Words from Pastor ANdrew
Getting Up Early
Our son is running cross country this fall at school, and they’ve already started training.
So, our son…who does not naturally enjoy getting up early…has been getting up early. And now that he has a little more independence, he’s biking to practice, to friends’ houses, and to the beach.
He’s doing something beyond what feels comfortable.
Something he probably wouldn’t have chosen on his own.
This morning he woke up, looked outside, and it was sunny…and pouring rain.
The radar said the rain was over.
The rain apparently hadn’t gotten the memo…you know…Florida…
What we saw didn’t match what we had been told.
It reminded me that following Jesus often feels like that.
When The Storms Come
Yesterday when Sarah and I drove into church, it was one of those beautiful, clear, though hot and muggy, summer mornings. I have a habit each week of keeping an eye on the Sunday morning weather because, well, we have a unique worship location. Everything looked great. Another clear Sunday.
During the first service, Sarah’s phone started ringing. It was our boys, who were biking to church and had gotten caught in a rainstorm.
A rainstorm? There was literally nothing on the radar. That can’t be right.
Then, when I walked out of the 8:30 service, I could feel the temperature dropping. Suddenly there were clouds gathering in the distance.
But still, nothing on the radar. Must just be some weird little popup storm.
Bowling Lessons
I’ve never been described as having “thin, dainty fingers.”
Recently my little brother got married, and his reception was at a bowling alley. I know…awesome, right? I have another friend who his brother got married on the same day in another city and his reception, was also at a bowling alley. Bowling Alley receptions, so hot right now.
Well, it turns out this small bowling alley had a limited ball selection, which is always a challenge for me at any bowling alley to find a ball that fits my massive thumb. But for thick, full-fingered people like me, there was one solid option at this bowling alley.
So my brothers, my dad, and I who all have husky thumbs all shared this one ball…which is challenging when you’re bowling on two different lanes. A lesson in patience. After waiting long enough for the ball to return over and over, I decided this was my opportunity to work on my curveball…is that what it’s called in bowling? My summer bowling league in elementary school would be deeply disappointed in me.
So I tried.
I tried the weird curveball thing on a smaller ball that couldn’t fit my thumb.
The Right Size Pool
Years ago, we bought one of those cheap inflatable pools for our backyard. It fit perfectly in this big circular space we had. Honestly, it was a great way to survive the Florida summer heat.
Then last year, when we were selling our house, we put it away. Turns out, most people looking to buy a nice house aren’t hoping it comes with a cheap inflatable pool in the backyard. Apparently, that’s considered an “eyesore.” This is why I’m not a realtor.
So it sat in the garage for almost two years.
Lawn Care
In front of our house, we have a section of grass that is having a hard time growing. It has little shoots of nice green grass, but it is struggling. It has little patches of green, but mostly it looks tired. Thin. Beat up. Like it’s trying really hard to survive.
I asked the guy who laid it, “Why does the grass throughout the rest of my yard look awesome? It has a huge variety of sun and shade, watering and tree coverage, and it all looks healthy and lush. But this section looks like it is having an incredibly hard time.”
And he said, “Well, that sod didn’t have time to create deep roots before it took the wear and tear of people.”
This grass was laid at the same time as everything else, but it was in a location where it got trampled by workers, by us moving in, by our kids running out to play, by bikes and scooters, and by kids playing catch. This area wasn’t able to build a healthy foundation before it was exposed to the reality of everyday life.
Lifeguards and Baptisms
This summer, our boys are doing the South Walton Junior Lifeguard program. I assume they hired David Hasselhoff to lead it, and that most of the training involves running in slow motion…but I don’t know. We’ll see.
To be part of the program, you first have to pass a swim test. On Saturday, tons of kids gathered at the beach and suddenly ran as one massive herd into the water. It was quite the spectacle, a cacophony of hopeful junior lifeguards sprinting toward the red buoy and back again.
I imagine they all signed up for different reasons.
Some want the fun.
Some want the exercise.
Some just need something to do this summer.
Some parents definitely want them to have something to do this summer.
A Season of Change
When I was in my early 20s, I’m not sure I ever changed the air filter in my HVAC unit. It never even crossed my mind to pay attention to something like that…who knows what kind of damage I caused along the way.
When Sarah and I lived in Kansas City, we were in our house for about five years…I maybe changed it five times. Maybe.
Clearly, I am improving with age, but still…some things fall by the wayside.
When we lived in Dallas, our landlord told us to change the filter when we changed the clocks for daylight saving time. Okay; twice a year, I can probably handle that.
Then our second place in Dallas said four times a year. Four times a year? What do I look like, someone with endless time and money for air filters? I’ll admit…I didn’t always do it.
Fast forward to now. Many of you know we recently moved, and when family stayed with us a week or so ago, an outside observer noticed something important: the air filter needed to be changed.
