I’ve spent the past couple of days at Red Raider Orientation. It’s been a surreal experience getting Blake registered to begin this new chapter in his life. Dreamlike because it’s hard for Amy and I to believe he will be starting college this fall but also because being on the campus of Texas Tech University fetches a flood of memories to the time we spent there.

Some of the sights and landmarks are exactly the way we remember them but there is so much that is wholly different. New buildings have popped up where the landscape previously stood bare and other buildings have been remodeled to make them more up-to-date. Former administrators have been replaced with new ones, there are new, more contemporary degree plans, and outdated processes are now more innovative. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the class scheduling method. I remember having to fill out my schedule on a triplicate paper form and wait in line in the University Center (which is now called the Student Union Building by the way) for hours to get registered for classes. Today, Blake sits at his laptop from wherever he chooses with real time scheduling present with a few clicks of the keypad.

And so, a thought occurred to me. An institution of higher learning is constantly reinventing itself in order to more effectively engage emerging generations. Buildings change, degree plans adapt and processes morph because today’s generation and the culture around them is changing. Why would the church not do the same? Why would the church be exempt from reinventing itself to more effectively reach evolving generations? Those who lead at Texas Tech University have had the foresight to understand what worked 40, 30, 20 and even 10 years ago won’t work today? Does the church have this same foresight?

Now there are some things at Texas Tech that will probably never change. During our orientation, I saw Raider Red and the Masked Rider and they looked exactly as they did when I was a student. While I didn’t hear the Texas Tech Fight Song, I doubt it has changed. We will still “hit ‘em, wreck ‘em, Texas Tech!” Somebody please remind the Texas Tech defense about that!

Likewise, the gospel message – the story of Jesus Christ – will never change. He still lived, still died, and still rose from the dead! While the message never changes, the way we share the message with emerging generations must change. What worked 40, 30, 20 and even 10 years ago won’t work today. Somebody please remind the church about that!

Ah, summer. The lazy, hazy time of the year when school is out, routines change, and the pace of life gets varied. Summer is that leisurely and unhurried season and if we are not careful it doesn’t take much for us to get slothful.  But don’t we deserve to enjoy the summer? After all, it doesn’t last long. So why take time doing something in the summer that can be put off until the fall?

Isn’t that the motto of the sluggard: “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow”? Sluggards have developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as completing those tasks already begun. The sluggard cannot possibly get to work because there is a dangerous lion in the road (Proverbs 22:13). He fully intends to get things done, but after just a little more sleep (Proverbs 6:9-10). He goes fishing during the harvest – not smart (Proverbs 10:5).

Summer is such an easy time of the year to fall into the everyday life of a sluggard. But don’t good athletes work all summer to be ready for fall competition? Do teachers not go to workshops to prepare for the year ahead? Isn’t the ant busy preparing for what is to come (Proverbs 6:9-10)?

So, what about you? What do you need to be doing now instead of putting it off until tomorrow?

• What area of my life am I neglecting that needs attention today?
• What project, assignment or task to I need to get to now rather than later?
• What conversation do I need to have today?
• Who do I need to call, text, email or send a letter to today?
• Who do I need to have lunch with today?
• Where do I need to meet with God today?