From the Minister’s desk

My friends

I'd like to share an observation that I've made over the past couple of decades; perhaps you, too,

have noticed this. It seems to me that one of the standards of judgment that we hold for our

leaders is that they must be consistent. We want leaders, it appears to me, who never budge, who never change, and are resolutely the same no matter what happens. Should they dare change their minds their opponents jump all over them and accuse them of being inconsistent; that they are

"flip-flopping." Politicians and public leaders of all types, including us in the Church, are held to this standard of consistency, and if they/we violate it for any reason they/we are made to suffer.

I wonder, though, if consistency is such a good policy. To me, this consistency thing gets carried

too far. It's sort of like saying, "My mind's made up; don't confuse me with the facts." Philosopher Bertrand Russell, who was known for traversing a broad range of viewpoints during his long life,

once responded to criticism by saying, ‘consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.’ Things change, after all. New information comes to light; circumstances, situations and people change. Even the

ground we walk upon changes.

I have learned as a pastor for nearly three decades, that in spite of church folks' best efforts to the contrary, things change constantly. In fact, I am going to go out on a limb and tell you that probably

the only thing you can absolutely count in this life - besides God's ever-present and prevenient

grace - is change. And yet, somehow we are drawn to what we think is unchanging, dependable,

fixed. Perhaps with life as fluid as it really is, we seek stability in other places? I don't know. But I

do know that even God changes! Think with me about this. The church has a rather large

investment in the idea of an immutable, immovable, unchanging holy deity. But walk through our

history and you will see that God changes.

In January, I preached on the story of Jonah. He tried to avoid God's call to him to go to Nineveh

and warn the people to repent of their evil ways - change! The King listened. He heard the

warning and got all of the people to repent and change their ways, and Nineveh was saved.

Because they changed their ways, God changed God's mind. Jonah, however, didn't really want Nineveh to repent. He hated the idea that God should change God's mind. God said he would

destroy Nineveh, and that should be that!

I know that as a parent, flexibility is best. It seems to me that remaining flexible and responsive to

the card that life deals may be a better way of going. Whether it's in our personal lives, our family

lives, our church or our community, it makes sense that we work to be adaptable as change

comes. Indeed, isn't that one of the main things Jesus came to tell us? That "the Sabbath is made

for people, not the people for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

But if we fail to understand that one of the most primal pieces of our lives together is the truth of

constant change, then we will crucify people on our rules as surely as we nailed Jesus to a tree.

Where is change coming for you? Does change come in the way you experience God?  A God

who can change his mind? A God who can repent of anger and turn to us in love? Perhaps if we

can open our hearts to a God of change, maybe then we can welcome change whenever it

comes?

From Wednesday 22^nd February, named as Ash Wednesday, we will start the season of Lent -

forty days before Easter - the period in which Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of

Jesus Christ by practising the spiritual disciplines of fasting, prayer, and penitence. It is a season

for reflection and taking stock; an opportunity for change! Mind you, the hardship of Lent is

voluntary and willing self-sacrifice.

As we enter into Lent, may God, in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit lead us through our

soul-searching and repentance activities.

With every good wish as we work with change.

Your Pastor and friend,

Derrick Sena