My very kind father; retired, owner of a ladder, and lover of a good project took it upon himself to fix the situation.
I say all this to say: seasons change. Things need attention. Adjustments have to be made. And usually, we’re better off because of it. You may be hesitant, we may resist, it may alter our rhythms, but often times that change was really good and led to wonderful new things no one expected or anticipated.
As I read through the scriptures, I see over and over again, people invited into change. People invited into a life that is changed by God. To take on a new way, to transition into a new rhythm, to experience a new life and new opportunity. From God calling Abraham and Sarah to change what they know to follow after him, to Jesus calling for the disciples to take on this calling as his disciples, to Paul writing letters to early churches helping them to know what it means to experience something new.
Change is hard…I get it. But change can be really good…even if it is really sad.
Monday
Monday…
Today is Easter Monday. Which means tomorrow is Tuesday…and in case you stop reading this at this point, make sure you know, there is NO TUESDAY NOON PRAYER THIS WEEK but Bible Study is back on Wednesday.
But again…today is Monday.
Some of us woke up with chocolate bunnies and Peeps still flowing through our bloodstream…others woke up somewhere between inspiration and a full emotional-and-sugar hangover.
And maybe a few of us woke up wondering:
Okay…Easter was amazing…Now what?
Best Easter Ever
When we lived in Dallas, we had season passes to a local amusement park. It became our go-to on slow days; ride some rides, walk a ton, wear out two little boys, and a good-quality family time had by all.
If you’ve ever been on one of those rides, you’ve heard the operator on the mic explaining how to have a great experience…usually with all the enthusiasm of the adults in a Peanuts cartoon. It’s monotone, forgettable, easy to tune out. But here’s the thing, they’re actually telling you exactly how to have a great ride. We just miss it.
Holy Week is like that too.
Remember
Remember
There are two phrases that show up over and over again throughout Scripture. The first is “Do not fear.” Again and again, God reminds his people that with him, we do not have to live in fear. As it says in 1 John, perfect love casts out fear.
The second phrase is “Remember.”
The ancient Hebrew people were called to remember constantly. They built entire rhythms of life around it: holidays, altars, shared meals, songs, prayers, stones stacked beside rivers, so that they would never forget who God was, what God had done, and what it meant to live as the people of God.
And I actually think these two ideas belong together.
When we remember, we often find that we fear less.
But it depends on what we remember.
Getting Up Early
Our son is running cross country this fall at school, and they’ve already started training.
So, our son…who does not naturally enjoy getting up early…has been getting up early. And now that he has a little more independence, he’s biking to practice, to friends’ houses, and to the beach.
He’s doing something beyond what feels comfortable.
Something he probably wouldn’t have chosen on his own.
This morning he woke up, looked outside, and it was sunny…and pouring rain.
The radar said the rain was over.
The rain apparently hadn’t gotten the memo…you know…Florida…
What we saw didn’t match what we had been told.
It reminded me that following Jesus often feels like that.
When The Storms Come
Yesterday when Sarah and I drove into church, it was one of those beautiful, clear, though hot and muggy, summer mornings. I have a habit each week of keeping an eye on the Sunday morning weather because, well, we have a unique worship location. Everything looked great. Another clear Sunday.
During the first service, Sarah’s phone started ringing. It was our boys, who were biking to church and had gotten caught in a rainstorm.
A rainstorm? There was literally nothing on the radar. That can’t be right.
Then, when I walked out of the 8:30 service, I could feel the temperature dropping. Suddenly there were clouds gathering in the distance.
But still, nothing on the radar. Must just be some weird little popup storm.
Bowling Lessons
I’ve never been described as having “thin, dainty fingers.”
Recently my little brother got married, and his reception was at a bowling alley. I know…awesome, right? I have another friend who his brother got married on the same day in another city and his reception, was also at a bowling alley. Bowling Alley receptions, so hot right now.
Well, it turns out this small bowling alley had a limited ball selection, which is always a challenge for me at any bowling alley to find a ball that fits my massive thumb. But for thick, full-fingered people like me, there was one solid option at this bowling alley.
So my brothers, my dad, and I who all have husky thumbs all shared this one ball…which is challenging when you’re bowling on two different lanes. A lesson in patience. After waiting long enough for the ball to return over and over, I decided this was my opportunity to work on my curveball…is that what it’s called in bowling? My summer bowling league in elementary school would be deeply disappointed in me.
So I tried.
I tried the weird curveball thing on a smaller ball that couldn’t fit my thumb.
The Right Size Pool
Years ago, we bought one of those cheap inflatable pools for our backyard. It fit perfectly in this big circular space we had. Honestly, it was a great way to survive the Florida summer heat.
