Maybe?

What kind of response is "maybe"? Saying "maybe" to a teenager means "yes" (and to keep pressing for that yes). By contrast, and more often than not, "maybe" to a parent means, "No, but I really don't want to argue with you right now."  

In  regards to an extended curfew, or skipping dinner (which results in eating junk in front of the TV), or driving to the Summit Mall with friends, I'm pretty clear that saying "no" from the start is always better, even if it results in a serious pout. Still, there are times when I waver, usually when I'm over-extended and tired. Invariably, the failure to say "no" from the start involves more angst and pain for all: be it at home or work.

Jesus has advice for us in next time we're tempted to say "maybe." He doesn't mince words: "Let your yes be yes, and your no be no" (Matthew 5:37).   No waffling.  No hedging.  No... "maybe"!  

So why do we do it? Why do we say maybe when we really mean no? Jesus sums up the cost of our hesitation and hedging: "Anything more than this is from the evil one."

My sense is that our maybes often arise from:

-       Conflict avoidance;

-       A desire to be liked;

-       Fear of what others might think of us.

As I look at the list above, none justify a maybe. So what are we to do?

It seems to me, Jesus' ability to let his yes be yes came from knowing who he was as the Father's son. Do we really know who we are as followers of Christ? Does our core identity truly rest in Christ? Or does it rest in something else? Dare I name it? Does it rest in the approval of others or the desire to fit in?

Jesus also knew the purpose for which the Father sent him. He had clarity about his call: "I have come that you may have life and that you may have it in abundance" (John 10:10). Over the course of his earthly journey, people constantly attempted to pull him into things that were not his yes, and he refused them. In the same way, we must know our yes and refuse anything--even good things--that are not part of our core identity, character, and call in Christ. Jesus lived his yes for us. Our lives are to be an echo of that yes.

To be sure, there are those moments when we truly lack clarity. Times when our maybe really is a maybe, pending further clarification. But I find those moments are more rare than we're typically willing to admit. The place of conviction for me is that I do damage to both my relationship with God and with others when I fail to let my yes to be yes and my no be no.

May we follow in the way of Jesus!

With love in Christ,

Debbie Rundlett
General Presbyter

All ladies are invited to attend the 2014 Fall Lantern Women's Retreat in September 19-21, 2014 

All are invited to attend. Find out more about the choir by clicking on this link.

Alex Barnes, Pastor 

Milton Rittman Presbyterian Church

250 N. Street

Rittman, Ohio 44270

http://miltonpreschurch.org/  

Grant applications are due to the Mission Center no later than Monday, October 20, 2014, by fax (330-339-6225), email (Candice@MVPJourney.org) or in person. Awards to be given at the December 2014 presbytery meeting.

The September 23, 2014, meeting of Presbytery will be held at the Genesis Conference Center in Creston, OH.  During the meeting, we will break for a brief CROP Walk for Hunger sponsored by the Mission Commission.   

A short-distanced CROP walk will take place on the residential streets behind the Genesis Center.  For those desiring a longer walking adventure, Creston Park is a few streets behind the Genesis Center. 

We are encouraging all members, churches and friends of Muskingum Valley Presbytery to be involved.  A sponsor envelope will be sent to each church at the end of August.  We encourage you to collect donations from church members to sponsor those commissioner coming to the Presbytery meeting.  Even if you will not have anyone walking or attending the meeting, churches can still give a donation to CROP.  

As in all CROP Walks 25% of the monies raised stay in the local community.  The rest of the monies raised are used to fight hunger worldwide.  The 25% of the money we raise will go to fight hunger within our Presbytery.

So, don't forget to bring your walking shoes to Presbytery and let's help to fight hunger together!  If you have any questions, please contact Alice Phillips, (Pastor at Creston and Coordinator for the CROP Walk), at  revalp@neo.rr.com or 740-391-2531.

Blessings in Jesus!

The Mission Commission of MVP

The Rev. David Rice accepted a call to First Presbyterian, Wooster, in late April and took his position as Pastor/Head of Staff on June 1, 2014. David will be installed at the Pastor at Wooster First on Sunday, September 7 at 4:00 pm.  All are welcome to attend. 

David received his undergraduate degree from North Park University in Chicago, majoring in Music and Theater. He earned a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Northwestern University. From his graduation through the 1990's, David was a professional baritone soloist, actor and opera singer.

David has always been interested in philosophy, the "big questions", God-talk. In the late '90s, he took the advice of various mentors who saw the possibilities of a different calling in him and entered Columbia Theological Seminary, graduating in 2000 with a Master of Divinity degree. From 2000-2014, he was Pastor/Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church, Anniston, AL.