MAC KIRK

  What about the events that happen that we cannot explain? Perhaps this issue is at the heart of our faith as these kind of things seem to happen with regularity.  Someone we know dies, and either they are very young , and also generally good people in the spiritual realm.  We cannot fathom why this happens.   We usually go through the stages of grief in our loss. Our first reaction is shock.  I was returning from a visit to a local restaurant in another town near us when I heard the news.  My first reaction was disbelief.  How could this happen?  At some point in our feelings and thinking the other stages also appear... We feel anger , disappointment, bargaining and finally acceptance.  Yet most of us, being quite human, go through these stages again and again.   I thought of a book I have that began to help--- All Things for Good   by Thomas Watson.  Do all things happen for our good ?  That is the real q...

  Memorial Service Jenny Cross Scripture-Psalm 23; 2 Corinthians 5; John 14:1-6 "I Know My Master" illustrates our Lord is on the other side. "A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death...

  Transfiguration and Us The Gospel for Calendar August 6 St. Luke ix. 28. "AND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, say...

 A Meditation from a Hymn and the Scriptures-7th Sunday after Trinity   Perhaps many of us have found comfort in singing good hymns.  The 1940 Hymnal is a good place to start ( Prot. Episopal Church).  For the 6th Sunday of Trinity hymns a hymn originally titled , O Conqueror" with a first line " O North...." is appointed, no. 541.  I have used these hymns in my daily prayers .  This one is quite meaninful. The hymn was written by W. Cullen Bryant, 1794-1878 .  He was a lawyer in Massachusetts. He wrote over 20 hymns.  He wrote for the " New York Post" as well. The tune to this hymn, " O North.." is catchy and easy to sing.   1. The first verse is much about nature ;however in the second verse he talks about the coming of the Son of Man, " Lo, in the clouds of heaven appears God's well-beloved Son; He brings a train of brighter years; His kingdom is begun.  He comes a guilty world to bless, with mercy, truth and righteousness." Have...

  Matthew 5:23 -24   "Reconciliation- The sin of anger.."  Trinity VI    God is "slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" Psalm 103:8; Micah 7:18 reminds us as well that " He retaineth not His anger forever, but delighteth in mercy.."  We too are commanded to be " slow to anger, slow to wrath.." James 1:19 .  We also are to " let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger.... and evil speaking be put away ..and be ye kind one to another,... forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32     In today's Gospel we are reminded that we should " first be reconciled to our brother/sister then come and offer our gift at the altar."  Matthew 5:24  Dr. Tasker, an anglican Greek teacher said it this way in his thoughts on this passage, " Conduct is more important than formal worship." The greek word in the NT reconcile is "change thoroughly".       General McArthur said ,    ...

  Thomas Brooks , Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices-  No. 2 Thoughts from this delightful Biblical series written by an English puritan . We begin with an illustration of our confusion .   "Some years ago, The Archbishop of Canterbury was rushing to catch a train in London. In his haste, he accidentally jumped on the wrong passenger car and found himself on a car full of inmates from a mental hospital. They were all dressed in mental hospital clothing. Just as the train pulled out of the station, an orderly came in and began to count the inmates, “1-2-3-4…” when suddenly he saw this distinguished looking gentleman there wearing a business suit and a clerical collar and he said: “Who are you?” The answer came back: “I am the Archbishop of Canterbury!” And the orderly said: “5-6-7-8.” The point of that story is this: It is so important to know who we are and who other people are. If we know what makes us tick and what makes other people tick, we get along bette...