Christmas Preview & Thought for the Week (12.22.16)

Merry Christmas Church!

I hope your time is multiplied this week as you make last minute preparations for the holidays.  It's going to be a great weekend at all our locations.  This is a great time to invite a friend, as I believe this will be a powerful worship experience.  Make plans to be there.

Friday - 12/23 - Lawrenceville Campus @ Lovin Elem.
5:30 pm. - Modern

Saturday - 12/23 - Harmony Grove Campus in Auburn
12:00 p.m. - Traditional Communion
5:00 p.m. - Family Modern Candlelight
7:00 p.m. - Modern Candlelight

Sunday - 12/25 - No Services at any campuses

Sunday - 1/1/17 - ONE Service @ Harmony Grove @ 10:30 a.m.

Thought for the Week"Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"  John 3:3
One of my favorite lines from any Christmas song is in Hark the Herald Angels Sing when it says, "Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth."  That's why Jesus was born.  That's why we have Christmas.  Christmas happened so you get another chance at this.  You can be born again.  You don't have to carry around the scars and baggage from the past.  In fact, when we do, we dishonor Christmas.  The angels praised God because the birth of Jesus was an invitation to a do-over for humanity.  You can be new, fresh.  Too many people feel like they are too far gone for God.  Or, they play the church game but deep down they feel there is something holding them back from really getting serious with Jesus.  It's simple.  They need to be born again.  You don't remember being born, but let me tell you what you were like.  Your mind was clear, your conscience was clear.  You were fragile but stronger than you looked.  You needed your parents, but you were fierce.  You worried about nothing.  You had not yet made a mistake.  Christmas came to give us a second birth.  Christmas came to give us another shot at a clear conscience.  You've made a lot of mistakes since you were born, but you weren't mean to live with them.  You can start over.  That's a reason to sing in celebration about the Christ child born to give us a second chance.

Because of Jesus,

Carter

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (12.16.16)

Hey Church!

Can you believe we're nine days from Christmas?!  I'm so excited!  This week we close out our series "Re-Gift" as we talk about "PEACE."  I know I need some peace in this hectic season.  Also, our Kidz Choir will be singing at both Worship Experiences.  You don't want to miss it!

Thought for the Week
"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."  Luke 16:22

Last Sunday we talked about JOY, and it is certainly a theme of the season.  Nearly every church will sing Joy to the World over the holidays.  We have Christmas decorations with JOY written all over them.  I've thought a lot about joy and what it really means.  We all want to equate joy and happiness, and that's why it doesn't make sense.  Happiness is temporary and circumstantial.  None of us can possibly be happy all the time.  Loved ones die, disappointment happens, sickness gets us down, and the troubles of the world force us onto an emotional roller coaster.  The joy found in Christ is based on the reality that THIS ISN'T IT.  There is more to the story. There is an epilogue.  There is an alternate ending.  The pain, fear, disappointment, and sadness are not the end of the story.  Christmas is a reminder of that.  Four Hundred years of silence seemed like the end of the story for the people of God.  It had been a good run.  Prophets preached.  Moses delivered.  Wars were won.  David had slayed giants.  But it seemed like God was done.  The birth announcement to Mary marked the beginning of a new chapter titled "I'm not done."  If you are going through a difficult time, if you are going through a season of silence, if you think you're at the end of your rope -- I want to invite you to embrace joy.  It's not pretending that difficult times aren't real.  It's the realization that there is a reality that is MORE real.  Joy is coming.  The silence isn't the end of the story.  Never forget that.  Your last chapter isn't written yet.  God is working on it right now.  It's why we can have a joy that transcends circumstances.

In Christ,

Carter 

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (11.18.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you're having an awesome week.  It's a big Sunday this week as we host our annual Turkey Fry.  Plan to be a part of the awesomeness!  You can bring food, make a financial donation and/or volunteer to help fry, wrap/package or deliver.

Also, this week we'll finish out the mini-series "Overdrawn."  This week we'll be talking about 'Debt.'  See you there!

Thought for the Week
"“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

I have a confession that's fairly terrifying:  I have no idea what God's plan is.  When I was a little bit younger in my faith journey, I used to think I could see over the horizon to what God had planned.  I can't. Sometimes I see glimpses, but I honestly just don't know.  I have learned this the hard way, trying to manage the Holy Spirit to fit into my idea of what I think God 'should' do.  It never really works well that way.  It's better this way.  Now, that means that as I grow in my walk with God (and this is true for you, too) we actually need more and more faith.  This means my trust level has to go up astronomically because I have no idea what's in store.  Frankly, many people are incredibly uncomfortable with this proposition.  By nature, most of us like predictability.  The guidance of the Holy Spirit is anything but predictable.  We. Have. No. Idea. What. God. Has. In. Store. Next.  Absolutely no idea.  His ways, his thoughts, his plans are on a different level than ours. If we are to believe this, then it means we must trust God deeply when he seems to take an unexpected turn.  This means we must have high levels of faith that God knows what He's doing.  It really boils down to trust and faith.  I started with a confession, but can I share with you a reality:  You have no idea what God's plan is either.  You have no idea what God wants to do in your life 10 years from now or 5 years from now or 10 months from now.  You have no idea what that will mean for the next 2-3 months and how He'll need to turn you in His direction to position you for that plan.  You have no idea the people you'll meet to prepare you for that plan.  You have no idea the disappointments that will happen that will end up looking like important crossroads.  You and I just have no idea.  So we must trust God every single day.  I have learned (through enough hard lessons), that He is worthy of my trust.  His ways are better than mine.  I want what God wants.  Not what I want.  Might as well trust Him.

In Christ,

Carter

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (11.10.16)

Hey Church!

I hope your week has been great and you 'survived the election.'  As the world 'discusses' life in the political world, aren't you grateful our church is a place for all people, where we come under the banner of being image bearers of the God of the universe.

This Sunday, we're beginning a new two-week mini-series on personal finances called "Overdrawn."  As the holidays approach, a lot of our bank accounts will feel that way.  What can we do to handle our money in the way God intends?  Hope to see you there!

Also, don't forget to bring supplies for our Turkey Fry to either location this week.  Here are the things we need:

• Boxed Potatoes                    • Canned corn
• Canned green beans            • Jiffy cornbread mix
• Canned cranberry sauce       • Stuffing mix
• Brownie or cookie mix

Thought for the Week
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7

Any anxiety this week?  I can't remember a more anxious week in American politics, at least in my lifetime.  And I believe the week rivals some of the most stressful times in our history.  Slowly, things are returning to some sense of normalcy, but that'll take more time.  What is clear to me, though, is that some are still struggling with the anxiety of the election and where our country is.  Some are filled with anxiety because they see the cracks of a divided nation more clearly than ever before.  Some are anxious over the toxic atmosphere on social media.  Some of filled with anxiety because the candidate they voted for didn't win.  Others are anxious because their candidate did win and must deliver on leading our country.  A lot of just anxious because it's a mess.  There is a tension that exists among us in our country over what seem to be core issues.  The issues are real.  The anxiety is real.  Can I offer a suggestion?  Cast that anxiety on him...because he cares for you.  Some are feeling isolated, but he cares for you.  Some are discouraged, but he cares for you.  Some are tired and exhausted, but he cares for you.  Some are losing friends, but he cares for you.  Some of being shunned, but he cares for you.  And, maybe, just maybe, this election is the least of your worries.  You're dealing with illness, sickness, job loss, financial stress, heartache.  I want you to know He cares for you.  God cares for you.  When you feel like the whole world is against you, God cares for you.  I keep saying that because I'm not sure you believe it yet.  He cares for you, friend.  Cast your cares on Him, no matter what they are.

