1-20-2019

Good Morning All,

2 Timothy 1:7; “God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.”

     Well I continue to move forward in the technology area.  I have upgraded my cell phone.  I liked my old one, I really did but the “planned obsoletion” by the manufacturer left me little choice.  I must admit I like sending the little emoji things on my texts and the group texting is working better but there really wasn’t anything wrong with the old phone.

     I know that many of you are already way ahead of me.  I am slowly coming around.  It is not that I fear technology or loathe it; I just get comfortable with what I already have.  I get in a comfort zone and I stay there.  It is not fear; it is being comfortable and there is nothing wrong with comfortable.  We often find security in things where we find comfort; hence the phrase, “comfort food”.

     This liking comfort versus engaging the new has been a constant struggle in the Church.  There are those who dive into change and doing things different and then there are those who like things the same.  Some would like a praise band playing during the service with a light show while others of us still think pg. 5 is good enough.

     The struggle with style and form will probably go on for a long time.  Yet we need to be sure that whatever we do, we do it for the Lord.  We need to preach the Gospel of Jesus with power.  It is the power of the Church and of our life.  How you preach that Gospel, is open to discussion but we must boldly preach this Gospel.  It is what we are called to do; we are called to preach the Gospel to all creatures.  Even the Apostle Paul recognized that style may vary but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  It never goes out of style or needs to be updated.  It is the living, active power of God for our salvation.

    God gives us that same power to reach out and reconcile this broken, crying world.  He gives us the power to accomplish his will.  We need not be afraid because the power of God is the same power that has moved us forward as a Church and as a people since day one.  We have nothing to fear for God is with us.  He equips us to follow the path that he has laid out for us.  For some of us it is in new and exciting ways; for some of us it is the comfortable old way.  We do not fear the devil or his attacks for God has equipped us to overtake them.

     We now can go forth with the knowledge of this power.  We can go forth with confidence in our faith and its actions.  Many tell me, “I don’t know what to say.”  You say it best, not with words but with actions.  You speak best with your heart not your mouth.  Let your heart speak with all the love that God has for you.

Dear Father, give us the courage to boldly speak and live your Word.  Move us to reach out to the hurt and the lost.  We ask that you especially be with our brothers and sisters who are facing the challenges of recent storms.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret