Magnificent Me

""Yet You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:5)

I've always been a bit of a "people watcher."  Even when we go to the zoo, I often find the people around me, and the comments they make, more interesting -- or at the very least -- more humorous than the animals on exhibit. Although I admit, there are times I don't know if I should laugh or shake my head at our educational system. You would be amazed at the amount of people who assume Indonesia is somewhere in Africa.

For instance, overheard at the Okapi exhibit: "Look at that animal. It looks like some sort of made up animal. Like a cross between a deer and a zebra.  I'd call it a deerbra."  And they aren't exactly wrong. The Okapi does look like the result of a head on collision between a deer and a zebra. Look up an image and you will see what I mean.

Of course it's not a "made up animal" at all.  God knew exactly what he was doing when he created this animal. It was purposefully created to be protected in its environment from other predators.  It looks odd to us but in its natural environment it makes perfect sense.

But I don't believe God created this animal this way solely for protection. It also speaks to the great delight and even whimsy ( duckbill platypus anyone?) God has in His creative process.  As we went around the zoo that day I began to notice and appreciate God's great joy and the magnificence in His creation. The beauty of the Great Cats, the sleek playfulness of the otter, even the incredible colors of the Mandrill.  Genesis only takes a couple of chapters to speak about creation. But behind those few words we can see the great joy, perhaps even the incredible fun, God had and still has in Creation.

And the pinnacle of that creation is mankind.  I fear in our debates between Creationism and Evolution we miss the point Genesis 1 and 2 is trying to make. There is one creator and we are the pinnacle, the top of the magnificence of His creation.

David certainly didn't miss the point in the Scripture above.  David sits out at night looking at the billions of stars above him and feels, for a moment,  incredibly small.  But then he is filled with wonder and awe when he says, "Who are we that you would make us a little lower than You? You have crowned us with glory and honor!"

I want you to take a moment and reread that. We, human beings, are a magnificent part of God's creation. We are, in fact, extraordinary, for we have the capability to be filled with His Spirit. We have been crowned with glory and honor! Yes, I know you know all of that.  But do you understand that you have been crowned with glory and honor? I think a lot of us read this Scripture and think it a stereotype. Yes we know we are God's crowning achievement, at least as a species. But like with every stereotype not everyone fits the bill.

So let's clear this up. You are not a stereotype.You are God's crowning achievement. It would be no stretch of the imagination for you to take out the word humanity and replace it with your first name. Who is Bill, or Anna, that you are mindful of me? That you care for me? You have made me a little lower than You. You have crowned me!!

God called you into being and did so with great joy. When you came into existence, God laughed and shouted and pointed as He has always done with His creation. You have been created as a magnificent part of His creation, His crowing achievement and you have been created for a purpose. God cannot make bad stuff. It's a violation of His perfect nature.

It doesn't matter what your origin story is. You may come from a wonderful Christian family background or from an unloving environment.  Perhaps you grew up being told that you were a mistake, a surprise, unwanted. And those voices still ring in your head coloring your view of the world.

But if you listen, you will hear another voice, a louder voice, who proclaims the truth. You are not a mistake nor a surprise to God.  Before you were formed, He knew you. He has a plan and purpose for your life. An extraordinary plan and purpose. If you are crowned and honored, you are a beloved child of the King. And this King has called your creation magnificent.

Who are you that God is mindful of you? Why, you are His child.  Rejoice!

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

Shake It Off

³ “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money,or even a change of clothes. ⁴ Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. ⁵ And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” (Luke 9:3-5)

We all know that different generations view things, well, differently. Or at least they will have different meanings. For instance, the power vocals of Roger Daltry and the guitar work of Pete Townsend to those from the sixties can only mean the work of  The Who.  Play them today and and many younger generations would say "Oh those are the guys who do the opening songs to CSI."  Whether you are bothered by that might very well be an indicator of the generation you are from.

But not necessarily. I admit that when I hear those opening lines I think more of the show than the group.  Perhaps that's because we have seen a barrage of these shows for over a decade.  CSI, CSI: MIAMI, CSI:NEW YORK ( and of course the lesser known CSI: SIOUX CITY IOWA).  These shows, along with many others, have proven incredibly popular all over the world. 

Why have they proven so popular? I can't answer for everyone, but for me it's the forensics. Each show is built around the idea that there is no perfect crime. The criminal always leaves a little bit of themselves behind. Or they take a little bit of the crime scene with them. And of course this always ends up leading to their downfall.

