Pro-Life...or...Pro-living?
June 9, 2017
As the world continues
to turn, and God has given us one more day, we continue to struggle with the
moral issues of society which conflict with our spiritual principles. Abortion
seems to be a unifying issue among Christians of various denominations. We
champion the unborn, fight for their right to be birthed, pat ourselves on the
back for another successful "save" and move on to the next terrified
mom to be. Please don't misunderstand; we must stand for the rights of the
unborn. If not us, who?
I recently heard a
Pentecostal brother make a much broader point of being Pro-Life. There are many
thousands of children in this country whose mothers were counseled to make
the moral choice to give birth, but never escaped the prison of poverty. They
simply made a little room in their prison to accommodate the new life that came
forth from them. Now they share their misery with a helpless child that may
never know anything else.
Jesus said..."the poor you will have with
you always"... but
I don't think He meant for us to let them suffer in their state of want. Some
of us need to take up the torch of the newborns that are saved through the
Pro-Life movement. Many of them are put up for adoption, but not
all. Maybe we need to start a Pro-Living movement to save the
"rescued" from a life of hunger, drugs, prostitution and all the
poison that come from living in poverty.
Many of us are already
taking positive action in that direction. Is it enough or do we need more
"troops" in the trenches? We can't continue to complain about all of
the people on food stamps and other government programs if we aren't willing to
do something about it. maybe it shouldn't be "Pro-Life
...OR...Pro-Living."
Maybe it needs to be "Pro-Life...AND...Pro-Living."
Pax Christi,
++Ed
December 18, 2016
It's a week before Christmas ... and all through the house ... we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus!
What a year it has been. Changes, both good and bad, political turmoil, global tension and continuing moral decline. Before we can recover from one distraction, another rears it's ugly head. Yet our Savior says..."come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How many of us can honestly say that we turn to that assurance when we are totally worn out? "Oh, I know the Bible says that... BUT..." There's always a but. It's hard to come to Jesus for rest in the manner He tells us to... "as little children." I'm as guilty as anyone else, with all the same excuses. "But Lord, this it too trivial to worry you with", or maybe "but it's not that bad, I can handle it." Or maybe we feel that we haven't been close enough to Him for too long a time and the guilt kicks in?
With so many distractions in our modern society, it's easy for us to slip into a state of "electronic dependency and addiction." Yes, electronics have become an addiction! The internet, TV, cell phones, etc. have created just the opposite effect of their intended use; to bring us closer together. We can be miles apart... in the same room. Engrossed in our cell phone we totally ignore our families, friends, co-workers and any one else that may be vying for our attention...including GOD.
Despite the convenience of texting, email, and cell phones, maybe we need to back off a bit and reestablish our personal and our spiritual connections. It's easy to push this off as the ranting of an old man that just doesn't understand modern society. Unfortunately, I do understand too much of it, and it is not consistent with God's plan. It's time to come back to a personal relationship with our Creator before it's too late.
At one time in my younger life I knew that I was "bullet proof" and would live forever. I have since buried too many of my contemporaries to still believe that. We have one life on this earth and our decisions here determine our eternity. I pray that each and every one of us sets our priorities on the eternal and not the temporary, of which this life is.
Every day is a gift...that's why it's called "The Present." Come to Jesus my friends, now, before it's too late. Happy Birthday Jesus!
Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas.
Pax Christi,
Bishop Ed
August 23, 2016
The time is fast approaching when we will once again elect the leadership of this great nation. Our local elections will take place on August 30th and the roadsides are just blossoming with campaign signs. Frankly, I am already tired of the political rhetoric on TV. Let's face it, garbage stinks ... and when you continuously stir it up, it becomes overwhelming! I hear less about what the candidate is intending to do and more about what his/her opponent can't do. The reality is that after the election is over and the dust settles it goes back to status quo. The politicians have their jobs and we the people pay for them ... with little or no return on our investment. What if you did that on your job? Just showed up on payday, but disappeared for most of the intervening time? Scripture tells us... if we don't work... we don't eat! Sounds fair to me.
It's time this nation returned to Biblical principles. After all, we were founded on them. Our God and Father has much more patience than I have... thank You Lord! His unconditional love never fails, even in the face of the nations blatant denial of His importance in our lives, as we are experiencing today.
