Love Competition

Recently I was watching television. I can't remember the show, but it was one of those awkward moments in a conversation when someone says "I love you," maybe for the first time, and the other person pauses. This is never good. Even if the return is "I love you, too" you've got a mess. It got me to thinking about how much we expect love to be reciprocated. If I love you, I expect for you to love me back, without any pauses.

My better half and I have always engaged in what I call "love banter" (don't worry, it's rated "G"). It is a way of taking the traditional "I Love You" to another level. When my better half tells me "I love you" (this only works well when she starts it, fortunately for me she does usually start it). I respond with "I love you more." Then, she replies, "I love you most" (she's an English Teacher so she has superlatives down cold). I'm not an English teacher, so I respond with, "I love you more than most" (trying to add humor by emphasizing the meaning "I love you more than most people, which is the correct grammatical interpretation, I think).

Evidently, this has rubbed off on our offspring. Except that our 4-year-old (soon to be 5!) has it somewhat confused. His rendition of the competitive love is to shut it down and score the point. So, if you tell him, "I love you." He replies with "I love you the most, what did I say? I win!" And, then will follow that immediately with another "I love you the most, what did I say? I win!" If you try to respond with the same, he will increase his volume and speed. What then ensues is a pandemonium of love -- as everyone tries to one-up the other in the amount of love, the speed of the love, and the volume of the love.

BIT: Low and behold, it's in scripture -- Romans 12:10: "love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor." (RSVP). I love you! -- Let the pandemonium begin!

It Was All About the Children (Really, It Was All About God)

Yesterday was just one of those perfect Sundays! Yes, I know, I didn't preach. But, WOW! Three incredible testimonies by fourth and fifth graders. I don't believe I could have done what Ian Collins, Grace Shahan, and Alex Weaver did with their sermons on Prayer even when I was in high school -- which wasn't all that long ago. And yes, I know there are those who think I can't do what Ian, Grace, and Alex did even now! Everyone was fantastic -- special music, liturgies, prayers, Adult time, sermons, greeters -- wow, what fantastic greeters -- it was all fantastic. (I like the word "fantastic") Prayer time with our prayer warriors -- what a special time! God was evident and moving in some very exciting ways.

If that wasn't enough ... 250 people showed up for Trunk or Treat that evening! Candy and Creepies everywhere. Chili made by scouts! Games and did I mention candy? Thanks to Tonya and her incredible team. Jill-Marie, our Children's Director -- wow! Marian Lewis -- our Cinemas Leader -- incredible! All the helpers, all the children, all the leaders ...

BIT: If I could bottle that ... well, I'd work for First Farragut for free. NOTE: I can't bottle that! It's all about God -- Ain't God Great?

Warfinflarf Is Not A Word

Many mornings my 4 year-old and my 9 year-old and I get into exciting discussions on the way to school. Most of the time these center around Legos, Star Wars, Spongebob, or any number of topics. This morning the discussion became philosophical. My 4 year-old was trying to use the plural of up (ups) in a sentence. My 9 year-old was trying to explain to his brother that "ups" is not a word. It is just up (singular and plural). So far we were having a simple English Grammar conversation (some might call it an argument, because the 4 year-old was insistent that "ups" was indeed word) and then it happened. The 9 year-old blurted out "Brother, warfinflarf is not a word! You can say warfinflarf, but you cannot use it in a sentence because it is not a word." And then I was included in this "discussion" as the 9 year-old asked, "Dad, what makes a word a word?" I was still trying in my mind to make a sentence using "ups" and "warfinflarf" when the 9 year-old answered his own question. "Brother, a word becomes a word only when someone gives it meaning."

This past Sunday we talked in worship about just this thing. Not "warfinflarf", mind you, but that God has created us to live a life of meaning and influence. We can be a life, go through life, live a life, but it really isn't life (a word) until someone gives us meaning. In our life, that someone who not only creates us, but goes ahead and adds us to The Dictionary, and thus gives us meaning, is God!

BIT: Remember, you can't necessarily be anything you want to be (that's simply warfinflarf), but you can be everything God created you to be!

One Body

This Sunday the First Farragut Family will celebrate a number of things. First it is the culmination of our Power of One Worship Series. We've covered the Power of having One Spirit that gives us our identity, sets us on a mission, and gives us the means to accomplish that mission. We've covered the Power of having One Mind, the mind of Christ, and how we serve with humility. We've covered the Power of having One Heart and testing where our treasure is ("For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"). This Sunday we will look at the Power of One Body.

The Second thing we will celebrate is that this Sunday is "Celebration Sunday" for our annual stewardship campaign. Everyone is invited to bring their estimate of giving card (or pick one up at worship this Sunday) and prayerfully fill it out. The challenge we shared on Sunday was to either take a step toward tithing (add a percentage increase from your income) or to tithe (give 10% of your income to First Farragut Church). I want to add another challenge that I did not share on Sunday, but I will share this Sunday. Even if you feel uncomfortable making an estimate of your giving, I challenge you to go ahead and put down a minimum you will give. By turning in a card you are saying to God, "I embrace the power of one to make a difference at First Farragut."

We will celebrate this Sunday the amazing impact that First Farragut Church is having on our community. As the community of God, our mission is to make God appear. We are the body of Christ. Our hands are his gentle hands, our words are his words of forgiveness and encouragement, and our eyes are the eyes of compassion.

May our extravagant love for God overflow today (and this Sunday, and for always) into extravagant generosity and thereby strengthen the body of Christ here and around the world!

BIT: We'll also celebrate World Communion Sunday!

