Re: setText and invokeLater

I have this code below;

  pos = scrollPane.getVerticalScrollBar().getValue();
  jep.setText(first);
  SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){public void
run(){scrollPane.getVerticalScrollBar().setValue(pos);}});

It is a part of a 'realtime html editor previewer' that i'm writing.
its to keep the editorpane jep at the same position after the text is
updated.
the invokelater code was given to me and is there to set the scrollbar value
after the setText. However once in a while, the setText still executes after
the invokelater.
Anyone know how to rectify this so that the setText also is run first?
C has something that locks and unlocks threads (or something on those lines)
is there anything similar in java that can do the job.
Also I've been using a caretlistener to update the editorpane, sometimes,
this can be slow, any ideas on other ways to detect a change in the input?

Thanks
-Warren