Of course crime solving isn't that simple.  But there is a lot of truth to the idea that one can't go through somewhere, or someone's life, and not leave a bit of themselves there. And we also have the tendency to take just a bit of others with us when we go. And that can be good as we look back at the wonderful people God has blessed us with in life. It's good to take a bit of them with us. But what about the people who have caused us pain or hurt us? What happens when we take them with us?

I believe this is a part of what Jesus is saying to the disciples (and to us) in the Scripture above. Of course, as with everything Jesus says, there are multiple layers. He is speaking to the urgent nature of sharing the Gospel. Don't waste time! He reminds the disciples that not everyone will be receptive to the Gospel. You can do your best and still be rejected.   

But Jesus also speaks of the importance of not taking the hurt and pain with you. "Wipe The Dust From Your Feet."  Leave it there and go on. Sound harsh? Does it sound as if Jesus is saying "Turn Your back on them.?"  Not really.  It's not so much a course as it is a promise that you need not take the dust of rejection and hurt with you for the rest of your life.

I see a lot of "dusty" people in the world. Maybe their parents rejected them or failed them. They went through a messy divorce and they carry the dust from their broken relationships. They were bullied as a young person and that dust covers them. They are the failed, the hurt, the broken and bruised. They are the people of the dust. They are us. None of us goes through life without some dust. This is a fallen world and people, even those with the best of intentions, can fail us. And we can let the dust follow us and dirty up our self esteem, our relationships, our past, present and future.

Or we can go to Jesus. Do you remember what Jesus does before the "Last Supper?" He kneels down and washes His disciples feet. He cleans off the dust and dirt.  He takes it away in an act of extravagant love. When He stands, the dust is gone. The disciples can walk away clean.

Jesus is still in the business of helping us shake the dust from our feet. He is still washing away the dirt. Have you been carrying the dust and dirt of hurt with you? Has it covered, or at least tainted, everything else in your life? It doesn't have to. If you invite Him, Jesus will come and wash your feet. He will help you shake the dust and dirt away so it doesn't have to follow you any longer.Why not ask Him to come and wash your feet today? Isn't it time you begin to shake off the dust?

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><

There Is A Season

July 26, 2013

Dear Friends,

“There is a time for everything; for each activity of man beneath the sun.”  Ecclesiates 3:1

Perhaps you do not recognize this passage from Ecclesiastes.  The reason it seems not-just-right is because the quotation does not come from any version you have available to you.  The translation is from James E Kraus, who is – like me – a frequent visitor to the various retirement centers in Columbus.  I see him on occasion.

Mr Kraus used to run a not-for profit nursing home in Circleville as I did elsewhere.  We became professionally acquainted that way.  Since his “retirement” Jim has become a faithful visitor and bible study leader at many Columbus locations.  He is now in his late 80s and continues to translate the Bible.  I admire him very much.

The passage from Ecclesiastes is much more recognizable as a song recorded by The Byrds, a rock band from the 70s.  It goes, “to everything thing, turn turn turn, there is a season, turn turn turn, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”  I cannot now get the tune out of my head having shared the words with you.  I was a fan of that song back then, but did not know it has a biblical origin.  The Byrds sang:

“A time to cast away stones; a time to gather sto-o-nes together.

On Sunday July 14, we heard Trinity’s Quartet singing “Wade In the Water” and “Who Is He In Yonder Stall.”  Both Dr Richard Schnipke and Professor Mark Baker were among those singing in the Quartet.

Dr Schnipke has been Music Director for 10 years at Trinity and is leaving for a Professorship at Xavier University.  Mark Baker has been hired as his replacement, a fact you already know.  It was great to see and hear them together.  As Jim Kraus writes it, “a time to plant and a time to uproot(vs 3b)… a time to mourn and a time to dance(vs 4b).”

In Christ,                                          Gary Brand

Look Deep.

"Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;" Psalm 26:2

I just got back from getting a panoramic dental x-ray. A fairly quick process that took maybe 20 seconds.  The only two disconcerting things were the fact there was a mirror in front of me that displayed a red light crosshair target centered on my forehead.  I know this is to keep the x-ray centered.  But I've seen way to many action movies to think this is a good sign. The other problem was that I kept thinking about the old baseball story from Yogi Berra when he was x-rayed after being beaned by a baseball.  "They examined my head but they didn't find anything," he said. Hopefully that won't prove the case with mine.

