Scripture: Exodus 20:3
…you shall have no other gods before me.
Thought for the Day: I don’t know what to think about Tom Brady and Deflategate. Cheating, lying, suspensions and fines – I wonder what we are teaching our children? You need to understand that I am a big football fan. I sort of wish I was not, and in fact, I have – for the most part – stopped watching professional football. Though when I think about the last decade or so in professional sports (and some college), there have been so many troubling events that have made the news. We would like to pretend that they do not make an impact on the larger society, but when athletes and the structures around them make millions (billions) of dollars, it is silly to think that society is not impacted in a negative way. Whether we like it or not, we define our priorities with our money. And when a high percentage of our society spends more money on sporting events and programs then it does on organizations that demonstrate compassion, we are clearly defining our true priorities. Don’t get me wrong, I am still working on my priorities. Over the years, we (Donna and I) have worked toward prioritizing our financial resources in such a way that it more clearly expresses what we claim to believe. We have chosen to give away more money each year than we spend on all of our vacations each year. It took a few years to get to where it is possible, but we wanted to give away more each year than we spent on car payments. And we wanted to give away more than what we spent on our house payment, and we’ve been able to do that as well. The next step, and it will be a challenge, is to give away more each year than we spend on all of those together. What in your life is a little out of whack? Maybe it is not money. Maybe it is how you spend your time (and I could probably do a better job on that one as well). Don’t beat yourself up. Instead, set goals and achievable steps toward reaching those goals. And of course, pray for assistance.
Prayer: Lord God, we look to the life of Jesus for the example of living in sync with you. Where we are not living as we should, assist us in making needed changes so that we not only live as we should, but that we teach our children and grandchildren your priorities. Amen.
THIS SUNDAY
IMPORTANT
Youth Sunday
All three Services
Children’s Musical
Performance at 12:30
Simple Hotdog Lunch
Served from 11:30 – 12:30
