Moving

I’m moving my blog here: Marked.

Put Christ back in Xmas?

This time of year I often see well meaning Christians complaining about people using the abbreviation Xmas for Christmas. Their rallying cry is “Put Christ back in Xmas”, or something of the sort. While I appreciate their attempt to fight the pervasiveness of the commercial Christmas, in this case their efforts are misplaced.

There are a few important things to understand about the abbreviation ‘Xmas’. First off, it isn’t really the letter ‘X’ that’s used; it is Chi, the first letter in the Greek spelling of ‘Christ’. So it’s not a substitution of ‘X’ for ‘Christ’, it is in fact a simple abbreviation in much the same way that the Greek letter theta (Θ) is commonly used as an abbreviation for God (Theos) in religious texts.

The use of X is not a show of disrespect for Christ; in fact its use was first intended, in part, to be the opposite. Early Christian writers felt that the overuse of Christ in their writing was tantamount to taking the Lord’s name in vain so using the shorthand substitution was thought to be more respectful.

Another example of the early Greek Christians (Xians!) using first letter abbreviations is shown in the origin of the ichthys, the ‘Christian Fish’ symbol. The Greek spelling of ichthys is ΙΧΘΥΣ, an acronym for “Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ” (Iēsous Christos, Theou Huios, Sōtēr) which translates to “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior”. ‘Ichthys’ means ‘Fish’ in classical Greek.

I’m not necessarily  opposed to Santa and I’m certainly not opposed to the festivities and gift giving that are a part of this wonderful time of year. I do however pray that we Christians will use the occasion to talk about our faith. Invite people to church. Spread the Good News. There may be no need to put the ‘Christ’ back in ‘Xmas’ but we can certainly strive to put the ‘mas’ back in Christmas.

Jones

Alcohol (part 4)

This is the fourth and final post on my examination of alcohol consumption by members Wesleyan Church. If you are just joining me, start with part 1 here,  part 2 here ,and part 3 here.

In my last post I came to the conclusion that, although abstinence from alcohol is not Biblically mandated, it is a wise life choice; but it is not one that should be dictated by the Church. That leaves us with one question: who cares?

You don’t have to be a Covenant Member of the Wesleyan Church to have a healthy relationship with Jesus and His followers, to attend your church of choice every Sunday, or to volunteer to serve in numerous ways. So why bother with membership at all? The Discipline of the Wesleyan Church says that:

302. The rights of covenant membership are:

1.   The fellowship of the saints and the encouragement, admonition and spiritual guidance of the ministry.

2.   The access to the sacraments and ordinances of the Church.

3.   The right to vote and the eligibility to hold any office for which a person in covenant membership is eligible, if
not under discipline.

4.   The right to trial and appeal if charged with failure to maintain the conditions of membership, with the specific
provision that joining another religious body shall of itself sever membership in the Church.

5.   A covenant member in good standing in any Wesleyan church is entitled to membership privileges in any
Wesleyan church to which a transfer of membership may be desired, subject to 297:5.

Looking at those 5 items, it seems that #1 would typically be available to anyone who is a Christian and a regular church attender. So too they would have access to church sacraments as mentioned in #2. I confess that I don’t know what is referred to by church ordinances so I’ll reserve judgment on that one. Numbers 4 and 5 are only relevant to maintaining membership so they aren’t really a benefit of being a member versus not being a member.

That leaves us with item #3, the right to vote and the eligibility to hold any office for which a person in covenant membership is eligible. If a person loves Jesus and loves their church it is only natural that they would experience a desire to become more involved in their church and to contribute to the planning and direction of their church. Perhaps this would be by holding a church office or maybe they would simply want to help determine the direction of their church by voting on issues that come before the members.

As the membership requirements stand, if someone enjoys having a glass of wine with dinner the Church would not welcome them as a member, solely on the basis of their moderate consumption of alcohol. One might argue that if they really loved their church that much and really wanted to be a member then giving up alcohol would be a small price to pay. I would counter that argument my saying that I would resent having to pay any price, great or small, if the demand were unjust. It’s not the size of the price, it’s the principle.

It seems that this policy could alienate potential good members. Some would be alienated because they want to continue their responsible use of alcohol and others may be alienated simply because they don’t like being required to abstain, on principle. Is this a fair price for the Church to pay? Is the insistence on total abstinence from alcohol worth losing valuable members over? I don’t know, but it doesn’t make much sense to me.

