Yesterday we started a 2 1\2 week trip where we will be leading worship & speaking to 3 different churches and 2 camps. We were at Summers Baptist Church in Summers, Arkansas yesterday, and it is an amazing church! Before arriving at the church we called Joel, the Student Pastor, and asked if there was a place we could put Sassy (pictured to the left) our toy poodle. He told us she could stay in the Youth Room, and we were very relieved!
The service began and Donna, Jordan, Megan, & I led worship for the service. Donna then shared about the vision of weDIGit and the atmosphere was so special as the Holy Spirit began working. I then began to speak from II Corinthians 4.
As I was entering the second thought of my message I noticed Megan running through the back door of the church laughing out loud! What happened next left me speechless, (I know that is hard for many that know me to believe) as I watched Sassy sprinting down the left aisle of the church with Megan running right behind her. The only word that would come out of my mouth over and over again as I watched it unfold was "REALLY?!?" It was as if it all happened in slow motion, and the theme for Chariots of Fire was playing in my head. There was Sassy sprinting down the aisle, her ears flopping, tongue sticking out, a smile somewhat across her little poodle face, with Megan running close behind. (For those of you who've never heard the theme song, you can click on the Youtube video below. Close your eyes and visualize Sassy and Megan running down the aisle of the church as the music plays!)
The service began and Donna, Jordan, Megan, & I led worship for the service. Donna then shared about the vision of weDIGit and the atmosphere was so special as the Holy Spirit began working. I then began to speak from II Corinthians 4.
As I was entering the second thought of my message I noticed Megan running through the back door of the church laughing out loud! What happened next left me speechless, (I know that is hard for many that know me to believe) as I watched Sassy sprinting down the left aisle of the church with Megan running right behind her. The only word that would come out of my mouth over and over again as I watched it unfold was "REALLY?!?" It was as if it all happened in slow motion, and the theme for Chariots of Fire was playing in my head. There was Sassy sprinting down the aisle, her ears flopping, tongue sticking out, a smile somewhat across her little poodle face, with Megan running close behind. (For those of you who've never heard the theme song, you can click on the Youtube video below. Close your eyes and visualize Sassy and Megan running down the aisle of the church as the music plays!)
Sassy found her way to Donna's lap on the front row, and we were both speechless! But what happened next was amazing! Instead of Pastor Young ignoring the situation all together, He yelled out, "I guess the church is going to the dogs," and the church erupted into laughter. The service then became even more authentic and Spirit-filled! Why? Because there was nowhere to hide from that moment. The truth was that our daughter just tried to catch our poodle as she ran into a worship service while I was preaching, and we all owned the moment and let it be authentic and real. Sassy was just looking for Donna. She was on a mission and she was not concerned about anything that might stand in her way! (We could learn a lesson from that as well!) The result was laughter, joy, and mercy! We didn't ignore it or sweep it under the rug, or worse, pass judgement. We weren't superficial about it!
The "A" in L.E.A.P. stands for "Avoid the Superficial." We couldn't avoid what happened in that church yesterday! What made the moment even more powerful was that the pastor, leadership, and congregation didn't avoid it either. We all embraced it together and now have a GREAT, hilarious memory that we will share forever.
Most people choose to live a superficial existence because they are afraid of what will happen if the truth ever comes out. I have tried to avoid reality and live superficially thinking that it would somehow keep things from being more difficult for me and those that I love. The truth is that it only made things worse. I am learning more and more the importance of living a life of authenticity by speaking truth. The Bible says in James 5:16, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed." In other words, be honest and truthful with God, yourself, and others. This will result in your living out life together whole and healed! My family and I want that!
We have to make the choice to be truthful and "Avoid the Superficial!" Then we can L.E.A.P. out of where we have been into a future filled with Hope and Healing! As James says, it should be our "Common Practice." It should be our way of life! Then when Sassy comes running into the church service you can just embrace it authentically and experience Love, Joy, Mercy, and Laughter! I'm thankful for the "Sassy Moments" in my life! It is what it is, and that feels good!
The "A" in L.E.A.P. stands for "Avoid the Superficial." We couldn't avoid what happened in that church yesterday! What made the moment even more powerful was that the pastor, leadership, and congregation didn't avoid it either. We all embraced it together and now have a GREAT, hilarious memory that we will share forever.
Most people choose to live a superficial existence because they are afraid of what will happen if the truth ever comes out. I have tried to avoid reality and live superficially thinking that it would somehow keep things from being more difficult for me and those that I love. The truth is that it only made things worse. I am learning more and more the importance of living a life of authenticity by speaking truth. The Bible says in James 5:16, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed." In other words, be honest and truthful with God, yourself, and others. This will result in your living out life together whole and healed! My family and I want that!
We have to make the choice to be truthful and "Avoid the Superficial!" Then we can L.E.A.P. out of where we have been into a future filled with Hope and Healing! As James says, it should be our "Common Practice." It should be our way of life! Then when Sassy comes running into the church service you can just embrace it authentically and experience Love, Joy, Mercy, and Laughter! I'm thankful for the "Sassy Moments" in my life! It is what it is, and that feels good!
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