Thy Will Be Done (Proper 20, Year B)

If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom as all the readings suggest, we need to take the prayer “Thy will be done” very seriously. This phrase is at the heart of the Lord’s Prayer which in turn is at the heart of Christianity. Those who fear the Lord (and obey) are by definition included in the Kingdom. 

• People have trouble with both fear of God and obedience

• Fear in this case means respect, acknowledgement as a sign of love

• Fear of not being included in the Kingdom, loved by God

• Fear gets attention but like Billy Graham we have to quickly move on to proclaim the good news of love, healing, forgiveness and a life of joy in right relationship to Jesus.

• Readings teach us the importance of discerning God’d will - spiritual wisdom in nourishing our spiritual lives  

1. Soloman prayed for a discerning heart (1 Kings 3.9)

Holy Spirit Needs To Direct and Rule Our Hearts (Proper 11)

 The Collect for this Sunday reminds us to pray that the Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts. This is a huge challenge for us all as we have been given complete freedom by God. We can choose to ignore and disobey God at any point in our lives. This is the price God was willing to pay, in order to have a genuine love relationship with us. This freedom is what gets us into trouble in choosing between what those around us in the world expect and what God hopes for. The readings teach us the difference between what we can call worldly values and the spiritual values of being directed by the Holy Spirit.

1.     David is chosen because his heart was humble

This teaches us the contrast between human worldly values and God’s spiritual values.

I Believe In the Holy Spirit (Pentecost 2018)

Belief in the Holy Spirit is something we all affirm in our Baptism and every time we say the Apostles Creed. But what does this “belief in” mean? Do we (like Satan) believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit in only acknowledging their existence? Do we know them personally and understand them? Do we really put our trust in them? For the rest of the church year the readings are supposed to help us get to know the Holy Spirit personally so we can really believe in the Holy Spirit.

1. Personal experience is essential to believing in the Holy Spirit

Going Spiritual: Discovering, Developing and Healing a Spiritual Life Now Available

Going spiritual is the lifelong process of becoming the beloved child that God intended you to be. Fr. John shares the story of how three crisis led him to read the Bible, discover the Holy Spirit, the supernatural world and how Jesus can free people from: 

• Guilt and Shame
• Sexual Abuse
• Identity Confusion
• Addictions
• Depression and
• Demonic oppression and the mental strongholds of extreme liberalism, homosexuality and abortion that are destroying individuals, churches and cultures

Available From: Gishler Group and Better Books and Bibles (Calgary), St. Joseph's Christian Books (Kamloops), Pilgrim Christian Books and Music (Vancouver), Christian Books and Music (Victoria) $ 19.99 CDN and from Amazon.ca and Chapters ($15.99 and $ 9.95 USD for EPUB) 

Contact: jgishler@gmail.com or 403-282-5165 (Calgary)

A Christian Life of Grace Requires Commitment (Easter 3)

A Christian Life of Grace Requires Commitment

(Easter 3 Year B, 2018  teaching by Fr. John Gishler)

The Easter Readings remind us of the betrayal, confusion and lack of faith of Jesus Disciples. When they personally encounter Him after the Resurrection He opens their eyes and they are transformed into faithful believers. This is my story and it is your story. We all begin this lifelong transformation process as we develop a personal relationship with the risen Jesus. This does not happen unless we develop and make a real commitment or a Rule of Life that will give us the discipline to overcome obstacles to our Life of Grace. The song Ancient Words remind us of how to do this.

1. "We have come with open hearts"

He Is Risen! Validates The New Covenant (Easter)

Easter is a celebration of the Good News of the possibility of eternal spiritual life for believers. It was an epiphany moment for Mary and it is a personal epiphany moment for each of us. After Easter human life became incredibly richer. Easter Sunday was like a hinge in history. Before the Resurrection there was only uncertain hope of having a right relationship with God through the Covenant of Moses. After the Resurrection there was certainty that God was doing a new thing and that believers who died spiritually with Jesus would also be raised to a new form of life with Him after their physical death. He is risen was a cry of joy, love and amazement that still makes our hair stand on end over 2,000 years later. The Resurrection validates the new Covenant of Jesus.

.

1. Jesus Resurrection was  God's approval of the Covenant of Jesus

How Can You Have Life Through Death? (Lent 5)

Life through death is the paradox of Christianity. Jesus gives us the example of a grain of wheat. If you plant it in the ground it dies -- then grows into a plant with more seeds. He is explaining the great mystery of Faith. If you just focus on your own life you will lose that life. If you love God and your neighbor more than your own life you will gain a richer and eternal life. The Readings, beginning with the prophecy of a new covenant relationship by Jeremiah, explain how this happens.

1. Jesus teaches that by holding on to our life we will lose it (John 12.20-33)