Merry Christmas! May the the love of God envelope you!

Nollaig Shona! Bealtaine an grá Dé clúdach tú an!
¡Feliz Navidad! Que el amor de Dios sobre que!
Geseënde Kersfees! Mag die liefde van God koevert jou!
Gëzuar Krishtlindjet! Maj dashuria e Perëndisë zarf ju!
عيد ميلاد سعيد! يجوز للمحبة الله المغلف لك!
Merry Christmas! Թող սերը Աստծո ծրարի you!
Merry Christmas! Maiatzaren Jainkoak gutunazal duzun maitasuna da!
Merry Christmas! May Allah zərflərin siz də sevgi!
З Калядамі Хрыстовым! Май любові да Бога канверта!
শুভ বড়দিন! মে ঈশ্বর খাম আপনি ভালবাসা!
Sretan Božić! Neka ljubav Božja koverti vas!
Merry Christmas! Нека любовта на Бог да ви плик!
Bon Nadal! Que l'amor de Déu sobre que!
Malipayong Pasko! May ang sa gugma sa Dios sobre kanimo!
圣诞快乐！愿上帝信封你的爱！
聖誕快樂！願上帝信封你的愛！
Sretan Božić! Svibanj ljubav prema Bogu da kuverti!
Veselé Vánoce! Kéž láska Boží obálku!
Glædelig jul! Må kærlighed kuvert Gud dig!
Merry Christmas! Moge de liefde van God envelop!
Merry Christmas! Ke la amo de Dio koverto vi!
Häid jõule! Mai Jumala armastust ümbriku teile!
Maligayang Pasko! Mayo ang pag-ibig ng Diyos na sobre sa iyo!
Hyvää joulua! Voi Jumalan rakkaus kirjekuori sinua!
Joyeux Noël! Que l'amour de Dieu enveloppe vous!
Bo Nadal! Que o amor de Deus sobre ti!
გილოცავთ შობას! დაე ღვთის სიყვარული კონვერტში თქვენ!
Frohe Weihnachten! Möge die die Liebe Gottes Umschlag Sie!
Καλά Χριστούγεννα! Μπορεί η αγάπη του Θεού φακέλου που!
મેરી ક્રિસમસ! મે ભગવાન પરબિડીયું તમે ના પ્રેમ!
Jwaye Nwèl! Me renmen an Bondye a anvlòp ou!
Merry Kirsimeti. Mayu na kaunar Allah ambulaf ka!
חג המולד שמח! מאי את האהבה של מעטפת אלוהים אתכם!
मेरी क्रिसमस! मई भगवान लिफाफा आप का प्यार!
Zoo siab Hnub Christmas! Tau tus Tswv txoj kev hlub lub hnab ntawv rau koj!
Boldog karácsonyt! Május az Isten szeretete boríték!
Gleðileg jól! Megi kærleikur Guðs umslagi þig!
Adịkwa Christmas! Nwere ike nke ịhụnanya nke Chineke envelopu gị!
Merry Christmas! Semoga kasih Allah amplop Anda!
Buon Natale! Che la l'amore di Dio busta voi!
メリー·クリスマス！月神エンベロープあなたの愛！
Misa Natal @! Uga katresnaning Allah envelope kowe!
ಮೆರ್ರಿ ಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್! ಮೇ ದೇವರು ಹೊದಿಕೆ ನೀವು ಪ್ರೀತಿ!
រីករាយថ្ងៃណូអែល! ខែឧសភាសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់របស់ព្រះស្រោមសំបុត្រដែលអ្នកបាននោះទេ!
메리 크리스마스! 월 하나님 봉투 당신의 사랑!
Merry ວັນຄຣິດສະມາດ! ເດືອນພຶດສະພາຄວາມຮັກຂອງຊອງພຣະເຈົ້າທ່ານໄດ້!
Et Verbum Caro factum! Ut involucrum amor Dei te
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! Maijā Dieva mīlestība aploksnē jums!
Linksmų Kalėdų! Gegužės Dievo voką jums patinka!
Среќен Божиќ! Нека љубовта Божја плик вас!
Merry Krismas! Mei cinta yang Allah sampul surat anda!
Merry Christmas! Jista 'l-imħabba ta' Alla pakkett int!
Christmas koa! Kia te te aroha o te kōpaki koutou Atua!
आनंददायी ख्रिसमस! मे देव लिफाफा आपण प्रेम!
Merry Christmas! May Бурхан дугтуйнд хийж танд хайр!
क्रिसमस! May परमेश्वरको खाम तपाईं को प्रेम!
Merry Christmas! Måtte Guds kjærlighet konvolutt deg!
کریسمس مبارک! ممکن است عشق به خدا پاکت شما!
Wesołych Świąt! Niech miłość Boga koperty!
Feliz Natal! Que o amor de Deus envelope você!
ਦਾਵਤ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ! ਮਈ, ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ੁਰ ਨੇ ਲਿਫਾਫੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਦੇ ਪਿਆਰ!
Crăciun fericit! Fie ca dragostea lui Dumnezeu să vă plic!
С Рождеством Христовым! Май любви к Богу конверта!
Срећан Божић! Мај љубав Бог те коверте!
Veselé Vianoce! Kiež láska Božia obálku!
Vesel božič! Lahko ljubezen Bog vas ovojnice!
Yuul! May ee jacaylka aad baqshadda Ilaah!
¡Feliz Navidad! Que el amor de Dios sobre que!
Krismasi! Mei upendo wa Mungu bahasha wewe!
God jul! Må Guds kärlek kuvert dig!
மெர்ரி கிறிஸ்துமஸ்! மே கடவுள் உறை நீங்கள் காதல்!
మెర్రీ క్రిస్మస్! May దేవుని కవచ ప్రేమ!
สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส พฤษภาคมความรักของพระเจ้าซองจดหมายคุณ!
Mutlu Noeller! Mayıs Tanrı zarf size bir aşk!
З Різдвом Христовим! Травень любові до Бога конверта!
میری کرسمس! مئی خدا لفافے آپ کی محبت!
Giáng sinh vui vẻ! Có thể là tình yêu của Thiên Chúa bao bạn!
Nadolig Llawen! Mai y cariad Duw amlen chi!
לעבעדיק ניטל! זאל די די ליבע פון גאָט קאָנווערט איר!
Merry keresimesi! Le ni ife Olorun apoowe o!
Christmas merry! Kwangathi uthando lukaNkulunkulu imvilophi nawe!
Merry Christmas! May the the love of God envelope you!

I may know a few of the languages above, but God, our Almighty Father, knows them all, and He sent Christ to save each and every one of us, no matter our language, so rejoice my brothers and sisters and let God's love envelope you.

God's grace be with you,
Fr Charles

A Son of A Military Man

I was born the son of a military man. He loved my mother, my brother, and myself, though men of his generation (WWII) and upbringing were not brought up to express that love openly or easily. He was not the easiest man to live with at times, but he was a good man, who did right as best he could.

One thing he liked to do was bowl. And when he tried to teach me, his only son by his second wife, he was not an able teacher. It was tense at best, to say the least. Seeing our mutual frustration, a young African American NCO stepped in one day at the base bowling alley and offered to teach me how to bowl. He not only taught me a love for the game, but instilled in me a love for his culture.

We are so quick to reject or judge people based upon their appearance or culture. The news shows us how divided we are from one another, but I refuse to buy into that judgment, dismissal, or hatred of one another. The Bible tells us that people of every nation and tongue shall worship God (Revelation 7:9) and I believe it. God made a wonderful diversity of cultures to express the many facets of Himself that He chose to display throughout humanity, and we can each find parts of God's abounding love in each other- if only we will look.

There are people now, good people, who are quick to dismiss people of other cultures over issues of immigration and heritage. If I were them, I would not be so quick to do so. For look what God chose to reveal in the Nativity story:
God chose an out of work man, betrothed to a pregnant teenager, traveling to a city where there was no room for them, and forced to flee to a foreign country to be parents to His holy Son, our Savior. Do you think He did so on accident? Do you really think it was on chance?

God wants us to ponder the Nativity story, to see what He has set before us. That the man forced to travel for his family has value. That the pregnant young woman has value. That the immigrant has value. That we are to look beyond the surface of what people appear to be and see what God intends them to be.

If you find yourself harboring ill feelings towards someone of another heritage, brother and sisters, check yourself; God made them to be just as He wants them to be. If you harden yourself against the unemployed, or pregnant teen, or immigrant seeking a better life, check yourself; God put those who would raise His holy Son in just a position.

Thanks be to God, who sent His only begotten Son to save such sinners as ourselves, and to open our eyes to the depth of both the cultures and circumstances of people He has put in our paths. May we ever bless those He has sent to us.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Individual Yet Integral-How the Gifts of the Spirit Make Us Whole

“You are the only person on earth
who can use your ability.”

~ Zig Ziglar

Isn't it wonderful to be made in the image of God, yet given your own special set of abilities, the Gifts of the Spirit that make you a separate, yet integral part of the body of Christ? Is the brain more important than the heart, or the fingers more important than the toes? I would say definitely not! They all have their place in the body, to operate a system, to pump all of the fluids, to do work and be able to grasp and finally, to help us keep our balance when we stand walk or run. It is the same with us as a whole, but separate being, making up the body of Christ.

Some of us are administrators, some of us are teachers, some of us are artists and yet others are exhorters...all very important jobs within the body, all important vocations to pursue to His glory. So delight in your gifts, delight in the gifts of your brothers and sisters and most of all. delight in our wonderful Father in Heaven Who put this whole system together. For we are all distinct and wonderful in His creation, but we are even more wonderful as part of His body.

God's grace be with you,

Fr. Charles Butler

1 Corinthians 12

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b]

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

But the greatest of these is love

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

Love, arguably humanity's greatest gift, supported and promoted by God Himself' Love, the glue that binds us all together, the Essence of God and the Way of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In my work with the homeless, love seems to be the most significant ingredient to success. Homeless people are met daily with averted glances, practiced indifference and outright hate-filled hostility. When I approach them with a smile, a paternal pat on the shoulder of handshake I am usually received well, as most want love, and many are downright starved for it. I think that many of them are more happy to gain acceptance and love than the goodies we distribute.

Love...life's greatest reward (And no, I will not continue with the Loveboat theme). I feel so grateful to be loved by so many. I have a great family of blood and marriage, and an even bigger family of the heart, all of you out in FB land with whom we interact, share encouragements as well as loses. My family of the heart, over 400 of which took the time to send me a birthday greeting this week and last.

I am truly thankful for the love I am given, first by my Lord, then my beautiful wife Beth. Then by my children and parents in law, whom I have really adopted as my own. I am grateful for you all, that God gave me a family of the heart, which includes you, my friends. I am also thankful that He has given me the privelige of loving you.

So go forth my friends and family, just go out and share the love...it's one of the things we are given in abundance, which we in turn can give away in abundance as well. Giving away love doesn't even cost you, but you can receive even more love in return. Thank you for your love, it is a blessing.

So my friends, for this Holiday Season, let's go out and spread the love!

God's grace be with you,

Fr. Charles Butler

Today many of us are gathering for meals with friends and family, in order to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives and to treasure our bonds with each other. Take time to really consider how blessed you are; so much of the world is either at war or in poverty. In other countries people are dying as they struggle for freedom, or being killed for their faiths, or fighting to keep their homes safe. Many in our country are without homes, without jobs, or without loved ones to share with. So as you sit with your friends and family, in your safe home, with food set before you, give thanks. Give thanks for the home, the food, the people, how blessed you are to be in the country you live in, but most of all for God's grace unto you.

