There are times when life speeds up and other times when it seems to slow to a crawl.  However, time is constant; it is only our perception of time that expands or truncates.  Our perceptions are influenced by what is happening around us.  Years ago, I was in an auto accident and once I realized what was happening, time slowed down as if it was taking place in slow motion.  It was as if things started happening fast and then they happened very slowly.  Time neither sped up nor slowed down, only my perception of time changed. 

Our perception of other things in life is similarly mutable by what is happening around us.  Fashion is a great example; how many of you still think the fashions of the 70’s and 80’s are still cool?  Or the hairstyles. 

A change of perspective is not necessarily bad as our situations change; we may view things, circumstances, and even people differently.  How old we are often changes our perspective.  So, in a world that is changing and amid our changing perspective, what is constant?  What is unshakable, immutable, and everlasting only God … only the love of Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness that He bought us with His death upon the cross. 

What is so amazing is that God, who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, is the one through His act of love on the cross who made the most profound change to the course of human history that has ever taken place.  Christ’s death and resurrection made room for us to be reconciled with God the Father, and to have eternal life within His presence. 

Even the church changes with the times as to the forms of worship, fellowship, and so forth, but not in terms of belief and message.  We still affirm the same God who is eternal and unchanging, and we still share the hope He offers in the form of eternal life in Him.  I invite you to review the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds which are two of the foundational documents for our faith and the Global Methodist Church.  They communicate who God is, who we are, and what we believe.

Peace,

Pastor Burt

Please note that where both the creeds reference the catholic church, they do not refer to the Roman Catholic Church, but rather the universal church of all Christian believers of any and all denominations.  The definition of catholic is “universal”.



THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven,

Is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

* universal

THE NICENE CREED (A.D. 381)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

* universal