CCA Devotional - Fall 2009

10/2/2009

I was in western NY last week.   Beautiful drive as the leaves are just starting to change?

The four seasons are one of the best things about living in this part of the country.

Some changes are good, and needed.  I need to change the oil, and the grandbaby's diaper is pretty much a guarentee to need changing.  Lightbulbs are a piece of cake.  Change of address a bit more complicated.

Individually, change is a bit more difficult.  Some changes we can't stop, like the new wrinkles that are invading the Baby boomers.  Some things we try to change- easy things like hair color to hard things like quitting smoking.

Most would accept that at the heart of the Gospel is a change of heart.  Ex 36: 26  even speaks of an EXHANGE of heart.  Taking our heart of stone and putting in a new one.  Isaiah talks about sins being as scarlet but how they can be white as snow.   Most all of us have heard more the one message on Romans 12: 1-2  where we are challenged to be transformed (changed) by the renewing of our mind.  The goal, Paul says, in Romans 8: 29, of that CHANGE is to be CONFORMED to the image of Christ.  All good stuff with which we are familiar.

I love the Old Testament story of King Saul recorded in I Samual 10: 9.  After his anointing, and the Spirit of the Lord coming upon Saul,  it says, God changes Saul's heart.   And the people saw the change and said, "Is Saul now a prophet?"

So, most of us have no problem with that kind of change.  As a pastor, few things thrill my soul more than to see a person's life change as they begin a new, living relationship with Jesus Christ.

But when talk about the need for the church to change, get ready for some questioning looks and deep resistance.

I am re-reading a Raphael Irwin Mc Manus book titled "An Unstoppable Force- daring to be the church GOD had in mind."

Implying of course that the church does need to change.  (Not our beliefs for those fundamentalists out there.)  But to become the bride that Jesus is coming back for, the church needs to change.  And for us to fulfill what God has called us to do, we need to change how we do things.

Mc Manus says that the theme of many movies and books is the idea of time travel.  To go back in time has some appeal, whether it be to see a real dinosaur, (NO THANKS)  or live as a Knight, ( without indoor plumbing - forget it!)  or to witness an event in history.  Some dream of what it would be like to travel to the future.   But as we look at the church it seems we would rather see time stand still.    Bruce Barton said that "when you are through changing, you're through."

Here is an other good quote from the book, "We must leave the past, engage the present, and create the future.  There is danger in nostalgia;  in the comfort of a safe and warm time place, we become blind, not only to the real world that we are called to engage but also to the movement of God."

Most of my sermons begin with the assertion of two things I firmly believe. The first is that the BEST DAYS OF THE CHURCH ARE STILL AHEAD!  The second is that THE BIGGEST BATTLES FOR THE CHURCH are still ahead.  And we need to get ready for both.  It is at the heart of Mc Manus' book.  I love the subtitle, "daring to become the church GOD had in mind."  He asserts, "The church at best, has fallen asleep, it might be fair to say we have lost the power to transform culture".  Today we ( in AMERICA)  are not moving toward a godless land, but to a land of many gods.  We are more mystical than ever; more inquisitive then ever.  The indictment that we must receive is that the Christian faith as we express it is no longer seen as a viable spiritual option.  People are rejecting CHRIST because of the church."  OUCH!

So what is the answer and how does this relate to me and the Christian Comedy Association?  I'm glad you asked.

Mc Manus offers a formula for change using terms that remind me of my high school physical class.

"Mass" defined at people big or small doesn't make much difference if it is not moving.

Bigger isn't always better.  Think of Gideon and his 300, or the first day of the church when a handful were gathered in an upper room.  You have to start with something or someone.

"Momentum" is when mass begins to move.  Be it a ping pong ball or a battle ship.

"Speed" is how fast something is moving.  Faster can be better, but for the church only if it is moving in the right direction.

"Velocity" is speed " with somewhere to go."  Hence direction and intentionality.   There is a goal in mind.

"Force" or "impact" when mass begins to move and and momentum and speed and velocity are all moving in line with what God is doing.  Look out!!!

And we get to control the speed.  How?  Mc Manus says, "Speed is determined by our RESPONSIVENESS TO GOD.   Obedience equals light speed."

We use the phrase "time flies" or " where did the summer go?".  This awareness of time is scary.  I am reminded of  a cartoon that made me laugh out loud.    A snail was on the back of a turtle with a look of terror in his eyes. and the snail was shouting to the turtle - "SLOW DOWN!"   Last year internet commercials played off this theme of what is fast and what is slow.  But the bottom line is that the church is way behind the times, not just in technology, but in becoming the Bride that Jesus is coming back for.  I know there is a text where Jesus says "I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it."  I believe Jesus is coming back and He will be right on time.  But Revelation 19: 7 says  "the bride has made herself ready!"  We play a part.  We have a role in these last days.

Somehow we need to regain some momentum.  Individually and as a group of comedians we can have a great impact on this world.  "Ten people on a common mission are more powerful then a hundred people who are just curious."

How do we make up for "lost time"?  I can't explain Einstein's theories on time and relativity.  I didn't do so well in high school physics.  But I know this, we have today.  Today is the day of salvation.  Today God is doing some awesome stuff.  We may not be able to make up for lost time, but we can make today count!

Your can make an impact on this world.

You have mass. You are a part of God's plan.  The more committed you are to the Lord, the more density or impact you can have.

You gain speed, and direction as you respond to what God is doing in your life and in your world.

Great growth takes place, when God is seen in your life and draws others to you and your God.  When folks with similar vision and passion unite, like in the CCA, or in your family, or church, you become "AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE."

"If God be for us who can be against us?"  Romans 8: 31

Until next time, dare to be the person God called you to be.  Changing leaves are nice to look at, but changed lives will change this world.  Comedians are no exception.


Expecting great things,

Gordon