Give thanks.

And try, as personalities might start to irritate each other, to stay above quarreling. Let gentle words turn away wrath, and focus on why you love each other and gather to celebrate.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles

So, my friends, did you worship God by your actions today, or mammon? Did you take people's holidays from them yesterday by participating in the sacrilege of shopping on Thanksgiving? Were you rude to the service people today who had to suffer through our country's annual worship of money and cheap goods?

Are you planning on spending Advent and Christmas thoughtfully, with friends and family, or by partaking in a buying frenzy for things no one really needs? Or will you seek out faith services and family time? Will you make time to volunteer? Will you be giving heartily to charities? Will you seek out the homeless to offer them help and cheer?

This is a sacred time of year; how you spend it shows where your priorities are. Do you value God, family, friends and charity, or do you worship the things of this world?

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

God is calling you to do more than set up a nativity scene in your home, or light an advent candle, or attend services this Christmas season. He is calling you to spread His love and grace to the world, to bring the joy of the first nativity and the hope of the second coming into the lives of those around you. Will you answer His call?

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

As you stroll the stores this time of year you cannot help but hear the Christmas carols piped through the sound system in the establishment; or perhaps you listen to them at home, or sing them at your church services. Some of them are old and treasured, some are new and fun to learn, some are holy and some are secular. I love the songs that focus on faith and family, for that is what this time of year is for my wife and I- a celebration of Christ's birth and a time to treasure family and friends.

One of the more popular of the "new-old" carols (as opposed to carols from the Victorian age and before) is "Drummer Boy." The song tells the story of a poor boy who has no gift to give the infant Christ child except a song he plays upon his drum. So he plays his best and is rewarded by the holy child's smile.

This time of year we hear a lot about "Keep Christ in Christmas" and "Remember the Reason for the Season" and many people happily tell each other Merry Christmas as they go about their shopping and holiday busy-ness. Yet I wonder how many of them truly slow down to consider what the full mystery is of the holy season we are celebrating; that Christ, the Word, part of the Triune God, very God of very God, became flesh and was born in the humblest of settings, to a poor family, so that He might live as one of us, and die on behalf of us, so that we might become co-heirs with Him and be the adopted children of God. Wow. Just thinking about it is humbling; that God should love us so!

This holy season of Advent and Christmastide (Christmas and the 12 days afterward), take time to celebrate the great gift God has given to us. And perhaps stop to consider what gift can YOU give to God; will it be your time, given to the church or a charity? Will it be your generosity to the needy? Will it be your humble devotion? Like the poor drummer boy of the song, all of our gifts pale to the great gift God has given unto us, but we should still bring what we can to the manger and the cross. When we bring our very best, even if it is but little, God smiles upon us. When we do our best job for His glory, we delight Him. When we show our love to the least of these, we give our love to Him.

What will you give to God in love?

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Today marks the second Sunday of Advent. On this Sunday, we remember the words of Isaiah the Prophet and of John the Baptist, who both told of the coming of the Lord. They urged the people to turn away from sin and to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.

How, this week, will you prepare your heart for the Lord's nativity? How will you shape your life to be ready for His message? For He calls us to be ready, to be humble, to be giving and to be loving. He calls us to turn away from that which the world values and to focus on Him instead. The world this week will be telling you to rush about, to buy many things, to focus on the commercial aspect of this holiday season. Christ calls you to slow down; to refocus and to recommit. To prepare your heart for His kingdom and to value what He values. He calls you to set aside room in your heart, and schedule, for the sacred. He calls you to set aside time for family. He calls you to value the lonely, and to help the needy. He wants you to see the vulnerable as having infinite value; for God Himself came down as a vulnerable child to a teen age mother and a confused, scared adopted father; to be immigrants in a foreign land, without a home of their own. In the faces of the poor, the needy, the outcast, lonely and scared of today we can see reflections of God; for He chose to be like them. How will you treat them this week as you prepare your heart for Christ?

God's grace be with you, and His compassion fill you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Feeling like you've got a lot on your mind this time of year?

Imagine how Joseph felt:

*His betrothed was pregnant..and not by him, but by the Holy Spirit of God. And an Angel told him it was true!

*The government decided to raise taxes and wanted everyone to return to the town of their birth....asap!

*He had to plan on how to get his heavily pregnant bride to be 80 miles away, over rocky terrain, hoping the baby doesn't come early, and praying there will be accommodations when they got there. And then he had to put that plan in action, get them there, and scramble to find a stable (the Inns were all full) as the baby was ready to arrive!

*All the while trying to wrap his mind around the fact he was going to be the man who taught the Son of God what it meant to be a good man.

Are your problems in a better perspective now? Slow down and relax; find time to enjoy your family and friends, for that is what this time of year is about. Not the hustle, not the shopping, not the traffic and lights and hurry, but relationships. Spend some time this week with those you love; call the ones far away, and seek out the ones near by. Take time especially to seek out God, for it was for love of you that His Son was born and thus we celebrate the Nativity.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Last Sunday we lit the Advent candle of Peace and many of us will relight it each night this week; as we do so we remember God's promise that peace will be when Christ returns, and the promise that Chris'ts peace is given to each believer. 

In our world there is conflict; we see it on the news each night, we read it on our iphones and newspapers, we experience the lack of it within our own families. This is a troubled world, and we too often are a troubled people.

This week, as we celebrate the promise of peace in Advent, seek to spread peace within your family and community. Refrain from needless arguments; don't let stress cause you to nit pick at another, smile at the lonely and haggard, show kindness to everyone you can. Then the candle of peace will be lit within you, and perhaps you can help someone else light their candle of peace as well.

