Authentic - The 'B' Badge of Honor?

Psalm 39:4 – 6

“Lord, make to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every many walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.”

Psalm 39:4 – 6

“I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye, I’M LATE, I’M LATE, I’M LATE!”

You remember the tale. There sits Alice next to a tree and the White Rabbit comes charging by, hurried in speech and mannerisms, looking at his watch and harried in appearance. He must be important. He’s well dressed. He has somewhere to be. And he’s made it clear, “HE’S LATE!” So down the rabbit hole he goes.

To quote the book,

“…Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take it out of, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge. In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.”

There is a badge of honor worn by people today. We flaunt it in front of friends and coworkers. We flash it like a Monopoly Card, “Get Out of Volunteering [Serving] Free”. We parade around with it and show it to our family, when we have time for family. It is our excuse to be abrupt with people, rude to some and dismissive of others. We may not be wealthy. We may not be influential. The career we’ve chosen may not change the world. But we are BUSY – and therein we find our significance.

Like Alice charging down the rabbit-hole we fill our time with stuff to do, places to be, things to see, and like Alice we often do this, “…never once considering how in the word we are to get out again.” It is the challenge of our modern world. There are so many good things to do, so many different ways to do them and only so many hours in the day. The challenge for today is not, ‘WHAT can I do?’, but, ‘WHERE do I start!?’ And so as fully devoted followers of Christ how do I choose what’s best for me, my family, our friends and the Kingdom of God?

Here’s the deal – being BUSY is not the problem. Life Happens. We’re going to be busy. The true test is whether or not we’re busy doing the things God has planned for us. Being busy doing SOMEthing is not the same as being busy doing the RIGHT thing.

This Sunday Pastor will teach from John 11. It’s the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I’m struck by the fact that Jesus was always busy. Yet his busyness was always the work of God. From eating a simple meal with 5000 of his closet friends to teaching some great truth beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was busy but not frantic. He had the most significant of tasks to accomplish, yet was never rushed.

Here’s what Jesus knew that we need to catch:

Þ Busy does not equal IMPORTANT.

Þ Busy does not equal RIGHT.

Þ Busy does not equal PRODUCTIVE.

Þ Busy does not equal LIFE.

Remember the story of Lazarus. Mary and Martha sent people to Jesus to tell Him of Lazarus’ sickness, yet Jesus didn’t come heal Lazarus. I think Jesus’ response to the messengers is interesting. He doesn’t tell Mary and Martha He’s too busy to come – it’s likely He was – instead He says, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

When was the last time you were asked to do something and you so clearly knew God’s plan for your day that you could answer in such a way as this? “I’m sorry. I can’t do that right now. God’s got a plan that involves His glory – and if I do that right now I would really just be in the way.”

I’m sure Mary and Martha were hacked – or at least disappointed – but Jesus kept His word and in His time and His way…really in a way that no one ever imagined He ‘healed’ Lazarus by raising him from the dead.

What would your life be like if you weren’t so busy doing ‘stuff’, but instead you were busy doing those things that were clearly in God’s plan for your day? Stop parading your busyness around as though being busy means something. Start listening to the heart of God and let’s be busy doing that which brings Him glory. You’ll discover your ‘to do’ list done, your needs met, your relationships healthy and interruptions – well, just another opportunity from God. We’ve already jumped down the rabbit-hole. While we’re here let’s be busy for the glory of God.

Love y’all, God Bless,

Chad

Notes to Notice

Fall Festival

Tuesday, October 31^st from 6:00 – 8:00pm is Fall Festival. This year’s Fall Festival will be bigger and better than ever as we fill both buildings with exciting games, challenging events, inflatable’s, train rides, pony rides and more candy than Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory! Parents are encouraged to bring their children in costume. It’s a sports theme (so support your Sooners!)

This is also an incredible opportunity for us to reach out to our community. Invite neighbors and friends. How can members of CAM be involved? In Fellowship Hall they will serve dinner and we’ll provide the entertainment! Sign up to sing or play a solo, put together and ensemble – Solo’s, Trio’s, Quartets, the word here is ‘variety’. To sign up tonight, see Brenda Henderson!

Family Reunion

Sunday AM, November 5^th is ALL HANDS ON DECK! Why? That’s the day we’re asking every member to make special plans to be in Sunday School and Worship and to bring someone with them. It’s a Family Reunion! It’s about relationships! It’s about vision and recognizing the tremendous blessing God has both poured out on us and entrusted to us.

