WEBVTT

00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:04.320
<v SPEAKER_00>Hey everyone, and welcome to the brand new Burnett Church podcast.

00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:09.119
<v SPEAKER_00>My name is Tim, and I'm your host and the pastor of Burnett Church.

00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:26.800
<v SPEAKER_00>Today's podcast is the audio from part one of our series called Reactions Speak Louder, in which we start to unpack how our reactions affect the world around us and also say something about our relationship to ourselves and to Jesus as well.

00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:28.800
<v SPEAKER_00>We hope you enjoy the episode.

00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.520
<v SPEAKER_00>Last week we started a new series called Bend, Don't Break.

00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:38.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And we talked about how life has a weight.

00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:42.479
<v SPEAKER_00>And it doesn't matter what life you choose, life has a weight.

00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:45.439
<v SPEAKER_00>There's always going to be a weight to life.

00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:56.799
<v SPEAKER_00>But Jesus invites us to learn a new and better way to manage the weight of the life that we're living.

00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:00.479
<v SPEAKER_00>And last week we talked about something that probably many of you are familiar with.

00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:13.760
<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, you're practicing an evolution of it right now by being here this morning, this idea of Sabbath that was, you know, instituted and introduced really early on in the Jewish scriptures.

00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:18.560
<v SPEAKER_00>Really early on in the first stories we have about humanity's interaction with God.

00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:27.280
<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, we traced the idea all the way back to the creation story that says God rested after creation.

00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:29.599
<v SPEAKER_00>And that was a positive thing.

00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:31.920
<v SPEAKER_00>And the challenge was really simple.

00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:42.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't wait until September when everything is going to start happening again to plan to rest.

00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:47.439
<v SPEAKER_00>Plan your rest before you fill in your calendar.

00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:58.719
<v SPEAKER_00>Now, some of you are keen and you're eager, and I know that you've already filled in your calendar, but it's not too late to erase some things and find times to rest.

00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:08.719
<v SPEAKER_00>The problem, I think, that we want to tackle this morning is that everything still wants your attention.

00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:14.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Let's say you you listen to a message about Sabbath and you go home and you go, I need to rest more.

00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:21.759
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay, so you've made an internal acknowledgement and maybe a bit of a decision, but the world doesn't care.

00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:29.120
<v SPEAKER_00>The things that were fighting for your attention yesterday are still fighting for your attention tomorrow.

00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:52.080
<v SPEAKER_00>And so while we can decide that rest matters, we can decide that our marriages matter, we can decide that our kids matter, we can decide that our relationship with God matters, our health matters, being present to people matters, all these things matter, but saying something matters doesn't mean it actually gets your attention.

00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:53.120
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:02:53.439 --> 00:03:12.080
<v SPEAKER_00>Like, does anybody else have this experience when you start correcting your kids on something that they didn't do properly, and you give them some advice on how they could do it properly, and they start saying, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:14.560
<v SPEAKER_00>Does anybody have that?

00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:20.240
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm like, but you don't know because you didn't do it.

00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:21.199
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:26.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Like knowing and doing should be the same thing, right?

00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:32.000
<v SPEAKER_00>You can't say, I know, I know, I know, and then I didn't, I didn't, I didn't.

00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:32.879
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:44.479
<v SPEAKER_00>And so you can't say, I'm going to rest, I'm going to rest, I'm going to rest, and have your attention stolen in other directions, right?

00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:59.360
<v SPEAKER_00>You don't actually know you need to rest until you decide not just to strike off something in your calendar, but make that the most important thing in the time slot that you gave it.

00:03:59.520 --> 00:03:59.840
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:04.479
<v SPEAKER_00>Because you can take a day off of work, but think about work all day.

00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:11.360
<v SPEAKER_00>You can sit at dinner with your family, but mentally live somewhere else.

00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.040
<v SPEAKER_00>I do this sometimes, so this isn't calling anybody out.

00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.560
<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, I'm going to turn around while I say this.