May God's grace be with you,

Fr. Charles Butler

"Present for Parent #1, check!, Present for Parent #2, check! Present for Sibling, Present for Child, Present for friend, check, check check!"

This is a busy time of year, and many people about, buying gifts as they check off their lists. "Present for Parent #1, check!, Present for Parent #2, check! Present for Sibling, Present for Child, Present for friend, check, check check!" We lull ourselves into believing that buying presents once or twice, even three times a year is what constitutes a good relationship. "I remembered Christmas, birthday, Mother/Father's Day, etc, so I am a good son/daughter/husband/wife/sibling/friend."

Presents, while nice, do not make a meaningful relationship. Personal involvement in the relationship is what makes it worthwhile; talking, caring, visiting, sharing. Just as a Christian cannot expect their relationship to God to thrive without regular times of prayer and communion, neither can anyone expect the relationships in their lives to flourish without regular doses of good communication (where people actually talk AND listen to one another.)

So in this Advent season, as you shop and hurry around, slow down and take time to call someone you love. Maybe someone you haven't seen in a while, but who is dear to you. Or stop in and visit your parents, siblings or close friends. Share memories and make new ones together. They'll remember the time you put into the relationship far more and far longer than they'll remember the gift.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

As we move into the 12 Days of Christmas

As we move into the 12 Days of Christmas (which starts Christmas night, and run evening to evening) that go to Jan 6- Epiphany, which ends the Christmas season and marks the arrival of the Wise Men with gifts for the Christ Child- let us take time to deeply ponder the meaning of Christ's birth, and that gift which God the Father has bestowed upon all who believe. Let us remember with humbleness the plight of the Holy family and their trust in the Lord Almighty, and their rejoicing in the birth of the Son of God, deity made incarnate, as a vulnerable child. Let us, in our vulnerable states, our needy, wanting and fallen state, come humbly to the Child- giving thanks for the mercy and grace that was given unto us through Him. Let us observe the 12 days of Christmas with rejoicing and with awe.

Christ Born of Mary

That Christ- vast, powerful and almighty- should choose to be born to a poor unwed teenage girl in a humble stable; heralded by angels and greeted by shepherds, in order that you might become an adopted child of God- how that should fill you with joy! Jesus Christ, very God of very God, part of the Triune Godhead, became man so that you, if you but believe and trust in Him, shall have eternal life! That is the great and wondrous message of Christmas; that He loves you so that He came, to a life of humbleness, suffering, rejection and death, so that those who believe in Him will be exalted by His Father, adopted into the Royal family of God, to be in His presence for eternity. Rejoice, for Emmanuel has come, and will come again to claim His own. Rejoice!

Our warmest wishes that you and yours will have a Merry Christmas and a blessed Christmastide (the 12 days of Christmas) from my wife Beth and I. May God bless you all.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Luke 2:1-20

Christ Born of Mary

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Christ, the Ultimate Gift

Life is short. Each day is a gift, and one never knows when they will die. You could be on a trip, and be hit by a car. Or have a heart attack, or a freak accident. Nothing is guaranteed, so each day should be treasured. We should be grateful for the people God places in our lives, and make sure they know it. 

One thing we can be sure of; and that is the love God holds for us We know of thislove because of the gift of Jesus Christ, whose nativity we celebrate in a short few days. When God became man in order to secure our salvation through cross later, it was the ultimate gift. It was God showing us that while each day here on earth can not be guaranteed, His love can be. We can know, through our love and trust in Christ's mercy and grace, that our salvation is secure. What a gift that is!

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Do you want to be a high and holy vessel for God?

Would you be of use to God? Do you want to live a life of honor and glory for Him?

Then turn from wickedness and sin and attempt to live a holy life!

" In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2: 20-21

In every home, there are treasured vessels; special china that is used for feasts, precious bowls that have a place of honor. There are also vessels that we use for daily works, such as everyday plates, regular glasses or garbage cans. They are serviceable, but not put to the highest work. And then there are vessels we buy for one time use; the aluminum baking tin or paper cup. They are discarded after their purpose has been filled.

God can, and does, use everyone for His will, glory and purposes. An evil man may be used by God to strengthen the resolve of a godly man. Pharaoh was used by God as a backdrop in which to show God's power. Moses, however, was treasured by God and used throughout his life for God's good works.

Do you want to be a high and holy vessel for God? One that shows God's light and glory over and over again? Then seek after Him, purify yourself, and live by Scripture.

"“For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John." CS Lewis.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

My Appeal to Ferguson

There has been a lot going on around the situation in Ferguson. The left and the right all have their opinions. I also have mine, which is somewhere in between.

So as a Priest, I am appealing to the better natures of Children of God. Know, that as I love you, God loves you more. Know, that as you seek justice, God wants it more. Know, that individually, God knows the numbers of your hairs, and loves you deeply.

I pray that my friends from Ferguson and surrounding communities don't act rashly. That my beloved Brothers and Sisters from that area are not carried away by agendas that only empower elements that care nothing of them, only their own agendas.

Yeah, I'm a middle aged white guy, but you only need look at my feed here to see that color doesn't matter to me, because we all have the same kind of souls, issued directly by God our Father, and those souls hold no skin pigment.

There are many wonderful people in Ferguson, the North County and beyond. I used to work amongst you, I continue to pray and help amongst you. I ask you not to ruin your lives. I ask you to exercise discretion.

Go ahead and demonstrate, if you feel you have to. Our country was founded on the principles of free speech and freedom of assembly. One of my forefathers actually signed the Declaration of Independence and I believe in those principle.

All I ask, Brothers and Sisters of Faith, is that you demonstrate peacefully. Show those who doubt you that they are wrong about you. Show them that this too, shall pass.

If you need prayer, or anything else I can do, message me.

God's Grace Be with You,
Fr. Charles Butler

Will You Have a Joyous Christmas Season?

