Burden

Ever since last Sunday's Sermon on Psalm 55 ("Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." v.22), where I shared the story of the Strawberry Plains Lenten Burden Cross, I've been burdened by something. I shared that Gincy and I cast our burden, prayed, and in a couple weeks time our prayer had been answered. What I only shared briefly was that this had been a burden we had carried for two years (longer if you count the discernment process on whether God wanted us to adopt at all). I also shared three points: 1) Cast your burden (based on the Psalm 55); 2) Change your burden (based on "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28); and, 3) Carry each other's burden (based on "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2). Anytime you try to organize something (even a sermon) you run the risk of coming across as, "If you follow these 3 steps ... or these 4 points ... God will do this ... or your life will turn out like ... or money will reign down on you from God. It doesn't happen that way. God cannot be limited to 3 steps or 4 points.

I've not received any negative feed back from my sermon to cause my reflection. It just hit me that with a topic like burdens, which we all have and struggle with, I might come across as overly simple. It has also hit me in a couple of other ways (the way God usually works in my life). This week our staff is studying "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan. There it was, he states on page 41:

When I am consumed by my problems -- stressed out about my life, my family, my job -- I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.
Worry implies that we don't quite trust God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.
Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, or lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.
Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that ... in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Wow, I'm glad I didn't say that on Sunday morning! And, then again this morning during my Centering Prayer Time -- big shout out to my Centering Prayer Buddies at First Broad Street and my Centering Prayer Buddies at First Farragut (yes we have an underground movement) -- from The Morning Psalm from The Morning Office:

O God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; you refreshed the land when it was weary. Your people found their home in it; in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor. The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands; the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai. You have gone up on high and led captivity captive; you have received gifts even from your enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord day by day, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens. He is our God, the God of our salvation; God is the Lord, by whom we escape death. (Psalm 68:7-10, 17-20)

BIT: I know, this has been a blog on the burden of preaching a sermon on burdens. It is no easy thing. But, I stand behind Cast, Change, Carry. We'll take up Lenten Psalms Part II this Sunday, "Amazing Love" -- hey, maybe that has something to do with burdens ...

We Had Faith!

It is the Monday after a fantastic Sunday (even if it was long -- two worship services, celebration lunch, ice skating, and confirmation class). It was a glorious day! Worship attendance was up and the Rev. Dr. Bernice Kirkland, former associate pastor of First Farragut and currently serving as the Executive Pastor at Cascade UMC in Atlanta, GA, delivered an inspiring and "anointed" message (anointed being her second step in her sermon). She truly put an exclamation point on our Stepping Stones to the Future Debt Reduction Campaign. It was great to finally meet Bernice and her wonderful husband Darryl.

It was also a special day of homecomings as the Rev. Richard Edwards and his family were in attendance at the 11:00 am service. He gave us quite a "good word" after our time of commitment, which was our "step" for this Sunday. Our Celebration Meal was incredible. [The cake above, made by Jason Yarbrough, was a part of this extravaganza]

Stepping Stones has been a time of homecomings as some members whom we had not seen in a while came back. And, Stepping Stones is currently a time when new people are visiting and joining with us. We celebrated 3 births this week and still have one on the way. Through our devotional book and centering times we have grown spiritually as individuals. Through worship and making contacts we have grown together as a congregation. Stepping Stones to the Future has truly been a time of moving forward!

So, now for what you are wanting to know ... I did not even fall once ice skating on Sunday afternoon with the kids. I don't know that I would have called it Speed Skating (as was advertised in worship), because there were far too many inexperienced skaters around me. You mean that's not what you wanted to know? ...

Here's how we did ... In our first Sunday of receiving estimate of giving cards, we have surpassed our Faith Goal of $750,000! And, we stand very close to our Hope Goal of 1 Million! When we get a little over $100,000 more we will reach this goal. We still would love to make our Love Goal of 1.6 Million. We will have cards available this Sunday or you can mail your cards in to the church.

BIT: It's sometimes a little scary standing there by the basket as people come forward to make their commitment. That lurking question, "what if we don't make it to our goal?". Knowing that many people have put in a lot of time and energy and resources to make this happen. However, I felt no such fear this Sunday as people stood to come forward with their gifts. The Spirit that has been moving through this campaign had calmed my anxiousness. I had faith we would reach our Faith Goal. I am excited because I know how much this is going to help us to move boldly into the preferred future God has for us as First Farragut. Now, let us move on to to Faith & Love!

The Blessing of Sacrifice

Our Stepping Stones to the Future worship series and debt reduction campaign in sprinting toward Celebration Sunday this coming Sunday. Pat Luna shared with us about taking a sacrificial step. Her message came with an exclmation point (and you know how I love exclamation points!). The First Farragut Cardboard Testimonies. Many of you have asked to be able to see this video again ... so, here it is.

BIT: How many more lives can First Farragut impact as we move boldly in the Future?

In Box

On Sunday, I got back from a weeks vacation. One of the things I have to deal with when I get back is a stack of mail (mostly junk) and a WHOLE bunch of emails. It's not too bad when I deal with email on a daily basis, but when I'm not in ... it accumulates.

