Springfield Today – February 23, 2010
Good Moanin’ Springfieldians,
I never really appreciated rest areas along the highway until I really, really needed one. For me, even as a kid, a trip was a mission, and part of the mission was to get to where you’re going with as few stops as possible; and get there as fast as you could. The destination was always important; the trip to the destination never was.
So, when you had to stop for gas, that also became the time when you would get food and take a potty break. It didn’t matter if you weren’t hungry or you didn’t need to use the facilities – you just knew you weren’t going to be stopping for the next 300 miles or so – until the next time you needed gas. So, at every stop you always made sure the car was full, you were full, and you were empty.
Well, I took that philosophy, which was taught to me as a child into my teen years, college years, and adult life. And Teri has spent the last 31 years or so trying to break this philosophical bent within me. For her, the trip to the destination is just as important as the destination. To me, it seems like her philosophy has always been, “Drink as much as you can, so you can stop as often as possible.” I think, I’m not sure, but I think she might think she will find decorating tips if she stops at as many gas station bathrooms as possible. And oh my, she has never met a rest area she didn’t like. We know them all. You’ve probably noticed her picture hanging in most rest areas as being a part of that great rest area family. She has even developed relationships with the people who clean the rest areas, because she has seen them so often. She walks in and they hug her, call her by name, and say, “Oh, Teri it’s so good to see you. Thank you for coming back so quickly.”
And though I’m better now than I was 30 years ago, and I stop much more often than I did back then because I’ve finally accepted the truth of the old saying, “If momma ain’t happy, then nobody’s happy.” I’ve still been known to gripe and complain and whine, and even try to negotiate an extra 15 miles from Teri’s bladder.
But even with all my whining I do have an appreciation for rest areas now, which I didn’t have when I was a young child. I have this appreciation because of something that happened when I was about 20 years old. I really, really needed a rest area, and one happened to be on the highway right when I needed it most.
I was young and in love with Teri, we weren’t married at the time. It was in the summer between college semesters. I was working full time at Rouge Steel working a swing shift. So, one week I’d be on midnights, and the next week I’d work afternoons, and then the next week I’d work days. And then I’d start all over again. It absolutely threw off my sleep patterns. I could never get used to what shift I was on, and I never knew if I was supposed to be sleeping or awake. Somehow I got by on very little sleep that entire summer, and that summer I became convinced God was calling me into the ministry and not working for 43 years at Ford Motor Company like my dad.
This one weekend I decided I’d drive the two hours or so to see the love of my life. I lived in the Detroit area, Teri lived up in Owosso, Michigan. We hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks, and I was absolutely convinced I couldn’t survive if I didn’t see her at least for a few hours. So, I took off for Owosso as soon as work was over and got cleaned up. I spent three or four hours with her that evening, and then about midnight decided I better head for home, because I had to work the next day
I hadn’t been on the expressway all that long when all of a sudden it seemed all the sleep I had missed out on that entire summer finally caught up with me. I mean it hit me like a Mack truck. I had the radio going full blast – it didn’t help. I tried driving with all the windows down and my head sticking out the window. All that did was give me a newly-acquired taste for bugs as they splat into my face. My eyelids were so heavy, I was literally trying to hold them open with one hand while driving with the other hand.
Of course, I wasn’t going to stop – that went against my philosophical bent. The only thing that mattered was the destination. So, in my stubbornness I kept driving. I actually started having hallucinations. I thought I saw people walking out in the road, and the trees started dancing. I started violently shaking my head, trying to stay awake. Nothing, I mean nothing was working.
It was right then I saw a sign that said, “Rest Area – One Mile” and in that moment I decided I was going to go against my philosophical bent and stop. It didn’t matter that the car was full, and I was full, and I was empty. I really needed to stop. And so when I approached that ramp, without a bit of hesitation, I took it, parked the car, laid down, and fell asleep. A short while later I awakened and was able to drive the rest of the way home without any problem.
The rest area made the difference.
God provides us spiritual rest areas; are you going to take advantage of them?
He says, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Are you going to take advantage of that or insist on handling the problem your yourself, because after all that’s your philosophical bent.
He says, “Therefore confess your sins to each one and pray for each other so you may be healed.”(James 5:16) That’s a rest area will you take advantage of it?
He says, Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…” (Hebrews 12:14) That’s a rest area also for some of those areas of dispute you’ve had, will you take advantage of it.
