Reflections from a Virginia Tech Campus Minister

Here is an email that has been circulating the past week.

It is from Seth Terrell, a Campus Minister at Virginia Tech:

Hello everyone,We now know names of classmates, professors, and friends. Our tears now have been specific ones. Our hearts are still very heavy. Last night at church we all just had to take a deep breath and realize we will move on. Also last night, we rejoice that one of our students gave her life to Jesus and was baptized. She is such a wonderful person. This has definitely been a light in the midst of darkness. Apparently the shooter felt he was standing up for the oppressed and mistreated. As a minister here on campus that really hit me hard. Of course the first thought was 'Why couldn't God have led me to him to show him that Jesus' love is the only thing that can overcome oppression and mistreatment?' or 'God did you lead me to him and I just didn't take the oppurtunity to talk to him about you?' It is questions like these that twist my mind. We now need specific prayers to learn forgiveness. Let me also encourage everyone to realize that we can not 'fix' what has happened. We can only suffer and move on. So please just suffer with us all. As I told students, The sun came up today, we have a new sister in Christ and God's love never fails. Once again I thank you all.
--SETHV

Order of Worship

Welcome
Worship Leader: Carl Wheeler

Here I am to Worship
435 Come Into His Presence (1x)
827 Sweet Hour of Prayer (1,2)

Prayer

365 How Beautiful
314 Beneath the Cross of Jesus (1,3)

Communion

You're Worthy of My Praise
709 How Sweet, How Heavenly (all)
162 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (all)
543 Wonderful Words of Life (1,3)

Lesson: Evan Burdan

Here Is My Heart (2x)

Announcements

Pick up Children

853 When We all Get to Heaven (1,3)

A Friday Thought

"While you are wondering whether you are "cutting" it any longer in your particular ministry or field, God may be producing a harvest in areas you once worked and have long forgotten about.
Don't forget that as you till and water, God is giving the increase whether you recall all you've done to contribute.You are more than okay. You are co-laborers with the Owner!"

Terry Rush

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my sweetheart. She turns ___ today.

She is..... the love of my life, my closest friend, my golf partner, my partner for life, the mother of my boys, a loving and caring person, a patient and content individual, a teacher, my Christian Sister, a beautiful person, the one that makes me laugh and smile.

Have a great birthday!

Remember you are now older than I am until November.

Love,

David

Teachers

One of the most important job responsibilities that a school superintendent has is to hire the most effective classroom teachers that they can find.

I enjoy the process of interviewing over 100 teachers a year and trying to find just the right ones to motivate our kids to become the very best possible students.

Finding those individuals is becoming a very difficult task. We spend many days each year at career fairs, interview days and on college and university campuses trying to find the very best candidates as the teacher shortage increases.

Being a teacher is a wonderful but grueling profession. Being a teacher, you must be an entertainer, motivator, disciplinarian, expert in all curricular areas, negotiator, referee, compassionate, caring, love kids, work 12-15 hours a day and enjoy being ridiculed and second- guessed by patrons, legislators and the media.

I appreciate my teachers in Osage City. They are working harder than they ever have with the requirements of No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress, and the Kansas State Assessment program.

Another group of individuals that work extremely hard are the teachers at Central. They give up their time to instruct our children in the most important life lessons of God’s Word. A big thank you to all those who give so much to help give our children the knowledge of knowing who God is and what He can do for our lives.

Also, thank you Kathy, Sherrill and Sharon for your commitment to our Children’s Ministry program for looking for ways to excite and energize our students in their walk with God.

Each Morning

Each morning, at approximately 5:25 a.m. after Debbie and I have run our three miles, I turn my radio on to 610 Sports out of Kansas City. Then I begin shaving and listening to my favorite morning sports anchor, DA, trash everyone in sports and complain about overpaid coaches.

This morning I heard an interesting interview with one of the KC Royals pitchers, who blew a save opportunity a couple of nights ago, talk about the terrible outing that he experienced. He made the following comments, “Just didn’t have my stuff tonight”, “I thought too much pitching against the Tigers”, “Just had an off night”.

