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To All Clergy and Members of the UECNA

I am acknowledging these publications that have been produced by our own Fr. Ron Shibley, Rector of St. Chrysostom's Church in Richmond, VA

The Layman's Lexicon
Prayers in the Christian Tradition
Prayer Book Psalter

These books belong in every Christian's Library!

My thanks to Fr. Ron for producing these wonderful books that both enlighten and comfort!

+Stephen

These Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection were derived in large part from Tim Drake’s Easter Evidence.

1. The testimony of the texts. It is significant that Scripture, Tradition and the Church thereafter all agree that Christ rose. That kind of unanimity of witness is rare and meaningful.

2. The testimony of the Twelve. If the apostles were making up a religion, they were making themselves look really bad in the process. In the Gospels, cowardly apostles flee in fear and embarrassment; they even greet the news of the Resurrection with doubt, at first. Says the Catechism: The hypothesis that the Resurrection was produced by the apostles’ faith (or credulity) will not hold up (No. 644).

3. Transformation of Saul. St. Paul went from persecutor to believer after seeing Christ alive.

4. No early Church debate. The early Church debated many fundamentals, but not the Resurrection.

5. Centuries of martyrs. Christians, from the Church’s first days to our own day, have been willing to die for their conviction that Christ rose from the dead. For them, the Resurrection wasn’t a sweet dream that they indulged in, but a hard reality they suffered and died for.

6. Diverse sources. Gospel writers included different details and material from different sources all of which agreed on the fact of the Resurrection.

7. Eyewitnesses. St. Paul spoke of how Christ appeared, alive, to 500 at once. If it weren’t true, he couldn’t make that claim so soon after the event occurred.

8. Non-Christian historical accounts. Tacitus and Josephus mention Christ and describe how Christians endured torture when simply renouncing him would end it.

9. Not dead again. Other resurrections are mentioned in the Bible chiefly Lazarus but of these, Christ’s is unique in that it is never suggested that he died again.

10. Rise of a historical religion. Christianity spread and grew, even though, as St. Paul told Christians from the beginning, and here in 1 Corinthians 15:17, If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain.

SIX WAYS TO DEEPEN THE FAITH

There are six ways to become a stronger Christian disciple and deepen our faith:

I. Explore the Scriptures and become more familiar with the historic creeds and the doctrine of the Church. Study the Church's teaching on human dignity and its social doctrine, including the sanctity of life teaching.

II. Learn and embrace the sacraments, and acquire the spirituality to become an active participant in the liturgy, especially the Eucharistic liturgy. Pray daily; have regularly scheduled times for prayer; learn to pray the Psalms.

III. Seek to develop a well-formed conscience, and live in accord with the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the teaching of the Church.

IV. Familiarize yourself with diverse forms and expressions of Christian prayer. Practice personal and shared prayer. Use practices of popular piety and devotion that will strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ.

V. Understand Christian virtues that will help build relationships and civil responsibility. Nurture your marriage and family, and build up the Church right where you are. Learn about the Church's authority and structures, and about the responsibilities of all the Christian faithful.

VI. Cultivate a spirit of evangelism-share your faith! Tell others about your spiritual pilgrimage, the Scriptures, and traditions and teachings of the Church. Respond to God's call of vocation, whether it is lay or ordained.

Pray and praise God daily!
June 3, 2008