Luke Spurgeon

Minister of Youth & Young Adults

The Giants We Face

A response to Pastor Jake's "Giant Killers" series

I don’t know about you guys, but Pastor Jake’s most recent sermon series really challenged me and hit me hard. He did not hold back from sharing what the Spirit is trying to tell us. We all face giants every day. Some of those giants are outward—events, circumstances, and situations that seem bigger than we are. Others are inward—things happening in our hearts and minds that can be just as overwhelming.

David faced a giant in real life, but his story also reveals so much about the giants he faced within himself. The emotions, doubts, fears, and pressures he experienced must have been crushing to his soul, yet he never completely lost sight of God’s plan for his life.

There is something powerful about the moment David cut the corner of Saul’s robe. He had an opportunity to take matters into his own hands, but he chose not to let the world dictate what he should do. He trusted God’s timing and God’s plan instead.

Aren’t we the same way sometimes? The world tells us that we are weak, that we don’t fit the mold, or that we need to take control of our own lives. But Jesus didn’t fit the mold either. He didn’t become who the religious leaders of His time expected Him to be. He followed the Father’s will, even when it went against what everyone around Him thought was right.

I deal with these giant-like emotions all the time. Sometimes they feel like a shadow following me, and other times they feel like an anchor holding me back. There are moments when I ask myself, “Is this really God’s plan for me?” I’m sure David had questions of his own. He may not have understood every step of the journey, but he continued to trust the One who did.

So how do we take these giants and put them on the run?

We don’t have to face them alone. We can fellowship, pray, and be vulnerable with people we trust, people who will encourage us, pray with us, and remind us of who God says we are. And when we don’t have someone beside us, we can always turn to God. He is the true Giant Killer.

He is the One who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. He doesn’t promise that we will never face giants, but He promises that we will never have to face them alone.

So my encouragement to all of us is this: help someone with their giant. Be the friend who listens. Be the person who prays. Be the voice that reminds someone that their giant does not define them and that their story is not over.

Sometimes, God may use us to be the stone that helps knock down the giant standing in someone else’s way.

We all have giants. But we also have a Giant Killer.

Keep trusting. Keep praying. Keep fighting. And never forget who fights beside you.

This Sunday’s sermon, “Country Club Christ”, will be based on Mark 2:13-17 and will begin Pastor Jake’s sermon series “Not What I Thought”. Read the scripture to prepare for worship, and invite someone to join you as we continue to walk with Christ.

Sundays at 10:30 a.m., join us in person,

or participate in our live-streamed worship service

on either our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/forrestburdettemumc

or our YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ForrestBurdette/videos

Sunday School classes for all ages meet at 9:15 a.m.

New frames. Different specs…

They’re often the result of the dreaded eye exam. Ugh (Do they still do that awful puff test?). Sometimes we don’t know how bad our sight has become until we take the time to look through a lens that corrects what we were sure we saw sharply.

What’s true of the frames through which we see is also true of the faith on which we stand.

We may be slow to concede it, but many of us stumble on our spiritual walk and ometimes even forfeit our faith altogether because the images we adopted, adapted or generated about Jesus just weren’t…genuine.

I don’t know about you, but I’d hate bearing the regret of living long lengths of time before realizing: Maybe it wasn’t the Lord who let us down, but rather the lenses we were looking through.

It might be time to take a second look. Through the month of September, the eye chart that is the Gospel will challenge us to review, refocus or reframe the concepts we’ve attached to Christ. It just might shock you to say,

“He’s not what I thought.”

We are excited to announce that the interruption in the internet and phone service at the church has been repaired. If you have been trying to reach us, please note that our systems are up and running again!

The Forrest Burdette Choir will resume regular weekly rehearsals on Thursday, September 3, starting at 7:00 p.m. We would be pleased to have you come and enjoy preparing quality musical selections to be presented in worship. Join us as we express our love to the Creator through the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs!

Be a part of The Branch on Wednesdays at Forrest Burdette. Please click here to read about the classes that are being offered this semester. Branch out. Dig deep. Grow together.

The Committed Run Club is an ecumenical effort in the valley to create recreational community, and Forrest Burdette is hosting on September 5, at 8:30 a.m. We could use donations of granola bars, fruit, and sports drinks. Please bring your donations to the Connection Center before 9/5, marked “Run Club”.

With the school year beginning this month, our BackPack Buddies ministry is ready to start packing weekend meals and snacks for 100+ local school children. Bags are packed weekly. If you are interested in packing bags, please see the sign-up sheet at the Connection Center desk. Training will be provided! We welcome food and monetary donations. A cart for food donations is located at the Connection Center.

Here are some ideas for individual sized donations: oatmeal, Nutri-Grain bars, Pop Tarts, ramen noodles, Beanee Weenees, cans of chicken noodle or tomato soup, mac & cheese pouches, snack sized mandarin oranges or peaches, fruit snacks, and Rice Krispie treats.

Forrest Burdette ALL-CHURCH NIGHT at a Dirty Birds Baseball Game in Charleston

Friday, September 11, 6:35 p.m., vs. the Lexington Legends

“Military & First Responders Night”… marking the 25th Anniversary of 9/11. The van will leave Forrest Burdette at 5:30 p.m., for those wanting a ride. Tickets are $5 each. Reserve yours by signing up at the Connection Center, or contact the church office by September 6th.

Chaplain Chip Bennett has requested donations of something salty (crackers, individual bags of chips/pretzels, beef jerky, peanuts, mixed nuts, trail mix), something sweet (M&M’s, Tootsie Pops, gummy candy, hard candy), or something caffeinated (ground or whole bean coffee, coffee pods, instant coffee, tea, powdered energy drink mixes, electrolyte drink packets) to boost the morale of the soldiers. Emily Steele has offered to collect your items for shipping. Monetary donations are welcome toward postage or if you aren’t able to shop.

Please keep in mind: commercially packaged, unopened items only; avoid items that melt easily; please do not send glass containers, aerosols, homemade food, or perishable items. Notes, cards, children’s drawings, prayers, and other messages of encouragement are greatly appreciated.

Applications for crafters and vendors for the annual UMW Fall Festival are available to print by clicking here, or pick up a copy at the Connection Center or through the church office. The Fall Festival will be Saturday, November 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee is $20 per space. Spread the news and date of our event!

*If you are coming to walk in the mornings, please note that you must use the preschool entrance before 8:30 a.m.

8/31—Christian Stark

9/1—Sheri Brown, Reese Kauffman

9/2—April Crouse, Ruth Curry, Judy Grass, Valerie McMilliion, Ed Mullins, Thomas Rogowski

9/3—Jo Bess, Larry Clegg

9/4—Debbie Duespohl, Bobby Greene, Harold Stewart

9/5—Jennifer Hart, Steve Huggins, Jessica Ray, Jeremy Simms

9/6—Wes Hager, Victoria Marsh, Darlene Smith

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.