In Christ,

Carter

Election Night in my House

It's over.  After a long night and constant checking in...it's done with.  Back to normal life.  Election night really was one to remember in my house.  It's finally finished, but it was exhausting.

That's because we had a possum in garage on election night.

That's right.  A possum came to eat may cats' food (and this is the 3rd time we've seen the fellow).  This is especially important because two of our three cats are kittens and spend most of their time right now in the garage.  And we had a possum.  Welcome to country living.

In the midst of the most contentious election in my lifetime and maybe in our country's history, I had a real homegrown problem to deal with.  And as the important decision our country was making gained clarity amidst the suspense with every vote tallied, I had an important issue to take care of myself.  And I was reminded of something very important.

Neither President-Elect Donald Trump nor Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can or will help me get the possums out of my garage.

I had to work to trap it, protect our kittens, pray and hope that our big cat could fend for herself for the night outside the garage and try to get this taken care of.  And the results of the election offered no help.  By morning, the situation was resolved, the kittens are back in their space and life is back to normal.  It probably won't be the last possum, and it definitely won't be the last family semi-emergency.  And it was such a crucial reminder for me.

I have friends on all sides politically.  Some of them are celebrating today and some are lamenting.  I'm pretty fiercely independent, and I'm also mindful as a Christian leader that I deeply desire for my life and our church to reflect that God's heart, love and salvation is for all people -- liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat and Independent.  I have opinions, but I've never been a big 'side-picker' in politics because I know all candidates are a lot like me -- made in the image of God and yet deeply flawed.  However, I am keenly aware of the wool that perhaps we've all allowed to be pulled over our eyes this election.  And that's simply this:  that this election will provide us with answers and solutions to once and for all fix all our problems.

It won't.  You'll have to get rid of your own possums.  I like to say, "I've got dadding to do."  Being a dad is a verb for me most of the time.  I've got living to do.  I've got husbanding to do.  I've got pastoring to do.  I've got neighbor-loving to do.  I've got exercising to do.  I've got fixer-upper projects to do.  I've got financial planning to do.  I've got community involvement to do.  I've got reaching out to do.  I've got caring for the hurting to do.  I've got driving-my-boys-to-rec-league-basketball to do.

The rise of social media and endless political commentary has brought to life for me a dangerous attitude:  that a political figure offers all we need.  Neither Trump nor Clinton nor Johnson nor anyone offers such.  No president ever has.  No president ever will.

Jesus offers all we need.  Forgiveness, grace, salvation.  And then I still have to go live my life walking in grace.  And I'll still have to get rid of all the possums in my garage.  It's my responsibility, not any politicians, to be the best Christian, person, husband, father and citizen I can be.  And, honestly, election results will have little impact on that.  I get to choose how I live, and I get to be responsible for me.  And goodness, I've got enough to clean up in my own life.

What I will do is pray for President Obama and President-Elect Trump as they work through another shift in handing over of the Oval Office in a few months.  I'll continue to pray for elected officials and elections.  I'll continue to be informed and vote.  But, what I want to be most busy about is getting the possums out of my own garage.  I got one, but I think there's a lot more stuff inside my heart to clean out.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (11.3.16)

Hey Church!

I'm so excited to share with you this Sunday in our conclusion to "Surviving the Election."  It's the last Sunday before Election Day, and I believe God wants to continue to shape us in His image.  I hope you'll be there.

Also, don't forget to set your clocks back 1 hour this Saturday before you go to bed or you'll show up to church REALLY early!

If you want to start bringing supplies for the Turkey Fry, feel free to drop them off at either location this Sunday:

o    Boxed potatoes
o    Canned corn
o    Canned green beans
o    Jiffy cornbread mix
o    Stuffing mix
o    Canned cranberry sauce
o    Brownie or cookie mix

Thought for the Week
"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15:10

I was enthralled, as many of you were, watching Game 7 of the World Series last night.  We were truly watching history.  Most of us don't know someone who was alive the last time the Cubs won the series 108 years ago.  A cursed franchise and patient fan base were finally rewarded.  Sports are about competition.  That's why you play - to win.  The jubilation of finally winning after years of hard work (or a century of waiting) was breathtaking.  It was different, too.  The players seemed to understand the moment.  They weren't just men happy to win a boys game.  They cried for their city.  In the stands, they wept.  The smiles could hardly be wiped off their faces.  And they wept in utter joy.  They had finally won the most important one of them all.  I believe there is a cosmic competition much more series than our games.  This competition is for the hearts and souls of men and women.  God has waited, fought, died and resurrected to win each and every heart.  Each person is eternally more important than any Game 7.  And when I saw the celebration last night, this verse immediately popped into my head.  This is what heaven looks like when a sinner comes home to Jesus.  There is hugging, dancing, tears of joy, laughter, and dog piles.  There is jubilation and rejoicing.  There is a party in heaven.  I'm addicted to helping parties in heaven happen.  If you are worried what God might think if a sinner like you comes home, what He thinks is that he's going to throw a party that would be the envy of Chicago.  If you are wondering if it is worth it for the Church to do any and everything to reach people for Jesus, there are parties being planned and waiting our help to make them happen.  Outside Wrigley?  That's about what it looked like when you came to Jesus, except better.  Let's be people helping God plan more parties!

In Christ,

Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (10.21.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you're having an awesome week.  We've got a big weekend coming up!

This Saturday at 9 a.m., come out to Harmony Grove to clean out The Commons to get ready for construction.  We've got to get it totally cleared out.  We'll have donuts, coffee, and juice.

On Sunday, we begin a brand new series called "Surviving the Election."  It's going to be a great three weeks as we look for hope in this contentious political season.  I believe the Church can offer a fresh word into our lives this election.  Invite a friend and see you there!

Thought for the Week
"The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 24:6

I love the story and character of David in the Old Testament.  He's most well known for his slaying of the giant, Goliath, but his life offers rich resources of faithfulness and the frailties of our own humanity.  At his best, David had an incredibly sound perspective in the heat of the moment.  In this passage, he has a chance to kill his adversary, King Saul, in a vulnerable and weak moment.  It will be quick and decisive.  His men have offered to do it for him.  This will put him on the throne and raise him to leadership over all of Israel.  He won't do it.  It's not the right thing to do.  It's not the right way to go about his business.  God has already anointed and called him to be king, but it is not his time, and it should not happen this way.  David won't be controlled by his impulses, "God forbid I should do that."  We are kind of a culture of impulses.  We buy what we want when we want.  We do what we want when we want.  On Demand even allows us to watch what we want when we want.  Isn't it great!  There is very little call for restraint in our world.  But faithfulness to God, trust in God...it requires patience and restraint.  What David is saying is, "God forbid I take a shortcut to my destiny.  No, I wan't do it.  I won't do something wrong to try to get to what is right.  I'll wait."  Every day we face 'in the heat of the moment' instances.  It is so easy to take the easy way out.  It is so easy to take the shortcut.  It is so easy to take the path of least resistance.  Could we exercise a kind of Godly restraint that says, "God forbid I do it that way?"  You won't regret it.  We will most certainly always regret doing it our own way when God demands otherwise.  David eventually became King.  He eventually met his destiny.  God came through in David's patience.  He always does.

In Christ,

Carter r

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (10.13.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you've had a great week with this absolutely gorgeous weather.  I'm excited about concluding our series "Sorry Not Sorry" this Sunday.  We've talked a lot the last few weeks about the repentance that goes on deep in our heart.  For sure, that's where it starts.  This week, we'll close out our series by talking about what that repentance looks like on the outside.  I hope to see you there as we discover how true repentance looks in our everyday lives.