00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:20.959
<v SPEAKER_00>You can be in church while checking Facebook.

00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:34.639
<v SPEAKER_00>You can be with somebody you love and barely acknowledge their presence.

00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:43.120
<v SPEAKER_00>Rest, so, is not simply stopping activity.

00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.560
<v SPEAKER_00>Rest requires becoming present.

00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:53.680
<v SPEAKER_00>And presence requires our attention.

00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:01.600
<v SPEAKER_00>We talk a lot about time being our most valuable resource.

00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:04.560
<v SPEAKER_00>And time matters, right?

00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:08.639
<v SPEAKER_00>We all know this, it's limited, and once it's gone, you'll never get it back.

00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:16.000
<v SPEAKER_00>But there is another limited resource that we give away every day.

00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:17.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Our attention.

00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:25.360
<v SPEAKER_00>You can give something your time, but not give it your attention.

00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:32.480
<v SPEAKER_00>You can decide to spend an hour with your kids, but spend the whole time on your phone while they play.

00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:38.959
<v SPEAKER_00>Conversation with your spouse while mentally preparing for tomorrow's business meeting.

00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:52.000
<v SPEAKER_00>You can have a Sabbath, and instead of actually spending time with God or with those you love, scroll, check the scores, read the news, and think about Monday all day.

00:05:52.879 --> 00:06:00.720
<v SPEAKER_00>You can decide you want to pray and not actually hold your attention on the one you're trying to have a conversation with.

00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:09.040
<v SPEAKER_00>And so I think there's a reason why we use the phrase pay attention.

00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:14.079
<v SPEAKER_00>Attention actually costs us something.

00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:29.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Attention is so important in our life as we try to focus on what God's called us to, as we try to become the people that God wants us to be, is that we try to grow closer to God.

00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:32.959
<v SPEAKER_00>I don't know if you're familiar with Mary Oliver.

00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:38.639
<v SPEAKER_00>She's a celebrated American poet from the early part of the 1900s.

00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:44.160
<v SPEAKER_00>She said this: attention is the beginning of devotion.

00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:53.920
<v SPEAKER_00>And so if our intention is to be devoted to Jesus, Jesus needs to get our attention.

00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:59.279
<v SPEAKER_00>The things that he calls us to need to get our attention.

00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:10.800
<v SPEAKER_00>Because while we often we often define our devotion by our, and I know this is a lot of words that rhyme, so try and follow me, okay?

00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.759
<v SPEAKER_00>Our devotion by our intentions, right?

00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.079
<v SPEAKER_00>So you can say I love my family.

00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:18.480
<v SPEAKER_00>You can say Jesus is important to me.

00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.319
<v SPEAKER_00>My marriage matters, my kids matter more than my job.

00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:23.920
<v SPEAKER_00>I want to be healthy.

00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:29.600
<v SPEAKER_00>Those are all declarations in one sense of our intention for our life.

00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:39.199
<v SPEAKER_00>But what if, just for a moment, we measured our devotion by attention instead of intention.

00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:48.560
<v SPEAKER_00>Because our attention tells the truth about our priorities in a way our intentions sometimes do not.

00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:56.800
<v SPEAKER_00>And so if we have to pay attention, we should also recognize that talk is cheap.

00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:58.399
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.560
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't just ask me what I think matters.

00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:06.240
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't just let me say what I think matters, right?

00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:13.120
<v SPEAKER_00>Measure what I value by what I do.

00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:24.399
<v SPEAKER_00>Show me that what repeatedly gets my attention, gets your attention, is the thing that we actually care about.

00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:28.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And understand, I'm not trying to make anybody feel bad.

00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:33.039
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm not trying to find shame for anyone, because we all have a step to take.

00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:36.240
<v SPEAKER_00>We all have a gap to fill.

00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:42.480
<v SPEAKER_00>What I'm hoping to do this morning is to give you awareness.

00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:49.360
<v SPEAKER_00>An awareness that can actually help to form us into the people that God imagines for us to be.

