Celebrations

The week from December 25 to January 20 is a time of many celebrations for me. Including Christmas and New years here is a list:

December 27 - My birthday (1954) and our wedding anniversary (1977)
January 1 - Anniversary of my beginning to serve on a church staff (1977)
January 15 - Anniversary of my ordination to the Ministry (1978)
January 20 - Ruthi's birthday (? I'm not stupid)

This time of year is always a time of reflection for me. Sunday will be the 35th anniversary of my serving the Lord in a vocational position. Much has changed in 35 years.

Life has changed. 35 years ago. Marriage, 4 children, and 2 grand children, I used a rotary dial phone, we had 4 TV channels to choose from and  gasoline was 34 cents a gallon, etc ...

Church life has changed. 35 years ago there were no video screens for worship, sound systems were placed in separate rooms and preachers (almost all preachers) wore suits when preaching, etc ...

Southern Baptists were just beginning the "Battle for the Bible" and many traditional practices were being set aside as out of date

I could go on but you get the idea. However, there are some things that have not changed.

Sin is still man's greatest challenge and Jesus is still the only answer. The Bible is still God's inspired, inerrant Word. Preaching is still God's chosen method impact the culture. Soul Winning is still the finest investment of the believer and God's ordained method of bringing the lost to Christ. Also, Southern Baptists are still battling and many traditional practices are still being set aside as out of date.

Change is not a bad thing. In fact, change is inevitable in any living organism. However, change should be tested before it is embraced. Remember, one of the most significant changes in human history was the fall of Adam and Eve from their Edenic perfection.

I look forward to many more years of celebration and believe God to guide me through the treacherous waters of change.

Attempting to Connect the Dots....


Wayne