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Journey To Renewal
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| Change
I recently grumbled to my mentor/friend about the music at church. At the ripe old age of 56, I have resisted many of the changes in our church -- ESPECIALLY the music! My friend suggested Gordon MacDonald's book, Who Stole My Church? This sounded like a book written just for me, so I checked out a copy at our local library the very next day. I assumed the book would uphold my dislike of the changes in church -- most notably in music and attire. I assumed wrong. After the first couple of chapters, I was more than annoyed when it became obvious Gordon was upholding change. But I continued on, mainly out of respect for my friend, trying to keep an open heart and open mind. Through lessons in church history, the author showed how change has occurred in the church. One of my biggest gripes is the lack of hymn-singing yet, years ago, it was sacrilege to sing anything other than psalms! The Old Rugged Cross and I Love To Tell the Story would have been shunned! Hmmmm. Perhaps change isn't always bad........ As a renewal mentor, it hit me like a ton of bricks that the heart of renewal is change. JTR's guiding scripture is about transformation and renewal -- CHANGE! I am still not thrilled with all of the changes at church. We will continue to attend the "conventional" service where we sing an occasional hymn amidst the moving praise music. My hubbie will wear a tie and I will wear a dress, because we think it's respectful for the house of God. And I will never like music that is too loud, drums that are too overpowering or guitars that are twangy. (I didn't like it as a young person, and I don't like it now.) And I will continue to cringe at men in flip-flops and girls exposing waaaaaaaay too much breast and leg. But I do love the praise music. And I love to see hands raised in praise to our Heavenly Father and His glorious Son! Just this week, at the hard-rock service (as I call the 11:00 contemporary service), a teenage boy was baptized. He came out of the water with arms raised in praise! He had scored a touchdown in the biggest game of life! It was a beautiful thing to see! And it's a thing we would have never seen just a couple of years ago because it wasn't "proper." How wonderful that things have CHANGED! I have experienced a renewal in my heart and mind that most change is good because I know the purpose of the church is to reach out to the lost as well as to minister to the found. It's not about me. It's about me serving and worshipping God! God used my friend and this book to CHANGE many things in my attitude and behavior. So, beloved, my letter to you this month is to examine if you have been resistant to change in any area of your life. Is there a way God wants to CHANGE you so that you can better become the woman He wants you to be? |
Guiding Scripture... September's
Scripture Write this scripture down and post it in a frequented area so it will become a part of your mind, your heart, and your soul.
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