Vernon T. Jones MTS, Spiritual Consultant, Author
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Scripture Reflection: Old Self into a New Self

6/28/2018

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" . . . seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator." Colossians 3: 9b-10
 
Two months after my high school graduation, I started working in a steel mill’s open-hearth department near my hometown, Youngstown, Ohio. I continued to work full time for nearly nine years until I earned my undergraduate degree. I had many different jobs during my time there, and some of the jobs required me to either get really dirty or be around a lot of heat causing me to perspire quite a bit.
 
Thus, I normally had to take off the work clothes and shower before putting on my street clothes. It was a wonderful feeling to remove the dirty and smelly work clothes after my shift was over. After the shower and putting on the clean clothes I felt almost like a new person.
 
In this passage from Colossians we have the image of being stripped of the old self (old clothes) and being renewed into a new self (new clothes). The reader is encouraged to leave behind the old practices that they were once involved in, and to be renewed with the knowledge of a new life in Christ.
 
As we take part in the spiritual pilgrimage, the practices of the old self (old clothes) maybe something, we don’t feel like wearing any longer. Somewhat like when I couldn’t wait to get my dirty clothes off after my shift was over. While striving to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, may you leave behind those old things that prevent you from being renewed. May you be clothed with your new self (new clothes) in the image of Christ!  Peace, Vernon T.
 
Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Vernon's "Living Lutheran Magazine" Article

6/25/2018

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The “Living Lutheran Magazine” recently published an article I wrote. It talks about how I started a new prayer routine, when my late wife was in a nursing home recovering from surgery. Please go to the link below or above to read it. Peace, Vernon T. 
 
https://www.livinglutheran.org/2018/06/prayer%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8athe-breath-of-life/
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Personal Retreat

6/21/2018

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 I have been very fortunate to be able to take several personal retreats in my life. One of them was when I was able to take part in a personal retreat at St. Augustine’s House, a Lutheran Monastery, in Oxford, MI. Part of the retreat was silent, and there were many opportunities for worship, as the Monks normally worship eight different times a day. I was able to make several of their worship periods each day, and I had time for my own prayer, reading, and reflection.
 
The Monks were very welcoming and gracious to me while I was there. It was a very good experience for me, and I came away with a few good insights for me and the ministry that I feel called to. I would encourage you to think about taking part in something like that, somewhere, some day, when moved by the Holy Spirit to do so. You could also do a mini retreat, by just going off to a park, a waterfront, an empty church, basically any place where you can feel calm and quiet in your inner core, where you are able to pray, read, and reflect.

​Peace, Vernon T.

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Vernon’s Article in the “Living Lutheran Magazine"

6/14/2018

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In the June issue of the Living Lutheran Magazine I was fortunate enough to get an article published. The title of the piece is “Prayer–the breath of life,” and it talks about the importance of having spiritual practices. Go to the above link marked Living Lutheran Article to read it.

E
njoy, Vernon T. 

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Scripture Reflection: A New Heart and a New Spirit

6/7/2018

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"A new heart I [the Lord God] will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, . . ." Ezekiel 36: 26-27a

In this Old Testament book, we have the priest and prophet, Ezekiel, outlining what the Lord directed him to tell the Israelite nation. Their hearts that were like stone would be turned into hearts of flesh. In Ezekiel 37 we have the story of the "Valley of Dry Bones" and how God puts a new life into something that was dry and dead. This is an excellent story for those who want to engage in spiritual practices, for it gives us all hope about what can come from it, a new heart and new spirit.

However, some of us may feel like obtaining a new heart and spirit is an extremely difficult thing to do, depending what is going on in your lives. One such time for me was when my late wife, Judy, died in late January 1999. After her funeral and all of the related activity calmed down I can remember how depressed, lonely, and sad I was. Up until her death, I had been busily caring for her at home, and then life suddenly slowed down.

During that time of the year the days were short and having to be alone during those winter evenings was especially challenging for me. There were many stressful moments for me then. It took a long time, but spring did come, and by July my energy level did begin to improve. My heart and spirit were renewed over time.

Think about reflecting on these chapters from Ezekiel as an example of how we can also be reborn. Being on our spiritual pilgrimage isn’t always a bed of roses, but we can be daily given a new heart and spirit when we are open to God’s love, grace, and mercy. Blessings on your spiritual travels! Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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    Vernon T. Jones earned his Master of Theological Studies Degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary after a lengthy insurance industry career. Jones has assisted people with incorporating into their faith journey the discipleship practices that are outlined in his upcoming book and his presentations. 

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