Brown's Daily Word 8-5-08

Good Morning.
One of the most frequently used words in the Christian church is the word ‘Gospel’. It is, of course, the ‘Good News’ of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was the gospel that brought the church of God into being. Anything which is preached as something less is what the apostle Paul would condemn as “another gospel” (Gal 6:8). There is a verse in I Thessalonians that stood out vividly as I was reading it one day, “For our Gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (1:5). He did not claim proprietary rights as if it was his version of the Gospel. In many other references to the Gospel he calls it “the gospel of God” (2:2,8,9) because it was God who had revealed himself in it as a God of love. It is also referred to as “the gospel of Christ” (3:2) because the good news focused on Him.
It has been wisely said: ‘If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, So God sent us a Savior!’

I think about the missionary Helen Roseveare who went to the Congo in Africa during the uprisings of the sixties. She was held captive for months and brutally beaten. She was finally released and sent back to England where she was given an opportunity for healing. Ultimately, she went back to the Congo and started a medical clinic right there among those who had been her captors. Some of you are familiar with the movie, "End of the Spear," in which five missionary men were killed by the Auca Indians. Nate Saint was one of them. Despite the loss of his father in the brutal attack, son Steve and his family went back to that same tribe and introduced them to Jesus. In fact, the very man who killed Nate Saint traveled the United States with Nate’s son Steve telling the story of redemption. I read a fascinating story this week concerning a couple whom I don’t know and never have heard of before, by the names of Louie and Janette. They are a couple in their 80’s with a 55-year old son, Lewis. Their son, who was severely mentally handicapped all of his life, was cared for in an institution. As Christian parents these two prayed diligently that somehow he would come to know something about Christ in spite of his limitations. About the time Lewis was 50 years old an amazing thing happened. The family was together on a car ride when all of a sudden without warning, without prompting, Lewis began to speak. By the way, he had never done that before. He said, you know, mom, you know, dad, Jesus was born, Jesus died to save us from our sins, he rose again, yes, he did. This was the only complete sentence he ever spoke in his entire life. Louie and Janette were greatly touched by hearing those words from their son. It turns out that someone had conducted a catechism class for a group of people that included Lewis, and apparently Lewis absorbed more of the material than anyone could have anticipated. The man who tells this true story ends it by saying that God can reach any heart and any mind with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Never underestimate his ability nor his determination to do so. He can reach anyone. Never underestimate his willingness nor his determination to do so.
During my recent visits to Orissa, India I met a man who came and spent a week with us. His brothers are Hindu Monks. One of his sisters is a Hindu priestess. This man who came to visit us had come to know Christ, and surrendered his life to him. The man, who has a PhD and was a professor has been completely changed. Jesus transformed his life. He now spends his time, talents, and treasures in sharing about Jesus.
I also visited a village which, in the past, was full of Hindu Priests. There are big Hindu festivals once a year on a grand scale. I inquired about the festivals. The people told me that there are no more Hindu festivals now because the Hindu priests came to know Christ as Lord and Savior. They renounced their idols and their gods. The whole village is Christian. The Lord is at work around the corner and around the globe.

