Jesus Is The Reason For What Season?

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

     It's natural for us to become a bit reflective when we reach this time of year.  One year begins to wind down as the new year beckons us with all sorts of possibility.  We look back at the good and the bad. Joy and regret.

  I guess that's why I am feeling a bit reflective as I look back over our Christmas season this year. I hope that Christmas brought you much joy and space as you celebrated the birth of Christ.   The joy of worship, family and friends, laughter and food reminded me of how blessed we all are.

  But I was also struck at just how polarizing Christmas is.   Oh not the day itself but the word Christmas.  Every year it seems we gather  into battle over wishing someone, or not, a Merry Christmas.  Those who are not of the Christian faith take expectation that they are wished a Meryl Christmas. Schools now have winter celebrations instead of Christmas parties.

  And of course we in the church are just as bad.  Heaven help the person who makes the mistake of wishing  the faithful "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. And never, ever, ever use Xmas instead of Christmas.  We don't care how many cards you have to write or that you were running out of room. You don't take Christ out of Christmas. Why you might as well just sign the cards with 666!

  This debate has been going on for years.  I had a conversation with a dear saint twenty years ago and she was lamenting that she as having a hard time finding Christmas cards at the local store.  she found plenty of "holiday" cards but not Christmas. And she wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

   As I reflect on it, it occurs to me that we, at least in the church are missing the point. I'd have to say I don't car what  you say to me. Wish me a Merry Christmas. I'm a Christian and that's what I celebrate. Wish me Happy Holidays. Holiday comes from Holy Days. I'm OK if you hope I have happy Holy Days.  And you can write Xmas all you want on any card you send me.  the X originally stood for the Greek Letter CHI, used for the first two letters of the word  Christ.  I guess I just don't care what you say.

  Now please understand I'm all for keeping Christ in Christmas.  And I firmly believe  "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season" I even have a mug that says so.  But shouldn't keeping Christ in Christmas mean more than  what we write on a card? We keep Christ in Christmas by keeping Christ in our selves.

    What takes Christ out of Christmas is when we have an un-Christlike attitude. When we are caught up in the greed and avarice of the world, when we react with hate or bigotry, when we become self centered. When we allow our sinful natures to take over and indulge in every  whim and impulse. That's what takes Christ out of Christmas.  If we want to keep Christ in Christmas, maybe we should be more intentional about being more like Christ. 

  The way to keep Christ in Christmas is to make Jesus the reason for every season. We need to show the world the transformational power of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let's shows the world the reason we celebrate Christmas is because Jesus has entered our lives and saved us, changed us.  Let's be as loving and caring of others mid summer as we are on Christmas Eve.  Let's endeavor to make Peace on Earth not what we put on a card, but how we live with our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers.  Maybe the rest of the world would sing Joy To The world if we were a little more joyful to be around.

  As we stand on the cusp of the new year, my prayer is that I will allow others to see Christ in me just as easily in the spring as hopefully they do at Christmas. That I will be just as concerned with keeping Jesus in front of others in the summer as I am  during Advent.  That I will live my life in a way that causes others to marvel at God's love in the fall as much as on Christmas day. Here's hoping that every day of your new year will be happy, Holy days.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

A Little Christmas

 

^" Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."  Isaiah 7:14

   I  spent the morning having a tire checked for a leak with a local mechanic.  It wasn't going to take long so I sat down in the lobby to wait. My intent was to get any work done while waiting. However it became obvious this wasn't going to happen, given the cell phone conversations going on around me.  I am not, by nature, an eavesdropper, but  they made it difficult not to be drawn into their conversations.

  One lady, in particular, spent the entire time I was there talking to people about her flooded basement. It seems her sump pump chose this past weekend to go out. A heavy snow fall, followeed by unseasonably warm weather that melted all of the snow in a few hours, plus a long torrential down pour has caused a lot of flooding.  

  Apparently this woman owned a home with a beautiful finished basement.  Or at least she did.  Now that it was flooded the beauty was lost.  While I did my best not to listen to the details, it became obvious  just how much this had changed her plans. You try getting an insurance agent in to look at things two days before Christmas. She called family telling them she couldn't hold Christmas at her house, she called others trying to  make arrangements for people to stay elsewhere. She  called companies to come and clean up her basement. 

  Having lived in areas that received frequent flooding before,  was sympathetic to eh plight.  Floods are difficult to deal with the water goes everywhere. I damages flooring and walls, carpets it destroys memories as heirlooms and photographs are damaged.  If the oncoming water doesn't do enough damage, the left over moisture in the walls will cause rot, mold and mildew.  When a flood comes everything is affected by it.  

     It's not that water is a bad thing.  It's a very good thing. We need it to subversive. We like enough to drink water our lawns keeps our food growing. We like water, at least in small doses. We just don't want too much of it.

  I thought about that as I returned to my office and heard this Christmas song playing "For We Need A Little Christmas, Right this very Minute"  Do you know it?  It's a catchy tune. Nice little song. Not terribly religious or Christian. But certainly harmless.  It's also hard to get out of your head. For to those of you who will be humming the tune for the rest of the day, I apologize.

  But as I hummed the song in my office, it occurred to me just how right it is.  That's what we all want. A little Christmas.  Because a little Christmas is a good thing. We like a little break. We want enough Christmas so we can get a few days off work. We want just enough so we can have an excuse to get together with family and friends. Have a nice party.  Just enough Christmas  to get and give some presents.  Its a nice excuse to light up the home and feel a little festive. We even like a little Jesus. Cute baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. Peace on Earth because well, babies are peaceful (Unless of course you have babies in your house. Babies bring a lot of things into one's life incl ding  joy. Peace is rarely one of them).

  We want  a little bit of Christmas, but t not to much. I dont' want so much  Christmas it might cause me to really think about what it means to have God born in flesh.  I don't want so much Jesus and Christmas that I'm reminded the whole incarnation was part of the process to destroy my sins on the Cross. I don't' want so much Christmas that the ramifications of a real personal God  actually changes the way I think and live. Changes my framework of how I understand the world.  Change... well... me.

  In short I want a little bit of Christmas, I just don't want a flood of Jesus affecting everything in  my life.  Of course the problem is this. God doesn't want to give you just a little bit of Himself. he doesn't want you to have just a little bit of Jesus. He wants to flood  your life with Him.   There  is a reason why Jesus is called Immanuel, God with us.  Not a little bit of God near us for  a few days, or just 24 hours. But God Al that God is with us.  Jesus came to flood our souls with His love, with His presence. 

  What might happen his year if instead of just having a "little Christmas" you actually allowed Jesus to flood your life? If you allowed Him to flood your lifer with His love so that love we carried with you all year?  Peace on Earth would become more than just a nice sentiment on a Christmas  card. It could become a reality for you. And who doesn't need more peace?  God will to others? Who wouldn''t want to be able to look at others and love them  and not be soured on life? Joy to The World" It becomes less a song and more the foundation which you operate in the world.

  The more I think about it, what we need is not a little Christmas. We need a flood of Christmas a deluge of the Christ child in our lives.  This year may your life be flooded with the presence of the one we call Immanuel. 

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

Is Jesus Ruining Christmas?

"but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" 1 Corinthians 1:23

   ESPN recently got themselves into hot water, again, for refusing to show a commercial from a Catholic Hospital that mentioned Jesus. You can imagine the shock of the ESPN sensors when they heard the name of Jesus mentioned at Christmas time. They refused to show the  commercial because they felt the mention of Jesus "might be problematic."