So what do you think? Is abstinence from alcohol a good thing? Should the Wesleyan Church require it of its members? What about it’s leaders? Does this requirement help the Church by maintaining a high standard of integrity for its members or does it hurt the Church by alienating good productive members? Let me know what you think.

Jones

Alcohol (part 3)

In this post I’m continuing my examination of alcohol consumption by members Wesleyan Church. If you are just joining me, start with part 1 here and part 2 here.

From my previous posts I think that it is pretty obvious that the Biblical case for abstinence from drinking alcohol is pretty weak at best. Like so many things in this world, God intends alcohol to be something that we are to use and to enjoy, but not to abuse. As in all things, we should be good stewards of the gifts that God had given us. To quote Mark Driscoll in his sermon series on Ecclesiastes,

Feasting is different than gluttony as drinking is different than alcohol abuse. In the Bible feasting and drinking are connected to worship of God and Joy with his people.

The argument that we should never drink alcohol because some will abuse it is very similar to saying that we should not eat unhealthy foods because some people abuse food by way of unhealthy diets and gluttony. Why is alcohol singled out but nothing is said about saturated fats and the host of chemical food additives in modern diets? I would suggest that in North American society the abuse of food is just as great a problem as the abuse of alcohol. On the other hand, my mother always told me that two wrongs don’t make a right; just because the Church doesn’t address abusive diets doesn’t mean that they should ignore alcohol abuse. Still, it remains a peeve of mine.

Earlier we looked at Rom. 14:21, used by the Church to argue for abstinence from alcohol. But if we look at what Paul wrote just before that verse in Rom. 14:1-19, he talks about how we should not condemn others for what they choose to eat or drink and letting each individual choose for themselves what is right or wrong. Just as he did not forbid the eating of meat that had been sacrificed to idols, we should not forbid the drinking of alcohol.

Returning to the Discipline, item 274 states:

Every person has an inalienable right to private judgment in matters of religion, and an equal right to express personal opinions in any way which will not violate the laws of God or the rights of others.

Do they have the right to private judgment on matters of the covenant? Would that imply that it may be ok to consume alcohol in private but not in public?

As we dig even further into the Discipline, item 297 is a little soft on the importance of items 260 and 265. It defines the conditions of covenant membership as:

1.   Confession of a personal experience in regeneration, and a pledge to seek diligently until sanctified wholly if that
grace has not been obtained.
2.   Christian baptism.
3.   Acceptance of the Articles of Religion which are summarized in 299, the Covenant Membership Commitments,
the Elementary Principles, and the authority of The Discipline in matters of church government.
4.   A covenant to support the Church, to live in fellowship with the members thereof, and to seek God’s glory in all
things.
5.   The approving vote of the members of the receiving church who are present and voting, unless the church by
vote shall delegate this right to the church board. In both cases, it shall be by majority vote, provided that when
objections are urged against the reception of a member, it shall require a vote of two-thirds of those present
and voting to receive.

Does this suggest that there is wiggle room concerning some items 260 and 265? Could they be more strong suggestions than actual requirements? I don’t know.

Now, having said all of that, I think that we should commend  those who choose to abstain from alcohol. The teetotalers have it right in my opinion. There are reasons beyond counting to abstain from alcohol and really no compelling reason to consume. It’s when others are bullied into making the same choice that I take issue. I think that we can agree that if alcohol is to be consumed, there should be a few limitations:

• Drunkenness is a sin – don’t do it.
• If you struggle with alcoholism you should not drink alcohol. Ever.
• If you are in the presence of someone who struggles with alcoholism, you should not drink alcohol.

Another question that has been suggested to me is, should church leaders abstain from alcohol? Leaders should set an example for those they lead, they are held to a higher standard. If you know that alcohol abuse is a major problem in your church, should you abstain to set the example? To better serve those who look to you for leadership? There are lots of people out there who are just incapable of using alcohol in moderation so your moderate example is not helpful to them. In fact, it may be harmful. I don’t have an answer to this question but it does seem to present a pretty good argument.