We are rapidly approaching the "season of shopping." It would be more comforting to me, as a pastor, to say that the bulk of the Western world was approaching the season of gratitude, thanksgiving, Advent and joy; but the truth is, most people will fixate on an overindulgence of consumerism from now until Christmas.

So many will pollute the holiday of Thanksgiving with shopping, and Black Friday is a holiday of mammon, not of God. Advent will not be spent, by many, in joyful preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ, but as a rush to buy too many things, go to too many events, and collapse in exhaustion as soon as Christmas comes.

I urge you, Brothers and Sisters, to slow down this holiday season. Let Thanksgiving be about gratitude and giving thanks to our Lord for all of our blessings. Let Advent be about celebrating the coming Nativity, making memories with loved ones, and concern for the least of these. Could we all slow down a little more and give a little more?

So many won't be in the festive spirit as they face hunger, cold, homelessness or loneliness. Can you make it a gift to Christ, in these upcoming weeks, to give a little more to charity? Can you volunteer at a meal to feed the hungry? Or to give time to the lonely? You can help make this season more joyous for others in the name of Jesus; which will make the season more meaningful to you.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Need versus want, is there a difference?

I'd say there is a VERY BIG difference...We in the "First World," as some would call it are very blessed by the standards of worldly need. The vast majority of us have a safe home in which to live for we and our families, plenty of food to eat, and the warmth of a stove, fireplace or central heat to keep us from freezing. So our needs, for the largest part, the foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs have been met. But wait, we might say, I don't have everything I need...I lack a lot of things...I might say I need a new pickup, but God has provided me a perfectly serviceable car which not only get's me from point A to point B, it even has heat and air so I can do so comfortably. I simply WANT a new pickup. I might say...I need new tools, when the tools I have can be used for a very long time...I WANT new tools.

Blessings abound, we have what we need. God might even give you some of the things you want if you ask nicely...He wants us to enjoy life in abundance, but He does not like excessiveness. That's where so many prosperity preachers have it wrong, they are really teaching excess, not biblical abundance.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

God gives us plenty of abundance, if we trust in Him and appreciate His blessings. Most of us have ALL of our basic needs met, and still have many blessings left over. The Bible does mention monetary wealth directly, but usually in not so glowing terms. So, abundance is far more important than physical wealth, it is a spiritual wealth that money can not buy. You find abundance in the people in your life who are a blessing. God has blessed me abundantly by giving me my wonderful and devoted wife, Beth. Beth turned from a want to a need. At first I wanted her, but through the years of our marriage, I realize that God gave her to me in marriage because He knew I needed her.

I want to have loving friends and relatives; Maslow said that was a need, so God has blessed me abundantly with all of you, fulfilling my need abundantly.

So, you might say, how about the poor who don't even have they're basic needs met? Well, my friends, that is where we come in. God blesses us, then through our caring and generosity, God blesses them, completing a circle of Christian love that started with Christ and has been a long standing tradition.

There are the poor and needy, Christ told us there always would be...this is a major symptom of a sinful, broken world. But until Christ returns to fix it all, we are to be His hands and feet in fulfilling others' needs, lending His abundance to the whole world.

God's Grace be with You,
Fr. Charles Butler

Throughout history, there have been those that God has called to stand in the breach for their country. To defend liberty, protect the innocent, to due their duty with honor and courage, and if need be, to give of their life's blood for their countrymen.

Today we honor such men and women. Who answered their country's call with bravery and nobility of service. Who have stood as a line of protection between those at home, and the enemies that would harm them.

For those that have left us, may their memory be precious to us.

For those who have served, may we give them all due respect and heartfelt thanks.

For those that are serving, may the Lord protect them, strengthen them and bring them home in safety.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

For my Christian Brothers...A Call to Courage!

For my Christian Brothers...A Call to Courage!

God calls you to stand in the breach. When you see your marriage failing, you are called to stand firm and fight for it. When you see your children slipping away, into bad behaviors; you are called to fight for them. When you see trouble moving into your community, you are called to take the initiative to rebuke and struggle against it.

Imagine this country, this world, if every Christian man rose up and took responsibility for his marriage, for his family and for his community.

Too often has a man sat by and watched his family disintegrate. Too often has a man watched his family prepare for Church services, yet instead of going with them, he turns on the game. Too often has a man watched cruelty and evil being done, and said nothing.

We were not called by God to be men on the sidelines! We are called to action! We are called to be faithful; to our God, to our spouse, to our family, to our Church family, to our communities. God expects more of us than what we have given Him! We have shrugged off responsibility and accountability for now, but God will call us to account, He will demand an answer. He will want to know why you did not guard your family with fervent love. He will want to know why didn't stand for the faith. He will want to know why you were silent in the face of evil.

There are faithful men of God throughout the world who are doing as the Lord has called upon us to do; but the numbers are not what they should be in our own country.

We need men of courage, of honor, of faithfulness and steadfastness to stand against the tide of wanton and empty worldliness and callous evil.

A godly man, who loves the Lord, who cherishes his family, and who serves his community can change lives.

Will you stand up and answer the call God has given you?

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

When we recognize our sin, and come humbly to the cross, we are reconciled through Christ to God. Without that reconciliation, we are an enemy to God- for we are embracing sin and God cannot be at peace with sin.

Turn from your sin today and cling to Christ; He is there waiting with outstretched arms. His blood was shed for thee, and shed willingly. Will you not go to Him before it is too late?

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Now that the election is over, will you stop defaming, name calling and hating those of a different political viewpoint? Will you get back to doing as Jesus commanded us to do and love both thy neighbor and thy enemy?

These last few days there have been many Christians on FB acting very un-Christlike; I would not have known you as one of Christ's followers by your postings and hatred. I saw none of Christ's love for others in how you behaved publicly using social media.

