Authentic - Measured by the Mundane
Anybody remember The Bangles!? Sing with me now…
“It’s just another manic Monday; I wish it was Sunday; ‘Cause that’s my funday; My I don’t have to runday; it’s just another manic Monday.”
I’ve said it before, but let me issue again this word of encouragement [warning] – if Monday’s for you are mostly bad just remember that 1/7th of your life will be spent on a Monday!
I’m not a Greek scholar – I’m really just a guy with a dictionary who likes to use big words J - But I am impressed with the precise manner in which the dominant language of the New Testament works. Most of the New Testament was written in Koine’ Greek. If you’ve been in church very long you’ve likely heard a preacher say something like, “in the original Greek…” or “…in the Greek language there are multiple words for ‘love’”. In the same way the Greeks had multiple words to describe the passage of time; Chronos & Kairos.
Chronos is time as it passes. Kairos is an opportune time, or a moment in time that changes all times after it.
As we consider ‘Chronos Time’ we think in terms of:
Þ Then | Now | Next
Þ Before | During | After
Þ Cause | Catalyst | Effect.
But with Kairos we consider the power of a moment. That one defining moment by which all other moments will some day be judged. We celebrate Kairos moments. In Latin we would say, “Carpe Diem”. In English, “Seize the Day”! If Chronos is the football game, Kairos is the winning touchdown. As a child we look forward with great anticipation to Kairos moments – Christmas, our next birthday, getting a drivers license, that first kiss, graduation day. Growing older we look back on our Kairos moments with that melancholy mixture of fondness and regret as we consider what we accomplished, what we missed and all the work left undone.
We live in Chronos moments. We live for Kairos moments. This is why mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia are so insidious. Because of aging or faulty wiring in our mind we lose connection with the Kairos moments we think define our lives.
In reality our lives are so much more than a mass of momentary memories or a list of goals to be accomplished. Before David could face the giant he had to become proficient with a sling and a stone while tending sheep. Before David the King, was David the Shepherd. There was a Kairos moment of life change in Paul’s life. That moment on the road to
So what is God doing in you? Maybe you’re approaching a Kairos moment, maybe one just passed. How will He judge you? Will He judge based on your Chronos or Kairos? Would you rather be measured by mundane manic Mondays or by mountain top memories of momentary victories? What if we spend so much time focused on finding Kairos that we miss the life God has for us in Chronos?
Here’s what I mean…I heard a football player once tell his coach, “I don’t care if we win or lose, I just want to get mine.” What he meant was that the team win wasn’t important to him as long as his stats looked good. Guess what…that player never ‘got his’ – because the coach never let him play. This is how some of us approach our walk with Christ. It’s as though we think that if there is no big event, no seemingly significant task, or nothing tangible in it for me, then the daily disciplines of our faith just aren’t that important. It’s like we say to God, “I don’t care who we win or lose. Prayer, Bible Study, worship, fellowship, showing up at church – these things aren’t that important, just so long as I get mine – my ticket to heaven, my peace that passes understanding, my bills paid, my involvement in the next big event…my…my…my…” Matthew says we’ll be judged for every idle word that comes out of our mouth – that tells me God’s taking a close look at our Chronos. The Bible also says that today is the day of salvation – that tells me God is planning another Kairos even as we speak.
I wonder if you’ll be ready. I wonder if, like the football player, you’ll be benched for a bad attitude or if like David you’ll amaze and bless a nation because you prepared yourself in the mundane. Chronos is passing – kairos is coming and you will be measured by both.
Love y’all, God Bless,
Notes to Notice
They may look the same, but these have changed slightly – read on to discover more!
Fall Festival
THIS Tuesday, October 31st 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
Family
Sunday AM, November 5th 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.
TICKETS are $8 and go ON
Sunday Night, December 10th - “Christmas | Past…Present…Eternal” with the Celebration Choir and Praise Band, Instrumental Ensemble, KICK & PreKICK Choirs!
SPECIAL REHEARSAL – Saturday, December 9th, 9am – 12:00 – Don’t miss it!
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
Þ 7:30 Drama Team RM 800
Þ 8:05 Praise Band & Praise Teams WC
Þ 9:00 Cookie Time!
Sunday AM – 10-28-06
Loving God; Loving Each Other
Pre-service – COUNTDOWN | CD
PRE-SERVICE | CD
SERVICE START |
CONGREGATIONAL MUSIC
You Will Be Our God – A, CHART
WELCOME
Dr. Roger Ferguson
WELCOME MUSIC
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – Ab, BH – 333
CHOIR SPECIAL
Hallelujah Praise the Lord – Eb > F, CHART
CONGREGATIONAL MUSIC
You Are My King – D, CHART
w/ Scripture
SPECIAL MUSIC – Quartet
Loving God; Loving Each Other
MESSAGE
Dr. Roger Ferguson
INVITATION
You Are My King – D, CHART
OFFERING | ANNOUNCEMENTS
Presentation of New Members
Prayer
Close
You Will Be Our God – A, CHART
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