When change is good

As our regular readers have learned, Pat and I have been processing many changes. The following message is being sent to members of Highway Tabernacle-Resurrection Life Church today. We will continue to write, but the audience will be a bit different. Please sign on to our blog as a “follower” or “member” if you have interest in reading our offerings. And, please enter the discussion when you are so inclined. Thanks!

Anne Sullivan, best known as Helen Keller’s teacher and companion, observed, “We imagine that we want to escape our selfish and commonplace existence, but we cling desperately to our chains.” We are quite comfortable with pointing out what could or should be different, but at the same time are slow to exert the necessary effort to affect that change. I am often that way, sadly.

Pat and I have been experiencing a season of change for several months now. Some days I remember the rather simple-minded man who cut off his dog’s tail one inch at a time, so it wouldn’t hurt so bad. We have slowly, incrementally, moved from the fast, noisy, multi-tasking life of big city pastors to, well, we are still trying to figure out what it is we are experiencing. While filling out change-of-address forms, arranging furniture in a new place, planting a garden for the first time in over 25 years, exploring new, best-fit Medicare supplement insurance policies, at the request of the deacons, we continued to write several “e-bulletins” weekly.

Happily, Highway Tabernacle - Resurrection Life Church has elected Mark Boucher as pastor. That is good! It is an answer to the prayers of many and will be celebrated for as long as Pastor Boucher serves the church. Pastor Boucher will communicate information, vision, and pastor messages in keeping with his experience and preparation for ministry. It is time for our communiques in this form to end.

My last words are taken from Philippians 1, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Pat and I assure you –
• The last twelve years have been the most fulfilling and memorable of the more than 45 years we have shared together. All our memories are good!
• Our prayers for you will go on.
• While the church’s history is rich, the future is greater. The good work will go on. The best is ahead!
• “The day of Jesus Christ” is the one day to which we look forward together. Pat and I will look for you among the 1000's of 1000's and tens of 1000's. We will sing, shout and wildly celebrate. The anthem has been written, rehearsals have begun, it won’t be long before we join the chorus singing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5)
We say, “Goodby!” from this forum with joyful anticipation of what lies ahead. Pat and I love you, always!

Otto Wegner

P.S. If you would like to follow our blog, messages written to a wider audience, go to http://renewedcities.blogspot.com/