Same old new thing

Pastor Phil Kniss began his sermon by reflecting on the election of a new Pope for the Catholic Church this past week. How does this event fit with our Scripture texts this week from Isaiah 43:15-21, John 12:1-8, and Philippians 3:4b-9a, 13, 14? How do we know God is directing when a new Pope is chosen, when we call a new pastor or commission chair, or when a new President is elected in this country? How can we know that in whatever is happening, God is doing it?    Pastor Phil, in looking at our texts today, pointed to the character of God as a sure thing, something we can count on. Because God redeems brokenness, we can be assured that God can and will redeem all things. God is always doing the same old new thing. God always has an agenda beyond our own.