Thought for the Week
"But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."  Philippians 3:13

My family doesn't have a lot of TV shows that we regularly watch.  We're a little too busy for that.  But, we do have one show:  The Flash.  The Flash was my favorite superhero growing up and my boys love him, too.  We just started season 3.  As the show has progressed, there has been a lot more time travel involved, and The Flash has learned that going back and trying to 'fix' tragic events doesn't really 'fix' anything.  In fact, it messes everything up.  The past makes us all who we are, and if we were to change it, well, we wouldn't be us.  A lot of people do emotional and mental time travel.  They constantly focus on the things they did wrong, they live in the past, dwell on mistakes, and live with the guilt of how it went wrong.  Sometimes we even try to over-correct for our past.  It never works.  Everything from the past brought you here, to this moment.  You can't change it.  We can move forward with God.  What is ahead is a life God has planned for you that you could never imagine, but you can't dwell on what was.  Embrace what could be.  Perhaps your struggle with addiction will be a testimony to help other addicts.  Perhaps your mistake as a teenager will help other teenagers.  Perhaps your mistakes in a first marriage will help others in young marriages or even you in a future marriage.  Perhaps you learned some lessons others can learn through you.  Perhaps God wants to leverage who you have become to be all you can be.  Don't look back.  Forget it.  God has.  You're forgiven if you have sought forgiveness in Christ.  Move forward.  Don't let yesterday drag you down.  God has too many plans for you tomorrow.  But you can live them if you're constantly traveling back in time to try and fix a past that God's has already forgotten.

Because of Jesus,

Carter 

Tough times, tough people and a tougher God

I read a line in a book recently that went something like this, "Just because you're going through tough times doesn't necessarily mean you're outside of God's will."  I had to let that sink in for a moment.  It's so true.  It's so profound.

There is kind of an underlying sentiment that almost all of us share that if we're going through something bad, we must've done something wrong.  God is judging us, angry at us, and out to get us.  God is the big bully in the sky, and we just need to get back aligned with him and our lives will be smooth sailing.

This thinking comes from the myth that if we will follow Jesus that our lives will be rainbows, unicorns and lollipops.  Everything will be okay with God in our lives.  He will protect us and lead us into greener pastures.  I'm just not sure that's accurate.

So, the only natural response to tough times is thinking we've done something wrong.  We're not doing what God wants us to do.  There's no Biblical merit to that thinking.  You might be going through tough times precisely BECAUSE you're smack dab in the center of God's Will.  The world might be opposed to God's will, so if you're in it, the world might be opposed to you.  There's just no correlation.  Life is up and down, and there's little we can do about it.

The task is to remain faithful.  Now, to be sure -- sometimes our sin and stupid decisions put us in a tough spot.  We usually know when we've done that.  But sometimes the test results just come back positive.  Sometimes we just get caught in the massive layoff.  Sometimes people betray us.  Sometimes someone rear-ends us.  Sometimes the water line leaks.  Sometimes life happens. And it's not because you're against God's will.

So trust Him.  Don't wait for things to turn around to trust Him.  Don't wait till he 'comes through' to prove himself to you.  That's not faith.  Trust Him in the valley.  They say tough times don't last, but tough people do.  Maybe that's true, but I've faced times in which I didn't feel as tough as what was going on around me.  But God is tougher.  Trust him in the season of mess.  It's not because He's turned His back on you.  He's there.  He'll outlast it.

Why?

With Hurricane Matthew quickly approaching the East Coast, I'm reminded of the tension we all live with:  Why do bad things happen?

Though it's no easier to stomach, we at least 'get it' when someone does something evil and the innocent are injured or killed.  We can explain it so much more easily.  Someone made an ugly decision.  Evil actions by one can affect many.  We get that.

But hurricanes?  Floods?  Tornadoes?  Typhoons?  Earthquakes?  Why?  Why, God, why?

Perhaps this is the point at which many who don't consider themselves people of faith shun God.  "If God were real or loving," one might say, "how could God let such a terrible thing happen?"  Even people of faith struggle through this.  Doesn't God control the weather?  Why wouldn't God stop a storm from killing hundreds, sometimes thousands?  Is God judging us, and does that fit with the character of God that that I thought I knew?

See...lots of questions.

There aren't many easy answers in the face of disaster and tragedy.  Nothing really soothes us and makes us feel 'okay' about the hurt and heartache we are witnessing.  But there is an explanation.  In a sense, we are under judgment, but not the way you think.

I don't believe that natural disasters occur because God is judging a particular region or people.  That's not the message of the Bible.  The story of the Scriptures is that we are all under judgment because of sin.  Sin messed all this up.

Shortly after the original sin of Adam and Eve, in Genesis 3:17 God says to Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you." The earth is cursed because of sin.  Because of sin, everything is not as it should be.  The cosmos was knocked off its axis.  Creation is out of sync with the Creator.

Storms, floods, earthquakes...these were not part of the original plan.  This was all supposed to be perfect.  We were supposed to be in perfect relationship with God.  Sin messed it up.  Sin messed it ALL up.

What we are seeing is the result of a broken world, but this is not the end of the story.  In fact, people of faith are environmentalists of the highest order.  For while Jesus came to save humanity, we believe God is at work to redeem all of Creation.  Creation longs for this.  Romans 8:22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."  And when Christ comes in final victory, we believe that not only are we made new, but there is a new heaven and new earth.  Everything will be restored.  No more storms, no more tragedy.

In the meantime, our hope is in prayer.  And our task is in being the people of God in the midst of tragedy, whether that means donating money, flood buckets or supplies.  Until there is a new earth and all of Creation has been redeemed, let us be the glimmer of redemption when brokenness rears it's ugly head.  

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.29.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you've had a 'complaint free' week...or you're at least getting better.  What an awesome word from God these past few weeks to think about what we're thinking about saying.  This Sunday, we're beginning a brand new, three-week series called "Sorry Not Sorry."  We're going to look at what repentance is all about.  That's not exactly something we talk about in everyday life, but it's crucial to a life of faith, and when we understand it, our lives will truly be changed.  Hope to see you there!

Thought for the Week
"For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."  Romans 3:28

I saw a picture today of some of the decorated swimmers from the Rio Olympics getting to visit the White House and meet the President.  What a thrill that must be for those accomplished Olympians!  Isn't that the way our system works?  Win a medal or championship and the athletes get to meet the President.  Get elected student council president and get access to the principal.  Make the most sales and get lunch w/ the CEO.  Achievement gets us access to those higher up on the totem poll.  That's kind of the American way, and it seeps into our thinking on faith.  We 'think' that our good deeds, our works, and our accomplishments will get us before God.  He'll be so proud.  But that's not how it works.  It's not about our achievements.  We are able to stand before God because of faith in Christ.  Faith that Christ died for us.  Faith that Christ rose again.  Faith that, through grace, our sin was defeated on the cross.  Not by what we have done -- but by what Jesus has done.  And guess what, God couldn't be any more prouder of you already.  You are made in His image.  Your accomplishments don't make Him love you more because He couldn't possibly.  We certainly ought to strive for good works because they are pleasing to God, but don't buy the lie that you need to keep doing good to get on God's good side or get access to Him and His love.  That's only done by faith.

Because of Jesus,

Carter

Fact Checker

This political season, like all of them, is filled with 'fact checking.'  It's even more accessible because of the internet and so many things (like quotes from candidates) are saved on video -- forever.  We check every fact a politician says.

