Yep, Jan. 1st is The Holy Name of Jesus on the Church Calendar. Don't you think that's so much richer than flipping a calendar page and making a bunch of resolutions that end in pointless failure? How much better to place faith in his Name and let him make wonderful changes in us:
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name...
The Gospel of John, 1:12
The picture is our front door. Yes, real icicles because it's - uh - freezing here. But the "greens" remind us that the Name of Jesus is love to the cold-hearted world, and victory over the forces of death and hell...
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.
Charles Wesley
and the red reminds us that his blood was shed in sacrifice for us - not just as a story or an example, but as the decisive act for cosmic history:
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Apostle Paul, Letter to the Philippians, 2:9-11
Yes, it is 2008, and we pray that God blesses these next twelve arbitary calendar pages. But most of all we let's encourage one another to honor, pray and believe in the Name of Jesus, who is "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), even as he comes to "make all things new" (Revelation 21:5).
2 comments:
Happy New Year to one and all. It's sure to be an eventful year for many of us. And for us Anglicans, the big twin conferences this summer, GAFCON in Jerusalem in June, and "Lambeth" in Kent in July/August, promise to be eventful indeed. Whatever may happen in those places, Anglicanism will never be the same.
My wife Irene says that I'm an eternal and incorrigible optimist. Well maybe so, but I still dare to say that "the best is yet to come!" I believe that 2008 is the year that Anglicanism will finally settle this fight, at least in principle. And we will win! God isn't finished with us yet.
Tim+, if you're willing (feel free to edit this out), please consider providing a link to a major, very long, but hopeful essay I just submitted today (Jan. 2nd) to Stand Firm in Faith about our Anglican future. It's on the Thinking Anglicans thread, and I believe it's post number 232.
It should encourage many readers here. It's very upbeat.
"New Reformation Advocate" (as I'm known over at SF and T19)
Blessed be the name of Jesus! HIS name is above every name. Alleluia!
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