  While ESPN has since reversed that decision and are airing the commercial, it did flame the fires of the Christmas vs. Holiday feud. Evey year I heart people who are angry that the word Christmas issued, or not. They are upset their kids get a winter break or have holiday parties. And I've seen umpteen pleads from folk on my Facebook page to 'Keep Christ In Christmas" 

   While I'm all for "keeping Christ in Christmas" I can't help but wonder if ESPN isn't on to something.  When it comes to Christmas Jesus is problematic.  In fact there are times when I wonder if Jesus isn't in some ways ruining Christmas.

  Without Jesus, I am free to go on a Credit card melting spending spree with little regard for the homeless man who sits outside of Walmart asking for money so he can eat.  In fact without Jesus I can even be a bit put off by his behavior.   Without Jesus I dont' have to worry about  the consequences of unbridled avarice. Oh I might feel a bit nauseous when the credit card bill comes in January, but I don't' worry about what it might do to my soul.  And I certainly don't think about any affluence infection I might pass on to my children.

   Without Jesus I can wish for Peace on Earth, Odd Will to All People,without ever really experiencing it to happen.  And I never wonder at the hypocrisy of singing "God Rest Ye Merry gentlemen" while shaking my fist at the person who cut me off and took the last parking space at the mall. Peace is a wonderful idea, but as long as Jesus doesn't interfere I don't have to ask what ti has to do with me.

  Without Jesus Christmas becomes a time of  Good will and warm fuzzy thoughts that surround a man woman and child who couldn't find room in the Comfort Inn Bethlehem. Its a nice story of how a family births a baby amidst soulful looking animals and some shepherds. You even get an angel or two flying over. And really doesn't it all work out in the end? You can make a case that once is all said and done Mary and Joseph make out OK.  They end up with some Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh after all.  All expensive gifts.

  I don't have to think how Jesus asks me if in the midst of a busy Christmas season if I've made room for Him in my heart. I'm busy (I'm a pastor and it's Advent after all) I don't have the time, or the desire for a guilt trip. without Jesus I don't' have to worry about it. And I certainly don't have to think how those Expensive gifts were also a foreboding of the death and burial of Jesus. 

  No give me those warm and fuzzy feelings that only last a week or two.  I don't want to think about how how the Christmas story isn't necessarily supposed to make me feel god, but to be the beginning of a transforming relationship where I becoming more like Christ, a transformation by the way that is not always pleasant to experience.

  No the more I think about it. Maybe Jesus is problematic when it comes to thinking about Christmas.  Because the incarnation changes everything. That homeless person becomes my brother for whom, if Jesus is right, I will be questioned about his care when Jesus returns. That whole sheep and goats thing, where my eternity hinges on how I love others, is a bummer.

 When Jesus enters the picture I see that peace is possible, but that it will begin with me. I have to turn the other cheek. In fact Jesus' entire Sermon on the Mount tells me that being nice (we won't even get into who defines that!) for two weeks before a Holiday doesn't cut it. He demands I live a different life and makes it possible.

With Jesus, I don't' even get the warm and fuzzies. He reminds me that the love, compassion true joy of Christmas can be mine. But hey are only mine because of His sacrifice, death and resurrection. And if I am ever to experience that joy he expects me to be transformed, to sacrifice, die and be born again just like Him. After all He tells us to pick up our cross.  He didn't mean carry a burden or the Christian Life is heavy.  When you carry a cross there is only one logical conclusion. Death. The joy, peace, hope of Christmas aren't well wishes, they are a reality for us who live in Christ. But that transformation will only come as we die to ourselves and live toward Jesus.

So I'm not going to judge ESPN too harshly this year. They are right. Jesus is problematic. He is a problem. A wonderful ,powerful incarnational, incomparable problem! and I, for one, am glad.
  
Continue a Joyous Advent. The Problematic King of Kings is coming.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
 

World Changer

"This will be a sign for you; you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth lying in a manger" (Luke2:12)


  The headline on Twitter read: " UFC Champion Ronda Rousey named as a person who will change the world" For those not in the know, UFC stands for the Ultimate Fighting Challenge". It is the premier organization that oversees Mixed Martial Art competitions.  For those further not in the know Mixed Martial Arts consists of striking and grappling techniques. One can win by being ahead on pints or a knockout just like boxing, or if ones opponent submits and taps out (either tapping their opponent or the ground several times).

   And Ronda Rousey is at the top of the heap. She is the first women's champion. She is undefeated in her fights.  Her mother was a champion competitor in Judo. Rousey herself is not only a national champion in Judo but also won a bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics. She was one of, if not the first, US Woman to medal in the sport.

  When you are first in a sport, and can maintain a high level of success fame and fortune come your way.  That's just how it is. Ms. Rousey enjoys lucrative endorsement deals, appeared as a coach in a popular television show and will be in a movie this coming summer.

  And I certainly wish her all the best. She is an entertaining fighter.  I like to watch her fight. But world changer? I suppose you can make a case that she has opened a path way for other women in her sport. But world  changer?  I wondered how someone who fights for a living and bread and butter move is to bend other people's arms into unnatural positions can change the world. It makes me wonder if  we have either lifted the power of athletes and athletics to a too high position or if we have lowered the bar of what it would take to truly change the world.  Probably a little bit of both.

     We have a tendency to believe those who are famous have some sort of mysterious power to actually effect and change the world around us.  Many years ago it was fairly common to see movie stars address congress because they had played a certain role in a movie. If a move dealt with  an issue congress was debating you could rest assured that the star would be there to testify.  Of course it's absurd, but hardly anyone batted an eye Why? They are famous therefore they can change the world. And we certainly do this with athletes as well.

  I also think we have lowered the bar as to what it means to change the world.  Almost any technology that comes out is touted as something that will revolutionize and change the world (Segway anyone?).  I don't question that much technology has changed the way we do certain things in the world. But has it really changed the world?  We haven't even begun to look at if those changes are good or bad.

     The problem of course is that  while people and things can change a part of the world, people fall out of popularity and some day pass away. every technological advance becomes old and useless at some point. And yet we still seem to have a hope that the world can change.  We have a dream that eh world can be different. Where will we find someone who truly changes the world?

  We find Him, oddly enough in a manger over 200 years ago. There in that dirty stall the Incarnation was witnessed. God laid aside His heavenly glory and was born into the world. Jesus of Nazareth. The Messiah, the Christ, The Son of God. The Lamb who would take away the sin of the world.  He would receive no lucrative endorsement deal and would be abandoned by his friends a few short hours before His crucifixion.  His death destroyed the power of sin His resurrection that first Easter morning destroyed the power of death.  Anyone with a relationship with Jesus can live a life free from the power of sin and the fear and power of death.  That's world changing.

  But consider how small it began. Oh momentous to us as Christians. But the birth of Jesus went unnoticed by those who lived in Rome.  Why most of the good people of Bethlehem missed it as well. While we get caught up in what happens on Good Friday, I doubt many beyond Jerusalem and Judea took notice when Jesus was crucified.  The Romans crucified a lot of people.

  Its a good reminder that When God sets out to change the world, its not always noticeable by the powers that be.  Its not usually done by those in power or by the celebrities of the day.  And yet God sues them to change the world every day as he continues His work of redeeming our world. Who are the world changers today? Not the star athlete, but the volunteer who gave up four hours on a Saturday night to ring bells for the Salvation Army. Its eh child who buys an extra toy to give to a toy drive. Its the parent who read a Bible Story to their children last night.  It's that dear saint who has taught Sunday School for the past thirty years and never had a class of more than five kids. It's the wife who prays for her husband's salvation. Its the husband praying for his wife as she leaves for deployment over seas to serve her country.