It brings to mind a question:  Do you scrutinize your own self as much as you scrutinize presidential candidates?  Now, I'm all in on the idea that there is something to being 'presidential.'  The leader of the free world ought to have a higher standard than us, the common women and men.  But what does it say about us when we are willing to judge another of God's children with different measures than we judge ourselves.

• Do we verify our facts before speaking statistics or news?  Where did we get those facts?  Is the source reputable?
• Do we ever change our minds about important issues?  I'm amazed at how many 10+ year old videos we've seen of Donald and Hillary.  Have you changed your mind in the last 10 years about something with which you had great conviction?
• Do we judge our fashion and grooming sense when we are in public with the same eye we see candidates?  (We won't talk about what we wore to Walmart).
• Do we ever say something mean-spirited?
• Do we ever stammer?
• Did we ever do something that was against the rules?

Let's face it.  We've got a couple of candidates that are far from perfect.  Come to think of it, we've got about 6-7 billion people on the planet that are far from perfect.  Yes, yes, yes.  We ought to hold leaders to extremely high standards.  But...Jesus said something about the idea that we'll be judged by the same measure we judge others.  That ought to terrify us because we are anything but kind when we talk about the candidate we don't like.  

It's just something I've thought about.  What our country needs isn't necessarily politicians that hold themselves to a higher standard.  What our country needs is citizens that hold themselves to a higher standard.  For those that call themselves Christians, that higher standard is Jesus.  We'd all do well to judge ourselves first and foremost.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.22.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you've had a fantastic, positive, non-critical, no complaining week!  That's the goal in our series "No Complaining."  It's a been a challenge, and I know many people have accepted it.  Are you thinking about what you're thinking about saying?  This Sunday, we conclude the series, so get ready to get even better at being someone who lives with 'No Complaining.'

Thought for the Week
"Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6

There are no guarantees, and we can't see the future.  That's the message Jonathan gives us in this passage.  He's trying to convince a friend to go with him into a battle in which they are extremely outnumbered, and the best he can muster is, "Hey, perhaps God will be with us in this."  It's a leap of faith.  We. Do. Not. Like. Faith. We like sure things.  We like to be absolutely certain that things will work out for us just so.  We don't want to risk in our walk with God.  But...BUT...for God to do anything worthwhile in your life, you're going to have to risk. You're going to have to step in faith.  You're going to have to go in the direction where the best you can muster is, "Perhaps..."  But you won't know until you are there in the battle like Jonathan and his mate.  They won, by the way.  They were outnumbered 10-1, and they won.  God delivered them.  Where are you outnumbered 10-1 that you know God is calling you to go?  Where are the odds stacked against you but you feel the whisper of the Holy Spirit beckoning you to risk?  People of faith often never see God do anything powerful in their lives because they never act in a way in which God has to actually be powerful for them.  Go for it.  Perhaps God will move and you'll be so glad you did.

In Christ,

Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor

What now?

News of two more tragic shootings have come across the wires, and we're all left wondering what now?  We often guard our thoughts very closely.  If we say what we think, what will our African-American friends think?  What will our white friends think?  What will our cop friends think?  Have we even considered what our Latino and Hispanic friends think?

We are outraged, incensed and left with many questions.  We are scared because we are a cop or have relatives who are cops.  Will they be wrongly lumped in with cops who made mistakes and targeted?  We are scared because we are black or have dear friends or relatives that are black.  Will they be wrongly lumped in with blacks who made mistakes and targeted?  We are scared that their are problems in our system.

Should I protest?  Should I speak out?  Should I buy a #blacklivesmatter T-shirt or "Blue Lives Matter" flag?  Should I post #alllivesmatter?  Does that make me insensitive?  Should I be worried for me, my family and my friends?  How did we get here?

The questions are paralyzing.  Personally, as a pastor and spiritual leader, it's a challenge.  I'm a very opinionated person, and I have strong feelings about numerous issues, but a lesson I've learned and am learning is to not get worked up about something about which I am unclear of the details and information.  So, the angle I come at this is different, as there is one thing about all that our nation is struggling about that deeply bothers me.

I was a Broadcast News major at UGA's Grady College of Journalism.  I'm proud to have attended one of the finest journalism schools in the country.  I received a call to ministry while in journalism school, but remained in the program.  The deeper I got into it, something began to disturb me about the news.  News isn't really about news.  News is about ratings, because ratings are about advertisers, and advertisers mean money.  Below is an article Newsweek did about people killed by cops each year, and, as you can see, it's very complicated.

http://www.newsweek.com/how-many-americans-do-cops-kill-each-year-480712


Statistics also show that more white people have been killed by police in the last year than African-Americans.  Did you know that?  However, based on population, a much higher percentage of African-Americans are killed by police.  Did you know that?  It's complex.

Let me ask you a question:  how many of those killings did you read about or see on TV.  Six?  Eight?  Maybe a dozen?  There are hundreds each year.  Here's the other problem.  How many did you see in person?  I saw zero, so every detail about anything I'm hearing is all 2nd hand, and with 2nd hand details sometimes (not all of the time) come with biases or agendas, depending on who is sharing the story.  News agencies are not interested in sharing details about all of those killings because not all of them would drive ratings.  I know, I know.  I don't want this to be true. It's true.

I don't mean this as a slight to news agencies or executives.  This is the business.  It's not to get all the news out, it's to get all the news out that we believe people need to see, want to see or would be interested in.  And there's only so much time in the show or space on the page or room on the website. The problem is that leaves out a great deal of the story.  And, frankly, we're all a little to gullible to believe everything we read and hear is accurate.

The other problem, here, is that even if it is newsworthy, none or few of us now the details.  We weren't there.  Even videos don't always tell the whole story.  They come from one angle with a few minutes of the action.  Sometimes they are incriminating.  Sometimes they only give us another view into a very complex situation.  In college, I was once accused incorrectly of a crime that I was nowhere near because I looked like the suspect.  Civilians are wrongly accused of carrying weapons and killed.  Cops are wrongly accused of racism and ostracized.  Both happen.  Cops (otherwise known as humans) are also sometimes prone to sin (because humans are) and fall prey to racism or vengeance and kill innocent people.  African-Americans (also known as humans) are also sometimes sin (because humans do) and provoke violence on themselves through the threat of violence toward law enforcement.  White people do the same thing.  And black cops do the same thing.

What I also don't know is how many dangerous people were killed by cops that saved the lives of many other innocent people, maybe even my family.  What I also don't know is how I would react if I were bullied by belligerent police officers.  What I also don't know is how I would feel if I were African-American?  And what I also don't know is how I would feel if I were a cop?

So what now?  I would encourage you to think very broadly about these issues.  There is a problem because it is clear our sensitivity level goes through the roof on these topics.  But we must be diligent to listen to all the voices and hear the pain of our brothers and sisters from all races and walks of life. Most importantly, fix what you can fix.  The issues are so large in scope, they seem impossible to tackle.  But I can teach my children to see the world the way Christs sees the world.  I can teach my children to respect law enforcement and do that myself.  I can teach my children to be mindful of the horrible history of racism even in our own country and teach them to love all while I practice that myself.  I get to control me.  And I don't have think any way about any race or any profession or any person other than the way I choose to think.  God gave me that freedom.  Skin tones and badges will never affect the way I see a person because I choose to see God's children as God's children.  I'm all for policies, investigations when wrong-doing is suspected, and addressing hurtful and sinful corporate mindsets.  Policies are sometimes needed, but this world will be changed only by people doing right, living right and standing for right in their families and circles of friends.  Maybe it will take a generation.  Maybe it won't if we decided that's the 'what' we should do now.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.16.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you've had a 'complaint free' week!  We're challenging ourselves this week to not complain with our "No Complaining" bracelets that are part of our message series.  This week, we'll take it even a step further.  I believe what comes out of our mouths matters.  It reflects our heart, impacts our heart, and influences others.  Be there this Sunday as we continue "No Complaining."

