Change: Both Sides of the 'Coin'

I was struck with a very thought-provoking situation this weekend that has led me to take a break from my Colossians series so I could share it with you.

CHANGE: Is it good or bad?

                   Does it bring about good or bad?

                   Should it make you happy or sad?

I experienced both sides of change this weekend as my husband and I attended a reunion hosted by a group of now young adults who were once part of a church youth department we led in the early 90’s in Arlington, TX.

The church we attended also had a Christian school were we taught. It was the greatest and most memorable two years of my teaching career. It was a sad day when I heard the school had closed about 6 years ago, and even a sadder day when I heard that the Dallas Cowboys organization had purchased the church property for a parking lot for their new stadium.

I had heard from friends that the corner of Randall Mill and Collins was VERY DIFFERENT than it was 18 years ago when we left. And, when we arrived Friday afternoon, we were definitely surprised (and momentarily confused) as to where things were. The stadium is beautiful. But it is still so hard to imagine that it is sitting right there on the corner where CICI’s used to be! But, I saw it with my own eyes. There it stood in all its glory. Then, while we ate supper at a favorite place that was still near that intersection, I started trying to picture the thousands upon thousands of people who streamed through that area-my old stomping grounds-just a few short months ago during the Super Bowl. It was quite an overwhelming thought!

Well, we went East on Randall Mill to watch a Rangers game (not our first visit to the Ball Park), so it was the next morning before we went that one small block west of the infamous Randall Mill/Collins intersection where our church and school once stood.

It was nothing but flat concrete with yellow stripes! We pulled in across the street so I could take some pictures. My eyes teared up. Bethel Baptist-the building-was gone! (The Cowboys paid them well, and a beautiful new building now stands in booming south Arlington). But MY building was gone! We turned and parked on Web Street-where Texas Christian Academy once stood. I walked down to approximately where my classroom would have been. I considered stepping across the barrier to get even closer.   My friends’ old house-right across the street- is now a covered shuttle stop. I cried.

 

Everything in that part of Arlington was sooo different-so new. I thought, at least the Dallas Cowboys can’t take away my memories!  I was very sad, until….

Well, after driving by our old house-less than a mile away, we headed to see our stomping grounds from when worked and taught in Grand Prairie in the late 80s. When we went by our old church and my old school, we saw that nothing had changed! Nothing had changed. Then it hit me. I found that sight to be just as sad!

Were the changes that had taken place in our section of Arlington REALLY that bad after all?

Change~It can be good-it can be bad, but consider the alternative. Take it and run with it! Keep your memories, but allow God to show you His purpose (He always has one!). Then, seize the opportunities that come!

BTW: When I closed this, that illustrious dialog box popped up~"Do you want to save changes?” I just smiled and clicked ‘yes’.

Debbie

Closet Cleaning~Round 1

Last week we examined our lives and discussed who we are (as believing Christians) as new creatures in Christ. We have considered the infamous word ‘therefore’ and have studied what it is there for in the previous segments. Now what?

We are told in verses 5-7 (Colossians Chapter 3) to mortify~put to death; make dead~ various aspects of our former lives.  The editors of the Expositors’ Bible Commentary put it this way, “we must not simply suppress or control evil acts and attitudes; rather, we are to wipe them out and completely exterminate the old way of life.” (emphasis mine)  They go on to explain that this must be done with vigorous effort and determination. Do we get the idea that what is to follow is extremely important? It is not an easy feat. But, because we are one with Christ, we know He has the power and resources to help us succeed. It can be done!

We will notice that Paul begins this first list with sexual immorality. Commentaries agree that sexual immorality and acts were a big part of Greek culture in Paul’s day. The continued list below stems from this line of thought. These acts and attitudes were often the first and most difficult change to be made in the life of a new believer. We are commanded to EXTERMINATE THESE THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.

Next, Paul lists impurity, which involves uncleanness in thought, word, or action. EXTERMINATE THESE THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.

Lust involves uncontrollable passions and desires. EXTERMINATE THESE THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.

Evil desires involve wicked evil thoughts towards others. EXTERMINATE THESE THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.

Greed involves a ruthless desire for more with disregard for the rights of others. EXTERMINATE THESE THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.

 (Word study from Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

Paul concludes with a reminder that these thoughts and attitudes can be equated with idolatry as they put our selfish desires above what God wants for our lives. These thoughts and desires demonstrate setting our minds on earthly things rather than ‘things above’ as seen in verse 2.

In verse 7 Paul reminds the Colossian believers (and us) that we USED to walk this way. As mentioned above, our old earthy nature used to control our thoughts and actions. But, now that we are to think on ‘things above’, where Christ is seated, we should walk differently—or as we shall see in the next section, wear different 'clothes'.

So, each one of us needs to look deeply in our heart closet for any of the above ‘outfits’.  Any attitude, thought, action, or desire that lends itself to immorality, unclean thoughts, uncontrollable and ruthless passions and desires for things or against others needs to be ‘put to death’, annihilated, destroyed, and completely exterminated from our lives.

Don’t just put them in the garage sale pile, throw them out, better yet, BURN THEM. Be done with them! 

We should have some more space in our heart closet now for some new items! A ‘shopping spree’ is coming soon, but we have a little more cleaning out to do first.

Remember, it takes vigorous effort and determination-but, with Christ’s help, it can be done!

Debbie

Our Heart's Closet

Are the clothes hanging in your literal closet a representation of you? Don’t you agree that what is hanging in our closets tell a lot about our personalities, our styles, our interests, and yes, often about our values.  In the same way, what is hanging in the closet of our heart tells the same story. 

In Colossians 3, Paul uses the imagery of putting off and putting on certain characteristics in the same way we would put off or put on certain outfits each day. These outfits (characteristics) tell the world a lot about who we are. That is why I have been referring to the ‘wardrobe’ of Chapter 3 in the previous introductory segments.

But before we check out our closets, we must first determine just who we are. Then, we can clean out and fill our heart’s closet accordingly.

As a quick review, remember, Colossians is a letter that Paul wrote to a new church in the area of Colossae. Through his letter he is teaching the young believers the importance of recognizing the pre-eminent role Christ should hold in their lives now that they are saved, and how that should affect their daily lives and attitudes.

WHO ARE YOU?~~HOOO   HOOO

Colossians 3:1 refers back to the message of chapter 2 (see previous two segments) and provides an excellent introduction to where Paul is going next. (Remember, Paul did not use chapters and verses when he wrote this letter.)The connection between the two chapters could read like this~Since you have been raised with Christ, don’t spend your time and energy contemplating and seeking after the philosophies of this world, but instead~, “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God…”

He then reminds the Colossian believers in verse 3 that they have died to their old self and are now alive in Christ. Since they have become new ‘creatures’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ, Paul now instructs them that it is time to clean out their 'closets' and fill them with  a whole new wardrobe. Thus, we should do the same!

Think about what is in your literal closet right now. Are there old, frayed, ugly, out of date outfits that don’t fit anymore?  When you clean out your closet, some items may be put into a garage sale pile, while others are just plain thrown into the trash!! RIGHT?

As we begin to examine the closet of our hearts, let’s think of those old, ugly characteristics that don’t (shouldn’t) fit our new life in Christ. What do we need to throw out? Paul begins to list those items in the verses to follow.

Spring cleaning?

Debbie