Be the Sizzle

Yesterday we worshiped around the theme "One Mind" in our "Power of One" Stewardship Worship Series/Campaign. It was a great worship experience even if the rain and swine flu kept some away.

This morning as we were getting ready to leave for school. My four-year-old pulled out his bag which he was supposed to fill for homework -- 3 favorite things (yes, I had to suppress the desire to break into song -- "these are a few of my favorite things"). As we scoured the house for the favorite things (without singing), I was reminded again of the Sizzle (I did break down and go to Estelita's on Thursday -- got the fajitas -- and did they sizzle!). The sizzle seems to keep coming up. I saw a McDonald's breakfast commercial yesterday where they challenged us to "Be the Sizzle". So, I want to highlight 3 sizzlers:

1. David & Marian Lewis who sizzled on Sunday, sharing about their mind-set on giving.
2. Scott Blazer who sizzled last Sunday, sharing why he said "yes" to being the Stewardship Director this year.
3. Kathryn Norton who sizzled through making the video this Sunday (and many Sundays), the Power of One Brochure that goes out next week, the video this Sunday.
4. (it's like the sermon on Sunday, sometimes you get a Brewster Bonus) Mark Veness who said "yes" to being in the video sharing the impact our Teaching/Learning ministry has on his life and the lives of others.

So, I'm looking for sizzlers! What about First Farragut makes you sizzle? Are you sizzling? BE THE SIZZLE!

BIT: My four-year-old put 3 characters from his Spongebob Squarepants Lego set in the bag, I'm sure it was because I wouldn't fit.

Power of One

Yesterday we kicked off our Stewardship Campaign with our new worship series "Power of One". We looked at "One Spirit" from John 17:20-23, which is the focus verse for our worship series.

"My prayer is not for them [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

We had a great worship time together and as we gathered together around the Table on Sunday I know I felt as if we were One Spirit -- The Power of One.

Last Tuesday, in preparation for our Power of One Campaign, we gathered all the church leaders (those who could make it) for a time of information, inspiration and challenge. I shared with this group the scripture from Deuteronomy where Moses challenges his people who are getting ready to go into the promised land with Joshua as there leader (in a couple more chapters Moses will die) from chapter 31. I mentioned that Moses doesn't take this opportunity to rehash the hardships, the loses, the struggles, the failings on the part of the people and himself, but concentrates on what the future holds, "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you." (31:6-The Message)

Moses' charge to his people reminds me of Fajitas. If you've ever been to a restaurant that serves fajitas, you know they are supposed to come to the table sizzling. The marinated meat, the onions, the peppers, the oil, all combine to make a fajita, but if it isn't sizzling ... well, it's not a fajita most people are going to want to eat. Moses knows the exciting things God has planned for his people. They've got all the ingredients. He wants them to start sizzling.

As we move into our Power of One Worship Series and Campaign, as we move into the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, we've got a lot to celebrate as a church -- First Farragut:

• We project an increase in membership for the first time in 4 years


• We project an increase in worship attendance for the first time in 5 years


• On any given Sunday 35% of our people in worship are under the age of 18


• 60 youth and adult counselors returned from their Spiritual Life Retreat on Sunday. 60!


• We have a great location on the main road in a growing section of West Farragut


• We have a heart for mission giving and are having a deep impact in a number of outreach areas.


• We have a great facility


• We have great, talented, and dedicated leaders and church staff

These and many more make up the ingredients of a fantastic fajita. We've got the oil (the Holy Spirit) coating and holding it all together. Now, with the Power of One -- let's light the flame and sizzle!

Bit: I'm on a diet, but I may have to run to Estelita's for lunch.

About That Boat

Yes, there is a "John Boat" in our worship center at First Farragut. And no, I don't know why they call it a "John Boat". All I know is that I asked if anyone had a boat that we could put in the worship center and Voila, there is was [Bayou VBS is over and I'm still speaking French!]. So here's the reason for the boat, as I wrote in my July Newsletter Article.

June kicked off our “Get on the Boat: Adventures with Jesus” worship series. It continues through JULY! So far we’ve looked at what it means to take an adventure with Jesus – what we can expect when we “Get on the Boat” with Jesus. First we learned that being on a boat with someone naturally leads to a growing relationship with that person. The same is true with Jesus. Jesus wants to spend some quality time with us and wants us to have a growing relationship with Him. But, we also learned that getting on the boat with Jesus is a busy and wearisome experience. Even when we make plans, sometimes those plans are interrupted. Jesus showed us how to handle interruptions with grace and compassion. We closed out June with a merging of our “Get on the Boat” theme and our Vacation Bible School’s theme of “Crocodile Dock: Where Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light”. Our children led both of our worship services in the 5 VBS promises: God is with us; God is powerful, God does what He says He’ll do; God gives us life; and, God Cares for us. We discovered what happened to the disciples when they got in a boat without Jesus.

In July we’ll look at how getting on the boat with Jesus is not always as easy as it looks, using the disciples own struggle with understanding Jesus as our example. We’ll also look at how getting on the boat with Jesus means risk, but that it also means healing change. To close out our series we’ll take a look at what happens after we’ve been boating with Jesus.

The challenge this summer is to make sure you carve out some time in your busy summer schedules to take a spiritual adventure with Jesus and to spend some quality time with Him. An adventure with Jesus is something you won’t soon forget!

BIT: So, if you're reading this and your church doesn't have a boat in it's worship center (aka Sanctuary), then what are you waiting for? Get on the Boat. I promise you'll get a fantastic reaction when you bring it up at your next church council meeting.