Happy New Year

"You Must Be Born Again" (John 3:16)

  I admit to having a love hate relationship with snow. When I am at home, or looking out the window of my office,a s I am now, it is very beautiful. I love watching it. I admit the absence of snow last year made winter seem, well, anticlimactic. Asa  child I loved running in the snow, diving into it, making forts and snowballs.

  Of course that's because my parents drove me everywhere and my dad shoveled the snow.  Once that became my job, snow became less a blessing and more of a curse. Now I have to go out in the cold, shovel the drive way, walk the dog, try to drive on slippery snowy slushy roads.  As my son and I were shoveling the driveway out the other day, we were talking about how fleeting the beauty of snow is.  I am proud to have passed on my legacy to him, as well as my snow shovel.

  There is one thing I do still love about snow.  I love how it overs everything in purity. It doesn't matter what toys the kids or pets have left in the yard. Or how many branches are in the backyard. It doesn't even matter if there are some leaves I never got to raking up. Once the snow falls everything is clean, beautiful and pure. Of course there is only one problem with that. Once the snow melts the debris is still there. The toys, branches and leaves haven't gone away. They've only been covered up.

  Often that's how we treat the debris in our lives. That debris could be sin. Or a wrong done to us. It could be resentment, or bitterness. And we act as if we cover it up it will be gone. If we act like everything is OK, maybe it is. If no one discovers my sin, maybe it didn't happen. Or at the very least, I got away with it.

  It never quite works out that way does it. Sin, and hurt, and resentment have away of rising to the surface. Just because we cover up the debris in our lives, doesn't make it go away.  It will always resurface. The only we to keep this from happening is to get rid of the debris.

  That's why, as we begin a new year, I hope you will keep the verse at the top of the page close to your heart.  That's the newness Jesus offers. When we invite Him into our lives we are Born Again. Hear that, please. Not just given a "do over" or another chance. But actually made clean.  All the debris in our lives can be swept away. We can be new.  be forewarned, nowhere does Jesus promise that this is easy, only that it's possible with Him.

  I pray that this New Year brings you a New Hope in the love of Jesus Christ. May you be made new and the debris cleaned from your life.  From behalf of all of us at Trinity, we wish you a most Blessed, and Happy New Year.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

It's Christmas?!

"but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" (Luke 2:10-12)

   Do you have all your shopping done yet? Do you have all your baking done? Is everything ready?  You've probably heard something close to that over the past few weeks.  Are you ready for Christmas?  I know someone, who hen I call them, that is their greeting me. Are you ready for Christmas?

  And on one level there is nothing wrong with that is there? After all the church has been int eh season of Advent. And what is Advent but the season of preparation, getting ready for the celebration of the birth of our Savior?  Is there anything wrong with asking folks if they are ready?

    Perhaps not. But let's be honest. Most of the time when we re asked, or are asking these questions, our minds are far from spiritual things. We are asking about gifts, decorations cookies and candies, pies and getting the house clean for our guests and relatives.

   And the truth is we are never really ready are we? There is always one more gift to pick up. One more thing to do or clean. One more card to write, one more person to visit.  Often when people ask us these questions they fill us more with guilt than with joy. We feel as if we've lowered the bar for Christmas. We aren't ready. We wonder if we'll ever be truly ready for Christmas.

   If that's you, let em let you in on a little secret. Whether you are ready or not, Christmas is coming. You can't stop it. Christmas doesn't care if your cookies are baked. It doesn't care if your carpet gets vacuumed. It doesn't care that all your Christmas cards didn't get written. Christmas will come on Dec. 25th as it always has.

   I don't know about you, but there is something comforting in knowing Christmas  doesn't depend on me or my circumstances. Whether had a good year or a bad one, Christmas will come. Whether I'm spiritually ready or not, Christmas will come.  it's not an excuse to not prepare ourselves. Nor am I suggesting we ever do away with our festivities. Obviously the more prepared we are the more we enjoy the season.

  My point is simply this. Christmas doesn't depend on us. It depends on Jesus. His love for us goes beyond our circumstances. His love and joy come to us, sometimes in spite of our circumstances. Sometimes he surprises us with joy, even when we aren't looking for it.

  So catch  your breath. Don't worry if everything isn't ready. Enjoy the coming of Christmas and a Savior who continues to come even when we aren't ready. 

