Change is a challenge

Well, I have decided to start a new blog. I did have an old one which I stopped using some years ago, so here is a new go...


I have called this blog Repeatedly New because that is what the word renewal means. (See Ephesians 4:23 where 'renewed' is a translation of the Greek word ἀνανεόω from ἀνά , meaning repeatedly and νέος; meaning new).

Today in church we were thinking about Change, which is the focus of Ephesians 4:17-24, where the Apostle Paul says that change is a must (call it being different and holy), change has happened for those 'in the Lord' (call it conversion and repentance) and change is also happening (call it renewal and being made repeatedly new).

Change is a challenge.

Some of the questions change may raise are:

• Can we change? 

         Can a leopard change his spots?   

          Change seems too difficult 

           The view of Pessimism.

• Do we want change? 

           Maybe we feel happy as is

            The way of Complacency

• What change? 

            Not sure what change means 

            The problem of Confusion

Here at our local church, Christian Life Camps Bay we are going though an exciting story of change. Part of this story of change has been the way God has led us into a Vision of how He is calling us to change.

At a recent Elders time of prayer and waiting on God for fresh vision we unanimously agreed that God had set the following Vision before us as a church:

Our Vision at CLCB is be Growing in Numbers, Youthfulness and Making Disciples who are Changed, Nice and Used.

Our summary slogan for this vision is: Be Changed, Be Nice, Be Used.

In this blog, let me just end of by explaining a little about that word YOUTHFULNESS.

Let me say right out that this is does not mean that we are only interested in young people. Not at all. We are wanting to become a family with a range of ages from infants to very mature. I myself have just recently turned 60 and I am now very definitely in the seniors category. 

What we mean by growing in youthfulness is two things:

A. We are seeking to be renewed or repeatedly made new.

No matter what our physical age we are calling in the promise of Isaiah 40:31 that those 'who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.' 

'So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.' (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)

B. We are seeking to pass on the faith to another generation.

It is said that the the church is always just one generation from extinction. Sadly I see around me a number of churches that did not pass on the faith to another generation, that got trapped in just pleasing their own generation, that are just about to close their doors when the last member dies. We do not want to be like those in the period of the Judges who failed to pass on the faith to another generation (See Judges 2:10). As an older person myself, I want to do as much as I can to help younger people and children come to know and love Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

May a part of my praying ever be in these words of Psalm 71:18:

'So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.'