How you doing?

Hi,

What are you up to?  How is your summer going so far?  Do you have a lot of plans for making memories this summer, memories that will sustain and motivate you during the winter doldrums?  Typically this is the time of year when we all slow down, take vacations, and get a little me-time.  Here at Irwin First United Methodist Church we have canceled a few committee meetings, Bible studies, and youth activities, even Sunday School for the summer.  We are always concerned with the dreaded "burnout" of our people if they don't get a break.  Mmmm, there is something to be said for that, taking a break that is.  Jesus called His disciples away to get some rest(although it didn't work out because the people followed them), the Creation Story has us working 6 days and then resting on the 7th.  So, getting away from the everyday chores is a legitimate concern and a healthy goal.  What the disciples never did though was to get away from Jesus.  And on the 7th day when we rest from our chores we worship God.  Me-time has become a god, an idol in our society.  It drives the commerce as our society looks for ways to provide me-time.  Vacation spots, boats, skis, hunting, fishing, movies, tourism, paddle boards, kayaks, pools, billiard tables, casinos, etc, etc.  Lets face it, we live in a hedonistic society.  It is all about number one.  Yet the Bible makes it real clear that we are to look out for others more so than we look out for ourselves. 

Romans 12 and 14 tell us to love one another and to help one another.  Matthew 28 tells us of the Great Commission to go into the world and baptize everyone in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then we are to teach them to obey everything that Jesus has taught us.  If we take that seriously then we will have little time left for pleasing ourselves on any grand scale.  A break every now and then is important, but no more important than our relationship with Jesus and not more important than the people around us.  It is a matter of priorities so have a great vacation and make sure you take Jesus with you.  Don't forget your sunscreen.

God loves and so do I,

Pastor Bruce