In my devotion today, I was led to 1John 2:18-23. The Apostle John professes that the Antichrist has come. In fact he ...says "many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."(NKJV) Now, it's easy to get "wrapped around the axel" with the Antichrist. There is so much speculation out there about who "he" is. Vs. 22-23 are very clear about this entity we call antichrist:
":22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also."
The secular world has been persistent in the denial of God's place in society and the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ. Islam denies Jesus' deity so must consequently deny the Father as per the scripture. The spirit of antichrist has been and is roaming this world, seeking whom it may devour.
Our choices in the upcoming elections will be crucial to the propagation of that spirit of antichrist or to it's containment. Pray! Seek God's Holy Spirit wisdom as you prepare to cast your ballot. Weigh carefully the good against the evil and remember that if you take NO action, evil will win!
"Our Lord and our God, we humble ourselves before You and we repent for those who refuse to admit their sins. We stand in the gap for them and ask you to soften their hardened hearts. Bless this great nation once again and bring us back to being One Nation Under God! We beg you to preserve this land for the sake of Your Son, Our Savior Jesus Christ...Amen"
Pax Christi,
Abp. Ed Skiba
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June, 2016
Welcome to the site! So much has been happening over the last two months. May 28, 2016 marked Bishop Ed and Bonnie's 50th Wedding Anniversary! That woman has to be a saint! We celebrated quietly with our son and daughter-in-love and our two precious grand daughters. It's really hard to believe that 50 years have gone by. The celebration was bitter sweet in that there was a void in the family. In 1988 our younger son, Ronald, was taken suddenly by bacterial meningitis at the age of 19. Whenever there is a family anniversary or celebration there is a poignant moment of remembrance that there should be more family present. The one saving grace is that our son Ron knew the Lord Jesus as his Lord and Savior and we will see him again one day.
There are many seasons to life, some joyful and some difficult. As I progress down life's highway and approach my 73rd birthday I am struck by the speed at which life moves. I remember things from my school days, triumphs and defeats in my military career of 22 years, highs and lows in our marriage of 50 years, holding my newborn first child in my arms and crying at the miracle before me (and now he's 48!), burying my 19 year old son, Baptizing my grand daughters in the Atlantic Ocean and now they approach the teen years.
I remember standing in an old cathedral on a mountain top in Uganda, East Africa when Bishop Peter Bulafu Mudonyi and 52 African priests laid hands on me and made me a priest in Apostolic Succession. 19 years later, after many years in emergency services chaplaincy and Hospice chaplaincy as well as parish ministry, hands were again laid on me to bring me into full Apostolic Succession as a Bishop. Yet, I clearly remember the most important day I asked Jesus into my heart as a sinner seeking salvation, October 18, 1981. After being raised in church and claiming the title Christian for most of my life, I finally understood what that meant. My wife Bonnie and I prayed the sinners prayer holding hands. Our lives were so changed that two years later, both of our boys accepted the Lord.
Much has happened since then. Many changes and transitions. But, that's what life is about. Change and transition. New things have happened in the last few weeks that you can read about on the news page of this site. Change may be good or bad, but it is usually necessary.
Have you had change in your life? Has it not all been good? Welcome to the club. What I have come to realize over these years of change is that I can react to it or I can respond to it. If I react, it usually doesn't turn out well. If I respond to it with thought, it turns out much better. The thought I employ is usually prayer. By seeking God's will and His presence the decisions I make are much more stable. I can only see the immediate situation, He sees all.
Do you need strength to respond to change in your life? Do you have the intimate relationship with God that allows you to seek His counsel? Have you received His Son as your Lord and Savior? Maybe it's time... because change IS COMING!
In Jesus' love,
Bishop Ed
April, 2016
Greetings to all who have taken the time to read our posts.
Well, Bishop Ed and Bonnie have invested in some property in the Florida panhandle near DeFuniak Springs, a 27 acre farm that has been vacant for some time. There is a metal barn that is functional and a ramshackle house that is not habitable and will be razed. The property has electricity and a deep well with crystal clear cool water as well as a functioning septic tank. We have set up our RV next to the barn The intention is to eventually create a Christian Retreat in a large wooded area of the property and to possibly bring in some rescue horses. A subsistence garden is also planned. The local people are honest working folks that have welcomed us warmly. The politics are conservative and the there is an evident Christian spirituality present.
