A few years back there was a popular puzzle called Where’s Waldo?  The puzzle was a picture of a thousand little people doing things and one of those was Waldo.  It took a long time to find Waldo.  The game was even popular with university students.

Well, that puzzle sometimes reminds me of looking for Jesus.  Where’s Jesus in my life?  There are a thousand things I do in a day, but where is Jesus?  He’s there somewhere, otherwise I wouldn’t be here on Sunday morning. The big difference between Waldo and Jesus (aside from the obvious) is that when Waldo is found. the game is over ? because we know exactly where Waldo is.  No more searching.  But with Jesus;  well, things are different.  Jesus, never stays in the same place.  Even when we have found him, we can’t pin him down.  He’s not static, like the pew we sit on each Sunday morning.  Jesus is moving, because he’s about his Father’s business.

I think about Mary and Joseph looking for Jesus for those three days.  Actually it was five days before they found him.  A day’s journey towards home and a day’s journey back to Jerusalem.   Jerusalem was a big city, to country people from Nazareth.  And when they finally find him, their anxiety spills over.  “Child why have you treated us like this?  Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  I have never lost a child for 5 days, but I have for a short time.  And I remember how distraught I was.  But Jesus, like a cocky 12-year-old questions them: "Why didn’t you know where to find me, why were you searching?  “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Even at the age of 12. Jesus knew what he was about. He was about his Father’s, God’s, business.  And he was on the move.  Jesus is about God’s work in our lives, and in the church.  The last thing he is, is static.

Yesterday, the Rev. Dave Anderson led us in an exciting workshop, Building up the Body ? a 21st century workout.   I liked the fitness reference, because building up our spiritual life and the church is a work out.  Jesus isn’t going to do the work for us.  Have you ever watched an exercise work out on TV, and hoped that if you watched somehow, magically, you would benefit physically?  No such luck, you have to get off the couch and join in.

Worshipping for an hour on Sunday mornings is a good beginning to learning that we are not at the centre of our lives.   Jesus is.  But it is not enough to make strong disciples of Jesus Christ.  We need to do more if we are going to keep Jesus in sight amid the thousand things of daily life.

Yesterday, we did a workout, getting our heads and hearts around being the body of Christ in the 21st century.  How do we do a spiritual workout that builds up our body not even to look like the body of Christ, but to be the Body of Christ?  Sitting on the couch, or the pew, isn’t going to do it.  We are going to have to get up and participate ? daily in our lives.  We are going to have to take this spiritual workout seriously.  Jesus did.  And we are his followers.

The wonderful thing is we are here.  God has a plan for us.  And it’s to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ.   No small order.  Following Jesus isn’t for the weak hearted.  The good news is the Holy Spirit helps us collectively to be the body of Christ.  So not every one has to have the same gifts.  The  gifts are spread around.  You don’t have to do it all by yourself.  Together, that’s the key, together.  Everything Jesus did, we can do collectively.  How wonderfully freeing!

Jesus never existed for himself;  he existed for God.  Our mission is to exist for God.  What is God calling us to do?  Calling Squamish United Church to do?  How do we keep Jesus in sight?

Traditionally, there are five marks of the church.  We need to do all five to keep spiritually fit.  Like a wooden water barrel held together with five bands.  Where a band is weak or missing, the water leaks.  I remember buying a sound system a few years back and the seller told me my system would be as strong as the weakest link.
 

• Celebration of God’s presence ? Worship.  (Liturgia)

• Demonstration of God’s love ? Ministry  (Diakonia) servant/slave.  The female is doulous. A root of Doula ? a women who  helps the mother during pregnancy, and is there as a birth support.

• Education of God’s people ? FAITH AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION (Didache)

Create people who have Christ like character ? to be come more and more Christ like.  Ways to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ.
 

• Communication of God’s word ? PROCLAMATION OF THE GOOD NEWS (Kerygma) EVANGELISM

• Formation of Community among the believers (Koinonia)

Keeping Jesus in sight means we have to be on the move.  As a faith community and in our personal lives.  When you go home after the service:  ask your self WHAT AM I DOING TO KEEP JESUS IN SIGHT?