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Misplaced Passion
On Sunday afternoon, some of our church family made the trek to historic McCormack Field in Asheville to watch the Tourists take on the Greenville Drive. It was a hot afternoon, and one of the teams we watched was hot at the plate.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t the Tourists.
“So we’ll root, root, root for the home team—if they don’t win it’s a shame.”
Yes it was, and yes it is. Losing is a shame.
Losing haunts me. I would be a bold-face liar if I told you otherwise. The teams I have supported have frequently let me down. The teams I have played on have failed in grand fashion (My one moment of glory on the intramural football field occurred when I caught a touchdown pass down the sidelines, only to find that I was without my sweatpants when I reached the end zone). The teams I have coached haven’t fared much better.
Now, I am most committed to the teams with which I am affiliated. I suppose that it could be said that I have a high tolerance for losing since I stick with lackluster teams. I tend to be loyal to a fault. I am convinced that my NC State Wolfpack should alter their fight song to include the lines from Emily Dickinson’s famous poem: “Success is counted sweetest by those who ne’er succeed.” That way, when opponents see us celebrating with inordinate amounts of enthusiasm, they will know the origins of our joy.
How do you respond to loss?
Perhaps you’re a fighter and you dig deeper when you experience loss. Maybe you’ve arranged your life in such a way that you are insulated from losing. Or, could it be that failure and loss have chased you into the shadows, convincing you that you will lose again if you try? Loss, I believe, is the best catalyst for revealing one’s true character. (Egad…)
In his book, My Losing Season, the late Pat Conroy suggests that times of disappointment and failure can be exceedingly valuable. Losing can be formative – even redemptive – if we allow it to be so. Ah, but there’s the rub. When we lose, when we are disappointed, when we feel like we have failed, it is tempting to think of ourselves as failures and, by default, incapable of any success with future goals. And when this happens, we surrender.
Of course, there are many ways that we experience loss and it is flatly offensive to equate losses on the baseball diamond--or even at the ballot box—with the loss of life, limb or spirit.
In a telling Biblical observation, it should be noted that God’s narrative in scripture has little commentary on entertainment. Unlike our own cultural obsession with the entertainment industry, the story of Israel and the Gospel of Jesus Christ talk about losses with much greater gravity than playoff runs, rivalry games, or even presidential primaries. I think we’ve thus arrived at our point: Maybe we’re too passionate about the wrong things.
Another way to frame this conversation may be to differentiate between life's disappointments and the experience we have with loss and grief. Perspective can be helpful, here. Our disappointments when things don’t go as we wish are not insignificant—but they should also never be conflated emotionally with the kind of grief people from around the world face each day.
Let’s recall that Jesus can teach us something about disappointment and loss:
1.) Jesus didn’t expect everything to go as he planned. God’s Son didn’t seem shocked when things didn’t go as he might have wanted.
2.) Jesus didn’t allow his disappointment with people to influence his response to them. People disappointed Jesus frequently, yet he still chose to trust and to love them.
3.) Jesus was able to see the grief that others were experiencing and rushed to be present with them. Let’s recall that other people’s mourning changed Jesus’s plans.
4.) Jesus, himself, experienced grief when he lost his good friend Lazarus to death.
5.) God, Himself, experienced loss when He lost his Son, Jesus, to death.
Jim Valvano was on the backside of a season of loss when he anticipated his own death to cancer. Speaking with the authority of a circuit-riding evangelist, he urged his listeners at Reynolds Coliseum in 1993 to never, ever, give up. It would seem that his message was divinely inspired, as God models for us a redemptive response to disappointment and loss.
You see, God hates loss just as we do. That’s why he redeemed Christ’s ultimate loss by resurrecting him from death to newness of life.
Some perspective might do us some good. A resilient spirit with an uplifted chin wouldn’t hurt, either.
For that matter – and since we’re asking for things – neither would a come-from-behind 6-run inning by the Braves for the win.
Ice Cream Fellowship with Pastor Ernesto Bazan
Ernesto Bazan, pastor of our sister church in Holguin, Cuba, is coming to visit us from July 28-August 9. We will be hosting a time of dessert and fellowship in our Mission and Fellowship Center on Sunday, July 31st at 7 PM. Please join us and bring a dessert to share as Pastor Bazan will be sharing about his hometown and church.
Bob Holquist to Present Recital
On Sunday, July 31, Bob will sing a recital as a part of the "Sunday Evenings in Webster" series at the Webster United Methodist Church at 5:30 pm. There is no charge for the program. The concert will have something for everyone, including "Ol' Man River," "Shenandoah," two duets with Carmela Brooks--"The Prayer," and "All I Ask of You," from the Phantom of the Opera. A men's quartet consisting of Jay Coward, Mike Nichols, Dean Kool, and Bob will sing "My Anchor Holds," and "Sweet Beulah Land."
"I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked" will be paired with another sacred favorite. Three German love songs will be sung, as well as two numbers from the Romantic opera repertoire. "Danny Boy" will be followed by humorous selections which are always audience favorites.
Linda Stewart will accompany the program, which will be about an hour long, with a reception on the grounds to follow. All are cordially invited to attend.
Our Summer Explorers Enjoyed Field and Water Day!
A HUGE "Thank You" to the Smithfield First Baptist Church and their awesome youth group for the love and involvement shared among our water themed field day with the campers. What an awesome, and extremely talented group!
Our 1st Explorers really enjoyed your visit, and look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Asheville Tourists Game
We had a great time in Asheville watching the Tourists play! Even though the Tourists lost, our fellowship was rich and sweet.
1st Explorers Shutterfly Account
1st Explorers now has a Shutterfly account where we will be posting photos of our experiences in Summer Camp, After School, and more! You can access these pictures at this link: https://1stexplorers.shutterfly.com/
Making Room for the Devil - Jeff Mathis
When I was a child, I was fascinated by the TV show, ‘The Incredible Hulk.’ You may recall that in that 1970's TV series, the protagonist was a man who had been plagued by a science experiment gone wrong. As a result, whenever Dr. David Banner got angry, his eyes would dilate. His skin would turn a menacing shade of green. His bulging biceps would then rip his shirt to shreds, and a horrible monster would be unleashed. The narrator says it well: “The monster within Dr. Banner was driven by rage.”
“You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” he would say to those who would tempt his temper.
This classic Jekyll and Hyde story is both compelling and revealing. For in truth, we all have a monster that lives within us. It is revealed when we are stressed, anxious, furious or enraged. When this monstrous side of us is revealed, it can do incalculable damage to those we love the most. We become reptilian--reacting instead of responding--striking out at others with little thought to the consequences. We are our worst selves when our anger controls our thoughts and our actions.
Dr. Banner is correct. We are neither likeable, nor lovable when we are fueled by rage.
Anger is not the enemy, just as none of our emotions are innately bad. Our emotional response to the world just is. We become co-opted by our emotions, however, when we begin to identify with our feelings. We may feel anger, or disappointment or disgust, but we are not the embodiment of those emotions. It is a far better response to temper our inner voice and report that we “feel angry,” rather than state that we “are angry.” We are not our emotions. Our emotions do not make up our identities.
Or at least they shouldn’t. For when we become our feelings, we feed the monster that is eager to run free.
Paul gives us good counsel on the issue of anger and rage. In his letter to the church in Ephesus, he tells us, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Feeling anger is not a sin. And that’s a good thing, because there is much to feel angry about. The catch, Paul tells us, is to not sin in our anger.
Anger is a powerful emotion. It can drive us to do good. But it can also be used as a toxin, blinding us to one another and making enemies where we should be neighbors. Anger, as we know, can be manipulated…it can be fueled. People can use us by stoking our anger and directing our inner monsters to hurt others. It is imperative that we guard against this impulse so that we do not allow our righteous anger to prompt a sinful reaction.
So feel anger. Absolutely. Allow the anger that you feel to wash over you. But then let it leave you, as well. Holding your anger inside is just as detrimental to you as it is to unleash it upon others. Find a way to allow your anger to escape. And do so quickly, Paul intones. “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
There is a wry comedy in the ways people channel their anger. My father used to go out after work and split wood. The longer he was out there at the wood pile, the angrier—we assumed—he felt. Apparently, I get angry at inanimate objects (or so my family reports). I let the offending device, hammer or tree stump know that I am angry, and for the most part, that verbal release enables me to move on.