00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.759
<v SPEAKER_00>What gets our attention gets our devotion.

00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.039
<v SPEAKER_00>And what gets your devotion is going to determine who you become.

00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:11.039
<v SPEAKER_00>The hard part is that there are countless things, there are countless things competing for you, for your affection, attention.

00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:14.559
<v SPEAKER_00>But most of them fall into two broad categories.

00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.720
<v SPEAKER_00>The first would be the urgent.

00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:18.879
<v SPEAKER_00>I mentioned this a little bit last week.

00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:25.120
<v SPEAKER_00>I read a pamphlet years and years and years ago that I'll never forget, and I'll just never forget the title because I think it's so important.

00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:28.080
<v SPEAKER_00>The pamphlet is called The Tyranny of the Urgent.

00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:33.120
<v SPEAKER_00>Did you ever notice how people want to recruit you into their urgency?

00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:34.000
<v unknown>Right?

00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:38.240
<v SPEAKER_00>They come to you and they have an urgency and they they want you to help them fix it.

00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.279
<v SPEAKER_00>They want their emergency to be your emergency.

00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:43.360
<v SPEAKER_00>Happens all the time, right?

00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Doesn't it?

00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:44.879
<v SPEAKER_00>Happens at work.

00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Somebody comes to you and they have a problem and they're like, can you help me fix this?

00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.639
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm like, I was working on something else.

00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:52.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Can you fix your thing?

00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:57.440
<v SPEAKER_00>You get the email that comes in that wants you to drop everything you're doing.

00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:00.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Your kids, you know.

00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:07.600
<v SPEAKER_00>Dad, I can't find the USB C microcable that I need to plug in my ancient piece of technology I haven't used for 17 years.

00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:10.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Seems like I could wait, son.

00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:13.039
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm actually at work and I'm doing something.

00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:19.360
<v SPEAKER_00>Um your appointments, your bills, your laundry, your practices, sometimes even church.

00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:24.000
<v SPEAKER_00>All of our responsibilities, they can all express a sense of urgency.

00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.639
<v SPEAKER_00>And the urgent tends to get our attention.

00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:30.799
<v SPEAKER_00>That's why people come to you in urgency, is because they they want your attention.

00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:35.039
<v SPEAKER_00>The other thing that, of course, seals our attention is the interesting, right?

00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Just what you're interested in.

00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:51.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Phones, socials, the news, sports, YouTube, Netflix, that thing that you need to binge because your friend told you to, politics, other people's lives.

00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.519
<v SPEAKER_00>And and here's the problem.

00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:55.759
<v SPEAKER_00>None of those things.

00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.919
<v SPEAKER_00>None of those things are bad.

00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:03.120
<v SPEAKER_00>I think it's probably a good idea for you to be somewhat informed about the political situation of the world that we live in.

00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:03.600
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:09.039
<v SPEAKER_00>I think it's probably a fine thing if you're interested in sports.

00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.120
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, I keep getting memes that are coming up.

00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:16.320
<v SPEAKER_00>It's about 30 days from that time of year when my entire mood is going to be determined by the hockey score.

00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:17.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.279
<v SPEAKER_00>It's okay.

00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.480
<v SPEAKER_00>I have a problem.

00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.679
<v SPEAKER_00>I find it interesting.

00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.000
<v SPEAKER_00>You might have something else, right?

00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.600
<v SPEAKER_00>It's not a bad thing.

00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:30.639
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm not telling you to go home and stop being a Canucks fan, although I might recommend that.

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:40.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Um I'm telling you to not let it have so much of your life that you don't have room for other things.

00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:40.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.159
<v SPEAKER_00>Some of your distractions are actually necessary.

00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Some are useful, some are fun, and some are genuinely important.

00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:53.279
<v SPEAKER_00>A distraction isn't necessarily bad.

00:11:53.519 --> 00:12:01.600
<v SPEAKER_00>It's just something that's receiving attention that belongs somewhere else, somewhere better.