Merry Christmas,
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

Rejoice?

"Can anything separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:35-39 NLT)

     There are times in life when we come up against an evil so great, tragedy so unthinkable, that words fail us.  They seem inadequate in the face of such unimaginable pain. So it has been for most of us as watched the events unfold around the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut. It quickly went from being their tragedy to being our tragedy. We all grieved, and will continue to grieve for the loss of life. Small towns are supposed to be safe. Children are supposed to be OK. We all know how it works. Those are the rules. What do we do when the rules are suddenly shattered?

     As a pastor, father, grandfather I found myself wondering what would I do if I were in that town and had to lead worship that next Sunday.  Not just any Sunday. An Advent Sunday. Not just any Advent Sunday, but the Sunday we light that odd pink candle. The one that stands for ....joy.  What do you sing on such an Advent Sunday? Did any voices rise singing, Rejoice, Rejoice? "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen?" "Joy To The World?"

   I don't know that any did. Or could. I certainly could not fault them if the candles were not lit and the carols not sung. But I hope they did. I pray that at least one voice sang, one candle of joy was lit. While it may seem impossible to celebrate Christmas in the light of such tragedy, I pray they will. For it was for just such tragedies that Jesus came.

  Christmas reminds us in that on the darkest of nights in the midst of a broken, sin shattered , tear stained world the cry of a baby pierced the darkness.  He did not wait until all was right in the world to come, He came to make the world right. Christmas reminds us God hasn't forgotten us and that all will be redeemed in time.  The virgin birth of Jesus reminds us that hope and joy can come in the most impossible or situations. Even in times like these.

  The cry of the Christ child began to silence all the evil in the world. It is a reminder that evil will not win, that it cannot defeat the love of God. One day evil will be silenced forever.  As surely as the darkness is repelled when we light the Candle of Joy, so will the light of Jesus end the darkness of our world. And we will rejoice.

  Christmas reminds us that Jesus is our Emmanuel. He is with us. It is natural, I suppose, when one hears of such tragedy to wonder where was God? Our Scripture reminds us He was there in the school with His arms around every child. He was there next to every teacher. He is there and weeps with every parent and grandparent and friend who lost someone. Our God is not some dispassionate deity who watches from a distance. No, at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God is with us. As our Scripture reminds us it doesn't mean we will not have incredible pain and loss in life. It does mean we are not alone. God does hear, and loves us.

  We have joy because Christmas in its own way reminds us of our true home in heaven. This evil world is not our home, nor is it the home of these children. They gather around the throne of God and for those who have faith in Christ, they will see them again.

  It is for this reason we should, even in our darkest moments, light the candle of joy. It's why we should sing "Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel has Come To Ransom Captive Israel".  So light the candle and sing the carols. And this year let us do it for those who cannot.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

The Real Church

"For Just As The Body Is One And Has Many Members, And All Are Members Of The Body, So It Is With Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12)

     Have you ever had a caricature done of yourself?  You know, those portraits they do at amusement parks and fairs? A Caricature is usually marked by having a large head and will focus on some prominent feature of a person.  They are overblown in order to embody the person. If someone is known for having slightly larger than normal ears, they are given the ears of Dumbo in the drawing. If you have a prominent jaw it will become four times as large.

  These Caricature can be so popular they actually form the predominate image we have of that person. When Jimmy Carter was in office  he was commonly drawn with a huge smile. That smile became, at the time, synonymous with the person. Jay Leno, wouldn't be Jay Leno if he isn't portrayed with that prominent Jaw.

  I've never had a caricature done of myself, and I'm sure I never will.  Those caricatures are rarely flattering. They often magnify one's worse feature.  I've never seen the value in paying someone to make fun of me.

  Today's Scripture reminds us that the church is the body of Christ.  As we read through this chapter it also becomes clear  this isn't a metaphor or a simile.  Jesus actually sees the church as His body and it's expected to operate that way.

  We may be familiar with this passage or at least the term "The Body Of Christ".  I fear though that many of us when we hear this term have in our heads not a body but a Caricature. We think of the church and we allow a part of the body to take preeminence . It's the feature the church is known by.  For many that's the pastor. Or a popular teacher or leader in the church. Someone who is "on stage" quite a bit. Someone everyone knows.

