s;; o jsbr yp fp od nr pnr ogg!

A while ago I was logging a quote from a book on my laptop.  The laptop sat on my lap (‘cause… it’s laptop not a shouldertop), the book sat open on the arm of the chair, and I typed as I read.

When I finished the paragraph I looked back to the screen… it was’t what I expected.  My fingers were not on the “home keys” when I started.  I realize this might not make sense to the thumb driven text world, but for those of us to sat through Typing 101, “home keys” are a big deal.  Missing them changed everything.  Example: “All I have to do is be one off,” becomes, “s;; o jsbr yp fp od nr pnr ogg!”

This causes problems on many levels.  Spell check had no idea what to suggest.  Musicians can transpose a key up as they play, but it takes a lot more work to transpose a  “key” to the left as you read.  I had completely lost the intent of the original words.

S;; o jsbr yp fp od nr pnr ogg!

The distance of less than an inch changed everything.  All I have to do is be one off.  

Followers of Christ that are one off send a messed up message too.  They are trying to be like Christ, but there are just being like a person who they admire.  They are trying to worship Christ, but they are worshipping the church, Christmas, the cross, or even the Bible.  They are trying to control their temper, but controlling other people is as close as they get.  They are trying to sin less, but they are not trying to stop doing the sin.

All I have to do is be one off and my message is intelligible.  

Please understand that I am not ignoring grace or expecting us to be flawless.  I am calling for us to consider are our spiritual fingers on the “home keys” of Christ?  Are we starting with an accurate view of him?  Are we learning of him?  Are we living as he called us to live?  It’s about Jesus.

One off and Jesus becomes Krdid, and Krdid won’t help any one.  

Follow,

Pastor Dave   

A New Start Conversation

David: Lord, we're a few days into the new year and I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a false start.  Sometimes the race doesn't start well and I stumble.  Could you blow the whistle and call us back to the line again?

Jesus: No.

David: But Lord, I had a whole list of things that I was going to do this year to be a better person and I've already messed some of them up.

Jesus: Yep, you did.

David: So, let's erase a few days and make it 1.1.2013 again!

Jesus: No.

David: Fine!  I'll just settle for being what I was last year, again.  Maybe I can be a better person in 2014.

Jesus: No.

David: Our conversation seems to be stuck.  Do you want me to be a better person or not?

Jesus: Not

David: ?

Jesus: I want to help you be more like me.  This is not about you being a better you; it's about me being me through you.  For that you don't need to be a better person you just need to get out of my way.

David: So can we start over so I can get out of your way?

Jesus: No.

David: We don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Jesus: You don't need to rewind the clock, my grace is not about reliving the past; it's about the past not dictating today.  Start now and let me take care of the first eleven days.

David: That makes sense.  So can we talk about me winning a billion dollars now?

Jesus: No

 

Changes

To some people change is the spice of life, to others spice causes heartburn.  But, it keeps happening… everywhere.

 

Personally, I'm dealing with the changes that are a result of not being thirtyish anymore.  They know me at the pharmacy.  I'm one of those people who have multiple scripts for multiple symptoms.  I've been on a MS treatment that I have done very well with for two years that will have to be changed this year.  My medical insurance changed.  I need a new roof on my house.  

 

Change is part of the passing of time.  No one can keep things the same.  I think God designed it that way.  Even in the very basic step of a journey with Christ there is change, "unless you change and become like little children (Matt 18:3)."  

 

My journey starts with change and I am called to keep changing.  In 2Peter the readers are given some of the attributes of being a follower of Christ and told that we are to "possess these qualities in increasing measure (1:8)."  Change happens.

 

We don't make adjustments for the sake of an adjustment, we do so to answer a call of Christ, to be conformed to His nature, and reflect His grace to those around us.

 

There are some adjustments we are making as a fellowship.

 

1.  If you were in church last week you noticed that the set up was quite different.  The plan is/was to do this for the month of January.  To be honest, it may go longer than that.  I heard many very positive comments about the atmosphere.  I like being on the floor, we're on journey together; I liked looking into your eyes.  

 

You could help by coming early and filling in the far seats.  Let's be polite hosts and not require our guests to have to search for a seat on the other side of the building.  

 

We'll see how this unfolds as temporary or more permanent and what other adjustments will need to be made.      

   

2.  Last Sunday we also took the offering in a different way.  There are black boxes at each of the doors where your tithes and offerings can be put.  There are multiple reasons for this that don't need to be spelled out in this form.  

 

One issue is privacy.  When a check or money is put in the plate it is often visible.  We want to protect the privacy of those who are responding to God.

 

There is also a time issue and staffing issue.  It takes time in the service and takes man power to recruit ushers each week as people walk in for the service.  This is much more streamlined.

 

This is also less uncomfortable for the many guests that came to our church.

 

It's God money, be obedient, be generous, give with a heart of gratitude no matter what the form.   

 

3.  We're also making some adjustments in the area of outreach.  We need to get the body more involved.  It's too easy to assume the church is supporting workers and local para-church ministries and remain inactive.  We are going to learn together how to be more involved.

 

Quickly there will be an area for information made available and we will encourage everyone to participate in offering support in some form to someone who has given their life serving in the name of the Lord.   

 

I am very excited about this year.  I've never been more appalled at the culture and more excited about the Kingdom of God.  This is going to be a year of effectiveness as we listen to the Spirit and follow in faith!

 

It's 2013!  Let's keep changing together.

 

Pastor Dave