Pastor's Page
Change is quite hard! Change however we must! Two weeks ago upon return from a week off I entered my study only to find my computer … dead! Oh, the fan was whirring mightily but upon careful diagnosis it was DOA. Virtually all my work is done on a computer. Files were retrieved, programs saved, work to be done but with only a pencil and paper (and abacus!). I limped along using my travel netbook and an old, slow laptop our counters use. So this week a new Apple Imac computer arrived. Sleek, large, fast … and different. You see, "Mac" and "Windows" don’t really talk much to each other. They’re a lot like Cardinals and Cubs fans, or Red Sox and Yankee fans. Different systems, different software, different strengths … just plain different, My problem? I’m used to the old! It’s familiar if slow; it’s normal if dated. It’s familiar! So this week I’ve been ...learning… ...identifying what works and what doesn’t… ...loading various programs… ...changing! At this moment what was simple and habitual now is difficult and exploratory. Occasionally I’m frustrated and at times have punted (I’m writing this on the netbook!). Change! God wants to change our lives! God wants to change our church! God wants us to grow spiritually! God knows that change into His likeness is good! God knows that change is hard but His provision constant. God knows that change is a necessary, an inevitable part of life with Him. If we are not changing at His power and direction we are not pleasing Him. Wednesday evenings during September’s Midweek Bible Study Hour I’m considering from various biblical texts the priority of revival, change from spiritual laxity and lethargy to full life and vitality. "What harmful habits are you changing to live more faithfully for Jesus Christ?" "At what point in your life do you cheerfully decide, for no other reason than that you are a follower of Christ, to step outside your comfort zone in love, faithfulness and service for Christ?" "What did the Spirit of God teach you this past week as you studied the Bible and spent time with believers?" "What changes in your attitudes, your actions, your pursuits has the Spirit of God suggested?" Change we must to… …be brought back to joy in life with Jesus Christ! ...renew our passion for Christ because He died for our sins! ...be free of the dominance of besetting sins! ...be able to hear what we’ve closed our ears to! ...be free of sinful folly! ...properly fear God! ...let God’s glory fill our lives, our homes, our church, our land as Christ increases in importance to us each day. The psalmist wrote the words: "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in You? Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation" (Psalm 85:6-7). "Change us, O God, into the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we add to our faith virtue, never being satisfied with any past spiritual achievements. Help us grow in your likeness every day we live until You come again!"
