Change is like exercise. You don't have to do it now but you will pay the price for not doing it later on.
It's also like exercise in that I like "having exercised". We all like "having changed". But actually changing can be difficult. We like what change brings but it is hard to do.
All progress requires change but not all change means progress. So not all changes are good but the only way to find out is try. Everything is an experiment. If it's not immoral or unethical and nobody dies then you make the change, evaluate and then make the adjustment.
When we change things at church - yikes. It is amazing to see the different reactions. Change is easy to amen when preached but hard for some to actually accept when we do it.
My dog Leo barks with a nervous "woof" every time he sees something in a new place. Some people are like my Leo, "woofing" nervously at any change they see.
So we're changing a few things at our church. No more choir, giving our auditorium to our rapidly growing teen ministry on Wednesdays, soon expanding our children's ministry on Sundays to be better for our families and our kids, adjusting the way we receive offerings. It's just a go at improving things.
Pray for Leo. And his Dad.
7 comments
I can see "pray for Leo" bumper stickers...excellent blog, and painfully true
Posted on July 5, 2007 at 3:27 PM
will do.....
Posted on July 5, 2007 at 4:59 PM
Man, did this blog echo for me... I have some good size changes happening,and I know on the other side of these changes, life could be amazing.
I don't have kids, but for some bizzare reason- a diaper analogy hit me...
When something is poopy, you change it.
Sometimes in the middle of changing, poop happens.
Sometimes we try to change, only to find out, it just wasn't time yet.
Occasionally, we avoid changing because it can be messy. Sometimes changing just plain stinks.
All that said(and as you said)-once the changing is done, all parties involved are usually happy with the new improved state of things.
And, as changing goes...just because you just went thru one, doesn't mean another isn't right around the corner.
Thanks for helping change my mind in a very positive way!!
ps- this post is hand made- irregular spelling ang grammar should in no way be viewed as defects, only as the character of the individual post.
Posted on July 5, 2007 at 9:33 PM
Speaking of change....Thankyou Pastor Kirk for allowing the "Mastering Personal Change" Seminar to happen this past weekend! It was incredible! Frank and Skye are an amazing couple who have helped sooo many people step up to change in their lives, including us! Looking forward to more change....
Posted on July 6, 2007 at 3:39 PM
I want a bumper sticker..
Posted on July 6, 2007 at 5:53 PM
i wouldn't want a bumper sticker - there's enough of those in a'ville. but how about a charicature-style t-shirt of you and the wiley leo?
(if the idea fails, and we do the bumper sticker, i hope it's red with white letters and says "We Still Pray!" and underneath adds "(for Leo)."
as God is changing things inside and around me, i find myself hating change. this is where those "press on" and "God orders the steps of the righteous" scriptures come in handy!
here's to things having changed!
Posted on July 7, 2007 at 8:30 PM
I miss Wednesday night services. I'll admit it. I've spent a lot of Wednesday nights in church. But does my missing Wednesday night church mean that I'm going to shrivel up spiritually or die from spiritual malnutrition? If it does, then one of the announced goals of dropping adult Wednesday night services is certainly in need of being met. The goal? Getting connected with other parts of the body at the Rock, connect groups or whatever, perhaps a deeper personal devotional life. It's easy to whine about change, but the best growth comes from personally evaluating the reality of your own spiritual framework. Have you been coming to Wednesday night church to fill up on spiritual energy from corporate worship and neglected other channells for filling? Perhaps each of us should evaluate why we feel the loss, if we feel it, and prayerfully ask God to show us His answer.
Posted on July 24, 2007 at 9:01 PM