He tells husbands and wives, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) Is that the rest area you’ve been looking for in your marriage?
Isn’t time to take advantage of the rest areas God has provided for you?
DID YOU KNOW????
Onea Krohe, longtime member of our church, is moving today to Beardstown. She’ll be living with her sister, whose husband recently passed away. When we get a new address for Onea we’ll publish it.
This coming Sunday we will receive our Alabaster Offering. This is a love offering we receive twice a year, which 100% goes for the purchase of property and the constructing of buildings of the mission field
Angel Food Ministries pick up day will be February 27th from 11:00-12:00 noon. This is our largest order to date, as this ministry continues to expand.
There is a need for some volunteers for this Friday at Momentum, contact Julie Duncan or Pastor Jay if you can help out.
Work & Witness (Guyana) Trip Update Luncheon will be held immediately following Morning Worship Celebration on Sunday, March 14th. Anyone who is interested in going on this mission trip as well as being a prayer partner, help with financing the building materials, etc., is encouraged to attend this luncheon.
Ladies Craft Connection – Saturday, March 6th, from 5:00-11:00 p.m. Bring a snack, a friend, and your favorite hobby/craft for a fun time.. Stay as long as you’d like.
Easter Services: Good Friday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Early Service with other churches at 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast at 9:00 a.m.
Our Worship Gathering at 10:30 a.m.
Coffeehouse Comedy is coming – April 24 and 25.
Lee School Boxes are in the foyer for your convenience. One is for school supplies (the usual) and Treasure Box items (new or gently used Beanie Babies, small toys, books, stickers, etc.) The other box is for soup labels and box tops. Also, any gently used or new outerwear for those in kindergarten through age 20 is being accepted.
Anyone interested in being baptized on Easter Sunday, April 4th, contact Pastor Fred.
Did you know that you can go online to our website (www.Springfieldfirst.com) and listen to the Sunday sermons? Just click on the sermon you want to hear…it’s that easy! You are now able to subscribe through I-tunes and receive the sermons.
Spiritual Leadership for Men- All men are invited to be a part of a Small Group meeting on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. They will be meeting this Thursday.
Wednesday Night Connection dinner is from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The menu is: Spaghetti with Meat sauce, Salad, garlic Bread, and Dessert. Our Prayer Gathering, Velocity (teens) And Caravan will all be taking place from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
This coming Sunday, February 28th, our wonderful nursery volunteers are Susie Jaynes with the infants, and Debi Adams and Logan Sarginson with the toddlers, and our floater will be Elissa Marsh. Thank you!
Crystal and Dan Trigg have friends who are serving the Lord in the Middle East and are in need of old laptop computers. They are ministering to those in a country that is 99.9% Muslim, and are putting themselves in harm doing this. If you have a computer to donate, bring it to the church office and the Triggs will make sure they are boxed up and mailed off.
The Pursuit Readings This Coming Week:
Monday 2-22 I Samuel 25:1-9
Tuesday 2-23 I Samuel 25:10-17
Wednesday 2-24 I Samuel 25:18-31
Thursday 2-25 I Samuel 25:32-44
Friday 2-26 I Samuel 26:1-12
Saturday 2-27 I Samuel 26:13-25
Sunday 2-28 I Samuel 25:2-3
Verse to Memorize this week: A Servant’s Heart
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:22-24 NIV)
CHILDREN MINISTRIES
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – March 24th, 6:30 p.m.
TEEN MINISTRY
There will be Momentum February 26th. The sport is soccer.
District Celebrate Life will be March 19-20 see Pastor Jay for all the details. Deadline is Feb. 24th (tomorrow) to register.
Those interested in the District Teen Camp see Pastor Jay for all the details.
The Haitian Relief Effort – to make a contribution go to www.ncm.org (This is the Nazarene Compassionate Ministry website), and click on Contribute to fill out the form. If you prefer to write a check, make it out to “General Treasurer”, list Caribbean Response ACM 1204 and Springfield First Church in the memo area, and send it to Global Treasury Services, P.O. Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184
PRAYER REQUESTS……….
Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin
Julie Duncan’s mom (lung cancer) and dad
Kay Gottrich
Norm Castleman
Dorcas Chandra
Tricia Hofman
Aquarius Daily (possible heart problems)
