Under New Management

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"Under New Management" How many times have we seen that phrase outside of a business. It is supposed to give assurance that things are different. That they are moving in a new direction. That this “new” management can bring about needed changes to an image, or poor customer service, or faulty products, or a bad reputation. The problem is, many times theses changes do not take place. The reasoning for this is simple—while the manager may be new, the practices and procedures stay the same.



I know a little about procedures. OK. So, I know a lot about policies and procedures. It comes with the territory of being a Quality Manager. QA is all about the acronym. CA, ISO, IPA, EPA, ASQ, ANZI. You name it, we'll acronym it. Procedures and Policies are our life blood. (Not so much with pastors! Ask any financial secretary, treasurer, or organist that has ever worked for me!) The problem is, many "new" managers promise change, but never change the old habits, or...you guessed it...pro-see-jurssss.



The same can be said for our Christian walk. After all, isn’t that what we did when we were baptized? Didn't we give the controlling interest in our lives to a new manager? Of course, the answer is yes. Listen to how Paul put this to the Believers in Rome,
When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. So, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the wonderful power of the Father, we also can live a new life.
Romans 6:4 (NCV)

Do you see that? When we were baptized, we entered into a "new life" under "new management." That new manager is the Holy Spirit. It is like we hung a sign around our neck that said “under new management.”



For some of us that sign is new. It is as fresh as a baby-in-a-birthing-center. For others of us, the sign has aged. It has been quite sometime since the water was disturbed beneath our baptism. In either case, as we start the new year, let’s get the sign out and polish it up. Proudly display the fact that we are no longer our own. That we are under the control of the greatest manager to ever live. Really, the question on the floor is, “Have the practices and procedures in your life changed in a way that others can see that you are under new management?” I hope so.


Blessings to you in this new year. May 2011 be full of the blessings that God has in mind for you.

Where You Are

Possibly my favorite praise chorus is Where You Are.

I just want to be where You are
Dwelling daily in Your presence
I don’t want to worship from afar
Draw me near to where You are


I just want to be where You are
In Your dwelling place forever
Take me to the place where You are
I just want to be with You


I want to be where You are
Feasting at Your table
Dwelling in Your presence
Surrounded by Your glory
In Your presence, that’s where I always want to be
I just want to be, I just want to be with You


That about sums it up. I know He IS everywhere. (Don’t get technical with me.) But I want to be with His presence and surrounded by His love.

How ‘bout you?

He Is Our Path

The story is told of a man on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?!” The seasoned guide stopped and looked back at the man and replied, “I am the path.”

I love that story, perhaps mostly because I ask that question from time to time. I have found that living in a small community in South Carolina can be like a safari. “Do you know where I can find Cassatt-Junction Road?” “Sure! Go to where uncle Lem used to have his farm. Turn right by that oak tree where Sally Hoskins was hung by the Yankees back in 1865. If you come to the sight of the Great Barn Fire of ’56, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and go back.” And who can trust the GPS out here. If you are ever coming home from Lake Wateree at night, for heaven’s sake don’t trust the GPS! It has no idea about dirt roads or wooden bridges!

Have you ever asked God if He was sure He knew where He was taking you? I have, and God’s answer is the same as the safari guide’s...“I am the path.” Even if God did tell me what path I was on, I would be as lost as if I were looking for Cassatt-Junction Road. God sees the Big Picture, and I don’t.

God also saw fit to send me a Guide, however. Jesus promised in John 14, “I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true.” (CEV) The Holy Spirit says, “I am the Path.” Whatever storms of life may rage around us, we have an advocate with the Father. No matter how confusing the directions sometimes seem, (where Uncle Lem used to have his farm) Jesus promises us that He “will not leave us orphans.” (John 14:18 NKJV)


Blessings,

Steve