The atrocities we are constantly witnessing around the world are a direct testimony of why we need PEACE. Lasting peace will not come through force or retaliation. It will only be achieved when the world has a common focus. The common focus is on the incarnation of Peace.
Peace is not an abstract concept made up by civilized men. Democracy failed to deliver Peace.
Peace is a reality, a yearning and a person. We base our calendar on that person. Peace is Human. Peace is accessible and has walked the earth. Peace is found in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Peace is God and man together! "ὑπόστασις".
The Hypostatic Union is the coming together of Peace and man in one historical person. He is the peace that passeth all understanding. So in the aftermath of the shocking tragedy in Paris, I want to encourage you to look for Peace. He is a man...He is the GodMan. And he is accessible.

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out"

John 6:37

I saw Daniel (AKA Lazarus) the homeless guy again, he was wearing my jacket as I was talking to my friend Brendan, I called him over and he was blessed by Brendan. Every time he walks by my house from now on he will know that Jesus "Covereth" my house with blessings. I was at a memorial service for a friend's mom today in an old folk's home and the preacher had us recite Psalm 23. Old folks are aware and emotionally connected to the reality that Goodness and Mercy shall follow them all the days of our lives if we are in Christ. Pslam 23 resonates deeply with me, The Good Shepherd loves me and he has assigned Goodness and mercy to follow me. I tried to ditch them and wallow in self pity or fear but they are obstinate. Goodness and Mercy are glued to me like chewing gum on hair. It felt good to see Daniel using the goose feather jacket in this cold weather. I praise Jesus for his lovingkindness.

So I met Lazarus today… I was hanging out on my back porch and heard some rustling around my iron fence, it was dark, a shadow moved about walking to and fro suspiciously, so I decided to arm myself and to pull a Rambo to scare off the “malfrat”. I went over to the fence and shouted; HEY! Whatchoodoing there!!!? Out of the shadows came out this person in very apologetic Spanish accent saying; I am looking for food…. That is when I met Daniel Aguilar. Daniel is a 48 year old construction former worker who was assaulted by some thugs and got his ribcage broken in Louisiana. Daniel was not able to continue his work due to that incident. Somehow he found out about Casa de Amigos Health Center (1615 North Main) and decided to leave Louisiana and get treated there. After seeing a physician, he was told that he could not do any construction work for 6 months. This is how he ended up staying at the Salvation Army Homeless center by my house. I gave him some food and told him about Jesus. The Salvation Army only allows one to stay there for a number of days before vacating. Daniel spent as many days as he could at the Salvation Army and had to resort to looking for food and shelter on the streets. As I was talking to him, I dropped down my guard and decided to really listen to his story… I was blown away by his tales of how he had demonic encounters and was visited by God through the kindness of strangers. He told me that he had once encountered a “perfect looking man” who claimed to be the devil. The man was angry with him for helping someone for God’s sake. Daniel was at the time trying to help this lady out of her addiction. He told me that he knew Jesus has always been looking out for him and that he believed that he is the one who sent me to reach out to him. I gave Daniel a goose feather coat a pair of pants, and some food and drink. Not much… But he was thankful. We had a great time talking and it is when I realized that, God in his mercy allows us to meet people’s needs even though we don’t have much to offer. I told Daniel that I am no different than he is… I only have to miss a couple of paychecks to be on the streets like him. I was inspired to reach out to my neighbors tonight in an unbelievable way. God even used my imperfect drive to protect my street from the undesirables to meet one of his sheep, and for that I am eternally grateful. I met Lazarus tonight and I intend on dining with him in the future for Jesus sake, because Jesus loves Lazarus and I am Lazarus too. Luke 16:19-31

Time alone with God “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We all go through times when we feel as if nothing is going our way, when our phones won't work, our friends are too busy to listen to us, our parents just don't get it, and our favorite shampoo runs out! Let me tell you one of my recent episodes with first world discontent. Last Wednesday, I came home to find that my internet was out and the customer service rep told me I had to either wait a week to get a new modem sent to me or I could pick it up at the Bellaire service center, as soon as she said that, my head started flooding with questions, no internet for tonight and possibly the next few days? They must be crazy!!! How am I supposed to get on Youtube, or stream my favorite tunes? What about Netflix, Amazon and Hulu? Like many of us the internet has become a staple in my life, almost as precious as running water. I am saturated with technology and convenience. In my house it is not unusual to have several devices running at the same time hooked to my Wifi. I decided I would wait and pick up the modem on my own since it would be faster. So after a grueling couple of days I marched down to the Bellaire service center and picked up a brand spanking new top of the line modem and rushed home only to find out that the internet WAS STILL NOT WORKING!!!! So It took all I had not to loose it and I “calmly scheduled an appointment with the Tech to fix my internet. Tuesday rolls around and I hurry back home from work and waited 2 Hours for the tech to show up... But he never did. By now my frustration was reaching epic proportions and I had to remind myself that I was a minister of the Gospel and thus I was not allowed to let this situation get the best of me. I must have called over 20 times in desperation. No matter how many times I threatened to cancel my service there was no way for the tech to come TODAY! Its at that moment that I felt utterly stupid and materialistic and that I had taken my eyes off of the fact that none of this mattered. Internet was not what I needed. What I needed was to get a grip on the fact that I was not in communion with my Father in heaven over this trivial matter. Yes I finally got it, this was a first word problem. I still had my family and plenty of food in the pantry but I had obsessed with the fact that I could not get my entertainment on for a week. The shame of what I had done washed over me but so did forgiveness from above. I am free from wanton addiction to a passing thing. The cross is the holy plant of God where I can get that fruit that always satisfies my soul and the fruit of the cross is JESUS. My internet was eventually restored, but this episode gave me time to reflect on my sense of entitlement and the heartache that ensues. --Marc How about you? Are you thankful for every circumstances? What are some of the “necessary” things you hold on to? How will being content change your life? Take some time and talk to God about your shortcomings Take some time and pray for the people in the world who don’t have what you have. Take some time and give thanks to the Lord.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

The man walked many miles and he is tired. His feet hurt, but the news must carry on. He must proclaim one step at a time the works of the Morning Star. So by His light he decides to prepare his shoes for the Gospel, straighten his helmet, shine his breastplate, and speak his sword. Raised up by the power of his belt! He now sees the chariots they scream the war song Golgotha! Golgotha! The Skull! The Skull! The man is catapulted into the battle...

Article 17 BCP 1928

XVII. Of Predestination and Election. Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity. As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation.