Solve the Small Problem First

Yesterday, I used the example of a splinter and pointed out that sometimes we have problems that seem really small but cause a lot of pain in our lives. Those blasted things get stuck in your finger and ache for days and yet they're usually tiny. In other words, the pain is disproportionate to the problem. Today, I wanted to pick up where I left off because I feel like sometimes the solution isn't as complex as we make it. I think the best strategy for attacking those big looming problems in your life is to solve the small problem first - let me explain:

I've been trying to figure out how to set up all of our Community Group structures into a new database and it has been very overwhelming! It feels a little like trying to kill fruit flies - just when you get most of them in your strike zone a molecule moves in the next room and, poof, their off again. So rather than trying to tackle all of my database woe's I spent some time solving what is comparatively a very small problem.

The problem: How do I view the people in my group?

The solution: There was a mis-spelled word in a link I had created. When it was fixed I gained relief after two weeks of frustration and access into the portion of the database that will finally allow me to view my groups.

As a bonus, I also learned that the people who transferred our data did it more accurately then I thought. By solving the small problem first I was able to see that the bigger issue was smaller then It had originally appeared...

So here's a challenge - If you're heading out to tackle Goliath, pick up some stones on the way... In other words, maybe you can't eliminate all of your debt today, but you can cut up your credit card. Maybe you and your spouse won't be able to go back to the way you loved each other 5 years ago, but you might be able ask forgiveness for how you snapped at her when you walked in from work yesterday. By focusing on the small problem first you might figure out that the issue wasn't actually as big as you thought it was. Or, maybe you won't but either way at least you'll be relieved of that nagging pain that was being caused by that tiny little problem...

Disproportionate Pain

I used to work in construction and part of working in construction is getting hurt. In fact, I can remember times when I would make it through an entire day without hurting myself only to smash my finger in my truck door while I was getting in to go home. I think it's just part of the job. Somewhere in the bylaws of construction work it says, "while working construction it is imperative that at least once a day you must stab yourself, shoot a nail through your fingers or absorb the shock of a piece of 1/4 inch plywood as it flies off a table saw and hits you below the belt, or everything you've built that day will fall apart and you'll have to start from scratch in the morning..."

One of the most frequent wounds I experienced was the infamous splinter. Now I know this is a small wound and shouldn't be making prime time on my blog, but man the pain would just drag on and on for days. Especially, if the sliver of wood happened to be from a piece of treated lumber. I have actually seen grown men - adult, intelligent, experienced men - cut into their finger with a rusty razor blade in order to dig out a tiny splinter because they would rather deal with the pain of the cut then endure the 3 day paralyzing ache of the splinter.

Why does a splinter hurt so bad? Here's my idea - it hurts so bad because the pain is disproportionate to the problem. In other words, if the tip of a Phillip's head drill bit slides off a 3" screw and punctures the finger nail on your index finger (hypothetically now) you expect that to hurt; you brace for the pain. When it sends waves of nausea through your body over the course of the next few days your fine because you expect it. But when you finally pull the fleck of galvanized metal that has been keeping you awake all night out of your finger you're left thinking, "Was that it?" The pain is disproportionate to the problem and therefore seems more painful...

I think you probably have "splinters" in your life; situations that can be easily resolved with a phone call, or by asking forgiveness for your stubborn, pig-headedness. Pull the splinter out - it's causing more pain then it's worth!

Winter Weather

We are currently planning on continuing with all our regularly scheduled Worship Experience times for January 20th.

Providence:
8:30 - 10:00 - 11:30

Butler:
9:45 - 11:15

For updates check back at the website...

Raspberry Juice Stained Shirt

Everyone knows that upstate New York is famous for snow, maple syrup and brilliant Fall leaves; what is less well known, however, is that there are prolific growths of scrumptious wild berries everywhere! Now, after reading the story below you might be tempted to think that I am guilty of the crime that it describes. I should point out, however, that most crimes are crimes of opportunity and if there had not been acres upon acres of juicy temptation lining our yard, I would have been spared this marring blot on my otherwise spotless record...I'm just saying!

When I was about 4 this unfortunate scenario played itself out in my life. Having been dressed in my Sunday best I was left alone to investigate the contents of the wild raspberry bushes in the backyard. Now, I know what you might be thinking - Don't go into the raspberry bushes, you'll stain your nice white shirt. Well, maybe you and your all-knowing-hindsight-is-20-20 self should have been there to help a brother out instead of logging your remarks into the department of the obvious. So there I was with streams of living raspberry juice running down my Sunday shirt and my mom is coming around the corner.

What now? Even as a 4 year old boy, I understood that it's probably not a good idea to irreversibly soil my only white shirt right before church. So as my mom, who has finally found me, asks, "John, have you been eating raspberries?" I am forced to reply in the way that seems least incriminating, "No!?!" Meanwhile everything from my eyebrows to my Velcro shoes are drenched with raspberry juice. Fortunately for me, my mom is a nice person and being only 4, rather than snatch me up and beat the tar out of me, she took me inside and changed my clothes.

Here's my confession - not much has changed! 25 years later I still find myself in situations where I've made a mess of things. Only now, it's not my mom looking for me, but God. When He finally finds me and asks me what happened I'm tempted to respond in much the same way I did when I was 4, "What raspberry juice?" Why do I do that? Why do you do that? God stands ready to forgive us and wash us clean. Shouldn't we approach Him with that mindset?

God is a gracious God. He forgives us even when He would be justified in condemning us. He washes us clean when we've made ourselves filthy. In fact, even in the face of our blatant rejection of His forgiveness He still offers compassion instead of judgement; when we've stained our only white shirt with raspberry juice he stands ready to get us changed and move us forward. Here's some advice from one shirt ruining liar to another, don't do what I did. And, when He comes and asks you about it, tell Him; He already knows anyway.

The Day Has Come!!!

My son started saying Da-Da!

Wow! That's pretty cool!

I wonder if God feels this way (or a really magnified version of this way...) when his children finally run back to Him and call out His name for the first time?

I had a friend tell me one time that I would have a whole new perspective on the Gospel and God's relationship to us when I had kids. He was right!

There is something both unbelievably amazing and utterly mind-numbing about having another person refer to me as Da-Da. I wouldn't trade it for anything and yet I couldn't even if I wanted to. Life is pretty interesting and getting more so every day!

Now before I get too carried away, he also calls the spoon full of mashed peas Da-Da. In fact, I caught him looking at the dog saying Da-Da this morning. But, it's definitely only a matter of time...

Nearly 1K Fun Run '08 - Behind the Race

For months now we have been preparing...

The mental stamina has been excruciating as we have eagerly anticipated the race...

The hype surrounding the Nearly 1k Fun Run has not only produced a monumental race that will undoubtedly draw crowds of devoted fans, it has also expanded the very boundaries of the athletic competition.

In honor of the first annual Nearly 1k Fun Run I have included some pictures of the event in progress. Enjoy!

On a side note: In an unexpected twist of fates the Nearly 1k Fun Run has also produced spin off secret walking clubs of which I am a member but am not at liberty to discuss further.

I hope you have enjoyed these pictures.

(below) was taken after the entire wing of CS4 got sick.

Communication

My son, Jeremiah is beginning to figure out that the noises he makes command various responses from us. For instance, when he makes noises at night he knows that Mom will be in shortly to feed him. When he screams while in the high-chair, however, he is promptly given a spoonful of mashed peas (something he very much enjoys...). And when he is tired of learning how to crawl he has figured out that by frumping his little body onto the carpet and whimpering in an irresistibly adorable manner he will be picked up - and the crawling lesson postponed. He has not figured out how to communicate things like,

"Excuse me dad, I believe that my diaper is dirty and I would really appreciate it if you could take care of that."

Or,

"Yes mom, I understand that every other time you have put me in this high-chair you have always given me enough food, however, the 2.3 second delay between spoonfuls of mashed peas fills me with the fear that I will never eat again so I scream violently and flail my arms in panic."

So here's what I'm beginning to understand about communication from my son - it is something that is developed over time. We all figure out how to communicate on the fly. In a dating relationship things start out awkward. For instance this scenario might play out in your life, if-I-say-that-to-her-she-knows-his-friend-whom-she-might-tell-and-if-his-friend-knew-that-I-thought-that-HE-might-find-out-and-that-would-be-embarrassing! Hopefully, if the relationship develops, you'll leave this crap behind and realize that you wouldn't worry so much about what people thought of you if you knew how seldom they did...

Tonight I'm going to be speaking with all of the group leaders at Elevation about communication. If 2007 focused on structuring for growth, 2008 will be structuring to sustain that growth and one of the key components to sustaining growth will be establishing open and effective ways to communicate!