The x-ray was done to get a complete picture. They want to see all the inner workings from teeth to sinuses and beyond. They want a thorough examination.  It's not just about looking at the outside, or what can be readily seen, but what's underneath. The real story, if you will.

This is exactly what David is asking God in the Psalm above. He is asking God to give him an x-ray. Examine the inner workings of my heart. Examine the inner workings of my mind.  Look deep within and see what's really going on. Not what I present to people but the real me.

As I think about this, it's an incredibly brazen prayer. And I wonder how comfortable many of us would be if we really prayed this prayer with any sincerity?  Do you really want God to know the real you? Do you really want him to see the parts of your heart and mind you hide from everyone? Most days I want God to see the mind and heart I show everyone else. The good stuff. The times I am compassionate or patient. But not the dark inner resources of my heart.

But David knows if God is not allowed into those dark places, the sin that lies there will never be exposed. It will lie like a malignant growth on his heart. It's not just about exposing his mind and heart. It's about letting God in to heal and change David's mind and heart.

I think it is this attitude that causes God to call David a man after my own heart. It's not that David was always godly. He certainly wasn't perfect. His home life left a lot to be desired.  He sinned horribly.  But David's saving grace was his willingness at the broken points of his life to come to God and say "Examine me. Test my mind and heart. Make me holy as You are holy."

Maybe you are like me. You're more than bit hesitant to allow God to examine your mind and heart.  Let me offer you a word of encouragement. He has already been there. God already knows all about the dark, dank, musty corners of your heart. He knows about the unpleasant things lurking under the floorboards in your mind. And He still loves you. We need never fear, no matter how sinful or broken we are, God's rejection. God loves us right where we are. God loves you right where you are.

Letting God examine our minds and hearts is an invitation for healing. It's an invitation that God will remove the sin-sick stain on our lives and fill us with His Holy Spirit. It's a chance to become a person after God's own heart.

So I'm going to start praying the prayer more. I believe God's going to take my prayer seriously. I don't assume it will always be a pleasant experience as God and I can be at odds over what's best for me. But I know, in the end, I will be a person after God's own heart. So what about you? What will God say about you? Are you a person after His heart? Will you allow Him in to examine the inner you? Are you a person after God's own heart?

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

What Does It All Mean?

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

"You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means" (Diego Montoya "The Princess Bride")

  You may have recognized the quote from above.  I'm hoping for sure you are familiar with the Bible passage, but if not, that's OK we are going to get to it in a few moments.  But for now, I'm referring to the quote from "The Princess Bride". It is, in a move full of quotable quotes, one of my favorites.  It's comes as the villainous leader of a small group is constantly frustrated  in his attempts to thwart the good guy from pursuing them. No matter what he does it's overcome.  And when he realizes it he shouts (altogether now) Inconceivable!  Finally Montoya looks at him and utters the line above.

   It's a funny line but it's all pretty stereotypical of human nature. At least  human nature as I see it in the church. We use words all the time that do not mean what we think they mean. Or at least we don't mean the same thing when we say them.

  For instance when we say "I'll pray for you" it doesn't necessarily mean we are going to pray for that person. Often it's our Christian way of saying, Good bye.  Or good luck.  Now if that seems harsh I want you to take a moment and think about the times you have said "I'll pray for you." but didn't.  Or the times you did pray and the other person is shocked.

  We say "God Bless you" but do we honestly mean "God bless this person right now pour out all you hold in heaven upon them"? No, we mean have a nice day.  In all honestly I can have a nice day all on my own.  I don't need you to tell em to have a nice day.  It's not as if when you say that I think "Wow a nice day. hadn't thought of doing that. What a great suggestion."  What I do need is people who are on their knees asking that God will bless me with His presence.

   And perhaps we can be gracious about these. It's not as if we are lying when we say them. We mean them sort of. We at the very least have good intentions when we say them. We might not mean exactly what we are saying but we do mean something nice. 

  But Jesus doesn't give us leeway about the word Lord.  In the Scripture above Jesus clearly says there will be many in the church who call me Lord, but who never made me Lord of their lives. They will say it, but they won't mean it. And the consequences of calling Jesus Lord, but not making Him Lord are, well, not optimal to say the least.  Please hear that. Your soul might very well depend on it. One day Jesus is going to look on those who called Him Lord, but did not make Him Lord and he is going to to say "Away from me. I never knew you".

  We call Jesus Lord in prayer.  We read the words in the Bible.  We sing of His Lordship. We might even believe it. But does that word mean what you think it means? Or are you saying a word for which there is no evidence in your life?

  What does it mean to make Jesus Lord of our lives? It means more than just believing the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.  James reminds us even Satan knows that.  Lordship is nothing less than a complete total passionate abandonment of your life to Jesus.  It's having that Abraham and Isaac moment where you are willing to give God everything  if He would ask.  It means having Him be Lord of not just what you do in church on Sunday morning but when you go out in the real world on Monday. It may mean not doing certain unethical things even if your job demands them simply because Jesus says no. It means giving Jesus your love life, even your (gasp) your wallet.

  I don't pretend I've made Jesus Lord of everything in my life. I've given Him more than I have in the past so I take some comfort there.  But there are still parts of my life where he and I still play tug of war. Hopefully He's winning more and more of those. I'm a work in progress living on His Grace. But I want Him to be Lord. Because I've discovered the more of myself I can give Him the more of Himself he gives me.  And it is a treasure beyond measure or comparison.

  So what about you. Do you call Jesus Lord? And what do you mean by it?

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

Here Comes The Bride

² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:2-3)

I was almost sideswiped the other day by a Hummer limousine.  The interesting thing is that I didn't even blink twice that there was such a thing as a Hummer limousine or that it was coming down our street.

When you are a pastor and live near a church in June, being almost hit by all sorts of limos, party buses, and horses and carriages is occupational hazard in June, and really all through summer.  It is Wedding time in the life of the church.  I've never been exactly sure why we decided the hottest part of the year is the best time to dress up in floor-length dresses and tuxedos, but we do.  From here on out we will work around, be invited to and, for some of us, officiate at weddings throughout the summer months.

Weddings, and marriage in particular, has been in the public forum quite a bit over the last few weeks. Don't worry, we aren't using today's blog to give our own position on the recent Supreme Court rulings.  I'm more than glad to sit with you and do that, but that's not what today's blog is intended to do. No, rather I want to look at the idea that marriage is much more of a civil matter and not so much a religious one. You've seen the argument: Marriage is a civil ceremony the state grants the church permission to participate in.

To which I must wholeheartedly disagree. There is a deeper meaning to a wedding and marriage than simply a ceremony. Look again at our Scripture. Jesus refers to the church as His bride. The Book of Revelations ends with a wedding banquet as Jesus, the groom welcomes His bride, the church into His Kingdom. 

At its best, marriage and weddings are to help us understand how Jesus loves the church. He loves it as a groom loves His bride. If you've been a groom, perhaps you can remember that feeling as your bride walked down the aisle. You cherished her. Your heart beat faster. You were passionately in love with this person. I hope you still are. This is how Jesus sees the church. When He looks at us His heart beats faster. He loves us with a passion that causes our passion to pale in comparison. He cherishes us. 

How is it then we can be so comfortable in prostituting the Bride of Christ. I know that's an ugly harsh term but I simply can't think of any other way to  put it. What is prostitution? The use of someone for your own end and for your own pleasure for whom you pay tribute. You give me pleasure and I pay you. 

For some, that's how they treat the church. I will come as long as you make me happy. Make me happy, meet my needs, and I will pay you with my presence and maybe an offering of money. And the moment you no longer meet my felt or assumed needs, I can remove myself from you and find another. Sometimes its not even about my needs. My needs are being met.  But I can't help but wonder if the grass is greener, a little more exciting, if I try something a little different? 

Does this mean there is never a reason to change churches? Of course there are reasons, but probably less good ones than you think. To be honest, most of the time those reasons are simply rationalizations of "My. Me Mine." If I and mine aren't happy then there is something wrong. 

The simple truth is that the church isn't about us. It's not about you, or me. It's about Jesus. It's about our being in a community of faith, often hypocritical and stumbling, that somehow is still being formed into the image for Christ. It's about being a cherished bride that wants to show the world not how satisfied we are, but showing the world the truth of a resurrected savior. 

I don't always do it well, but I've been praying that God will continue to help me take my eyes off of myself and onto Him. I want to cherish the Bride of Christ as much as Jesus does. And I want to do what I can to help the bride get ready for the wedding feast and make her as good as she can be. I can't be selfish and still cherish the Bride the way Jesus does. None of us can.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones  <><