Dear ones:
We live in a world of constant sensory
bombardment. Sights and sounds of the
world around us, wash over us and, frankly, at times, we are numb to them. Unsettling news is broadcast on the radio or
television or on the home page of our browser and we spin a cocoon around
ourselves and sleep insulated from what is going on around us. At least, that happens to me anyway.
Then along comes Isaiah. The status quo is being ripped apart,
barbarians are at the gate. But in the
midst of that invasion, God provides words of assurance to the chosen
people. For example in Isaiah 43: 19,
the prophet reports that God prophetically proclaims: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs
forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers
in the desert.”
Starting with November 17th, for
five out of six Sundays in November and December, my primary source text will
be Isaiah.
One of those Sundays I will
use the following text from Isaiah 65:17 – 18: “For I am about to create new heavens and a
new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad
and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem
as a joy, and its people as a delight” to speak to the new creation going on at
Hilltop.
Our worship experience has a different look and feel. I see that as part of the new creation
described prophetically in Isaiah.
The way we do our budgeting and
income assessment is going to change. I
see that as part of the new creation described prophetically in Isaiah.
We have new leaders getting ready to
emerge into their new leadership roles for 2014. I see that as part of the new creation
described prophetically in Isaiah.
God’s prophetic words were intended to pull the chosen people
out of their own sensory bombardment of conquest and barbarians and see the new
that was going on in front of them – and a new perception about a new reality
was being invited. That invitation is
just as true today.
God’s reminder is that in the newness, the New Jerusalem is
to be a “joy” and a “delight.” I
confess, that sometimes, change and newness is not universally seen as “joy” or
a “delight.” Perspective matters. I pray that we can see the new with a joyful,
delightful perspective. The past and
future both matter. It is my view that
the historical Bingham Canyon, Midvale and Hilltop epic narrative frames our theological
discourse about the future.
I am proud to be the pastor of a church that has so readily
embraced the concept of change grounded in the historical narrative.
Selah, Pastor Dennis
