If you've been involved with our church or come from another Anglican communion, you know that Anglicans cherish liturgy and structure. We follow carefully planned rhythms and patterns of worship. In Anglican worship, we experience God through songs, Scripture reading, preaching, prayers, Holy Communion, and acts of service. God reveals Himself to us as we serve Him throug...

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 111:10) The phrase "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge" is found three times in the Bible: Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, and Proverbs 9:10. But what does it really mean to "fear" the Lord? Does it imply being "afra...

Today, we observe Good Friday, the one day of the year set aside to remember the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Although for most people that day started just like any other Friday, make no mistake: there was nothing ordinary about it. Citizens and visitors in Jerusalem reverently celebrated Passover, the annual festival honoring Israel's release from 40...

We are on the cusp of Holy Week when we begin in the celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus our Messiah into Jerusalem only to be plunged into mourning the death of our Lord Jesus.Happily, the week culminates in celebration, in Jesus' victory over death.I encourage you to use your imaginations this week to ponder how you would have felt and done as a first century bel...

Out of the depthsI cry to you,Lord Out of the depthsI cry to you,Lord;Lord, hear my voice.Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you,Lord, kept a record of sins,Lord, who could stand?But with you there is forgiveness,so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for theLord,my whole being waits,and in his wordI put my hope.I wait for the Lord more than watc...

TheLordis myshepherd; I shall notwant.He makes me lie down in greenpastures.He leads me beside still waters.Herestores my soul.Heleads me inpaths of righteousnessfor hisname's sake.Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death,I willfear no evil, foryou are with me;yourrod and your staff,they comfort me.Youprepare a table before me inthe presence of my enemies...

In his letter, James, Jesus' brother, made a clear statement about religion and religious practices. He noted that there is a type of religion that God the Father accepts, and another, lacking power and effectiveness, which He regards as worthless. He not only distinguished between what our Father finds acceptable and what He regards as worthless but also described what pu...

On Sunday, we celebrate the transfiguration of the Lord, a supernatural event recorded in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. In each of these gospel accounts, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up a high mountain to pray. As He was praying, His face shone like the sun, His clothes became as bright as lightning, Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, a bright cloud oversh...

Recently, I talked with a friend about our world. We both agreed that, despite its many blessings, life is also full of challenges, hardships, and dangers. There is a simple reason for this: God is good, and His goodness encompasses us and His creation. Yet, the world we inhabit including ourselves is fallen and laden with temptations that stem from our broken world syst...

You have searched me, Lord,and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise;you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongueyou, Lord, know it completely.You hem me in behind and before,and you lay your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too lofty for me to atta...