Also, don't forget:

• We're sponsoring the Winder-Barrow vs. Loganville game tonight.  Help us give away candy and meet the community!  E-mail me if you're interested and haven't signed up.
• Family Promise begins on Sunday.  We still have a few overnight slots, some weekend help and a few other openings to serve.  Contact Jim Ramsdail at jramsdail@yahoo.com if you're interested.

Thought for the Week
"I will give them and those around my hill a blessing by sending the rain in its season. They will be rains of blessing.  The trees in the field will bear fruit, and the earth will yield its harvest."  Ezekiel 5:26-27

It seemed to happen so fast.  It's still pretty warm during the day.  Many days it still feels like summer, but summer is drawing to a close.  Even though it only feels like Autumn early in the morning and late at night, it's happening even when we don't notice it.  And what was really taking months seemed to happen so fast.  I've noticed a leaves starting to fall.  I drove into the neighborhood and everyone's grass wasn't as green.  Something is changing behind the scenes and we don't even notice it.  There is a mystical element to the change in seasons.  From the leaf that falls while the days still hit 90 degrees to the flower the sprouts through the snow, there is evidence that there is much happening that we don't see.  In our lives, we often miss the mystical changes taking place behind the scenes as God prepares us for a new season.  Perhaps a season of rain is coming, a season of growth, a season of letting go, pruning or lying dormant or a season of harvest.  The truth is we move so fast through life that we often miss the signs.  And we weren't ready to deal with the growth, the harvest or the leaves in our yard.  Things are never the same in our lives.  Things are always changing because God is always doing something and preparing us for something new, a new season.  The change of seasons in creation is necessary for new growth.  The same is true for us.  I don't know what that new 'thing' is for you, but I know that we can miss it if we don't look out closely for the signs.  But you have to be still to see it.  You have to observe.  You have to take some time with God and notice what is slowly changing and ask Him what He wants to do in the next season.

In Christ,

Carter 

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.8.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you had a great Labor Day and a short week!  I'm sooooooooo excited about kicking off our new series starting this week - "No Complaining."  We're going to look at some scriptures that will help us speak life and understand why the negative isn't necessary.  Bring a friend!  It's going to be an awesome time.

This Sunday also marks the 15th anniversary of 9/11.  We'll have a special time of prayer and remembering.  I hope to see you there.  Don't forget at Harmony Grove the Traditions Experience moves to 11:15 this week.

Thought for the Week
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

I was recently looking over electrical, mechanical and plumbing plans for The Commons construction project at our Harmony Grove location, and for a liberal arts major, it's about like reading another language.  They are so detailed about every aspect.  Have you ever looked at detailed building plans?  They look very complicated.  I know that the finished product will be beautiful, even if I don't understand all the plans.  If an architect's plans look complicated to laymen like me, imagine what God's plans for your life look like to our mortal minds.  They are a web of details, categories, and explanations that you and I don't understand.  They are drawings of what does not yet exist.  We can't understand them.  They are beyond our comprehension.  However, I wouldn't dare tell our architect that I or one of church members is going to take over the project because we just don't understand all his drawings and it looks too complicated.  We trust him.  We trust his knowledge to help create a beautiful finished product and we know it's a project beyond our scope and knowledge.  But how many times do we take the blueprints away from THE Architect and take over our lives because the process is taking too long, we don't understand the plan or it's just too complicated?  How many times do we think we know better than Him?  He has plans.  Plans to make you into a beautiful finished product.  Be certain that you won't understand them all now.  Trust the Architect and resist the urge to start drawing yourself.  He's got a plan so much better than you could have imagined.

In Christ,

Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor

What is Truth?

What is truth?

That is the question Pilate asked Jesus.  It's an incredibly important question.  It's one we're struggling with culturally in a million ways.  And this is relevant to everyone.  We all have a standard of truth, even if that standard is something we made up entirely ourselves.

The first problem we seem to be having is actually deciphering if something someone has said, sung or written is erroneous.  All we have to do is put the right picture with it, post it and it seems true.  The internet has made this incredibly difficult.  Just because your best friend from 3rd grade (who is now a grand-mother) posted it, that doesn't mean it's true.  Just because it was reported by a major news outlet, that doesn't mean it's true.  Just because someone who is usually trustworthy said it, that doesn't mean it's true.  In this day and age, we'd do well to investigate further before we buy into whatever we read or hear.

But truth is crucial at a deeper level, and this is perhaps the most difficult.  I'm reading a book right now in preparation for a sermon series I've got coming it.  It's okay.  I agree with the author on most points, but his approach is way different than mine.  That's a good thing.  I'm learning from a different angle. Most of his stuff is spot on, makes me think deeper and makes me think about the topic differently.  But, on some points...he's wrong.  He's wrong compared to what I believe to be the truth revealed in God's Word -- because that's my barometer for truth.

You have a truth.  Whether it comes from your parents, your feelings, your heart, your friends, your culture, your church or the Scriptures or a combination of many of those and more, it plays a role in how you approach each an every situation.

Be careful what you believe.  Be careful if it's really true.  For truth is real.  And it matters.  And if you're considering banking your life on what you believe to be true that seems to go against what God has revealed in the Bible...are you sure it's really true.  For me, I have found that the truth in Scripture, though often very uncomfortable personally, has never let me down and has proven to be truth I can trust as what's best for me.

Just something I was thinking about today.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.2.16)

Hey Church!

It's finally here!  This Sunday is Tailgate Sunday!  A reminder that we'll have ONE Worship Experience at 11:00 a.m. at Harmony Grove.  

No 9:45 or 5:30 Worship Experiences this week.

Wear your favorite team gear and plan on coming out for the fun.  Bring a side and dessert to share.  Awards for best outfit, best side and best dessert.  God is also going to speak a powerful word to us.  It's going to be a great Sunday!

Thought for the Week 

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2

I want to be like a remodeled room, but I'm more like a yard.  The thing I love about a remodeled room is that it's done.  The paint, the new trim, maybe some new flooring.  It just needs cleaning every once in a while.  I want to be like that.  I want God to slap a new coat of paint on me, fix me up with some cosmetic touches and just clean me up every once in a while from there.  It's not that way.  I'm more like the yard.  Yards need constant work.  There's always grass that needs cutting, shrubs that need trimming, trees that need pruning.  There's constant work in the warm weather and important fertilizing and treatment in dormant seasons.  It's weekly.  It needs watering and edging and weeding -- forever.  You're never done with it.  Sometimes in a room you say, "That's the last time I'm going to paint it."  You day say to a yard, "That's the last time I'm going to cut it."  God will never be done with you, and if you are going to grow and flourish, it will take constant pruning, cutting, trimming, watering, and preparing for the the next season of growth.  Sometimes a yard looks worse before it looks better.  Sometimes you'll look worse before you look better.  Sometimes some work will need to be done in your dormant season.  Yes, there will be a dormant season.  Sometimes you'll be pruned.  You won't like it.  And you'll need constant work.  That's because God is more like your gardener than your painter.  He's never done with you, and you'll probably keep growing in the wrong directions, so He'll have to train you and trim you.  This is for a purpose.  He's planning on you being the best looking yard on the block.  He's got a vision that's akin to Augusta National for you, but it's going to take daily work to get there.  It's going to take constant pruning and cutting and trimming so you'll finally grow right.  Are you ready for that?  You can trust Him.  He knows what He's doing.

