The SUFFERING JESUS

The Suffering JESUS... is not a popular topic among most evangelicals, nor charismatics, nor most of the main-line groups.

I ran into this... um, thought... at a prayer meeting about 30 years ago where the main speaker was a Roman Catholic priest, a dear brother who was alive in The LORD. He spoke about repentance being the key to becoming close to The LORD JESUS. He shared about his experience hearing confessionals... something we of a non-Roman background were rather squeamish about.

It seems there were some nuns whose main focus was on the suffering JESUS. Their purpose in life was to associate themselves... to identify themselves... with His+ agony and sufferings.

Well, needless to say, we were NOT INTERESTED. We wanted the victorious JESUS Who+ overwhelmed His+ enemies... and ours! We were not interested in going the 2nd mile nor turning the other cheek, having once been slugged. So, it was a restless bunch of baby Christians listening to this good brother that night.

But, being a Franciscan, this brother knew the fruitfulness of chastity, obedience, and poverty. He said hearing the confessions of these sisters was like being pelted with cotton puffs. The sisters were sorry, contrite, and ashamed of their sins before GOD. The priests who heard the confessions were even MORE sorry, contrite and ashamed... and often, the priests were the ones in tears, hidden in the privacy of the confessional booths. The innocence and purity of the sisters brought conviction to the hearts of the priests who were sent to hear their confessions.

He related about the time he was called to hear the confessions of one of those nuns in this Order of the SUFFERING JESUS. She was dying of cancer. It had eaten away half of her face. Knowing she was dying, all she could do was to give thanks to The LORD for going before her in His+ agony of suffering. She thanked Him+ for bearing such pain, willingly, for her sins. She knew, just knew, that His+ pain was worse that anything she was called upon to bear. The priest said he left in tears.

The sister was in joy. She had trained herself to identify with CHRIST JESUS, the Suffering Savior, so much so that any pain she had to bear called her into a time of thanksgiving. She thanked HIM+ for reminding her that HE+ bore with patience His+ agony and pain... for us sinners... simply because HE+ loved us. HE+ bore His+ pain because that was the only way to free us from sin... from the grip of the devil... from the depths of Gehenna after death. Furthermore, HE+ did it without complaining, willingly, knowing it was the will of HIS+ FATHER.

Like church bells ringing, pain became the reminder for these sisters of our Savior's agony for us. So, pain and suffering became a time to turn to The LORD in thanksgiving, first of all. Yes, it was a time to ask HIM+ for healing and mercy... but also a time to learn obedience... like HIM+... in the things that are suffered. They learned to identify themselves, in humility, with the Suffering One.

Because of their embracing the Suffering JESUS, they had peace in Him+. These sisters learned not to fight "for their own rights." They learned to yield at all times, in HIM+. They had peace in His+ will. Thus, they could minister peace to anyone who was suffering. The result was that they had an anointing upon them to turn others to The LORD during their suffering... and in their own.

Yes, we know the LORD can and does heal and work out situations that are impossible, humanly speaking. But, the Suffering JESUS is to be embraced as well as the victorious JESUS.

Let us be content to let The LORD JESUS reign.

Let GOD be GOD !

A WORTHY PRAYER

Almighty GOD, the fountain of all wisdom, Thou knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which-- for our unworthiness we dare not and for our blindness we cannot-- ask; through the worthiness of Thy Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD, Who+ lives and reigns with Thee and the HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, now and forever. Amen.

This worthy prayer was found amongst the prayers in the Book of Common Prayer, Proper 11, Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.

DENYING GOD... When do we do this?

William Law... that single-minded Christian who exhorts us to walk in the ways of holiness for HIS+ name's sake... was quoted in a Continuing Anglican church newsletter recently. Brother Law said:

Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behaviour as either:

1. a denial of the wisdom of GOD,

or as

2. a confession that he is

out of HIS+ Will.

To be always in a thankful state of heart before GOD is NOT to be considered a HIGH PLANE of spirituality

but rather...

the normal attitude of one who believes that

"All things work together for good to them that love GOD, who are called according to HIS+ purpose."

Perhaps this holds true regarding all grumbling and complaining, also ?

SELF on the THRONE of your HEART

Here is real Christian art you won't find in an art gallery.

It is from a Brother who, early in his walk, discovered something: the worst enemy that the Christian must fight is... himself.

