Urgent Need

Dear Children of God,

The shelter in Richardson I am the chaplain at needs to replace a wood fence.  As you can imagine this places River of Life Homes in a very tight spot financially.  I ask that you please go to the River of Life website and make note of the address and mail a Home Depot gift card.  In doing so you would be making a huge donation to a huge need.

This Sunday at Highland Meadow Church we will be having a second collection for this need.  Please be as generous as you can possibly be.

May the Lord be with you,
Rev. Daniel J. Rea

Living Under Authority

Second Sunday in Lent

Gospel Reading Matthew 10:24-39

Our Gospel reading clearly shows Christ came to establish the proper order of authority.  Looking back to the Laws of Israel they were divided into four areas.  One, The Ten Commandments or natural law.  These commands are universal and perpetual.  They found the basis for God to establish His people and His kingdom.  They are what would be the basis for civilized society for the rest of human history.  Second, the sacrificial laws.  These laws cover the rites the Levites would follow in their sacrificial duties.  These laws are limited.  They were meant to be temporary from Israel to its fall.  They were completed and ended upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Third is the dietary laws.  Under the Apostles these laws were also set aside.  We see this in the Acts of the Apostles and the Apostolic Epistles.  Finally, are the civil laws.  These had to be revised when Israel began their royal lineage.  For the most part these were implemented by the Emperor Constantine in Rome after he became Christian.  Along with The Ten Commandments the civil laws were the basis of Augustine's The City of God to take Rome from its fall to the establishment of the Church as the seat and all law for Christendom.

In today's Gospel and with what I have said before, the order of authority established by God's law and therefore, His authority is as follows:

1. God - Jesus Christ
2. The Sacrficial Law, now the Church
3. The Family, with the father/husband at its head
4. The Civil Law, now Government (Caesar in the Gospel)
5. Masters, now Employers

This is the order established by Christ.  Jesus Christ is the head of His bride the Church.  The Church is to help the family as Christ helps the Church.  Fathers are to love their wife and their children as Christ loves the Church, and as to support their families as the Church supports families.  Employers are to be as honorable to their employees as Christ is to the Church, as the Church is to families, as fathers are to their children.  This is the order of authority as established by Christ.

Our problems today arise from people not following this order and therefore refusing to live under authority.  Make no mistake, you do not have to agree to be under God's authority, you already are.  All the universe is under God's authority whether agreed to by humans or not.  God who creates, sustains, and guides needs not the agreement of creation to be under the Creators authority.  That is the message from Genesis to Malacai, and from Matthew to Revelations.  From Genesis to Revelations; from "In the beginning" to "Amen. Come Lord Jesus" the message is clear - God IS THE AUTHORITY from which all other authority is granted.

The Church decides through God's laws who gets ordained, and who does not.  The Church through Christ's authority decides who is granted matrimony.  Ordination and matrimony are not rights to any man or woman, they are gifts bestowed by the Church through the authority of Jesus Christ.  No person has a right to sacramental ordinance.  Homosexuals have no more a right to ordination than an Atheist.  Homosexuals have no more a right to matrimony than a man or woman already married.  The right to sacraments are decided by the Church from the Gospels of Christ.  The Church has no more a right to ordain or allow homosexual matrimony than it has a right to allow the ordination of a Wiccan to Christian ministry or to join in matrimony two turtles.  Both are equally sacrilegious.  What Caesar does is Caesar's business.  But Caesar had better be careful when his laws go against the authority of God.

Like it or not to the chagrin of Gloria Steinham and Gloria Allred, the husband/father is the head of the family.  Husbands are to love their wife as Christ loves the Church.  Wives are to love their husbands and to submit.  Submit does not mean to be a slave.  That is a feminist corruption of the word.  For a wife to submit is as a priest submits to the law of God and the ordinance of Christ.  That is what is meant.  It has NEVER been an open license for a man to abuse his wife.  That is just as abhorrent in God's eyes as the corruption of His Sacraments.  When one abuses their authority they incur the wrath of God.  When authority goes against God's law and the Gospels it is not law then but sin, and sin is to be rejected.

