Jun 17 2008
I need some fluff teaching!
I’ve had it with teaching passages on faith, trials, worry, strength, leadership, etc… It seems like every time I teach a passage like Peter walking on the water with Jesus in Matthew 14:22-33 that I taught from Sunday–I have to experience moments in my life that require me to step out in faith. I come to the crisis times where I have to decide if I’m going to ignore the winds and the waves. It is like Jesus is telling me to not doubt and trust Him. I’m ready for some bubble gum theology. I don’t want to keep living on the edge every day. I’m tired of wondering how bills are going to get paid. I’m tired of seeing more month and less money in the checking account. I’m tired of getting illustration after illustration from my daily life. I can read about other people in books and use their stories to make a point! Why should I have to suffer?
I’m tired of quoting from Philippians 4:6-7 about not worrying. I don’t want to hear Romans 8:28 that God works all for good for those who love Him. I’m ready for Jesus to take my burdens that He talks about in Matthew 11:28-30! Lets face it as Madeline Kahn said in Blazing Saddles “I’m pooped!”
I’m ready for a vacation. I’m ready to sit on the sideline and chill. I don’t want to teach on patience anymore because I will have to experience it all the week leading up to it. I don’t want to teach on evangelism because then I will have to share my faith. I don’t want to teach about marriage because I will have to work on mine. I don’t want to talk about parenting because I will have to parent. I just want to be like 99.9999% of the rest of the church and relax. I want to be in the audience for once! Right now Jonah is starting to make sense.
Maybe I can start downloading other people’s messages and just live vicariously through them. It sure would be a lot less painful. Maybe I could imitate Andy Stanley, Craig Groeshel, John Maxwell, or even the smiling preacher himself- Joel Osteen. After all they have it all together. Why reinvent the wheel? Why should I subject myself to pain and strife when they’ve done all of the work? Their stories sound so much better than mine anyway!
So, here is to fluff teaching. Here is to tickling the ears. Here is to teaching on non-controversial passages and ones that don’t challenge me or anyone else. Are you with me? Are you ready to chill and veg? I am (at least for the few minutes it took to write this post). 
What do you think?
25 responses so far
Yeah, that does sound tempting . . . but I remember as a kid eating too much Fluff (or Little Debbie Cakes, in my case) led to upset stomaches, lack of stamina, lethargy, and general flabbiness (not to mention some tooth decay).
Sort of like “fluff” teaching and preaching leads to some of those things!
I’m sure glad that men like you don’t give in to this kind of temptation too often!!!
Darryl’s last blog post..The Longest Day
This reminds of me a game that was played by a few students. They had picked teams based off what positions were needed. One was “Best Eater.” When it came time for the two teams to go against each other in the eating part of the contest - it was revealed that each “Best Eater” would have to eat as much Cool Whip off-brand product they could eat. One of them flat out said, “No. I do not eat that stuff. I can’t stand it. Makes me sick.” And with that - took herself out of the game. Her replacement, however, ended up winning the game for her team AND title of “Best Eater.” You should have seen her scarf that stuff down. Made me want to puke honestly.
When asked how she was able to eat that stuff like it was nothing… she replied, “I just thought about wanting to win the game. I did not think about what I was putting in my mouth. It did not matter what was I given to eat.”
Camey’s last blog post..A Sack Lunch. A Seed Planted. Hope.
I feel your pain Kevin. I feel it in every nook and cranny of my 6′5″ body. I feel it deep in my soul. I feel it…ahhh you get the point. Reason? Same reasons you have. I sometimes wonder if God takes pleasure in giving “on the spot” training. My remedy? A long bike ride. But my best remedy? I leave this Thursday to see my grandson. Least he ain’t going to ask me the ramifications of Mormon false teaching or how do you clean up after a flood.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..Worthless Things
ok, so you had your moment of fluff, now get off your duff and change the world! just think if it was all fluff where would the adventure be in life. i know and understand where you are but I look around and know that I like being in the game making a play that changes the whole outcome for someone or some group of folks. it definitely is not easy always being the one that is bruised, battered, and bleeding. But from my perspective on the field it looks a lot better than those that aren’t in the game just sitting, watching, and wondering what it actually be like to be in the game. Growing pains, hence the pain part. Remember it will always feel better once it quits hurting! You will heal. So my bruised, battered, and bleeding brother pick yourself up, dust yourself off and make a play that will change someone’s forever!
Kevin,
These days come, for all of us.
Tired? Sure!
Exhausted? No doubt!
At the end of your wits? Don’t you know it!
