26 October 2009

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?

13 October 2009

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!