Valentine’s Day This and That

February 14, 2010

It’s been a while since we have had a Sunday evening just to sit and chill. With the snow and wind outside the chilling part is not hard at all. Sometimes I struggle with the sitting part. Today, though, I came home, took a nap and now we are watching the Olympics.

Is this just a genius of programming that gave us pairs figure skating on Valentine’s Day? Pretty cool, though. Hannah Kearny, US gold medalist in the freestyle moguls, just said that figure skating epitomized the Winter Olympics for her and she is looking forward to being a spectator. What’s your favorite Winter Olympics event? I like the figure skating, but I also like the the Alpine skiing. I love to ski and maybe that’s why I seem to look forward to the Winter Olympics more than the Summer games, though I enjoy both. Are you a winter or summer type of person?

I haven’t posted anything for a few days, but have been working on a longer post I will put up in the next couple of days. Right now I am still reflecting back on the events of this morning. Trying to put fasting, sackcloth and dirt on the head in a context that we can understand today is somewhat of a challenge. This really builds on what we talked about last week trying to gain a contemporary understanding of biblical holiness. We are holy because God has set us apart a special to himself, not because of anything we do or are of ourselves. I remain convinced that we can live a life of holiness by what we set apart for God – our lives, all that we are and have – not by being odd, strange or weird.

Following the final service today, Cheryl and I popped in to the Fellowship Hall to make a brief appearance at a luncheon for refugees being mentored by people in our church. These are recent arrivals to our city and KCBT folks are helping them to get established in a new culture and some of them are taking advantage of the ESL (English as a Second Language) classes that we offer. We met several Iraqis, Egyptians, Latin Americans and a few others.

I am getting very excited about The Summit that begins just two weeks from today! Don’t forget to take advantage of the morning sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. You can find complete details on the web site. Meanwhile, let’s finish strong on our 24/7 59-day prayer cycle. Thanks to all of you who are taking part in this. I’ll see those of you who can come at prayer ministry Tuesday evening.

I’ll check in with you in the next day or two. Meanwhile, have a great Valentine’s Day or, as was mentioned in our second service today, Singleness Awareness Day.

T.A. Shields

I thought it was great to hear a sermon that spent this much time looking into fasting from a Biblical perspective. I have read those passages from Isaiah and was glad to see them as a part of your teaching.
As far as appearing strange or weird to the nonbeliever, well that is just part of being a christian. I have been a believer long enough to know the truth of “being a city on a hill”. A believer will be at odds with the secular world, and puerely by no fault of their own.
In the first service you shared a story about Truman Dollar and his not wanting people to know he was a baptist minister. In my opinion he should have been joyful that the proprietor of the “Dam Deli” identified him as such.
Great story, great sermon.

http://www.kcbt.org Jeff Adams

You’re so right about the story, but I guess we all have our little quirks and his was not wanting to be identified as a preacher. I have laughed so many times thinking about that story. He handled it quite well, though, and appreciated the wisdom and insight of the burger tosser. You all also right about the City on a Hill comment. We are always different from the divine content within us and the transformation of our lives. That much is certain and unavoidable. I just don’t want to add so many cultural oddities to my life that people see those things and not the different that the Gospel makes within. Thanks again for the comments.

Scott Jolley

Oh, there was no need to stand up for you, we all just gleaned different gems.
Scott Jolley

Hello Jeff,
We had some friends over for dinner today after the service and we started talking about your sermon. At one point, Wendy asked if we were in the same room! It was funny how 5 different people walked away with 5 different opinions of what you said. Of course, I was the one who interpreted it correctly . And we were cheering for the Chinese pair.

http://www.kcbt.org Jeff Adams

Thanks for standing up for me, Scott! Of COURSE you have the right interpretation. … whatever that is.

Jeff Adams

Valentine’s Day This and That