MAC KIRK

Easter 2016 I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible. ― Charles W. Colson Defining moments. All of us have those times in our lives when the light goes on and we see for the first time what we really need to see. In the Scriptures around the Easter accounts as well of the aftermath of the Crucifixion there are people that have defining moments in their ideas of who Jesus is and what happened as He died, and rose from the dead. Many of the people we know in our own lives live in a rather kind of vague hope...

Darkness and Light Together Matthew 27 As I sat in a local restaurant the other day I wondered how many of the people there who were drinking, yes, even smoking, were actually aware in their own lives of the needs of others. What would have happened in their lives if that moment in time could have been frozen and they had to say, " this is what my life means and meant to others." In some ways the Gospel for today is a moment frozen in time, with its results that are eternal in the lives of all people. They were gathered at the Cross, the Soldiers, the women who had followed Jesus, yes, even His blessed mother, Mary, and it all came down to the Cross. It seems as though it is only a moment of darkness when Jesus was nailed to the Cross and He was dying, and then gave up the ghost. We too have very dark periods in our lives. They are moments when the light does not shine in any place we can see. Very depressed people know this trial. Unfortunately there doe...

Hebrews tells us about the way Christ went for our Salvation I do not know how one can read the New Testament and especially the Book of Hebrews without coming away with a deep sense of gratitude and awe and what Christ did for us. Some wish to write another Gospel than this, but if one is at all interested in what the Bible is saying , Hebrews is definitely a place to begin and stay for it mines the deep riches of the sacrifice of Jesus , His life and Blood for our eternal salvation. With some people this is not a very popular idea. In fact there is a whole theology that rejects it ,and especially the Book of Leviticus which is the background for Hebrews. ( much of the modern rationalist liberal theology does just that for example and some of us have heard messages that reflect this kind of thinking) If we are to be Biblically faithful , we must take it very seriously and understand the message of Hebrews for us . First we must ask ourselves are we willing to try and und...

Mid Lent Have you ever been on a trip and stopped for some stretch the legs? Of coure we all have , and we wonder why we did not stop earlier, and take a break. For some of us we are definitely our own worst enemies . The journey must go on , but the breaks need to be there . If we could only figure out a way to take the breaks while we are on the journey, then we would be more rested and defintely more ready for what comes our way . This is mid Lent, or Laetare Sunday ( latin for rejoice): " On this Sunday , which marks the middle of Lent, a measure of consoling relaxtion is provided so that the faithful may not break down under the strain of Lenten fast but may continue to bear the restrictions with a refreshed and easier heart." Pope Innocent III in 1216 As I mentioned in the little Rector's corner, the Gospel and its living is medicine for our bodies and our souls. The needle does hurt, but without the needle we do not get the pure milk of the Word ...