In Christ,

Carter

Everyday Courage

"The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.  A man does what he must -- in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures -- and that is the basis of all human morality...In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience -- the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men -- each man must decide for himself the course he will follow...For each man must look into his own soul."

-Sen. John F. Kennedy, 1956

Profiles in Courage

More than ever, I am finding we are a culture obsessed with approval.  In some arenas, it is more blatant than others.  In this election season, we are bombarded by it because approval is the life-blood of the politician.  They even call them 'approval ratings.'  Can you just imagine how awful it would be for your existence to be wrapped up in an approval rating?  But we all want to be liked.  We want likes and smiley faces on our posts on social media.  We want pats on the back.  My profession, pastoral ministry, is overcome with the desire for approval.  We serve large volunteer organizations, and I don't know a pastor that doesn't want to be liked.

But this is true of nearly everyone.  Yet, approval isn't all we want.  We want security, peace, and to be admired.  We want easy street.  Courage requires a detour from easy street.  That's why it's often so absent.

I am convinced that we need a new generation of courageous people.  We need courageous leaders, courageous parents, courageous coaches, courageous pastor, courageous teachers, courageous bosses, and courageous.  But to act with courage, one has to face the discomfort that follows it.  If nothing is ever difficult, ever costly, ever risky...courage is not needed.

The problem with our lack of courage is that our value is derived from the things we stand to lose should be act courageously.  We like being liked.  We like fame.  We like our security.  We like being popular.  We like that our friends respect us or think like us.  But nothing great will ever happen in this world if people put their need for being liked about what is the right thing to do.  We call that integrity.  We call that character.

For people of faith, there is a deeper calling for courage and a deeper understanding of our self-worth.  The inner urging for courageous action must be coupled with the understanding that, though our courage might lose us favor with others, our favor with God was determined on the cross of Christ.  Our valor is rooted in the undeterred belief that God's love can never be separated for us.  You see, for people of faith it's actually easier to be courageous.  But that doesn't mean it's prevalent.  All of us, even those of us who call ourselves Christians, are subject to the temptation of security, being liked and not rocking the boat.  But this world that needs changing won't be changed by those that are liked most.  It'll be changed by those that exhibited courage for the most noble causes.

Whatever you face today.  Be courageous.  The world needs the most courageous version of you.

Olympic Level Competition

Admit it.  You watch the Olympics and start thinking about training for 2020.  Or you sign up for a local 5K.  Or you at least join a bowling league.  There is something beautiful about the Olympics.  It's the competition.

Our world seems to be afraid of competition.  We don't want to declare winners and losers.  To me, competition has been one of the greatest lessons athletics taught me.  If you play sports long enough.  you're going to lose.  If you stick to it, you'll probably win some thrilling competitions.  Heartbreak and heroics.  Crushing losses and exhilarating wins.  The agony of defeat and the thrill of victory.  Competition teaches us a healthy disdain for losing.  It pushes us to do and be our best.  It drives us toward improvement.  It narrows our focus.

The reason I think competition is so healthy is that the greatest and most important competition is with ourselves.  It is easy to become complacent and lazy with ourselves.  But this isn't the path God would have for us.  God desires us to mature and be our best with each step we take on the journey.  We are in competition to take the next step in our faith, in our courage, and in our trust with Him.  

After a while, any athlete learns that the games were just games.  They don't count in real life.  Marriage, raising children, relationships, impacting our community, and our relationship with God are what really count.  The competition is to be the best version of us in the games that really count -- in life.  

One of my favorite verses is Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."  That's the heart of competition with ourselves.  Don't short change the ones you love by being the most 'okay' person you can be.  Compete.  Be the best version of you.  There will be losses.  Dust yourself off and get to work the next day.

They will not televise your victories or competitions.  But competing with yourself to being the best you that you've ever been is far more important than any medal.  So give that mistake you made the Michael Phelps stank-eye and get to work the next day.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (8.4.16)

Hey Church!

I'm super, super excited about THIS Sunday as we begin a brand new series called "#parenting".  We'll be talking about the important job of raising the next generation.  I believe God wants to walk alongside parents and gives us some clear direction.   It's going to be a great month.  This is a great series to invite a friend, so bring someone with you this week!

Also, don't forget, we've got a Night of Worship this Friday at 7 p.m. at Harmony Grove with the band.

Thought for the Week
"In their peril their courage melted away."  Psalm 107:26

I've been reading a lot about courage lately.  I'm reading a book about courage, and I just finished Judges and I'm headed in the Ruth, both with great examples of courage.  I found this passage interesting.  In their peril, their courage melted away.  Isn't the whole point of courage that it stands strong when we're in peril!  I think the problem is that we often have a kind of false bravado.  We also misunderstand courage.  Sometimes the courageous thing to do is compromise.  Sometimes it's to stand strong.  Sometimes it's to give in.  There is not formula to courage or what it exactly looks like in a given situation.  But, true, Godly courage is rooted not in our abilities but in His.  Our courage will melt away if it's all about us.  If we're depending on ourselves, we won't and can't succeed. We'll face mountains we just can't climb on our own.  But, the path to true courage is to know that you serve a God who can climb any mountain.  My hope for you would be that you would dig into that kind of courage, no matter what you're facing.  Don't let your courage fade because what you face is bigger than you.  Be courageous because the one in whom you trust is bigger than what you're facing.

In Christ,

Carter 

Circumstances

Over the last few weeks, I have preached a couple of times on the temptation to rest on our circumstances.  It's really not intentional, but we all slide into the role of being a victim of our circumstances.  If things are going great, we're feeling good.  If things are going bad, we're in a bad place.

We're tempted to structure our lives on our careers, families, finances, health or circle of relationships.  None of those things are bad things.  But can I make a promise to you?

Your circumstances WILL change.

Maybe for the better, maybe for the worse.  Life has ups and downs.  If your joy and existence is dependent upon the things of this world, you are bound for disappointment.  I believe this is the source of the malaise so many are living in today.  We are building our lives on the things of this world.  This isn't to say that life won't bring us happiness and pleasure.  And it isn't to say that life won't get us down sometimes.  What I mean to say is that the foundation of our lives, the true source of our joy, the rock upon which we stand must be something that is never changing if we are to weather the storms and keep our heads about us in the good times.

God WILL NOT change.

He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He is faithful.  In the valley, he walks with us.  In the good times, he celebrates with us.  In the pit of sorrow, he weeps for and with us.  But His love is never ending.  Circumstances CAN'T take that away.  Circumstances can most certainly take away all that we thought was secure in this world.  But it can't take away His love.

So are you counting on circumstances?  Don't set yourself up for disappointment.  Stand on the one who transcends the circumstances of life.  People of faith in something -- someone -- not of this world.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (7.21.16)

I hope you've had a great week.  Can yo believe summer is almost gone?  It's flying by.  We're also nearing the end of our July series "Family Movie Night," as we've got TWO more Sundays left.  This week, we'll be watching a little Inside/Out and talking about what real joy is all about.  There's going to be some great music and fun at all our experiences, so I hope to see you there!

Also, continue lifting up our One Way Student Ministry this week as they finish up community mission work and head to Panama City Beach on Friday.

