:21, and of the Passover in Egypt, and in the episode of Abraham’s travel to Mt. Moriah (the mount of the Temple Mound) to sacrifice Isaac, and in many other places; however, today’s devotion will center on a harlot woman who gained the Lord’s favor in the fall of Jericho to the Child

    N OW  faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  2  For by it the elders obtained a good report.  3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear .  (Hebrews 11:1-3)               Today’s text is taken from the lectionary for the day and presents some profound principles ensconced in very concise terms.                Some have claimed that faith cannot be based on outward evidence – that it is a thing unseen and inexplicable in physical observation. I disagree. I believe many aspects of faith are evidenced in the world around us – evidence that may go unobserved by the common eye. It is not necessary to see a thing with your physical eye in order to know of its reality. For example, if you are not a democrat, there is sufficient evidence to prove that you have a brain; yet, you have never seen your brain.  But it is certain that you have one stowe

    A virtuous woman is one who has obeyed the Commandments of God from her early youth. She responds to the heart-strings of love excited by devotion to God and an affection for others. She is honest to God and to her own soul.                 Such a woman deserves our highest regard and respect. Even God’s Word places such a premium on virtue that the Word refers to wisdom in the same manner as a virtuous woman: “ 13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.”     (Proverbs 3:13-15)   So, wisdom, like a virtuous woman, is more precious than rubies.     10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  12  She will do h

    D O  we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?  2  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)               Have you ever considered your heart as a medium for writing - especially as a book of laws? The laws of nature such as gravity, heat, and motion are for the physical bodies; but the spiritual laws are without value unless written on the soft sinews and deep chambers of the heart. The heart is considered the seat of the soul. The higher rules of evidence are only perceived by the heart that has that resource of God’s Law written therein. As Blaise Pascal has said: “ The heart has reasons that reason cannot know."              

    T HEN  the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  6  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.  7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.  8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.  9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth .   ( Jeremiah 1:4-9)               This pastoral hymn was written by our dear old faithful friend and Godly saint, Francis Ridley Havergal, in 1872. The lyrics of which I write are taken from the ‘ Book of Worship for US Forces ’ 1972 edition. The hymn is in public domain. The tune title is ‘Canonbury’ by Robert Schumann (1856).   Lord, speak

    I N  the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. . . . .   14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth .    (John 1:1-5, 14)               Who created the world, the universe, and life on the planet earth? If you answer, God, you would be correct; but could you be even more specific in your response? Yes, you could be. The world was not created by manual labor and struggle but rather by the spoken Word.  1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  The same was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made by him; and without him was not a

    N OW  will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:  2  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.  3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.  4  What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?   ( Isaiah 5:1-4)               There is a great deal in the Holy Bible concerning Vines and the Vineyard of the Lord. The introductory text above is a simple expression, in human terms, of the Redeemer and the Children of God whether of the Old, or New, Testament Church. The ‘Well- Beloved’ is a figurative term for the Lord Je

   Happy Remembrance of Saint Mark superseding the Third Sunday after Easter! The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded  RIGHT HERE ! There are really super sermons from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack and Bryan.  Each is quite different, you might enjoy one more than the other, but each is great.  Rev Jack's can be viewed on video  RIGHT HERE ! There are always a lot of people who need your prayer, today please start with Jim, Shamu and work out from there. As we draw to the end of April and look forward to May, see if you can use God to focus your vision on your mission. Godspeed, Hap Church of the Faithful Centurion Descanso, California United States of America

    Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action Church of the Faithful Centurion Descanso, California Rev Jack’s sermon can be viewed  RIGHT HERE  or:  https://youtu.be/Xyi8b5jMWvE   Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.    We are in the Easter Season which consists of Easter and the following four Sundays, through Rogation Sunday.  This is a time we should work on centering our lives on the central figure in our religion, Jesus Christ.     Consider these words from the Collect:   … who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord…   Today’s Collect is a bit different than usual, it starts with the statement the Church was left clear and correct doctrine by Saint Mark, and by inference the ot

    The Third Sunday after Easter . The Collect.   A LMIGHTY   God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ.    Amen.   F OR  whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  6   That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  7   Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.  8   Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confir

      L ET  not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.   2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  3  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.    (John 14:1-3)   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me .   We are often troubled more by doubts and fears of the future than by actual misfortunes. During the long and lonely nights, we may find sleep an elusive stranger. But it is during those night watches that the Lord is most keen to speak – not because He needs the solitude to speak, but rather because we need the solitude to hear.   My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches .  (Psalm 63:5-6)  Where may God be found during those seemingly interminab