Happy Re-New Year!Happy Re-New Year!

You Cannot Stay the You Cannot Stay the Same—Change is Same—Change is Always HappeningAlways Happening

““Everything that can be Everything that can be invented has been invented.” invented has been invented.”

Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office director, 1899 Office director, 1899

““Who … wants to hear Who … wants to hear actors talk?” actors talk?”

H. M. Warner, Warner Bros. H. M. Warner, Warner Bros. Pictures, c. 1927Pictures, c. 1927

““Sensible and Sensible and responsible responsible

women do not women do not want to vote.” want to vote.”

Grover Grover Cleveland, Cleveland,

1905 1905

““There is no likelihood man There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power can ever tap the power

of the atom.” of the atom.” Robert Millikan, Nobel prize Robert Millikan, Nobel prize

winner in physics, 1923winner in physics, 1923

““Heavier than air flying Heavier than air flying machines are impossible.”machines are impossible.” Lord Kelvin, president, Lord Kelvin, president,

Royal Society, c. 1895Royal Society, c. 1895

““Ruth [Babe Ruth] made Ruth [Babe Ruth] made a big mistake when he a big mistake when he

gave up pitching.” gave up pitching.” Tris Speaker, 1927 Tris Speaker, 1927

““The horse is here to stay, The horse is here to stay, but the automobile but the automobile

is only a novelty.”is only a novelty.”

-----The Michigan banker who advised -----The Michigan banker who advised Henry Ford's lawyer not to invest in Henry Ford's lawyer not to invest in

the new motor car companythe new motor car company

““Gone with the Wind is going Gone with the Wind is going to be the biggest flop in to be the biggest flop in

Hollywood history.Hollywood history. I'm just glad it'll be Clark I'm just glad it'll be Clark

Gable who's falling flat on his Gable who's falling flat on his face and not me.” face and not me.”

---Gary Cooper ---Gary Cooper

Change:Change:

• Do you cook on an electric or Do you cook on an electric or gas stove; OR do you cook on gas stove; OR do you cook on a wood burning stove?a wood burning stove?

• Have you noticed change Have you noticed change during your lifetime?during your lifetime?

““The only person who likes The only person who likes change is a wet baby.” change is a wet baby.”

-- Mark Twain, -- Mark Twain,

Positive change keeps Positive change keeps the best of the oldthe best of the old, ,

but but improvesimproves and and adaptsadapts..

The Restoration Movement The Restoration Movement must take the gospel of the must take the gospel of the

first century and live it first century and live it in the 21in the 21stst century! century!

• We must “Restore” the church We must “Restore” the church instead of just “being” the church.instead of just “being” the church.

  We must We must be renewed or die!!be renewed or die!!

In Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" In Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip, Lucy asks Linus, comic strip, Lucy asks Linus,

"Do you think people ever "Do you think people ever really change?“really change?“

Linus: "Sure, I feel I've Linus: "Sure, I feel I've changed a lot this past year.“changed a lot this past year.“

• Lucy: "I meant for the Lucy: "I meant for the better."better."

Renewal Comes Renewal Comes From GodFrom God

Psalm 51:10Psalm 51:10“10 Create in me a clean heart, “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and O God, and renew a steadfast renew a steadfast

spiritspirit within me.” within me.”

Isaiah 40:31Isaiah 40:31““31 but those who wait on the 31 but those who wait on the

LORD shall LORD shall renew their renew their strengthstrength. They shall mount up . They shall mount up

with wings like eagles; they with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.” they shall walk and not faint.”

Lamentations 5:21Lamentations 5:21“21 Turn us back to You, O “21 Turn us back to You, O

LORD, and we will be LORD, and we will be restored; restored; renew our daysrenew our days as as

of old”of old”

Habakkuk 3:2Habakkuk 3:2““2 LORD, I have heard your 2 LORD, I have heard your

speech and was afraid; O speech and was afraid; O LORD, LORD, Revive Your workRevive Your work in in the midst of the years! In the the midst of the years! In the

midst of the years make it midst of the years make it known; in wrath known; in wrath

remember mercy.” remember mercy.”

Romans 12:2Romans 12:2““2 And do not br conformed to 2 And do not br conformed to this world, but be transformed this world, but be transformed by the by the renewing of your mind,renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that that you may prove what is that good and acceptable good and acceptable

and perfect will of God.”and perfect will of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:162 Corinthians 4:16““16 Therefore we do not lose 16 Therefore we do not lose

heart. Even though our heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, outward man is perishing,

yet the inward man is yet the inward man is being being renewed day by dayrenewed day by day.”.”

Colossians 3:9-10Colossians 3:9-10 “Do not lie to one another, “Do not lie to one another,

since you have put off the old since you have put off the old man with his deeds 10 and man with his deeds 10 and

have have put on the new manput on the new man, who , who is is renewedrenewed in knowledge in knowledge

according to the image of Him according to the image of Him who created him.”who created him.”

Titus 3:5Titus 3:5““5 not by works of righteous 5 not by works of righteous

which we have done, but which we have done, but according to His mercy He according to His mercy He

saved us, through the saved us, through the washing of regenerationwashing of regeneration and and renewing by the Holy Spiritrenewing by the Holy Spirit,” ,”

““I suppose when we wake on I suppose when we wake on January 1 the world will look the January 1 the world will look the same. But there is a reminder of same. But there is a reminder of the Resurrection at the start of the Resurrection at the start of

each new year, each new decade. each new year, each new decade. That's why I also like sunrises, That's why I also like sunrises,

Mondays, and new seasons. God Mondays, and new seasons. God seems to be saying, "With me you seems to be saying, "With me you

can can always start afreshalways start afresh." ." Ada Lum Ada Lum

We Must RenewWe Must Renew• OurselvesOurselves

• This congregationThis congregation

• Our presentation of the GospelOur presentation of the Gospel

“ “The gospel must be preached afresh The gospel must be preached afresh and told in new ways to every and told in new ways to every

generation, since every generation has generation, since every generation has its own unique questions. its own unique questions.

The gospel must constantly be The gospel must constantly be forwarded to a new address, forwarded to a new address,

because because the recipient is repeatedly the recipient is repeatedly changing his place of residencechanging his place of residence.”.”

-- Helmut Thielicke, -- Helmut Thielicke, Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 3.Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 3.

Baptism is a Baptism is a Re-BirthRe-Birth

(Born-Again)(Born-Again)

Confession and Confession and prayer allows prayer allows

a new starta new start for the for the Christian.Christian.

Will you Will you grow / change / be grow / change / be renewed—or die?renewed—or die?