Week 4: “When you see that you can find and enjoy new cheese, you change course.”

There are few things in life as exciting and faith building as praying with a person as they give their life to Christ or re-dedicate their life to him. There is a profound sense of awe—a spiritual birth/rebirth has taken place. It is a holy moment—the power of the risen Lord is tangible and present. It is a very personal experience with Jesus.

In John 2:1-11 the disciples get a glimpse of the power of God present in Jesus Christ. They put their faith in Christ and their lives are forever changed. They have found the best “cheese” imaginable.

Change can be difficult. Change is a church can be painful. As we see that Christ is leading us to new “cheese” we experience an inner joy—we sense that Jesus is leading us! This joy causes excitement. This joy is contagious. It now becomes easier to deal with the changes that still need to occur.

The PCUSA needs to catch a glimpse of the new “cheese”—it will bring hope to a denomination that hasn’t experienced much hope in recent years. Lay-offs at higher headquarters tend to be a bummer. Reducing the number of mission personnel is devastating. If the PCUSA will rejoice in the “cheese” of the past and begin the quest for “new cheese” we will begin to experience hope. Imagine the hope that would be generated by planting 1000 new churches. Imagine the joy that would be present if we send 10,000 people each year to the hurricane zone to help rebuild homes and lives. “New Cheese.”

The search for “new cheese” must begin before there can be hope in the “new cheese” of the future. Now is the time for the search to begin. Joy will be just around the corner.