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:16.639
<v SPEAKER_00>So the right question probably isn't just what is distracting me, but what am I being distracted from that I'm supposed to be devoted to?

00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:24.879
<v SPEAKER_00>Luke chapter 10 gives us a famous story.

00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:26.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Many of you have heard it before.

00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:31.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Even if you're not a church-going person, you might be familiar with the names Mary and Martha.

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:35.919
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, these are two characters that come back again and again and again in our collective storytelling.

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:36.639
<v SPEAKER_00>This is what it says.

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:41.360
<v SPEAKER_00>It's Luke chapter 10, starting at verse 38, if you want to follow along.

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:53.519
<v SPEAKER_00>As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, on their way from one place to another, they came to a village where a woman named Martha opened their home to them.

00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:01.759
<v SPEAKER_00>She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:10.080
<v SPEAKER_00>But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Have you ever had this experience?

00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:16.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Have you ever gone to somebody's house to be with them?

00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:28.480
<v SPEAKER_00>And they were so eager to host you well that you actually got a few words together over the course of the evening that you were there.

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.360
<v SPEAKER_00>I've had that experience before.

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:34.159
<v SPEAKER_00>I've done that to people before.

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:41.840
<v SPEAKER_00>In this story, Mary and Martha have two very different postures when it comes to Jesus.

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:46.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet.

00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.600
<v SPEAKER_00>It's the posture of a disciple.

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.559
<v SPEAKER_00>This is a word that we use a lot because the Bible uses it.

00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:00.080
<v SPEAKER_00>It's if you're not quite sure what that means, it's just a student and a teacher, right?

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.399
<v SPEAKER_00>A disciple is a student of a teacher.

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:06.879
<v SPEAKER_00>And so Mary is taking class from Jesus.

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.360
<v SPEAKER_00>She's sitting in the front row.

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:15.360
<v SPEAKER_00>She's got her gaze, her attention fixed on Jesus.

00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:19.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Martha, on the other hand, is doing all the work.

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:29.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Preparing the meal, practicing hospitality, doing what you might expect a really good host to do.

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:35.840
<v SPEAKER_00>Martha is not doing anything wrong.

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.799
<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, she's serving Jesus.

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:51.759
<v SPEAKER_00>And I know you've heard dozens of messages, if you're a church-going person, about our need to serve Jesus.

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:55.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Here's the problem in this particular moment.

00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:02.960
<v SPEAKER_00>She is distracted from Jesus by doing something for Jesus.

00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:06.240
<v SPEAKER_00>That should get our attention.

00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:15.519
<v SPEAKER_00>It gets my attention because I think everybody who does a job similar to mine or Melissa's or Beth's can fall into this trap.

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:16.960
<v SPEAKER_00>But I don't think we're alone.

00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:27.679
<v SPEAKER_00>I just think we're especially susceptible to this for exchanging life with Jesus for things that we do for Jesus.

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:32.480
<v SPEAKER_00>You can actually serve Jesus but not be with Jesus.

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:41.840
<v SPEAKER_00>You can do the work of a follower of Jesus, raising Christian kids, and become too busy to actually enjoy them.

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:53.200
<v SPEAKER_00>We can volunteer, lead, prepare, and accomplish good things while becoming less connected to the one in whose name we do all those things.

00:15:54.240 --> 00:16:00.240
<v SPEAKER_00>And by the way, just to insert a little explanation, because we've heard this a few times.

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:05.840
<v SPEAKER_00>A couple of months ago I mentioned that one of our aspirations here is to have a second service.

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:10.080
<v SPEAKER_00>And people kind of look around and go, well, there's lots of empty chairs.

00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.840
<v SPEAKER_00>Why do we need a second service?

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.519
<v SPEAKER_00>We can fit a lot more people in here.

00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.080
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:14.639
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.399
<v SPEAKER_00>We can fit a lot more people in here right now?

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Yes?

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay?

00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.639
<v SPEAKER_00>I know it's a trap.

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.399
<v SPEAKER_00>You don't want to answer, that's fine.