After a fair amount of time studying and praying on this issue I’ve come to a few conclusions. The Bible seems to espouse moderation, not abstinence, in the consumption of alcohol. This makes me uncomfortable with rules forcing Church members to abstain. Then again, I’m pretty leery of all extra-Biblical church rules so I have some bias there. Although moderation is perfectly acceptable and probably even Good in God’s eyes, abstinence is a wiser path, particularly among church leaders. And, if you do choose to consume alcohol, it must be done responsibly with strict attention to the limitations mentioned above.

Jones

Alcohol (part 2)

In this post I’m continuing my examination of alcohol consumption by members Wesleyan Church. If you are just joining me, start with part 1 here.

Of the two main biblical arguments for abstinence from alcohol used by the Wesleyan Church I’ll look at Rom. 14:21 first since it seems pretty straight forward. “Don’t eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another Christian to stumble.” You should not consume alcohol in the presence of another Christian (or anyone really) who struggles with alcohol in any way. The scripture is pretty clear on this. But it doesn’t really address total abstinence.

The second argument for abstinence from alcohol is found in 1 Cor. 6:12-20 and 10:23 and 2 Cor. 7:1, dealing with what is good versus what is allowed, not becoming a slave to anything, and your body being a temple to the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor. 6:12 states “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.” It seems to me that this would pertain to the abuse of alcohol rather than moderate consumption.

1 Cor. 6:13-20 talks about sexual immorality and our bodies being a part of Christ. I think that it’s a bit of a stretch to apply those verses to alcohol. In a broad sense doing anything that harms our bodies would be condemned by those verses. Smoking, consuming unhealthy foods, etc. I don’t think that there is any clear evidence though that the moderate consumption of alcohol is particularly unhealthy.

1 Cor. 10:23 “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial.” This is of course great scriptural advice. We must always be careful that we don’t fall prey to extremism. People have claimed that we should never do anything that is not specifically permitted by Scripture and others have claimed that we can do anything that isn’t specifically prohibited. This verse nicely refutes both of those extremes. But where do we draw the line? Ecc. 9:7 says “So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!” I’d argue that winning God’s approval is both good and beneficial. Provided of course that the food and wine is enjoyed appropriately.

2 Cor. 7:1 “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” Using this verse as an argument for abstinence from alcohol seems to presume that consuming alcohol defiles our body or spirit. I refer you again to Ecc. 9:7. Also, Jesus drinks wine. He even turns water into wine. It seems pretty clear that wine does not necessarily defile the body or spirit. Sure, the abuse of alcohol would defile both but so would the abuse of prescription drugs and fatty foods. Yet the Church does not wholesale prohibit the consumption of either of those.

I think at this point it seems pretty clear which way I’m leaning on this topic. In my next post however I’ll present some additional supporting arguments for the teetotalers in the crowd and present some conclusions. See you next time!

Jones

Alcohol (part 1)

Alcohol consumption is a bit of a controversial issue among us evangelical Christian types. I can’t speak to other church denominations but I sometimes struggle with the Wesleyan Church’s stance on the issue so I decided to take a closer look at what exactly the Church has to say and why. This discussion is likely to get a bit lengthy so I’m going to break it up into multiple posts.

I’ve examined the Discipline of the Wesleyan Church to try to get a solid grasp of the Church’s stance. For reference I’m using a pdf that I downloaded here. Under Article 3. Covenant Membership Commitments, items 260 and 265 deal with the issue.

Item 260 is a bit of an introduction and overview of Covenant Membership. It states, in part that

To be identified with an organized church is the blessed privilege and sacred duty of all who are saved from their sins and are seeking completeness in Christ Jesus.

and that

it is expected that those entering into Covenant Membership shall follow carefully and conscientiously these guides.

Disregard of the principles embraced in these Covenant Membership Commitments subjects a member to Church discipline.

Clearly this is something that the Church takes quite seriously and expects all considering entering into covenant membership to do likewise. Stating that being  identified with an organized church is the blessed privilege and sacred duty seems to suggest that it is imperative for any devout Christian to do so. While it doesn’t state that entering into covenant membership is the only way to fulfill this duty, it does seem to be implied. Disregard . . . subjects a member to Church discipline certainly conveys the seriousness of straying from these rules.