  But Jesus has a much more balanced understanding of the church. Everyone, all of their gifts, are equally important. The church is not just the pastor. The church is all the people who gave money, took time from work, gave up time with others, to pay and pack 500 boxes for Bethlehem on Broad so families will be able to eat this Christmas. It's the people who came this past week and spent untold hours decorating the church so their church family can celebrate Advent. It's the many folks who will bring flowers to shut ins over the holidays. It's the men and women who regularly gather together to pray for our church.

     It's children who lead us in worship, who acolyte, often trembling for the first time.  Its the middle school kids wanting to visit a friend who is sick. It's the Youth who gave up part of their weekend to buy gifts for someone they didn't know. It's meals cooked and pizzas baked for the hungry. It's the people who greet you at church, who often offer the first kind word some have heard all week. It's the band, and our choirs, who come mostly as volunteers to lead us in worship every week. It's instruments played, bells rung, voices raised.

  It's the person who leaves an endowment to the Foundation for sure. But it's also the child who faithfully brings their quarter every week for Sunday School. The amazing thing is the Angels gather in Heaven and rejoice in both equally.

  It's cards made and sent to lift some one's spirits, its a church family that often beats the clergy to someone hospital bed to pray and visit. It's people who join Stephens Ministry and love others often at some incredibly unlovable moments of life.  It's the arms that gather around the grieving widow or those who lead a grief class. It's adults and youth who both lead an education event.  It's you and me.   That's the church.

  If I missed you, and what you have done in the church, in this blog my apologies. Please accept this today as our thank you for being the church. You don't always get the recognition you deserve. But trust me.  God notices. And he rejoices. And we do as well.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

With Us

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23)

  Social Media has become the current culture's Mark Twain.  No, not in terms of wit or good writing. Only a few minutes in any social media proves that wrong. Mark Twain once responded to rumors that he had died by saying "The reports of my demise has been greatly exaggerated" (my paraphrase).

  So it has been with Social Media. I have read reports for a few years that Social Media is on it's way out. Yet it continues, stronger than ever.  Like a living organism it simply evolves into something else when it has run it's course or popularity. We went from MySpace, to Facebook, to Twitter, to Pinterest in a few short years.  When Pinterest proved especially popular with women, new sites for men such as Manteresting and Dartit were created.

  It's obvious that Social Media in some form is here to stay. It may not be what it is right now, but it's not going away any time soon. Trinity has been exploring how to use Social Media not only to stay connected with our church family, but to use it as an outreach to people all over the world. 

  Those discussions have me wondering what is the appeal? How did Social media become so popular so fast?  I believe it's because we are made to be social creatures.  In the Book of Genesis we are told that humanity was created in the image of God, a God who in the Trinity lives in eternal relationship.  We were meant to live in relationship with others. Our souls will be satisfied with nothing less.

  Yet as our society becomes more private, more fractured we have lost the ability to have relationships. Consider how seldom in a week you have actual contact with a human being. Email doesn't count. As families connections begin to dissolve we find ourselves reaching out for someone, anyone. We've substituted "friendships" with people we don't know, or "follow" people under the false assumption we truly know them and they know us.  Some find affirmation not in meaningful relationship but in sheer numbers of friends or followers. Of course in the end these never satisfy the deep longings of our hearts.  I'm not suggesting that Social Media is bad, far from it. I am suggesting that we can't ask it to do more than it was created to do.

   But there is a relationship that can satisfy every longing and desire of our hearts. As we enter into the first week of Advent, let us never forget that the announcement of the Christ child in Matthew comes with the reminder that we shall call Him "Immanuel, which means God is with Us".  Jesus is not a God who stands far away from us, looking at us dispassionately. No. He loves us, walks with us, cares for us. He lives in the midst of every situation of our lives. He draws little children into His lap, walks on water to be with His friends, trods though the valley of the shadow of death with us.

    In the end, this is the relationship we have been looking for. When we draw near to the one who draws near to us, not only do we find our hearts satisfied, but life becomes balanced. We become better at having relationships as our relationships begin to mirror the one we have with Christ.

   As we celebrate Advent, let us never forget the nature of the one we call Immanuel. God is with you. He loves you  and desires to have a deep, meaningful relationship with you. The best way you can celebrate Advent today is to spend some time with Him.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

What's The Deal?

