A weekend of wins and losses
So it was quite a weekend. The Tigers lost. The Lions lost. The Wolverines lost, and what's even worse, the Spartans and Wolverines tied for the prize for the worst dressed teams in college football today! Michigan looked like a bunch of bumble bees and MSU looked like death warmed over in drab olive green and dull burnished bronze. Losing a football game is one thing. Sartorial disaster is really quite unacceptable.
But here in Birmingham there was still plenty to celebrate. In addition to powerful music by four of our choirs, we got to hear from the new children's handbell choir for the first time--what a joy. And there was a palpable sense of the Spirit in the place as we shared in offering our pledges for 2012. One of the things I love about this church is that stewardship is not seen as a burden but as a privilege and the annual campaigns have a history of being joyous celebrations of our faith and faithfulness. On this first day of the campaign we received 398 pledges for a total of over $1,320,000. That's 57% of our goal, so we are well on our way. We expect that folks who were not able to be present yesterday will be turning in their commitments during the next week and we anticipate a successful campaign.
Then there is the Rummage Sale. I love being out on the curb to unload cars and greet folks who are delivering their treasures. I get to meet people I haven't met before and to greet folks I haven't seen in awhile, while inside literally hundreds of volunteers are rolling the carts and sorting the stuff. It's amazing how God can turn our leftovers into an avenue of blessing through our mission program. If you haven't brought in your stuff, there is still time to clean out the closet and drag it in and like the loaves and the fishes, I can promise you that God will multiple it for his glory.
So on a weekend when too many of my teams lost, this one wins! First Church takes the prize and God gets the glory.
Finally, the Time magazine article I quoted yesterday included a note about money and happiness. It said, "Don't ask if money can buy happiness. Of course it can, up to about $75,000. It could be that we are buying the wrong brand of happiness. We are doing things with our money that make us happy in the moment, but that's not always the best strategy for long term well-being. Buying a new car, like eating french fries, can satisfy a craving. But spending on experiences like leisure, travel, friends and loved-ones offers longer-term bang for the buck." I would also add, Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Real happiness is found in investing in something larger than ourselves, in giving and in sharing. That's one thing the Time article missed entirely.
Go Tigers...always another year. Go Lions. Go Wolverines, and yes, I will say Go Spartans when they are not playing Michigan. Go Methodists...the real winners.
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