Item 265.4 states :

To demonstrate a positive social witness by abstaining from all forms of gambling and by abstaining from using or trafficking (production, sale or purchase) in any substances destructive to their physical, mental and spiritual health, such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco and drugs (other than proper medical purposes of drugs)

Scriptually the Discipline offers this support:

Prov. 20:1; Rom. 6:12; 14:21; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; 10:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:22. Christians are to regard their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. While no “thing” of itself is sinful, the Christian should avoid the use of anything which would not help build the fellowship of the church, would not help the believers to realize their full potential in Christ, or which would enslave them. In the light of the scientific knowledge of our day concerning the actual and potential harm of these substances, total abstinence is more in keeping with these biblical principles than is moderation.

Prov. 20:1, Rom. 6:12, Eph. 5:18, and 1 Thess. 5:22 all seem to deal more with drunkenness that the moderate consumption of alcohol so I’ll set those aside. I think that scripture is pretty clear that drunkenness is sinful but it is in moderation that things may get a bit foggy.

That leaves us with the two main biblical arguments for abstinence from alcohol: Rom. 14:21 says “Don’t eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another Christian to stumble.” 1 Cor. 6:12-20 and 10:23 and 2 Cor. 7:1 deal with what is good versus what is allowed, not becoming a slave to anything, and your body being a temple to the Holy Spirit.

In my next post I’ll examine those arguments and try to get a sense of their strength.

Jones

Critical Thinking

Do you know what one of the biggest problems with school curricula these days is?  They teach kids what to think instead of how to think.

I’m not saying that there is no place for the consume-and-regurgitate style of teaching in schools. Kids need solid information. They need to know how to spell. They need to know their multiplication tables. They need to know how our political process works. But they also need to know what to do with information once they get it. Particularly the unfiltered information that assails them from the internet and elsewhere on a daily basis.

In this modern age of easy access to mass communication at our fingertips we are bombarded by information. No longer does our information about how the world works come primarily from schools, libraries, and parents. The internet is our new teacher and will become even more so for the younger generations. The primary function of the school systems should be to teach people how to evaluate this information. To critically evaluate its credibility. To base our opinions on facts instead of rumours, on evidence instead or rhetoric.

This is especially true when it comes to our faith. Like many others before me, I first came to faith by rationally analyzing the content of the Bible, in conjunction with independent historical sources. The foremost question that I asked was ‘do I believe that Jesus rose from the dead?’. It seemed to me that if Jesus did not rise from the dead then the foundation upon which Christianity is built would be destroyed. And if he did indeed rise from the dead then that is a bonafide miracle of such momentous proportions that it lends immediate credibility to everything that he and his disciples said and did. It wasn’t the end of my questions and it ignored the vital relational nature of Christian faith but it was a huge first step.

After a long investigative process I came to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Jesus of Nazareth did in fact live, was in fact crucified, and on the third day did in fact rise from the dead. The phrase beyond a reasonable doubt is key here. To apply a scientific standard of absolute proof is absurd for any historical examination. We can’t prove with absolute certainty that Napoleon lived, let alone Jesus. But, based upon the preponderance of evidence we can be very certain. We use this standard in the court of law to determine an accused’s guilt or innocence on a daily basis. The course of lives hinge on this standard of evidence in the court of law so why not in our hearts and in our lives?

One result of this standard of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ is that it doesn’t necessarily remove all doubt. This sounds as if it might be a problem for a good Christian; aren’t we called by God to have Faith in Him? I would argue that having faith involves examining, wrestling with, and overcoming doubts. Like fear, only an idiot or a fanatic is completely devoid of doubt. I think that doubt is a healthy thing. Without a seed of doubt we would be disinclined to examine our beliefs which would severely curtail our ability to learn and grow in our understanding of God’s Word. Examining our doubts also helps us to avoid fanaticism. It is the nature of God’s Word that some things He has revealed to us in clear, certain terms. Other things are not so clear. I would argue that in many if not all cases the importance of a given message is directly proportional to its scriptural clarity.

Since all rational people are inclined to doubt, learning to confront and rationally examine our doubts teaches us to deal with them in a healthy and productive manner. If we just try to ignore them and hide them away in dark places then the Enemy will cause then to fester and grow like a cancer in our souls until they become bigger than they have any right to be. These super-sized doubts then eventually bust out of the dark to overcome us in our weakest moments. How much better it would be to fight our battles at a time and place of our own choosing?

