Vernon T. Jones MTS, Spiritual Consultant, Author
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Scripture Reflection: A Prayer for Discernment

8/30/2018

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PictureSr. Judy Buonavolonta (Jones)
"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” Psalm 86: 11

Discernment comes to us in many forms, and often comes in ways that may be hard for us to see. We are all called by God to fulfill some part to bring about God’s kingdom into our present time. We all have certain gifts and talents that others don’t have, and thus it is important for all of us to seek how those talents should be used and set about using them. A prayer like this verse, is a good one to use to begin looking for how your gifts might be used.

My late wife, Judy, went into a Catholic Religious Order to become a sister right after high school. She joined the Humility of Mary Order (often called the Blue Nuns), for that is what she thought God was calling her to do at that moment. She felt that being a sister was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. This Order taught her in school and she became very close with them.

She was in the Order for more than two years, and the time was a very good one for her, for she grew spiritually and in many other ways. However, as time went on, she knew that this wasn’t what she was called to do for all time. She left the Order, but she continued to discern her call as a disciple of Christ and continued to use her talents. Besides helping our family and me grow in our faith she also was deeply involved in Christian education in her local parish. Her entire life became a witness of God’s love to those around her and she discerned God’s call throughout her life

Discernment comes to all of us daily. May you be open to where it may be leading you; it could take you to places that are totally new and different for you! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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Scripture Reflection: Faith Community

8/23/2018

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“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10: 24-25

This passage is often quoted to encourage people to worship regularly with a faith community. From my own personal experience, being connected to and involved with a worshiping community has been an important part of my spiritual pilgrimage. Over the years the communities I have attended have been a support and help for me. I realize that there are no perfect faith communities, just as there are no perfect people. All of the communities have had aspects that I didn’t like or care for, but in most cases the good have outweighed the bad. My family and I have been formed and blessed by several, and here are a few of them.

Jerusalem Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio was the cradle where my faith formation began. While attending Youngstown State University, I also became involved in its Campus Christian Fellowship. Being a part of this organization and others on campus enabled me to participate in an environment whereby people from different faiths, backgrounds, and cultures could come together in unity.

Following my marriage to my late wife Judy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Pickerington, Ohio was the faith community that nurtured my family for a number of years. As I moved around the country on corporate moves, my family was also involved in several other Catholic churches. I later joined Epiphany Lutheran (ELCA) Church, also in Pickerington, where I once again became involved in various ministries.

Other faith communities were Bethany Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky where I was their Worship Leader and Spiritual Consultant as well as Christ Lutheran Church, also in Louisville, where I served as Director of Small Group Ministry. The two churches that Shirley has served as Pastor has contributed to my walk as well, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alpena, Michigan.

I would encourage all of you to try to find a community that can help you on your journey. In one’s spiritual pilgrimage it is vitally important to be part of a faith-filled community. If you are a part of one that works well for you that is wonderful. Some of you may have even been hurt by a community and could find it hard to join another, however, if you aren’t part of one, try to find an open, loving, and supportive body that is best for you!  Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved

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Shirley's Retirement Open House

8/16/2018

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St. Paul Lutheran Church, Alpena MI, hosted a Retirement Open House in honor of Shirley and me to acknowledge our six years of ministry as Shirley begins her retirement from full-time ministry.
 
Besides the congregation, the wider Alpena community was also invited to the Open House. We had a wonderful turnout for this event, and we were humbled and honored by all those who came and wished us well and showered us with love. We are extremely grateful to the gracious folks at St. Paul who pulled this event together.
 
Shirley preached her last sermons at St. Paul on August 11 and 12. Sometime in mid-Sept, Shirley and I will be moving to Colorado to start our next great adventure. We look forward to what God will be calling us to do next.
 
Enjoy the pictures! My thanks to Nancy Smith, a member of St. Paul, for taking some of these pictures. Peace, Vernon T.
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Scripture Reflection: Faith to Trust in the Promises of God

8/9/2018

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“No distrust made him [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’” Romans 4: 20-22

The story of Abraham and the faith he showed in God’s promises is recorded in several places in the Bible. He believed that God would do what was promised, even when things around him seemed to suggest something different. On our spiritual pilgrimage we often are called upon to have faith to trust in something that others can’t see or understand. You may know others that have been in this situation, or you may have been in a similar position.

One of the times in my life when this occurred was when I was thinking of going to the Trinity Lutheran Seminary. I had spent more than twenty-seven years in the insurance industry and wasn’t in a position to take early retirement but was given some really clear direction to go. The odd thing for me was that I knew that I should think about going, but I wasn’t sure why I was going before I went. I very strongly believe that in order to become an ordained pastor, a person had to receive a call from God in some form or fashion, and I had not received that call. However, it became clearer as I went along that I should go anyway.
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After I started, people would ask me why I was here, I would say that God told me to come, but I didn’t know why. After I was there for a few months, people began telling me that I would make a great pastor, but again I didn’t feel called to be one. Going to Trinity took faith in God’s promises, for at the beginning I truly did not know why I was there. Later on, I found out why when I met and married Shirley Ross, and became involved in my current ministry, however that was after I went.

On your spiritual pilgrimage, may you like Abraham have the faith to trust in the promises of God, so that when you are called to act, you can do so knowing that God will be with you! Peace, Vernon T.

Copyright © 2018 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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Scripture Reflection: Guided by the Spirit

8/2/2018

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“By contract, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. . . . If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.” Galatians 5: 22-23, 25

If we acknowledge the fact that we have the Holy Spirit in our lives and is a very important aspect of our spiritual pilgrimage, then according to this verse we ought also to be guided by this same Holy Spirit. This seems like stating the obvious! However, if the Spirit is truly leading us, are the fruits of the Spirit present in our spiritual core?

Can we say that we attempt to love all those around us, do we have the joy and peace that come from knowing that God’s infinite love is always with us, and do we have faithfulness in our spiritual pilgrimage? Taking part in this journey and being directed by the Holy Spirit will change us and cause us to grow spiritually and emotionally.

I know that I am more understanding of those whom years ago I might have been inclined to look at from a very judgmental standpoint. I also know that I am more willing to let go of things that have happened to me and around me then I used to, these are but some of the ways that I have been changed. Some of these changes may have come about because of my life experiences, however, I believe that the Holy Spirit has also impacted and helped mold me. May you be open to being guided by the Holy Spirit and in the process be changed by that same Spirit! Peace, 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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