Fr. Christopher Leighton – October 16th
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Our Father is Younger
By Jordan Easley, October 9, 2011 9:41 pm
Lately, I’ve been thinking and praying a lot about our children at St. Paul’s. In the midst of this, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a profound passage that I read a long time ago:
“Children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’, and the grown-up does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-ups are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” [G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy .]
Christians often speak of “child-like faith”. But what about “child-like monotony”? What a profound thought: our heavenly Father is somehow younger than we are, that he never tires of “do it again”! Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “Unless you become like a little child, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”. [Matthew 18:3] Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE!”
Now that Sunday School is underway, now that we have started our “Supernatural Children’s Curriculum” I hope that you keep on praying LIKE A CHILD for our children. Pray AGAIN and AGAIN that the Holy Spirit (who dwells within the hearts of those who so naturally say AGAIN and AGAIN) will come with power on the children of St. Paul’s. Pray that He will fill us (adults) not just with the youth of a child, but with the youth of God Himself.
Your brother,
Jordan
The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant
Fr. Jordan Easley – October 9th
By Jordan Easley, October 9, 2011 9:21 pm
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Prayer is the Key
By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, October 2, 2011 7:59 pm
The key was left there for us. At least that is what I thought. But when Janet, the children and I arrived, the house was locked. We had traveled two hours at night to a place set aside for us to enjoy a couple of nights of rest and recreation. But the ice cream we had purchased locally was melting, and there was just no way for us to get in.
The caretaker in the house down the lane was gone, and all lights there were off. What were we to do? We decided to pray. I had learned to be as concrete and simple as possible when I prayed with young children. That year in Vacation Bible School we prayed for the rain to stop so we could go outside, and voilà! At the “amen”, it had stopped. So I led a prayer in our dark car that God would bring the key to us right NOW. It was risky, and it could have disturbing consequences if we didn’t get the answer we hoped for, but I figured God could handle all consequences that are a result of faith.
At the “amen” of the prayer, headlights came up the lane, and the caretaker came to open the door! As we ate the ice cream, Susannah said, “This is something I’ll never forget. I’m going to tell my grandchildren!”
What still strikes me about this incident was that we “prayed in” the key, and it has become a metaphor for my faith: that prayer is the key.
As we embark on this adventure in training our children in the supernatural, let us remember that all God expects of us is that we pray with faith – no matter how small – in a God who is great!
He loves us! Prayer is the key.
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
Fr. Christopher Leighton – Matthew 21:33-46 – October 2nd
Fr. Christopher Leighton – September 25th
Are You Ready For What Our Kids Will Do?
By Jordan Easley, September 25, 2011 8:42 pm
Since I’ve been at St. Paul’s, I have been hearing stories like this: “I strained my back the other day and when my daughter saw my pain, she asked, ‘Mommy, can I pray for you?’ And without hesitation she put her hand on my back, prayed for me, and I was fine!” Now I don’t know about you, but for me this wasn’t a normal experience of my childhood. However this ought to be a normal experience for all our children. Healing, prophecy, miracles – few people have the faith for these like children. So, we’re creating a safe and structured space where it can happen.
Today, St. Paul’s is launching a new Sunday School called the Children’s Supernatural Curriculum and the name says it all. We will start with the basics – the Gospel, communion, baptism, covenant, etc. By January the children launch into a full month (not just one Sunday, but four weeks apiece) in prayer, worship, healing and prophecy. They will learn what the Bible teaches in these areas and, more importantly, they will have the opportunity to practice it!
Will you commit to pray for our children as they begin this exciting journey. This is my prayer: that the Holy Spirit of God will so empower our children that they never doubt His love and presence for the rest of their lives, that our children – emboldened by the power of God – will lead the way in revival, and that their boldness of faith will draw us adults into fresh encounters with Jesus.
Your brother,
Jordan
The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant
Fr. Jordan Easley – September 18th
By Jordan Easley, September 18, 2011 10:43 pm
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Fr. Christopher Leighton – Forgiveness – September 11th
9/11 Forgiveness
By Jordan Easley, September 11, 2011 8:40 pm
It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since 9/11. The image of fire and smoke billowing from the World Trade Center will be forever seared in my mind. The terrorist attack left more than wreckage on ground zero, it left wreckage in our souls. I’ve heard the stories from folks at St. Paul’s who lost friends, family, and loved ones on that day. Even though the rubble is long cleared away, and we are rebuilding, I know that, for some of us, the pain at this anniversary is still very real.
In the painful wake of such radical hate stands an even more radical answer: the cross of Christ. If anyone has the right to linger over violent injustice that was dealt him, it is our Lord. From the moment he was born, we attacked him, yet Jesus came and lived among us. Though he could strike back with legions of angels, he allowed us to mock him. Even today, as people around the world – many calling themselves Christians – defame his name, Jesus stands at the throne of God and holds out nail-scarred hands. He too has been wounded.
What would compel him to do this? Love! A more radical and amazing love than we could ever understand. It is humanly impossible to extend real forgiveness and love those who hurt you. Just try it if you don’t believe me! Yet Jesus who was both human AND God, did that exact miracle on the cross. Because of his divine death, what was naturally impossible for us is now supernaturally possible.
So give it a try! Are you tired of pain? Are you weary with old wounds? Are you beyond your own power to forgive? Then, I implore you, go to the cross of Christ today! Ask Jesus for the divine ability to forgive those who have hurt you, be they Arab terrorists or next door neighbors. Better yet, ask him to give you love for your enemies. This is not normal. It is radical. But I promise you, in him it is possible.
Your brother,
Jordan
The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant
Themocracy