A fine and obvious example of this is found in the Genesis account of Creation. There are many lessons that are made very clear in this collection of verses. The fact that God has always existed, that he created the heavens and the earth, and that he created Man, to name but a few. Intense debate rages over how long it took God to do all of this. The Bible states that He did it in six days. Some take that to mean six literal 24-hour days. That is after all what it says, right? Others suggest that since God is eternal and is beyond time that he may have used six days as a metaphor for millions or even billions of years. There are strong arguments for both cases. Personally I am unable to accept either version with faith that is beyond a reasonable doubt. But I think that’s ok. I believe that God did in fact do all of those wondrous things and I would suggest that how he went about it is much much less important. I don’t believe for a second that anyone’s eternal soul rests on which side of that particular argument they happen to support.

So what do you think, is doubt ok? Can it be healthy or is it solely the work of the Enemy? Does accepting scripture as Truth necessitate accepting it as literal truth? Or can some scripture be allegorically or metaphorically true?

Jones

Tattoo

In church this past Sunday I got a tattoo. Live, during the service. It was sort of a gimmick used to promote AJ’s new sermon series entitled ‘Marked’. It uses tattoos as a metaphor for how God works in our lives. The gimmick seemed to be pretty well received, at least by those who are into tattoos. I hope that it made a positive impression on the others too.

About halfway through his sermon, which focused on God’s grace, AJ asked me to speak. He asked me what my tattoo represents to me and asked me to tell a little bit about my story. My tattoo is a half-sleeve phoenix which represents the strength, freedom, and rebirth that God has blessed me with. Explaining that was pretty straight forward. Telling my story was a little tougher. My walk towards God has been following a long winding road with many side excursions along the way. I wanted to do the story justice and make it meaningful to people without turning it into a pity party. I’ve had some difficulties in my life but there are many many people who have had a rougher go of it than me. I’ve told the story before, in parts, but always in a more intimate setting. Telling it to 200+ people was a bit daunting.

Generally speaking I’m not a real talk-y type or person but once I get going it’s sometimes hard to shut me up. In telling my story there were a lot of things that I would have like to expand on, to explain better, but I was limited in how much time I had to work with. I just hope that I was able to communicate my points effectively. I think that there is a lot that people can learn from my story. Not that I’m exceptional in any way, just that I’m pretty good at screwing things up. That’s just how I roll. I jump in with two feet, screw everything up, (hopefully) learn from my mistakes, and then (hopefully) do things better the second go around.

In keeping with AJ’s topic I tried to focus on how God has shown me grace. First, when I became a Christian, and then again later on when I strayed. Of course there have been many more times than that but those were two of the biggies.

The other thing I tried to touch on was breaking down Christian cultural stereotypes. Like many others there was a time in my life when I was searching and took an interest in Jesus but Christian stereotypes scared me away. I had this idea that all Christians were holier than though hypocrites looking down their noses at sinners like me. I thought that if I want to church I would be judged and rejected. Either that or I would be welcomed with awkward forced smiles and reluctant handshakes. Exposed to strange rituals that no one would take the time to explain. Were these stereotypes fair? Probably not. Sure, some may be a like that or worse but I’ve found most Christians to be sincere in following Christ to the best of their ability and welcoming of new lost sheep into the fold.

Unfortunately though, I’m not the only one who holds to these stereotypes. I think that it is our job as Christ-followers to reach out to people on a level that they can relate to. To be non-judgmental and culturally relevant. Deep Water’s controversial ad campaign is a good example of this. Some might say that it goes to far and crosses a line. I don’t know, maybe they are right. I have an unfortunate history of straying outside of lines myself. But I applaud the effort to reach people in a meaningful way. To say that it doesn’t matter what choices you have made in the past. To provide an opportunity to come to a place where you can hear God’s Word and be forgiven. You learn to forgive others as God has forgiven you. To make decisions that you won’t regret.

If anyone is interested in listening to the podcast of AJ’s sermon you can download it here.

edit: Our humble church service got some press coverage.

