Where I am now

Hey, 

 

I *have* thought about Jubilee.  Thank you for the invitation.  It means a lot to me. 

 

My own Church is just too woke for me now. I took my last priest for granted, and she was a large part of the reason I stayed at St. Paul's, a buffer for me. I was looking around for Anglican Churches when I found Benadiction Church in KW.  It looks wild, but very conservative, Anglican, evangelical, and with contemporary music.  So I'm not sure about it.  It seems a juxtaposition.   

 

You and I have not had a really good discussion about faith, Christianity, and Church.  My gut tells me that you don't want to talk (or debate) Church, and I will try not to broach the issue. Two of my childhood friends/clergy kids (Baptist & Lutheran) hated talking Church with me.  Maybe I could talk directly to Trevor? You are a friend, and I wouldn't want it to affect our friendship.  It's amazing that you guys include us in game nights. 

 

Although I prefer the traditional hymns, I don't mind your rock concert.  I really like the people of Jubilee; they're good people, good Christians. The worship is quite different.  I am an extreme (ISTJ) introvert, emotion on the inside.  And, I am quite attached to Anglican liturgy.  Praying by rote—as Dave Adair calls it, is wrong according to him.  I look at it as a personal relationship with God and with the intent of the heart as being what is important in discerning if prayer is vain. 

 

The structure and regimentation of Anglican worship is actually what attracted me to it.  I find beauty in the liturgy and peace in The Office; it holds a reverence in it, and brings me closer to God.  In it, I find joy of my own that is difficult for me to articulate to you. It moves me to tears when I think of what the Lord has done for me, and what I have done to Jesus. 

 

I don't know if I'm Christian enough to belong at Jubilee, an ugly duckling. So, maybe I should tell you what I believe: 

 

• I am a creedal Christian (Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed)  

• I am a Sola fide Christian 

• I am a Sola Scripture Christian 

• I believe in the Gifts of the Spirit, but that they are different for each of us 

• I believe in the 7 sacraments of the Church, especially (at least) baptism and the Eucharist 

➡I am okay with infant baptism 

➡I believe in one baptism  

➡I believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist (not just symbolic) 

• I believe that spiritual warfare is real, and dangerous to the unprepared  

• I believe in apostolic succession, but that it is not necessary for salvation to do so 

• I agree with the 39 Articles of Faith 

• I believe that Abortion is murder (but I tend to keep that to myself) 

• I have unique views on homosexuality—that are better explained in person—that would not be accepted in either of our Churches, I imagine 

• I believe that we should all be free to worship as we see fit in Canada 

• I believe that Church—in as far as it is Christian community—is necessary and is the body of Christ, but not necessary for salvation  

• I think that there are five basic types of prayer (not necessary for salvation to believe so) 

• I am a Trinitarian, and steer clear of the heresies of Modalism, Adoptionism, Arianism, Nestorianism, Pelagianism, & Apollinarianism 

• I don't mind veneration of the Saints (they actually inspire me, Thomas doubting, Peter sinking in the sea, as I myself fall far short), but find prayer to them to be wrong 

• I don't believe in purgatory 

• When confessing your sins to a priest or otherwise, forgiveness comes from God 

• I have not had a mountain top experience, and 

• I have never spoken in tongues or had a vision 

• I believe that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved 

• I believe that if I am not where I am supposed to be, a whale will come get me 

 

I know how I arrived at St. Paul's; I see the hand of God in my being called there.  The conservative Christians who formed the Anglican Essentials movement packed up and left years ago, as the left turn blinker was stuck on.  The Anglican Church of Canada has become a temple of Moloch, Gaia, and Marx (as I witness it in sermons from the pulpit, the 5 Marks of Mission, and as called out by Anglican writers like C.S. Lewis and J.I. Packer).  And, I find myself asking God why I am here in the midst of it.  Am I here as a witness? 

 

Again, to reiterate, I value our friendship a lot, more than any need to talk about any of this; I just felt that you were owed this after your invitation—yet another—to attend Jubilee.  Maybe God will take us there... 

 

Peace, 

 

William 

Is the tent big? Is it really?

They're so proud of being so inclusive and of having the big tent, but only for people who think like them, gay, trans, critical race theory advocates, hierarchy of oppression advocates, Postmodernists, a lot of the things the Bible tells us not to do.  And, I'm okay with that part of it.  I'm a very Romans 14 Christian.  But, they are not tolerant, and they have switched places with the members of old.  Seminary produces no conservative clergy.  There is no tolerance for the colour blind racists, the climate change skeptics, the free market capitalists, and those who believe in individual liberty and individual responsibility.  Not only is there no room for diversity of thought, but it they taught about God rather than isms, maybe the Church would be n a better place today.

Ash Cross

Leave it on, or wipe it off?  Show off how pious I am, or deny Christ?  

Guess what tonight's Gospel reading was?

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

To quote a recent media source, if you'd suggested an American invasion ten years ago, I'd have said that you were batshit crazy.  Is the threat a pressure tactic to force us to spend on defense?  

Sure, we're a satellite nation; but, we've been their closest allies since the beginning of the 20th century.  We've had great victories--massive battlefield wins that surpassed our allies' wins--while fighting the enemy along side our British and American allies.  

But, we can't fight a conventional war against America and win.  And, I wouldn't want to.  So, would we fold like Austria to Germany, or would we have decades long insurgency?

The Liberals have primed us for this, from Socialist policies and Postmodernism statements like Canada doesn't have a core identity and is Post National to civil disarmament and getting into bed with China.

I also would not want to fight a guerilla war against them on our soil.  Another resent article reads, "Stop disarming our future armed resistance," in reference to the Liberals' gun ban.  But, I don't want to kill Americans.  I feel a kinship with them.  And, I identify more with American Conservatives than I do with Canadian Liberals.  I think they're right, actually. 

What would I do in the event of an unlikely invasion?  I sure as shit would defend my home from looters in the wake of the fall of government, which would be a real threat.  I don't know.  Armed resistance?  It seems so foreign and wrong.  Would I welcome American rule?  I don't know.  Would I join the underground?  I couldn't rule it out.  But, it would be a brothers war.  Another article said it would--an insurgency of decades long conflict--destroy America's world dominance; and, I don't want that either.  I'm an ally.  

I had my world view shattered when Russia invaded the Ukraine.  There was a paradigm shift.  I honestly and truly believed that a modern democratic nation would not invade another modern democratic nation in the 21st century.  Sanctions sure but, there would never be armed conflict.  Will we become the USA's Ukraine?  

I remember my Dad telling me that the Americans lost Vietnam because the war came into the American living room every night at 6:00 p.m.  And, the American people couldn't stand the sight of young boys being slaughtered and the sight of civilian casualties.  And, I believed it.  Now, I'm not too sure.

Even when Trump threatened tariffs on Canada, I was shocked when they hit us.  I thought, was convinced right up until the end, that they were a negotiating tactic.  He would never hit an ally and neighbor with crippling tariffs. I liked Trump, liked his domestic policy.  I understand now, it's about bringing American manufacturing home.  I get that.  Thomas Sowell would disagree.  Free Trade and free and open markets are the most prosperous way forward for all nations.

I'm deeply saddened by all of this.  Protectionism has traditionally been the realm of liberal Democrats.  Doug Ford may have said it best when he said that Trump stuck a knife in our back. 

The Americans are our friends, allies, and brothers.  This is so wrong.  I hate it.  It grieves me.

It made sense to fight the Nazis.  This makes no sense to me (to fight Americans). 

Is this a distraction for America, while they teeter on the brink of civil war between left and right?  War distracts, and what better a war can you have than to have one against a country that can't beat you in a fight?  Demonize and then invade, it's a perfect red flag operation.

I'm not a young man anymore.  I don't have enough ammo to do any more than defend my home from looters after the fall of government.  And, I can't see anything being organized after the fall of the CAF; we just don't have the resources.  Again, the Americans are our brothers.  This is all so ludicrous. 

God help us. 

 

Home For Me

Yesterday, I told Archdeacon Rob that I wanted to step away from Parish Council.  My time as a Church Warden is coming to an end Feb. 22nd.  Cindy will remain quite involved, being on Parish Council and invested in the outreach ministries from 9 Douro St.  I do not feel called to any particular ministry, nor do I fit well.

The Opposition and why they just can't get along

Canada's Official Opposition or His Majesty's Loyal Opposition.  Who are they to oppose?  Why is that important?

Psalm 55

Reading the 55th psalm tonight, I had two things jump out at me.  Verses 2-3 remind me that my enemies in the Church hate me because I'm conservative.

But, then I saw Christ.  I saw Judas betray Him in verse 20.  I saw God save Him.

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