Freedom

On this Independence Day - we celebrate our Nations Freedoms and remember all who fought for those freedoms - we also remember all who aren't totally free - here and abroad. But also on this Independence Day let us remember our Inter-Dependence on God and the proper use of freedom "faith working through love" and expend our energies on Loving God and Loving Others - sharing the wonderful abundance of His love and Grace... freedom doesn't give us the right to do what we please, but to do what pleases God... and let us give thanks to our God who through Christ, we too are Free - Truly Free - Thank You my Lord... Terry

Unity – in Mind, Body and Spirit

from our Scripture Readings this Trinity Sunday; we find in Isaiah 6:1-8 “A vision of God in the Temple” the Psalm 29, “the voice of God in a great storm”, Romans 8:12-17 “we find Life in the Spirit”, and in John 3:1-17 “we learn that flesh and Spirit belong together in the new, as Jesus envisions it” and so in “Mind Body and Spirit” we do come to unity as God had intended us from the beginning. now through Christ's redeeming sacrifice for us – we can be once again in harmony with God and with each other… here I see “Vision, Voice, Vocation, Victory” we are told our sins are blotted out and yet we continue to hold onto them as though they were our only thread to Christ – so if our sins are blotted out why do we continue to hold onto them and dwell upon them…  we really need to learn to listen to the voice of forgiveness the voice of guidance the voice of victory… we are a loved and forgiven people – now we must live as such… and through the Psalms and else where throughout the Bible we are reminded that He is with us… always… the Lord shall give strength and the blessing of peace to his people. It is us who must listen, accept the gracious gifts – in Romans 8:12-17 tells us for all who are led by the Spirit are Children of God. the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are Gods very own… no one can give it to you – and the greater blessing – is no one can take it from you… and in John 3:1-17 we lean that no one can see the Kingdom of God without first being born from above, born of the Spirit, “the wind blows where it chooses” so God blesses each of us with the Spirit and ours is to witness of Gods mercy and grace and gift of the Spirit for you for me for all who call upon His great name… to witness is an important vocation, because through witness the world comes to know the presence of God in Jesus through us… the presence of Jesus as the incarnate word, confronts the world with the decision to believe or not, and making that decision is the moment of self – judgment. the Gospels eschatology is defined by decision and self judgment. God’s judgment arises out of God’s love for the World. God sent Jesus to save the world… and the world will judge itself in its response to Jesus… for me the Kingdom of God is when we – you and I – are living in harmony with God and each other… are we living up to the fullest potential in Christ. are we living in harmony of Mind Body and Spirit…  can others tell – do they see it? Victory is ours in Christ – claim your inheritance… be a voice for someone else – your witness helps others to see victory for themselves is possible… Amen. Rev.Terry J. McGuire

Different Voices – One Message

How is it – that we hear, each of us? Because the Holy Spirit has rested upon you too – giving you the ability to understand the Word as God intends for you too. Because God wants an intimate relationship with each and everyone of us and to do so we must understand His Calling, His Word… For Christians around the world – Pentecost celebrates the climax of the Good News – that this day all the benefits of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – rush into our lives and into the Church – through the gift of the Holy Spirit - “what does this mean” that Christ’s promise of a Comforter has come and rested upon you and rested upon me and rested upon the Church Universal. “that God declares it is He who will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh – when and to whom He chooses and so we are reminded in our smallness there is nothing we can do to make the Spirit manifest itself in us or through us, it is only by and through the power of God… and “everyone – everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall and will be saved” the gift of the Spirit will be with us too… the Spirit will help us in our weaknesses – we just have to come to terms with our own limitations and allow the Spirit to intercede on our behalf. God knows our hearts – have we surrendered everything, have we given way for the Spirit to fill us with all the wonderful Blessings that await each and everyone of us. “when the Advocate comes, the Spirit of Truth” you too are to testify – what has God done for you… the Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth; then you my friends – must go and share your journey’s with others – share God’s unfailing love for you and encouraging one another alone this journey together until at last Christ's face we shall see… and in closing dig deep with in – where and how may God be calling you to witness to God’s justice? Know that if God calls you into action God will also provide all that is necessary for you…

O’Lord do not abandon us now, rather, make your presence real, manifested in joy, grace and love… Amen…

