Grateful

Kicking off the season vs. App. State with Walker & Tanner

I'm so grateful.  I'm so grateful we got to experience this ride.  I mean it.  I guess I'm sad today.  I certainly am, but I'm mostly grateful.  I don't feel a lot of pain and heartache, because I don't think this was a one-off.  You never know, though.  There are no guarantees we'll ever make it back, but it didn't feel like our only shot.  It felt like the beginning.  And we'll likely play those guys in 11 months back in the same building with the SEC on the line.

I'm grateful to be a Dawg.  I mean this sincerely.  I'm biased, but, man, we've got a great fan base.  And, this is just the honest truth, we appreciated this year more than most.  I'm not sure FSU fans in the '90s, USC fans in the early 2000's or Bama Fans in the 2010's really appreciate the winning.  But we're just grateful.  What a ride and what a run.  There are a lot of teams - a lot - who have no idea what a run like this feels like. The run was immensely fun, and it gave me was a lifetime of memories. 

With Morgan at Notre Dame

This season gave me an excuse to take a trip to Chicago with my 13 year old.  We saw the city, I got to hear one of my heroes preach (Bill Hybels) and we beat Notre Dame, kick-starting a season for the ages.

All of us in Jacksonville!

We took the whole family to Jacksonville for us to all see us (finally) beat Florida.  We played on the beach and ate seafood in late October. 

With Brooks watching Nick and Sony's last game in Sanford Stadium

We traveled all across the Southeast.  I took each of my four sons to at least one road game.  We had long drives in the car together, meals by ourselves and new adventures as father and son.  We hugged after Touchdowns and Interceptions.  They dressed up as their favorite players and ate cotton candy. 

Tanner and I took the only long drive home from the Plains, knowing we'd get our shot at redemption against someone in Atlanta.  We did, against those same guys.

With Walk-man at Tech

After Thanksgiving, it was magical enough.  11-1 and we beat most of our rivals...badly.  We had eaten a lot of good food and shared a lot of good laughs.  It was just beginning.

Me & my friend, Chase, at the SEC Championship Game in his hat that has never lost to Auburn

We vanquished our only loss of the season and earned a trip to the playoff.  12-1 and SEC champs.  I had been to every game but Tennessee.  Would there be one or two more? 

My boys at Christmas with their Clemson cousins, Parker & Mason

Christmas at my parent's house was like never before.  My brother's family is all Clemson Tigers.  We were both in the playoffs.  Would we meet in the natty?  There was a lot of ribbing and trash talking. But we were all happy to be along for the ride. 

Emily & I with our good friends, Jana & Buck, after the Rose Bowl

L.A.  Tinsel Town.  Hollywood.  Beverly Hills.  Venice Beach.  Malibu.  Santa Monica.  And a little Vegas.  Emily and I did it all.  It was the first time she and I had been away together for that long in a decade.  We'll never forget it.  When Sony scored we hugged and yelled and cried.  I'm certain it was one of the top 10 happiest moments of my life.

Morgan & I with some of our crew, Heather, Ben & Mark...with the trophy we were oh so close to getting.

My son, Morgan, saved all his Christmas money from family to help buy his ticket to the National Championship Game.  We spent all day together.  We hugged and cheered screamed our guts out.  We lost on the last play of the college football season to the best program (maybe ever) in the last 15 years.  How can I be sad?

Saturdays (and a couple of Mondays) afforded me time with family that nothing else comes close to.  We have little control over the outcome, despite our best efforts at loud screaming and wearing lucky hats.  I wore a tie yesterday because it was an important occasion, but mostly because it was my Daddy's Bulldog tie.  It's probably older than me.  Because my daddy was there with me.

Some people will wallow in misery over this.  They will say this was the most Atlanta thing ever or the most Georgia thing ever.  Some will say they'll never get over it.  I don't get that.  What's to wallow in?  It's so, so, so very difficult to get here.  Enjoy it.  And if you care for a little football perspective -- we've got a fantastic young coach and more talent coming in than we've ever had.  This won't be the last time.  Trust me, depressing is driving home from the Liberty Bowl after losing to UCF to finish 6-7.  This wasn't depressing.

Others will wonder what's the big deal.  The big deal is that we did this together.  I saw friends from college in Chicago and Los Angeles.  I took a trip with my wife.  I spent Saturdays with my boys.  I was part of something bigger than myself.  It connected me with something deep in my soul.

Sistee, my brother, Courtney, Jim, me, Mama & Daddy

Georgia Football, has been a family thing for me for a long time.  Jim & Sistee Williams got us hooked.  I cheered for Tim Worley & Rodney Hampton the way my boys have for Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb & Sony Michel.  We are linked by generations of silver britches.

Don't be sad, Bulldog Nation.  Be grateful. 

