PC out, Mac is in. My laptop died. Absolutely dead. I tried to resurrect it. Nope. Still dead. It had been dying for some time. You know, death never comes at a good time, even when expected. As a part-timer, I am required to furnish my own equipment. So, I went shopping and when dollar for dollar and other variables (such as a lack of spam and viruses on Mac at this time) were considered, I chose Mac.
Only one problem – huge adjustment and learning curve. You know what? No problem. I want to die the day I stop learning. I do not long for the good old days. The learning curve is steep at times and I have been very frustrated learning some of the differences. But that is OK. I am liking Mac world.
Actually, that brings up another problem. How do we communicate to churches that the good old days were maybe not that good overall and it is no longer Mayberry? I love Andy Griffith. But have you ever counted the number of people in that little church? Most I’ve ever counted was 24. They must have been powerful tithers to support a pastor full-time. Oh, I forgot. It wasn’t a Baptist church, so maybe the denomination supported Rev. Tucker. 
Do you really want a church whose most influential member is a single sheriff who double-dates with his hormone driven deputy in the marked police cruiser and parks at Myers Lake to make out with one of the single elementary school teachers? Or whoever he is dating at the time? The unspoken example of this reminds me that the hidden sins of the “good old days” were maybe not so much greater than the open sins of today. I know, I know – that may be somewhat of a stretch, but think about it in terms of example.
Do we really have to go back to the old spiritual awakenings of hundreds of years ago to find an example? Very few talk about the Jesus Movement of the late ’60′s and early ’70′s. However, two of the continuing products of that small awakening are Calvary Chapels and Praise music (Maranatha label began with a $1,000 loan from Chuck Smith and studios were in Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa). Out that movement came evangelist/pastors such as Greg Laurie and Rick Warren. Casual dress on Sunday a.m. was another aspect. It isn’t necessarily a spiritual one, but then neither are suits.
Seminaries grew as result of young men and women “turned on to Jesus” who realized a need for further training. Others who were not part of the “hippie revival” in California but whose lives were affected by what God was doing in and with a younger generation.
I recall those early ’70′s. Vietnam was raging. I was barely 21 and a police officer. We were instructed to take the drunks to a federally funded “detox” center. I remember taking one to that center and was told, “He is too drunk to be here. Take him to jail.” I did. But on my ‘beat’ was a house church type thing that was operated by folk saved out of the drunk and rock music background. I got to know them. They said, “bring them (the drunks) here.” I did and saw young people in their early twenties and late teens who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ cover any sin and change any person.
We are in an obvious time of change. It isn’t Mayberry. The issue is not style. The issue is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and whether or not we really believe the Gospel is sufficient to cover any sin and change any person. That is part of the “times of refreshing” for which I pray.
The point is this. Change is not always bad. Maintaining the status quo is.
