From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “Time 4 an UPGRADE”
Last night I was about to do some work on my company books as I try to do each
week. I poured a cup of coffee, sat down at my desk, fired up my computer and clicked on
the software icon. Suddenly a window popped up with a message stating that I needed to
perform a software upgrade. Sometimes upgrades are recommended, but this one was
required. Initially I was irritated, considering that the program I was using was barely three
years old, but according to the information before me it was outdated and unable to
accommodate current changes. Needless to say, I purchased the upgrade and as it
downloaded I began to think about my current viability to the Kingdom of God.
Because we so deeply love our relationship with the Lord and are so grateful for all
He’s done, we sometimes become unwavering in our approach toward Him and even
more rigid and inflexible in the way we represent Him. There’s an old song that we grew
up hearing that directly magnifies that philosophy of thinking: “Give me that OLD time
religion, give me that OLD time religion, give me that OLD time religion, it’s good
enough for me.” I’m sure the author’s intention was to encourage believers to maintain
their connection with the standards of faith that carried former generations from burdens
to blessings down through the years. In many cultures around the globe, faith and hope
have been the bridges that kept people pressing on from bondage to freedom.
I agree that it’s important to remember the legacy and discipline of our spiritual
ancestors, for if you don’t know where you’ve come from, you’ll have no clear focus on
where you’re going. I also, however, feel it’s critically important that we don’t become so
firm-footed in the method and processes of the past that we become ineffective and ill-equipped
to address the needs of this current age. We cannot allow ourselves to become
irrelevant in this spiritual fight because of a refusal to readjust our delivery and design. The
only thing I know that is a constant upon the earth, is CHANGE.
The Lord our God never changes, but the world in which we live is changing every
day. We can still talk about an incredible God who loved us so much that He gave His
only begotten Son, but we must present the message in formats that reach those who need
it the most. Another hymn of old says this in one of the verses, “To serve this present age,
my calling to fulfill. May it all my power engage, to do my Master’s will.” Which to me
means that we must always keep the focus on doing whatever it takes to reach people
where they are without compromising the integrity and validity of God’s word. You don’t
need to change the doctrine, it may just be Time 4 an UPGRADE.
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH
PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT!
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW
OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR
PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO
THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and
professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly,
or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)