And Dawgs...Keep Chopping.  That tree is coming down one day soon.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (3.17.17)

Hey Church!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I hope you've had a great week.  This Sunday, we're beginning a new 4-weeks series called "Pray-er" in which we're talking about how to truly become people of prayer.  Whether you're just curious about prayer, want to know what it's all about or looking for ways to connect more deeply with God, I believe this series will transform your life.

Tonight is is our St. Patrick's Day Chili Cook-Off Party & Game Night.  Bring some chili for the competition, a dessert, or a game to share or just come on out for some fun!  No matter what campus you're a part of, all are welcome!  6 p.m. at Harmony Grove.

Thought for the Week
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

Today, many of us will wear a shirt with 'lucky' on the front or hope for the 'luck of the Irish' in our lives.  It's all in good fun along with our green clothes.  If you search for the keyword 'luck' on Biblegateway.com (a great resource) or the Bible App on your phone (another great resource), you won't be able to find the word luck anywhere in the Bible.  Now, this isn't to say I don't believe in luck.  Sometimes you get lucky.  Sometimes you're unlucky.  I'm a big enough sports fan to have seen both sides of it.  But the idea of luck is a really deep issue if you want to get into it.  It's hard use anything other than luck to describe something like me fooling around on a basketball court and throwing a full-court basketball shot one handed and it going in.  But the idea of luck is not really addressed much in the Bible.  It's not really a concept that's discussed.  Unfortunately, many of us bank on it.  We're just hoping to get lucky.  In our jobs.  In our finances.  In relationships.  In parenting.  In life.  Maybe we'll just get lucky and things will work out.  That's not really the message of God.  Instead, in Romans, the Apostle Paul flatly says that things wont's always work out.  There will be negatives.  We might call it bad luck.  But, for those that fervently pursue God, He begins to weave those negatives into a beautiful tapestry that tells our story.  They become a part of the fabric of what God has done and is doing in our lives.  They become a catalyst for the movement of the Spirit.    So love Him.  Seek Him.  God is working for the good of you, even in your unlucky moments.  He didn't cause them. He CAN use them to write your story.   And He has such a good story planned for you.

In Christ,

Carter 

Sports

Kris Jenkins wins it for Villanova at the buzzer.

Sunday marked one month since the Super Bowl, and Monday I finally emerged from under my sports rock.  Since late in the night on February 5, I gave myself a one month ban on sports talk radio and barely watched ESPN except to catch a UGA or UNC basketball game.  I needed to create some separation for myself.  I didn't want to hear about, read about or talk about the improbable comeback.  I'm happy to hear the conversation is now much more about pitchers and catchers.  It's March.  Hope springs eternal for my Braves.

I've had a rough year in sports.  It all started in Houston, but not in the Super Bowl.  It started in at the Final Four at NRG Stadium. My wife is a UNC fan, and we're pretty big Tar Heel Basketball fans.  The stars were aligning last march for the Heels' third National Championship under Roy Williams.  Preseason #1.  Regular season ACC Champs.  ACC Tournament Champs.  And they'd made it to the National Championship, and even hit an improbable 3-pointer to tie it up.  Then Kris Jenkins happened, and Villanova won the greatest NCAA tournament championship ever.

Surely it would get better in the Fall.  My Dawgs had a new coach, started the season with a resounding win in the Chick-fil-a Kickoff vs. UNC (can you say house divided?), featuring our star player's (Nick Chubb) improbable comeback from injury, and thrilling last minute win at Mizzou at the hand of our rising star, freshman QB Jacob Eason.  Against undefeated Tennessee at home, we'd played our best game of the season, trailed late and made a miracle play with 10 seconds left to seemingly secure the biggest home win in several years.  It would be a huge moment for our rookie coach and rookie QB, who had made the (almost) winning pass.  Then the unthinkable happened.

Jauan Jennings makes the game winning catch.

But the Falcons were rolling through the season.  Midway through the year I thought we looked like a Super Bowl contender.  Indeed, we were.  Matt Ryan was the best player in the league, except maybe for his teammate, Julio Jones.  The offense was unstoppable and the defense was maturing.  The playoffs became the ride of the lifetime, and at halftime of the Super Bowl, I couldn't hardly believe my eyes.  We were going to win the Super Bowl.  The loss to 'Nova stung.  The Hail Mary that derailed our season still hurt.  This would give me some momentary sports joy.  Would I get the red, black or gray Super Bowl Champion shirt?  Maybe one of each, or one short sleeve and one long sleeve.  And a hat.  And a pennant for the basement.  And you know what happened.

James White scores the game winning TD in Overtime

In the stadium where the season of my sports discontent started, it ended.  I'd seen my favorites lose the greatest NCAA championship game ever, one of the greatest SEC games ever (Two 40+ yd TD passes in 10 seconds), and the greatest Super Bowl ever (the only one to ever go to overtime.)  I needed a break.

