The Atmosphere of Change

Change is all around us. Lyricist Neil Peart writes that "constant change is here to stay." We hear political vomit that speaks of "change that we can believe in," and we believe it just because it is articulated well. The point is that people are seeking a change. The norm is not sufficing anymore. Plain doesn't cut anymore. The same ol' same ol' is just that... old.
People are seeking a great shake-up. I can't help but to picture a game of Boggle and people are going crazy with the case; shaking it with all of their might and hoping for something different every time. But I believe that there is one thing that we forget about whenever change is in the air, is that there must be a plain of stability. And even though the change is needed, warranted, and even necessary, the stability factor sometimes stays the same.

I say this as I am sitting at a training conference for church planters that myself and some of the core group at Resurgence went through last March. It's a grueling day! Tons of information and creativity that can be both rewarding and frustrating. Trying to capture your thoughts and heart on paper get difficult really quick. And of course when you throw God in the mix, it gets tricky and sobering.
What I am hearing from the people whom God has called to plant churches is that they are seeking change. Let me be quick to say that they are seeking change, not abandonment! Understand that change does not necessarily mean abandonment. These are people who have a common rallying point in that the Bible is the Word of God; infallible, inerrant, and inspired, but they have different hearts for different people in different communities that the same ol', same ol' are not reaching. The stability is the same; i.e. the Word of God, but the fire is fresh, excitement is contagious, creativity is infectious.
Is the fire still fresh in your setting? If not, what quenched it? We can't blame life because life has always been there. So that is not a valid excuse.
I am sure that we can determine it to a lack of focus.
FOCUS is essential to maintaining a fire for Jesus. God gives vision. God stirs conviction and this births passion. Let's seek to be like brand new church planters who are excited and scared, but focused and and fired up about changing the landscape of ministry on the same stable plain of God's Word.
How else would you obey the Lord?