Stuck in Saturday

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Another Holy Week came and went.  How did you celebrate?  Some of you probably went to a Maundy Thursday remembrance and enjoyed time at the Lord's Supper.  Some of you remembered the darkness of our Lord's death at a solemn Good Friday service.  Most of us observed Easter Sunday with a joyous worship and special activities with our family.

What did you do on Saturday?

Saturday of holy week is not one we think about  too often; we spend most of our time thinking about the great pain of Friday and the great joy of Sunday.  Saturday is simply the day in-between,  a day to prepare for Sunday.

Last year at Easter, I was feeling a great deal of pain.  My grandmother had passed away just two weeks prior and my marriage was hanging by a thread.  Easter Sunday was a day I just wanted to get through for the sake of my kids.  I had absolutely no joy and very little hope.

That Easter Sunday my pastor preached a sermon called "Everyday Sunday."  He asked us if we were stuck in Saturday.  Consider what Saturday would have been like for Jesus' loved ones.  It must have been a rough day for the disciples.  Imagine the pain they felt watching the Savior die.  Saturday was their first day without him.  They were waiting and wondering and they were mostly likely fearful.  Our pastor called it "a no courage, no plans, no hope day" (Poit).  I heard Max Lucado, a Christian author, on the radio last week call this particular Saturday "a silent Saturday."   It was the day between the darkness of the crucifixion and the joy of the resurrection.

There are times in our lives when we get stuck in the Saturdays.  We have endured the darkness of the trial and have yet to experience the joy of the victory.  We are in a holding pattern.  We are waiting for God to move, act, respond.  That's where I was last Easter - I was stuck in Saturday, and unfortunately I lived in Saturday for many months.  Thankfully, God uses our Saturdays to strengthen our faith in Him.  Lucado wrote this on his blog:  "Saturdays have their purpose. They let us feel the full force of God’s strength. Had God raised Jesus fifteen minutes after the death of His son, would we have appreciated the act? Were He to solve your problems the second they appear, would you appreciate His strength?" (Lucado).

So how do we move from Saturday to Sunday?  My pastor suggested the following:  

• Remember Jesus' words.  Cling to His promises to you.  You are not abandoned.  He is working - even if you don't feel it or see it.
• Remember the deep sacrifice He made on your behalf.  If you can find no other joy, find joy in the simple fact that God loves you deeply and sacrificially.
• Fellowship with other believers.  Find encouragement in their stories.  Revel in the deep connection and care they offer to you.  
• Continue to worship the Almighty God.  When Job experienced his deep tragedies, he fell to the ground in worship.  Pouring out our hearts in worship does wonders to keep our eyes on the only One who can walk us from the silence of Saturday to the joy of Sunday.

If you are stuck on Saturday, remember these words from the Psalmist:
"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord."  Psalm 27:13-14


Lucado, M. (March 30, 2013).  The Silence of Saturday.  Retreived on 4/17/2014 from http://maxlucado.com/read/blog/the-silence-of-saturday/

Poit, J. (March 31, 2013).  Everyday Sunday.  Sermon Notes.  New Hope Community Church.  

Finish Strong

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  II Timothy 4:7

Nearly everyone agrees that II Timothy was Paul’s last epistle before his martyrdom and entrance into the presence of the Lord.  In all the other letters, he expresses hope and confidence that he will be released and will be able to continue his service to the Lord.  But this letter takes on an entirely different tone.  While still teaching and encouraging his young charge, he has come to grips with the reality that he may indeed be home with the Lord soon.  He had endured years of hardship, imprisonment, and frustration.  This of course came after years of traveling, preaching, and seeing the mighty hand of God at work in the lives of many people throughout Asia Minor and Eastern Europe.

Three things that Paul proclaims to Timothy at this point in his life:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  These were not words of pride that Paul spoke about his accomplishments, but rather further instruction to this young pastor.  Here is the example of the way a life is finished well by the grace of God.

I have fought the good fight.  Here Paul surveys his past and sees there was value in what he had done.  Those who are true believers understand Paul’s allusion to the Christian life that he walked as a “fight.”  It is a battle daily, not only with those whom from the outside seek to challenge and topple a Christ-follower, but the battle within as well.  Our frail human nature naturally wants to take the easy road, the simplest path, the one with the least resistance.  We want our effort to be as little as possible and our results still great.   Our sin nature also wages war against us seeking to trip us at every turn and discourage us with its failures.  Often are we tempted to give up, pack it in, let someone else carry the banner the rest of the way.  But the Apostle knew the value of fighting on.  It was “good.”   The value of that for which he labored and fought was worth it.  Sometimes we grow weary of the fight day after day.  We gaze toward our future and see nothing but more battles, more foes to face, and we falter.  The good thing is that we only have to fight today’s battles, not tomorrow’s or next year’s, just today’s.  Paul put one foot in front of the other each day and fought the good fight.  In reality, the only way to experience defeat is to stop fighting.  How are you doing in today’s battle?

