Message from District Superintendent

God’s “New and Improved!” for 2012

    I remember a year around 1973 when gasoline wars in Kansas City sent prices down to 19.9 cents a gallon (average price then was around 29.9). One day while riding with Carolyn’s relatives, Don and Colleen Cornwell, Don commented that he had heard that the time would come when gasoline prices would skyrocket to 50 cents a gallon – and I distinctly remember thinking that if that ever happened, people would just quit driving so much.

    Now I understand a little about those old stories of grandparents who talked about Christmas presents being a nickel’s worth of candy. Time does have a way of bringing change – change in the economy, governance, and culture (sometimes for the better, and obviously … sometimes for the worse).

    One big thing that has changed is … we’re into a NEW year - 2012. Something “new” brings renewed hope and excitement. New Year is known for a time to make resolutions – which are intentions to do something new/different that is better! Have you made resolutions for 2012? The number one resolution by Americans is to eat more healthily and exercise regularly. Did you know that doing something different that is better IS a “God thing”? God is into making things NEW!

    The prophet Ezekiel spoke the promise of God to God’s people when he said: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (36:26)

    Peter wrote: “In his (God’s) mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope though the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ….” (1Peter 1:3)

    Paul comments that that new birth results in becoming a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, …” (2 Cor. 5:17-18a)

    The Psalmist David tells of his experience: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Ps. 40:1-3a)

    God is into “new” and making things better!

    God has promised the redeemed that someday we will live on a “new earth” with a “new heaven”. The prophet Isaiah wrote of it first. “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Is. 65:17)

    The apostle Peter affirmed it: “But in keeping wit his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13)

    And just in case we missed it, Jesus revealed it to John. And John wrote: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, ….” (Rev. 21:1)

    So, … long before TIDE created “NEW and IMPROVED” God was into “NEW and IMPROVED”. So, let’s allow God to work something NEW and IMPROVED in us this coming year – there’s no doubt He is not only willing, but eager to do so.