Today, government is taking Christ off the throne and placing Caesar there, again, will we ever learn from history?  The Church is being replaced by courts.  Family is being replaced by handouts.  Government is becoming The Authority.  President Obama is wanting Government to be all and to be the sole authority.  Obama has created his cult and has called himself "messiah".  Obama has said repeatedly the Church has no place above government.  Obama has repeatedly said this, "For the single moms out there, I'll be your husband, I see you get support."  As one who calls himself a Christian he knows better.  As a supposed Christian he knows the blasphemy he spews.  A Christian would NEVER defile Christ's authority and His Church and seek to corrupt the family with crude jokes.  These are not jokes to Obama, or to God, these are Obama's challenge to God given authority, and make no mistake; like Nebuchanezzar, Caesar, and others before him, Obama will fall to God.  Let me repeat, Obama will fall to God.  One day Obama's knee will bend to God.  Just as all knees will.  Be careful when you challenge God's authority.

All of this is outlined in scripture.  The Gospels outline Christ's and the Church's authority.  See Matthew 28:18-20, John 27:1-2.  Read 1 Timothy 3:10,13; Acts 20:17,28; 1 Peter 5:1-2; Hebrews 13:17.  The authority of the family is lined out in Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3:7, and Romans 1.  Government is to have no authority over God, the Church, and is to have limited authority over the family.  When government makes laws contradictory to Christ's Gospels then these laws can be ignored.  This has been the standard from the Apostles, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Employers are to pay fair wages to their employees and employees are to be respectful to their supervisors.  This is set out in the Gospels and in Ephesians 6:5-8, Colossians 3:22-25.

Our society is headed to certain disaster unless we return to living under authority.  Christians must put Christ back in our churches.  We must put Christ at the head, "Take the royal diadem and crown Him King of all." Amen.

Bearing Fruit

It is continually assumed, falsely, that the USA was founded to be a Christian nation.  It is also assumed, even more falsely, that the USA is a Christian nation today.  Both assumptions are made owing to the fact that evangelical Christians contort logic and the facts to try to "prove" both points.  As Jesus told us in Matthew 7:16, we know a tree by the fruit it bears.  The tree of the USA shows anything but being a Christian nation.

Look first of all at the founding fathers.  They knew quite extensively about other faiths apart from Christianity.  Great Britain being a vast empire all over this earth gave a vast knowledge of the world outside Europe and the culture of white people.  Thomas Jefferson wrote for the majority at the Constitutional Convention what Freedom of Religion means, "The Constitution shall provide protection equally to the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindu and Infidel of every denomination.  No religion is to be favored and none is to be demeaned by laws enacted by congress."  Clearly the Founding Fathers were not setting out to found a Christian nation.  Even if they were, today laws have been enacted to change that.

Let us look at fruit that has been bore since by the US government.  People of color have been discriminated against, tortured, subject to genocide, and murdered since the US became independent of Britain.  A great number of Christians stood against slavery, genocide of Native Americans, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and Jim Crow laws.  These Christians were also subjected to beatings, lynchings, investigated of being subversive, and imprisoned.

Today, a majority in Congress identify themselves as being "pro-life" yet the scourge of abortion remains.  In 1994 to 1996 the Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress had the chance to submit a bill to reverse Roe v. Wade and the Supreme Court was more conservative at any time in US history, yet Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House at the time said when Sen. Bob Dole and others wanted to submit such a bill, "Right now our focus must be on regaining the White House.  Abortion simply is not important right now,  We need the vote of women to get back in 1600 Pennsylvania."  So much for leading "by faith" as Gingrich said would be done during the 1994 campaigns.  By the way, Gingrich would resign in disgrace after a sexual scandal involving him emerged after he witch hunted President Clinton for over three years.

Right now both parties are against a rise in the minimum wage.  The argument being that such a rise would have no benefit for the working poor.  Really, well tell that to the father working at a big box retailer and at a fast food to provide for his family after losing his "real" job.  Tell that to the mother who counts out what little loose change she has at the grocery store.  Tell that to the children who go to school hungry because their parents earn just enough to keep them from a free breakfast at school.  Tell that to the over 7 million Americans who work in the service industry out of need, not choice.  Tell that to the food servers making $2.13 an hour because they are "tipped", and yet still have a difficulty paying rent, much less affording such luxuries as health insurance, paying utility bills on time, school lunch for their children, and filling up the car just to get to work.  Tell that to the working poor that they would not benefit from making $9 an hour instead of $7.85.  No one is asking for these employees to have the benefit packages or the pay or even the bonuses of the executives of the corporations, they are merely asking for another $1.15 an hour.

The USA is not a Christian nation.  There is absolutely nothing to show the US is by its treatment of its poor, its benevolence to the weakest in society,  its commitment to life, or how the US advances the principles of Christ's gospels.  The US is now and always has been a secular-humanist nation with a majority of Christian population.  Being a nation OF Christians does not equate to be a Christian nation.  The USA simply bears no Christian fruit.  The USA does bear the fruit to show it is a secular nation that advances humanist morals and values.