On that day, let’s fill the platform with musicians; Ushers, let’s get ready for the multitudes God will bring; everyone, let’s be ready for the incredible work God will do in us and through us! Make plans now to be here!

Christmas Plans – “Christmas | Past…Present…Eternal”

This December we’ll celebrate Christmas all month long! How!? The first weeks of December we’ll celebrate with a dinner theater:

“As Time Goes By” – A lifetime of Christmas traditions and celebrations through the eyes of faith, family & Friends.

Written by our very own, Randy Thomas, this funny and family-focused drama will capture your heart as it captures the heart of Christmas throughout multiple generations. This is not musical theater – but a three act play. We’ll need volunteers for acting, stage craft, costuming, technical arts, hosting, food services and everything in between. To volunteer contact Randy Thomas, Randy.Thomas@esp-tulsa.com, or Chad Balthrop, chad@fbcowasso.org.

Sunday Night, December 10th - “Christmas | Past…Present…Eternal” with the Celebration Choir and Praise Band, Instrumental Ensemble, KICK & PreKICK Choirs! During this great concert we’ll share Christmas music and family Christmas stories…stories of Christmas past, present and eternal! We’ll have a Dress Rehearsal on December 9th, from 9am - Noon.

Sunday Night, December 17th - “A Family Christmas HomeComing” with the Families of FBCO. This is the night we sing our favorite Christmas songs as a congregation. This year we’ll have a twist – our special music will come from families within FBCO. Great music combined with stories of family Christmas traditions will make this a night people won’t forget.

Christmas Eve – Sunday Night, December 24th - Every year our Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service is standing room only! This year we will pack the Worship Center TWICE – with two, hour long opportunities for the people of our community to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We’ll ask every available Choir, Praise Band, Instrumental Ensemble, KICK and Tech member to be available for BOTH Christmas Eve Services.

Christmas Eve Rehearsal 4:00pm

Christmas Eve FIRST SERVICE 5:00pm

Christmas Eve SECOND SERVICE 7:00pm

Weekly Schedule Reminder

Here are the CALL TIMES for a typical SUNDAY AM – Remember, ON TIME = EARLY | EARLY = READY and from 8:30 – 8:50 we’ll clear the platform and all meet in Fellowship Hall for a light, continental style breakfast and for last minute instructions, prayer & consecration. I look forward to seeing everyone there!

SUNDAY

Þ 7:15am TECH PREP

Þ 7:30 Drama Sound Check and Rehearse

Þ 7:45 Praise Band Sound Check

Þ 8:00 Praise Team

Þ 8:15 Special Music

Þ 8:20 Celebration Choir

Þ 8:30 Stage Clear, Doors Open, Background Music & Announcements Run

Þ 8:50 Countdown begins

Þ 8:55 Prelude – Live, instrumental, congregational or choir…

Þ 9:00 Service Begins

WEDNESDAY

Þ 6:00pm Instrumental Ensemble WC

Þ 6:30 Celebration Choir | Tech Prep RM 800 & WC

Þ 7:00 Praise Band with IE WC

Þ 7:30 ALL CAM WC

Þ 7:30 Drama Team RM 800

Þ 8:05 Praise Band & Praise Teams WC

Þ 9:00 Cookie Time!

Order of Service

Sunday AM – 10-15-06

I Am the Resurrection & Life | Trust Me

Pre-service – COUNTDOWN | CD

PRE-SERVICE | CD

Instrumental Ensemble

SERVICE START | Chad Balthrop

CONGREGATIONAL MUSIC

Blessed Be Your Name (Redman) – A, CHART

Better is One Day – A, CHART

WELCOME

Dr. Roger Ferguson

WELCOME MUSIC

‘Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus – G, BH – 411

CHOIR SPECIAL

Because of Who You Are – F > Ab, CHART

CONGREGATIONAL MUSIC

Hallelujah, What a Savior – G > A, CHART

Þ John 11:1 – 4

Þ VS 1 & 2, C

Þ John 11:17 – 27

Þ VS 3 & 4, C

Þ John 11:38 – 44

Þ Key Change, VS 5, C, C

MESSAGE

Dr. Roger Ferguson

INVITATION

Great is Thy Faithfulness – Eb, BH – 54

OFFERING | ANNOUNCEMENTS

Page Cole

Presentation of New Members

Prayer

Close

Blessed Be Your Name (Redman) – A, CHART