Being Mr. Right

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 2: 3-5

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life came when my dad was teaching me to drive.  Actually, the lesson wasn’t really about driving at all, it just happened to occur in that context.  We were at an intersection and I had the right-of-way.  Another driver went, and I got upset.  I made some comment about going anyway and making that person be responsible for the accident (not the best idea I’ve ever had).  My dad let me know that was a bad idea but I kept pressing the issue, saying that it was my turn and I would have been right and the other person was wrong.  My dad then said something that I have remembered ever since: “sometimes it’s better to just let things go than be dead-right.”

We are taught from an early age that being right is important.  We are rewarded in school for giving the right answer.  We are encouraged to “do the right thing” in our behavior.  But sometimes being right isn’t the most important thing.  This is a lesson many of us struggle with (raises hand and puts head down in shame).  I’ve always valued being right, even if it meant proving someone else to be wrong. 

My devotional today included this statement: “Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to be right that we forget to be kind.” (Bob Goff)  Man, if this statement didn’t stop me dead in my tracks!  That’s the big problem.  We have replaced the virtue of kindness with our pursuit of being first, best, right.  In our relationships we have prioritized getting the last word, proving our point, and being right more than we value other people. 

Why are we so obsessed with being right?  The scripture passage above (and lots of others too) teaches about humility, of valuing others above ourselves, looking to the interests of others and having the mindset of Jesus.  Jesus didn’t set out to be right no matter who would get hurt.  In fact, there’s a story in one of the Gospels where Jesus admits he is wrong in his treatment of someone (Matthew 15:22-28) because he isn’t showing kindness. 

Being correct is important.  Being kind – being a good person, showing love and respect to others – is more important.  I want to encourage you to consider if you value being Mr. (or Miss, Mrs. etc) Right more than you value being kind.  What is one way today you could show kindness to someone instead of just trying to be Mr. Right? 

It is an honor to be your pastor and be in ministry with you as we seek to show Christ to others through our words and deeds.

Blessings,

Chris

Worship This Sunday

This week is week three of our Disney -Lessons from the Kingdom series.  This week we will look at one of my favorite recent Disney movies – Up.

Our scripture reading for Sunday comes from Ruth, Chapter 1, verses 16-18.

But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’  When Naomi realized Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.“

We will begin our service with the song Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective.  Our hymns for Sunday include: Great is Thy Faithfulness, Have Thine Own Way, Lord, O Jesus I Have Promised, and Lord, Be Glorified.  Additionally, our video hymn this week is I Will Follow, by Chris Tomlin.  Our “By These Signs” witness this week will be all about our Kids Hope USA ministry – you will not want to miss this!

As the COVID-19 continues its presence in our community, we know that many of you are still not ready to come to worship. Please know that even though we don’t get to see you weekly, we still want to minister to you.  Every Sunday afternoon we will post a recording of our 10:20 worship service.  We hope this helps you feel connected until we are able to gather again without concern. 

I continue to receive questions about our practices of social distancing, mask-wearing and other considerations in place as a result of COVID-19.  If you’re at all like me, you are ready to be back to “normal,” and have had enough with all these changes.  The trouble is, COVID is still a threat.  Every day this month there have been new cases of COVID diagnosed in our community and as schools resume, this is only going to continue.  We need to keep vigilant in these practices of keeping not just ourselves, but those around us safe by wearing our masks, keeping a safe distance from others and sanitizing or washing our hands as often as appropriate.  Remember, these practices are a way we show our love to our neighbor.   Even though it doesn’t feel like it, this will be over someday.

Events this week:

Friday, August 21: Youth kickball/wiffle ball game & back to school picnic, 6-8 pm, Harley Park

Sunday, August 23: Finance Committee meeting, following worship in the Church lounge

Monday, August 24: First Day of School

TOPS – 9:30 am

Wednesday, August 26: Nominations Committee, 7 pm, Foundations classroom

Closing Words of Wisdom:

Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”― John Wesley