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Here's why I think we need it.

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:30.080
<v SPEAKER_00>Because we have a lot of people who are giving sacrificially in other areas of the building, like our kids' ministry, that don't get to be in here.

00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:31.360
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:38.639
<v SPEAKER_00>And so their discipleship suffers because they're serving and sacrificing for the kids.

00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:46.080
<v SPEAKER_00>So one of the things that we're really excited about when our time comes to launch a second service, we're going to do it with care and caution.

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.879
<v SPEAKER_00>We've got metrics.

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.840
<v SPEAKER_00>It's not just going to be something we do because we said we're going to do it.

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:56.879
<v SPEAKER_00>But when we do it, the beauty is we'll be able to offer people to, hey, you could serve at one service and attend another one.

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.159
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:04.079
<v SPEAKER_00>You could get the discipleship you need and that you're looking for and still bless the kids.

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Be a beautiful thing.

00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:06.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay.

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.039
<v SPEAKER_00>It's my little vision moment for the morning.

00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:09.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Keep going.

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:19.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Last week we heard Jesus say in Matthew 11 that we could take his yoke upon us and learn from him.

00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:26.880
<v SPEAKER_00>This week, Mary is showing what learn from me often requires.

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Our full attention.

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:34.079
<v SPEAKER_00>She is literally sitting at the feet of Jesus.

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Learning the way of Jesus.

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.920
<v SPEAKER_00>From Jesus.

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:50.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And as you might expect, Martha's a little bit agitated by Mary's sitting and not doing.

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:52.880
<v SPEAKER_00>She says to Jesus, Lord, don't you care?

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:57.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by himself?

00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Tell her to help me.

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:05.920
<v SPEAKER_00>In my experience, if you have brothers and sisters, you have had this experience.

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:11.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Mom, he's not doing anything, and I'm doing all the work.

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.920
<v SPEAKER_00>You know this feeling, right?

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:20.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Now, he probably was just playing video games and not sitting at the feet of Jesus, but the feeling is the same, right?

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:26.400
<v SPEAKER_00>The distraction in the world of Mary and Martha had become visible, right?

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Martha's not merely busy.

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:32.720
<v SPEAKER_00>She's worried, she's become upset, she's agitated.

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:42.400
<v SPEAKER_00>And sometimes outward agitation tells us something about what's happening on the inside.

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:53.279
<v SPEAKER_00>And so Jesus, I think very patiently, very kindly, says Martha.

00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:04.319
<v SPEAKER_00>Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed.

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:08.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Or indeed, just one.

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Mary has chosen what's better.

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:24.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Notice what Jesus didn't say Martha didn't choose wrongly while Mary chose right.

00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:30.960
<v SPEAKER_00>He said, Mary has chosen better.

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.640
<v SPEAKER_00>And that's that's the dilemma that we face.

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.079
<v SPEAKER_00>That's the dilemma of distraction.

00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:49.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Even good things can distract you from the best thing.

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:57.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes another hour of work can be a good thing.

00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:01.759
<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes another sport for your kids can be a good thing.

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:05.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes watching the game is good.

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh man, I hope so.

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Being informed is good.

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.240
<v SPEAKER_00>Helping is good.

00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:27.359
<v SPEAKER_00>But a good thing in the wrong place, sometimes for the wrong reasons, can become destructive because it pushes out something better.

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:39.759
<v SPEAKER_00>See, our priorities are often less about what's good and bad, and more about what's good and better.

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.480
<v SPEAKER_00>So I'm gonna ask you to do something with me this morning.

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:48.240
<v SPEAKER_00>I just want to create a little bit of space for us to think about this.

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:52.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Instead of simply walking out of here and asking yourself, am I busy?

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Or am I on my phone too much?

00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.880
<v SPEAKER_00>I'd like to ask you to ask a deeper set of questions.

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:06.400
<v SPEAKER_00>So right now, if if if to focus, to put your attention on something, it's helpful for you to close your eyes.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.920
<v SPEAKER_00>You can go ahead and do that.

