An Alternative Ministry Worth Fighting For

On September 17, 1944, we were part of the first wave of Allied parachute troops that landed in the Netherlands. We were part of the massive airborne assault codenamed, Operation Market Garden.


The plane carrying me and my comrades from the 101st, encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire as we approached the jump zone. Our pilots were able to hold formation, and for the most part, we were delivered to the correct drop zones.

We made our drop to the west of the main highway near the villages of Zon, St. Oedenrode, and Best. My company, the 506th Parachute Infantry E Company (Easy Company), cleared Zon, but it was slow going with lots of casualties. 1st Battalion, under General Taylor, moved around the village to the south to seize the bridge crossing at the Wilhelmina Canal, but heavy enemy fire completely pinned them down as they tried to approach the bridge. We moved out of Zon and met up with 1st Battalion. We were starting to beat back the German defenses when the Germans blew the bridge.

Some of us were called to form a strike force and we slowly made our way across the river. We were finally able to destroy the Germans who had blown up the bridge and we were able to get everyone across. It was the first time I had seen battle - the first time I saw the carnage of war - the first time I ever saw what lead and bombs could do to flesh. I had lost my faith because of that war…until I met Chaplain Steve 64 years later.

There are many stories like this one. This particular story is told through the eyes of John. He was there in that invasion; 18 years old and fresh out of training. This was his first jump as a member of Easy Company, the “Band of Brothers” made famous by the HBO miniseries of the same name.

Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. (Proverbs 20:18)

I want to fast forward a few decades. In the U.S. there are many men and women who participate in military re-enactments. They bring history alive from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, from the French and Indian War to WWII. One of the Deans of our Diocese, Fr. Stephen DelSignore is a re-enactor. He participates in an alternative ministry as a WWII Army Chaplain – in Easy Company.

Steven participates at the annual “Battle of the Bulge” reenactment at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania held every January. “Chaplain Steve,” as he is known, serves as the Chaplain for the 101st Airborne - complete with the period uniforms, and an authentic chaplain’s kit issued in the 1940’s.

When Fr. Steven told me about his involvement and how serious he was about this alternative ministry I was enthralled. You see it isn’t about men and women playing soldier. It’s about living our history, and it’s a living memorial to all the heroes of WWII - the fallen as well as those who came home.

The added reality to this memorial is that Fr. Steven is a priest. He takes his ministry with him and is able to impart to men and women, some who may never set foot in a church out side the Fort Indiantown Gap chapel, the grace of God, the Gospel of Christ.

Steven has told me several stories of his time as a Chaplain re-enactor. My favorite is the story of John. Since his experience in Holland, John hadn’t been in a church nor taken communion in over 65 years. He came to the re-enactment as a guest, meeting Chaplain Steve during his visit. By the grace of God, he reconnected with his faith while experiencing this amazing alternative ministry.

Remember, freedom has a price; it can’t be bought with dollars and cents. It can’t be measured by wealth and power. The price of freedom is rows of white markers. This weekend, celebrate your freedom, and remember what it cost.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

Be thankful for freedom,

Bishop Ian

John receives communion - his first since WWII

An Alternative Ministry

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:23,24)

As you know I have been blogging and emailing about the Tour de Cure, a 68 mile bicycle ride from Jacksonville to St. Augustine benefiting The American Diabetes Association. It was a fundraising event, nothing “church” about it. Many of you generously donated who are not from the church, but you gave because you knew I am a diabetic and that this event meant a lot to me.

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)

The verse from Proverbs tells us we are to be in the business of building up and blessing others. The benefit of doing this is that people are refreshed because we help to refresh them. Your generosity added value to my life as a person living with diabetes because you cared enough about the cause. I was able to raise over $1100.00 dollars and for that I want to thank everyone.
Yesterday’s event wasn’t a “race” per se, yes there were teams in colorful jerseys and assigned rider numbers; there were teams from other states, and street racing teams with $3000.00 dollar carbon fiber frames. There were recumbent bikes, tandem bikes, beach cruisers, and even a tiny little bike with training wheels with its tiny little rider wearing an “I Ride With Diabetes” jersey.

One of my friends and a member of the Church, Dan Crowley joined me for the ride. Dan and his wife Trish picked me up at 6:00 am and dropped Dan and I off at the starting point. The game plan for us was simple. Steady pace and pray we don’t fall off. By God’s grace Dan and I rolled across the finish line 6 hours later. We had ridden 67.8 miles at an average speed of 15.2 miles per hour and without the check point stop times our total ride time was 4hrs and 46 min. We had finished what we started out to do.

There are many ways to give, many worthy causes. When we give we refresh others, as a result you also will be refreshed. You will experience the joy and contentment of knowing that life matters, that you are actually making a difference in the lives of others.

As I have said before. Diabetes changed my life, riding my bike has changed it as well. This is the first time I have ever done a ride for others. It won’t be the last. As Dan and I made our way to the third checkpoint he said, “We need to start our own team.” I agreed, and Team Resurrection was born. Join us or look for us in October, a 60 mile ride to raise money to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. This is our alternative ministry and we’re becoming the hands and feet of Christ.