I was thinking about those comments and asking myself, who else can work for a living and go 10-10 on a season and be called a success story, except a KC Royals Baseball Player?

As a Superintendent, I’m expected to have 100% graduation rates, 100% proficiency on state assessments, no students failing courses, 100% highly qualified teachers, balance a $8 million dollar budget, and provide for all the needs of our students in Osage City.

If I fail, there are consequences. If I had 50% rates, I would be classified a failure. I would be fired.

In our spiritual life, I am so glad that we have a Savior that gives us grace in the most needed situations of life. During those failures and out-right sin, we have a Savior that loves us and heals us when were not very lovable.

Why People Leave Church

More people switch churches because their old church wasn't meeting their spiritual needs than any other reason, a recent survey found. The latest findings from the LifeWay Research area of LifeWay Christian Resources give the top 10 reasons adults switch churches. This study builds on LifeWay Research's 2006 study of the formerly churched, which explored the reasons adults stop going to church. The current findings explain why people change churches and how these situations differ from those in which the individual does not resume church attendance at all.
Related Posts:

Here are the top ten reasons they found that people switch churches:
1. The church was not helping me to develop spiritually. (28%)
2. I did not feel engaged or involved in meaningful church work (20%)
3. Church members were judgmental of others (18%)
4. Minister was not a good preacher (16%)
5. Too many changes (16%)
6. Members seemed hypocritical (15%)
7. Church didn’t seem to be a place where God was at work (14%)
8. Church was run by a clique that discouraged involvement (14%)
9. Minister was judgmental of others (14%)
10. Minister and Leadership seemed hypocritical (13%)

Order of Worship

Order of Worship
Sunday, April 22, 2007

Welcome

47 Holy, Holy, Holy (Verse 1 Only)

Holy, Lord

167 Hosanna

155 Highest Place

Prayer

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7, Acts 4:11-12, Revelation 19:16 (217)

318 O Sacred Head

332 Lead Me to Calvary (Verse 1 Only)

Lords Supper

Contribution

659 I Love to Tell The Story (Verse 1 Only)

Ancient Words

Message Evan Burdan

Invitation 513 I Will Sing of My Redeemer (Verse 1 and 3)

Announcements

These are the Days of Elijah

Closing Prayer

Max Lucado Stepping Down as Senior Pastor

Max Lucado Announces He’s Stepping Down as Senior Pastor
The best-selling author of Christian inspiration and advice books has heart problems. He plans to stay at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, but not as pastor. Here's the letter he wrote the church:

March 5, 2007
Dear Oak Hills Family,

I pray this letter finds you in the midst of the greatest day and sweetest season of your life! Our God is indeed faithful.

I’d like to update you on some recent health developments and a resulting decision from the Oak Hills elders. While my spiritual heart is in a wonderful state, my physical heart has developed some irregularities. We have high hopes for complete healing; yet, I need to make some lifestyle adjustments. I have already begun reducing my leadership responsibilities. I still plan to bring the weekend messages, but will opt out of some of the weekly meetings.

My health concerns have also prompted a decision to inaugurate a succession plan. Though I have always known that, at some point my responsibilities would change, I had envisioned this happening years from now. However, these health concerns have moved up the timetable. I wholeheartedly (excuse the pun) feel it is time to identify and invite the next Senior Minister.

Oak Hills needs a healthy, full-time servant in this position. Upon his selection, I will turn my attention to doing more what I love to do the most: writing and preaching.

I have no intention of leaving this great church, but simply altering my role in it. Yes, this is a major step, but one that will benefit the health of us all.

Would you pray for God’s guidance in this process? I know you will. Of course, we will keep you apprised of any developments. Thank you for being a lighthouse to San Antonio. May God bless you richly.

Your brother,
Max Lucado

Hurting People

The shootings at Virginia Tech University yesterday remind us that this world has many hurting individuals.

