Saw this little video blog on Ed Young’s blog. Thought I’d post it here since I just preached a sermon at Creekside from the book of James entitled What do I do with my words? What do you think?
Also thought the use of his little camera was a good idea. Hmmm….got me thinking…
I am without my computer right now. It crashed last week and I just wrapped it up yesterday and sent it off to be repaired. Now, the data was backed up, the laptop is under warranty, and my neighbor loaned me an old laptop. So I am not in a panic about losing vital information, having to fork out heaps of money, or not being able to get anything done for the week or two I’m without it. However, I am learning some lessons in efficiency, effectiveness, and reliance.
You see, that computer is set up just the way I like it. We work well together. I know where everything is. I have certain documents, pictures, music, etc. available to me at the click of a button – literally! All of the defaults are setup how I like it. Calendar reminders set to 30 minutes instead of 15. Incoming emails go to the right inbox for TYMK, Creekside, TSC, and personal. Microsoft Word templates with the right font, spacing, etc. Bottom line: this laptop and I know each other. After all…we DO spend a lot of time together. (At least we did until last Thursday.)
I’ve been thinking about how this "relationship" I have with my laptop teaches me something about this guy Jesus I know. A while back, he was talking to some other friends of his and said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
Take a look at that word "remain." Some translations have "abide" instead. I think I like that even better. To abide is to stay, remain, be in relationship with, hang out, and "know" each other. Do I put the same amount of time, effort, and intentionality into making sure my relationship with Jesus is as finely tuned as my relationship with my laptop? Even typing that last sentence points out the absurdity of it.
I know that when I have my laptop – the one I know through and through – I will be more effective, efficient, and enjoy work more. I also know that when I put time and intentionality into my relationship with Jesus my whole life is more purposeful and joyful.
This lost laptop is causing me to ask some questions: Do I simply toss "prayer requests" up to Jesus, or do I truly abide in Him? Am I willing to put in the time it takes to become intimately familiar with Jesus – His ways and His voice? If I was without Jesus for a couple weeks, would it drive me as crazy as being without my laptop? (ouch)
Maybe this computer crash wasn’t as bad as I thought. (Though please don’t tell HP Customer Care that!)
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NOTE: I wrote this last week, but waited to post it until it had been run as an article on our church’s weekly eNewsletter.
Just received this from a friend and former pastor – Bill Peterson. Couldn’t agree more…
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While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. -Angela Schwindt
I consistently find this quote to be so right on. Whenever I’ve had the privilege of doing children’s sermons, I as often as not learn more from those who I’m supposedly "teaching" than I suspect they get from my "lesson du jour."
I find the same to be true whenever I engage in conversations with children from the neighborhood. What I had previously perceived to be a "given," rarely stays firm and fixed when translated and fed back to me through the lens of a child’s creative brain and perceptual capacity.
As someone who spent some time as a school counselor, a husband of a first grade teacher, and a father to three kids I thought this stat was pretty interesting:
“Americans spend six times as much money on video games as they do on school supplies.”
Thanks @Tysen for posting that on Twitter.
