This weekend at VintageTen, we are celebrating “Christ the King Sunday” (the traditional last Sunday in the liturgical church year.) What we are really celebrating is that Jesus is the King of kings. Did you know that as members of God’s family we are royalty, related to the King, actually kings ourselves? That sounds strange, but it is one of the ways that Jesus talks about the “Kingdom” of heaven (us.) It is the Kingdom of Kingdoms because the inhabitants are all kings and Jesus is the King of the kings.
As kings under The King we are certainly blessed. What does this mean to be blessed? How does being a king actually affect our lives? These are some of the questions we will discuss on Sunday based on Matthew 25: 31-46
What is our Purpose?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Vintage Ten has MOVED
We are moving to our new location this weekend. The official address is 917 Olive 63101 (The Syndicate building). The entrance is on the north side of the street about half way between 10th St. and 9th St. on Olive. (Directions). We will be in the 4th floor “theater” space. A greeter will be at the door to welcome you into the building, and point you in the right direction.
Thank you, thank you and thank you goes out to Craig Heller and Loftworks for allowing us the opportunity to use the space at 321 N. 10th street for the past 8 months. I also send thanks to them and the Syndicate Management for letting us use the “theater space” on the 4th floor of the Syndicate.
Join me Saturday to help move in. We will meet at 10th and Locust in our old space at 9am. We should finish in an hour. Call me if you can help out. 314-420-4546
Join me Sunday as we worship for the first time in our new space.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
An "almost" broken promise
Wow, I almost forgot to let you know how a week without technology went for me. First, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Second, it was not as pure as I was hoping for. My friends had his computer, so I checked on all my fun stuff on the web like how I lost terribly at fantasy football that week.
What I did do that was more difficult was not answer phone calls and check emails. That was tough to not do for a whole week. Especially when I'm becoming more and more used to instantaneous communication.
In the end it was very healthy to leave the world behind for a week. I think this will become a regular vacation ritual. Hope that you can join me on this practice...or maybe you already have great boundaries for yourself and this isn't an issue for you, in which case you probably didn't even read this entry so...I guess that's that.
Peace,
Jason
What I did do that was more difficult was not answer phone calls and check emails. That was tough to not do for a whole week. Especially when I'm becoming more and more used to instantaneous communication.
In the end it was very healthy to leave the world behind for a week. I think this will become a regular vacation ritual. Hope that you can join me on this practice...or maybe you already have great boundaries for yourself and this isn't an issue for you, in which case you probably didn't even read this entry so...I guess that's that.
Peace,
Jason
Back in the saddle
Well...welcome back to all you faithful vintageten readers out there, I hope the three of us are doing well. I'm glad it is just the few of us because these are just the silly sometimes bland musing of one man.
So perhaps I have gone overboard on the self depreciating. Contrary to the current evidence I wouldn't say I have a confidence problem. In fact I would say I'm a fairly confident individual that boarders on over confidence in some situations. So don't take my self depreciation to seriously...I'm actually doing just fine. Thank you for your concern though.
Anyway...this brings me to one of my main theories on life. The social interactions and decision making of human beings are most influenced by how secure they feel in their environments. Think about this for your life. You probably communicate most effectively and naturally when you are most comfortable and secure in your own being.
Now, we all end up in situations where we are uncomfortable because of many different factors. Regardless of the factors, one reality is that people feel this social insecurity when they come and join communities like ours here at VintageTen.
For those of you who are regular participants in the VintageTen community and to those who would still call themselves outsiders, these feelings are normal. They take time to pass. It takes time to build relationships with people you may not know very well. Don't abandon participating in this community just because we feel a little social tension because we don't know each other very well. Come a few times, hopefully you will see the same faces again and again and you can begin to develop these new relationships. Those feelings of social awkwardness will begin to fade over time, and to be honest if they don't...run...run as fast as you can from that environment. Otherwise you will find yourself in a bad episode of "the Office".
Here's to hoping we get to know each other better.
Jason
So perhaps I have gone overboard on the self depreciating. Contrary to the current evidence I wouldn't say I have a confidence problem. In fact I would say I'm a fairly confident individual that boarders on over confidence in some situations. So don't take my self depreciation to seriously...I'm actually doing just fine. Thank you for your concern though.
Anyway...this brings me to one of my main theories on life. The social interactions and decision making of human beings are most influenced by how secure they feel in their environments. Think about this for your life. You probably communicate most effectively and naturally when you are most comfortable and secure in your own being.
Now, we all end up in situations where we are uncomfortable because of many different factors. Regardless of the factors, one reality is that people feel this social insecurity when they come and join communities like ours here at VintageTen.
For those of you who are regular participants in the VintageTen community and to those who would still call themselves outsiders, these feelings are normal. They take time to pass. It takes time to build relationships with people you may not know very well. Don't abandon participating in this community just because we feel a little social tension because we don't know each other very well. Come a few times, hopefully you will see the same faces again and again and you can begin to develop these new relationships. Those feelings of social awkwardness will begin to fade over time, and to be honest if they don't...run...run as fast as you can from that environment. Otherwise you will find yourself in a bad episode of "the Office".
Here's to hoping we get to know each other better.
Jason
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Headed Out of Town and Teathered to Tech.