In Christ,
Brown


August 3, 2008 5:15PM
Archbishop Affirms Ban on Gay Bishops, Same-sex Unions
As historic Lambeth closes, Williams admits communion remains in 'grave peril.'
Timothy C. Morgan
Canterbury at the end of the Lambeth conference has become the land of many statements and restatements. But as predicted, there was no definitive action.
In summary, here are some of the things that did and did not happen:
1. Bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson did not gain official entrance to Lambeth. But he was frequently on site at the University of Kent, to the joy of some and the disgust of others.
2. Lambeth's 600 plus bishops (no official count or list has been released) did not approve an Anglican Convenant. Much discussion was held and more meetings on the covenant are expected lasting into 2009.
3. The Anglican Communion did avoid a formal split or schism. Yet even Rowan Williams admits the communion is still at 'gravel peril.'
4. Lambeth-attending conservative bishops and primates did voice much criticism of liberals and revisionist theology. But as yet the rhetoric of conservatives has not resulted in all revisionists clearly agreeing to bans on same-sex unions and gay ordinations.
The word stalemate still seems to fit this situation.
According to the Press Association (UK):
The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on North American churches to abide by agreements not to consecrate gay bishops or carry out blessings on same-sex couples. On the final day of the Lambeth Conference, Dr Rowan Williams put forward the idea of a "Covenanted future" involving a "global church of inter-dependent communities". The once-a-decade meeting of worldwide bishops has been dominated by the issue of gay clergy and same sex unions, which has threatened to tear the Church apart. Disharmony has seen 200 bishops - a quarter of those invited - stage a boycott. Some Anglican churches in North America have carried out blessings for same sex couples, in contravention of agreements not to do so, or moratoria. "If the North American churches don't accept the need for moratoria then to say the least we are no further forward," Dr Williams said. "The idea of a Covenant which includes as many of them as possible becomes more fragile and that means that as a Communion we continue to be in grave peril." He said it was often assumed that the blessing of same sex marriages or the ordination of gay bishops was simply a human rights issue. "That's an assumption I can't accept because I think the issue about what conditions a church lays down for a blessing have to be shaped by its own thinking and its own praying."
Click here for the sermon text for the final Lambeth service at Canterbury Cathdral. This seems more significant for what Rowan Williams doesn't say. He seems to place an unusually high value on the fact of conversation, not the results of conversation, debate, and dialog.
The Indaba process resulted in a lengthy reflections statement. Click here for the final Aug. 3 text.
Reporter Steve Waring (Living Church) indicates that once again many important conversations will be taken up months from now. Something sure to frustrate conservatives, liberals, and rank and file church-goers.
Continue for:
1. Steve Waring's dispatch.2. Statement from Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori3. Additional comments from conservative Bishop of Egypt Mouneer Anis.
The final “Lambeth Indaba” reflections document suggests that “a season of gracious restraint” may be the best way to resolve disagreement over the scope and duration of a moratorium on the consecration of partnered homosexual persons as bishop, the celebration of public rites of same-sex blessings and cross-border incursions by overseas bishops. The document was released Aug. 3, the final day of the 20-day gathering of Anglican bishops.
“The moratoria can be taken as a sign of the bishops’ affection, trust and goodwill towards the Archbishop of Canterbury and one another,” the 42-page reflection paper suggests. “The moratoria will be difficult to uphold, although there is a desire to do so from all quarters. There are questions to be clarified in relation to how long the moratoria are intended to serve.”
The section of the reflections document titled “The Windsor Process” also notes clear majority support for creation of a “Pastoral Forum” to resolve serious disputes.
“Many felt strongly that the forum could operate in a province only with the consent of that province and in particular with the consent of the primate or the appropriate body,” the document states. “It is essential that this should be properly funded and resourced if it has any chance of being productive. There was some support for an alternative suggestion: to appoint in any dispute, a pastoral visitor, working with a professional arbitrator and to create in the Communion a ‘pool’ of such visitors.”
Questions as to the nature and length of a proposed moratorium and the proposal to establish a pastoral forum will be referred to the Windsor Continuation Group. Last February, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams announced appointment of a six-member group which includes Bishop Gary Lillibridge of West Texas. The Windsor Continuation Group will prepare a document for consideration by the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), which meets next May in Jamaica.
How bad is the current crisis?
Mark Galli July 31, 2008 12:09PM
While the media keeps reminding us of the bad news--which is one of its jobs--I keep reading stories that try to put our current economic woes into perspective. Here is a paragraph from an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal ("Where's the Outrage? Really. By Arthur C. Brooks.)
In some countries, a depressed economic climate means mass unemployment, political instability and large-scale deprivation. In America this decade, we have reached the point at which even in a down economy, our unemployment rate does not reach 6% (lower than the rates in Canada and the European Union, let alone those in the developing world). Any unwanted unemployment is terrible; but it is worth remembering that this stability especially benefits the economically vulnerable