  Every day you and I have the opportunity to change the world. Everyday we are given a chance to share the incarnation of Jesus with someone. Please don't pass them by because you think either the gesture is too small, or you are too small in the grand scheme of things.  If Christmas teaches us Scythian it teaches us that God often changes the world through the smallest moments.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

A prayer for the beginning of Advent

This beautiful prayer comes to us from the Society of St. Andrew, an ecumenical organization dedicated to eradicating hunger, in the United States and worldwide. Lord, come to us.

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

We pray together: 

Loving and compassionate God, I pray today, anticipating your coming again into the world as a child in Bethlehem’s manger. I seek you. I need you in so many ways in my life. Lord, come to us.

I think of areas of strife in this world, and I look for your coming as Messiah, ushering in a new kingdom, where your love will reign supreme; a new kingdom, where there will be no war, fighting, or injustice; a new kingdom, where all people will know your love. Lord, come to us.

I think of people I know who feel far from you this day, and I look for your coming as Savior, rescuing them (and me) from worry, loneliness, desperation, sadness, sin, and fear; giving them (and me) faith, courage, and hope. Lord, come to us.

I think of those needing certainty and direction in their lives, and I look for your coming as King, establishing law, tempered with justice and love. I look for your coming as Lord, focusing their searching and bringing them under your care. Lord, come to us.

I remember the children of the world who so need role models, and I look for your coming as Son of God, showing them (and me) daily what you are like, and how they (and I) may live obediently and do your will. Lord, come to us.

I remember those dear to me, suffering this day in body or in spirit, and I look for your coming as Son of Man, suffering alongside and willingly giving your life for them. I look for your coming as Miracle Worker, touching broken lives and bodies, making them whole once again. Lord, come to us.

Gracious and glorious God of many names, I need you breaking into my life again, reminding me of promises made and promises fulfilled. Be born in and through me in this Advent season as I seek your will. Lord, come to us.

In the name of the Savior who was and is and is to come, I pray: Lord, come to us. Amen.

_________________________________________________________________

 You may wish to feed your spiritual hunger during the weeks leading up to Christmas with these daily devotions from Society of St. Andrew. Subscribe here. May God’s light shine brightly through you in this holy season.

The Longest Season

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors" (Luke 2:13-14)


    The Christmas Season has become almost as long as the Hockey Season.  It seems like we just finished up last Christmas, (or at least got the Christmas bills paid) and it's on us again.  Now it may be that some of that is simply perceptual and  time just seems to fly by in life.  But as I look around I'm not so sure.

  Our retails stores begin celebrating Christmas mid summer with Christmas in July. Then the displays begin to crop up late September, to early October.  Macy's tells us the Christmas Season officially begins when Santa is sen in his sleigh during the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Which says something about our culture in the United States when we allow a department store to dictate to us when the Christmas season beings.

  And we buy into it. We've moved from Black Friday to Thanksgiving evening with the early Christmas sales.  Millions of people leaving their  families, shaking off the tryptophan stupor in order to get the good discounts. There were this year, as there are every year reports of peel tramping one another fist fights and this year the introduction of pepper spray. can you imagine trying to by a sweater and some sweet looking octogenarian pepper sprays you because she is planing on buying that sweater for her granddaughter/ It happens.

  The television stations get in on the act as well. First came the "25 Days Of Christmas", a  modern day prepacked Advent calendar of cartoon, movie and Christmas specials.  But apparently that's not enough.  This year they  had a 25 day countdown to the 25 days of Christmas.  It's only time before ted Turner has a 365 days of Christmas which will begin with a 24/7 showing of the Christmas Story every day for six months straight.

  If we were to look at the world we would have the impression Christmas is about buying and giving presents and the more we buy and give the better. It's about the Grinch, The Kranks skipping Christmas, the Griswold's incredible light display, and a hundred just awful Hallmark Christmas movies that tell us  Christmas is about snow , lost love found, happy children and curmudgeonly old men. All who somehow discover the "meaning of Christmas"

  If we were to believe the world the meaning of Christmas lies in presents, crowded malls, rude drivers in the parking lot. its about taking your lights outside while bringing a tree inside your house. its about a green monster who has tries to steal Christmas by taking stuff but realizes you just can't squelch that darn Who-ville Christmas spirit.

  Please don't get me wrong. I like presents, both receiving and giving.  I like Christmas lights and Christmas cookies, Charlie Brown's little tree and the Grinch's too small heart.  I'm just suggesting that these things alone are not the way I want to begin the Christmas season.

  Rather I prefer what happened in millions of churches across the globe this past Sunday.  Someone, a pastor, a child, a family, lit a candle for the first Sunday of Advent. Just that just one candle. Oh there may have been a devotion or a Scripture read. it may have been an object lesson in a Children's Message. But it was just one small candle.

   That candle reminds me of the birth of Jesus. So easy to miss in the hustle and bustle of Bethlehem. And really what's the big deal? Just one more poor young mother having a baby in less than ideal circumstances. But in that moment in the darkness of the world the small cry of a baby shouted to the world the light of the world had come. He who would free us form sin, shatter the power of death, and  break the gates of Hell had been born.

  It's that one light that gives me hope. Not the shopping, the crowds, the tinsel or wreath. But the light of Christ being born in my heart again in-this season.   I hope if you have been in a dark place lately you will allow the light of Jesus into your heart and world. Because that, indeed is something to celebrate all year round.

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

Single Minded

"Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." (James 1:8)

  I want to offer my apologies to Mayor Rob Ford.   If you have somehow missed the Rob Ford phenomena, you can look up the current mayor of Toronto on any web browser. There will be plenty of articles and video clips of his antics.  If you do view any of the videos, I would encourage you to make sure the little ones are out of the room.  And probably your Grandmother. And pretty much everyone else. In fact maybe just don't watch the videos at all.

  The Mayor has, in the past few weeks, admitted he smoked crack cocaine, but was probably in a drunken stupor when he did it, been accused of making sexually aggressive remarks to women (which he denied by making a crass and sexually aggressive comment about his wife) gotten in shoving matches, and last week knocked down a 60 year old woman.  Which to him wasn't that big a deal because "I picked her back up."

   I mentioned him in this past weeks sermon.  I brought up the fact that despite all of these things happening, Ford remains fairly unrepentant about his actions and sees no reason as to why he should step down from being the Mayor of Toronto.   He feels he is doing a good job, and his private persona should have no bearing on his public persona.  I mentioned that he probably has a different definition of what it means to be good and effective than many of us do.

  And I don't apologize for what was said.  But I do apologize for making it seem as if Ford is a singular case.  The truth is many of us, perhaps even the majority of people live as Ford does. Hopefully no in a drunken, crack riddled stupor. But many people live two separate lives. There is the life we allow the world to see and the inner life that we hide from everyone.  There is the person we are in front of the world and the person we are when no one sees us.

   We appear one way to the world. good upstanding, kind people. But inside we are ravaged by sinful thoughts, and actions. We say one thing and we do another. There is the person we would like to be, or at least the person we hope everyone thinks we are, and the person we truly are.  At best we hope to keep them in some sort of balanced stasis.

  It would be easy, I suppose to simply say we are hypocrites. but I'm not sure that's a fair labeling.  Most of us truly want to be that good person. We want tobe holy. We don't wish to be controlled by our sins.  We don't like the fact we are dishonest and often selfish and self centered.