Drive by shootings in Topeka.

Drug overdose in Wichita.

Child abuse in Overland Park.

Suicide in Salina.

The news is full of stories of hurting people.

What can we do? Make a considerable effort to reach out to those that might need a smile, a hug, a hot cup of coffee. Spend time with those that need the Savior the most!

Be in prayer today for those at Central that are hurting with physical, emotional and spiritual pain.

Abstinence Classes Don't Stop Sex

Study: Abstinence classes don't stop sex
By KEVIN FREKING,
Associated Press

Students who participated in sexual abstinence programs were just as likely to have sex within a few years as those who did not, according to a long-awaited study mandated by Congress.
Also, those who attended the abstinence classes reported having similar numbers of sexual partners as those who did not attend the classes, and they first had sex at about the same age as their control group counterparts — 14 years and nine months, according to Mathematica Policy Research Inc.

The federal government now spends about $176 million annually on abstinence-until-marriage education. Critics have repeatedly said they don't believe the programs are working, and the study will give them reinforcement.

However, Bush administration officials cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions from the study. They said the four programs reviewed — among several hundred across the nation — were some of the very first established after Congress overhauled the nation's welfare laws in 1996.

Officials said one lesson they learned from the study is that the abstinence message should be reinforced in subsequent years to truly affect behavior.

"This report confirms that these interventions are not like vaccines. You can't expect one dose in middle school, or a small dose, to be protective all throughout the youth's high school career," said Harry Wilson, the commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau at the Administration for Children and Families.

For its study, Mathematica looked at students in four abstinence programs around the country as well as peers from the same communities who did not participate in the abstinence programs. The 2,057 youths came from big cities — Miami and Milwaukee — as well as rural communities — Powhatan, Va., and Clarksdale, Miss.

The students who participated in abstinence education did so for one to three years. Their average age was 11 to 12 when they entered the programs back in 1999.

Mathematica then did a follow up survey in late 2005 and early 2006. By that time, the average age was about 16.5. Mathematica found that about half of the abstinence students and about half from the control group reported that they remained abstinent.

"I really do think it's a two-part story. First, there is no evidence that the programs increased the rate of sexual abstinence," said Chris Trenholm, a senior researcher at Mathematica who oversaw the study. "However, the second part of the story that I think is equally important is that we find no evidence that the programs increased the rate of unprotected sex."

Trenholm said his second point of emphasis was important because some critics of abstinence programs have contended that they lead to less frequent use of condoms.

Mathematica's study could have serious implications as Congress considers renewing this summer the block grant program for abstinence education known as Title V. The federal government has authorized up to $50 million annually for the program. Participating states then provide $3 for every $4 they get from the federal government. Eight states decline to take part in the grant program.

Some lawmakers and advocacy groups believe the federal government should use that money for comprehensive sex education, which would include abstinence as a piece of the curriculum.

Suggestion or Editorial Comment:
Moms, Dads, Churches: How about saving millions of US tax dollars and start teaching God's Plan for Sex where it needs to be taught. At home and at Church.

Elders/Deacons Meeting Minutes

April 10, 2007
Elders/Deacons Meeting Minutes, Central Church of Christ, Topeka, KS

In Attendance: Roger Hamm (Presiding), David Carriger, Bill Carriger, Rex Allen, Jerry Myers, Steve Shatto, Joe Todd, Kurt Johnston, Bryan Phillips, Carl Wheeler, David Shinn, E van Burdan

Scripture-Titus 2:11-15…"for now the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men and teaches us..to do good things!"

