LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

For the multitude that are graced with life, we have just two more days to make it to yet another year: 2006. It seems longer, but it was only this past January (23rd) that Johnny Carson died. He would be followed by such noted celebreties as: Johnnie Cochran, Terri Schiavo, Pope John Paul II, General Westmorland, Peter Jennings, William Rehnquist, and Richard Pryor to name a few. One year, our names will be added to the departed. And what will they say about you, me, us?

Before we go there, let’s talk about what we might yet be able to do now; in this present moment. There is that which we all know we need, and should do. And that’s to change! God is so gracious that yet while we are sinners, He calls our number, whispers in our ear, and tells us what wonders He has in store for us. But along comes another (put the blame on your ego- not Satan), the false self, that seduces us with the excitement of ill-gotten gains, fame, glory, power, and sin without discovery! Ahh, it it were only so. It’s a lie.

When I lived more in the corporate business world, I was reminded of the need to change from month to month as the P&L statements had to be justified. Every quarter brought a serious eye to the balance sheets: those that had gone public, had to face the scrutiny of the stakeholders. But it was at moments like this, when ending one year and starting another, that change was needed most. A CEO was called upon to make annual prognostications- that were right. Annual reviews were but another reminder of changes that needed to be made.

What does the secular world know that the church doesn’t?

I say that because while pretending to follow the Spirit, too often the church lags behind in the desert of procrastination, some 40-50 years. I’m just finishing my third book by Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts, and in this one he talks about his decision to leave Houston and move to Portland (why tempt me?). And in it he says, “Everybody has to change, or they expire. Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons. I want to keep my soul fertile for the changes, so things keep getting born in me, so things keep dying when it is time for things to die. I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page recurrently.”

So, bring on 2006. I’m changed, am changing; into what, only time will tell. Those that are on the journey with me know it, sense it, and in some ways, fear it. I but pray those changes are from Him. Why else would I want to endure the pain? Worse yet, why would anyone want to stay in the current conditions?