  Such a person is, as James says double minded.  The word originally used here could be defined as having two minds or even two souls. I think that hits it pretty well. Ever feel as if you are of two minds. or even two souls? The person you want to be wrestles with the person you don't want to be? How many times have we echoed Paul's anguish from Romans 7 "I do the things I don't want to do, and do the things I don't want to do"? I see no hypocrisy in Paul statement. He truly wants to be good.  But he finds himself unable to do it.

  So if we are all like this, is it that big of a deal? Frankly, yes it is.  Look again at what James says. A person who is of two minds (or souls) is unstable.  Remember when we talk about having that stasis, where we try to keep thw two persons we are balanced? James reminds us we can't do it.  It just doesn't take much to tip us out of balance. And we find yourselves back where we were. We are not nearly as balanced as we think.

  But more importantly it's accepting less than what God wants for us.  When we read Jesus' sermon on the Mount He gives us a great promise that we don't have to live a life of two minds.  We can live with a consistency of inward and outward holiness. We can, in short, live a life of consistency.

  In this day and age I can think of no greater witness to the truth of the claims of the Gospel than living a life so different from everyone else. Not in a "holier than thou" attitude, but living a life so full of God's love and grace that we are of one mind, the mind of Christ.  The church needs a better message than simply "I'm not perfect just forgiven". The world longs for a witness of personal holiness where the church, in all joy and Milty, lives out a consistent faith in the midst of the world.

  The truth of this first warmed my heart to our Wesleyan theological heritage.  It was Wesley's emphasis on a personal holiness that could change the world around us that captured the hearts of the people of Great Britain. It was this promise ,and the evidence of it lived out, that swept like a wildfire though early America. And it is an emphasis on such a life that could capture us again.  Open minds and open hearts makes for a nice advertising campaign. One mind and heart, the mind and heart of Jesus living within us could change the world.

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

Subcontracting The Church

1 Peter 2:5  You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be  a holy priesthood,  to offer spiritual sacrifices  acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Being a part of a church building program is equal parts joy, excitement, exasperation and stress.   The joy and excitement comes from the fact you are building. You are doing something new. And you are probably doing it because the church is growing.  That's always exciting.

  

But of course new things also cause stress. And if you have ever been a part of a building project you know how hard it can be.  If not, simply take your issues and stress from building or renovating your home and magnify them a hundred times or so. 

I've heard that in 2 years after a building program is completed the pastor usually has to move. I don't know how accurate that is, but it wouldn't surprise me.  Working with different groups., trying to tie everyone together, articulating the vision, trying to figure out how it's all going to be paid for, filtering a hundred voices who have better ideas or complaints is a daily occurrence. And that's tacked on to your daily ministerial duties.

As Rosanne Rosannadanna said "It's always something."  I clearly remember driving into the church parking lot during a church build.  I noticed an odd metal column sticking out of the top of the church.  When I asked the senior minister what it was, he said, in a very glum voice "Its the shaft of the elevator to the second floor."  I pointed out to him that the church had decided not to build the second floor so the elevator would go nowhere. He said, "I know.  But someone failed to let the subcontractor know the plans had changed."

That's the danger when you subcontract a project out. You may no be assured of the working on the same blueprints your build is not going to go well.  This is a rule do thumb that not only works for the building of a church structure, but in the building of the church universal made of of, as Peter says, "the living stones" of the Body of Christ."

One of the current trends I'm seeing in the church in the United States today is the tendency to subcontract our faith away from the local church.  Many Christians are members of a local church and that's where they do their Sunday morning worship. But they subcontract their youth's spiritual formation to local parachurch fellowship groups that have no local church affiliation.  They subcontract out their own discipleship not to small groups in the church  but to small groups or bible studies made up of  people of various faith backgrounds and experiences. We subcontract out or missions to local charities often with a donation given at work.

Before I continue, let me be clear I am NOT anti-bible study or small group or youth fellowship that have no local church affiliation.  It's fine if you wish to participate.  Nor is this a plea to have the local church have control over your life. But I do have a concern if this is the steady diet of one's discipleship.  There are some dangers in the subcontracting of our faith we need to take into account.

1)  Theology matters. Reformed, Catholic, Calvinist and Wesleyan-Armenian, all Christian theologies have  certain accents and emphasis. What one believes and why they believe it affects our daily life and our world view more than you might think.  If you get a United Methodist perspective on Sunday, and a completely opposite view or belief on Monday night, what is one to believe?  

2) A loss of our theological distinctives and heritage. This is sort of a subset for #1.  But most United Methodists can't tell you what the distinctives of their faith are.  Yes, sometimes that's our fault as the local church. But for many, it's a result of subcontracting our their faith.  It does your local church no good to have a class on UM beliefs if you don't attend because you are getting your Bible Study elsewhere.

3) Many will argue that it's good to be exposed to various viewpoints and theologies.  I won't disagree. But I wonder if this is actually happening.  For the most part, we tend to surround ourselves with people who look like us and act like us and have the same thoughts, values and demographics While the church certainly can appear segregated, this is much worse in small parachurch groups.  You tend to get together with people who are just like you.  Again, I'm not saying we should never be a part of these groups but, if it's your steady diet, what will happen? In the church we see a much larger spectrum of backgrounds, demographics, etc. 

4) When it's uncomfortable, there is no reason to stay. It's small group. You are there voluntarily. If you don't like it, you don't have to come. If someone makes you angry or hurts your feelings, you can leave, or tell them off and then leave. We don't have that option in the church. We are a family.  We may disagree, and maybe even tell one another off. But we also have to worship together, send our children to children's choir together. We actually have to practice what we preach about love and forgiveness. 

5.)  We pass on our subcontracting behavior to our youth and children. If you think this is difficult for adults, it's much more difficult for our youth. They haven't formed a strong faith based world view yet. Getting twenty different views is even more difficult for them.  All we mentioned before is magnified for them: the cliquishness, the ability to walk away. And do any of us really believe if our youth aren't guided to be a part of a church Sunday School or youth group that, when they become adults, it will simply magically happen? There is a reason why Proverbs tells us to "train up a child in the way they should go." (Proverbs 22:6)

6) The perpetuation of a consumer mentality. Again you are drawn to what you like, or your kids like. And, if they or you don't like it, you leave and look for something else.  The church teaches us it's not always about our needs. Sometimes we are a part of things because it benefits others -- or we do it to please God. It doesn't always have to be about us. And if our needs aren't being met in the local church, at some point shouldn't we ask why not?  How can I help my church reach more people, or touch more lives, rather than look elsewhere?

I realize this blog post may run the risk of looking too inward, or whining and complaining about "outside" groups. And that's okay. It's not my intention. My hope is that, at the very least, we will take  a serious look at how our spiritual formation takes place. That we should first look to Christ's established institution, the church, before we look outside. So that, in the end, we, and the future generations of the church, aren't buildings with elevators that go nowhere.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

You Got To Serve Somebody

He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25)


OK, let's admit it. There are times when you are in line at the supermarket and you glance over at the tabloids.  I'm not saying you buy them, or even pick them up to read. But you glance at the cover. You probably chuckle at the headlines "Mutant Bat Baby found in the Ozarks."

We chuckle at these, shake our heads, and go on.  We don't really believe them.  They are beyond the realm of reality. I can remember being in line with my mother 40 years ago and they were trying to catch the Bat Baby then. Even given a different rate of maturity, surely the Mutant Bat baby would have reached some sort of Bat pubescence by now.  My thought process on this has probably gone much farther than yours. Why? Because we know one cannot believe the things we see on these tabloid fronts.  And, while amusing, we don't read them, even if we want to.