Lost all hope? Not on your life! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Rest on Him. He’s got your back!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..A Most Special Day
Do what my preacher does, spend your time telling me who to vote for, how teenagers are ungrateful, and how person X of the week is a biblical liberal and needs to be destroyed.
Hugh, considered a new church home?
Kevin, as if I need to remind you of this…I wouldn’t follow Hugh’s words of tongue-in-cheek wisdom…if you think you are stressed out now, just try his words!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..A Most Special Day
Sorry, I was distracted by the marshmallow fluff. Mmmm…..
Texas in Africa’s last blog post..forty days
Kevin,
If you want “fluff” stay away from the Book of James…!
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..Remembering Tim Russert
Steve — No need for me to leave, I’ll be with my church family long after he’s gone.
Hugh, I hope you have gone to your pastor with great love and a godly attitude and addressed these issues with him. If you haven’t done so, I would definitely encourage it.
Who knows how the Holy Spirit might use you in the discussion that follows.
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..A Most Special Day
Kev,
I prescribe a defined vacation. In order to facilitate that is there a way some of us could help fund that for you. Do not be too stubborn to let God use others to bless you.
The reason the vacation needs to be defined (time, place) is that if you just did what you feel like: walk away, vegetate, etc… then you would not feel right. I know from following your posts for ages that you have a heart that will not be content unless being used usefully to fulfill a mission. Give us the info and press on!
Kevin,
I would support you in a trip to Salt Lake City.
BLOGIN is right, this could be used as a missionary trip for you
Heck…Al Sharpton went out there not too long ago…so did Dobson.
Kevin,
On second thought..I’d even support you in a mission trip to Mecca. I’m sure you would receive a far warmer welcome there.
Kevin…okay, you have it in writing! I would take Bill up on his offer. I hear Salt Lake is pretty this time of the year. Oh, and if you want to have a little fun, pack a case of Coke or Pepsi to take with you–handing out free soft drinks on the corner, using them as your witnessing tool. And oh, be sure to tape a little label on each one that reads: “Compliments of Bill the mormon.”
Hi Bill!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..A Most Special Day
Bill,
I’ll take up your offer to Salt Lake.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..I need some fluff teaching!
Steve…pretending to be Bill the mormon…
Now Kevin, I didn’t quite mean what I wrote in my last post and I think you know it.
However, while I am posting a response and ignoring your acceptance of my offer, let me share with you this information I found about Southern Baptists who visit Salt Lake…
[20 page cut and paste from LDS web site]…
Okay, enough picking on Bill, even though he did hurt my feelings last week when he commented about me saying that I wouldn’t add anything to his last comment…
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..A Most Special Day
Kev…
I’m prayin for you…
All you can do is operate on the strength God gives you man…
..
I hear you… don’t give up, you never know what God is doing behind the scenes…
Avery’s last blog post..I saw God today ?
Kevin, if you go to Salt Lake, let me know. A friend from growing up directs the BSU at U of Utah. Talk about a challenging job! You’d at least get a warm reception there!
Texas in Africa’s last blog post..oh, for goodness sakes
Kevin,
You would get a warm reception there, even if you didn’t go to BSU at U of U.
You see…they will not behead you for your differing views like in other parts of the world.
Kevin,
All joking aside. Why don’t you lead a team comprised of Steve, Neil, Rick and others…and go out to SLC for a mission trip.
You will be pleasantly surprised at how warmly you will be received. No lie!
Go next winter, Take in a Jazz game or go snow skiing.
It’ll be a nice experience for you all
Bill,
I’m serious if you pay for my trip I will go to BYU, the Temple & anywhere else you direct me to. I’m ready!
kevin, yea I feel like that. its seems like it never ends . but when does it help me? The very lessons I teach are the ones I need.I womder what chnges I can make within myself to conform to these very lessons. Call me. Charlie
Kevin,
Maybe you should first begin your missionary efforts on a smaller scale.
There is a Temple in Atlanta, Raleigh, and Columbia. You are situaed right in the middle.
After those, you might want to consider one of these:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/operating/
Just think…converting we devilish Mormons one Temple at a time
Bill…once again, backtracking I see. You offered to sponsor a trip for Kevin to SLC. He accepted. Now, you tell him that it might be better for him to stay in his local area and do the work.
Trust me Bill…when you offer us Christian pastors an opportunity to go to SLC (at your expense, of course) and witness to the mormons there…you can know we will always accept the invite.
Now, get your checkbook out…I’m assuming Kevin will accept cash, check, or money order! I’m free during August if you want to go ahead and book our flights. The real estate business in the Gatlinburg area must be slow in August. Why don’t you go with Bill?
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..The Eyes Have It; No, The Feet Have It!