West Cobb Church / Ken Williams Blog

I said that I would get this post up last week.  Sorry for the delay.  Our family was operating in a whirlwind last week.  We received a call on Tuesday about a foreign exchange student living with us.  He was here by Friday.  (This process normally takes months, but the student was already in the United States and the host organization needed to move him to a new home, so it all moved super fast.)

This week is settling down some and I wanted to get to the questions about the Sabbath.  I’ve received several practical questions about taking a sabbath and I wanted to answer them in the blog.  I hope you will join the discussion this week and share your thoughts on taking a sabbath, too.

1.  I missed the Sunday you talked about the sabbath, but I’m familiar with the concept.  Should I take it on a Saturday or Sunday?

I don’t want to sound arrogant here, but first… I’d recommend that you go listen to my lesson on the Sabbath: Breathe – Inhale / Stress Free Living Begins with the Sabbath.  You can find it at: http://www.westcobbchurch.com/watch There are some key points in the lesson that you’ll need (and in all likelihood haven’t heard before).

But to answer your question, the Sabbath is any 24 hour period of time where you rest, reflect, and do things you enjoy.  I usually take my Sabbath from Friday dinner to Saturday dinner, but sometimes that changes.

2.  My kid’s sports schedule keep me from taking a Sabbath.  What should we do?

Cut back on the sports.  Trust God on this one.  Our children have become HUGE idols in our culture and we’re honoring them over God.  The ‘higher level’ sports leagues (travel ball, etc…) are usually organized by people whose life goals are way out of balance.  I often wonder why we allow dysfunctional people to set the tone of our families???

3.  I’m a stay at home mom with preschoolers.  How do I get a 24 hour period away from them?

You don’t.     You and single parents (with children living in the home) have the hardest time taking a sabbath; yet you still need to do it.  The sabbath takes planning to make it happen.  If you’re married, let your spouse care for the children for a few hours on your sabbath.  Actually, spending time with the children could be part of his sabbath.  Shawna and I often did that – and still do.  On our Sabbath, Shawna hangs out with friends and I hang out with the kids.

Of course, you’ll still change diapers and help with some minor chores on your sabbath.  In your life stage, it’s hard to get 24 continuous hours where you have none of that, but try to minimize it as much as possible.  No laundry.  Minimal cooking (sandwiches vs. a fully cooked meal).  Less organized activities for the children to attend (let them hang out at the house and play).

If you’re a single parent with sole custody of your children, you have it even tougher.  And again, planning is KEY to make this work – but it’s worth it.  Your children will benefit from you taking a sabbath as much as you do.  One option is to find someone to watch your children for a half day and then slow the other half of your sabbath ‘day’ waaaay down (see the paragraph above).  When our children were younger and couldn’t stay by themselves at the house, Shawna and I would trade off babysitting with other parents.  It was a cheap option that gave us time away, too.

4.  I feel guilty about having my husband watch the children on his Sabbath.

This is one of the MANY ways that taking a sabbath puts us face to face with our guilt & fears. First, you’re husband isn’t ‘watching’ the children.  He’s ‘spending time’ with his children.  It’s important for him to spend time with his children and should be part of his sabbath.  Second, take your sabbath even though you feel guilty – and use the ‘Exhaling’ process that we talked about on Aug 15th to work through the guilt.  Taking a sabbath will do you, your marriage, and your kids so much good!

Now… Post your thoughts about Breathing in the comments below.  Looking forward to watching the discussion…

I need your help for our next sermon series, Breathe.  I’m looking for stories that I may use in one of the sermons.  I need people who became believers EVEN THOUGH…
1) you were already living a ‘good, moral life’; OR
2) you grew up believing that God was hard to please; OR
3) you had a difficult life and thought God wasn’t ‘fair’ to you.

Even if you’ve been a believer for a while, post your story in the comments.  Thanks!

- Ken

I read a blog from Fast Company, comparing Apple’s iPhone to Google’s Droid. These two companies are going head to head in marketing their latest phones.  It’s a heated battle and the blog talks about how Google needs to learn from Apple.  You can skip the two videos below, but if you want to fully understand what I’m talking about, watch at least one minute of each video.  As you watch these commercials, ask yourself which commercial you connect with the best, and why.

First, here’s an advertising video from Google:

Now, here’s an advertising video from Apple:

Which commercial did you connect with better???  I had the same answer… Apple.  It’s obvious, isn’t it?  Fast Company’s Blog gives three lessons that Google can learn from Apple.  It’s three lessons that WCC can learn from, too.

1. There’s a difference between good usability and a great experience

Even though something is technically correct, people connect to an experience, not to sterile facts.  When we greet people during the ‘welcome’ time of a worship service, that’s a Google approach.  When we talk to people we don’t know after the service, invite them to our ABS Group, or ask them to join us at Moe’s for lunch… that’s an Apple approach.

2. A tool doesn’t have to be boring

Did you notice that Apple’s video is 2X longer than Google’s???  But I’d choose Apple’s over Google’s any day of the week for one obvious reason.  It’s not boring.  This is why our church leaders work hard to make the truth engaging.  Kids Rock is a great example of leaders who teach truth in engaging and interesting ways.  Truth doesn’t have to be boring.

3. No-one needs a screwdriver

People don’t feel they need tools; they need solutions to problems in their life. People never ‘lack a screwdriver’; instead, they need a screwdriver to hang a painting on the wall.  Apple gets this.  Google doesn’t.  Apple taps into what people want… to be connected.  We need to remember this, too.  People who don’t attend church aren’t waking up in the morning thinking, ‘Wow!  I need to find a church!’ Instead, they’re thinking, ‘I’m lonely and need a friend.’ ‘I’m exhausted and my life is way out of balance.’ ‘My sixth grader needs some good influences in his life.’ That’s why I don’t ask unchurched people, ‘Where do you go to church?’ early in a conversation.

So as we think about the 70′s Date Night, for example, remember that people aren’t staying awake at night asking, ‘I wonder where I can find a great place to take my wife (or girlfriend) on a date with some 70′s music?’ They’re wondering, ‘Where can I find a friend?’ Ask a couple to JOIN YOU for a fun night out.  Bring them on your arm.  They don’t need a screwdriver, but they do need a friend.

Proverbs 17 teaches us, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” It doesn’t say ‘a friend talks about love.’ It says ‘a friend loves.’

Let’s be a church modeled after the authentic Jesus (Apple), not an inauthentic religion (Google).  People don’t need a screwdriver, but they do need a friend.

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.  Join the discussion and post a comment!

Oh… how did you like my parallel between Jesus & Apple?