I have finished the race.  This may seem obvious that one will finish the race, but it is not always a given.   Runners pull up lame, some even give up before finishing the race due to no chance of winning.  Nothing inspires us more than to watch someone who had no hope of winning the race see it through to the end.   History is rife with stories of athletes who fight through injury and disappointment only to end the race last.  But they finished.  Paul urges Timothy to make sure he finishes the race.  Finishing the race requires commitment, perseverance, and courage.  These are qualities that one builds over a lifetime of finishes.  The way we finish each day, each week, each month, each year, each job, each task, each responsibility builds within us the characteristics we need to complete our lives well.  It is why each year, about this time, I begin to urge and encourage our students to finish the school year strong.  We all grow a little weary during a school year and the temptation to pull up and coast to the end affects student and teacher alike.  However, there is something of great value in not only finishing, but finishing well.  Are you finishing strong?

I have kept the faith.  Having lived through the 60’s and 70’s, I can’t help read this and not think of the common parting greeting of the youth of those decades, “Keep the faith, baby!”  The faith they and Paul referred to was decidedly not the same.  Paul encourages Timothy by his example to maintain his convictions and commitments to the truths that God has revealed.   Time and time again we see pressure from society to move away from the basic moral stance given to us in the Word and many in the church compromise and give in.  To hold firm would mean we are libel to be out of step with our neighbors and we may face malice as a result.  It takes great courage to stay the course and not be swayed.  We see this happening too often in our society today where the culture begins to object to the clear teaching of scripture and soon many in the church follow.  Few, it seems, are those who stand steadfast.  And yet it is a great virtue to be able to say, like Paul, “I have kept the faith.”  I wonder how many who are reading this today could honestly say that they have not compromised in their commitment to the truth revealed by God.  Can you?

I pray that when I draw near to the end of my life on this earth, I will be able to honestly say these things like Paul, not as a testament of my own accomplishments, but of the grace and mercy of God to me on display for others who may come behind me from which to draw courage.   I challenge you to make this your goal as well.

Olympic Lessons Learned

What is it about the Olympics that draws us in and compels us to set our DVRs? Why do we hear the
Olympic theme song and well up with pride for our country and athletes? I don’t think it is the events themselves. In fact, I would venture to guess that most of us have watched little if any ice skating, speed skating, slope style, luge, or curling over the last 2 years. Yet, if you are like our family, the Olympics have become our “go to” show during dinner and in the evenings.

I am struck by the number of life lessons that can be learned in just one evening of Olympic competition. Every evening seems to be filled with stories of sportsmanship, patriotism, teamwork, and discipline.  In a day and age where most of the programs on television are inappropriate for my young children, I love that they can rally behind an event that in my opinion stands for something special. I know that with each Olympics comes some controversy, but there is the opportunity to stand together to cheer on our fellow man. The commercials alone are enough to bring you to tears and well up with pride at the stories of determination and perseverance. 

My girls are getting to see the agony of defeat and the sweet thrill of victory. They are getting to see that sometimes, things aren’t fair. People can work all of their lives chasing a dream that never comes true. They can also spend their lives chasing a dream that is finally realized despite all of the obstacles in their way.  We find ourselves routing for the underdog, crying for the heartbroken, cringing at the crashes, and cheering for the victors. 

And yes, lessons can still be learned from the athletes that don’t display the levels of sportsmanship we would hope to see. 

 

The Blame Gamers – those who try to point the finger and blame the weather, the slope, the other competitors, or anything else they can to help navigate the disappointment. 

The Entitled – those who think they deserve it more than everyone else and aren’t happy with any medal but the gold. 

The Havic Hopefuls – those who secretly (or openly) hope that the other team will fall, get hurt, or make a mistake that will give them the advantage. 

God created each of these athletes with amazing abilities. Whether they are using their gifts for God’s glory or their own, we are reminded that God has called each of us as believers to run the race to receive the prize. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

2 Timothy 2:5
Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

I know I will never win an Olympic medal, but I am fully confident that my prize will be far greater! I may never stand on the podium in front of millions of people and hear the National Anthem play, but I look forward to that amazing day when I will sing with the angels in the presence of my KING!