It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Australia is a land where inhabits the world's weirdest creatures. Platypus and echidna (the world's only two monotremes - egg laying mammals), rat kangaroos, emus and a myriad of assorted wacky and wonderful critters. We are also home to millions of feral animals; goats, rabbits, hares, foxes, dogs, cats, deer, camels, buffalo and pigs. I don't know who started it, but someone, (most probably an Englishman), decided that the wide open spaces of the land down under would be a great place to raise some food for his family. It seemed like a great idea at the time.

What a genius.

These animals have now innundated much of the landscape, causing inestimable damage to crops, and native flora and fauna. At least the huge feral animal population gives plenty of targets for us recreational shooters. The only problem is, we just can't keep up with their ever expanding numbers.

This is a great lesson for God's people. There is always some well intentioned people out there trying to help God along in His work. They introduce things that to them seemed a great idea at the time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the King James Version of the Bible. It is the Bible that God has blessed for hundreds of years. It is the Bible that God has used in the salvation of millions. It is the Bible that my Grandpa loved. It is the Bible that my mother uses. It is the Bible that I read and believe. It is the Bible that my kids have grown up reading and memorising.

Why change? "If it aint broke, don't fix it!"

What's happened to our church music? What is so wrong with "Blessed Assurance" that we need to change to something contemporary? What is so ineffective about "Saved by the blood of the crucified One", that we need to dump it for some new song with repetitive, boring words and melody-less music? The old hymns, choruses and songs will do me fine, thanks very much. When was the last time you read through an old CSSM chorus book? We are in danger of losing, forever, these time honoured and proven choruses.

Am I against new songs? Never. I write new songs and in fact had one recorded and published a few years ago. Contemporary Christian music is all the same - bland, flavourless, melody-less and repetitive. Like chewing on rubber chicken. It looks great, but tastes, well, like rubber.

Change is inevitable and in many cases, necessary. We don't need to fear change, but let's look hard and long before dumping that which has proven to be God honouring and valuable in eternity.