On Sunday, I challenged the congregation at First Farragut to a 50 day period of prayer and fasting. I thought that perhaps 20 people would commit to praying daily for our church -- people, staff, pastor, leaders. And, maybe 10 would commit to fasting. What a surprise to have over 30 people who have already committed to praying and over 30 who will be fasting!

This week as I have been praying, I've celebrated this outpouring of spiritual centering. One of the things that came to me on Monday while I was doing my centering prayer was that for some of these people (over 30! WOW!) through their daily prayer and weekly fasting, there will be an in box overload. Like going on vacation and coming back to get caught up on a deluge of email messages, some may have not been checking their in box from God. I believe that God is going to have some really great messages for these over 30 people!

BIT: PLEASE SHARE YOUR REVELATIONS! What is God sharing with you? Whether it's a single message or a deluge of email love from God, please let me know. You can either email me privately or share through a public comment to this blog. I'm looking forward...

BITTER: I'm pumped about my first day of fasting (tomorrow). What a surprise when my 9-year old came home today from shcool and asked what was for dinner. It was shrimp, rice and Sautéed cabbage. He said, "well, I'll have to fast tomorrow because that smells so good." He wasn't part of my over 30! Happy Fasting (and Praying). Check that In Box!

The Party's Over

Yesterday we started our new worship series "Rediscover Christmas", which means that "God's Party" is over. I don't know if everyone liked it or not, but I really enjoyed putting "It's God's Party: You're Invited" together. Even as I moved on to "Rediscover Christmas" for our Advent Season, I was reminded that the Party -- God's Party -- really isn't over. It really hit me on Thanksgiving morning as I was preparing for two (not one), but two Thanksgiving Feasts [One Thanksgiving Lunch with my better half's family and One Thanksgiving Dinner with my family]. I was sitting watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade when Yo Gabba Gabba suddenly appeared and began singing "Party in my Tummy". I called for my five-year-old to come so we could do the "Party in My Tummy" dance (note: I had not previously heard, much less danced to, this particular song). But, once you've heard this song ... wow! You want to jump up and dance.

There's a party in my tummy so yummy, so yummy

Now, There's a party in my tummy so yummy, so yummy

Hey, There's a party in my tummy so yummy, so yummy

Now, There's a party in my tummy so yummy, so yummy.

Later that day I added my own verses to this one -- "Turkey, Yeah! In my tummy, Party, Party, Yeah ... Ham, Yeah, In my tummy, Party, Party, Yeah ... (you can add your own verses pretty easily)."

I guess the party, God's Party, goes on ... even into Advent. Yes, we'll have God's Party on Sunday, December 13th with our Community Christmas Dinner at First Farragut, where hundreds of God's people will come together to share the Good News, eat some turkey (Party, Party!), get some clothes and a special Christmas gift. Christmas Eve will be a pretty cool Party -- A Birthday Party!

Bit: Did you notice yesterday, as we "Rediscovered Joy", that John the Baptist was doing a little Partying with Jesus? "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb (JtB) leaped ... 'The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, the babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.'"[The Message] Sounds like a Party in her tummy!!! Party, Party! (You know you want to get up and do the John the Baptist dance ... go ahead ...)

Party Like a Rock

It was a massive crisis yesterday! My oldest received a "new to him" ipod (formally my better half's). He, in an act of self-sacrificing love, gave his old ipod to his younger brother (who is 5 today!). Somehow in the excitement of the now-5-year-old downloading songs onto his "new to him" ipod, some of his new songs got onto the oldest's ipod -- it's all way above my head (this ipod sync thing). So, I had the 5-year-old running through the living room singing "Party Like a Rock Star" from his older brother's ipod (the non-explicit version -- which I still can't tell if there are inappropriate references because it all sounds like mush) while the 9-year-old is in severe drama because he can't get the Wiggles and Vegetales off his ipod -- What will people think? My better half is trying to understand the "help" pages on itunes (which might as well have been written in Coptic) in order to unravel this mystery.

In the melee, as I was trying to decipher the Shop Boyz and realizing that it was the Kidz Bop Kids (which must be somewhat closer to Jesus), It hit me that the Shop Boyz/Kidz Bop Kids were inviting people to "Party Like a Rock Star" (especially since it is repeated 70x7 times).

We at First Farragut have just finished our 3rd in the series of "It's God's Party: You're Invited". These have been some really fun worship services as we have looked at how God invites us to God's party. We've celebrated resurrection with our All Saints Service, we've celebrated deliverance as we looked at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths (which I changed to Tabernacles after someone questioned me about the Festival of Boobs) in the Old Testament, and we've celebrated abundance as we looked at Jesus attending a wedding party that became God's Party when Jesus turned the water into wine. This Sunday we finish up our series with looking at God's invitation to the Kingdom Party in Matthew 22.

So often we get caught up in the crazy going on all around us that we forget that Jesus wants us to have a good time (life more abundant is the way, I think, he put it). And Jesus had a good time. Look at how many times we have stories about Jesus sitting down with people around food -- it was a party. November has been a great experience of celebration at First Farragut! As we prepare for Thanksgiving, make sure you step outside the melee that is this season (or better yet allow your melee to be transformed into something holy) and celebrate the source of your resurrection, deliverance, and abundance.

BIT: It's God's Party! You're Invited to Party Like THE Rock. Totally Dude.

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!