April 2018

April 1st brings us Easter and the celebration of resurrection in the lives of God's faithful people. Resurrection becomes a part of our very being and this life of promise takes hold of us and influences the way our living unfolds in this world. There is a sense of newness each and every morning we rise. At least, there is the potential for newness each morning we rise. As I continue to mature in faith and in life, I'm not so sure I'm on board with this newness each and every morning. At this stage of the journey, I am realizing that newness isn't for sissy's.

I recently officiated a wedding in Driftwood, TX and though the ceremony was in Driftwood, we were staying in Wimberley, TX. These are towns south of Austin, TX. I was in a totally new setting. I was in a place I had never been before. I was brought to a totally new place in my life. I usually have no problems with this. I actually like new experiences and places. The problem was that I never got my bearings straight. I had no sense of direction.

We flew into Austin TX, and we rented a car at the airport. I had directions printed out and that's what we had to trust. I do not have a smart phone or a GPS device. My thought is, "I don't need no stinking directions." So, we get in the car and begin to head south toward the area of the state in which all the festivities were going to take place. It was soon after turning off the interstate that my problem began to manifest itself. I had lost all sense of north and south, east and west. The directions we had printed out stated things like, "At FM 2326/PR 156 go east". OK. Is east on my left or on my right? Are we heading north or south when we get to FM2326/PR 156? .I had lost my bearings and I did not have a GPS to straighten me out. And this wasn't just going to the airport to Wimberley, this was the WHOLE time I was there. Even going back to the airport I got lost. I spent half the time on the road being lost. I never got my bearings and directions correct. The long rolling hills and trees kept my bearing from focusing on an anchor to keep me from being lost. Driving in newness was frustrating and downright just sucking the life right out of me partn'r. Newness definitely isn't what it's always cracked up to be!

Newness can be frustrating. Especially the newness the world has to offer us each and every day. We wake every morning to newness. We hear of events in the world which change our perspective of life for that day. We have a new law passed. We need a new law passed. Prices are new when we go to the store. The price of gas seems to be new every day. A new face is in the news and it's usually not good. A new life erupts upon us because we, or someone in our lives is diagnosed with a disease. This newness each and every day is tiring and it wears us down. We are all realizing that newness isn't for sissy's.

For us who are in Christ, this newness each and every day takes on a new shape. The newness of the world is met by the newness of resurrection and the hope that comes in knowing that our Savior, Jesus the Christ, isn't going away. The Lord is present and is our bearing. The Lord is not just an anchor, a point in our lives to keep our bearings straight and on course, the Lord isn't just a quaint fairy tale which teaches us about life. No, the Lord is the way, the truth and the life. And the life the Lord brings and bestows is an eternal life for He is Risen! He is Risen indeed.

In Christ's love and service, Pastor Dan