Rev. Terry J. McGuire

Human Rights

Human Rights
Human Rights can and will only begin when we all start treating each other with the same regard in which we wish to be treated… Human Rights are a GOD given right for every individual, to be treated with dignity, respect and equality that GOD has created each of us to have to be all that we can be. While remembering to appreciate the uniqueness of each of us and celebrate the diversity that GOD has placed in each of us. Human Rights can only begin to take root when we remember that each of us have the responsibility to Love one another as our selves, the rights that belong to the select few are the Holy Rights of ALL… only when we take off our own self inflicted blinders in humiliation, of self degradation, of self hatred towards others different from ourselves can or will we respect the individualities of a Life of one another as another Child of GOD. Remembering that if GOD is for them then who are we to be against them. It isn’t our place to condemn one another and yet we find it so easy to do on a regular basis. Based on many different factors and none; forgetting that it is GOD who has made each and everyone of us, uniquely individual as our finger prints and we are ALL created in GOD’s image. Then what are we doing? When will we start to recover the Human Rights each are each born with? Only when we begin to see the value of every single individual as one of GOD’s very own – no longer a disposable person in our society – a fellow brother – sister – neighbor. What if - it were I – what if - it were You – standing on the outside looking in and longing to be treated with the same Loving Respect and Dignity you were born with. Not until everyone has been restored with the same Human Rights – can we rest – can we stop Praying – can we stop working to stop the hatred – of self and others.

Rev. Terry J. McGuire

"undoing the Damage Done in the name of Religion"

the main theme of our Scripture readings speaks on Forgiveness, with other Scriptures providing us with insight on – Compassion, and Judging Others… I think that we sometimes forget the Mercy and Grace God has shown us when we become Christians… we seem to have become this new monster… of self-righteousness and piety, that we have all the answers and now have the right to condemn others as we see fit instead of our Great Commission to Share the Good News… ours is to share the Good News with others… Jesus Saves… if Christ didn’t condemn anyone why then have we taken on the role of condemning others as we choose… we aren’t to Judge anyone… what others do is between them and God… He will put His word on our hearts and minds… what applies for me may not apply for you… so why do we continually assert such a burden on others…Christ showed great compassion for those we seem to condemn… those with whom we show the door of our Churches… you don’t belong here… But wait… it isn’t our Church… it belongs to Christ, so what are we doing in the name of Religion, what Damage are we doing to His Children in the name of Religion… are we so certain that we have all the answers, are we so certain He has given us the keys to the Kingdom to act and treat others the way we sometimes do… None of us get it all right… but we are to make sure that No One is to be left out, even Christ showed us how to be Compassionate, Forgiving and yes Loving… how we are to live in harmony with the Father and with one another…and He has shown us how we All can - have a relationship with God again…when we live in fellowship with one another we live out our individual Callings, to bring the Good News to All … the rest is up to Him to lead and guide as He sees fit to do so… not us… ours is not to judge and if we find ourselves doing so…repent…for the day will come when we too will be judged as we judged others… are you that certain that you have all the answers, are you that certain that God will not hold you and I accountable for the Damage we do… are you that certain that God didn’t Call them to serve Him… just as they are… in matters not essential for Salvation, Faith allows believers to act on reason and conscience… instead of judging others we are to be concerned with our final judgment… How is God going to react to what we have done…even when others continue to suppress us and set us out, thankfully God always provides for His Children, He always finds a way for us to be in Relationship with Him… even when others tell us it can’t be done… He is the only one we need concern ourselves with… we are to forgive the Brother or Sister who tells us otherwise or holds you back from the Relationship He has awaiting each of us… and move forward in the Call that only He can provide…through Christ…we can be in that one same relationship with God… however we must show the same mercy, that He so generously shown us to our repressors to our condemners…we are to live the life that He has Called us to…we are to help others who fail to see the Love of God that is available through Christ… that they too can and will have the same unfailing Love that is available for All of Gods Children and sometimes it will be reflected in us… not just a select few… and certainly not the ones we think may be deserving… that is not our call to make… it is God’s… when we begin to realize that we are here to serve one another and to help build up one another instead of tearing each other down or suppressing anyone else, then do we start to live and to love as He has Called us to… and hopefully begin to undo some of the Damage that has been Done in the name of Religion… that God’s Love is available for All…who call upon HIS Great Name… Amen
Rev. Terry J. McGuire