West Main

CHANGE AND HOPE

“A change will do you good,” we often say to others.  We typically enjoy a change in weather as the seasons change.  We might desire to change our present job for a better one. We certainly like to change our clothes.  In this coming election year some want a change in government.  We appear to always want to change ourselves, others, situations, facts, or states of affair for the better.  We live in a world of seemingly continuous change.

One reason change seems constant is due to the fact we live in a world fallen into sin and death. The world is not right and we are not right within this world. What happens in this life are the changes we seek and that others seek in relation to our changes that create endless webs of changing choices in perpetual conflict.  In other words, not all the changes sought are rooted in righteousness, but in unrighteousness.  In order to protect ourselves we seek to counter-change the sinful changes of others.  The problem of course is that our counter-changes our often tainted with sin as well, and so others seek to counter our counter-changes.  Therefore power and control are the coin of the realm in this world of perpetual sinful changes as we seek to minimize the changes of others while maximizing our own choices of change.

The whole issue of change is compounded when individuals become groups and groups become nations. Even a cursory view of international news reveals the constant threat of war between the desired changes of nations.  To take but one current example, Iran seeks to change its place in international politics by being a nuclear power. However, Israel and the United States are aggressively seeking to counter Iran’s choice of change. Of course, all nations believe their choices of change are justified while those they oppose are unjustified.  Hence the need for government propaganda and radio talk shows (J).

Despite this world of sinful flux we have hope for “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8).  Unlike our unrighteous choices of change, we read of how Jesus “loved righteousness and hated wickedness” (Heb 1:9).  Jesus’ changes are not polluted with sin, and therefore the changes he seeks are good and right.  Jesus is choosing to change us from sinners to saints (Heb 10:5-14).  We have hope that our sinful changes can be redeemed in the salvation of Christ.  As the Hebrew writer further says, “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.  God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged” (Heb 6:17-18).

Our hope of redemption remains unchanged due to the unchanging righteous nature of God’s character and oath.  In other words, God cannot lie by breaking His oath to redeem us for that would violate His own character.  God never contradicts Himself.

So in this conflicting world of sinful changes and counter-changes, we must hold on to “this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary [heaven] behind the curtain [earth], where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf” (Heb 6:19-20). In a world of conflicting sinful changes it is comforting to know God does not change and therefore we have hope.

– Terry

PRAYER VIGIL AND FAST  -- We will have a Prayer Vigil and Fast on January  7-8 beginning at 6:45 a.m. Please pick up the pamphlet on the tables at the back of the auditorium if you would like more information.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING  -- We will have our annual business meeting immediately following our morning worship this Sunday, January 8, 2012.

PARENTING SEMINAR  --We have rescheduled our Parenting Seminar for January 13-15.  Our Friday and Saturday sessions will be from 7-9:00 p.m. Sunday we will convene in the Fireside Room following our morning worship and the afternoon session will last about one hour.  Lunch will be provided.  Child care is also provided for the seminar.

MEN’S RETREAT  -- Men, please mark your calendars for our Annual Men’s Retreat on January 27-29.  We will be going to Little River Christian Camp - more details will follow soon or you may contact Mark Moreno, Charlie Michael or Trevor Denn for more information.

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP SERVICE  -- Children’s worship service will resume this Sunday.  Also, we are looking for some new leaders to take over the children’s worship service.  If you are willing to help, please contact Dave or Wyndee Thomas or Trevor or Jennielle Denn.

DIRECTORY PHOTOS  -- Please remember to contact Sandra Cummings to make an appointment time to get your new photo taken for our 2012 directory.

NURSERY HELP  -- If you would like to help with the nursery, please see Diane Liles. She needs helpers beginning in January.

COFFEE SERVERS  -- Coffee servers are needed for 2012.  Please sign up on the sheet posted in the hallway by the stairs.  All help is greatly appreciated.

PRAYER REQUESTS . . . For Larry Denn and Ferne Scott as they recover from their surgeries at home...For Trevor and Jennielle Denn and family as they travel home from Abilene, TX...For Rodney, a friend of the Albright’s, who needs wisdom to de-stress his life...For Sandy Watson who will have surgery this week - prayers for her healing and peace...Debra Burchett was diagnosed with diverticulitis – please pray that the current treatment will work and she will be healed...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.