Galatians 2:20. " I have been crucified with Christ and I ( my separate, sinful & independent self) no longer exist, but now Christ lives inwardly connected to me."

Something that St. Paul calls the "old man or old self" has been put to "Spiritual Death" though not "physical death". That was you that was a branch in the cursed Tree of Sin and Death. Now the spiritual reality of Sin and Death has been brought to an end because Jesus INCLUDED you in the death to Sin. But Death is not enough...there is not Life in that spiritual Death. So that is where RESURRECTION factors in to bring us  "out of death and into Life" 1 John 3:14. Into Christ now sharing Himself and His same divine Life!!!

 This is a sacred Mystery of God...this death and resurrection. Ephesians 2:1-6 tells us that we have to think differently and learn to believe " And you He has made Alive ( a new Spirit Reality) who were dead in sin...made you Alive Together with Christ and raised (spiritually resurrected) and raised us up TOGETHER in Christ".

Easter introduces us to these mind-boggling new realities and begins to unpack HOW these WORK in healing our hearts and personalities of stress, traumatic experiences, self attitudes. The HEAVENLY MEDICINE when daily applied is the only Cure....not only does it bring forgiveness but this Heavenly Medicine heals hidden hurts, darkness and TRANFORMS our personality With Christ and into Christ-likeness!

The Gospel that Jesus shared is that His Kingdom is invading the Darkness of Sin and Death in all of it's ravages upon people and their lives.It is a Savior who is bring Healing to broken hearts, broken minds and broken lives.Guess what... we are all broken in various places and different ways. Our hearts are made to be alive and secure in Love...in a awareness of beiing Loved  by a Heavenly Father, the Son who shares His very own Life with us, and the Spirit that shares Heaven to our needy souls.

So really, deeply, our Holy Week of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday is introducing us in the Divine Family and us as "a new creation in Christ" sons and daughters! That new Identity and Creation exists already in you...and is  waiting for you to discover and believe. Our identity is Relational ...it is already Connected to our Heavenly Father, our Savior and our Holy Spirit...all are leading us into deeper communion and awareness of their Love for us and our Destiny to grow into their Likeness and Being.

  So the Cross is Jesus dying for you....but also dying in your place. He brought the End of Adam by being the Last Adam. So Jesus associated Himself with you as an Adam or Eve and brought your particular Adam-Identity to an end! The Resurrection of Jesus includes you and me! His Resurrection from the dominion of Sin and Death is also shared with us as our own resurrection as well! Our faith and devotion is now our way of receiving and entering into all that Jesus is For us and also In us.

The Gospel is His Rescue and Redevelopment Mission for turning you ( your relationships, the people of St. Alban's) from  just mere sinful humans into saints! It includes  forgiveness for every sin and the certain hope of Heaven as your eternal home. But really, deeply, it is about being "a new creation in Christ"...and that new     Identity and Creation exists already in you...and is waiting for you to discover and believe. It is this reconciliation and union with Christ on the inside of your soul that makes you more than just a mere human with perhaps a short fuse, an anxiety problem, or bent towards being self-centered and demanding that people do what you want.

So the Cross is not just Jesus dying alone for our sins .The Cross is also Jesus taking your sinful self with Him...to die. To die so that He would rise from Sin and rise with you too...the new you. The fantastic cosmic supernatural great news is that " you have died with Christ and you have risen with Christ". Since that is a Fact greater than gravity, greater than the speed of light, and greater than all of the laws of nature...it is a Fact that is also greater than your sins! Now when embrace and believed it, the Spirit and Power of the Gospel works for you! There is such a release of grace along with multiple flows of graces like internal rivers that now empower a new nature. This Presence of Life and Grace actually flow from within  you as a being who is " a new creation in Christ Jesus". Now that is a holy and happy Lent.

The Season of Epiphany ( God's Rescue Mission & Manifestation) opens our gaze from the birth of Jesus to now the baptism and adult life and mission of Jesus! This liturgical emphasis focuses our hearts and minds on experiencing Jesus the Son of God in the stories or accounts of the Gospel. But be careful! These so-called "stories" are more than religious stories about a Jesus of the past. The stories in the scriptures are " Living, Alive and Powerful" ( Hebrews 4:12) sacramental doorways into His Presence and Person! The Gospel is  actually and simply, Jesus Himself... and his healing actions and teachings on how to live in alignment with His Kingdom.

Epiphany Experiences are waiting for you today! He is here to "manifest..." for you to have an "Epiphany" yourself! Waiting for you to come to Him in His " Word Form" of dynamic Life-giving scriptural stories. HIs very Voice is speaking to you, to perceive and        receive directly by His Spirit. Jesus's Sacramental Presence in the Word of God is really and actually Him alive and speaking! The Gospel Story is truly alive with Him,  and He is Alive for you, with you, and within you! So Happy Journey! 

Advent has been an ancient liturgical and prayerful season of the Church going back nearly 2,000 years. It is a time set apart to     reflect in our readings and hymns on the first "advent" or appearance of Christ when born in a manger in Bethlehem...and then we also    reflect upon his second advent or " the second Coming of Christ Jesus" at the end of the age when he returns to fulfill what he began in His death and resurrection. Each week the themes of Hope in this world and in the end of the age, Peace as a real ministry of the Spirit now, and also Joy in the current healing work of the     Beloved Son's Healing Kingdom and in the Complete and Full Revelation of that Beautiful   Kingdom in a " New Heavens and a New Earth". 

  Since the King and His Kingdom have arrived in the Resurrection of Christ and breaking the authority and bonds of sin and satan...we now feast our souls on the many benefits of His Kingdom for us today as well as learn to see our current challenges, needs and all injustices in the light of both the ongoing leavening work of believers and the ultimate revelation of " righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" that we confidently hope for in His Second    Advent.

  For the "spiritual community of followers of Jesus", known as St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Auburndale, Florida that means we are learning  how to " see the Kingdom" with the eyes of faith in His divine Promises...promises of health, daily guidance, financial breakthroughs, following the Spirit by personally applying the spiritual gifts of helping others, encouraging those who are struggling and hurting, sharing words of wisdom and knowledge that the Spirit imparts to minister to others, singing and  making melody in our hearts unto the Lord,   organizing and being a graceful team leader/member of a ministry, praying for increases of HIs Presence in our fellowship, and sharing the inward Christ who is IN YOU with everyone you meet and love! Now all of that makes for "a  holy and happy "heavenly atmosphere for each of us who journey together as friends and followers of Jesus the King!