From the Pastor’s Desk,

As I sit each month and write to you I attempt to look into the future a bit and see where we might be headed. As we reach the new year, it seems a bit different; however, as I tend to look back and get the year in retrospect while at the same time look to the future. It is always my philosophy to look ahead, quoting the apostle Paul from his letter to the Philippians when he encourages them with his personal motto. "But this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." That in and of itself sometimes seems a bit strong but if taken in the context of a new year and that we are going to apply it to the church I think it can be simplified.

To begin with Paul is speaking of centering his life on Christ. In the sentences preceding this one, he talks of his giving up things and that what he has gained aside from Christ are really just nothing, even so far as they are a loss when compared to Christ. In the church we often, myself included, look to what we can see and think we understand and forget to look where and to what we are called by God.

I really am trying to get somewhere with this and it is as we journey into the new year, instead of looking over our shoulders at what we have done and are so proud of. Instead of looking back at our past so we can be what we have always been,  we need to look to centering our church on Christ. It is the same as centering our lives on him except it takes more effort and more flexibility, as we are working with other people. Paul addresses this also with the words; "Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you."

So as we are seeking him into the future, he will reveal to us where we are going and when we don’t agree with what/where the leaders around us are going that to will become clear. Now that doesn’t mean to keep quiet if you feel there are some things needing changed,  it merely means to seek God’s answer together rather than dissension from the work. Change as we need in the church is difficult at best as we move mostly against society, so we need to be working in harmony with each other continually to be moving at all.

Looking back we see who we are, we see what we are, and we also learn who we aren’t and what we aren’t. In seeing who we are and what we are sometimes, it frightens us to be different from that but one thing seems certain, if you always do what you have always done you will always be and get what you have always been and gotten. As I look at churches of today, the ones with exciting ministries are the ones doing things a bit different. The ones slowly slipping into oblivion are the ones doing what they have always done.

So even though we must not forget what we have been, let’s use it as a stepping block to get us to a new place. As Paul says "Only let us hold fast to what we have attained." Philippians 3.16

Grace and Peace in a new year to all. Pastor WaynO