Something to think about... Hosea 5:15-6:6 It is my experience that individuals, families, communities, and congregations do experience Gods restoration. It is my hope that this restoration may be also experienced by nations and by the earth itself. Individuals are likely to say that they experience Gods restoration as forgiveness from sin, peace in the face of uncertainty, recovery in the face of addiction, health in the face of illness. Families are likely to say that they experience Gods restoration as joy in being together, in reconciliation after disagreement, as strength in the face of shared loss, as the ability to remember in the face of relentless change. H. James Hopkins Restoration is not a word we are familiar with, especially in a throw away society. To restore means to bring back to life that which was damaged, neglected, forgotten, or abused. We would rather renovate, remodel, or replace today. We treat our congregations in much the same way. If it seems to be old or outdated, we simply say change it or I will walk away. (We also call this, the-grass-is-greener-on-the-other side illusion.) We treat our families and friends, coworkers, and spouses the same way - you change or I will leave! God did not want the people to destroy and reinvent their religion; rather, to be reminded of its core content - God Saves, God Loves, God Acts. In return, we are to respond in adoration (worship), forgiveness (recognizing our need for Gods love and mercy), and sharing (of both word and deed). This mutual relationship is what matters most--not which doctrine a church proclaims or ministry program a church offers. Restoring relationships is what is most important in the eyes of God. Why else would God sacrifice His most beloved relationship to restore ours? Yet, we still go on trying to reinvent ourselves so that we may have what we call relevancy. We are relevant only when our relationships are restored. We are relevant when we worship and place God at the heart of our lives. We are relevant when we respond to the call of God with integrity and commitment. We are relevant when we restore that which is broken - ourselves and our past. In restoration, we renew that which is already there - a relationship with God and one another. But first, we must look inside to see what needs to be restored, healed, hoped for, and reconciled. Once we do that, God starts moving and shaking - an we will be made better for it! Thanks be to God!
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:00:41 +0000