IIIIIII'm out'a here!!!! Starting this Sunday afternoon I will be on vacation with the family for a few days in beautiful Millersburg MO. However, I am finding it very hard to leave the cell phone and the computer at home. I am panicky that something important might happen while I'm away. I guess in reality that is just me being arrogant, but still. So, my challenge and the challenge that I put to everyone...when you go on vacation, leave your technology at home. I'll write when I get back how it all went. We will be back on Saturday of next week, so I will see you for worship both tomorrow and when we get back. Till then, peace!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Manufactured Conflict in the Downtown Neighborhood
It’s exciting to see a city come to life in so many different ways. I’m not a local St. Louisan, but I feel like I get just as excited when I see all the wonderful things happening here in the hub of the city. Whether it is the Lucas Park Halloween party on the 25th of October (3-5pm), the growth of our community at VintageTen, or just all the wonderful and diverse people you see walk around downtown in the evenings when all the business folk have headed home.
First, let’s just talk about community. In my mind community is the greatest determining factor for a neighborhood. Again, I apologize for sounding like a broken record. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Jeez Jason…give it a rest. We know, we know…community is important.” And I promise, I’ll hop on some other soap box soon enough (trust me, with the election stuff coming up there is plenty of soap boxes lying around to jump on.) For the time being though, I’m really gun hoe on the centrality of community. The thing is that no one really disagrees with me or anybody that hypes community. The problem is that community, like any good thing, doesn’t just happen.
Downtown is developing into a genuine community where we can support and encourage each other. A group of neighbors have been working diligently to clean up Lucas Park and make it a place that all people feel comfortable using. I took Titus there for the first time without feeling totally grossed out. We played on the slides (which by the way, he went down all by himself like a big boy!!) On top of this general clean up it gives us as downtown residents and neighbors an opportunity to interact with the homeless population that hangs out in the park. While we might never socialize on a regular basis, we can talk and learn from each other and still be neighborly. It is wonderful. Unfortunately, Larry Rice continues to be an antagonist in our attempts to unify a broken neighborhood. I finally came to the conclusion that the Rev. Rice feeds on controversy. We will, as a community, continue to do what is right and build relationships despite Larry’s best efforts to manufacture conflict between two groups that are understandably worlds apart. However, being worlds apart does not mean that community can’t exist. That is the beauty of diversity and a human’s ability to sympathize.
I know I said “First” at the beginning of this, but I think I’m going to stop there at the risk of being long winded or “fingered” as the case may be. Blessings to all and I look forward to hearing from you.
First, let’s just talk about community. In my mind community is the greatest determining factor for a neighborhood. Again, I apologize for sounding like a broken record. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Jeez Jason…give it a rest. We know, we know…community is important.” And I promise, I’ll hop on some other soap box soon enough (trust me, with the election stuff coming up there is plenty of soap boxes lying around to jump on.) For the time being though, I’m really gun hoe on the centrality of community. The thing is that no one really disagrees with me or anybody that hypes community. The problem is that community, like any good thing, doesn’t just happen.
Downtown is developing into a genuine community where we can support and encourage each other. A group of neighbors have been working diligently to clean up Lucas Park and make it a place that all people feel comfortable using. I took Titus there for the first time without feeling totally grossed out. We played on the slides (which by the way, he went down all by himself like a big boy!!) On top of this general clean up it gives us as downtown residents and neighbors an opportunity to interact with the homeless population that hangs out in the park. While we might never socialize on a regular basis, we can talk and learn from each other and still be neighborly. It is wonderful. Unfortunately, Larry Rice continues to be an antagonist in our attempts to unify a broken neighborhood. I finally came to the conclusion that the Rev. Rice feeds on controversy. We will, as a community, continue to do what is right and build relationships despite Larry’s best efforts to manufacture conflict between two groups that are understandably worlds apart. However, being worlds apart does not mean that community can’t exist. That is the beauty of diversity and a human’s ability to sympathize.
I know I said “First” at the beginning of this, but I think I’m going to stop there at the risk of being long winded or “fingered” as the case may be. Blessings to all and I look forward to hearing from you.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Religion=Jesus?
For those that are not familiar with the gospel stories and for those of you that are and maybe just didn’t notice, Jesus has the biggest beef with the people who gain the most from the preservation of their religion. Jesus has the biggest beef with the people who are most likely to be considered self righteous.
Now, I consider it very interesting that the two most common criticisms of Christians are that we are only interested in making our churches grow (the preservation of our religion) and that we are judgmental (self-righteous).
How completely disappointing, and yet how utterly true that is most of the time. Time for a little pastoral confession…I’m guilty of both those things as well. Sometimes worse than other times, but guilty none the less. I have to fight with Jesus all the time. Can you imagine a pastor fighting with Jesus? We throw down on a regular basis about what I think is best and what he thinks is best. I wish I could say they always line up, but that is not the reality. I struggle with passages like Matthew 21: 12-16 and 23-27, because of those times when I forget that life is all about Christ and not my religion or what I do to earn a relationship with Christ.
Chime in on your own observations and come for a more in-depth discussion at VintageTen this weekend.
Now, I consider it very interesting that the two most common criticisms of Christians are that we are only interested in making our churches grow (the preservation of our religion) and that we are judgmental (self-righteous).
How completely disappointing, and yet how utterly true that is most of the time. Time for a little pastoral confession…I’m guilty of both those things as well. Sometimes worse than other times, but guilty none the less. I have to fight with Jesus all the time. Can you imagine a pastor fighting with Jesus? We throw down on a regular basis about what I think is best and what he thinks is best. I wish I could say they always line up, but that is not the reality. I struggle with passages like Matthew 21: 12-16 and 23-27, because of those times when I forget that life is all about Christ and not my religion or what I do to earn a relationship with Christ.
Chime in on your own observations and come for a more in-depth discussion at VintageTen this weekend.
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