     "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8)

     The other day one of my kids asked me "Why Do They Call it Black Friday?" I was tempted to answer her that it's because according to many of the blogs, Newspaper articles,  Facebook posts I read Black Friday is one of the most evil of days.

   It's black because  it steals from us our hard earned money as we buy more than we should.  It's black because of how people act when they got out to the stores to get a good deal. Normal nice people trample on one another. There are injuries and death.  It's black because it's evil grows. It has grown into cyber Monday. This year some stores allowed it's blackness to extend even to Thanksgiving Night, threatening to take store workers away from their families.

   I could have said all of this, but I didn't. I gave her the real answer. It's called Black Friday because it's traditionally the first day many stores begin to run "in the black" and make a profit for themselves. That's why they push so hard to get your business because it gives them a larger profit.

   I didn't say all of those other things, because I don't know that the days in and of themselves are evil.  I'm even willing to go out on a limb and say if you are a Christian and participated in Black Friday it's not a sign you have lost your faith. I've been out on a few of them and I've not lost mine. I've had it tested more than a few times, but never lost it.  One could,  I imagine even make the case that one is practicing good stewardship by trying to save some money.

   So if you went shopping over the weekend don't feel guilty.  Just don't ask Black Friday to do more than it should.  It might save you a few dollars, but it won't satisfy your soul.  That's the problem with having things. They promise us the more we have the happier we will be. Therefore the more we get for other people they happier it will make them. But it never seems to work out that way does it? Often having more things just makes us more unhappy. We worry about making payments, about upkeep and maintenance. Just when we should be happy with what we have, somebody comes out with a new version and tells us what we have is obsolete.

   Whenever I see the ads for Black Friday I think of the book of Ecclesiastes, where the author looks at everything in life, including possessions to make him happy and answer the great questions of life.  All leave him unsatisfied.

    If you are looking for the best deal this Christmas Season, might I suggest you look to our Scripture. It says "Taste and See that The Lord is Good".  I love that. God's goodness, His ability to satisfy us, isn't theoretical.  It's real, definable, measurable.  There is a goodness to God that touches all our senses and satisfies our hearts.  This year, don't let Jesus be an afterthought for you. taste and experience His goodness. Pray and worship more. Serve more. enjoy Him more.  Taste and See that he is Good.  It's a deal that will last for eternity.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

GETTING READY

"Without A Vision, The People Perish" (Proverbs 29:18)

  Sometimes everything on the Calendar just falls right where you want it to.  This Thursday is, of course, Thanksgiving and Saturday is, of course, the Ohio State/Michigan game.  Which means by Sunday morning I'll just be coming out of a cholesterol/football coma.  My eyes will be bleary and I'll have gained a few pounds.  And thoroughly enjoyed every part of it.

    Few things rival the week before "The Game" at least in Central Ohio. I assume it's the same thing in Ann Arbor.  The game will be analyzed by every angle. Every sportscaster will get in on the act.  Stores will be selling "game" food and clothing so you can show your loyalty.  The streets will become virtually deserted Saturday when the game starts.  The bad jokes will begin.

   This is not intended to be one of those, "I wish you got as excited about the Church, or Jesus, as you do the game". or "I wish you took your faith as serious as you do the game" messages.  I've never thought guilt was the strongest motivator to get someone excited about Jesus.  It seems to me that the more we walk with Jesus, He does a pretty good job of motivating us Himself.

  Nor do I think we are necessarily being bad Christians because we are excited about the game and want to have a good time.  Laughter and fellowship are usually pretty good things.  So watch the game, eat a few nachos, it's not going to wreck your faith.

  Actually I think "The Game" has something to teach us in the church.  While we begin to get hyped up this week, the team has been preparing all year long  for this moment. Through grueling Spring and Summer workouts, to watching tape of game after game the teams have been getting ready.  The coaches even more so. Countess hours of watching tape, looking at strategy getting every one ready  comes down to that moment.

   It's an incredible amount of work. Why do they do it?  Because if you aren't prepared you can't win.   One needs a goal and needs to intentionally prepare. All the pep rally's and well wishes mean nothing if you haven't prepared yourself for the actual game.