During this Lenten period if you wish to show you are a Christian then show the fruit of being a Christian.  Stand for the principles of the gospels.  One does this by feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, and visiting those sick and imprisoned.  Whether the US is a Christian nation is not important, what is important is what the Christians in the US do for the poor, the weak, and the oppressed.  As Jesus said, "You know a tree by the fruit it bears."

Our Lenten Journey

Lent is seen by many to be a time of remorse and guilt.  A time to burden ourselves with past sins.  Actually this is far from what Lent is meant to be.  Lent is meant to be a time to focus where our priorities lie and what the values we hold dear mean.  A time to ask, "Why do I call myself a Christian and what does being a Christian mean?"  "Is the message of Christianity of importance today and is it important in today's culture?"  Summed up in a single question, "What does Christianity mean to me?"

It is very important to take time to question our belief and to ask why we believe what we do.  Not doing so leads to confusion and simply compromising our beliefs to "fit" with current trends and to avoid "upsetting" others.  It is important to look upon the gospels of Christ for guidance.  That is why the Sermon on the Mount is our Lenten readings.  We see in Christ's own words what it means to be a Christian and the importance of our faith and its relevance in today's culture.

More to the point consider these, we mourn, and we should, every September 11 for the 3000 people who were murdered by terrorists.  People who were innocents going about their daily lives.  Yet, we have no day to mourn the 200,000 innocent babies murdered yearly by abortion.  We fluctuate our markets with news of unemployment yet we do nothing for those unemployed and decry any assistance offered on the basis it is wasting tax money.  Many of us have gone in debt supporting lifestyles we could not afford yet do nothing for the homeless and impoverished among us.  This what we should be focusing on during Lent.  The suffering Christ among us in the faces of those who suffer today.  Finding solutions in our faith to help and make differences.

Christ ministered to real people and we should have our focus on real people as well.  To see the value our faith can have to end poverty, abuse, and disrespect of all God's children.  We must see we are the solution. We are the hands and love of Jesus Christ to a hurting world.  That is what Lent is meant for.

Taking Responsibility

Luke 10:25-37

As a small child I remember hearing my father say, "Your past cannot be allowed to dictate your future."  I do not remember why he said this but the words have always stuck with me.  In fact, I have repeated this often through my life to others and to myself.  In many ways this was the message of Jesus, and even this reading reflects this sage advice.

The expert of the law really was not asking for instruction as much as he was testing Jesus.  Jesus then relays to the expert exactly that his past could not dictate his future.  The expert in the law as Jesus was aware that being an expert in the law he could in no way come in contact with blood lest he become unclean.  The expert would then have to undergo the cleansing rituals laid down by God to Moses.  The expert in the law would look upon the man robbed and beaten and simply pray, he would take no direct action fearing becoming unclean by the victim's blood.  Jesus relays the expert in the law was putting ritual above human life.

Samaritans and Jews at the time of Jesus were bitter enemies.  A Samaritan helped the man where the Jewish expert did not, and even a Levite did not.  The message is clear, Jewish priests and Levite put the law above humanity and for Jesus this had to change.  There had to be responsibility for humanity above the mindless following of law.

For the Jews of Jesus' age the message was not to let the past traditions and rituals to dictate their relationship with God.  This message was met with resistance toward Jesus and His followers,and even was used to put Jesus to death.  For us today the message is to put aside past hurts, fears, and rivalries and to see all as our neighbors deserving of respect.  The reason is clear, all of us are children of the Father.  We are to "go and do likewise".

247th Chapter Meeting

The history of the Congregational Church began in reform.  As the Anglican Church began reverting to Roman Catholic practices and doctrines, congregations in England began to cling to the original Cramner Book of Common Worship which was the original Book of Worship based largely on the Lutheran Book of Worship (Buch um Anbeten).   As the monarchs of England gained more power than the bishops on matters of faith and doctrine the congregations demanding reform then moved to Plymouth, England when uniting with the Anglicans became impossible.

As the New World was settled by these "Puritans" communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey were built around their churches.  Among them Boston, Barnstable, Philadelphia, Trenton, Montpelier, and Dover.  Over time congregations grew into what is now the Congregational Churches.  In the coming annual chapter meeting planned for February 18 to 21 in Carrollton, TX, there is a need in the Episcopal Church USA for reform and these congregations are looking to the Congregational Churches for unity.

