Ambiguous

I just started a new Critical Thinking class yesterday. This week's lesson is on language and reasoning which is right up my alley, so to speak. One of the lectures is on ambiguity. One of the types of ambiguity we discussed is semantic ambiguity. This is where words have more than one meaning. We might better understand this as semantic" figures of speech". Most every English speaker knows that "pulling my leg" means that someone is joking. The teacher gave several  cases of ambiguity that came from the newspaper headlines. Consider the following:

Iraqi head seeks arms

Drunk gets nine months in violin case

Toilet seat stolen. Police have nothing to go on.

While these are pretty funny, I couldn't help but think how ambiguous we can be in a church service. Those of us who have been around any type of evangelistic church are used to such things as "praying through" or "getting right with God." What exactly does "praying through" mean anyway? Praying through what? Does it mean to pray until I receive an answer? My personal explanation is that it means praying until I have peace in my own mind about what I am struggling with internally. But does my unchurched friend realize that?

We are all prone to use church speak on occasion. Who can help it? As Christians we spend a lot of time with our church "families". This is wonderful but we must remember that not everyone has had the opportunity to spend time in a church environment. When new people come they probably already feel uncomfortable at first. We don't want to make them even more uncomfortable by using language they are unfamiliar with. I think it behooves us all to try and make things as plain as possible for the newcomer. The fact that our lifestyles are often so different from unchurched people is a big enough bridge. Let's not make the bridge harder to cross by using language that people can't relate to.

Church speak is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, it displays our emotions which is what language is supposed to do. I'm sure I will continue to use it, as will we all. But will you join me in trying to think about some of the things we say that visitors to our church might not understand? Maybe we can express somethings a little more plainly.  It might mean the difference in someone's salvation.

Yours in Christ's Service,

Rev. Sullivan Jones 

Journey of a Thousand Miles

It has often been said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and how true it is. Every big project that has ever been brought to completion had to have a beginning. It might have been while friends were having a cup of coffee discussing their dreams. The starting point might have been when someone thought they made a "mistake" but ended up in the right place after all. One thing is sure, every journey has a beginning.

The adult student who goes back to school must sign up for the first class or he will never graduate. The owner of a large food chain had to make his first hamburger. You get the picture. Someone had to make a move. Sometimes moves frighten us. As human beings we do not like change. We are the most comfortable when things are left alone. But change is inevitable in this world; nothing stays the same. Whether by improvement or decay, things always change. Many times we are hesitant to begin repairs on something for fear of making a mess. If we leave it alone, however, decay will eventually set in.

Is there a dream in your life that you haven't seen fulfilled? Something you've been holding on to but don't know where to start? Start somewhere and let God lead. You must take the first step. But what if I fail, you might ask. Trying something and seeing that it is not quite right is not failure. It is far worse to try nothing and remain stagnant.

Are you wanting to go back to school? Take one class and see how it works. Wanting to play the piano? You'll never know if you have the aptitude if you don't try. Want to learn a foreign language but think its too hard? Learn good morning and good night. Everyone has to start somewhere. Want to increase your prayer life? If you haven't been praying at all start with ten minutes every day. Set your alarm ten minutes early. Anyone can do ten minutes.

Many times we fail in our pursuits because we don't know how to make reasonable goals. Don't bite off more than you can chew as the old saying goes. Try one step at a time. Make the first move and one day you'll look back and be amazed at how far you've come. Life is too short to sit around wishing for things we may never have. It is the will of God for us to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled in his kingdom. Find something you've always wanted to do and give it a try. You never know where it might lead.

Most of all enjoy the ride! Life is short so give it all you've got and let God do the rest!

God Bless,

Sullivan Jones 

Living by Faith

I recently heard someone say that "some people need to get some faith." Actually the Bible tells us that everyone has a measure of faith (Romans 12:32)  Each of us has faith, it just gets low sometimes. The problem is that sometimes we don't know where to put our faith.People let us down. Opportunities don't come out quite like we expected them too. Finances dry up. The list goes on ...

I am reminded of the scriptures where King David said, "some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Our God has never failed us. When our faith begins to get low, we need to remind ourselves of the times he has provided for us. If he has ever answered a prayer for you, he can do it again.

Jesus compared our faith to a grain of mustard seed. It is a tiny seed but it eventually will grow into a great tree if given the right opportunities. It needs the right amount of sunlight, rain, cold, and heat to become the tree it is destined to be. The lesson is that all of us go through different seasons in our lives. Just as the mustard seed needs these different season, so do we. God has a destiny for all of us. We are on the path to become what he has promised we will be.

Some might feel like you are still a seed. Some might be a young sapling. Still others are in the latter stages of life and have become that mighty tree the Bible talks about where others can find rest. No matter the stage of your life, we all need continual spiritual nourishment. We need to feed and water our faith. We do this by daily doses of God's word and prayer.

In John 15:5 Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  

No matter what stage you are in, don't quit watering your faith. Let it grow as long as you live. You never know what it might become!

Living by Faith,

Pastor Jones