  That's what the author of the Proverbs at the top of the page meant when he wrote, Without a vision, the people perish".  God's people are to have a visions and they are to get ready they are to prepare to accomplish the task God has given them to do. All to often we act as if our spiritual victories are to come from well wishes and hopes. The truth of the matter is that if we do not prepare we cannot reach to gaol of God's vision for us.

    How are we to prepare? How are we to live with some intentionality? The Founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley believed that we best prepare ourselves by attending to certain things in life.  He called the early Methodists to regular worship. Daily Prayer and Scripture reading, Regular attendance at the Lord's Supper.  Meetings with others who would hold one accountable for their faith.  The sue of the gifts and graces to be in mission in the world as much as possible.

   History tells us when the Methodists prepared, God agave them a vision and they changed the world.  I wonder what might happen to us, if we would prepare in the same way? Would God give us a vision? Would we see that vision come to fruition? Would we change the world.  I think we would. God has a vision for you.  How will you get ready?
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

PERSPECTIVE

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.  His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

     A thank you is in order to Gary Brand, and the Generations Council for sponsoring the Trinity movie night last night.  It was a wonderful night of fellowship, food and a movie with an important message.  The movie, entitled "Temple Grandin"  Is the true story of a young woman who not only overcame her Autism to earn a PhD. but learned that her Autism was a gift that enabled her to see the world in ways others could not.

    In one scene, Temple's high school science teacher shows the class an optical illusion and challenges them to come up with how it was done. Almost immediately Temple responds "perspective". The teacher informs her she is correct but then adds another challenge.  Can you repeat the illusion? Can you figure out the perspective?

  In many ways that's the theme of the movie. Perspective. We see the world form temple's perspective, and we see temple form the perspective of others.  To the cattlemen, she is an intrusion.  To the students, she is a freak. To her roommate she is a friend. To her mother she is her daughter whom she will not let be ignored by the world. To her science teacher, and in many ways her Aunt, she is potential. It reminds us that life can be seen from several different perspectives. It's up to us to choose the perspective, the lens, through which we view the world and others.

     I've seen that reminder in a different way the past few weeks. It's a trend I'm seeing in many social media venues. That's surprising as most social media trends tend to be a bit tiresome.  But not this one. Many of my friends have taken "the 30 days of thanks" challenge. Each day they are to list three things they are thankful for.  Each day has a theme so it can be a task.

  It's refreshing to see some good things in social media. Its nice to see people being thankful.  But I think the challenge is designed to teach us perspective. One can look at the world and only see challenges and problems. Or one can look at the worldand see the marvelous grace and blessings of God that are all around us. Do you see your job as a burden, or are you thankful for the blessings of having employment.

  I suspect changing our perspective to seeing blessings, learning to be thankful, has some wonderful benefits.  maybe you should try it. What might happen if you would change your perspective on your world and be thankful?  As we creep closer to the holidays, there is no better time to start.

In Christ,
Dr. Brian Jones <><

What All Means

Shortly before he died, Singer Rich Mullins wrote a song about the infant daughter of a friend. The little girl, Madeline, was born severely handicapped. The Dr wasn't sure that Madeline would survive. In an interview after Rich's death the Madeline's father said that every time Rich would come to their home he would whisper into Madeline's ear.  He asked Rich what was he whispering.  "My prayers". "I believe when Madeline prays she prays for us all"

The notion that a little girl who could not speak, had almost no cognitive ability heard or understood Rich Mullins prayers smacks of sentimentality. Or at least our cynical hearts tell us. How could she possible know what a prayer was, let alone repeat it?

But there is great wisdom in what Mullins did.  I don't think it was sentimental at all. he simply had a good grasp on what the Kingdom of God is all about. In an earthly kingdom only the powerful, the beautiful, the "gifted" can make a difference. In God's Kingdom even those for whom the world has little use can change the world. In fact we have a God who delights in using the least likely people to advance His Kingdom. He uses the murderer Moses, the adulterer David, the persecutor Saul, and the braggadocios Peter. He uses broken vessels like you and me. So why is it so strange to believe the prayers of Madeline could move mountains?

The church is at its best when we remember this.  In the church, in this this little frail microcosm of redemption. everyone has a place. All are loved. All are useful. We are all hampered by something.  For some of us its a physical or developmental difficulty. Some of us are hampered by fear, or guilt or regret. Most of us struggle with sin in some area of our lives. And yet Jesus still has a place for us. He still welcomes us and puts us to work in His Kingdom.

