"Old" and "New"

I recently upgraded my computer. The old one just wouldn’t cut it. It was 7 years old, and had 7 years of stuff on it, and it wouldn’t work anymore, so it needed to be replaced.

Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to install some of my “old” computer software onto my “new” computer. This has proven to be easier said than done. Take yesterday for example.

I was doing some research and wanted to copy a note from a book into my notes, and remembered that I had the same book on the computer, so I tried to install the “old” software onto the “new” machine.

It didn’t work.

I ended up calling the company, and we spent about 30 minutes on the phone, uninstalling the “old” version of the program, and reinstalling a “new” version of the program.

It seems to be that something “old” won’t work on something “new”.

This isn’t limited to computers. This principle, “old” into “new”, is a life principle, taught by Jesus Himself:

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins." (Mark 2:21-22, NIV)

The analogy is pretty clear: something “old” doesn’t go on—or in—something “new”.

For the “new” product to work effectively, “new” must be placed in that product.

You and I, if we have given our lives to Jesus Christ are a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17, NIV) and we are instructed not to put “old” into “new”:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal 5:1, NIV)

In verse 13 of that same chapter, we read these words: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature….” (NIV)

The message is pretty clear: if we have been made “new” by the blood of Jesus, we are not to allow any “old” thing to come back in again.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” (Gal 5:24, NIV)

Putting something “old” into something “new” is not recommended; because it will destroy what has been made “new”….

Razors and Churches

I purchased a new razor the other day. It had been thinking about it for a while, and I took the plunge and spend 5 bucks and got the new Gillette Power Glide Fusion Plus. it works great, but I must tell you, I was a little frightened to use this new razor.
What i didn't tell you is that for years I have used an electric razor to shave. I have never wanted to try the straight edge, up until recently.
Saturday was the big day. I got lathered up and began to shave. I have to tell you that I was slightly scared at what was going to happen. I had never done it before... (I had seen my father shave with a straight edge for years, but it's different when it's your own face) I don't think i was scared, just nervous. I was nervous as to how my face was going to re-act with a razor blade coming in contact with it.
I think the same thing can be said for people and church. I think people are somewhat frightened when they come to church for the first time.... they have no idea what's going to happen to them.. will someone cut me? will someone welcome me? will someone point out what I am doing wrong?
Razors and churches have more in common than you might think.

the next time someone comes to your church, why don't you go out of your way to make them feel welcome and comfortable, don't go overboard, but take the time to welcome them, and thank them for coming... this might be just the thing that will bring them back the next time.

i am pleased to say that my razor didn't cut my face then, or yet, and i hope that any church i pastor doesn'tt cut the very people who walk in our doors. They might come back if they have a "smooth" experinece. they will be less liklely to come back if they get cut. so be gentle with people, as gentle as I am when I shave...

Face Time

The other day, my wife, daughter and I had a Dr. appt. My Brother came along, as he was babysitting for us that day, and he was also keeping my other daughter company. Anyway, as we were sitting in the waiting room, I was reading, my brother was reading to my kids and my wife was reading. I got tired of reading, so I took out my iPhone and surfed the Net.... None of us were talking to each other we were engaged in a book/magazine/phone. (You could make the argument that my brother was reading to my kids, and you are correct, but he wasn't talking to them...)

as I was sitting there, i got the strong impression that this is what most people do today. We disengage from society and listen to our Ipod's, look at our iPad's, read a magazine, all so we don't have to talk to someone else.... its the same when people walk on the side of the road... and when someone actually says something to us, (or when people sit and talk in a room) we become annoyed... or at the very least think they are strange because they are talking.

While I'm not against technology, I think we need to use it in moderation. Like tonight for example. I came home from work and had supper and chose to spend time with my kids playing a game, instead of sitting them in front of the TV, while i watched the news. I chose to spend face time with them, and as a result, we both enjoyed being with each other.

this is what we were made to do... interact with one another. maybe it's time that we turn off the ipod/iPhone for a few moments and spend that time talking to people... you never know where it will lead...... into a conversation. (if you've forgotten how to carry on a conversation, i guess you could always Google it!) Give it a try, have some face time with someone this week. You'll be glad you did!

Interesting

I heard something interesting on the news today... it was on CBC and it was about the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Apparently one pastor, in the USA, will be burning several copies of the Quran to mark this date.
I find this hard to believe.. especially from a "pastor"...

I wonder what Jesus would do? Actually, I don't have to wonder, for He tells us in John 13: 34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (NIV)

How is burning a Quran showing the love of Jesus to our Muslim friends? It's not!

I don't know how I'm going to celebrate Sept. 11, but it certainly won't be by burning a copy of the Quran, maybe I should pray for them, (and this pastor too) because they need Jesus just as much as I need Jesus!

Following Jesus.....

I had planned on posting something else for this post.. i still may, but this one just happened, so let's go with it and see where it goes.

I love to read. Because this is so, I read a lot of different things. Some of what I read about is things that my pastoral friends are doing.
this afternoon found me doing just that. I clicked on a church's website to see what they were doing. they recently went through a pastoral change, and I wanted to see what "new things" were taking place.
as I read their bulletin, I saw some interesting things, and I immediately began to think "I can't do that!"  and for a brief moment-- or three-- I became upset.. upset that i wasn't able to "duplicate" what this person was doing...

My mind immediately flashed to John 21. Jesus had just reinstated Peter, and as Jesus told Peter to "follow Him", Peter immediately turns to John and asks "Lord, what about him?" (John 21:21, NIV)
Peter had taken his eyes off the Master and was looking at someone else... wondering about what that someone else, in this case, John, was going to do...
Jesus responded by saying: "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" (21:22) Then, without missing a beat, Jesus says: "You must follow me" (21:22, NIV)

This is what I need to learn. I'm not to get caught up in what someone else is doing-- I can be happy for what they are doing---- but it's my job to follow Jesus. It's my job to do what He tells me to do. Period.
I'm to keep my eyes on Jesus, not on someone else. Jesus is the One I'm to follow. If I follow Him, He will show me what I am to do. this is the promise of Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV)

If I keep my eyes on Jesus, and do what He wants me to do, then I will be fine. If I begin to look at what someone else is doing, and try to compete with them, then I'm sunk...

The same goes with you... Jesus wants you to follow Him. He'll lead you. Trust me... or Trust Jesus.