With an upcoming sermon series about Sabbath and rest, I was thinking ahead to summer and a phrase “Dog days of summer” came to mind. At
least, I think that’s what the phrase is, so I decided to Google it.

“The dog days or dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer… Connected with heat, drought, sudden  thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs and bad luck.” – Wikipedia

Okay, I clearly had no idea what the entirety of that phrase meant… I really thought it was about dogs laying around all day and relaxing. 🙂 Relaxing — that’s where I really wanted to go with this. Typically when we think about summer, there is some hint of resting. The school year takes a break, certain seasons of ministry break for the summer, activities and groups that run with the school year break. There is a natural flow and rhythm to the year—a clear start, a clear finish, and a time of rest. A season for activity and a season for rest.

God has prescribed a season for activity (6 days a week) and a season for rest (1 day). In my church background, I think we viewed the Sabbath more legalistic, like an acceptable list of do’s and don’ts (don’t mow your lawn, don’t work in the fields, do attend church in the morning and evening, do take a nap). Most church cultures have relaxed from this quite a bit, but we still don’t have a great grasp of what/how/when to Sabbath and what God is asking of us. I have questions about the do’s and don’t that are still unresolved in my heart. Questions like..Should my kids still be playing baseball tournaments? Or is that being legalistic? Can I skip church and take the family camping? Or is that legalistic?

Do you have questions as well? I’m kind of excited to dive into this next series and see what kind of answers I can find!

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure to the fullness of Christ.” ~ Ephesians 4:11-13

I watch with envy the body builders whose rippled bodies pump iron in early morning workouts. As I plod along on my treadmill gasping for breath, their muscles bulge. I want to be them but I don’t want to work that hard.

To grow big muscles requires commitment, effort, and persistence. Grit. Actually, success in any endeavor requires grit. According to Angela Duckworth, the author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Persistence, persistence matters most. She makes bold statements like these:

• As much as talent counts, effort counts twice.
• Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.
• Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.
• Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it.
• Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.
• Grit is sticking with your future day in and day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years.

Of course we believe that grit mixed with the good gifts that God gives creates an unstoppable combination. In fact, our model for ministry is to turn loose people with passion and gifts so they can bear the fruit that God desires in our congregation and community.

The top priority of our staff is to equip people to this end. To raise up gifted passionate people, train and empower gifted and passionate people, turn ministry over to gifted and passionate people. We see paid staff primarily as equippers not doers. We are called to “equip God’s people for works of service.”

Cedar Hills is committed over the long haul to follow our passion, use our gifts, and transform the corridor. We have grit. I can’t wait to see what God does next!

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent