The collect for the third Sunday in Lent

We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This collect means a lot to me this week. A big “hearty desire” of mine almost since I became a Christian is that my life make a difference and have purpose in fulfilling God’s purposes for it.

But as I reflected yesterday morning while getting ready to go to church, there have been long stretches, too long stretches, where I’ve strove to do something with my life, but floundered. As I looked back, I considered much of my life lost years.

Perhaps I’m too hard on myself, but I was getting down thinking about it. But God reminded of some things he’s doing in my life now to use me, and he got my spirits up. And largely because of that, it was a special Sunday for me.

Anyway, I know first hand how enemies, whether they be the flesh, the world, and the devil, or just our weakness, can keep us from fulfilling our “hearty desires,” especially our desire to serve Him, to fulfill His purposes for us, and to make a difference.

We are, I am, too weak to do anything lasting and good without His power thwarting those various enemies that would turn our lives into a waste.

So indeed, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty. . .

No Reason??

North American Episcolibs continue to amaze me. The ink is hardly dry on the Primates’ communiqué when bishops already say same-sex blessings will continue, that there will be no moratorium as requested by the Primates.

The response of Long Island bishop Orris Walker is especially galling: “I see no reason to call a moratorium.”

What?! The Primates of the Anglican Communion have requested a moratorium, and that’s “no reason” to call one?!?

Apostate arrogance continues.

++Griswold and ++Hutchison act sensible.

A follow-up to my previous post: North American Primates ++Griswold and ++Hutchison have responded to the Primates’ agreement. And it sounds like both will seek to lead their churches in abiding by the request to withdraw from the Anglican Consultative Council until the next Lambeth Conference. And I even think their responses have a good degree of class.

Do be sure to check out the Hutchison link above. It’s gives some interesting inside tidbits on how the Primates meeting proceeded. ++Eames of Ireland worked his famous unifying blarney again.

Do we have to be rude?

Perhaps I’m not one to ask that question. I’ve been straight-talking Texan much longer than I’ve been Anglican. So I’m not the most tactful guy in the world. And, frankly, I’ve been socially clueless for most of my life.

But even I know that if you are “asked” or “requested” to leave, resign, whatever, you are being “asked” in order to give you a graceful way out, not for you to decide to stay where you are not welcome.

So I am amazed at the response from some liberals to this key paragraph of the Primates' communiqué:

14. Within the ambit of the issues discussed in the Windsor Report and in order to recognise the integrity of all parties, we request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference. During that same period we request that both churches respond through their relevant constitutional bodies to the questions specifically addressed to them in the Windsor Report as they consider their place within the Anglican Communion.

Some are pointing to “voluntarily” and are actually advising that ECUSA decide to stay in the Anglican Consultative Council.

It makes me wonder if there is some serious denial going on here. Being the tactful, gentle guy I am, let me attempt to break through any possible denial:

North American Episcolibs, you’ve been requested to leave the ACC (at least until the next Lambeth Conference in 2008). You should know well that “request [to] voluntarily withdraw” is Anglican for . . . “leave!” Do the Primates have to be rude and unanglican and spell that out bluntly? Are you going to be rude and crash a council where you are not welcome?

Now I hope and almost expect that ++Griswold and most liberals have more sense than that. I’ve been “asked to leave” something before, too. And even I, in the midst of a stressful situation, immediately had enough sense to know it was pointless to stay.

If ECUSA and Anglican Church of Canada leaders don’t have more sense than that . . . . Well, let’s just hope they do.

Crazy Afternoon

First there was a leak from the Primates meeting. Then I got an e-mail urging me not to pass on the leak for fear of jeopardizing the Primates’ agreement.

Then the Primates released their communiqué early, probably in response to the leak.

I’m not sure what to think. The agreement is not as strong as I had hoped. But my initial thinking is that this is a victory for Anglican orthodoxy IF the very Anglican polite words are implemented with firmness.

Notable is that the Primates did not endorse the Windsor Report’s call for Primates to stop intervening in other dioceses. And the agreement appears to be somewhat stronger than the Windsor report on providing for dissident orthodox parishes and dioceses.

So I’m positive. But again, the issue is how firmly will this agreement be implemented.

And for good or ill, it appears the expected split in the Anglican Communion is at least delayed and made gentle for now.

Primate watch (or Where’s Griswaldo?)

The Primates meeting concludes tomorrow, and Anglicans worldwide are antsy. As David Virtue reports, there is quite the information lockdown. No leaks, cell phones not being answered, etc.

There are a few tantalizing possible clues, however. At the evensong service, orthodox Primates were notably more cheerful than certain liberal ones. And most amusing is the group photo of the Primates. In the photo, finding ++Griswold is harder than finding Where’s Waldo. (He’s waaaay in the back – and not looking nearly as happy as Waldo.)

Of course, jumping to conclusions would be foolish. But this is more fun than Kremlin watching or Where's Waldo. . . . And I admit I am optimistic now.

(For those too young to remember Kremlin watching, among other things, photos of Soviet Union leaders at public appearances were deciphered to determine who was rising in or falling out of power.)

Pray.

There’s a lot to pray for this morning. The Primates meeting is nearing its conclusion, of course.

But now the Pope is back in the hospital with a relapse of flu symptoms. That can’t be good. Our prayers are with him.