Curt Benham

Man of the Cloth

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

“Forgiveness is a wonder drug.”
-James Kimmel, Jr

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

@ToddBrewer_ Amen

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

“He doesn’t want to walk on water anymore. He just wants to be with Jesus.”
-@MikeCosper
@mockingbirdmin

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death…

[bob hiller @the_rev_bob]

The humble preaching of the gospel and the administration of these simple Sacraments are the greatest things that can happen in the world. - Hermann Sasse

[Chris Hutchinson 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇬🇱🇵🇦🇵🇸🇲🇽🇮🇷 🕊️ @CAHutch1990]

Every day I feel thoughts of bitterness, hatred and rivalry rise up in my heart. Every day I have to fight those thoughts, laugh at myself, and remember the way of love.

[Michael Reeves @mike_reeves]

Jesus is not a reluctant Saviour. He delights in showing mercy.

[Ethan James Cole @EthanJCole79]

@The_Parishioner In my recovery circles we often talk about the freedom to be wrong, and when we can allow ourselves to be wrong we can leave space for others to be wrong too without needing to incinerate them for it. It’s all part of humility. It’s freedom from perfectionism. Freedom to grow.

[Chad Bird @birdchadlouis]

A number of years ago, the Orthodox theologian, Fr. Thomas Hopko, composed 55 maxims to guide Christians in their daily lives and struggles. Here are ten of my favorites.

1. Be always with Christ.
2. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things.
3. Be an ordinary person.
4. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.
5. Don’t compare yourself with anyone.
6. Don’t seek or expect praise or pity from anyone.
7. Be merciful with yourself and with others.
8. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.
9. Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, because you know that God’s mercy is greater than your brokenness.
10. Get help when you need it, without fear and without shame.

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

@r_wizard13 I have to ask myself every day at Morning Prayer, “Is Jesus (himself) good news for me, my family, and my neighbors, or isn’t he?” If he is, then why in the world wouldn’t I invite everyone I know into his beloved community?

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

@KaraNSlade (Or Krystal)

[Chad Bird @birdchadlouis]

Flannery O’Connor wrote, "The operation of the Church is entirely set up for the sinner: which creates much misunderstanding among the smug."

And the smug are not just those who say they have no sin. The smug are also those who say they don't have as much sin as others. Or that their own sins, compared to those of other people, are not nearly as serious and deadly.

As my friend, Dave Zahl, once said, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...but that hasn't kept us from comparing distances."

Beside the church doors is not a sin scale, upon which everyone must weigh their respective "iniquity weight" as they go inside. The church operates on the assumption that everyone there is obese with evil. Even if we haven't done a particular deed, like murder or adultery, we have fantasized about them countless times, and so incur the same guilt.

Let us therefore confess our sins with frank boldness. We have nothing to hide from our Father. And he, gracious and compassionate, will toss all our sins over his shoulder, will drown them all in the depths of the sea, will bury them all in the crucified body of Jesus.

Because the operation of the Church is entirely set up for the grace of Christ to be active among us.

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

Ten (!) baptisms at Trinity Parish, St Augustine, FL today - from infants and children, to a homeless man, to a new convert in her 60’s! AND, more than ten more are line-up to be baptized on Pentecost! Aslan is on the move in our Episcopal church!

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

@flemingrut We belted it out at the top of our lungs at Trinity Parish in St Augustine, FL!

[Fleming Rutledge @flemingrut]

British historian Tom Holland [writes] that Christianity should preserve its “weirdness.” He meant that Christians should resist the temptation to turn the faith into one bland mythic or mystic system among many. At the heart of the strangeness...is the cross of Jesus...

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

and to us sinners everlasting life
and glory;
for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and
our souls, now and in the hour of our death.
Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead;
to your holy Church peace and concord…

[Wesley Hill @wesleyhill]

Christianity, for me, is about the Jesus of this Holy Week. He, and this 3-day liturgy remembering Him, are why I'm still in it (fitfully, confusedly, gratefully). I think what He did and who He is makes this life possible and gives us any hope we have for a future.

[Curt Benham @Curt_Benham]

If someone asks a Christian, “Where is your salvation, your righteousness?” he can never point to himself. He points to the Word of God in Jesus Christ, which assures him salvation and righteousness.
-D. B.