Thought for the Week
"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. " 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Do you know that feeling after you sleep for a really long time and you get up and it takes a while for everything to start functioning right?  Like you can't hardly make a fist at first.  Or, have you ever been woken up from a deep sleep, only to be completely and totally disoriented?  I think that's us Christians sometimes.  I think we put just put our faith to sleep.  We don't exercise it, practice it, keep it alert and ready.  Then, when we need it, we are disoriented and week.  We are not ready.  I believe this is born out of the false idea that faith in Jesus is ALL ABOUT saying a one time prayer, that it is an one time event.  Jesus never ever said, "Say a prayer and you'll be saved."  He said, "Follow me."  Actually, he said, "Deny yourself.  Pick up your cross.  And follow me."  In other words, put this faith to work.  If you shelve your faith, you won't be alert, ready and sober for what life throws your way.  You'll stagger around and be defeated by sin and temptation (again).  That's just what the enemy wants from you.  It's also really easy for us to 'wake up' our faith on Sundays or when we're around Christian friends and let is sleep other days of the week.  It's a dangerous practice.  You never know when you're going to need your faith to be alert and ready.  What are you doing to practice your faith, make it stronger, and empower it?  What are doing to keep it alert?  If you don't, it might just go to sleep.  The danger?  Sometimes we don't even know we dozed off.  Wake your faith up and practice it.

In Christ,

Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor 

Beyond Understanding

Let's face it, we like order in life.  We like to have everything under control.  We like to calculate and plan and prepare and set our calendars.  And we want to know just what God is doing.  Recently, I was reading the story of Samson's birth.  Samson was a judge over Israel, and his birth is one of many miraculous birth stories in the Bible.

His parents are encountered by an angel who declares to them Samson's pending birth and gives this special instructions about how to nurture and raise him to be the leader God has created him to be.  They invite the angel to stay for dinner and Samson's father asks the angel his name.  This is his reply:

He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding." (Judges 13:18)

It's a profound notion.  You can't even understand my name.  You couldn't dream of understanding everything else going on in the heavenly realms.  When you meet a person with a unique name, it might take you a few minutes to pronounce it right. You might ask them what it means in their family or in their language, and they tell you.  It all makes sense then.  You understand they are from a unique family or culture, but you eventually get it.  This angel was from a culture, a realm, a world, a place, an existence that you and I can't understand.

I want to understand all that God is doing in my life and in the world.  I don't.  I can't.  My knowledge and scope is soooooooooo limited.  That leaves me with lingering questions:  Am I going to trust and follow even if I don't fully understand where I am going?  Am I going to 'lean into' Jesus even if I can't fully see where, exactly, I'm leaning?  Am I'm I going to take my next faithful step even if I'm not sure what the step after that looks like?

I am convinced this is the course for people of faith and a critical step in becoming a disciple.  We so deeply want it all to make sense and have the next 5-10-20 years planned out.

We can't.

Because we don't know where this is going.

And even if He told us, it is beyond our understanding.

For we see dimly what will one day be clear.

But it's not for now.

So will you just go?  Will you stop planning and just take the next faithful step?  That's my task.  I don't understand it all, Lord, but I'm willing to walk with you.  Because though it doesn't always make sense, I trust YOU more than the best-laid plans of mice and men, namely me.  Could that be your prayer today?

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (7.16.16)

Hey Church!

It was an awesome week at KidsGames.  We had about 80 kids each night, and what a blessing it was to minister to these little ones in our community.  Thanks so much to all our volunteers who made it an awesome week!

This Sunday, we'll continue our series "Family Movie Night" and we'll learn some lessons from the move "Up."  It's going to be a fun day.  Bring a friend and come ready to experience Jesus!

Thought for the Week
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"  Luke 12:25

I worry about terrorism.  I worry about the election.  I worry about our country.  I worry about my children.  I worry about the economy.  I worry about my health.  I worry about our church.  I worry about the future.  I worry about the unknown.  I worry about the community.  I worry about the people who don't know Jesus.  I worry.  Can we all just admit it:  we worry.  There's not one of us who doesn't worry something or someone.  We worry because we don't have the answers and there are no certainties.  But worry is actually a lack of faith.  Worry reveals where our security resides.  Worry reveals that we don't trust God.  Worry does no good.  It only increases anxiety and makes our mind imagine a world in which God won't show up.  But God WILL show up.  God WILL be with us.  And God DOES love us.  There are serious problems in the world and in our lives.  Serious things that raise our level of concern.  What would it mean for you and mean to trust God and have faith that He walks with us instead of worrying?  Worrying won't add an hour to your life, but it sure can make them more miserable.  Let's live in faith and trust.

In Christ,

Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor

Wisdom From Above

16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

                                -James 3:16-18

This little passage in James was what I felt led to share with our church yesterday.  In Godly wisdom, there is no favoritism, which pretty much covers up all the '-isms.'  No racism, ageism, class-ism, sexism, denominational-ism, or any other -ism you or I could scheme up.  There's just not.  It. Is. Not. A. Part. Of. God's. Wisdom.

Instead, the kind of wise life that God promotes among His people is one that sows fruit of righteousness that cultivates peace.  Is everything you are doing sowing righteousness and cultivating peace?  Every article you share online?  Every comment you make?  Every thought you think?  Every conversation you have?  Every action?  

Probably more than anything else that I pray for myself, I ask God for wisdom.  I want to be wise.  This is a part of what God's wisdom, from above, looks like.  Without this kind of wisdom that serves others, loves peace, offers mercy and is gentle, we get a world that is self-absorbed and envious of one another.  And we get disorder and every kind of evil.  I don't want that.  I want to be wise.  Let's you and I together seek to be wise this week in how we act, speak, and love.

Thought for the Week (7.8.16)

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10

34.  That's what I was thinking about this afternoon.  I was doing some projects around the house; one of those was a project I'd promised my eight year old when we moved in nearly seven months ago.  It was a good day to stay busy because thinking about the world right now is simply painful.  I don't have any answers.  

I thought about my son, Walker, and the 34 he's wanted on his wall for months.  It's his number.  Every sport in which he's gotten to choose his number, he's 34.  It's one of my nicknames for him.  I'll just shout, "Hey, 34..."  It's because he's named after my childhood hero, who made #34 famous in the early '80s stalking goal lines across the South -- Herschel Walker.  He's named after a black man.  It wasn't just that he was a sports hero.  I also respected the way he carried himself beyond the field.  That he is African-American was and is inconsequential to me.  That was the name I wanted for my boy.  In college, I repented of a racist spirit and never looked back.  We started a church 11 years ago that has become a place for all people, all races.  African-American, white, Hispanic and Asian people worship together nearly every Sunday there.  The chair of our Trustees is African-American.  Twenty years ago I decided I'd never consider the color of someone's skin an issue ever again.  That's why the pain of this week is real.  I feel the pain of my minority brother's and sisters.  Pain that I know I've never really felt because of the color of my skin.  I don't know where to start.  I also have some of my deepest friendships with those in law enforcement.  My college roommate who became one of my best friends is in law enforcement.  I can't imagine the pain the law enforcement feels when they are demonized because the actions of few and live in fear that someone will retaliate on them.  I don't even know where to start.  

I also know that I don't know a lot. I don't know the details of the situations that escalated this week because I wasn't there.  What I do know is what Jesus preached in his most famous sermon.  I know the world is broken and needs His truth.  And it needs more than my prayers.  It needs my prayers, but it needs more.  It needs you and I to be peacemakers, to be pure in heart, to thirst for righteousness.   When we see injustice, to make peace.  Where there is the temptation for impurity and ugliness, to seek to have a heart that is pure.  Where there is unrighteousness and sin, to hunger and thirst for what is righteous.  It's not all we can do, but it's the most important thing we can do.  We must -- MUST -- live out these words of Jesus in our corner of the world.  IF we did that, we'd change our neighborhood, our town, our county, our state, our country and maybe even our world.