In this Election Week it's easy to believe that power lies with the charismatic, the wealthy, the well known. But the Bible tells us all of that will pass away. I for one am thankful that in the end my allegiance lies in a Kingdom where the prayers of the Madeline's of the world still make a difference.
If you would like to hear Madeline's song, cut and paste the link provided below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTwjsorzNz4

In Christ
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

Why Culture Matters

"In The Beginning, God Created.." (Gen 1:1)

   Sometimes we are asked questions that haunt us over the years, even if we cannot remember the exact context of the conversation. I remember reading such a question many years ago. It stayed with me over the years, although I cannot remember exactly where I found it.

   The question was this: "We read in Genesis that God created.... well everything.  But how do you think he did it? When he created daises, did he just crate all of them at once, or did He make a daisy and then in joy, shout again. And then made another one and shouted AGAIN, over and over?" I suspect it was the latter.

  Sometimes we can get so left brained when we read Scripture, so linear and logical, that we miss the thread of joy that runs through it.  I believe that when God created the heavens and the stars he did so with glee. He created each flower with joy. And that's how He created you and I. It's good for us to remember that no matter the history of our birth, we cause Him joy.

  Why does all of this matter? Because Genesis also teaches us we were made in God's image.  We were made to be creative and to do it with joy.  This is why culture and the Arts matter in the church. When we are creative and give those gifts to God with joy we are in touch with God's image in us.

  That's easy to see when we hear Bach or Handel.  Or when we look at the images in the Sistine Chapel. But it's also true when we read the lyrics of Contemporary artists such as Chris Tomlin or David Crowder. When we create we reflect God's image. And we touch the hearts and imagination of others with the Gospel. It enables them to see and hear God in ways that go beyond a Sunday School Lesson or Bible study. Of course the studies are needed. At best they work hand in hand.

  This is why encouraging Art and Music in the local church is so important. When we allow someone to sing, play an instrument, put their art in the art gallery we are allowing them to use their gifts to glorify God. And it allows them to point the way to the Father of all creation and to Jesus.

  One of the things I love about Trinity is that it allows everyone to use their gifts. Children display their art work, they participate in Children's sabbath. The Youth often sing or play in the Praise Band.  When we do this  we affirm their gifts and talents. We say to them "You are an important part of our ministry." We teach them that what is done in joy to God, even if not perfect, can be a blessing to others.

 So today as you sing in the car, write a note or poem,  take a picture, even sketch something solely to amuse yourself in a meeting may you hear the delight in the voice of God as He whispers to you "Again"

in Christ,
Dr. Brian Jones

 

Who Is Your Jesus?

There are certain scenes in movies that never fail to get a laugh, or at least a smile from me, when I see them. One of these is the "Grace Scene"  in the movie Talledega Nights. (Please note this is in no way a recommendation of the movie, nor do I approve of much of the subject matter. )

In this scene the family gathers for a meal and the race car driver, Ricky Bobby, leads his family grace by praying to the "Baby Jesus".  When his father in law protests that Jesus was a man, Ricky simply replies "It's my prayer, and I like the Baby Jesus best"  This quickly disintegrates into a discussion of how everyone has their own favorite way to picture Jesus, and what Jesus they like the best.

Certainly it's played for humor, but it's not so far off the mark is it? Many of us have a preferred Jesus. Sometimes it is the cuddly non threatening  Baby Jesus. After all a Baby Jesus makes us all warm and fuzzy, but doesn't demand much sacrifice from us. We prefer the Jesus that welcomes children rather than the one who tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. We prefer the Jesus who says "He who is without sin, cast the first stone" (John 8:7) over the Jesus that over turns the tables in the temple driving out people with a whip in His hand.

The truth is the real Jesus we see portrayed in the Gospels is much more unsettling than we might think. He is both loving and demanding. He is both gentle and able to stand up to the religious leaders of His day. He can both cast out demons and calm storms with one word, and remain silent as He goes to the Cross.

That's the Jesus we all need. Because that's a Jesus who is willing to calm us in our weakest moments, and call us to Holiness.  That's what it's really all about after all isn't it? It's not about making Jesus into our image, but allowing Him to transform us into His. 

In Christ, 

Dr. Brian Jones