Aspen Hill Christian Church

Jumping Jehosphat, Is It Really July Already?

I can’t believe that summer is well upon us.  Here it is “March” in my mind and “July” according to the calendar.  I know that as we age time moves faster and/or we move slower but really, this is more than I anticipated.  If time starts moving any faster I’m going to be run over by it while looking back to see what time it was before it hit me!  Go figure that one out.  It has something to do with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and time/space travel.

As much as time seems to be gaining speed on me, I’m amazed at how some things never change, especially when it comes to church.  I could talk about some of the negative things that never change (like complaining, nit picking, griping, committee-itis, and so on), but that isn’t worth the time it takes to ferret it out.

What I am increasingly in touch with and delighted with is the positive things that never seem to change.  By positive things I can think of several things that seem to stay just the same and in so doing continue to enrich our lives together.  For instance, have you ever noticed that the more some people give the more they are called upon to give even more?  This is a good thing.  If you are one of the people that are called on repeatedly to do things, you can be darn proud of it.  It reflects that you are one of the “givers”, the “do-ers”, and “the people others count on”.  That’s a good thing in my book.  Isn’t it a good thing in your book too?  I also think of as much as things change, the things that count don’t really change.  There is a note from a minister who is Timothy of our church.  He came out of our youth group and while the group was small and struggled to have its own separate and cool identity it clearly had an impact in John’s life.  I think of the grown grandson who came to church recently and left saying “It’s always fun at Aspen Hill Christian Church”.

What truly matters is our relationships with one another.  What truly matters is that we have room at the table for each other, even if we see things differently from one another.  What truly matters is that grace is the last word in any situation, not judgment.   What truly matters is that we can still come face to face, toe to toe, eyeball to eyeball with other people in the environment of the church and make what amounts to real, life long, life lasting friendships instead of the faceless, sometimes pointless twittering “friends” on Facebook.  What truly matters is that young people are still loved and their lives impacted, old people still have a place and their lives truly matter and everyone in between still feels welcome at the party.  What truly matters (though often taken for granted) is that we have deeply personal and important relationships through and in and often because of the church.  When people seek a minister to be with them at a time of joy or of sorrow we are often the very first place they think of and come to seeking their connection.  Why?  Because the things that truly matter are found right here.  Church matters.  Relationships rooted in faith and in personal relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another count and are best found right here in good old Aspen Hill Christian Church.  You count!  I’ll see you Sunday.