New Wine For New Wineskins

I went to church this past Sunday. It was a great service and I really got hit in the head with the message. Now I'll admit, I don't attend church every week. Not as much as I should. Not always for the right reasons, but I did go this past Sunday. Usually when I hear the message I try to relate it to some part of my life where I could do better and where I could apply what I was taught and be a better father/husband/friend/etc. This time, however, it hit me in the noggin a little different.

You see, I think often about the state of our country and what is happening to it right now. Not a day (or really an hour) goes by that I'm not trying to formulate how I might be able to contribute to a better country for our children and grandchildren. I see a lot happening and I hear a lot of discontent from average Americans, but I don't see nearly as much action from those same Americans. My biggest conundrum is how to get the average American to stand up and take action? How do we gather the masses to unite and make our voices heard? What would it take for you to get inspired?

Then I heard of the wine skins on Sunday.

It is written in the bible that Jesus always spoke in parables and told stories so that people could better understand His message. He told of the wine skins and how in those days people would use pig organs to hold new wine. As the wine fermented, it would expand causing the wineskin to expand as well. Eventually the skin would harden and make a great tote to carry your wine to all the local sporting events and family picnics. What you would not want to do is put new wine into an old wineskin because as the wine expanded, it would cause the old skin to crack and burst open. That is why you always put new wine into new wine skins and old wine into old wine skins. Of course, today you just put the wine into a glass bottle...but I digress.

The point of the story and the pastors message was that if we want to have a new life with Jesus and a close relationship with Him, we need to let go of our past and we need to create a new way of living. If we try to cram a better relationship with God in our old habits and lifestyles, then the whole process will break down and we will still feel unfulfilled. Wow, deep huh?

My point?

Many of us out there want to take action. We want to shout at the top of our lungs and scream out "ENOUGH!" We want to be able to make a difference and stop this useless spending and power grabbing throughout Washington. The problem is we are trying to elicit change without changing any of our habits ourselves. We want to make a difference as long as it does not hinder our current lifestyle. This is pouring new wine into old wine skins. It won't work. It can't. You'll fall into the same trap, the same complacency every time. That is what big government hopes for. They hand out the free programs in exchange for more power and control. The cycle repeats and gets bigger.

Now I'm not saying you need to quite your job and become a lobbyist. Not at all. What I'm saying is we all need to reevaluate our principles, values and beliefs. Really scrutinize them. Can you, without flinching, tell me exactly what you believe is right and wrong in your heart? What would you die for? What do you absolutely believe without a doubt is right and wrong on our culture?

From there you can being to see where you can focus your attention. Maybe certain bills you want to watch out for. Maybe a specific charity or organization that aligns with your values could use your service part time. Think outside the box, but know this: it doesn't take more than an hour a week to make a huge difference. 

Start with small steps:

• A phone call to a state rep
• A letter once a week to the President
• Sending out mailers for an organization
• fixing a playground during a weekend

Whatever it is, decide to do something and make it a part of your life, like exercising.....or church!

Last thought, you ideas and ambitions are the new wine. If you want to see them through, you have to become a new wineskin. Think about it.