But I can't just give up on sports.  Hope springs eternal, and there are too many lessons.  During my hiatus from sports talk, my boys' basketball seasons marched on.  My youngest was in an instructional league for Kindergarten and 1st graders.  They didn't keep score.  At that age, the kids there were super aggressive kind of took over.  Nothing wrong with that.  The kids were trying to make plays and really got after it on defense.  It was hard for some kids to even get a shot off all season.  In the last couple of games, the referee cleared a path for a few kids who hadn't been able to score all year to get some clear shots.  They were ecstatic when they'd finally made one.  They beamed the whole way back down the court.  That is what sports have really been about in my life.

Sports build confidence and character like few things I know of.  They teach us to keep fighting and working hard.  They teach discipline and effort.  They teach us to respect leaders.  They teach unselfishness.  They teach teamwork.  Few things have shaped my work life and adult life the way sports did.

They also teach dealing with disappointment.  In the movie Fever Pitch, Jimmy Fallon's character, Ben, describes his affection for his beloved Red Sox and their success this way:  "I like being part of something that's bigger than me...It's good for your soul to invest in something you can't control."  And guess what?  Much of our lives we can't control, and we have to learn to get back up and move on when we're disappointed.  Even being a real fan can be positive.  Can we learn to stick with a team or organization through highs and lows or will we be a front-runner fan?  That teaches us something about commitment and relationships.  People will disappoint us.  Will we stick with them?  And isn't success sweeter when we stuck with them for the long haul?

I love art -- music, movies, artwork.  But someone decides what they look like and how they end up.  The artists controls what they create with the skills they spent a lifetime honing.  But sports are unpredictable.  We have no idea what will happen when the game begins, and how hard you worked doesn't always mean you get the results you want, and sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes the ball bounces the wrong way, and sometimes one decision changes the course of the game, and sometimes your preparation meets the perfect opportunity, and sometimes you have to play again after being incredibly disappointed, and sometimes you celebrate a win only to realize there's another game.  Ain't that life?

And the greatest thing about it?  There's always next year, and in your life, there's always tomorrow.  After all, the Heels are looking like they could make another run, the Dawgs are about to start spring practice, and the Braves look like a young, hungry team.  Don't talk to me about NFL free agency.  I'm not ready for the NFL yet.  

I'm still not over it.

At least I'm not a Warriors or Indians fan.  

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.27.17)

Hey Church!

I hope you've had a great last week of January.  We're coming to the end of our "REVOLUTION" series this week as well.  We'll be talking about starting a Revolution in our Community.  I hope you'll be at one of our locations to be a part of it.

Also, don't forget we're continuing with Serve Team Sign-Ups this week.  This is a great way to get involved, meet others, grow in your faith, and be a part of God's ministry.

Thought for the Week
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."  Proverbs 11:3
I read something the other day that was really striking, especially in our technology heavy culture.  It essentially said that there are not two of you, an internet you and a regular life you.  If you are mean on the internet...you're mean.  But that is really true about all our lives.  We would like to compartmentalize our lives, but something I often say is 'everything affects everything.'  There is not a work you, home you, church you, internet you, by-yourself you.  There is just you.  That kind of duplicity will destroy you.  Integrity guides you because you don't ever have to wonder which 'you' that you should be.  When we have different versions of ourselves, we aren't really being authentic.  Which is the real us?  Integrity means we are the same person in every situation around all kinds of people.  And you know what?  People really want to be around people with integrity.  Employers want to hire people with integrity.  Children respect parents with integrity.  Others respect integrity.  So, is there an area of your life that is marked by duplicity rather than integrity?  Don't fool yourself.  That's not just the 'other you' for that area of your life -- that's you.  We don't live in multiple realities.  Be who you want to be and God created you to be in every arena.  Have integrity.

In Christ,

Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.19.17)

Hey Church!

Are you living the revolution this week?  I hope so.  The Revolution series has me thinking about my own life.  This week, the series continues as we talk about what it means to have a Revolution in our church.  I believe God has big things in store for us as a church if we are obedient to Him.  I hope you'll come be a part of it!  AND YOU'RE WEAR YOUR FALCONS GEAR TO WORSHIP!

If you're new over the last few months, stick around this Sunday for 10-4.  It's 10 minutes after worship on the 4th Sunday of the month to meet pastors and find out how to take the next step to get involved.

And don't forget Serve Team sign-ups are this week.  Where will you serve?

