PASTOR'S PENS:

SERMON SERIES:
Kingdom PrinciplesFollowing Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

PASTOR'S PENS 2008

August 10, 2008   “When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question:  Will this matter in 5 years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go.”                                                                                                                        Catherine Pulsifer             Help! I am in the midst of information overload. Messages and more messages come my way. I survey my desk and am convinced it is covered by the paper equivalent of two giant sequoia trees. Some days, I fear I may suffocate under the reams of paper that clutter my life. And we don’t want to talk about the piles on the floor.             But it is not just paper. In this age of technology, paperless communication also vies for my attention. Many consider the computer and e-mail to be great advancements. I think they just may be Satanic. Traditional USPS mail has been bypassed by e-mail.  I’ve been tabulating and I receive nearly 200 e-mails a day, though probably 75% of them are spam. Those who don't have all the latest technological toys for communication today are considered “out of touch.” We must have a Palm Pilot, a pager and a cell phone (digital, of course) or we cannot survive. Charity recently bought me a poster with some 200 codes for text messaging. Our lives are so filled with technology that we hardly have an uninterrupted moment!             For the last decade or so, no self-respecting household could get by with less than two television sets and four radios often all turned on at once. Dad would go crazy if he couldn't surf through 100 cable channels and try to keep up with three ball games, a fishing show and a favorite drama–and all of them at the same time.             But the end result of all of this is emptiness. The more noise and clutter we have in our lives, the less time there is to reflect, contemplate and ponder. The wonder of life gets lost in the piles of paper and the disturbing beeps, rings and buzz of technology. We live in a very stress-filled world and it affects all of us. If you don’t believe me, take this “stress test.” Answer these questions with either: Never, Sometimes, Often, or Always. 1. I feel overwhelmed and confused. 2. I have difficulty sleeping. 3. I find myself feeling worn out at the end of the day. 4. I have increased digestive problems such as heartburn, constipation and diarrhea. 5. I feel self-conscious or inadequate. 6. I have difficulty concentrating, making decisions or remembering things.    7. I feel depressed or I cry uncontrollably. 8. When things don’t go my way I get angry and aggressive. 9. I experience shakiness, trembling or nervous laughter. 10. I eat more food or drink more alcohol to make myself feel better or more at ease. 11. I experience eye strain and/or have dark circles under my eyes. 12. I frequently feel all wound up, tense or nervous. 13. I experience tightness in the muscles of my neck, back or jaw. 14. I frequently argue with my co-workers, boss, spouse or children. 15. Changes in my daily routine, living conditions or relationships cause me distress. This life is not easy and we all go through periods of stress and strain. The only safe place in this life is on our knees. The safest place is in the arms of our loving Heavenly Father.             “Be still and know that I am God” is a powerful command found in Psalm 46. While today we have more information about God available to us and know more about Him than any generation. We can pop in a CD and hear music about Him. We can listen to preaching and teaching at any hour of the day. Yet the fact is that despite the flood of information, we know Him less than preceding generations. Why? We’ve forgotten how to be still. Too many of us are noise and info junkies. We can't sit still unless we have a piece of paper in our hands. We can't enter a room or ride in a car without the constant, noisy accompaniment of some form of information or entertainment.             Let me propose a novel idea. Turn off the radio in your car. Spend the ride time praising God and, more importantly, being still before Him. Turn off the television and sit quietly in a chair contemplating the greatness of God. Find a park bench on a warm day and think lofty thoughts about God.             The sound of silence. What a wonderful thing. It just might be the prelude to a spiritual revival in my life and yours. Put away the toys and interrupters of your life. Seek solitude. Bask in the presence of the Almighty and lavish your love on Him. Find a resting place and solid ground for your soul.              Be still and know your God. You won't regret it my friend!