For those that did call names, posted half truths, defamed others and acted in hatred (and I saw this from friends on both the left and the right), I hope you will take this time to reflect, confess unto God and repent. And that from here forward you present yourself and the Gospel message which marks you with more clarity, gentleness, kindness and love.

Calling someone names over politics will NOT help win them into God's kingdom; but loving them will.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Today my reading of the Holy Gospel was of Matthew 15:1-20, where Christ chides the Pharisees for bending God's laws to suit their own lifestyles. (For example, instead of honoring their parents- a very important commandment in the eyes of God, as it is repeated numerous times in the Old and New Testament, the Pharisees claimed what money they would give to aid their parents they spent on God/the Temple, and thus got out of their duty.) Christ calls them on the hypocrisy of saying they are religious, and yet looking for ways to not have to do what God calls us to do.

Jesus then goes further, He calls the crowd to Him and teaches us that it is not what goes into our mouths that makes us sinful (the Jews had a prohibition against eating certain foods) but rather what comes out of our mouths and hearts that defiles us. When we speak harshly to another without cause, our words defile us. When our hearts seek to twist what we know we should do into something that is more pleasant for us (and thus we avoid doing as we should), by our hearts we are defiled.

The Pharisees had defiled themselves, in part, by shirking their God given duty to respect, honor and aid their parents, and had made it worse by trying to say they didn't have to because they did work for the Temple and for God. They, in effect, said to God, "We don't have to do what you tell us because we will do what we want in your name, and you should be happy with that." That is no way to honor God!

Watch what words you utter, for your words can be sinful. Watch the urgings of your heart, and test them, to make sure the sinful side of your spirit is not leading you astray. It is out of our mouths and hearts that sins springs forth and leads us into all sorts of problems; be it temper, lies, adultery, pride or neglect of duty.

Is there evidence in your life (spiritual fruit) that you follow Christ, or is your faith only words? Faith that is only words will not save you. Your faith must be true, your need for Christ ever present, and faith such as that will evidence itself in your life through how you live; how you treat people, how clear your need for God is, how your life is ordered.

Examine your faith and your life carefully; if there is no evidence of your faith in your life and how you live, then it is not a true faith. Only a true faith will save you.

The Quiet Christian and St Cyprian
Cyprian was born sometime in the early third century. He was of a wealthy and distinguished pagan background; in fact, the site of his eventual martyrdom was his own villa. Before becoming a Christian, he was an orator, "pleader in the courts", and a teacher of rhetoric. The date of his conversion is unknown, but after his baptism about 245–248 he gave away a portion of his wealth to the poor of Carthage, as befitted a man of his status.

His original name was Thascius; he took the additional name Caecilius in memory of the presbyter to whom he owed his conversion. In the early days of his conversion he wrote an Epistola ad Donatum de gratia Dei and the Testimoniorum Libri III that adhere closely to the models of Tertullian, who influenced his style and thinking.
His entire community was put to an unwonted test. Christians in North Africa had not suffered persecution for many years; the church was assured and lax. Early in 250 the "Decian persecution" began. Measures were first taken demanding that the bishops and officers of the church sacrifice to the emperor. The proconsul on circuit, and five commissioners for each town, administered the edict; but, when the proconsul reached Carthage, Cyprian had fled.

It is quite evident in the writings of the church fathers from various dioceses that the Christian community was divided on this occasion, among those who stood firm in civil disobedience, and those who buckled, submitting in word or in deed to the order of sacrifice and receiving a ticket or receipt called a "libellus". Cyprian's secret departure from Carthage was interpreted by his enemies as cowardice and infidelity, and they hastened to accuse him at Rome. The Roman clergy wrote to Cyprian in terms of disapproval. Cyprian rejoined that he fled in accordance with visions and the divine command. From his place of refuge he ruled his flock with earnestness and zeal, using a faithful deacon as his intermediary.

A short letter from St. Cyprian to his friend Donatus, while in exile:

“This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked out over the wild lands, you know very well what I would see; brigands on the high roads, pirates on the seas, in the amphitheaters men murdered to please the applauding crowds, under all roofs misery and selfishness. It really is a bad world Donatus, an incredibly bad world.

Yet, in the midst of it, I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians… and I am one of them.” (From the Devotional Bible, Max Lucado, General Editor)

Sometimes we all would like a comfortable place to get away from it all and just reflect on life; a beautiful place like St. Cyprian’s garden of vines. Though of course Cyprian was effectively forced to his condition of contemplation, he was still reticent of the plight of the Christians whom he loved.

But what of the Quiet Christian of whom St. Cyprian speaks. These Christians were still facing very real persecution by the Roman government, as it would be another 50-60 years when Constantine would proclaim his Edict of Man in 313, which provided for religious tolerance for all faiths throughout the Roman Empire. So at St. Cyprian’s time, persecution was in its death throes and at its worst.

Now, what about this quiet Christian that St. Cyprian refers to? This Christian is subject to all of the nastiest torture you can imagine just because they hold to their Christian beliefs. But still this Christian found joy in his walk with Christ. This Christian would proudly proclaim their savior under the threat of the most severe retribution, all in a fallen world not unlike our own.

Today, in North America, it is much easier to claim Christianity. We can attend church services without much more than traffic to stand in our way. The modern American Christian can witness to anyone they want to without the worry of the government hauling them off to some secret place to endure torture or maybe even death. The worst we can expect from sharing our witness here is the occasional rude comment from someone who just doesn’t want to hear it.

All in all, I believe we have become too quiet. God didn’t tell us to keep our witness to ourselves; He told us to be a light unto the world, doing good things in His name and sharing the Gospel to the world. I know, I know, many of us have fear of rejection. Many others hold that their religious views are a private matter. I can identify with you there. I was brought up as a Christian who was quiet. We were firm believers, but we were way to comfortable in the cacoon that was our faith and church. Sure, we’d answer questions gladly if asked, but we weren’t going for that Bible-Thumping Evangelism stuff; no way!

