Entropy

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,

And attend to your herds; For riches are not forever,

Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 

(Proverbs 27:23–24 NKJV)

We shared this during prayer meeting Wednesday night:

For many years, Max Depree was the CEO of an innovative Fortune 500 company called Herman Miller. Depree has written classic books on leadership and anchored the board of trustees at Fuller Seminary for 40 years. Max is asked to speak a lot about leadership, and at one session somebody asked him what the most difficult thing was that he personally had to work on. This was Max's response: "It's the interception of entropy."

Entropy is a term from physics that has something to do with the second law of thermodynamics and the availability of energy. It speaks to the fact that the universe is winding down. It's the idea that everything that is left to itself has a tendency to deteriorate.

Entropy. It's not only one of the great enemies of the universe; it's one of the great enemies of the human spirit. A person becomes apathetic or complacent or settles for the path of least resistance in some area of life. Dreams die and hopes fade. A terrible thing happens: a person learns they can live with mediocrity.

Entropy is a great enemy of the human spirit, so the writers of the Book of Proverbs have a lot to say about it. One thing they say is that the wise person is always on the lookout for early signs that entropy is setting in. Proverbs 27:23-24 shows us the picture of someone who has livestock and how they need to monitor its condition. Though the words speak of livestock, they are true in any area of life: "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations." Everyday you have to be on the lookout for entropy. Though things might have been okay yesterday, that doesn't mean they stay okay forever. Put any important area of your life on autopilot, and risk entropy that is both subtle and destructive.

Let us not coast into the New Year.  Let us power the engines! Full speed ahead for Jesus!

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Always worth reading this time of year:

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards

With the Lord

Pray for the family and loved ones of our oldest member, Ann Boggess, who went home to be with her Savior this afternoon.  Ann was 98 years old.

Christmas - His Day

Once every five or six years, we have the opportunity at Christmas to worship the newborn King on His birthday.  With the exception of those times where leap year intrudes and messes up the math, Christmas falls on a Sunday about once every five or six years, including this year - 2011.

We will hold our worship service on Christmas, as it would be sad to say we keep Christ in Christmas and then cancel worship of the Christ of Christmas!  But because of the many family obligations of the day, our services will be abbreviated.

No Sunday School hour.
Shortened worship begins at 10:30.

Prayer Request

Church family - please keep our oldest member, Ann Boggess, in prayer tonight. She fell earlier today and is recuperating with a cracked vertebra in her neck. Ann is 98 years old.

Candles and Carols

Candlelight Service

Christmas Eve - December 24th - 7:00 PM

Help Us Help?

First, the Christmas baskets for the needy will be assembled. 6:00 PM Friday evening in Fellowship Hall.

Second, they will be delivered. 1:30 PM Saturday.

Deacons and deaconesses - please help if you can. And anybody else who is able to share a few minutes of your time, join this effort!