Bishop Ed will be offering his chaplaincy services to the Sheriff as well as the County Fire Service, both of whom have been very receptive. Once we are permanently established there, invitations for visits will be extended.
Since the Bishop's retirement he has been busy with additional duties as Secretary General to our Presiding Bishop, Dr. John Simons. Abp Simons has been having some health issues as well as an increase in his medical responsibilities and will be stepping down as Presiding Bishop in November. Please keep him in prayer.
The Easter season is upon us and the Resurrection message should be foremost in our minds. We celebrate the fact that our God has risen from the dead, thereby making eternal salvation available to all who believe. this is the primary message of Easter.
There is more I believe that the Holy Spirit has revealed in this Easter message. God calls us to a spiritual resurrection out of the sepulcher of this sinful world. He calls us to "come forth" just as He call Lazarus forth from the grave. The condition of the secular world is a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Liars lie, sinners sin and that's what they do! As followers of Jesus, we are called to "come out from among them." We are called to a renewed life, a life of introspection and evaluation of our actions and intentions to be sure they line up with the Word of God. It is easy to attend worship once a week and then lapse back into our daily routines, participating in the gossip, profanity, cheating and other questionable actions that society considers normal. After all, we have to fit in, don't we?
Or do we? I'm not talking about "holier than thou" behavior, thumping people with your Bible and condemning them for their actions. I'm talking about choosing to not participate in that activity with a quiet and humble spirit, and letting our example speak for us. "What you do speaks so loudly, they can't hear what you say!"
Set the example by cleaning up your own language, loving the unlovable, declining to participate in gossip, not doing what the world is doing, but following Jesus' example. I know, you've heard all this before. So have I, but sometimes it helps to be reminded.
"May the Risen Lord strengthen us all to be better believers and to set the example in our individual worlds of influence."
Pax Christi,
Bishop Ed
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May 28, 2015
We recently returned from Texas where we ordained Father Tom Abbott to the holy priesthood, consecrated an altar stone and established the Mission Church of St. Columba at Father Tom's Deerfield Abbey location. It conveniently coincides with Spring! New beginnings are always a blessing, especially when you are advanced in years and can still have new adventures in the Lord's vineyard.
Today is also the 49th Anniversary of marriage for my wife Bonnie and I. Where did it go? We have had some great adventures, some tragedies as well as mountaintop experiences in our time together and have survived them all. We are starting to realize just how fleeting our earthly existence really is. There have been times when we thought the pain would never end, and now we must concentrate to remember the feelings of loneliness and isolation tragedy can bring. the adage..."time heals all wounds"... is truer than I had thought.
Time doesn't really remove the pain, but I think it conditions us to be able to continue functioning beyond and despite the pain. the most difficult part is getting through the initial impact to a place where tragedy is put into perspective... a reality that must be dealt with and put in proper perspective so we can accomplish God's purpose for our lives. We lean heavily on His promise that "I will never leave you or forsake you", a promise which is almost impossible to accept in the initial face of tragedy.
We have just come through the Memorial Day weekend, paid tribute to our fallen heroes, and settled back into our routines. But, vestiges of our losses will always be an integral part of our makeup. Whether the loss was in battle, accidental or of natural causes, we never forget, we just learn to live with our losses and strive to have them make us "better... not bitter."
For all that have suffered loss, my deepest sympathies and prayers are with you. We will all experience loss at some time in our lives. And one day we ourselves will be mourned. I pray that all who read this short missive have settled their salvation issues by having accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and received Him as their personal Savior. Time is short. Make that eternal decision today. God loves you and so do I.
Bishop Ed
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March 11, 2015
The Lenten Season is a time of introspection, self examination and repentance for shortcomings, sins and failures to follow the intent of God's Word. It's truly an opportunity to redirect our lives and our focus and to correct the deviations in our Christian walk that would distance us from a close relationship with God.
One of the most difficult things a Christian can do is to recognize their own shortcomings. It's relatively easy to see the shortcomings of others, but to see your own is another story. There is an expression that says..."The eye can not see itself." For this reason we have loving brothers and sisters who we can go to and ask for an honest evaluation of our walk. We have the Rite of Reconciliation which provides an opportunity to do a "self inspection" and present our finding to a trusted priest who will provide confidential, honest and loving feedback. In reality we as Christians have an unlimited number of opportunities to start fresh. We can confess our transgressions on a daily basis and come away with a clean slate.