Prayer-Carl Wheeler

Treasurers Report-Ed McCoy….congregation in very good financial shape with a weekly contribution of 7100.00 so far in 2007

Brief Review of March, 2007 Minutes-Approved

New Business/Round Table/Action Items/Updates…
1) LeAnn Valerius has agreed to be our paid summer youth intern focusing on the Jr/Sr High girls. LeAnn is very well-qualified and will be a great helper to us.
2) Kurt reports the A/C repairs/replacement will be expensive (but necessary with summer coming) and that the warranty will help defray a large amount.
3) David Shinn is grateful for the volunteers to help him with Hearthstone devotionals on Sunday and with communion for our many shut-ins. These include DeLeons, Gentrys, Joe Todd, Dave Jamieson family, Anthony Dreiling family, and others. David also asks for prayers for his mother who is the last stages of her illness.
4) Roger complimented Joe Todd for picking up so many needing a ride to worship, usually with little or no advance notice….thx Joe!!
5) Carl reports Mark Barone from CFS will speak to the teenagers (only) on 22nd; 5th Sunday singing will be at Central on 4/29 with the theme "all for one and One for all"; Carl reports Dave Jamieson doing a great job in the High School class; Carl is scheduling teachers for the adult Wed night classes this summer during VBS; the themes of the adult classes will be the same lesson the children are learning; He will moderate a class for 6 weeks this summer for our graduating and "off to college" seniors on LifeSkills they will need to be on their own; he gave us an update on the health of Heather's Mom
6) Roger reported on the Children's Ministry; much planning toward VBS, service projects, work on the Tree of Knowledge and mucho energy means this part of our Central ministry is flourishing!
7) Gary S had sent a list of needed projects around the building/house on email. Some discussion about prioritizing these items.
8) David reviewed the Ross' family visit last weekend. Lance/Jamie Havens coming this weekend. Lance helped Bill Carriger at Camp Mt. Hermon approx 10 years ago.
9) Jerry passed around a letter from Rod DeVault warning about an innocent appearing book called Conversations with God (and for Teenagers).
10) Rex told us of Helen Owens daughter Brandy's husbands father who died in Wichita; Max and Prisca Dauner will be visiting from France and he will speak July 15 on Sunday morning.
11) Bill C reports the WINGS Neighborhood give-away is 4/28. Our youth group and Scott Smith will pass out flyers in our neighborhood soon to advertise. He was excited about the 380+ in attendance last Sunday.
12) David Carriger encouraged us to remember the Pantry drive this weekend; 13 graduating Seniors mean our room 11 is stretched too thin to have ourSenior night at the building so….the mothers of the graduating Seniors are meeting to explore the best format.

Closing Prayer-Steve Shatto

Respectfully Submitted, Jerry Myers

Humor for a Thursday

You Never Hear in Church.......

• Hey! It's MY turn to sit on the front pew!
• I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes.
• Personally, I find visitation much more enjoyable than golf.
• I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.
• Forget the minimum salary: let's pay our minister so he can live like we do.
• I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before!
• Since we're all here, let's start the worship service early!
• Lets send our minister to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.
• Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!

YC Graduate Killed in Iraq

York College graduate killed in Iraq
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Adam McSween to be laid to rest in York
By Melanie WilkinsonYork News-Times Staff Writer

YORK -- U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam McSween was killed in Iraq on Friday, April 6, where he was serving as a demolitions specialist. McSween was a 2001 York College graduate.
McSween and two others were killed by an IED (improvised explosive device) that hit their humvee, according to college officials. As of press time, the U.S. Department of Defense had not yet issued a formal release regarding the casualties.

His wife, Erin (Hammitt) McSween, is a 2003 graduate of York College. They have two young daughters, Lilly and Gwyneth.

"Adam was just a very likable guy," says Steddon Sikes from the public relations department at the college. "His big smile, mixed with his southern charm, made it easy to be around him. I remember that when he first arrived in York for a leadership camp -- he didn't know a soul except through phone conversations with several of us in the admissions office at the time. I believe an alum had pointed him in our direction. It was a rarity to have a student from Georgia, but Adam wanted to attend a small Christian college where he wouldn't feel out of place.

Nebraska was almost too far away from home; however, he was willing to give it a try . . . especially after he made quick friends during that first visit. He was a bit on the shy side, but he genuinely loved people and seemed to take it in stride that he was the center of attention with his pronounced southern accent. He will be greatly missed."