But here is the biggest problem with quiet Christianity; people aren’t mind readers. They won’t know the joy of your walk with Christ unless you share your story. Personal evangelism and sharing your personal witness is the strongest way to win souls for Christ; it opens a dialogue.

14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-15

Let your light shine! Be that light of the world and share your light as often as you can. This world is a dark fallen world. There are many out there who would stumble around blind in the darkness. Jesus told us five different times to go out and spread the Gospel in His Great Commission. We have the joy that is only found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! You have the only key that will unlock the beautiful mystery that is Christianity to some people. What are you waiting for?! Pull the key out of your pocket or purse and go unlock some doors! Let the world know how beautiful it really is to walk with Christ. Let them know that we have a faithful and loving God who is full of Grace and just wants a personal relationship with them, their lost children!

If you would like some conversation starters or ways you can share Christ, please don’t hesitate to message me. We can make some resources available to you.

May The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

-Fr-Charles Butler

My dear anointed wife Beth and I were discussing a subject which comes up in our lives more and more as life goes on...the subject of God's wonderful grace...

Think of grace as a life preserver in an endless sea of sin...you know that you have much to forgive, but where does it end?

Just think of Jesus as that life preserver...he lived a sinless life, then died for your sins...sounds so simple doesn't it? That's because it is! All you need is faith. Just faith...so easy but yet so hard. "I've done so much, but yet you need so little," you might say...but it is that simple. Just check history...Jesus was REAL! Not only Christians but Romans and early Jews wrote about Him. He lived, died, then rose again, for the purpose of saving you from your sins and reconciling you with our Father, so that you may have eternal life.

Need a life-raft from the life of sin? Choose Jesus. Only he can save you from the tidal waves and tsunamis of life.

There will be those who don't like your morals; keep your morals anyway.

There will be those who mock you for trying to live a life of virtue that is pleasing to the Lord; live it anyway.

There will be those who tell you to muffle your witness for God; keep proclaiming His Word anyway.

There will be those who call on you to turn your back on God; stand with God anyway.

This world is temporary, what we have with God is eternal. When forced to choose between God and those who would lure you away from His Righteousness, choose God always.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

"Send a wish out to the universe, and it will send you back what you desire."

I see this nonsense over and over again, often from people professing to be men and women of the Christian faith.

"Send a wish out to the universe, and it will send you back what you desire.": "Put positive energy out into the universe and focus on it, and you'll get back only positive things."

Now, I get the power of positive thinking. I was in business for years before the ministry (and still dabble in small business concerns) and the business world is full of having goals and the right mindset.  After all, if you feel you are going to fail, you probably will.  If you believe you are going to succeed, and are willing to put the work behind your desire, you have a far better chance of succeeding at your goals.

Having a positive mindset is fine, as long as you keep it in check.  But to say, "send a wish to the universe to be successful" is to show yourself as someone with their feet in the camp of the New Age philosophers.  And that is a camp no man or woman who follows Christ should ever find themselves in.

The universe is a non-caring realm of planets, suns, asteroids and space debris. It is a wondrous space that shows us the vastness of God's creation and stretches our minds and souls as we contemplate the wonders contained within. But should you venture there without the proper gear, the universe isn't going to care how many wishes and good thoughts you send out, it will simply kill you. I could sooner send my good wishes to a rock in my yard and expect a good return.

I believe in prayer. I believe prayer works wonders, I have seen miracles personally. But that is because of whom the prayer is directed towards; the holy and living God, who created all things, and who has power over all creation. To direct our prayers to anyone else, while we call ourselves by the name of Christian, is to set up a rival deity, a false god, who has no power and deserves no prayer.

If you are a Christian, a dedicated follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, part of the Triune Godhead, very God of very God, then direct your prayers and "wishes" to Christ and to Christ alone.  To offer them to anyone, or anything else, is to negate the authority Christ has in your life, and He won't settle for being second best. He is either Lord of all or not...there is nothing in between.

Whom are you praying to?

God's grace be with you.
Fr. Charles Butler

What is your favorite sin to condemn in others?

What is your favorite sin to condemn in others? There is often one particular thing you zero in on...whether that be someone's lifestyle, habits, politics, denomination (yes, some people find other people's churches to be a matter of sin)....the list goes on and on. It is always easy to look at another person and say, "Ah-HA! See, they are sinning according to (insert verse or church tradition)," and that allows the accuser to feel better about their own life, their own perceived holiness.

But Paul, in Romans 2:1, tells us that when you judge (condemn in your mind) someone else for sinning, that you bring judgement upon yourself. For if you condemn someone else because of their lifestyle you need to remember that gossip, envy, self righteousness, pride, bitterness, un-forgiveness and hatred are all sins as well. If you condemn someone else for saying they eat or drink differently than you do (such as by what foods or what drink they partake in), remember by your own feeling superior to them you are sinning- none of us has any room to feel self righteous. For none, as Paul reminds us, is righteous before God. (Romans 3:10) We have all sinned, and fallen short. We will never, in this life, overcome our sinful natures completely.

What matters is that you love and trust Christ, so that His righteousness covers you. We trust in God's mercy and love and we attempt to love God as best we can, and to love our neighbors and the "least of these" as best we can. Cast stones at no one, for we all have our own sins and battles to face, and none of us are worthy to condemn another person. God calls us to love others, not push them away from God by being self righteous. Remember, the Pharisees were self righteous and Jesus condemned them for it, but Christ loves a humble heart.

Yes, there is sin in this world. But your obvious condemnation of people leads no one to Christ, it only pushes them away from Him. All you need to do is love people, and introduce them to the Bible and Jesus; as they learn to love Him then the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Salvation.