Which is what makes the Internet so convenient. We can, in the privacy of our own homes, read all sorts of fantastic statements purporting to be true. And, for some odd reason, because they come to us in an email, or on a website, we are willing to believe them. Of course most of them end up being no more true than the bat baby.  But every now and then one of those bizarre stories ends up being true.

I was sent this article the other day, stating there is an Atheist MegaChurch out there. Yep, a large church for people to gather and worship who don't believe in God.   Here is the link:
 http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ATHEIST_MEGACHURCH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-10-17-03-15

When I first read it, it seemed to belong in the bat baby realm. Really? A church full of people who don't believe in God?  At best I thought it a joke, a way to poke fun at the church. And maybe it started out that way. But if you read the article, it's clear the people are sincere in what they do.

I don't want to spend time today talking about atheist vs. Christian. Rather than look at what they are doing, it may be more helpful to ask ourselves why are they doing it?  Why would a group of people who don't believe in God  gather like this?

If we are to believe the Scriptures it makes perfect sense why they do this. We have been created by God for worship.  It's a part of our spiritual DNA. We were created to worship and give God glory.  And it doesn't mater whether we believe in God or not, that need will manifest itself somehow.  Every human will find something to worship. For we Christians it's in the Triune God. For the atheist it's themselves, or humanity,  or some personal moral code.  SO if we were made by a God who is from eternity in community (The Trinity) and made to worship, isn't it the most natural thing for us to wish to gather together and look to something beyond ourselves to help us make sense of the world?

So how then are we more right then they are? We could give a lot of logical arguments as to why we believe in Jesus over a "moral code" or humanism.  But to me the best argument is the argument of  the blind man in our Scripture. Jesus heals the man and when questioned by the Pharisees, the man's answer is in essence this: "Here's all I know. I was blind and now I see. I believe because Jesus changed me."

That's why I worship Jesus. Beyond the logic and reason, such as what we find in C. S. Lewis's "Mere Christianity," I believe because I am different than I was before I met Jesus. My life took a different path. And, while not yet perfect, I have more love than I did before I met Him. I have been changed in my mind and heart in ways I would never have accomplish on my own.

But let's not yet be to harsh on the atheists. At times we have more in common with them then we care to admit.  Sometimes even good church goers forget who they are supposed to worship. We come to church on Sunday. But we worship money, or power or fame. We worship youth or we worship lust.  We worship things and heaven help us at times we worship ourselves. Where we attend church may not be the best indicator of who holds our heart.

Who do you have more in common with, the atheist, or the man given his sight?  Bob Dylan was right when he sang "You Got To Serve Somebody." Everyone is created with a need for worship. Will you worship the things that are empty and will pass away, or worship the One who is eternal? As for me, I choose to worship the One who has changed me and continues to change me. What are you going to do?

  In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

Eyes Everywhere

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

"I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me" (Rockwell)

For those of you who remember this song from the '80's or its incessant playing on MTV I apologize that it's now running through your head. A couple of disclaimers. First, to the younger generation, let me explain that at one time MTV played music videos instead of awful reality shows about people showing you how awful they were. Secondly if you don't know the song, be thankful. I pulled it up on Spotify while writing this in order to make sure I remembered it correctly. I did. And there is little wonder why people make fun of the 80's.

But for all of that, who knew that Rockwell, whatever his musical issues, would be something of a prophetic voice? There can be little doubt that many of us could be singing this song today.  If you follow the news you know there is a report of the government always watching someone one, or everyone, or almost no one, depending on who you wish to believe.
 
But this blog isn't intended to point fingers.  Because, truth be told, we might as well say "join the club."  I mean, is there anyone who isn't watching us today? Our grocery stores watch our purchases to help their marketing and send you coupons for things you just happened to be running low on. Our gas stations watch our purchases as well. Facebook and Twitter watch us in order to show us ads of things they think will interest us or people we might wish to follow based on past trends. Netflix makes suggestions of movies we might like based on what we have previously watched.  Just this morning I received an email from Spotify making music suggestions based on what I've listened to recently.  Which of course means I'll be receiving suggestions for Cameo and Was (Not Was) based on my Rockwell excursion a few moments ago. I wonder, if that song were to be played today, would it be "I Always Feel Like Everyone's Watching Me?"

But perhaps being watched isn't such a bad thing.  In our Scripture above, the Author of Hebrews says we are being watched, always being watched, by a great cloud of witnesses. Who are these witnesses? The author ties this to the 11th Chapter of Hebrews which list the great heroes of the faith. Moses, Abraham, Gideon, Samson, David and Samuel.  They are watching you.  These witnesses surround you. Pretty intimidating if you think about it.

But the writer isn't done. He adds to the list those martyred for their faith.  If we look around, we will see Bonehoeffer, Jim Elliott, Hundreds of pastors in China, We see  Latimer, Polycarp. We see the aged and the young who died in the Coliseum for refusing to recant their faith.

Beyond them we can see the other Saints. The saints from your life. Your pastors from your youth who are in Heaven. Your third grade Sunday School teacher who taught you that Jesus loves you. The volunteer at VBS who made sure you could recite John 3:16. Your Youth pastor who led you to the Lord. Your grandmother who gave you your first Bible with a carefully written note on the fly leaf. Your Dad who never failed to pray for you every night before he went to sleep.

Maybe I missed your saints and witnesses. But you have them. They are those who told you of Jesus and lived out a live of faith until God called them to go onto the Great Adventure of Heaven.  And they are all there watching you.

At times, when I read this Scripture, it disquiets me. It even disturbs me a little bit. There are days, more than I care to mention, when I feel as if I have failed that great cloud of  witnesses.  They have passed on to me a great treasure of faith that I didn't take care of that day. They have seen me at my worst. Think for a moment about your most recent sins. Can you imagine that Paul, John and John Wesley saw that? Let alone your Nanna?

If that's you today, I want you to go back and look at the full verse. Very often we stop reading after "the great cloud of witnesses."  When you read this verse in whole, the author sees the great cloud of witnesses, these Saints, not looking in judgement, but cheering you on.  They are not judges but your cheering section. Have you ever seen the footage at the end of a marathon? Or perhaps you've run one yourself.  All those people cheering you on, telling you not to give up. Words of encouragement. Don't give up. That's what those saints are doing. Let go of your sin. Embrace God's holiness.  We know you're tired but don't give up. Keep running.

I hope you hear those voices today. Maybe you've stumbled in your race. Maybe the goal of a Christ-like life seems too far away. Maybe you've been running with a heavy burden.  Please know you are not alone. The great cloud of witness are cheering you on.  Those saints who God put across your path are still cheering you on. And the loudest voice of all is at the Finish Line. He has His arms spread wide and waits to put those nail-scarred hands on your shoulders and say "Well done my good and faithful servant. Come and Join the Saints."

I, for one, am glad they are cheering us on. Listen to their voices this morning. Let's keep running the race that is set before us. We aren't alone. There is a Great Cloud Of Witnesses.

In Christ,
Dr. Brian Jones <><

  

Volunteers In Mission - Nuevo Progreso, MX

“What I learned from this trip is that when you bring helping hands together and the love of God, great things can happen.” -Tasha Ruth, regarding her recent trip to Nuevo Progreso

Have you ever considered participating in a foreign mission? Trinity is offering an opportunity to volunteer time and talents in Nuevo Progreso, MX in January. The trip, coordinated by Volunteers in Mission (VIM), will be from January 15th - January 19th which is also the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend. Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome and encouraged to join the Trinity team on this adventure, especially those in the medical profession. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Passports are needed. The team will be staying at First United Methodist Church in Mercedes, TX and will be traveling over the border to Nuevo Progreso each day, a 5 mile trip.

