Change

Written by cycleguy on August 13th, 2017

I’ve written about change a lot. As a pastor, the church is often being challenged to change. Status quo just doesn’t work any more. This is not a slam against churches which prefer hymns as opposed to more contemporary worship. This is not a slam against churches which prefer King Jimmy versus the ESV or some more easily understood translation.

Instead, I want us to take a look at the “why” change is so difficult-for churches-but specifically individuals. I’m seeing this first hand to be honest. My recent back surgery is filled with “Don’ts.” Don’t bend over at the waist. Don’t exercise. Don’t ride a bike. Don’t twist and bend. For 30 days they are asking telling ordering me not to do certain things. Do you know how hard it is to change some ingrained habits? I even went so far as to call them and ask if I could go to the Y since I was bored not being able to exercise. But then my hip and calf started aching so I answered the question myself: I wasn’t ready. So I went for a longer walk than I had before. Yeah…it was too far. I guess they know more than I do?

Change is hard, in all things. What makes change so hard, I think, is the fear of failure. What happens if…? We fear becoming a failure or being seen as one. That is a lie though. Failing to make a change does not make us a failure. That is not who we are. Failure is not getting back up after falling down. We need to stop believing the lie we can’t change. Our enemy wants us to stay entrenched in concrete. The last thing he wants to see is us moving in the power of the Spirit as we allow Him to change us.

I’ve been working on a tentative sermon schedule for 2018 under the working theme of “Accept the Challenge.” Can you guess what one of the series might be on?  🙂

I may be incommunicado for a couple of days. Jo & I are heading to Ohio for Monday and Tuesday. Our grandson, Braden, starts school on Wednesday. He was supposed to come Labor Day weekend to visit but that has changed and if we want to see him before Thanksgiving or Christmas, this is the time.

 

11 Comments so far ↓

  1. Betty Draper says:

    Failure is not getting back up after falling down. Let me add to this sentence. Failure is getting up and not accepting the change that life hands us. When we want life to go back to what it was when something happens and it doesm
    t we can become defeated and never enjoy any of what God has for us. Your post feeds into a post I started a month or two ago and never finished. I think I can finish it now. Praying for you brother and by the way, I got the bear and stickers. My youngest grandson who is 2 had claimed the bear…since the stickers were too big for his and he was not interested in them. We will use them our car.

  2. Jacci says:

    Change is hard…just ask people who send their kids to boarding school ;). Some people have looked at us like we have 3 heads. Almost afraid of her failure for us! Kelci’s 4H speech goes great with your blog post today!

    • cycleguy says:

      You have at least 2 heads: you and Andy. I know it is hard and will require big change on the part of all of you. Praying it all goes well.

  3. Jeff says:

    I have studied and driven change management initiatives for many years. Both for organizations and on a personal level. If you thought they were ordering you to change either they went about it wrong or you didn’t understand. I imagine they were explaining the changes you needed to make if you wanted a positive outcome. The choice was yours. If you don’t want a positive outcome then there was no need to make any changes.
    Failing to make the change probably would lead to a failure of the process.
    As for the enemy and the power of the spirit you are on your own. If these fantasies help then imagine anything that makes it easier.

  4. Change isn’t often easy, but so necessary if we want to continue to grow in God’s Word and Spirit.
    Have a wonderful time with your grandson, Bill! Safe travels!

  5. Pam says:

    Sometimes, Bill, I think accepting the challenge is the biggest challenge that change presents. Once we accept that things WILL change, the changes themselves seem to come easier.

  6. floyd says:

    Excellent reminder, Bill. It’s is the striving that I believe our Father longs for.

    Enjoy your time with family. It goes so fast…