How do you release your anger?
I pray that you do. Because, if you do not find a healthy way to release the anger that builds up inside you, you are “making room for the devil.” Be suspicious of the anger that lurks in your heart after the sun goes down. That anger is not working for good. That monster, that devil, is crafting a strategy to work for evil.
How can I be so sure? Just turn on the evening news.
Vespers at Waterrock Knob
Vespers will be on Wednesday July 20th at 6:00 pm. We will be meeting at Waterrock Knob (located at milepost 451 on the Blue Ridge Parkway). The church will be providing a hot dog supper, a time of devotion for the adults and play time for the kids. Then, we will have a game of ultimate frisbee at 6,000 feet! Come cool off with us!
Introducing Our New Children's Ministry Interns
Hello! It is with great excitement that we officially introduce ourselves as the new ministry interns for the Preschool and Children’s Ministries for the 2016-2017 year here at First Baptist Church of Sylva.
My name is Hannah Harris, and I am a recent alumnus of Western Carolina University. I have a degree in Communication Science & Disorders with a minor in Special Education. However, I have recently decided to pursue an Associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy at Southwestern Community College beginning this fall. Born and raised as a city girl, I quickly fell in love with Western North Carolina and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and decided to become more involved in the local community. As a frequent visitor to the church, I was given an opportunity to work in the nursery where I enjoyed working with, and meeting new friends, within the church. I was pleased to extend my time and my efforts to the After School and Summer Camp ministries following that, where I eventually took on more responsibilities. I am currently serving alongside Kelly Brown as the Assistant Director. I am looking forward to devoting even more of myself to the church as the new Preschool Ministry intern.
My name is Megan Harris, and I am also a recent alumnus of Western Carolina University with a degree in Communication Science & Disorders. I first started my experience with First Baptist through the church nursery and immediately found that the church felt like a family and a second home. I was happy to work with Summer Explorers Camp and the After School Ministry last year, and I currently still work with both ministries. After living in Sylva, and having being a part of First Baptist, I have recently decided to pursue further education at a later time so that I can perform to the best of my ability as the Children’s Ministry Intern.
We know that you will want to join us in thanking our predecessor--Sarah Ogletree--for her time and her work with us this past year. We are sad to see her leave us, but we are excited for her next step in attending the Divinity School at Wake Forest University. Her last Sunday with us will be July 31st.
Beginning Sunday, August 6th, we are excited to start the new year with a Sunday School experience that emphasizes learning about the Bible. Our children will be using a new Sunday School curriculum called Heartshaper, which will provide us the opportunity to learn basic Bible knowledge, highlighting all of the major Bible stories beginning in Genesis and proceeding all the way to Revelation. By the end of your child's time in our children's ministry, we will have gone through the Bible five times!
So please join us on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:30 AM! Encourage your children to bring their Bible so that they can learn how to use it to find God's truth. Additionally, feel free to check out the link for the Heartshaper curriculum (http://heartshaper.com) as it provides a multitude of resources for parents and family to share devotions, memorize scripture and put faith into action.
Last, but not least, Graduation Sunday is around the corner – August 21st. The Sunday School classes will break down as follows: babies (ages birth through 12 months), toddlers (ages 1 to 2), preschool (ages 3-Kindergarten), and school-aged children (grades 1 to 5). All of our rising 1st graders who attend on Sunday, August 21st in worship will receive a Bible. This rite of passage signifies a shift in these rising 1st grader's lives at church. These 1st graders are old enough to be able to participate with our church family throughout worship. Our preschoolers will continue to attend the first half of worship before leaving for Wee Praise following the children’s message. Additionally, we will be developing new activity sheets and exercises for our children to participate in during worship.
Thank you for entrusting us with the Biblical education, activities, and overall care of your children! We look forward to further developing our relationship with your families. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email or text message.
Best Regards,
Hannah Harris & Megan Harris