A Remodeling Project for Lent
Beginning Sunday, February 21st

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”         -Col. 3:5, 10

Let’s face it, most of us could use a makeover.  When we look in the mirror most of don’t smile and say, “Wow!  Now that is perfection.”  Some of us might just shake our heads and say, “What’s the use…It’s hopeless,” but most of us at least try to make some improvement in our appearance.  Usually there are some wrinkles we’d like to remove, some blemishes we’d like to cover or a few pounds we’d like to lose.  We wish we could be taller, or more muscular or have a little more hair (on our head and not in all the other strange places it has a tendency to grow).  But even more important than how we look on the outside is what we are like on the inside.
For the next several weeks that is going to be our focus at Parkway Wesleyan.  We are going to be concentrating on “being renewed in the image of our Creator.”  Our goal is that by the end of this Extreme Makeover project when the bus is moved [that’s what they do in the TV program to reveal the finished work] people will see a church full of believers who have been transformed into the image of Christ.

For the next seven weeks I am going to be preaching a series of message that will focus on making some serious changes in our lives.  Hopefully, we will all be challenged to become more like Jesus.  The “Growing Closer to God” class we are doing on Wednesday nights and in Sunday School was a preliminary step in this Extreme Makeover project.  A third piece of the puzzle will be a 40 day Extreme Makeover Daily Devotional for you to use in your quiet time from now until Easter.  These will be available tomorrow night, Ash Wednesday, February 18th.  If you begin on Wednesday and read one devotional per day and skip Sundays you will finish on the Saturday before Easter.  If you are unable to pick up a copy before Sunday you can easily catch up by continuing to read on Sundays.  We hope you will allow these devotionals to challenge you to seek a deeper walk with Christ.

I am convinced that God is on the verge of making some radical changes in many of our lives.  I believe He is calling us as a church to a new level of commitment, sacrifice and obedience.  The question is are we going to resist or will we allow him to tear out some walls, clean out some junk and remodel our souls?  Will we allow the Lord to make us over in His image?  We need more than just cosmetic face lift, we need an extreme makeover.  God has the bulldozer warming up.  All He is waiting on is an OK from us and He will get to work.  Can you tell that I am excited about what the Holy Spirit is about to do in our lives?

Just a note of praise regarding the home going of Louise Massey.  Though we will miss her warm smile and gentle spirit, we rejoice that she is experiencing the joy of being in the presence of her Savior.  What an example of Christ-like holy living she has left us!  Visitation time for the family will be from 4-7 pm tonight at Henry’s Funeral Home.  The memorial service will be here at our church on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM.

Have a great day!
Pastor Barry