Jones

Finding Yourself

The other day I overheard a college age kid talk about wanting to find himself, to figure out who he really is. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard people talk about this sort of thing. I have to tell you though it’s a load of crap. Total New Age hippie b- s-. I wanted to tell the kid that you don’t find who you are, you choose who you are. Or, rather, you choose who you will become. I think that is part of the reason that our society has such a problem with immaturity and extended adolescences. Too many people, especially young people, expect things to be handed to them. You’re lost you say? Well get a darn map. Who you are is a product of what you do, a product of the decisions that you make. And, for a Christian, a product of God’s Grace.

I don’t claim to be a wise man. I’ve made a whole lot of bad decisions in my life but I’ve managed to make a few good ones here and there too. Who I am today is a result of those decisions, good and bad. I won’t bore you with the gory details of my childhood but suffice it to say that those who knew the child I was would probably not recognize the man that I have become. I was a weak child, in every sense of the word. Physically/mentally/emotionally. I was afraid. But I decided that I didn’t like being weak and afraid. I decided that I was going to do something about it. I was going to learn to be strong. And brave.

I didn’t change over night. But slowly it did happen and not by chance. I started practicing martial arts. Later, I lifted weights. I put myself in scary situations so that I could confront my fears. I fought. I studied math, science, psychology, and philosophy to strengthen my mind. I learned how to be a critical thinker. I stopped being a weak coward and started using my hard earned strength to defend others who weren’t so lucky.

About 10 years ago I met a couple of folks who called themselves Christians. They were unlike any Christians I’d met before. I actually liked and respected these ones. After knowing them for a few years I decided to have a look at this whole Jesus thing. I made a decision to go to church. I made a decision to read the Bible. I made a decision to pray. As a result of these decisions I came to know the Lord and I was saved. I made a decision to accept God’s Grace and I became a Christian. I didn’t attend/read/pray because I was a Christian, I became a Christian because I attended/read/prayed. I wasn’t saved by those acts, I was saved by God’s Grace. But by forming those habits I put myself in a position to hear God speaking to me and to accept the Grace that He was offering. We have to be careful not to put the horse in front of the cart.

Don’t think that I’m on some big ego trip here. I’ve made plenty of bad decisions along the way and I’ve had to deal with the consequences of those decisions. I’m still a sinner. I’m still weak. And in more ways than I care to admit I’m still a coward. But I’ve made my decisions and I’m doing things that I need to do to get better. Most of all I’m learning that, for all of my weakness, God is infinitely strong. That, if I trust in Him, He will bless me with strength beyond my wildest imaginings. I am, we all are, products of our decisions. So get a darn map. And, when you get lost, ask God for directions.

Jones

Encouragement

A few months ago I applied for a promotion that would take me away from Halifax but I recently discovered that I did not get it. I was quite disappointed yet oddly relieved at the same time. Does that make any sense? I really don’t have very strong ties to this city. My parents are here or near but I really don’t see them all that much. I have friends, of course, but I’m not married and have no children. A fresh start in a new city sounded exciting and refreshing.

What is here is my church, my Deep Water. I’ve often reflected on how much I enjoy Deep Water but I guess I didn’t realize just how attached I had become. I told a church friend about having applied to a job that might require me to move and she seemed quite horrified at the thought. She said that she didn’t want to pray for me to get the job because she really hoped that I would stay. It was nice to hear. I love my church and it is good to be loved in return.

I’m eagerly following my friend Holly’s journey towards possible long term mission work. Knowing her and seeing the work that God is doing in her life I have no doubt that He will accomplish great things through her. I am envious of her. I am envious of her youth, her energy, and her faith. Tonight she posted a blog entry about her struggle with doubt and fear. It is a fine thing to dream big dreams while sitting on your sofa but much harder when the dreams come to doing. Holly found inspiration in the story of Joshua. She realized that she can not accomplish her dreams on her own. But like Joshua she has realized that all she has to do is be strong and courageous and put her faith in God; he will all of the heavy lifting. That’s a lesson I’m still learning.

I posted before about feeling a certain call to leadership but I still don’t know what to make of it. What does God have in store for me? Is it one of the possible paths that I see before me or another as yet undreamed of? Will He take me away to parts unknown or will he allow me to sink my roots deeper into this great city and amazing church? Only time will tell. Like Joshua, and like Holly, I know that I just have to keep showing up and putting my faith in God. Before I can lead I must follow.

Jones