On Politics, Faith and Who's Right

Just as we've celebrated our nation's birthday again (can you believe in a mere 10 years we'll be 250 years old -- that'll be a great party!), I soberly remember that we are almost exactly four months from perhaps the most contentious election in U.S. history.  This Friday will be the four month marker to November 8th.  The glow of the fireworks and our unity in red, white and blue will soon fade to mud-slinging and name-calling.  I wish it weren't true.  But it is.

Pastors hold an interesting place in the political spectrum of America.  I lead a congregation and seek to reach a community that is surely comprised of Democrats, Republicans and everything in between.  My goal in ministry is never to sway votes because earthly elections seem so small in the face of my eternal calling.  I'm trying to sway people to Jesus, not Trump or Clinton or whatever local leader that's up for election.  That doesn't mean I don't have opinions.  I just kind of pride myself in the idea that you'd have to have a crowbar to get them out of me.  My political opinions are my opinions, and they're not much helpful to my cause as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus.  Moreover, I'm increasingly convinced that I am grossly ill-informed and uneducated as to the depths of most political issues.  I am inclined to not have strong opinions about things in which I know my knowledge is limited.

I am greatly concerned about the next four months, though, as it relates to the Body of Christ.  I am troubled at how we might portray ourselves in these next four months.  Church, can we please be the Church, at it's best, this election season?  Can we live Proverbs 13:3,

"Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin."

If you are not a Christian, that's still some pretty good advice.  If you're a Christian, it's in the book.  We're supposed to do it.

A key concept for me to recall is that most of the political issues that any of us get all hot and bothered about are very complex.  I recently starting reading John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage.  In the foreword, his brother, Robert, says that any democracy exists "in the struggle for solutions which are very rarely easy to find."  John Kennedy later writes, "There are few if any issues where all the truth and all the right and all the angels are on one side."

It's why speaking rashly comes to ruin.  When we sit an think things through, we can at least see other angles to the story.  Our 'side' in a political debate almost never has all the right on its side.  We'd do well to recognize and admit that.  We can understand that it's very complex. And we understand a bigger picture.  For the Christian, the bigger picture is eternity.

Church, convincing someone to vote for your candidate will not secure their eternity.  Convincing someone to follow your Christ will save their soul.  But you and I won't do it with words.  I'm not saying it's not an important election.  I'm just saying there's something far more important at stake on which to focus our energies, so let's guard our lips.

*John F. Kennedy. Profiles in Courage.  New York:  Harper Collins, 2003.

Where do you get your truth?

Yesterday in church I sang a quick line from a country song because it relayed a message that was against what the scriptures teach...and it seemed so innocent.  It was catchy and probably a lot of people relate to it and it sold a bunch of records.  But they reflect a culture that embodies a dangerous kind of thinking.  There is a new country song that disturbs me much more.  I mean -- deeply disturbs me.

You have to know that I'm a son of the South.  I was raised on Sweet Tea and whispering pines.  I have a very eclectic music taste, and listen to a little bit of evertything.  But I cut my teeth on country music.  I wanted to be the next Garth Brooks, and grew up with Alan Jackson, Clint Black, George Strait, Reba, the Judds, Martina McBride and Brooks & Dunn.  I grew to love those that came before me like Johnny Cash, Waylon, and Merle.  My love for country music has evolved with the industry.  I love Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Sam Hunt (shout out to Cedartown -- hometown of Sam Hunt, Nick Chubb and my parents!).

My children almost always have their alarm clocks tuned to a country station.  They get it from me.  Country music is in my blood.

But there's a dangerous kind of thinking that country music sometimes reveals about the South -- cultural Christianity.  Sometimes people think because we were raised in the Bible Belt that makes us Christian.  Or because we mention God in a song.  Or because we were a cross around our neck.  Sometimes, the kind of music that sounds like it has some nice religious undertones can contain a most dangerous message.

A couple of weeks ago I heard the song H.O.L.Y. from Florida-Georgia Line.  It's really a catchy song.  It's suppose to mean "high on loving you," but you wouldn't know that from the way it's used in the song.  Instead, it offers a dangerous gospel.  Here's are some lyrics:

When the sun had left and the winter came

And the sky thought to only bring the rain

I sat in darkness

All broken hearted

I couldn't find a day I didn't feel alone

I never meant to cry, started losing hope

But somehow baby

You broke through and saved me

You're an angel, tell me you're never leaving

Cause you're the first thing I know I can believe in

You're holy, holy, holy, holy

I'm high on loving you, high on loving you

You're holy, holy, holy, holy

I'm high on loving you, high on loving you

Well, that's interesting.  It sounds kind of churchy, right?  It's not.  It's the exact opposite.  1 Samuel 2:2 says the opposite, "“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God."  The Apostle Paul said that no one is righteous.  Not one person.  We are in dangerous places when we begin saying that another person saves us and is our source of hope.  That is not the gospel.

So what's the point.  The point is that there is a world out there hungry for something to give their lives meaning, purpose and hope.  Many are looking to be saved and longing for something holy.  Too many settle for a knock-off imitation of true holiness and true wholeness.  Earthly love can be wonderful, but it won't complete you.  You were designed for so much more.

There's also a powerful reminder here to thinking about what is shaping own thinking, and the culture we live in can seductively warp our thinking.  And, frankly, the culture's not always right.  We have to have wisdom to hear what our culture (even the ones we love) are telling us and say, "No, that's not right.  I reject that."  If not, a dangerous message could become our dangerous way of life.

Time Flies

How did this happen?

How in the world did we get here?  The only emergency credit card I have was about to expire so I got the new one in the mail.  I looked at the new expiration date and had to pause a minute.  I thought, "I have a card that will expire in the 2020s?"  That's, like, in the future.  

I am in a very strange time of life.  I am just an adult.  I'm not quite seasoned enough to have all the sage wisdom those near or at retirement have.  And I just don't quite have the energy that those just starting out have.  I'm in the middle.  But by the time you get to the middle, you begin to think about time differently.

After today, I will have a child headed to middle school.  That seems incredibly weird.  I have elementary kids -- not middle schoolers!  It's these realizations that people have what we used to call a "mid-life crisis."  I don't think I'll be buying any convertibles any time soon (what folks used to do during 'the crisis'), but we all certainly start looking for an answer to life's most important questions:  am I living for what I want to live for?  Is there more than the rate race?  

You see, and I don't mean to depress you, but here's something I know about you.  That number up there ^^^^^...

You've got one, too.  

That's right, you've got an expiration date.  Now, I hope it's a long, long ways off.  I'm sure it is.  But it's closer today than it was yesterday.  The realization of this for me is that I just want to be a part of what God is doing.  I want to know my life was a part of a much grander story than my own.  My story is too small.  We spend an awful lot of time on our story, which is really a 12-page short story in the midst of God's 1,500 page multi-volume novel printed in 100 languages.  The ending to my story is coming so quickly.  I mean, my card expires in the 2020's, y'all!  

Here's what I believe about us.  We find our best story in the midst of God's story.  When we live our own lives our own way we live in a story that is so limited and ends when we die, remembered by a few friends and family.  In God's story, we find our truest selves.  We are afforded the opportunity to participate in a story that spans eternity.

Would you pray the prayer of Habakkuk?  "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known."  (Habakkuk 3:2)  Don't you want to be a part of something bigger in your time?  Times flying, but it's never too late to start a new story.