~ Pastor Julia's Message ~
(Excerpted from The Evangelion February 2010)Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ-
This week I was reminiscing with some folks about "the good old days" when our
lives seemed a little less hectic; when the average person worked eight hours a
day and then went home; when there was no such thing as a 24-hour store of ANY
kind; when no one scheduled anything for Sunday - or even Wednesday nights! -
because the majority of people were in worship. I remembered my days in
college, when virtually no one had personal computers, the computer on campus
was a BUILDING, and Todd and I were really impressed with ourselves because on
that system we could "talk" with each other on the computer from "all the way
across the campus!!" I recalled the days when NO ONE had cell phones, and if
you weren't near your home phone, you simply were not available and people had
to call back. I remember black and white TV. I remember gas at less than 85
cents a gallon. I was thinking about how much our world has changed, even in
the pat 44 years. And if I can recall this many differences, I can only imagine
how it must be for people who have lived through World Wars, the invention of
cars, television, phones and video technology!
Our world has changed - and IS changing! - so very fast...and yet "change" is
the church's LEAST favorite word! In Acts, when Paul speaks to the "Aereopagus,"
he was taking the word of God TO his culture and presenting in terms that THEY
could relate to. He was not preaching to "church folk"; he was not just sitting
in his temple space hoping that they would come to him and ask the right
questions. Paul was actively finding ways to reach the rapidly changing and
"advanced" culture in which he found himself. I am sure it was not comfortable
for him. I am positive that he was out of his comfort zone! But Paul was keenly
aware that the call of Christ was and is more critical than his comfort zone!
What is your attitude toward change? How do you feel about change in the
church? We live in a culture of people who are craving a word of hope, people
who are dying without the love of Jesus. I think that we cannot afford to stay
in our comfort zones when the call of Christ commands that we GO and Spread His
Word. Are we willing to serve Jesus no matter what the cost? Let us each look
into our hearts and examine our lives on this matter, and may we - as a church -
choose to be as effective as we can possibly be in the cause of Christ!! (EVEN
if it means changing!) May HIS will be done!
In Christ,
Pastor Julia
