Yesterday, we started an all new series at TCC. It’s called “Everyone.” We looked at how Everyone is Invited yesterday and in the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look at how Everyone is Important and how Everyone is Included.I get PUMPED UP on those Sundays when we start a new series. I look at it as though we are starting all over again. Trust me, you don’t want to miss a single week of this new series!
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The Right Equipment
Today, I fell on my bike. Again. This is a pretty normal thing for me. I am used to it. But I am not used to falling like I did today. Today, I fell differently. First because I am still in Lubbock and I have never fallen here and secondly because I fell H-A-R-D. Hard enough that I have to get stitches in the morning. Luckily, they will be hospital free and financially free stitches because a friend from high school is going to come over and stitch me up (thank you Sarah).I promise there is a spiritual application in here…keep reading.You must be thinking that I am a clutz. Well, I basically am, but today I fell because of lack of the right equipment. You know those silly looking, tight-fitting biking shorts? I have never bought any because I thought I didn’t need them. I already look goofy enough. Those shorts are great for all sorts of things I am sure (keeping dry, soaking up sweat, keeping cool, etc) but today I needed them just because they are TIGHT.See, when I go biking I just wear whatever mesh basketball style shorts I have laying around. You know, the ones that are pretty baggy? BIG MISTAKE. As my dad and I wrapped up our 12 mile bike ride, I clipped out of my pedals and began to make my graceful dismount. Then the baggy-ness ran its evil course. My shorts caught on the back of the seat and I went over the handle bars into the pavement while still partially clipped in.It HURT. Bad. And stitches. ooooohhhhhhhh…(how do you type out the sounds of pain?) Oh, and I also broke some of those little bitty bones in my right hand.But I have been thinking as my knee bleeds how important it is to have the right equipment. I mean, I normally would have had to pay for a trip the emergency room when I could have just bought a $30 pair of silly looking tight shorts.Likewise, as Christians, we need to be well equipped. God has given us all the equipment and resources that we will ever need but often we don’t equip ourselves. Then something catastrophic happens and we end up mortally wounded when all we needed to do was spend a few minutes equipping ourselves.Maybe you are thinking, “I want to equip myself Zak but I just don’t know how.” That’s ok! That’s what God has people like me and Cole around for. Our job is to equip you. This is one of our core values at TCC, to fix you up with the right equipment that you need for life.We are starting a new series this Sunday that is really going to get us all ready for Easter. It’s called “Everyone.” Trust me, falling hurts. Equip yourself. Show up this Sunday, ready to gear up with the right equipment!
Sunday Slaughter
Time Change Sundays are always fun. You never know what will happen. And this spring forward Sunday proved to be totally crazy! On top of everyone being a little tired, we lost power during the first service worship set. As it turns out, the school was wired with 220 running into a 120 breaker…not good. But at least now, HCISD is aware of the issue.We were able to get the power going for the second service, but we did not have any lights. Luckily, our worship area is well lit by the natural light coming in from outside.I noticed that there were four HCISD trucks at the school this morning parked by the electrical room doors so I am assuming that the issue is being fixed.It was really cool to see everyone worshipping with a “stripped down” version of The Connection Church Band. Kevin and Pam did an amazing job of leading us even with the complications.All of that said, we hope to have everything up and running in full force again this Sunday. See you then!
My HURRYING HOME Strategy
This past Sunday, I preached about work.To listen to the sermon, click HERE and play the Happily Ever After Sermon.
Anytime I preach, I try to look into my own life and grow. I don’t want to just get up and talk about something without ever applying it in my own life. How hypocritical would that be?Given, not EVERYTHING I may preach about applies directly to my life, but I always do my best to make an application and live out whatever it is that I am sharing about. I wouldn’t have it any other way.SO, here it is, the practical applications for my own life…5 seemingly simple things:
#1. ARRIVE ON TIME – This means getting to the office NO LATER than 8:00am. I need to quit being lazy and showing up at 9:00 or 9:30am. I have done excellent in this area this week.
#2. LEAVE ON TIME – Leave the office by 5:00pm. This is related to #1. If I get there on time, I can leave on time.
#3. BE HOME - When I get home, I need to be home. I have this tendency to work even after I get home. I need to leave the computer off and just BE HOME.
#4. ONE NIGHT – I need to only work ONE night per week. Being a pastor often requires that you meet with people and make phone calls in the evenings. After all, most people work during the day. I need to limit all of those meetings, phone calls, etc to ONE night per week. Preferably the same night every week. That way, Amber and Couper know that I work X-night of the week. This one won’t always be consistent, but I am going to keep it as consistent as I can.
#5. GUARD THE DAYS OFF – Last, I need to protect my days off better. This means no work related e-mail or phone calls on my day off. First, I am going to try this with Fridays. We’ll see how good I do and then maybe I can add Saturdays.
This will be a big challenge for me! Realistically, if I get really good at numbers 1 through 4, #5 will be a piece of cake because my work will already be done.Cole always says, “if you lose your family, you lose your ministry.” I want to be as effective for the kingdom of God as I can and I want to love my family the best that I can. This list is stuff that I really want to build into my life BEFORE Couper is born. So I have a good headstart…about 2 months. I realize, of course, that being a pastor means doing whatever it takes and that sometimes, I won’t be able to stick to these guidelines. At the end of my message this past week, I encouraged you to make some choices that would help you to cheat work rather than home. I just shared the choices that I made this week…what are yours?
