Staycation | Let’s Have Some Fun! | PART 1

Sometimes we just need permission to enjoy life! Join us as we look at Ecclesiastes 8:14-17. Series: Staycation, Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge, Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8:14-17, Video: https://www.facebook.com/avalonchurch/videos/266508924567195/, Sermon page: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/staycation-lets-have-some-fun-part-1/, Sermon Notes: 2020-06-21_staycation-part-1_sermon-notes.pdf, Discussion Questions: 2020-06-21_staycation-part-1_discussion-questions.pdf, Notes: Intro Happy Father’s Day, everyone! As I’ve mentioned before, My Dad was a police officer. Our family struggled to make ends meet, So Dad was always working extra jobs. He wasn’t around much, And we weren’t that close. We weren’t a religious family, So, when I I chose to follow Jesus in HS …I proudly, and yes I know, weirdly, Put this picture of Jesus on my stereo. …my Dad thought I had joined a cult. I still laugh at that picture Which looks more like a Ponce de Leon from Spain than a Middle Eastern Jew. Dad and I were never very close. Then, in my 30’s, Rae Lynn and I invited dad and his wife to stay with us while they were in town. It was the best week ever as we really connected for the first time in my life. My dad loves jokes, …and so I told him one about Baptists and dancing. I got a lot of flack my first Sunday here when I told the joke, But my dad laughed and laughed. That was 20 years ago. And he passed away almost 4 years ago, But it was a moment I’ll never forget. And when I laugh, I am always astounded at how much I sound like my dad. A Dad’s influence is so powerful. Regardless of the mistakes, there is so much grace. Intro Series So today, on Father’s Day, we’re starting a new series called Staycation. A series about enjoying life Right where you are. 2020 is the perfect time for this series, And Father’s Day is the perfect day to start. After 3 months of shutting down, …Only to see the number of COVID cases rising as we begin opening up, Then, with recent abuses of power, …resulting in murder, …And country mourning and protesting ongoing injustice With the heaviness that we are all experiencing, It’s so easy to forget …God’s gift of Joy. Me As I’ve spent time doing missions, …In the mountains of Jamaica, …witnessing poverty in Haiti and in Aguascalientes, Mexico, The smiles on those children, …And the gratitude of their parents …Is a reminder that JOY is independent of circumstance. God Our focus Scripture today is from OT, In the book of Ecclesiastes. Now, Ecclesiastes does NOT tell stories from history, Like the first half of the OT. And it’s not about judgment or the future hope, Like the prophets in the second half. Ecclesiastes is about right now, in this present moment. The author asks a lot of questions, …And points out a lot of inconsistency in life. ...Knowing they will never get satisfying answers. That’s what happens in 8:14. After frustration over injustice in the world, The author says, 14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless! –Ecc 8 (NLT) How is it that a drunk driver kills some young mother, While the driver lives? Why do good people sometimes get cancer, While bad people get a promotion. It’s so frustrating. It’s so.. so… meaningless. So what do we do? They continue… 15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. –Ecc 8 (NLT) Isn’t that great!? You don’t hear that preached very much. Don’t spend all your time worrying about the things you can’t control. Don’t miss out on what’s in front of you because you’re always thinking …about what happened in the past, …or what could happen in the future. Let God worry about these. Live where you are, …in the present. Look around at the blessings. Enjoy what God has provided. Have fun sharing meals with those close to you. Breaking bread and drinking wine together, While you share in conversation and interests together. Don’t get so caught up, …Cleaning the house, …and catching up at work, …and making sure you look like you have it all...