Detours-Setbacks-Freshstarts

Detours, setbacks and freshstarts are all a part of life. Like many, I find myself in a new "incarnation" of ministry - thought I'm not quite sure what this incarnation looks like yet. Victims and offenders understand something of this.

How does one start over without starting from the beginning (bottom)? There is an assumption that starting over really is about starting from the beginning (bottom). Scripture would remind us that The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (ESV). By the way - I really like the English Standard Version. I think I am replacing my NASB for this one with a high degree of confidence in the quality of translation in a readable format.

Now, I know that the context is the new creation in Christ. But starting over is a common experience of life. For some it involves "overcoming". For others it involves "laying hold of". However, at its very core all of life is about our eternal relationship with the eternal God/Christ/Spirit. Remember the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17:3, And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whomyou have sent.

So maybe this means that eternal life starts now and is primarily about relationships! How would this impact your sense of "starting over"? For me, it's really not starting over but the continuation of a grand relationship-journey that has many twists and turns.

In our ministry with people who hurt and are hurt by the actions of others - we need to keep in mind that reconciliation (restoration and transformation) is the focii of our lives.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ god was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV)