Simon and Garfunkel penned the lyrics “Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last.” It is probably true with many of us. We have so many things to do, so much on our plate, but are we taking care of what is truly important? For many, there are things they know need to change in their life or relationships but life seems to be going by too fast to slow down and do it. The last few days I have been given multiple examples that if you see a problem then you need to make a change, and there is no more desperate time than the present. Slow the rest of life down, let the world go by you, miss out on wonderful opportunties if need be, and do what is right. It is always easier to repair a leak when you first find it. If you ignore it for awhile, when you go back there is usually a bigger leak and damage that was not there when you first saw the leak. It is the same within our own lives and relationships. Slow down and fix it.

Ways to Slow Down:

• Slow down and wait upon the Lord. No other relationship will have the right foundation or motivation if we don’t keep our priorities with the Lord right.
• Slow down and ask meaningful questions. These are questions that get to the heart of how a person is doing in life and relationships.
• Slow down and listen for meaningful moments and responses. Often times people don’t hit us with a 2×4 and say I need you to care about me, they hint about their pain and needs.
• Slow down and retreat. We need time to re-evaluate and quit moving forward. It use to be clever in some circles to call spiritual retreats, spiritual “advances”. I understand what was trying to be done, but we need retreats. We need times where we step away and take a look at where we are going and what our goals are and if they are right. These don’t have to be big get aways, it may just be an hour or afternoon, but they need to be planned and set apart. They may be in the living room, but they need to be away from the hustle and bustle of life. They also need to end as planned so that we do advance in our walk and spiritual journey. If you cannot end it, then you probably need help beyond yourself and from your pastor or spouse or parents.

We are working this afternoon, trying to add a few new hymns/songs to what we sing here at Edgewood.  This hymn was written for use with the observance of the Lord’s Supper. It is an excellent tune and has wonderful words. Hopefully we will use it sometime later in the year.

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With dad being away most of last month and then my own trip for our anniversary, several things have been left undone, mainly our sermons on the web.  This week I am trying to catch up.  The good news is that I am nearly caught up.  The bad news is that I am not going to be able to do Puritan of the Week this week.   If I get caught up, next week I should be back to normal.  I also hope to get a family video or two up here again this summer, so stay tunes.

A post from the lighter side today.  Last night a couple of us were discussing the need to work out more often. One said that today was the day to start. However, here is one guy that should not have gone to the gym:

How NOT To Work Out

We love you Tyler!

This summer we have focused on helping the teens and children in our church listen to the sermons and take notes.  We have provided outlines and a place for children to draw pictures about what they hear and answer a simple application question.  Today Kara was telling me about her sermon notes from last night’s sermon.  She said, “At the end of the sermon, I was glued to the sermon.  You know how when I watch TV I am glued to the TV, well I was glued to the end of the sermon.  Seriously.”

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 You need to listen clear to the end of this short audio clip.  Here is the whole sermon.  He is dealing with the text where Jesus prayed, “Not My will but Yours.”  Just prior to this he addressed the issue of the Christian Radio voice.

Today is the Official Cow Appreciation day at Chick-fil-a.  Remember you must be fully dressed like a cow to receive your free meal.

Beeke writes:

Byfield was a moderate Puritan and “a nonconformist at heart who conformed for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of the church, disapproving of the contentious zeal of those who make needless rents in the church, and advising his parishioners to conform as long as the required ceremonies and customs were not in opposition to the word of God.”

I am not sure if being a moderate Puritan was right or wrong, but there are some important lessons to be learned from Byfield’s position.  Even great catalysts for change in the church like Martin Luther and John Gresham Machen had such deep respect and love for the church that they remained under bad authority and were forced out rather than jumping ship.  Leaving a church should not be over preference but for the sake of the gospel.   As Byfield taught, even if there are things you don’t like, do them unless they are in opposition to the word of God.  In this we show that we are not our own authority, but are under God’s, Christ’s, and the Church’s.

While Preaching on Luke 22:42 

For Jesus to say, “Not my will but yours,” was for Him to embrace all that he had been prepared for and all that He had told his disciples about.  Listen to Him.  He is not relying on prayer.  We should never rely on prayer.  In reality prayer works nothing!  It is God who achieves in answer to prayer…Our faith is not in prayer, but our faith is in our Father…and He will always give the right thing, at the right time no matter how wrong it may seem in the experience of it.