busyness

and I think you might too.

This weekend in our student ministry we are continuing our current teaching series called “Busy”. Every single one of us from time to time feel the pressure that being busy applies to our lives. Busyness is not just an adult problem. Gone are the days of Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, or Leave it to Beaver. There is not one student that I know that is saying, “Man, I am so bored in life, I just don’t have anything to do.” Busyness can mess with us no matter what our age is. It can be a cancer that spreads, gnawing away on our life’s vital organs.

Do you know what I hate? I hate when people are upset with me. It feels like there is a 100 pound weight on my chest pressing down. I hate the feeling that I get when I know the scales are tipping against me.

One of the myths of busyness that we are going to look at this weekend is that we can make everyone happy as long as we do enough. Abraham Lincoln is credited with the origins of this quote:

You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can not please all of the people all of the time.

Most of us who read that quote will shake our head in agreement only to walk away and keep on trying to please everyone. That is a problem. We can’t do it. Like a tumor, busyness wants to burrow itself deep into your brain and sow the idea that the more you do the more people will; approve of you, like you, love you, want you, need you, etc.

The problem with busyness is that it can keep us from being who God wants us to be and from doing what God wants us to do.

Do you see a problem with this? What can we do to fight busyness? Are you to busy?

~Peter

How many good friends do you really have? How many friends do you have that you would share anything with? Do you have a friend that you can bare your soul to, and feel like you are going to be sincerely understood and accepted?

It’s time for another salt lick round table discussion… Let’s get our thinking caps on… time to think on these things…

Lately I have been thinking about my friends, about the pace of my life, and if you’ve read anything around here, the state of my soul. I have also been reading a book by Doug Fields, “What matters most, when no is better than yes”. The combination of this short book and the other influences in my life have left me wondering about my relationships. So, I wondered if maybe you would want to think about them too! Your relationships that is…

Do you ever have a problem with the pace of your life? Have you found yourself out to many nights a week, leaving yourself no time for the things that matter most?

Fields makes a great point in this statement, “It takes time to go deep with others; but if you’re too busy, you won’t make the time for significant relationships.” He continues… “Many ministry people are busy because they’re trying to become everything to everyone; instead they become nothing to no one.”

One of my favorite quotes right now is from this guy over here at Stuff Christians Like… He wrote it in a very funny piece about blended worship services. He said something to the extent of this, “Yeah, Let’s compromise, that way we both loose!”

I feel like that applies to so many situations. I have found myself saying that to myself over and over again in these past few weeks. “Hmm… (sarcastic undertone included) Yeah let’s compromise Gowesky, that way you loose both things!”

When it comes to relationships, the question is, are you slowing down long enough to make friends, to deepen the relationships that you already have, and to sincerely care for those who you have the privilage of calling your best friend?

I know that there is one friend that I have just pushed out of my schedule, simply because I haven’t kept my schedule in check. It’s entirely my fault! I feel bad! In fact, I know that I owe him a huge apology!

Is there anyone like that in your life?

“When you don’t go deep with others, you’ll live in a very shallow place and ultimately become a shallow person. I’ve watched busy people become so shallow that they don’t even understand how their busyness is impacting them.” -Doug Fields

WOW!!! Am I the only crazy one here? It’s an all Skate… Join in the conversation. What do you think?

~Peter

I have a tumor…

Significant relationships=Significant time