Eric Eckert, also a 2003 graduate of York College, said McSween was a "really nice guy. And it seemed like he was always involved in everything that was going on at the college.

"Adam was just a really caring person, always compassionate of others," Eckert said. "And it seemed like he was always in a good mood."

Jared Stark, now assistant dean of students at York College, was one of McSween's friends while he attended college here. The two of them met as students at the leadership camp Sikes referred to. Stark said he was contacted by a mutual friend of his and McSween's on Friday -- that's when he learned that his friend had been killed.

"Me and Adam -- we met in the summer of 1997, during the Advance Leadership camp, and we were friends for about three years while we were at York College together. What do people remember most about him? Definitely his smile . . . and the kindness he always showed to others.

"He always talked about going into the military," Stark said. "He was very driven to join, and he went to a lot of training sessions. He even tried to get into the Navy SEALs. He was very willing to serve his country and was committed whole-heartedly to doing so."

"Adam met and married his wife here, and now they have two little girls," said York College president, Dr. Wayne Baker. "And we picked him out of a high school class . . . with every incoming freshman class, we pick a few we feel may be prospective leaders. And he was one of those. We knew early on he was a special guy. We're family, here at York College, and when one of us falls, we all hurt."

Arrangements are being made for several services -- in Oak Harbor, Wash., where his wife and daughters are currently residing; in Valdosta, Ga.; and then finally in York for interment.

"Yes, he will be buried with full military honors at Greenwood Cemetery," said Dr. Baker. "I talked to his wife an hour or so ago, and she told me that when he was first deployed, they sat down, wrote a will and talked about what to do if the worst should happen. They agreed that they would both be buried at Greenwood Cemetery in York. She told me that this is the place they consider home and I was pretty amazed. This was where they met, fell in love and this is the place she said they call home."

"I would hope that . . . well, I can say with confidence that York College will participate in honoring him," Stark said. He didn't know in what capacity the college would be participating in the soldier's funeral, "but I've talked to several people about what we can do."
Dr. Baker said that as far as a date and time for the funeral service -- that information is not yet available.

"She (Erin McSween) said she hasn't heard from the military, as far as when services will be able to be held," Dr. Baker said yesterday afternoon. "They are trying to expedite getting his body out of Iraq and that hasn't happened yet. She's hoping that the service will be able to be held here in the middle or latter part of next week."

If residents would like to send condolences to McSween's wife and family, they may do so at: 2337 B Lark St., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

The Challenge

Easter that was the easy part. Now the challenge - live well, and honor the risen Lord today, and tomorrow, and for as long as He gives us breath.

Central YP/College Class

What a great Sunday! We had 380 in worship on Easter Sunday! Several visitors on a beautiful spring day.

The Young Professional-College Class begins a new study this Sunday,"The Sickness Within."

Is it really what's inside that counts? If so, what's going on inside you? Worry? Doubt? Loneliness? Anxiety? Lust? Sometimes the internal struggles that no one sees are the ones that blind us the most. We'll get the inside story on how God offers hope and strength for overcoming these battles in this new series.

Next Sunday evening the YP/College Class will meet at 6:00 p.m. for our monthly devotional and fellowship at Jean Duncan's. We invite all of our college age and young professionals to a great evening of fun, fellowship and praise.

Also next Sunday we will have another youth minister candidate here. Lance and Jamie Havens from Moore, Oklahoma will be here to visit.

Be in prayer this week for our church family.

Have a great week!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday
April 8, 2007
Order of Worship

“A New Beginning”

Welcome

100 Holy Ground
101 Holy Ground

Prayer

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

195 Behold the Lamb
176 Lamb of God
218 Blessed Jesus

WATCH THE LAMB (VIDEO)

Communion
Contribution

781 Thank You, Lord

Message “A New Beginning” Evan Burdan

Invitation: 383 Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

Announcements

344 Low in the Grave He Lay (All Verses then Chorus)

Closing Prayer

Sunday's Coming

Sunday's Coming
Rejoice in the Miracle of Easter!