Salvation. The saving grace of Jesus Christ bestowed upon those who trust Him, repent of their sins, and believe in His Word.

Who is responsible for your salvation? 

Am I, as a pastor? Is your local church pastor? The man on tv you follow?

No. 

If I, carrying the title of teacher, tell you a false gospel, then woe to me!

IF I were to engage in the telling and spreading of a watered down, added onto or an abbreviated gospel, then I would be held accountable before God and harsh would be my punishment. (This is why the Epistle of St. James warns those who are Bible teachers not to assume the role lightly.) Many will be the false teacher who faces God's anger on the day of Judgement; for they will have led people astray for love of money, fame and power.

But If I, or any other pastor, tells you what the Bible teaches, in the clearest and most sincere manner that we can, then we have done our duty to you, out of love for you and for God. We cannot make you accept Christ, we cannot make you believe the Gospel's truths; we can only present the Word and exhort you. We can pray for you, and answer questions as best we can, but that will not secure your salvation.

NO teacher, scholar, writer, pastor can save you. We are mere humans, flawed and in need of God's grace ourselves. We may be guideposts and assistant shepherds to the Great Shepherd, but it is He that can, and will, carry you to safety, if you trust and believe.

You, my friends, must study God's Word diligently. You must be in prayer for God's guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit to work in your lives and in your hearts. You must come to Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord, confessing your sins and your need for forgiveness. You must confess Him to others, believe in your heart He is raised, be baptized, and make His path your path; you must become His disciple. He will make you into a new creation, give you a new heart, and save you from the judgement that your sins would deserve without His redeeming mercy.

When you stand before God, you will not be able to blame anyone else for your sins, or for your following a false teacher, or not knowing the Word of God. (If you have the internet, you can read the Bible, and many good commentaries, online.) You will not be able to say that your salvation was supposed to be the responsibility of any other person in your life.

Do not put the fate of your eternal soul in the hands of *any* mortal man; instead put yourself in the hands of the only one who can save and redeem you, Jesus Christ. Check all teachings against the Word of God and hold fast to the Bible, do not let yourself be led astray by smooth talking salesmen, who give you only what you want to hear, and not what will challenge, convict, strengthen and test your faith.

This is too serious a subject to shrug off, my friends. The Apostle Paul urged believers to examine their faith often, be sure you doing so. Make sure your trust and faith are secure in Christ.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

Rejoice! If you are a Christian, Rejoice!

Rejoice! If you are a Christian, Rejoice! You are loved and saved by the grace of God. You are sheltered in the hands and heart of the Most High! Though storms may come into your life, and trials and temptations be yours to bear, He will never forsake you or abandon you. He has secured your inheritance and prepared a future for you, in this life and the next. He is with you now and always, from here until the end of the age!

So while you may have moments of sorrow, for all of us do, and you may have burdens to bear, all of us do, you have more than that: You have a Lord and King who loves you and is with you always. And in that, if nothing else, there is always reason to rejoice. Let the world see your joy in the Lord, that they might be drawn near to Him through you.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler

This is not a casual "buddy" style friendship

I confess; I do like some contemporary Christian music. I like the upbeat tempo, the modern music feel to it, the uplifting lyrics and it is a great change of pace from most of what passes for music on the radio.

Yet, in so much of Christian contemporary music there is a great casualness about God; which I find mirrored in much of today's Christian culture. God is "cool" or "hip", God is someone's personal buddy, and half of the songs on the radio that are supposed to be about God could just as easily be love songs to your significant other. This disturbs me.

Yes, Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants .....but friends," (John 15:15) to His disciples. So many people use this verse to justify a casual, "buddy" style relationship with God. Yet that verse, in the context of the Scripture around it actually says, ""Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends: for all things that I heard from my Father I nave made Known unto you. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide." (John 15:13-16).

It is a wonderful and awe-inspiring thing when Christ, very God of very God, part of the Triune Godhead, says, "I have called you friends." To be a friend is to know someone's heart, to guard their interests, to uphold their reputation and keep their trust. To be a true friend is to value someone deeply, keep their best interests at the forefront, to share an intimacy of spirit. Jesus invites us to be His friends; by knowing His heart and doing the work which the Father gave unto Him, and He gives unto us.

This is not a casual "buddy" style friendship. If the King of Kings has called you "my friend" is does not mean that you can take His Word for granted, ignore His commandments, or treat Him with disrespect. When God offers you the title of friend, you stand amazed, humbled and awed. You guard that relationship with all you are worth, for you want to be worthy of the King's love and friendship. You strive to keep faith, to carry out His will and to represent Him as best you can. You honor such a relationship, you do not treat it as if it were common.

God is God. Almighty and Holy. Just and Powerful, Merciful and All Knowing. Creator and King. He is not the "buddy" you play pranks on, or joke about women with. He is not the "buddy" you can drop at a moment's notice and treat with disrespect.

God has chosen to call those who follow Him "friend." But He is still your Lord and King, and deserves your respect, fealty and love.

And that friendship comes with a price; notice the words above of Jesus, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." God may call you to lay down your life literally someday for His Word, but in our country it is more likely He's going to ask you to lay down your life in a hundred different ways. He has asked you to live a life of love; putting others before yourself. He has asked you to live a life of holiness; laying down the sinful things of this world. He has asked you to live a life of being a peace maker, in a society that values conflict. He has asked you to live a life of faithfulness, to Him, to your spouse, to your family and friends- laying aside a life of selfishness.

If you are His friend- if you are a friend of the Most High- you will guard that friendship, guard His Word, and do the work that He has called you to do. You will lay down the things of this world that are not good, are not wholesome, and you will hold tight the things of the Lord. You will honor His holiness by treating Him with deference and love. You will do your best to be a friend to Him by treasuring the love He has given you, and giving that love to others.

God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler