MAC KIRK

Loss and Find- Lost and found Luke 15 Today's well-known story is so well-known that it can be too familiar in the sense that people think there is nothing more to be gained from it. But lthe word of God is "living and active" ; there is always something to be gleaned from it. It may be compared to listening to a choral piece from choral evensong in Oxford, England. You listen and listen and listen again for it is so moving in its beauty with the young and older voices together. Feeding the birds is such a hobby for me that I often am so amazed at their beauty. The cardinals are the prettiest. A priest friend of mine told me that cardinals it is rumored by ancient tradition are your family that you have lost coming to visit you . I know that is not true, but every time I look at them I think of those I too have lost and miss. Have you ever thought of the parable of the Forgiving father or the Prodigal Son from the side of the human loss in it? I saw the ...

Providence of God 8th S. after Trinity Today's prayer ( collect) expresses some very powerful ideas: "O GOD, whose never-failing providence orders all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech Thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Luther said it this way:" "...my salvation is in God's hand and not my own. He will be faithful to His promise to save me, not on the basis of what I do but according to His great mercy." Martin Luther Bondage of the Will God's providence ( pro- video---He sees before it happens) never fails. All things in heaven and earth are ordered by God. " Not only when thou wast born into the world did Christ love thee, but His delights were with the sons of men before there were any sons of men. Often He did think of them; from everlasting to everlasting He had set His affections upon them....If He ha...

Liberty - The Liberty Bell and God's Law Happy Independence Day weekend. We have prayed in the prayer for yesterday especially ", O ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant... that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace.." The word liberty in the Old Testament Scripture written on the Liberty Bell, " Proclaim liberty throughout all the land .." Leviticus 25:10 means release in the Hebrew Bible. Every 50 years was Jubilee or release and Sabbath for every one would fear God and not oppress their neighbor in this year by God's commandment. God was allowing a time or release and relief to all. Freedom was granted to slaves during the Jubilee year. People who had been displaced could return to the family inheritance. This was an acknowledgment that God owned everything, not man. The Liberty Bell rung at Independence Hall in 1776 was such a ...

6th Sunday after Trinity Some Reflections on the Gospel and Epistle Lessons In the Gospel lesson today Jesus tells us that our anger uncontrolled is sinful. One commentator says this about it:" If the Christian who harbours thoughts of hatred and gives way to explosive expressions of anger is in a dangerous condition, so too is the Christian against whom a brother has cause for complaint, IF HE DOES NOTHING TO TRY AND CLEAR THE MATTER UP. ..( MY emphasis)" But listen to the next comment which is something we have mentioned before in previous meditations, " Conduct is more important than formal worship. God does not want to receive offerings from Christians who are not at peace with one another." Matthew , R.V.G. Tasker How are we to approach someone who has something against us? I would say with loving patience is the best way. " ...if thou bring thy gift to the altar , and there remember that thy brother has ought against thee; first, be reconciled t...

7th Sunday after Trinity " The process of 'letting go' takes time. It is the hardest thing to do, but it should be our main effort: to place our well- being into the hands of another. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT WE ARE BECOMING ROOTED IN FAITH. The secret to letting this happen is fidelity----faithfulness to prayer. This occurs through the slow, gradual , peaceful rhythm of the (spirtual ) exercises. It leads us to a purification in our manner of praying and interior listening , helping us in our quest to remain calm in the hands of God and to face openly what kills life in us." To Walk with Christ, Lawrence L. Gooley Today's Epistle we hear about faith. In a very positive sense we see faith is the "gift of God" and is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6 The word gift is "charisma" in the greek nt. " a gift involving grace (charis) on the part of God as the Donor" Vine's Expository Dictionary ...

Suffering and the New Math namely God's Math   Romans 8:18     My generation experienced something when I was in grade school which was called the "new math."  Well this seemed to be a different way of doing math, but it all came out in the wash so to speak.  As somone has said, " figures don't lie, but liars figure."  In this Epistle to the Romans the Apostle Paul make some rather astounding statements that add up to God's math.  When we look at suffering, what do we see?  We see suffering and affliction.  Paul says that " I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  The word reckon is a Greek word which means to settle accounts.  You see God's math is different than ours.      The Apostle leads into this discussion with his comment in the verses before, "  The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit , that we...

Father’s DAY 2015 “God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God’s refusals are always merciful—‘severe mercies’ at times, but mercies all the same. God never denies us our hearts’ desire except to give us something better.”  Ellisabeth Eliot, well known missionary to the native tribes of Ecuador,  and author who died on June 14 of this year at age 88 She also said this which is a shorter version of the same idea: “Leave it all in the Hands that were wounded for you.” 1.       Our Lord Jesus Christ sets the example for fathers in attitude of acceptance despite the behavior of others.  Luke 15:2 “ This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them….”  So the Pharisees said about our Lord Jesus Christ.  Receives here is a special Greek word, which means to receive favorably. Also Romans 16:2 and that word is the same Greek word , receiving a believer “ I commend to you Phebe our sister which is...