A Time for Mothers

05/14/2013 -

Mothers are very important to every part of our life. We want to do something very special for our mothers; not because of Mother's Day or any other holiday created by a greeting card company, but because they deserve to be honored and celebrated on a regular basis. Here are a list of things we have going on for mothers:

Mother's Day Out

Time to give mother's some time off. Child care and stress free activities for the children so moms can go do what moms do when they're not being moms: be women.

The Mom Book Drive

Are you a mom that likes books? We are too. Come to the mom book drive every 3rd Friday at the church. We look forward to seeing you.

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Unplugging

05/14/2013 -

I was in a restaurant recently when I glanced over and noticed a family of four at another table, each person's head bowed. I thought, "Oh, they're praying together before their meal." But when I happened to look back later, they were still looking down. Suddenly I realized: They weren't praying. They were all typing into their phones! They were oblivious to one another, each person connecting with people who weren't even there. Maybe you've seen the same thing, perhaps even in your own family.

With always-on access to global news, information and even to other people, it's normal (even easy) for us to lose focus on the world right in front of us. When we're constantly flipping channels, we start treating our attention like currency, careful not to spend it all in one place. Just as a look in your checkbook can reveal what you truly value, honestly assessing your daily activities and interactions can show you which things (and people) you really care about.

My wife Amy helped me see this in my own life. For years it was normal for me to only half-listen at home. Occasionally she would ask, "Are you listening to me?" I'd respond with a relationship survival skill I had adapted: I'd repeat back to her the last several words she had just said. But we both knew I wasn't giving my undivided attention.

Then one day she asked me a very different question. She calmly explained, "You have a lot going on with the church. I'll always support you. But when you're with our family, can you be all here?" Her request was perfectly fair and reasonable.

Wherever you are, be all there.

That one tiny idea radically transformed the way I now conduct my everyday life. It immediately strengthened my relationships and, over time, even improved my capacity to make tough decisions. In the cloud of endless to-dos where most of us live, our minds are so cluttered that we overlook the joy just in being alive today. Be honest: Even as you're reading this article, do your thoughts keep trying to wander to everything else happening in your life?

In our culture, that's normal. Normal people are distracted, rarely fully present. We all have to fight getting pulled into the orbit of that constant gravity of busyness. Urgent tasks and priorities desperately cry out for our attention. Maybe it's a chicken-or-egg situation, but I believe all that noise harms our well-being more than the legitimate stress of all the things we actually "have to do." If you want to be different, you have to live differently. Weird people learn to silence distractions and remain fully in the moment.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, "Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity" (Ephesians 5:15-16). To leverage that advice when we make decisions, we need to answer: What is the wise thing to do in this situation? And what would it mean to "make the most" of this particular opportunity?

Christ had to make difficult decisions about how he would spend his limited time on earth. His example has a lot to teach us. But we have to take the time to discover what things are important to God by reading the words he gave us. We must also invest time meditating on what those things mean in our everyday lives. Then, the next time the chaos of urgency tries to dictate your next action, you can press pause. Having already thought about which things are most important, you'll be able to make intentional decisions. (Urgent does not necessarily equal important.) Even if a decision carries you another step forward, it's not progress if it leads you away from where you actually want to go.

In another letter from Paul, in Colossians 3:17, he suggested, "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus." When I focus on the things I believe are important to God, I live differently. I don't make decisions based on my feelings, insecurities or selfish ambitions. Instead, I tend to favor others who have greater need. The conversations I have lend themselves to deeper, intimate connections -- not simple, superficial information exchanges. "Did you go by the cleaners?" gives way to genuine care: "So, how was your day?"

Just as important as your to-do list -- and perhaps more important -- what's on your to-don't list? When you focus on the purposes you believe God created you for, you'll have the stability to say no to some good things. And that will give you the space to be able say yes to the best things when they present themselves. Rather than just reacting to the waves of things that come, you can ride them with deliberate intention.

James 4:14 reminds us, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." We can't have more time, but we can live with a greater awareness of the limited time we do have. Every opportunity that arrives on your doorstep will require some decision. If you've already decided what you value, you can fully enjoy each moment, secure that you're living the life you want. God gives us an amazing present every day. Normal people leave this gift unwrapped, unrealized, unappreciated, and it's gone before they know it. Weird people know there's no time like the present.

by Craig Groeschel

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The Truth About Worrying

05/14/2013 -

I had a pretty good revelation the other day and it was this:
Things almost always turn out fine.

It was a good time for me to have that revelation because I’d just sat down to write when I got a call reminding me about an appointment I’d completely forgotten. I’d have to rush out the door to make it, forfeiting my writing session. And I hate forfeiting my writing sessions.

On the subway, I had a bad attitude. I thought about how I was going to get behind on the book and how I resented having to keep this appointment. Then it hit me: These things always turn out fine. I had plenty of hours on the other side of the appointment to write and by no means was the day ruined.

I confess there are times I play the victim and count the ways my life can’t be good. But it’s hardly true. Things almost always turn out fine.

The rest of the day went fantastic. I kept the appointment and loved it and went home and had a great evening working on my book. So I’m going to use it as a mantra from now on. Things almost always turn out fine.

Had a fight with your wife? What if you went into the next conversation believing everything was going to be okay? How would it affect your attitude and thus her response?

Out of money? I guess we can either panic or realize it’s going to be a tough season, but in the end it will turn out fine.

Honestly, I think I spend more time worrying about things that never happen than I do realizing things mostly turn out okay.

So that’s your daily happy moment with Don. Back to the deeper stuff soon.

But seriously, things really do almost always turn out fine. Right?

From Donald Miller

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Photos Needed

09/26/2011 -

This year we will be updating the church directory and would like to include your family photo. We need new photos as we will not be using the pictures from the last directory. Please get those in.

Please e-mail digital photos to Jody or bring photos to the church office to scan.

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Men's Luncheon

09/01/2011 -

Dr. Everett Smith, Professor of Political Science and Law at the university, as well as faculty sponsor for the Christian Legal Society, will be speaking at our next men’s luncheon. Dr. Smith has appeared on CNN, Fox News, and ABC’s Headline News, among others. His op-eds have appeared in numerous newspapers including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and USA Today. 

Join us as Dr. Smith addresses the university’s proposed policy decision affecting campus religious groups.

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