But, a word of caution. In The Book of Romans, chapter 6,7 and 8, the Apostle Paul lays out an in depth perspective on dealing with man's sinful nature and our tendency to return to sinful ways. in the human mind we can justify anything. We can believe that we can sin all we want because we just have to confess to be forgiven. That type of carnal thinking will separate us from fellowship with God faster than anything. God sees the intentions of our heart and is looking for a broken, contrite and yielded spirit that wants nothing more than to please Him just for the sake of His love for us. A scheming and deceptive intention can not be hidden from God and will cause the deceiver to bring condemnation on himself.
That being said, I had no intention of engaging in a long sermon on the dangers of sin. My point was to simply encourage us to embrace this Lenten season with an eye towards a renewal of our commitment to the one who gave His all for us, the Lord Jesus Christ. if a reader of this message has never made the heartfelt commitment to confess their inherent sinful nature and to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, I would invite you to do so during this season of introspection and self examination.
May the God of love and mercy bless and keep you and yours as we look to the glorious resurrection of His only begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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February 3, 2015,
The annual Bishop's Council meeting is now behind us and we are working hard at finding a place of peace where we can be "with one accord." In a society of many shades of gray it is difficult to come to a place of total "black and white." All through the Book of Acts the apostles are seen as being "with one accord."
In Joshua 9 the people gathered with Joshua and Israel with one accord. What does "one accord" mean?
According to Strong's Concordance it means...with the same passion...with one mind...unanimously...at the same time...having the same desire. These are the things we strive for within the Bishop's Council. An understanding and agreement with each others hearts. This is a difficult place at which to arrive. If any of you have been married for any length of time you will understand.
Our desire within the Council is to truly be "with one accord" just as it is within a marriage. Sometimes it requires sacrifice and pain. Sometimes it requires raw honesty. Sometimes it requires a tolerance of another's right to believe as they believe... without a compromise of your own beliefs. Again, a "black and white" world is easy to deal with. A gray world is confusing, uncomfortable, aggravating, frustrating, and can be very divisive. As human beings we can not effectively overcome these emotions. We may subdue them for a time but, without the supernatural help of God's Holy Spirit, it's a losing battle.
My prayer is for the intervention of the Holy Spirit in all of our deliberations and decisions and a pouring out of God's wisdom on His Bishops.
Bishop Ed
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January 22, 2015,
We are about to enter into our annual Bishop's Council meeting this weekend and are pleased and privileged to have The Most Reverend Peter Riola, OSA, OSB, our CAC founder, in attendance with his new bride, Diana Whitecross, who is to be inducted into the Order of St. Alcuin. We will be discussing policy, polity and positions on various societal issues that would require the church, as Shepherd of God's people, to offer scriptural and spiritual perspective on.
Of course there will be time for fellowship and socialization in order to strengthen the relationships within our House of Bishops. A report on the proceedings will be published here after the meeting.
I wish all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, a time of renewal and strength in your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and with God our Father.
Bishop Ed
December 21, 2014
Wow ... Christmas already! I guess I say that every year. I was watching a Hollywood version of "The Bible" (a lot of artistic license taken) and was once again touched deeply in my spirit by the baby in a manger becoming the savior of the world. Imagine living your life knowing exactly what you were destined for, and that destiny being crucifixion...and all for the sins of others. In John 15:13 Jesus said "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are my friends of you do whatever I command you." Jesus went on to say that we are are no longer servants, but friends because friends know what each other is doing, and Jesus revealed to the Apostles all that the Father had told him. He held nothing back. We, on the other hand, seem to want to negotiate our walk with him and the terms of our salvation. We read God's Word, understand it's meaning but choose to misinterpret it's intention. We know in our "knower" what God wants us to do, but dilute his direction with our own desires and perceived needs/wants. Obedience is not always convenient.
Let's think about returning the gift of salvation that God has given us by giving God a Christmas gift in the form of a new, sincere, uncompromising effort to be his friends by doing what he commands us.
I wish you all a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with promise, re-commitment and love overflowing.
Bishop Ed
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