The main cause of separation for many Episcopalians today is the ordination of openly homosexual people to not only the ministry but also to consecration as bishops.  While the Congregational Church will not preach to the hierarchy of any denomination on how their confession should be run, the Congregational Church is open to unity with ministers, laity, and bishops who wish to unite with us in our call to minister, preach, and celebrate faith in Jesus Christ.

This means some exciting changes may lay ahead for us.  Our congregations are considering uniting under the new titles Independent Episcopal Church or Reformed Anglican Confession or Plenary Episcopal (Anglican) Church.  All terms carry important identity for our churches.  All of us are episcopal as we have bishops who support local clergy.  All churches are Anglican in that England is the birth place of our confessions.  All of our churches are plenary in that we are united and we are completely franchised to run our individual churches by laity consent with their pastors.

As we enter Lent and as we face uniting with congregations that seek reconciliation to the gospel of Christ we must all pray for the changes ahead.  I shall be attending the meetings with a spirit of prayer and discernment.

I wish to thank all who donated to our Sunday collection for River of Life Homes for Battered Women.  We collected $120 and we also donated a new laptop computer to them.  Thank all of you so very much.  Be assured of my prayers for you all and I ask your prayers for myself, Itsuko, and Monica.  May the Lord continue to bless us all.

Letting Go of the Past

Pastor Daniel Rea

Luke 9:51-62

It may seem odd just six weeks after Christmas we read in the Gospel today of Jesus preparing for His death.  While it seems odd, we as Christians must bear in mind that Jesus was focused on just this during His earthly life.  Jesus knew what his mission was and we must keep in mind continually that Jesus was crucified and resurrected from death because He is the Lord of all creation.  For Jesus, the past mattered not one bit, what mattered was what would play out for a week in Jerusalem.  Jesus and the disciples would enter in victory and the week would end in eternal victory.  Between this was a time when the very faith of each follower of Jesus would be tested.  Jesus would be betrayed, sold for 30 pieces of silver, denied, beaten, spit upon, crucified, die, and resurrect.  This is all Jesus was born to do.

It really is not so strange then that here between Christmas joy and the solemnity of Lent we read of Jesus preparing for His death.  First, Jesus would send out the 12 disciples.  They would preach, teach, heal, and minister.  With all Jesus was doing the authorities became increasingly nervous of Jesus and His mission.  After the 12 returned Jesus fed 5000 and Peter reveals who Jesus is, "The son of the living God, the Christ." Jesus predicted His death and eight days later Jesus was transfigured before Peter, John, and James with Elijah and Moses giving witness.

Jesus and the 12 enter a Samaritan village and some oppose the presence of Jesus since He was a Jew.  Jesus simply reminds all the cost of following Him.  One man wishes to bury his father and another wants to say bye to his family.  Jesus reminds us that we are to stay focused on our work and not on the past.  We are to look forward to our planting and not looking back on what we have already sown.  In other words, we are to stay focused on now and the future, and not on the past.

It is only now Jesus is able to reach us and make a change in us.  The past is long gone and cannot be changed.  We on the other hand can do great work with our focus on Christ and on our work now, and looking enough into the future to assure we stay on track and stay sharp to do Christ's work.  This is what Jesus was demanding during this time.  To follow Jesus is keep in mind what Jesus accomplished with His death.  That is what our gain and all work for the Lord entails.  To be followers of Jesus means to focus on the resurrection victory, and not the suffering of the past.

Jesus needed the disciples to let go of their past denials and betrayals and focus on the future.  Jesus wanted the Jews to let go of the Law and focus on God's future glory as He fulfilled the Law.  Jesus needs us to let go of past failures and work for God's kingdom now, and on the future of the Church.  When we do this we can do more than just feed 5000, we can feed all of humanity with the word of God.  We do not eat by bread alone, but by every word from God as we are reminded in scripture.

Sunday February 3 Service

This Sunday shall be the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  We are 11 days away from the Lenten Season.  This Sunday we have been able to arrange an out door service at White Rock Lake.  One of the covered areas has become available and we have been able to reserve it for our service Sunday.  If you come at 1PM then you and your family can have fun at the adjacent play ground before we begin the service at 2PM.  We will be finished at 4PM promptly.

Please remember we shall also have a second collection for River of Life Homes.  Again, we ask for you to be generous with this collection as River of Life does such great work for battered women and children in our local community.

The readings for this Sunday are:
Jeremiah 29:4-14
Philippians 3:1-14
Luke 9:51-62

The homily message shall be Letting Go of the Past.

Thank you and God be with you all.  See you Sunday at White Rock Lake.