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Archive for September, 2006
Here and There
Sep 25th
I’ve been bad about posting lately. September and October are busy months around here, and blogging has not been at the top of my priority list. I know that’s a lame excuse….. but it’s all I’ve got!
This Sunday we will have our annual Parent Dedication Day. We will will recognize the families who have had children in the past year, our elders will pray for them and encourage them to raise their children in the Lord, and we will challenge the congregation to help these families in their important task. We had one lady in the congregation who was not happy with our plans to do this. She sincerely believes it is unscriptural. I talked with her, and our elders went to her home to talk with her. We even offered to do the actual ceremony after the “closing prayer.” But she would not be persuaded, and I doubt that she and her husband will come back. It is very sad. They are a wonderful couple and they will be missed.
But the whole incident made me thankful for our elders. They could have easily given in to her and cancelled the event (and elders I worked with at another congregation certainly would have). But after discussing it, they came to the conclusion that this event is Biblical, helpful to the new parents, and encouraging to the congregation. And while it is difficult to have to part ways with good people, it is not right to stop a good work that blesses people because of a mere difference of opinion.
The following Sunday, October 8th, we will have our annual Friend & Family Day. This is always a great day for us. Lord willing, this will be the last F&F Day in our current building. Our new facility is coming along nicely and we should be in it by March or April of next year.
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How ’bout them Tigers! They made the playoffs for the first time since 1987. I’m hoping they can hold on and win the division (and then, of course, the World Series!).
9/11/2001
Sep 11th
It was just a normal September day…..
I arrived at the church building at approximately 8:30 a.m., said “Good Morning” to my secretary, and settled in to my office. At about 9:15, I was returning to my office after refilling my coffee when my secretary said that she had received an e-mail from a friend saying that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. My first thought was that it was a joke. And then I thought it was probably a small, single-engine plane. But then she said it was serious – that an airliner had hit the WTC. We turned on a TV, just in time to see a replay of the plane hitting tower 2.
We didn’t know it yet, but the world had just changed.
Shortly after that, they showed video of smoke coming from the Pentagon. My secretary looked at me with an expression of concern and asked, “What is happening?” We both got a sick feeling in our stomach when we saw the first tower collapse. We realized that no work was going to get done that day, so we went home early.
As the day progressed, we began to realize that the world had indeed been changed. Cable TV networks canceled their programming, professional sports were put on hold, churches all across the country (including ours) had prayer services on Friday, September 14th, and our nation was united in a way that I had never seen before.
Shortly after 9/11/2001, Max Lucado wrote a piece called “Is This Normal?” Here is an excerpt:
America was different this week. We wept for people we did not know. We sent money to families we’ve never seen. Talk-show hosts read Scriptures, journalists printed prayers. Our focus shifted from fashion hemlines and box scores to orphans and widows and the future of the world.
We were different this week. Republicans stood next to Democrats. Catholics prayed with Jews. Skin color was covered by the ash of burning towers. This is a different country than it was a week ago.
We’re not as self-centered as we were. We’re not as self-reliant as we were. Hands are out. Knees are bent. This is not normal. And I have to ask the question, “Do we want to go back to normal?”
Unfortunately, we did go back to normal. People have forgotten the evil of that day. Politicians are screaming at each other, trying to blame everyone except the terrorists for the attacks. Some want to try to understand the terrorists, or even negotiate with them (how do you negotiate with someone who only wants to kill you?).
Thankfully, some still remember. Pray for our enemies. Pray for Those who willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. And pray for those who were personally affected by the events of that day.
“Jeff Lacks Self-Control”
Sep 7th
That statement was found on most, if not all, of my report cards throughout elementary school. I guess I had a bit of trouble in that area! Those of you who know me well are probably not surprised.
I got to thinking about self-control this week while putting together a sermon series on temptation. I had never really considered the amount of self-control Jesus had to have in order to overcome temptation.
Self-control is at the root of so many problems and sins – overeating, lack of exercise, lust/sexual sins, materialism, envy, laziness, profanity, fits of rage, neglectful prayer life, etc., etc., etc. I think self-control may be a bigger problem than we think.
When I was six years old, I lost control of my bike, went flying over the handlebars, and was knocked out cold. I suffered bumps, bruises and a concussion. When we lose control of our lives, even in just one area, there will be injuries. Bad health, damaged relationships, loss of reputation/influence, broken marriages and abusive behavior are just some of the consequences of a life lacking self-control.
It would be nice if there were “7 Easy Steps to a Self-Controlled Life.” But it doesn’t work that way. Self-control is something the Holy Spirit produces in us as we surrender to His guidance (Galatians 5:22-25). It is not something we get by gritting our teeth and trying harder. But there are some things we can do in order to “get in step with the Spirit.”
I believe one of those things is fasting. Fasting is so neglected in our culture, and yet it is one of the key ways in which we surrender to the guidance of the Spirit. If you can deny one of the strongest appetites you have, which is for food, then you are conditioning yourself to deny other appetites. You will find it easier to say ‘No’ to temptations of the flesh, because you have said ‘No’ to opportunities to eat. Fasting will condition you for self-control and it will strengthen your self-control. It is interesting that Jesus had fasted for 40 days right before he overcame an all-out assault from Satan.
I’m still working on this. I fear that if I received a report card today, it would still say “Jeff Lacks Self-Control.” How about you?
Jeff Slater
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