Our need for constant renewal

I apologize for the lack of photos and links. Still getting used to posting from my iPad, plus on a train with wi-fi that is slow to inconsistent.


We spent some lovely (a good British word) time in Scotland yesterday with a tour of Sterling Castle (didn't see Wallce's sword - it's in the Wallace Monument across the river but it's probably not the sword anyway), Loch Lomond (the largest surface area of fresh water in Britain) and the Glengoyne Distillery (part of the tour and interesting - perhaps more interesting if I liked whiskey - but a wee taste was quite enough!).


Back in Edinburgh for dinner and then some walking along the Royal Mile with crowds beginning to gather for the Edinburgh Military Tatoo - a spectacle of bagpipes, dancers and fireworks at the end. Last night was a preview and the unexpected fireworks lit up the hotel room.


While walking last night we finally found the house of John Knox (http://www.panoramio.com/m/photo/418896), one of the great reformer's from the 1500's. I don't know a lot of Scottish Church history but I have to imagine that this reformation laid some good groundwork for the church John Wesley (the father of the Methodist movement) grew up in and himself found in need of renewal 200 years later. 


A quarter miles away stands a building now named "The Iron Church," an old building once used as a church now offering music, a nightclub and a free burlesque show. I observed one church, a Scottish Episcopal, who seemed to have some vestige of life doing some relational evangelism through offering hot chocolate and some other less traditional ministry. Granted my view is limited to a small section of Edinburgh (although it's not a huge city) but I was struck by the contrast in such close geographic proximity. 


The Church is in need of constant renewal, starting with our own hearts each day as we spend time with the Lord, seeking His eyes for the day He knows lies ahead of us. Left to itself the Church (or Christian heart) dies and offers a cheap imitation which does satisfy. It's a possible parallel to Isaiah or Jeremiah's words (if I could get to my online Bible.....) about eating but not being satisfied, etc...


We can't lean on our history, as good as it might be. We can't stand in the present proud of who we've been otherwise we'll end up offering what the Iron Church does. Death instead of life within earshot of what once was.


John Wesley once asked a man if he had faith. "I've been baptized," the man replied. To which Wesley said: "I didn't ask what you were." And so it is with us. Who we are today is built on who we have been but who we are becoming will be founded on who we are today. Daily renewal is needed for individuals and churches to become what God intended - the image of Christ, displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We live in a body of death according to Romans 6-9 and we either choose to push it back by stretching forward or we succumb to its presence that will neither fill nor satisfy.


What will you do today to become who God wants you to be tomorrow?


We're halfway to London for a quick luggage drop off north of the city at High Leigh Conference Center, back to London for dinner and Beach Volleyball which we believe will feature a women's and a men's team from USA!! And there's still a little hope for swimming tickets for Saturday which would be very exciting!!