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.000
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm gonna ask you a few questions.

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.720
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm just gonna ask you to think about what what's the first thing?

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.960
<v SPEAKER_00>What's the first thing that comes to mind?

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.920
<v SPEAKER_00>What gets the best part of my day?

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.519
<v SPEAKER_00>How do I spend my free time?

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:38.720
<v SPEAKER_00>What do I automatically reach for?

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:49.759
<v SPEAKER_00>What occupies my mind when I'm supposed to be resting?

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Here's a number of options under one category.

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:25.200
<v SPEAKER_00>My physically present, but mentally absent at home with my spouse, my friends, my children, with Jesus.

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:33.599
<v SPEAKER_00>See, somebody is getting your leftovers.

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:41.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Somebody is getting the parts of you that are left when you've given yourself to the things that are most important to you.

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:53.920
<v SPEAKER_00>When work and commitments, screen time and responsibilities, and taxi services and coaching and all of those things have finished.

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Somebody gets the leftovers.

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:05.680
<v SPEAKER_00>There's probably somebody in your life that deserves better than leftovers.

00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:11.680
<v SPEAKER_00>What good thing has moved into the wrong position?

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:20.960
<v SPEAKER_00>What are you distracted from that you should be just devoted to?

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:35.759
<v SPEAKER_00>When I was thinking about this, I thought about uh I thought about when my kids were young.

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:43.759
<v SPEAKER_00>Um I almost wish that I had been born a few years earlier.

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:47.519
<v SPEAKER_00>I got my first iPhone when in 2009.

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:52.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Layla was a year old.

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.119
<v SPEAKER_00>The twins hadn't come along yet.

00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:03.279
<v SPEAKER_00>And I'm just I'm one of those people that loves the dopamine hit from his phone.

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:03.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay?

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:12.079
<v SPEAKER_00>When I say things about phones, you should know that I'm talking to myself more than I'm talking to you.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:17.440
<v SPEAKER_00>So I get my first iPhone in 2009.

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:20.079
<v SPEAKER_00>We were living in Toronto.

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:29.200
<v SPEAKER_00>We lived right across the road, several times right across the road from cool parks that we used to take the kids to.

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:33.920
<v SPEAKER_00>And I can remember like it was yesterday.

00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:35.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Unfortunately it wasn't.

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:54.079
<v SPEAKER_00>I can remember like it was yesterday, going to the park, setting the kids up to play, sitting at a picnic table and pulling out my phone and giving my attention to the phone while the kids let the playground occupy them.

00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:13.359
<v SPEAKER_00>And now that my kids are eighteen and fourteen, I wish I had spent less time on my phone and more time with him.

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:25.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Your attention is worth protecting.

00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.519
<v SPEAKER_00>You need to protect it.

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:35.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Someday, someday we all realize that we've only got so much to give.

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.240
<v SPEAKER_00>Do we give it?

00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.279
<v SPEAKER_00>What?

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:52.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Because if we don't decide what is going to get our attention, someone or something else will.

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:58.480
<v SPEAKER_00>So here's what I think you need to do.

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:05.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Three things that can save your attention for the things that really matter.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:08.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Number one, decide what matters.

00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:10.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Set your priorities.

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:14.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't float through your extra time.

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:17.200
<v SPEAKER_00>I know you have things that you need to do.

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.799
<v SPEAKER_00>I know we all have jobs.

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:24.799
<v SPEAKER_00>I know we all need to give our attention to somebody else's agenda from time to time.

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:36.880
<v SPEAKER_00>But in this next season, what would change if you decided three things that you're going to give your attention to when you get to make the decision?

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:39.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's your relationship with God.

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's your marriage.

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.160
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's your kids.

00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's your spouse.

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's your health.

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:49.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's a relationship that's outside of your immediate family.

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:58.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's a responsibility that only you can fulfill in this next season.

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:03.599
<v SPEAKER_00>The point is not that nothing but God matters in your life.

00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.519
<v SPEAKER_00>It's not what I'm saying.

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:11.359
<v SPEAKER_00>But I'm saying that God has things that He would want you to prioritize.

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.599
<v SPEAKER_00>Step two.

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.400
<v SPEAKER_00>What is the thing?

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.240
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, we're getting smart these days.

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:25.440
<v SPEAKER_00>You know what 2009 Tim wishes he had known?

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:29.359
<v SPEAKER_00>I wish they had had minimalist phone in 2009.

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:32.160
<v SPEAKER_00>You know where you could lock all the crap?

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.920
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm getting better at this.

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:40.720
<v SPEAKER_00>I if you ever call me after um normal working hours and I don't pick up, that's because I'm ignoring you.

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:44.079
<v SPEAKER_00>Um for the sake of my family.

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:48.799
<v SPEAKER_00>Um I use focus now when I go home.

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.599
<v SPEAKER_00>You probably won't get through to me unless it's an emergency.

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:53.599
<v SPEAKER_00>The cheat code is you can call me twice in a row.

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.680
<v SPEAKER_00>If you call me twice in a row, I'll pick up.

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.160
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay?

00:27:56.480 --> 00:28:00.720
<v SPEAKER_00>But if I don't answer your text right away or I don't get back to your call right away, it's on purpose.

00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:08.319
<v SPEAKER_00>It's something that I'm trying to learn how to do, that when I'm home, I don't get buzzed by the phone all the time.

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe that's not your problem.

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:14.799
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's just work tensions spilling into your evening.

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:20.799
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's too many things on the calendar.

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:26.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's your sense that you have to constantly be available to everyone else.

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:32.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe it's a hobby which can be a really good thing.

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:44.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Whatever it is that's taking too much of your attention and not allowing you to give it to the things that matter most, set your priorities, identify your problems, and then create some boundaries.

00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:47.440
<v SPEAKER_00>That's what personal time is on my phone.

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.319
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:54.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe you just need to say, hey guys, we're gonna go to the table together and have dinner, and your phone is not welcome here.

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.880
<v SPEAKER_00>My kids love that one.

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.720
<v SPEAKER_00>They love that one.

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:04.240
<v SPEAKER_00>We don't always do it, but when we do, oh, the looks I get.

00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:07.759
<v SPEAKER_00>I went around for Family Day the other day and I took their phones from them.

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:14.079
<v SPEAKER_00>Mackenzie would have burned a hole right through my soul if I had let her.

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:18.079
<v SPEAKER_00>Pick a date night and stick with it.

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:21.119
<v SPEAKER_00>Pick a prayer time and stick with it.

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:25.440
<v SPEAKER_00>I don't I don't want to tell you what to do.

00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Because you can't copy somebody else's list of boundaries.

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:32.880
<v SPEAKER_00>You can't just use somebody else's plan.

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:37.119
<v SPEAKER_00>I've been to churches before where they were like, oh, faithful men wake up at 5 a.m.

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.319
<v SPEAKER_00>and pray.

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:40.480
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm like, I'm out.

00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.759
<v SPEAKER_00>It's not me.

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.960
<v SPEAKER_00>I tried to do it.

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:50.720
<v SPEAKER_00>I tried to wake up early and read Charles Spurgeon or some other really famous pastor, you know, from yesteryear, and I fell asleep every time.

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.880
<v SPEAKER_00>It was awful, so I stopped going.

00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:54.960
<v SPEAKER_00>I can't create a plan for you.

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:57.839
<v SPEAKER_00>I can just highlight your need for a plan.

00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:09.359
<v SPEAKER_00>And clearly defined priorities will help you to identify the things that are stealing your time and allow you to create the boundaries that might make you successful.

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:15.359
<v SPEAKER_00>And that's why Sabbath is probably something to pay attention to again.

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.319
<v SPEAKER_00>Right?

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:21.680
<v SPEAKER_00>This is where weeks one and two in this series come together.

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:25.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Sabbath is designed to create space.