Self is what gets us into messes. Self is what keeps us from the humility required to walk with CHRIST. Self lauds the fleshly accomplishments which ... in reality... only hinder and distract us from walking with Our LORD. Self keeps us from closeness with HIM+ Who+ desires closeness with us more than all the good activities we fill our days doing. Self sets up our own "do good" program for CHRIST... instead of waiting before HIM+, staying with HIM+, listening to HIM+.

When Self is on the throne of our heart, we are sowing to the flesh instead of the Spirit. Let us not be in the Self-willed bundle, ready to be burned (John 15), who says, "LORD, LORD, didn't we prophesy in thy name... cast out devils... do many wonderful works in thy name?" HIS+ response (Matthew 7) is frightening and it gives a clue as to who will be wailing and gnashing their teeth in the judgment.

...A Self-Portrait, Indeed...

Myself, I would like to put this on as a self-portrait in my profile column... except I cannot figure out how to add a photo to it ! [ If anyone knows how to do this, please advise me in the comments.]

When I first saw his drawing, I literally GASPED! I thought he had drawn my very own face in this picture. Oddly enough, when he showed this picture to someone else, he (not she !) said he thought it looked just like himself .

Is it possible that the spirit of SELF make us all look alike?

[Now that's a frightening thing to ponder. ]

The OGS Ante-Nicene CREED.... a statement of the basic beliefs of the Early Christians, compiled from the earliest Christian Creeds

The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

An Ante-Nicene Creed

It was the custom of the Early Christians to rehearse a short, concise statement of the basic tenets of the Christian faith during worship services and especially, during a baptism. This was to teach the untaught and to re-affirm to the consecrated follower of The LORD JESUS CHRIST the basics of Christianity. There are several very early ones, as each church district compiled their own. They were mildly diverse, yet each agreed with and complemented the others, before the Nicene Council, around 325 A.D. After the Council of Nicea, splits and divisions and issues of control entered into the once-unified Christian church. Our Order compiled this Creed from Christian Creeds written before the first Council of Nicea, 325 A.D. Much of it will sound familiar to you. We include this Creed in our Evening Prayer.

I believe in

One GOD The FATHER ALMIGHTY,

Maker of the Heavens and the earth and of all things

visible and invisible;

And in one LORD JESUS CHRIST,

the Only-begotten SON of GOD,

begotten of His+ FATHER before all worlds.

GOD of GOD, LIGHT of LIGHT, Very GOD of Very GOD,

begotten, not made,

being of One Substance with The FATHER,

by WHOM+ all things were made.

WHO+, for us men and for our salvation,

came down from Heaven

through the Spirit and Power of GOD The FATHER,

descended into the Hebrew virgin, Mariam,

and was made man

and dwelt among us, full of Grace and Truth.

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

HE+ suffered and was buried

and descended into the heart of the earth;

And the third day HE+ rose again, according to Scriptures,

and ascended into Heaven

and sitteth at the Right Hand of GOD The FATHER ALMIGHTY.

And HE+ shall come again, with glory,

to judge both the living and the dead;

Whose Kingdom shall have no end.

And, I believe in

the HOLY SPIRIT, The Paraclete, The Sanctifier,

sent by CHRIST from The FATHER,

WHO, with The FATHER and The SON together is worshipped and glorified;

WHO spake through the prophets.

And, I believe in

One Holy and Apostolic Church,

out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

I acknowledge One baptism for the forgiveness of sins;

And, I look for

the resurrection of the dead,

and the Life of the world to come

through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD.

Amen.

Proclaim the Greatness of The LORD our GOD !

Proclaim the Greatness of The LORD our GOD;
HE+ is the Holy ONE+

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou for the name of Thy Majesty:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy Holiness:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths, and dwellest between the Cherubim:………………………...
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy Kingdom:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the firmament of the Heavens:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
* praised and exalted above all for ever.


This is a morning laud for the prayerbook. This can be recited, chanted, or said as an antiphonal (responsive) reading, if you have others with you. May the name of The LORD be praised, magnified, glorified and lifted up forever ! Amen.

The Pattern of the Early Christians...

The pattern of how the Early Christians --of the first 200 years-- practiced their Christianity is worthy of our attention. It was a powerful church, a church that spoke loudly ... without saying a word. The Early Church of the first 200 years stood unified against the heretics; indeed, their writings against the heresies show us vividly exactly what they believed, how they discerned Scriptures, and how they lived.

Without saying a word, their modest, unfashionable, and plain dress made them visible to and yes, targets in, their unregenerated world. It gave them ample opportunities to witness... both to the hungry souls yearning for the one true GOD and to the haters of GOD.