As a group, we will be flying out of Columbus (CMH) and into McAllen, TX (MFE) most likely with United Airlines. We will be working with Manos Juntas Clinic and Ministries. Set up for the Clinic will take place on Thursday. The Clinic works out of The Church of the Good Shepherd in the Francisco Madera colonia within Nuevo Progreso on Friday, and out of the Nuevo Progreso City Hall on Saturday. More information on Manos Juntas can be found on their website at http://www.manosjuntas.com/Free%20Medical%20Clinic.html.

The total cost of the trip will be approximately $700-750. This will include: $250 for the trip fee, about $455 in airfare, and $45 in 'extras' - food, souvenirs, etc. that you may spend while in Mexico. Covered in the $250 trip fee is ground transportation, lodging, and all meals. A non-refundable deposit of $100, made payable to the West Ohio Conference, is required when you agree to come on the trip.

We will be fundraising support for our trip to cover the cost of the clinic fee and medical supplies, in the amount of about $4,000 (total, not per person). Please expect to participate in team fundraising initiatives (letter-writing, etc.)

VIM is overseen by The West Ohio Conference of United Methodist Churches (WOC). WOC has committed to partnering with Mexico, specifically Manos Juntas and the House of Mercy Orphanage. WOC also partners with The Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, and Southeast Asia. The Conference committed to 6 trips a year to assist Manos Juntas. A church is then selected to coordinate a specific trip, both in terms of volunteers and fundraising. Trinity intends to sponsor the January Manos Juntas trip each year, so keep this in mind if you cannot join us in 2014! For more information on WOC’s take on VIM and how WOC sees this as “more than just a trip”, please visit this site: http://www.westohioumc.org/conference/news/vim-more-just-trip

The need in the area we are visiting is overwhelming. When asked about the living conditions for the colonia residents and the work the team did on her recent non-medical trip, Tasha Ruth shared this anecdote- “The families that live in the colonias are very poor. They have no electricity, no running water (so they cannot grow any food), no toilets, no cars, and no medical care. Their homes are made out of whatever scraps they can find and nail down. On our first day there, I heard one of the children say to the mom that he was hungry. She had two carrots (wilted and rubbery) sitting on a makeshift table. She cut the carrots up into enough pieces for the five children. Even though the husband was employed as a city garbage collector, I assume his pay was low and it was difficult for him to find rides to get to work. The family shared two beds. The father’s main concern was that the children were getting older and he did not want the girls having to sleep in the same bed as the boys. The new addition that we built will provide separate sleeping quarters for the children.”

Tasha also shared what she learned from the trip. “When I thought about the word “mas” (translations: “more”) I thought about a familiar phrase – “more is better.” As I looked around at the bleak, barren surroundings and saw poverty like I had never seen before I saw something else - children laughing, running, playing with their siblings, and standing side by side to slop paint onto the wood slats. I saw their parents smiling admiringly at the wall they had just constructed together – she bringing him bricks and he buttering them before carefully laying them into place. I saw a happy family, just being thankful in the moment for what they had and the blessing of a new home. I saw people who were not looking for more, but were thankful to know that God had provided this opportunity. I reflected on my own tendency to want “mas” of everything (especially shoes!). This trip reminded me that while we might think we need more of X, Y, and Z and won’t be satisfied until we get it, God already knows what we need and through Him we are fulfilled.”

In terms of specific roles we would like to fill, we need the following: doctors (2+), nurses (3+), pharmacists (1+), medical clinic helping hands (3+), medical translators (2+), and team cooks (1+). All others with specialized medical skills (physician's assistants, optometrists, dentists, etc.) are welcome!

If you cannot join us on our trip, please consider donating to our cause. Donations can be submitted by visiting http://www.trinityumchurch.com/donate.htm and entering “VIM Mission Trip, January 15-19, 2014” in the purpose for your donation.

If you are still considering, please consider the following perspectives:

Rev. Katy Wheat: “This trip will be a wonderful way to get to know your neighbors in Mexico, and will provide much-needed medical service to the people of the colonias. Most importantly, it will be a wonderful way to put God's love in action while using the gifts God has given you.”

Tasha Ruth: “If you have never thought of participating in a foreign mission trip before, you should definitely consider it now. There is so much to be gained. You will learn so much about yourself and challenge yourself in ways you may have never imagined before. It will fulfill your heart, mind, body, and soul beyond your expectations. I will admit I was very nervous about taking my first trip. However, I felt very safe the entire time. The people you will meet, the relationships you will form, and the Spirit that will fill your heart are worth making this trip.”

This trip is a true opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and place your trust in God. I ask you to prayerfully consider joining this team, for the betterment of the people of Nuevo Progreso, our congregation, and ourselves.

How Far Are You Willing To Go?

"Will Anyone Rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say : "How are we robbing you?"" (Malachi 4:8)

It's been over 40 years since comedian George Carlin did his famous bit "The Seven Words You Can't Say on Television."  It almost seems a quaint idea today, doesn't it? Words one can't say on TV.  There seems to be no boundaries on what they can show or do, all in name of entertainment. As network vies with Cable for viewers, everyone, it seems, is "pushing the envelope" of taste.

Not that there aren't some boundaries left. While one can say [insert any of Carlin's words here] with impunity, you still can't say "Jesus" unless you are trying to be funny or swearing. A&E recently asked the stars of "Duck Dynasty" to tone down the use of  "Jesus" in their language.

All of which got  me to thinking if there are words we don't say, or don't like to hear, in church. Obviously we are good with using the words "Jesus," "Lord," "God," and "Holy Spirit." But there is one word that still has shock value in church. It sets people on edge, and just the utterance of it can cause the congregation's faces to close during a sermon. "Stewardship."

See, I lost some of you already. We just don't like to hear the church talk about money. Why? Well, we know why.  Its because people love their money too much. But I'm not so sure about that. Oh, there is no doubt some of us wrestle with the love of money and the power it holds over our lives. And this can be true whether we are millionaires or  broke.  Loving money is democratic. It can grab any of us.

But that's not the only reason we don't like to hear the word stewardship. There are, no doubt, scandals with the Body of Christ, especially with televangelists and others, that have caused the world to be a bit cynical when the church asks for money. It's hard to do it in a way that doesn't feel mercenary. We don't always do it well -- and often come off like a 'religious PBS' during pledge week. I wonder what the reaction would be if we gave the choir a bank of phones to answer for pledges for our annual campaign?

And, for many of us, it just doesn't seem, I don't know, spiritual enough. We all know it takes a great deal of money to run a church and its ministries. But where does faith come in? Don't we believe God can attend to our needs? Do I have to be strong-armed or made to feel guilty every week? I'm supposed to feel better when I go to church, aren't I? (We'll better answer that question in a future blog, by the way). Didn't Jesus cleanse the temple of the money changers? Stewardship just doesn't seem very, for lack of a better word, "Jesusy."

But if we look at what is really happening in Malachi, and indeed in most of Jesus comments, stewardship is one of the most "Jesusy" parts of our discipleship.  Because stewardship really isn't about money. It's really about "How much of myself do I give to God to use as he wishes? How much of my life is Jesus Lord over?" Stewardship has more to do with Lordship than our pocketbooks.

If we look at our finances, real stewardship is not about giving a tithe. Let's take the idea of a tithe out of it for a moment. Let's stop worrying about percentages. Real stewardship is simply saying, "Jesus, You are Lord of every cent I have. How I make it and how I spend it. So  do with all of it what You will." And then we simply listen to the Holy Spirit and be obedient to that. 

