Luke 5:36-39 (NIV)

³⁶ He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. ³⁷ And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. ³⁸ No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. ³⁹ And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”

Reflection:

In the parable above, Jesus teaches us a lesson about change; about what happens when His change happens in our lives.  This “Jesus Change” always requires a response from us and He teaches two ways that we shouldn’t respond.  First, we shouldn’t tear a piece of a new garment to patch an old one because not only will the new patch not match the old, but we will have torn the perfectly new garment.  Secondly, we shouldn’t pour new wine into old wineskins because when the new wine ferments and expands, the old wineskins will burst, ruining the wineskins and wasting the wine.  All of this to teach us that when Jesus does a new thing in our lives, we are to embrace the new things fully and no longer hold onto the old, no matter how comfortable or good it might have been.

Response:

Jesus is always in the business of doing new and greater things in our lives.  Let’s pray that God would open our hearts and our lives to fully embrace the new things that He is doing in our churches.  Let’s pray that as we say, “Yes” to all that He wants to do, that our churches would experience an even greater measure of His salvation being demonstrated in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Amanda Gunther is a writer for the Maryland Theatre Guide. According to Gunther, “writing for the Maryland Theatre Guide will give her a chance to pursue her passion of the theatre and will broaden her horizons in the writer’s field.” Here’s an excerpt from one of her most recent artciles:

“Watch out Washington! The fireworks aren’t in the sky but on the stage at the Prince George’s Little Theatre’s production of Born Yesterday written by Garson Kanin. A charismatic politically charged dramadey directed by Norma Ozur – the cast of Born Yesterdayreally drives their act home as they explode their politics and emotions all over the stage.”

Read the full article in the Maryland Theatre Guide.

Read more about UMBC alumni at Retriever Net, UMBC’s alumni online community.

Erick Sahler ’89 brings color and brightness to his work as a serigraph artist. Most recently, he has brought new life to Salisbury University’s Holloway Hall. From an article at delmarvanow.com:

The iconic facade of Holloway Hall is the subject of a limited-edition silkscreen print by serigraph artist Erick Sahler of Salisbury.

The 11-color image features the main entrance of the historic building — one of its doors invitingly open — surrounded by lush trees, colorful flowers and a bright blue sky.

Read the full article on delmarvanow.com.

Read more about UMBC alumni at Retriever Net, UMBC’s alumni online community.

Amanda Gunther is a writer for the Maryland Theatre Guide. According to Gunther, “writing for the Maryland Theatre Guide will give her a chance to pursue her passion of the theatre and will broaden her horizons in the writer’s field.” Here’s an excerpt from one of her most recent artciles:

“Watch out Washington! The fireworks aren’t in the sky but on the stage at the Prince George’s Little Theatre’s production of Born Yesterday written by Garson Kanin. A charismatic politically charged dramadey directed by Norma Ozur – the cast of Born Yesterdayreally drives their act home as they explode their politics and emotions all over the stage.”

Read the full article in the Maryland Theatre Guide.

Read more about UMBC alumni at Retriever Net, UMBC’s alumni online community.