Thought for the Week
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"  Mark 8:34

As another inauguration approaches our country, I am always in awe of the process.  It's one of the things that makes our country unique and beautiful.  We call it the peaceful transition of power.  Think about it.  Only once in the last 70 years has a president won an election whose predecessor was from the same party -- that was George H.W. Bush in 1988.  Prior to that, it was Harry Truman in 1944.  That means that almost every inauguration in the last 70 years has been by a President in his second term, a President taking over after tragic circumstances (Johnson after the assassination, and Ford after Nixon's impeachment), or a President taking the reigns from the 'other' party.  And it will happen, again, peacefully.  I cannot say that the transition of power in my life from my control to God's control has been peaceful. It's a daily knockdown, drag out fight.  Sometimes, it's nearly a war.  Isn't that was following Jesus demands?  It's what Jesus asks of us -- deny yourself and follow Him.  Like a political opponent who has won an election, it isn't always what we want.  Sometimes, our desires are strikingly different than God's.  I don't want to hand God control.  I want it my way.  I want the power in my life.  I want to make decisions for myself.  Don't I know what's best for me?  So I fight.  Many of us fight. We just won't let go.  I think discipleship looks like peacefully transitioning the power in our lives over to God.  I think it looks like handing over control.  In our country, this only happens every four or eight years.  For us, this is almost a daily ritual.  Tomorrow will have more decisions that will require 'handing over' power.  Daily, we are called to inaugurate Jesus the president and ruler of our lives.

In His Grace,

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

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 (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

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

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

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.

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.

Next Season

There is a tendency to miss the season you're in because you're looking to the next.  The next season always looks better, but there's so much in this season we shouldn't miss.

Whenever I go to an empty-nester's house (whether it be our parents or friends), I'm always amazed at how immaculate their houses are.  My house looks like an F5 tornado made it's way through the den and hallways.  There is always a basketball and bike in the yard.  There are paper airplanes everywhere.  There are cups and water bottles from school lunches all over the counter.  There are legos and nerf gun bullets in the strangest places.  It's because I have four boys 12 and under living in this house.  This is just the way it is.  It's easy to look at those clean houses and think, "Man, that'd be nice."  But those houses don't have little boys (or girls) living in them any more.  And I'll miss these days once they come.

The seasons pass so fast, and we shouldn't be so hurried to get through them to the next one.  The next one will be fine and good, but it will have its own shortcomings, and you'll miss the things about this season you never thought you would.

• Middle schoolers can't wait to get to high school, but find out that high school isn't as care free as it seems.
• High schoolers can't wait to get to college or get a 'real job' but find out college professors and bosses aren't as forgiving as their high school Social Studies teacher was.
• Young adults can't wait to have a baby, but they learn that babies are a lot of work.
• Young parents can't wait for their babies to be able to walk and play, but it doesn't take long to realize they make a lot more messes.
• Parents with kids can't wait for their kids to get a little more responsibility as teenagers, but, you know, then you have teenagers.
• Parents can't wait for their kids to get on their own, but the house seems eerily quiet.
• We can't wait to retire but find that we lose a little purpose sometimes in retirement.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."  If we are always bemoaning the season we are in, we'll miss the beauty of it.  If we are always looking at what's next, we might miss what's now.  

My oldest nephew is graduating high school in a few weeks.  It was just yesterday I was holding him in the hospital.  Just yesterday it seems.  It goes by fast.  Every season.  So enjoy every season.  The next one will be great, but milk today for all its worth.  You never get it back.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (5.13.16)

Hey Church!

I hope you've had a great week!  I am glad to be back in town and ready for a great Sunday of worship.  Last week, James shared about the Gwinnett Campus.  This week, we'll be in week three of the Legacy Campaign and I'll be sharing more details about where God is leading us at Harmony Grove, The Commons and the incredible opportunity we have to reach our community.  Can't wait to see you there!

Thought for the Week
"He will renew your life."  Ruth 4:5

I readily admit that I'm kind of an HGTV junkie.  I like building stuff, painting stuff and fixing stuff up.  As is popular now, I'm starting to like seeing old stuff re-purposed.  Whether it's reclaimed wood or old furniture or antiques.  Old is making a comeback!  A little paint or poly, some sanding and staining or just some cleaning can do wonders for something old.  And the nicks and knocks just add character.  There's something cool about seeing something renewed.  However, some people just can't see it.  They can't look at an old piece of furniture and see what it could be.  Most of us are this way with our lives.  We just can't see it.  We can't imagine that God could clean us up and give us a fresh coat.  We can't envision what we could be.  So we relegate ourselves to being dusty and beat up.  We settle for a life dirtied and weathered by our mistakes and past.  You know, God sees something in you.  God has a picture of what you could be if you'd let him get to work on you.  There might be some sanding involved (and it might hurt a little).  There might be some paint required, and you may have some things in your life covered up that you're not ready to let go of.  You might need shining up a little.  But he wants to build something beautiful out of you.  Don't worry about cracks and dents.  They'll add character to your story of God's renewal in you.  People will marvel at how beautiful you are.  But you have to let the Master Carpenter get to work.

In Christ,

Carter