I heard a young man the other day say, "We look at poverty in the world and ask how can God allow such things to happen. How can God allow them to be so poor?  But what we should be asking ourselves is: God, how can you allow me  to be so affluent? What am I supposed to be doing?"  For this young man, stewardship isn't a bad word. It's become a lifestyle, the lifeblood of his discipleship.

If he's right, isn't that a question we should be asking in every area of our lives? God, you've blessed me with a spouse. What am I supposed to be doing with that relationship? I don't want to give you 10 percent for my marriage, (i.e. church and maybe a night-time devotion). I want to give you all of my marriage. God, you've blessed me with singleness. I want to give you all of it, not just 10 percent.  God, I don't want to just thank you for having a job today, or even ask to sense your presence. I want you to have my job. Do with it what you will. All of it.

Stewardship isn't about money. It's about life. Real life. Abundant Life. Maybe if we stopped talking about it, and lived it out more, we'd understand. Maybe if we took stewardship out of our wallets and put it back in our hearts, stewardship wouldn't be such an ugly word. Maybe.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><
 

Water Shortage

"Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (John 7:38)

    As I write this we are without water, both at our home and at the church.  Apparently there is a problem with a waterline and fire hydrant nearby and the water needs to be shut off until they fix it.  Although inconvenient, I can't complain we didn't have fair warning this would happen.  Several days ago we received a notice that the water would be shut off form 8:00 Am until 2:00PM in order to work on this problem.   

  So while inconvenienced I'm holding onto the small good things in the midst of this.  Since I knew it would happen and when I could get ready early in the morning and not have to worry about that.  There is an end time so we won't be sitting around wondering if and when the water will be turned back on.  

  But while holding onto the "small blessings" there is no doubt that it's an inconvenience.  It's amazing how quickly, once we are denied something, we miss it.  The moment the water was turned off, I quickly realized how dependent I am on water. I became much more cognizant of my thirst (which was probably imagined) I couldn't use the sink to wash my hands, turn on the water to put on a put of coffee.  I couldn't even, if I needed to brush my teeth without going to the bottled water we've stored.  

    But we aren't just talking water. It's a part of the human condition that we miss what we are denied. Be told you can't eat and you automatically become hungry. There is no quicker way to create a desire to share secrets then to be told "You can't tell anyone."  It's just how we are. We crave what we don't have. 

   There are times we don't even know what we are craving. We just know there is something missing from our lives and we want it.  We are unable to put a name on it, we just know there is something we are missing. Something that completes our lives. Call it purpose, power, satisfaction or joy.  All we know is there is something missing we we need it.

    Most of us have known people who spend their looking for that elusive "one thing" that will make sense of it all .  That missing piece to the jigsaw puzzle of our lives. We try to fill it with good times and laughter, relationships work position and popularity. Some come close but nothing ever truly fits.

  Even as Christians we often have this struggle.  Some of us grow up in crush and our faith are as much a part of our DNA as the color of our eyes. Some of us came to faith in youth group or in church.  For some it was a slow realization that Jesus is Lord. For some of us we can point to the day and time when we accepted Jesus into our hearts.

   Regardless of how it happens ( and they are all legitimate) for most Christians there comes a time wen we say, "Is that it?"  is this all the Christian life has to offer me? I gave my life to Jesus , I had that  one moment and that's it?  Is this the Christan life? For many of us if we were to take an honest assessment of how we live, think, and behave the only difference between ourselves and the rest of the world is where we spend and hour or two  on Sunday morning. 

  And we know, we know deep down that this can't be all there is to our faith.  There seems to be a missing piece to our faith and  we crave it.  We don't know what it is but surely there has to be more to this life than what we have right now.  We know its real because we see other Christians who live a life far different than we do. There is a power, a peace a presence that seems denied to us.

  Look again at the words of Jesus at the top of the page.  Jesus tells us our problem is we have a water shortage.  Look at what Jesus says: "Anyone who believes in me" Jesus is talking to believers. They know who Jesus is. But Jesus says knowledge, perhaps even just faith isn't enough. At some point we must come and drink.  Jesus sees The Holy Spirit as a flowing river and we must come and drink. And the only way to drink is to stop holding Jesus at arms length.  We must embrace Him fully and completely and drink of the Holy Spirit. 

  It's a call to intimacy.  You can't drink something without it becoming a part of you.  But once we let down our guard and seek intimacy with Jesus invite the Holy Spirit to enter us, We begin to see just how thirsty we have become. We see how dry our lives become without our ever noticing.  We begin to understand this is what has been missing from our lives. We experience the power purpose and presence of the Spirit of Christ in our lives.

  But be careful. Never underestimate the over abundance of God.  Jesus says if you drink my water will flow though your life. Jesus promises to give you so much of Himself that you won't be able to hide or continue it.  It will flow out of, drench everything you do. Why does God do this? A part of it is simply the gracious nature of His Spirit. God always over gives of His blessings.  A part of  it is because he wants you to experience the joy of having a life completely drenched in his presence and spirit. 

  But its also because there are a lot of history people in the world. You live with them, work with them.  They are your neighbors and the faceless people you pas every day. Their lives are missing something.  They have a thirst that only Jesus can fulfill. And He wants to use you to drench their lives in grace and love. 

  The throne of Jesus suffers no water shortage. We can come and drink right now.   So plunge in.  Allow Jesus to drench your life, and the lives around you.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

Breaking Boundaries

"You have heard it said, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But I say, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also. (Matthew 5:38)

   Signs, Signs, Everywhere there's signs.
Blocking out the scenery. Breaking my mind.
Do this! Don't do that! Can't you read the signs? (5 Man Electric band)

   This song, from the early 70's, was your typical, don't tell me what to do protest song. It came from a young generation saying to the world, "Don't tell Me What To DO." "Don't set Your  limits on me."  Which sounds great when you are 17 or 18.  (No insult to the 17-18 year old out there.  None of us likes to be told what we can and can't do when we were your age.) It sounds great,  I mean how can anyone set boundaries for me to live by?

  Of course at some point we mature and we begin to appreciate, perhaps even cherish, our boundaries.  I wonder how many  Teens from 1971, sang this at the top of their lungs driving their Chevelle are now in their early sixties with "Keep Off The Grass" signs in their yard, and "No Solicitors" stickers on their front door.? Maturity and irony often walk hand in hand.

   The truth of the matter is we all like boundaries, at least when we set them.  It allows us to keep people from getting too invasive in our lives.  It helps us set limits.  We live in an odd time where we on one hand are losing privacy due to the Internet and social media, yet because of the exact same things are having less and less face to face interaction with other people.  Those boundaries we set help us  find a measure of control over lie. Our boundaries keep us sane.

   What are your boundaries? Your private life? Your work? Are your politics not subject to conversation?  Is it simply that you don't answer your home phone during dinner or after 9:00 at night? What ever your boundaries are they are important aren't they? How often have we heard it said, "I just wish they would they would respect my privacy, or respect my boundaries"?

  This past week, I went to a mandated meeting for clergy in our conference looking at, you guessed it boundaries.  Not just the normal "Be careful about inappropriate physical contact" boundaries.  We looked at all sorts of boundaries. Boundaries when we meet, preach, Boundaries of self care and awareness.  While there was some good natured griping at having to come to a mandatory meeting, I didn't hear anyone disagree with the topic. Everyone agreed boundaries are important and we need to do a better job of keeping them.

