When I was little, I can carry around a stuffed animal, a knock off Winnie-the-pooh, and wear a spaceman inspired vest, and that is acceptable.  I do not think I can do that now.

So, I will be 45 years old on Saturday.  At my age, there isn’t much I really want.  My wish list is going to be anything fishing related, like, mostly fishing lures, because they always get lost.  But it doesn’t matter too much, I’ll get them all the time, so it’s not anything special for a birthday, right?  But what I hope I will get is a bracelet from my son and daughter, because my last bracelets I got from them about 2 years ago, finally broke when I was fishing a few months ago.  So that is kind of sad.  And maybe the other thing would be just having good food.  And that is it.
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Birthdays are different when you are younger.  It is more exciting and more stuff to get.  When you are a kid it’s whatever awesome toy.  And you are a teenager, it is probably video games and gift cards, college and single, it’s usually… umm… unfiltered young adult stuff.

But I am too old for any of these things, and I honestly do not feel I would enjoy any of it as I would if I were at that age and at that stage of my life.  Man… this makes me sound like an old fart!  A total Debbie-downer!  Am I really THAT old?

I may be turning 45, but I do not feel old.  Well, to be honest, physically I am feeling my age.  I am finding more grey hair, my hair is thinning more, I feel little less energy, I am having stomach issues (which I always had) more often that sidelines me for some time.  And also, I have now a nagging Achilles inflammation that really hurts a ton… honestly, just waiting for it to possibly rupture… maybe not, no doctor really knows apparently, but it will be pain that now comes and goes.  Physically, yeah, I am aging.

However, mentally and spiritually, I feel alive, I feel young!  I don’t think my physical body and age reflect my feelings and my motivation.  To be honest, as I am getting older, I feel more blessed and I feel more thankful.  Often, I think about how amazing God is and the world He made and how God continues to guide my family and myself. 

I don’t want to be younger and do young people stuff and enjoy what I did when I was a kid.  I find new meanings to living life at my age.  I am excited about aging, in a weird way.  I am worried about some things that come with aging, one thing is security and financial stability, but I have a plan, and I know I will adjust in that plan as I get older and life can go through change.  So, I give that to God, to help and guide me through that!  But I don’t ever want my mental ability, thinking and feeling, or my spiritual motivation ever be reflected in my age and physical usableness.  I will do what I can to stay, what Bob Dylan says, “forever young.”  Geez that sounds old…

We can never stop change that happens in our life.  And to be honest, I really do not like change.  I am so stubborn to do anything different.  But the more I think about how I want to be resistant to change, I realize that I do a lot of things that change the script of life.  Now some things I do not change, like what I order on the menu and my core beliefs.  But other things I do change constantly, like my fishing spots and my daily schedule.  For so unknown reason I am ok with those kinds of changes, but when it comes to food on a menu, I am compelled to order the same thing. 

So, there are certain things in our life that we should welcome change and certain things that change would be wrong.  Usually when it comes down to core beliefs, for example the foundations of Christian faith iterated in the Apostles Creed are indisputable and unwelcoming of needing to change any of it.  Honor, hope, forgiveness, and mercy should not be open to debate.  There are just some things that must remain sacred.

But everything else that seems finite and secondary to belief and core of faith, is always suspected to change.  And change can be very difficult.  It is hard to suddenly be relocated mentally, and emotionally from one way of living and thinking to another.  Just imagine how hard it is on the body when you go through a change in workout, or a decision to workout.  Your physical body goes through pain and aches, and even mentally it can feel a burden.  But the end result should be a better you. 

And that is what we must all build towards, that is, to create a better you, and make good decisions when the possibility of change is present.  Change is nothing to fear, for God is always with you in these moments that give you burden and stress.  God is also there to guide you when you decide a change might be needed.  So, fear nothing!  Just think about it as a way that God is opening a door to create a better you! 

So don’t sweat change and also give change a chance or maybe explore the idea of change when it seems necessary.  Sometimes our spirit, mind, and body need to go through stress and change in order to find peace, happiness, and get ourselves closer to the person God wants us to be.  Be mindful and prayerful when you find yourself itching for any kind of change.  Plan well and be confident, God does not abandon you regardless of what may change.  God is looking for us to be transformed, sometimes that can be through change.  Just like in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  And have hope that through any change “Jesus is same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrew 13:8).”  His love will remain with you and the world.

Is church necessary?  Is church really that important?  I felt a bit hurt and offended when a friend of mine asked this question.  I began to wonder if my job as a pastor has any meaning in this world today.  Wondered if everything I have worked towards was all just insignificant.  And I wondered if there was no church, would the world even miss it.  Now, he is not a Christian, but his question is important to answer for all people, Christian or not. 

Honestly, sometimes, church can feel like a social club at times.  And feel like just some kind of “afterschool” program that you just kind of try to fit in your schedule.  We hardly think about how important church, worship, fellowship, and giving really is and how all of this has a place in our lives and the world.

So, I am going to get very mystical in my answer to this question.  Afterall, we just celebrated Halloween, All Hallow Eve, and All Saints Day, whatever day you want to call it, but this day always reminds me of the mysterious world of imagination and also a world of unknowns, and that makes me dive into a rabbit hole and fantasy thing that has significant meaning in the world today. 

Church, why we need it and why it is important is simply found in the Bible, Matthew 16:13-19.  This passage is the time Simon Peter answers Jesus, as the Messiah and the Son of the LIVING God.  And this passage also is the first time we have Jesus bringing the conversation of building churches and the power given to churches.  But there is so much to unpack in this mystical and powerful passage.

Ever wondered why Jesus took the disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asked he disciples “Who to people say the Son of Man is?”  Jesus’ location of asking this question is significant and vital when we see the purpose of the formation of the church.  Caesarea Philippi is a city that was known for all kinds of pagan worships.  The city was build around the bottom of Mount Hermon and there was a dark cave that was called the Gates of Hades.  It was believed that the cave was the gateway to the underworld and the site was dedicated to the god Pan.  Jesus wanted to see if the disciples could understand who Jesus is even in the midst of statues of other gods and the cavern of the gates of hell.

Simon Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question is also something to unpack.  Peter called Jesus the “Son of the LIVING GOD.”  Peter declares and gives testimony that the pagan gods that surround him are dead, or nonexistent, and more importantly, that Jesus stand in conflict and opposite with the Gates of Hell, Hades, and Death. 

Jesus makes the announcement that “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.”  And there it is… why we have church and the importance of church is stand before the gates of hell and be the mystical power and force to never allow the gates of hell overcome the world. 

Prayer, worship, song, stewardship, and fellowship are what we do.  By coming together, people from all different corners of the community we do kingdom building work and be the active work of Christ to never let the gates of hell overcome our world.  We do this by making sure the world sustains life and gives a life and chances to people who are being burdened by powers of evil.  The church stands as the mystical lock to keep those gates of hell closed.  The church is God’s people supporting people in need, people who are living in hell.  We are giving them a chance to live a better life through acting on the ideas of forgiveness, mercy, and compassion. 

And it is the church that sets this rhythm for God’s world.  Jesus ordained the church to be the protector of the world from the gates of hell, and Jesus gives the church the authority to be justice bearers and the voice of mercy for a world that desperately needs it.

I can only imagine when one church dies, the gates of hell are now open.  So, imagine if the world had no more churches.  I imagine the world would be much darker than it already might be.  I encourage people to find a church, support it, and be active in it.  Let us all work together and keep the gates of hell at bay.