the secret to change

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

bulletin posting from St. Andrfew's Church last Sunday

Role Models.

This last Tuesday, we elected a role model to the White House, maybe the first Role Model to be elected in a very long time. Despite the issues facing our country and the hot button topics of the economy, war, and health care, I have found it incredibly comforting when listening to youth throughout the nation that they were more impressed by WHO Barack Obama IS, not simply how he speaks or his proposed agenda. We as a country have stood up and cried out for change. Saying that we need the best people to lead us, and the old prejudices will not hold us back. We chose our next Role Model, not simply someone who gives us the answers we want to hear.

So how can we here at St. Andrew's gather around that rally cry? How can we follow the leading of the Spirit into this new age? How can each of us commit further to the hope and change espoused in the recent Presidential race?

Each of us, no doubt, has our own answer, but today i'd like to ask you to consider following Christ's example and committing to leading by your actions and your deeds so that our most precious resource may see you and have hope for themselves and our combined future. You see, the most prevalent issue facing the youth of this territory (as it has been voiced to me by many of you) is that of the lack of Role Models. We critize that parents aren't parenting anymore. Our young men are killing each other in the street. Here at St. Andrew's, it's hard to excite people to become AYO sponsors, or volunteer for others of the numerous ministries happening on First Avenue.

When we look back on this exciting time in our lives, will we be able to say we have followed our President-Elect with "Yes we can!" echoing from our lips, or will we look back in sorrow at how the Islands have changed for the worse, while we sat and shook our heads wondering what we could have done to build a better and stronger community in which our children can become Role Models themselves. Mahatma Ghandi is credited with saying, "YOU must be the change you wish to see in the world."
If you are not comfortable letting our youth raise themselves, or if you are not willing to let this post-Christian world show them how greed, self devaluation, and materialism are their new golden rules, then stand up, become a mentor, and change your future by loving our youth in the name of Christ. Can we make this territory better for them? Yes we can.

View from my porch