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:25.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay?

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:29.759
<v SPEAKER_00>And so, yes, being at church, I think that's a really great thing, right?

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:32.960
<v SPEAKER_00>But I kind of define what goes on here.

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:35.920
<v SPEAKER_00>When you come, it's not your space to define.

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:45.039
<v SPEAKER_00>It's a good thing to come and to be a part of it, but you need more than just the one hour and ten minutes we do on Sunday morning.

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:53.119
<v SPEAKER_00>Your attention is going to determine what fills your Sabbath.

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:58.079
<v SPEAKER_00>You can stop working for a day and still give your attention to all those other things.

00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:05.839
<v SPEAKER_00>So, Sabbath isn't merely a practice of stopping, it's a practice of paying attention to the right things.

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:13.519
<v SPEAKER_00>It's learning to be present to God, to people, and to the life that is right in front of you.

00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:25.920
<v SPEAKER_00>I want to remind you again that I think when Jesus spoke to Martha, he didn't do it like this.

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.000
<v SPEAKER_00>He didn't go, Martha, Martha.

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.680
<v SPEAKER_00>You know?

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:38.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Martha! I think he was kind and gentle.

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:41.440
<v SPEAKER_00>And I think he is with you too.

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.880
<v SPEAKER_00>He's not scolding you.

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:47.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't hear that in the midst of this this morning.

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.599
<v SPEAKER_00>I am with you.

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:52.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Just look, go ask my family.

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:58.000
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, this is a message for me as much as it is for anybody else.

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:04.480
<v SPEAKER_00>I think Jesus sees us in the midst of our challenges.

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:12.240
<v SPEAKER_00>He knows what worries us, he knows what we're concerned about, he knows that we're carrying a lot.

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:17.440
<v SPEAKER_00>He knows we're trying to do something good.

00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:20.480
<v SPEAKER_00>He knew all that about Martha.

00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:28.559
<v SPEAKER_00>You don't have to give everything on your mind your attention.

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:32.480
<v SPEAKER_00>You're allowed and suppose to say no.

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:37.680
<v SPEAKER_00>You're allowed to choose better.

00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:42.720
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm gonna ask the musicians to join me again.

00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:49.599
<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe that's the invitation some of us need this week.

00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:54.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Not throw away your phone or quit your job.

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Don't blame that on me.

00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:00.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Pull your kids out of everything or become less responsible.

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:07.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Just ask yourself what deserves my attention.

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:11.359
<v SPEAKER_00>Then have the courage to protect it.

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:19.119
<v SPEAKER_00>Last week was all about planning your rest.

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:24.079
<v SPEAKER_00>This week is all about protecting it, protecting your attention.

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:40.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Because the life that you want, the life that your soul longs for, the life that God is calling you to requires your attention.

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:48.079
<v SPEAKER_00>This is part of what it means to sit at the feet of the teacher.

00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:53.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Because Jesus said, learn from me.

00:33:56.319 --> 00:34:08.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Mary reminds us that learning from Jesus requires us to slow down long enough to pay attention to what he is saying.

00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:17.679
<v SPEAKER_00>And then not just be hearers of his words, but doers of them.

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:24.000
<v SPEAKER_00>Let's pray together.

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:52.400
<v SPEAKER_00>God, I pray this morning that you would help us to know what we are being distracted from that we should be devoted to in our day, in our time, maybe this is one of the most important questions we need to ask.

00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:13.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Because what if more of us were giving our attention to things that would bring out hope, peace, joy.

00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:31.920
<v SPEAKER_00>A more gentle and humble people, people who even about those people that disagree with us.

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:40.880
<v SPEAKER_00>This is the world that you have painted a picture of for us.

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:04.639
<v SPEAKER_00>This world is going to have a weight.

00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:24.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Take my yoke point.

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:34.000
<v SPEAKER_00>My my yoke is easier.

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:43.679
<v SPEAKER_00>Give us the courage to trust that those words are true.

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:47.920
<v SPEAKER_00>It's not just