You won’t be able to miss us; next time we will have our own colorful team jersey.

"Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." (1 Corinthians 9:25)

Be Alternative,

Bishop Ian

Is Jesus God?

Is Jesus God? It’s a valid question and one that separates “Christians” from – well, everyone else.

As an apologist, one of the first things I do when examining other religions is to look at what the leadership teaches and believes about Jesus. The answer to this question is key. When examining any religion, everything taught and believed depends on this answer.

I blogged last week about my visit to the good people of St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church in Middleborough, MA. While there, I was asked to address the vestry regarding the direction and future of our denomination and I shared some of my vision. (Many of the folks on the vestry are former members of TEC - The Episcopal Church.) After the meeting they asked me if I could provide some sort of document that illustrates the differences in belief and practice between the TEC and the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Upon returning home I prepared, as promised, a short list basically outlining the major tenants of Christianity (things every Christian denomination believes), and juxtaposed The Episcopal Church's response to those issues. Those responses came mainly from interviews and publications of their presiding Bishop, Katherine Schori-Jefferts. It was by no means exhaustive but it did provide a clear understanding that under the current leadership, The Episcopal Church denies that Jesus Christ is God. They teach that "all paths lead to God," even though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ clearly taught, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

In all of my blogging I have never said anything directly derogatory regarding the TEC as I really don’t have much to say. We may have a common past, but their departure in the last three decades from scriptural and moral absolutes clearly has sent them down a path that does not represent my understanding of who Jesus is. Nor do they represent my understanding of the Anglican faith and its practice anymore than non-believers do.

Let me shed a little more light on the subject of who Jesus is…

1) Jesus is the Lord of Creation.

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17)

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He holds all things together, everything seen and unseen, He has power over all. He also has power over our lives and the life of His church. My bible is pretty clear about who He is and who He claims to be.

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3)

I love these verses because they give a picture of a treasure chest filled to the top with something of great value, the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. So, we are to seek His wisdom and cry out for His knowledge when it comes to the direction of our life. He has all that we need.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).

If we believe Jesus Christ is telling the truth then all the other paths are dead ends in the most literal sense - they lead to eternal death itself.

2) Jesus is the Lord of the Church.

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:18-20)

Jesus is not only the Lord of creation; he is also the Lord of the church. He is the one who gave His life for the church, and He is the one who is the boss of His church. Original Anglicans want to see Him honored and glorified.

Remember, Jesus is the one who brought us into a peace relationship with God the Father, and He did it through the shedding of His blood. To Original Anglicans, Jesus is the Lord of creation and the Lord of His church. He has always been the second person of the Trinity; He is God the Son who was punished for us that we might be reconciled to the Father. He is God!

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

Be Discerning,

Bishop Ian

The Primary Purpose

This past weekend, Robin and I made a visit to the congregation of St. Andrews in Middleborough, MA. It was my first visit as Bishop and I was both excited and anxious. Fr. Stephen DelSignore had set up a meeting with the vestry and a reception dinner Saturday night, both of which felt like returning home to long lost friends. Later that night, I told Robin that I felt so at home and at ease with everyone. “Of course,” she said, “this is your purpose in life, and this is what God has called you to do.” I knew that she was right.

Think about it, how you would answer if someone asked, "What is your purpose in life?" Would you answer, “To serve the Lord?” I think most would say that making money and living a comfortable life is their primary purpose.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

The sermon I preached while at St. Andrews, was on the new spirituality. I spoke about the current fad of replacing the words religion and faith with the word spirituality. This kind of switch may seem harmless at first, especially since a large number of people who call themselves Christians endorse it. Some even call it a new kind of evangelism that helps people get around the so-called barriers of doctrine and dogma. They believe it enables them to get directly to Christ on their own terms. They tell us that, "all religions are true and give us an experience of God.” The problem with calling this a new approach is that it isn’t new at all. It’s the same old rhetoric that goes against the Holy Scriptures, and that it doesn’t lead to Jesus.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 )

Make no mistake. Satan knows the end of the story and is indeed the thief described in John 10:10. So when someone tells you, "I’m not into religion, but I am into spirituality," or "I’m not religious, but I am very spiritual," they are also saying, "I wish to exempt myself from the consequences of religion and faith." This exemption is impossible. John 10:10 also tells us that Jesus Christ is not only "True God of true God." He is also "True man of true man."

Jesus Christ is God come to earth, once and for all, in the flesh, for the redemption of the world. His coming ends the possibility that any other "religion" can be true except the worship of God the Father, body and soul, in God the Son, in the grace and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. That is the primary reason for The Protestant Episcopal Church, and the reason the people of St. Andrews gather together every Sunday. They are a people of good purpose, a people of God. And I was as comfortable and at home with them as when I am at my home church.

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Be of good purpose,

Bishop Ian