[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” title=”2016 Anglican Connection Lenten Series” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” background_color=”#7a10d1″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_text_size=”20″ button_one_border_width=”2″ button_one_border_radius=”5″ button_one_letter_spacing=”1″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_border_radius_hover=”3″ button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_text_size=”20″ button_two_border_width=”2″ button_two_border_radius=”5″ button_two_letter_spacing=”1″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_border_radius_hover=”3″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ subhead=”by \u00a9 The. Rev. John G. Mason”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction and Acknowledgments” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
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Everyone loves a good story. <\/strong>\u00a0Millions have enjoyed J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s Lord of the Rings,<\/em> and millions more, J.K. Rowling\u2019s Harry Potter<\/em>. The Bible has been described as \u2018The Greatest Story Ever Told\u2019. Many would agree, but rarely read it or think about it. They have yet to see the depths of the epic and feel the riches of its narrative wash over them, bringing them new hope, vitality and joy.<\/p>\n Despite much political rhetoric, the reality is that our world is in short supply of real, substantial \u2018hope\u2019. The world, its leaders, and we ourselves are all too imperfect. Deep down we long for a better experience of life and a certainty about the future. The question is, \u2018Where can we find it?\u2019 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the great things about the Bible is that it offers us a hope that is supported by the evidence of history \u2013 evidence that has stood the test of time. In setting out the real state of human affairs the Bible holds out to us a hope that is real and substantial. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But the Bible does something much more<\/strong> \u2013 it invites us into its narrative, beginning with the creating act of God and ending with God gathering us into a life of great beauty that stretches into eternity. It is the story of God\u2019s action in cleaning up the mess we have made of the world and ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n This series of Bible readings and reflections began as a series for the congregants of Christ Church New York City. The readings are selected from some of the peaks of the biblical narrative and, in a forty-day program, are designed to help us see our own place in God\u2019s great story. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The series is divided into four parts. Part 1, \u2018Hope\u2019s Promise\u2019,<\/strong> introduces the grounds for hope for all men and women by exploring key chapters in the biblical narrative found in the Old Testament. Part 2, \u2018Hope\u2019s Fulfillment\u2019,<\/strong> introduces us to the events surrounding the most amazing man who has ever walked on earth, showing us once and for all that God doesn\u2019t forget his promises and that we have a very special place in His heart. Part 3, \u2018Hope\u2019s Practice\u2019,<\/strong> explores the kind of life that God longs for us to live; while Part 4, \u2018Hope\u2019s Mission\u2019,<\/strong> brings us to the privileged partnership we have with God in bringing others to the eternal delights and hope of his kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\n In writing this series I am bringing together material I have developed over the years for sermons. In doing so I realize how much I have benefited from reading many commentaries and hearing the preaching of others, especially the good preaching that I have enjoyed in England. Inevitably ideas and phrases that I have read and heard and agreed with have become part of my own expression. To those writers and preachers, I acknowledge my debt of gratitude. My regret is that I did not always note who wrote or said what and therefore they remain unacknowledged in these pages. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Added to my list of thanks are Brian Rumbold, my brother-in-law, who made helpful suggestions; Chelsea Schofield (ne\u00e9 Miller), former Research and Communication Associate, and now Susannah Black, have made constructive comments and edits. I am also grateful to Dr. Jonathan Smith who has also made helpful theological comments; thanks also are due to Ivey Rose Smith for her work in posting the material for daily access on the Anglican Connection website. Above all my thanks are due to my wife, Judy, my life-long partner and best friend. Having a natural and gifted literary flair, she has been a wonderful editor!<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a9\u00a0<\/span>John Mason: October 2009;\u00a0Revised, Lent 2016: New York City<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”40 Days of Spiritual Reflection” title=”40 Days of Spiritual Reflection” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” background_color=”#7a10d1″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_text_size=”20″ button_one_border_width=”2″ button_one_border_radius=”5″ button_one_letter_spacing=”1″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_border_radius_hover=”3″ button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_text_size=”20″ button_two_border_width=”2″ button_two_border_radius=”5″ button_two_letter_spacing=”1″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_border_radius_hover=”3″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blog admin_label=”Blog” fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”20″ include_categories=”12″ show_thumbnail=”on” show_content=”off” show_more=”off” show_author=”on” show_date=”on” show_categories=”on” show_comments=”on” show_pagination=”on” offset_number=”0″ background_layout=”light” use_dropshadow=”off” header_font_size=”18″ meta_font_size=”14″ body_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reason for Hope: Finding Your Story in the Greatest Story Ever Told\u00a0 INTRODUCTION Everyone loves a good story. \u00a0Millions have enjoyed J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s Lord of the Rings, and millions more, J.K. Rowling\u2019s Harry Potter. The Bible has been described as \u2018The Greatest Story Ever Told\u2019. Many would agree, but rarely read it or think […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":20,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\nACKNOWLEDGMENTS<\/span><\/h3>\n