It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where he was praying.
But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord.
But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel,silent as a lamb before the slaughter.
But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon.
But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bonesand glass and metal, tearing at his flesh.
But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow.
But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load.It's Friday; but Sunday's coming!

It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them."It's Friday. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying.But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry.But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. At the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying.But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it but Sunday's coming.

And, on that horrible day 2000+ years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of Glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man, died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed.But that was Friday.

Now it's Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn't the only thing that was shaking because now it's Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.Yes, it's Sunday,and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it's Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for "He is not here," the angel says.

He is risen indeed! It's Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave.It's Sunday.And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, was buried and rose again.

All because it's Sunday

Easter Sunday: Every Sunday

The first day of the week brings hope. It remembers the past and it bears witness to the future. It reminds us of the first day, the first of all first days of the week, when God conquered death; it reminds us of Easter Sunday. It also transports us into the future where, by faith, we see death's final overthrow. There, too, in the future we see Easter Sunday. Further, Easter Sunday is already here. It affirms the alreadiness of God's transforming power among his people.

John Mark Hicks

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is a complex process of organizational change that looks at the world 5-10 years ahead. USD 420 Osage City has been fully engaged in this ongoing process over the last several years in curriculum development, academic improvement and school facilities. Strategic planning will be a major initiative for Osage City during the next two to three years. We now are gathering information and data, developing goals and indicators to measure their success, and identifying the most efficient ways to use available resources. We are preparing now to set direction and priorities for USD 420.

Planning and goal setting are essential to keeping a school system (and any organization) moving forward and improving. The focus of every school district should be on teaching and learning; however, the demands of budget, personnel, facilities, and state requirements can easily overwhelm a system. A Strategic Plan is a powerful tool in maintaining focus through the many challenges faced by school systems. An effective Strategic Plan can also improve internal and external communications and lead to increased teamwork as system-wide goals are pursued.

How about congregations? How about a Strategic Plan on saving lost souls in Northeast Kansas? What will it take to be the Church that God desires us to be? Knowing our mission and setting goals for carrying out the mission are extremely important.

Questions that we need to ask ourselves as we look at the future of the Central congregation:

What is positive about Central?
What are the challenges we face as a Church?
What would be five changes that you would like to see immediately occur at Central?
What would be five changes that you would like to see occur in the next 5-10 years?
Where do you see yourself in the mission of the Central Church?
Do you really understand and believe in the mission of Central-The ABC’s?

Busy, Frantic, Overwhelmed

I appreciate Randy Harris’ words in, Like a Shepherd Lead Us:

This is the place to begin any discussion of spirituality for church leaders — a group of people who surely fit the description of being busy, frantic and overwhelmed. Let me say it as clearly as I can: Spirituality cannot be one more task piled on top of people already overburdened with the care of God’s flock. Enough is enough! We are not the Messiah. That job, thankfully, has been taken and done extraordinarily well! You and I must quit acting as if the whole of eternity depends on us doing one more job.

The call of the spiritual life is not to more frantic activity. The spiritual life is rather the call to peace. So, as we come to walk more closely with God, the chaos should recede from our lives. We cease to be under the tyranny of frantic business.

When I visited the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., the leaders repeated a phrase that has haunted me ever since. "If you are overextended, you are under-committed." They take commitment so seriously that they believe one can’t be committed to thirty different things. So if you are overextended, it’s virtually guaranteed that you’re under-committed. I think that is the description of most Christian leaders I know, and it is certainly a description of me. Deeper spirituality is not a matter of doing more stuff.

(Randy Harris, "Spirituality for the Busy, Frantic, and Overwhelmed" in Like a Shepherd Lead Us, edited by David Fleer and Charles Siburt)

God's Power

1 Corinthians 6:14
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

Ephesians 1:18-20
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

Romans 8:28-39
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.