Walk This Way

Let's go for a walk. And why not? We see walking as a metaphor for life as we step through Scripture. In 1st Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul gives us "walking lessons" as he teaches the Thessalonians how to "Walk This Way". Hey, he was ahead of Stephen Tyler and Aerosmith by a couple of millenia.

First, we're to Walk This Way with Transparency. Paul writes to the Thessalonians that "we were not preaching with any deceit or impure purposes or trickery" (1Thess 2:3). Apparently, the apostle's critics told the church that it was all just a scam, just some spiritual slight of hand. They charged that Paul had a hidden agenda. He fires back and says nothing could be further from the truth. He and his team were absolutely and utterly transparent when they ministered in Thessalonica.

The apostle wasn't concerned about pleasing anyone except God. As a matter of fact, Paul was more than happy to let the Lord be his supernatural cardiologist. "He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts" (2:4). We're transparent before God. We're transparent before you.

Secondly, we're to Walk This Way with Integrity. His integrity was seen in the way he didn't accept payment from the church for his ministry to them. Paul pulled double shifts making tents, "night and day we toiled to earn a living" (2:9) so he wouldn't be a financial burden to them. He didn't want money to get in the way of the Gospel. The message of Jesus is too important. Paul goes so far as to say "we were pure and honest and faultless" in their dealings with the Thessalonians (2:10).

Thirdly, we are to Walk This Way in Community. The apostle writes that "we gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too" (2:8). Paul and his team didn't just show up like consultants, pass along a few pithy comments and move on. No, they invest their lives into this church. As a matter of fact, the word "lives" is actually "psuche" in Greek, which means not just life, but heart and soul as well. He also reminds them "we worked among you" (2:9). Not "at you," not "to you," not "near you." They worked AMONG the Thessalonians, in their midst.

He continues this idea of walking in relationship by writing, "We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy" (2:12). The phrase "to live your lives" is probably better translated as "to walk around." It's actually the same word the Bible uses to describe Jesus walking on the water. We're to live life on the move.

But we don't walk alone. Jesus promises to never leave us on our own (Matt 28:20). And we are to provide encouragment to one another. I love the idea of encouragement. It literally means "to put courage into someone." It's translated from the Greek word "parakaleo." And it carries with it a strong sense of coming alongside someone when they need it the most. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Paraklete, the One who comes alongside and encourages.

We're to Walk This Way...TOGETHER! There are no Lone Ranger Christians (hey, even Kimosabe had Tonto). We need each other. God Himself said "It's not good for the man to be alone" (Gen 2:18). Get plugged into a local church. Get involved in a small group. You need them. They need you.

Paul is calling us to Walk This Way...
with Transparency
with Integrity
in Community.

Now, let's get to walking!

From sermon at Freedom River CC on April 13, 2008.

1st Blog & 2nd Corinthians

Well, here's my world premiere into the Blogosphere! I'm been threatening to do this for sometime now. But finally got around to it.

What's the purpose of this blog? We're going to figure that one out together as we go along. I'm sure much of it will focus on my service at church as Worship Leader and occasional Teaching Pastor. Some will be reflections on my own study of the Bible. Other topics may well include my work as a Documentary Photographer at WRAL-TV, my family, sports, music, books, movies and any other incredibly random stuff that runs through my brain.

Will you care? I'm not sure. It is rather egotistical to think someone might care the least little bit about what I have to say about anything. My wife wonders if I've finally lost it and should move back into my parents' basement and take my Star Wars sheets with me. With that in mind, I'll try to keep it short and, hopefully on some level, thought-provoking, funny and interesting.

Why the goofy name? Well, "Jelly & Jam" is a combination of two things. First of all, my nickname is "Jelly Roll." It came from a friend(?) at work about 20 pounds ago. And "Jam" comes from my love of music and my role as Worship Leader at church.

I've recently jumped into a study of 2nd Corinthians. For those who don't know, this is a letter from a guy named Paul to a church in Corinth (southern Greece) in about 55AD. He wrote several letters to them, but we only have two: the books of the Bible we call 1st and 2nd Corinthians.

In chapter one, Paul writes about how God is the source of all comfort. Not just some or even most comfort. ALL comfort. And he says that God will comfort us during our troubles. You can take it to the bank. But when you read on, it's apparent that it doesn't stop there. He comforts us SO THAT we can comfort others.

In just five verses (2 Corinthians 1:3-7), he uses some form of the Greek word "parakaleo." Most Bibles translate it as "comfort." But it can be just as easily rendered "encourage" (as a verb) or "encouragement" (as a noun). I think this may be the case in this passage. To encourage someone is to literally "put courage in" them. It's to let someone know that they can make it in the tough times.

"Parakaleo" is a brother to the Greek word "paraklete," often used to describe the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. A "paraklete" is one who comes alongside, especially in times of trouble. Putting this all together in the context of what Paul has to say, God comes alongside us in our troubles. In turn we are to come alongside others when they face hard times. Kind of a supernatural "Pay It Forward" thing.

The bottom line would seem to be that when we face hard times, God WILL comfort and encourage us...and He'll do it through other believers.

So as we head into 2008, let's not hoard God's comfort and encouragement to ourselves. Let's be ready to come alongside others who are in desperate need of a friend. Hey, God has comforted you. Now it's time to "Pay It Forward!"

Jay