I have a love-hate relationship with technology. I highly value my computer…until it doesn’t do what I need. I enjoy using videos when I am teaching…until the film won’t play. I treasure my watch…until it tells me I need more exercise today.
I spent the better part of the afternoon preparing for Wednesday night’s homily. I only needed a short lesson, but the hour was quickly approaching and I was behind in my weekly schedule. A preacher’s work is never predictable so that part wasn’t unusual. The challenge came when I fully depended on my laptop for my sermon notes.
I prefer to have studied a little more and have a few more ideas ready and percolating in my head, but on this evening I was so tired that I was planning to lean heavily on my typewritten notes flashing before me on the screen. I was confident that even in my weary state, I could pull this off.
The service began well enough. The music was glorious; the gathering was full. God’s people were ready to worship. I connected my laptop to the TV and began to project the screens for the Scripture. I could relax. From this point on, everything would be word-for-word on the screen…until it wasn’t. I had prepared everything except the laptop battery which was now dead. I hadn’t plugged it in. I had made a silly mistake, and now I had no time to fix it. As I stared at the blank screen, I realized I was going to have to re-engage my brain and preach with no notes.
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.” I love the way The Message phrases this point. 1 Peter 5 shares a strong warning designed to keep us prepared for the worst. The biggest difference here is that this isn’t something as simple as battery failure or preaching without notes. Peter’s book is focusing on a life-death debate – this is a whole different type of love-hate relationship. “Keep your guard up,” he says, “…keep a firm grip on the faith.” Peter is telling me that I have to keep my brain engaged at all times and be ready to share the stories of Jesus with no notes. I have to prepare in advance no matter how busy I become or how exhausted I feel.
The great news is that no matter what difficulty I face, “The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ – eternal and glorious plans they are! – will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”
(1 Peter 5:9-11)
During this Lenten season, my prayer is that you will avoid the silly mistake of running down. Getting caught off guard with no time to fix is like a road paved with good intentions. As we head into the Easter time of eternal and glorious plans, may you remain plugged in, fully charged, and alert with a firm grip on your faith.
Reconnecting,
Pastor Beth
I spent the better part of the afternoon preparing for Wednesday night’s homily. I only needed a short lesson, but the hour was quickly approaching and I was behind in my weekly schedule. A preacher’s work is never predictable so that part wasn’t unusual. The challenge came when I fully depended on my laptop for my sermon notes.
I prefer to have studied a little more and have a few more ideas ready and percolating in my head, but on this evening I was so tired that I was planning to lean heavily on my typewritten notes flashing before me on the screen. I was confident that even in my weary state, I could pull this off.
The service began well enough. The music was glorious; the gathering was full. God’s people were ready to worship. I connected my laptop to the TV and began to project the screens for the Scripture. I could relax. From this point on, everything would be word-for-word on the screen…until it wasn’t. I had prepared everything except the laptop battery which was now dead. I hadn’t plugged it in. I had made a silly mistake, and now I had no time to fix it. As I stared at the blank screen, I realized I was going to have to re-engage my brain and preach with no notes.
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.” I love the way The Message phrases this point. 1 Peter 5 shares a strong warning designed to keep us prepared for the worst. The biggest difference here is that this isn’t something as simple as battery failure or preaching without notes. Peter’s book is focusing on a life-death debate – this is a whole different type of love-hate relationship. “Keep your guard up,” he says, “…keep a firm grip on the faith.” Peter is telling me that I have to keep my brain engaged at all times and be ready to share the stories of Jesus with no notes. I have to prepare in advance no matter how busy I become or how exhausted I feel.
The great news is that no matter what difficulty I face, “The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ – eternal and glorious plans they are! – will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”
(1 Peter 5:9-11)
During this Lenten season, my prayer is that you will avoid the silly mistake of running down. Getting caught off guard with no time to fix is like a road paved with good intentions. As we head into the Easter time of eternal and glorious plans, may you remain plugged in, fully charged, and alert with a firm grip on your faith.
Reconnecting,
Pastor Beth
RSS Feed