Time is going fast.
Only three weeks until we close Ealing Corps for three months.
Three weeks until the Corps as people would know it changes forever.
In that time there will be changes to the interior of the building, and, way more importantly, there will be drastic changes to the way it operates in this part of London.
Deep deep change.
A lot of people have made some very courageous decisions.
For Dawn and I it means virtually starting again from scratch.
It mean carrying and distributing the vision he has entrusted us with.
Something we have been very used to during the course of our ministry.
I really didn't want to do that again on this appointment.
But God is God.
And.
His plans are truly brilliant.
Unfathomably better than ours.
So we're better sticking to His plans really.
He gives and takes away.
He reminds us there is a time to die.
And.
A time to build.
He beautifully and clearly let's us know that we cannot put new wine in old wine skin.
He gives the the green light to administer deep change.
Deep change is hard to swallow for some.
But it's needed.
Especially in our lives.
Especially in the church.
Especially in the world.
I met a guy recently who has slept on the streets in London for twelve years. He is one of these guys who refuses help and seems happy to fend for himself and take his chances out on the street. He was telling me that he had a new lease of life. He said he had slept on the same park bench, in the same park, in the same part of the city for nearly all that time. He said he made the same pilgrimage every day to get sausage rolls out of the same bin behind the same bakery. To get there he waked the same path every day.
The reason for his new lease of life?
He told me that he had changed park benches.
He went to the park down the road and just decided he needed a change.
So.
He picked a new park bench.
He said he had to walk a different way to the bakery.
His face lit up as he said his new route took him past a lake, through a beautiful walled garden and most importantly it took him past a tea kiosk that offered him a free cup of tea every day.
He said it had made a massive difference to him.
Deep change.
Seriously brings a new lease of life.
God is about life.
He breathes it into dead things.
Deep change.
We've been good at incremental change in the church.
Changing little bits at a time.
It's a bit pointless that.
You can't put new wine into an old wine skin.
Deep change is required.
It's where the breath of God touches the lifeless, it's where the beating heart of God can be reassuringly heard.
It hasn't felt very life giving as we prepare for deep change in the West London development project. It's been really hard on the "wrapping up the past" leg of this journey. But I know it is life giving. I know there is wave of new life coming. Because people have been brave enough to draw a line on the past and head for the future.
Because?
God is the new wine through Jesus.
So guys.
Are you in need of a change?
Are you fed up with the same old same old?
Have you cocooned your life in an old wine skin?
Be brave.
Change park benches!!
Go for deep change.
Allow God to change everything.
Allow his new wine to drench your life.
Blessings.