Then last year, when we were selling our house, we put it away. Turns out, most people looking to buy a nice house aren’t hoping it comes with a cheap inflatable pool in the backyard. Apparently, that’s considered an “eyesore.” This is why I’m not a realtor.
So it sat in the garage for almost two years.
Lawn Care
In front of our house, we have a section of grass that is having a hard time growing. It has little shoots of nice green grass, but it is struggling. It has little patches of green, but mostly it looks tired. Thin. Beat up. Like it’s trying really hard to survive.
I asked the guy who laid it, “Why does the grass throughout the rest of my yard look awesome? It has a huge variety of sun and shade, watering and tree coverage, and it all looks healthy and lush. But this section looks like it is having an incredibly hard time.”
And he said, “Well, that sod didn’t have time to create deep roots before it took the wear and tear of people.”
This grass was laid at the same time as everything else, but it was in a location where it got trampled by workers, by us moving in, by our kids running out to play, by bikes and scooters, and by kids playing catch. This area wasn’t able to build a healthy foundation before it was exposed to the reality of everyday life.
Lifeguards and Baptisms
This summer, our boys are doing the South Walton Junior Lifeguard program. I assume they hired David Hasselhoff to lead it, and that most of the training involves running in slow motion…but I don’t know. We’ll see.
To be part of the program, you first have to pass a swim test. On Saturday, tons of kids gathered at the beach and suddenly ran as one massive herd into the water. It was quite the spectacle, a cacophony of hopeful junior lifeguards sprinting toward the red buoy and back again.
I imagine they all signed up for different reasons.
Some want the fun.
Some want the exercise.
Some just need something to do this summer.
Some parents definitely want them to have something to do this summer.
A Season of Change
When I was in my early 20s, I’m not sure I ever changed the air filter in my HVAC unit. It never even crossed my mind to pay attention to something like that…who knows what kind of damage I caused along the way.
When Sarah and I lived in Kansas City, we were in our house for about five years…I maybe changed it five times. Maybe.
Clearly, I am improving with age, but still…some things fall by the wayside.
When we lived in Dallas, our landlord told us to change the filter when we changed the clocks for daylight saving time. Okay; twice a year, I can probably handle that.
Then our second place in Dallas said four times a year. Four times a year? What do I look like, someone with endless time and money for air filters? I’ll admit…I didn’t always do it.
Fast forward to now. Many of you know we recently moved, and when family stayed with us a week or so ago, an outside observer noticed something important: the air filter needed to be changed.
My very kind father; retired, owner of a ladder, and lover of a good project took it upon himself to fix the situation.
I say all this to say: seasons change. Things need attention. Adjustments have to be made. And usually, we’re better off because of it. You may be hesitant, we may resist, it may alter our rhythms, but often times that change was really good and led to wonderful new things no one expected or anticipated.
As I read through the scriptures, I see over and over again, people invited into change. People invited into a life that is changed by God. To take on a new way, to transition into a new rhythm, to experience a new life and new opportunity. From God calling Abraham and Sarah to change what they know to follow after him, to Jesus calling for the disciples to take on this calling as his disciples, to Paul writing letters to early churches helping them to know what it means to experience something new.
Change is hard…I get it. But change can be really good…even if it is really sad.
Monday
Monday…
Today is Easter Monday. Which means tomorrow is Tuesday…and in case you stop reading this at this point, make sure you know, there is NO TUESDAY NOON PRAYER THIS WEEK but Bible Study is back on Wednesday.
But again…today is Monday.
Some of us woke up with chocolate bunnies and Peeps still flowing through our bloodstream…others woke up somewhere between inspiration and a full emotional-and-sugar hangover.
And maybe a few of us woke up wondering:
Okay…Easter was amazing…Now what?
Best Easter Ever
When we lived in Dallas, we had season passes to a local amusement park. It became our go-to on slow days; ride some rides, walk a ton, wear out two little boys, and a good-quality family time had by all.
If you’ve ever been on one of those rides, you’ve heard the operator on the mic explaining how to have a great experience…usually with all the enthusiasm of the adults in a Peanuts cartoon. It’s monotone, forgettable, easy to tune out. But here’s the thing, they’re actually telling you exactly how to have a great ride. We just miss it.
Holy Week is like that too.
Remember
Remember
There are two phrases that show up over and over again throughout Scripture. The first is “Do not fear.” Again and again, God reminds his people that with him, we do not have to live in fear. As it says in 1 John, perfect love casts out fear.
The second phrase is “Remember.”
The ancient Hebrew people were called to remember constantly. They built entire rhythms of life around it: holidays, altars, shared meals, songs, prayers, stones stacked beside rivers, so that they would never forget who God was, what God had done, and what it meant to live as the people of God.
And I actually think these two ideas belong together.
When we remember, we often find that we fear less.
But it depends on what we remember.