"I can't remember a farmer who was ever in a hurry.  Farmers characteristically work hard, but there is too much work to do to be in a hurry."
                                                                                                           -  Eugene Peterson
 
     Are you a blur of activity, a hurried mess?  Do your friends to think, "He's/she's too busy for me"?  Do you want your children to eulogize at your funeral, "Yes, he was always working"?  Or, "She was always on her phone." 

      You are not the axis on which the world turns.  Your "hurry, worry, and flurry" is a sin.  You think too much of yourself.  Yes, you have work to do.  And it will get done.  But God can get on without you if he wants.  Count it a blessing that he invites you into his work at all. 

       Now get off the computer and go for a walk. 

                "Uncle Sam is a friendly old man, but he has a spine of steel." 
                                                          -  President Ronald Reagan describing the American character to the Soviets.

     The perception exists in our society that Christians are just (or should be) really nice people.  They are the Ned Flanders, the nice guys, the "friendly old man."  As much as there should be a friendliness to Christians, there is also a steel spine.  A "Jesus-turning-tables-in-the-temple" steel spine.  Or like Paul who braved shipwrecks, torture, and poverty in order to take the gospel worldwide.   Faith takes guts.  Responding to Jesus' words, "Follow me" is risky.  Our compassion is accompanied by courage, and our service by strength.

"You can pick your friends.  You can pick your nose.  But you can't pick your friend's nose." 
                                                                                                     - Robert Prahl

    My father-in-law occasionally says this, although it's not unique to him.  Essentially, there are limits to what we can do.  We can love, serve, and influence others.  But we cannot change them, or save them, or manipulate their behavior.  This is a convicting thought, especially when you realize that you are imposing yourself on another.  And it's a freeing thought, because it means that you don't have to change them.   It allows you to rest in the transforming power of the One who made all friendships and all noses. 

"Your strongest are serving and your weakest are prized."
                                                                            - An Anonymous Mentor on the the sign of a healthy congregation

• What if the most seasoned elder let a 24-year-old lead and quietly counseled him from the background?
• What if everyone knew the names of our members with special needs and went out of their way to greet them?
• What if our wealthiest members and business leaders taught Sunday School?
• What if "empty nesters" adopted a young family and babysat so that the couple could go on a monthly date?  And what if the young family adopted a widow and invited her to dinner once a month?
• What if the long-term members gave up their stylistic preferences and allowed less-tenured members to determine what kind of coffee is served, what color the walls are, what kind of music is played, what programs are most essential, and what kind of art is displayed? 
• What if every teenager was greeted like a rock star when they walked in your church building?
• What if a small group of Sudanese Christians, seeking refuge in your city, sought out your congregation as their new church home? 
  
• What if you sought to give up certain rights in order to bless a fellow member?  What would you give up?  For a brother or sister?  For the mission of your congregation? 
  

Isaiah 53; Matthew 20:26-28; John 13:12-16; I Cor. 9;19-23;12:12-31; Phil. 2;1-11; I Tim. 5:16