  I wonder though if our love of boundaries, and the demand that they be respected, is pen of the things that hampers our discipleship. Or at the very least hampers the end goal of our discipleship? What is the end goal of following Jesus? Isn't it that we become like Christ?  We are called to allow Jesus to make us like Him.  To fill us with His Spirit and share Him with the world.

  But in order to to do that Jesus must begin to break the boundaries in our lives. If one takes the time to read though any of the Gospels it doesn't take long to see Jesus is no respecter of boundaries. In fact He delights to break them down.  Not because he is running through Galilee singing "Signs, Signs" (although He might.), but because Jesus is determined to redeem the world.

  Jesus breaks the barrier of what we consider sin. The Scripture at the top of the page is from the Sermon on eh Mount. Jesus says our sin is NOT just what we do but what we think. He even goes so far as to say our good intentions aren't good enough. have you let Jesus break the boundary and define sin in your life?

 Jesus breaks the boundary of the power of sin in our lives.  Most of us would love to be able to rely on the idea that "We just couldn't help ourselves." or "everyone does it."  or even "I'm powerless."  Jesus says I can free you from the boundaries sin has placed on your life will you let me?

  He breaks the boundaries of our tendency to hold grudges and not forgive. He breaks the boundaries of class and racism.  He breaks the boundaries of rich vs. poor.  He even breaks the boundaries of  how we define true wealth.

  He even breaks the boundaries we have set up in the dark places of our souls. Most of us have a No Trespassing sign up somewhere in our lives. It might be how we feel about our parents. Or a sin we cherish. It might be our ethics at work or how we treat our spouse. It might be a wrong we did, or a wrong done to us.

  Whatever that No Trespassing zone is in your life, Jesus wants to break the boundary. He says to you you will never be truly free to become all I want you to be until I do.  I can break the boundaries and free you of so much hurt and pain in life.  I can break the  boundaries that are holding you back form enjoying life and being filled with my Spirit.

  Jesus wants to break the boundaries in your life today.  Will you let Him? Will you simply pray "Jesus, I've tired to keep you out of this place in my life or heart. But today I invite you in. i ask that you take it over and free me of everything that is holding me back." If you pray, Jesus will answer. And he will set you free.  Just think, losing your No Trespassing sign, and replacing it with a sign that simply says "Set Free by Jesus."  That's a sign we all can live with.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Brian Jones

Great Day of Service: The Church has Left the Building

Have you heard about Trinity’s First Annual Great Day of Service? On Saturday October 26^th, Trinity members, friends and family will be heading into the community to be the very visible hands and feet of God, serving the Lord as we help our neighbors.  We invite you to join us in one of our many opportunities to volunteer your time and talents while making friends with Trinity members. Our main goal in offering this unique, once-a-year chance is to engage Trinity members who may have not volunteered with us in the past. We offer many options, in terms of time, age, and abilities. Commitments range from donations to on site volunteerism from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. We would also like to point out that October 26^th is an OSU night game against Penn State, so you will have plenty of time to support your volunteering spirit before you support your Buckeyes!

If you are interested in signing up, you have two options- online or at church. To sign up in person at church, look for the Great Day of Service table outside of your service. Someone will be waiting there to help you and answer any questions before and after each service. You also have the option to register online at http://www.trinityumchurch.com/oneday.htm. 

On October 26^th, the volunteer teams will meet at the church. Registration will open at 7:45 AM, and all volunteers should plan on arriving at the church no later than 8:20 AM. At this time, we will have a brief sending off blessing. At 8:30 AM, we will head to our sites and begin our work! Volunteers should plan to stay at their sites until 12:30 PM at the latest, unless other arrangements have been made or you hear differently from your team leader. When the date approaches, volunteers will be contacted by their team leaders regarding carpooling and other details for the day of.

Below, you will find small descriptions of each opportunity including age requirements, expectations and more. More information regarding each mission can be found on the registration website.

Broad Street Food Pantry – Volunteers signed up for this opportunity will assist neighbors in shopping within the pantry. Additionally, volunteers may help with entering new neighbors into the Pantry’s database and stocking the shelves with new donations. While there is no age limit to this opportunity, anyone under 17 must have a signed permission slip to join us in volunteering.

Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center- This option will have teams at both Trinity and the Resource Center. The Resource Center option is wonderful for families with small children since we will be helping run a pumpkin patch! This team will be assisting as community members bring in canned goods in exchange for a pumpkin, in addition to many other fun fall activities for the community. The Trinity option is wonderful for volunteers with limited mobility or strength, considering we will be packing non perishable food sack lunches and creating lap blankets for older adults.

Community Kitchen Inc. – This opportunity is available for adults and families with children over 13. We will be preparing, serving and cleaning up after breakfast for our Columbus neighbors. We will also be assisting with lunch preparations.

Drive In, Drop Off, Drive On- For those who have other commitments on the 26^th, we encourage you to make donations instead. We are looking for both donations and volunteers to sort these donations on the 26^th. A list of donation items we are looking for can be found on the volunteer website, and will be going to NNEMAP, Volunteers in Mexico Mission, New Life Clothing Room, and the YWCA Family Center. We will also need plenty of volunteers at the church to assist in sorting and packing the donations. This is another wonderful opportunity for people of all ages and ability levels.

First Community Village - This volunteer opportunity is looking for people of all ages to visit with and brighten the days of the residents at First Community Village. The residents especially love children!

Four Seasons City Farm - Do you like getting your hands dirty? This opportunity may be a great option for you! Four seasons is looking for a large group of volunteers to assist with late fall crops and general garden maintenance. Children are welcome, though suggested age is 10 and older.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore – ReStore is a discount home improvement store that supports the Habitat for Humanity effort. Volunteers will be processing donations, organizing store displays, and working with customers. Anyone over 16 is invited to join in this opportunity.

Harmon Avenue Kitchen -  Harmon Avenue Kitchen is a hub for Meals on Wheels. This team will be portioning food, packaging meals, cleaning, and generally helping with the preparation for delivery process. Anyone over 16 is invited to join in this opportunity.

New Life UMC – New Life volunteers will be helping with a deep clean of the New Life Kitchen. Because this is a kitchen environment, those over 16 will are invited to join us.

NNEMAP – Trinity volunteers will be assisting in with many aspects of NNEMAPs food pantry. Jobs include stocking the pantry shelves, painting and cleaning the Pantry, and work in the Pantry’s Community Garden. We invite those over 10, but special accommodations may be made for younger children with advance notice.

Sunrise on The Scioto – Sunrise is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages (especially children!) to interact with our elderly neighbors. We will be spending time with the residents and providing an engaging activity.

The Great Pumpkin Run –The Great Pumpkin Run is a 5K help right in our own Grandview / Marble Cliffs area! This volunteer time will be helping at a water station, cheering on the runners, and helping with the cleanup after the event ends. Children will have a blast cheering on athletes. Please note, those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Wesley Glen – The Wesley Glen team will be visiting with our elderly neighbors, as well as assisting with minor jobs around the grounds such as cleaning out garden beds. People of all ages are invited to join in this opportunity.

Westgate UMC – Westgate UMC has recently begin a Celebrate Recovery program from those overcoming any kind of addiction, and is eager to have volunteers help with church beautification. This opportunity will include jobs such as painting and landscaping.

YWCA Family Center – The YWCA team will be assisting with sorting and categorizing sizable amounts of donations the shelter receives for its families. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.  

We hope you will prayerfully consider joining us on what will be a wonderful day of fellowship and giving, regardless of your abilities or age! We would love to have you with us to show the community how much Trinity cares!

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace
-1 Peter 4:10