They spoke to their society wordlessly when they simply did NOT attend the theaters, sports, or events in the public arenas and stadiums. They would not go to the public bath houses. Nudity and nakedness in any degree were avoided. They stood out simply because they did not do the pleasure activities that were common in their societies. Mind you, they did not wear placards nor demonstrate on the sidewalk nor make any public protest; they simply withdrew themselves from attending these events. They knew how to separate themselves from worldliness.

They also refused to berate, gossip, or speak derogatorily of others. They practiced quietness, especially noticable in public. Loose, worldly talk nor jesting would not be heard in their somber interactions. They took the Word literally, that ...we must give an account for every idle word.

They were accused of being Christians, based on such evidence. Even one of the Roman rulers complained that the Christians lived such lives that "they not only feed their poor, they feed our poor also!"

The Christians were accused of not harming anyone, even their enemies. And, they never went to court to sue anyone. Christians would always suffer the wrong, with the hopes that

..."the blood of the martyrs would be the seed of the church."

Society considered Christians uncultured and even a danger to their society's values because they did not attend the common entertainment activities nor sporting events. What a tremendous witness, even though given in a form of accusation.

In this day and age, do we give enough evidence to the society around us that we are Christians... without opening our mouths? Are our values so distinctly different from the world around us that we make society uneasy... that something is drastically wrong?

If not, it's time to seek The LORD and change.

This is why The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ patterns itself after the Early Church of the first 200 years. We follow CHRIST JESUS first; then we look to see the pattern lived out in the lives and writings of our Early Christian brethren.

Following the Authority Line

Why can't I go deeper with CHRIST? What's the block?

I know I love HIM+... I've committed myself to HIM+

... what's the problem ?

I am hearing this common theme amongst Brethren: Let's MOVE ON! Let's go DEEPER! There's more... there's more... And indeed, good Brethren, there is. However,the only way presented to go deeper is more reading, more studying, more evangelizing of the unsaved... all of which are good... but there truly exists the REST of the package!

For instance, I do not hear much concern about following the authority line, neither in the home nor in the church. Now mind you, I'm NOT talking about the baseless, man-made "apostolic succession" that some groups practice.

If the true, Biblical authority line was established and practiced-- as it was in the Early Church-- there would not be so many exhortations needed about Christian dress :>), just for instance.

This is not to say that MEN RULE... This is to say that the brothers SET THE EXAMPLE FIRST. This is the first line of defense (in both the home and church) against the wayward spirits of the flesh and world. These spirits constantly tug and pull at the Christians.

The authority FIRST brings himself totally in line with CHRIST'S Words (Matthew 5,6 and 7,and rest). Then he will have the spiritual authority and the spiritual power in the unseen realm to oust the rebellious spirits leading the flock astray. Yes, it will COST YOU BIG-TIME as you apply Matthew 5,6, and 7, and the rest, to your own life, your home, your family, and your church.

You will indeed pick up HIS+ cross and die daily to yourself as you learn to lay down the sword and the lawsuits and practice love towards your enemies... individual and corporate... both perceived and real enemies.

You will indeed pay the price, receiving the reproach that was laid upon CHRIST JESUS, if you stop laying up treasures for yourself on earth. TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW so that you may use your time to serve CHRIST JESUS with ALL of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. As you step out of this world's economic system to serve CHRIST JESUS, you will see a marvelous thing happen: HIS+ economic system will care for you and you will indeed be living in Psalm 23 and know NO WANT or lack of any needful thing.

Yes, dear Brethren, go the next step. Don't stop the exhortations but do start by laying the example FIRST.

Want the Sisters to dress modestly? Then get out of your cut-offs, shorts, nicely-cut jeans, tank tops, open-necked shirts, and backwards ball caps. Cover your bodies with work overalls, work pants, solid colored long-sleeved shirts with the collars buttoned... no chest, no he-man hair, no muscles rippling... look nothing like the world but rather like a CHRISTIAN brother... and you will see the Sisters change their dress to be not only modest but also to reflect CHRIST and be in line with the Apostle's words... at least, the Sisters who are consecrated in their hearts to living for The LORD with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Yes, go ahead, pay a price for following CHRIST. No-one is holding a gun to your head to keep you from doing so, is there? Yes, there are commandments to follow in the New Testament. They are given to help us grow... and grow closer to HIM+.

JESUS our LORD said, "If you love ME+, keep my commandments." See John 14 and 15.

I hope this is helpful, dear ones, in your endeavor to have more of CHRIST and less of this world.

In Christian love,
Sister Judith Hannah