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Tag: eternity

Are you having fun?

Are you having fun in church?

Funny Goat with GlassesThe more important something is, the more serious and life-altering the reality, the more essential it is that we are able to laugh at it. Do you know who is more likely to survive a cancer diagnosis? The one who can laugh at the absurdity and indignity of the disease and the treatment regimens.

Ultimately, is there anything more serious, more important, more significant than eternity? No. At the end of the day, the decision is pretty simple: smoking or non-smoking.  Follow Jesus and submit to him or not.

So next Sunday, go ahead and have some fun, because eternity and Jesus are deadly serious:

  • bring a water balloon to church and threaten to throw it at the band, to see if you can throw them off.
  • wear silly glasses during the sermon to try and confuse the pastor.
  • send a text message, to everyone in the church, asking what that bible reference was the pastor just said, to see who didn’t put their phone on vibrate.
  • color your hair and put on face paint to show your support for your favorite team.
  • slip some candy and a triple-shot espresso that kid who just won’t sit still.
  • fill the offering plate with Monopoly money.
  • during the greeting time, jump up and steal a microphone, and start leading everyone in Father Abraham.
  • stand in the parking lot and give a balloon to every kid as they come in.
  • did you know you can sing Amazing Grace to the tune of any song? For offeratory, do it to the tune of Gilligan’s Island . . . as an instrumental.
  • laugh, smile, relax and have fun together with your church family.

Yes, I know, there are times for quiet reflection and moments for deep contemplation. Order and structure are good things. God also made us with the capacity for pleasure. Let’s put it to use!

Blessings,
Stephen

Footprints in the Snow

As I look out at our backyard, the first thing I see is footprints in the snow. Lots and lots of Footprints in the Snowfootprints. Footprints that run into each other and cross each other. Footprints that stand alone and even. Some tell the stories of rabbits. Others of squirrels. Of a chocolate lab. Of people. I could go on and on. A couple weeks ago, I noticed a very telling and interesting set of footprints. Rabbits tracks started and then ended. Where they ended, I noticed an interesting set of tracks. Four wide marks on the snow and then nothing. Wing marks perhaps? I can see it now. A rabbit was moving along, making its way up the hill, when swoop! Down came a hawk and the rabbit went poof!

I wonder what the scene would look like if every step we took was recorded in eternal snow. What would our footprints say about where we have been and where we are going? What would we learn about those we travel with and what would they learn about us? There’s an old adage that effectively says you really don’t know someone until you have walked in their moccasins. While we can never completely walk in anyone else’s shoes, God often uses the experiences of our lives to increase our compassion and the grace we show others. If you’ve gone through the pain of divorce, you have a better idea of what someone who is going through a divorce is experiencing. If death has come knocking on your door, you know what it’s like to lose someone you love. If you’ve lived with depression, you understand the struggle of another. If you’ve heard the words, “You have cancer,” you know what it feels like. Experiences either make us better or worse. May all our experiences make us better, more compassionate people—people God uses to touch, encourage and bring hope to others.

Blessings,
Laura

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