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.

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.

We Don't Know What to Do

We don't know what to do.  We are becoming numb to terror.  At least 34 dead in Brussels.  At least 16 dead on the Ivory Coast.  And we don't know how to to respond.  But this is the same with all of life.  In the United States, we are in the middle of the most brutal political season ever, namely because of social media.  More people are more aware of what is going on because of media coverage and more people than ever are sharing their opinions because of social media.  And we don't know how to respond.

When I say 'we,' I mean all of humanity, but I can't ever say 'we' without meaning the Body of Christ.  We Christians aren't sure how to respond.  We are broken-hearted over lost life and lost innocence in places where terror strikes.  We are angry and vengeful to see the terrorist pay.  We are remorseful that our world has come to this.  We are outraged at political commentary and our friends' contrasting opinions on the candidates for our country's presidency.  And we ask ourselves, "Are they really my friend if they see this issue differently?"

And outrage seems to be what the Church does best these days.  We Christians are really good at outrage.  That's kind of our 'go-to' response, but deep down we know it doesn't feel right.  We just don't know what to do, so we're outraged.  We're outraged at a religious group killing innocent people.  Outraged at this or that government's response.  Outraged at that politician comments.  Outraged at this politicians lack of comments.  Outraged at this governmental policy.  Outraged at school board decisions.  Outraged at teacher's teaching methods.  Outraged at our kids lack of playing time.  Outraged our pastor said something political.  Outraged our pastor won't say anything political.  We're just really good at outrage.  I think non-believers have gotten the message:  Christians are outraged.

I'm outraged, too.  I'm outraged that people are killing other people in places like Brussels and the Ivory Coast.  I'm outraged at terror.  But I'm not surprised by it.  In fact, I'm outraged at myself and my lack of courage, compassion, and selflessness.  I'm outraged at my own sin and selfishness and hardness of heart.  This world is broken.  Sin reigns because we've let it.  All of us.  It's a world that needs Jesus.  And I'm convinced my outrage won't help.

I'm convicted by Philippians 1:27, when the Apostle Paul wrote, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."  Whatever happens.  We control how we conduct ourselves.  What if 100 people in one church took that seriously in their neighborhood?  What if 1,000 from a few different churches took that seriously in their community?  What if 100,000 took it seriously in a region?  What if millions of Christians took that seriously in the U.S?  What if the 2-3 billion Christians took that seriously worldwide?  What if we conduct ourselves at work, at the ball field, at home, on social media, in the grocery store line in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ?

We do know what to do -- we just won't do it.  Outrage is so much easier than obedience.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (3.5.16)

I hope you're week has gone fantastic.  This Sunday, we're continuing to turn the page in "The Journey" through "The Story of Jesus," and we'll be talking about Jesus the Healer.  If you've got an area in your life that needs healing, I so hope you'll be there.  I believe it's going to be a powerful time, and we're going to have a special time of prayer and healing.

Thought for the Week
"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."  Colossians 1:9-10

Spring is springing all around us, and one of the sure signs for me is the pictures of little ones playing softball and baseball all over my Facebook feed and at at local parks whenever you drive by.  This is our first season in a long, long time without T-Ball.  I love T-Ball because it's bananas.  There's loud cheering, there's kids all over the place, coaches all over the place and it's kind of like watching a baseball game in slow motion.  Of course, early in the season, there's usually a kid or two that runs to the wrong base, or they just run toward the pitcher's circle.  One of the things I love about T-Ball is watching the kids get better as the season progresses.  They learn to run the right way, the learn where to throw the ball, they learn when to stay on their base so they won't get tagged.  They grow.  Their knowledge of the game expands.  That is God's intention for us, but too many times we're still running to the wrong base in life.  Or, we want to get to 2nd or 3rd base before we've really mastered the basics of the faith.  If we're not learning and growing in our knowledge of faithfulness, then we're not on the path God desires.  We're like a kid who never gets the rules as the season progresses.  God wants more for you.  It's okay to make mistakes -- but what are you learning?

In Christ,

Carter

Do we get to vote about what "Christian" means?

It's Super Tuesday, and Americans are heading to the polls to vote.  And this election seems more important than ever.  The candidates are about as different as possible.  The stakes are high for the Church, and let me explain why.

Let's all be honest with each other, our next president will be one of five people:  Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump.  All but Sanders identify as Christian, who identifies as Jewish by birth.  Over America's 240 year history, we have never had a Jewish president, so that would be a particularly big event.  All but Kennedy (who was Roman Catholic), identified as Protestant.  What does that tell me?  History says our next president will be one of the other four.  But rest assured, they will all carry the Christian banner on the campaign trail for one reason:  if you are Christian, they want your vote.

But they also want your vote if you are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, or Agnostic as well.  They just want your vote.  Now, I've never met any of these candidates, and even if I had, only God knows the condition of the human heart.  I have no idea if they are genuine Christ-followers or what they are thinking when their head is on the pillow at night?

But all of this scares me.  You see, when they say they are Christian, they become front line faces for our faith, and I'm not sure, based on what I've seen from all the candidates, that's entirely accurate.  Now let's put it all out in the open here.  None of us Christians are entirely accurate representations of what a disciple of Jesus is supposed to look like.  But I'll bet you've got a grandma, uncle, friend, small group leader, pastor or niece whose walk with Jesus looks a lot closer than these candidates.  I'll bet you know someone that you'd like to show your non-believing friends and say, "Hey, y'all, THIS is what a Christian looks like."  Maybe that person is even you.

I hope you vote and vote your conscience, but for those of us that are believers, let us be careful not to parade these candidates around as representations of what a Christian is.  I'm afraid it will fall terribly short of what a Christian is supposed to be.  Full obedience obedience to the Heavenly Father usually doesn't get you elected -- it gets you crucified.  Following Jesus doesn't mean picking up electoral votes, it means picking up your cross daily.  Making decisions based on your discipleship usually doesn't win you a nationwide popularity contest, it wins you crowns in heaven.

Most importantly, believers must do two things in this season:

1.  WE need to be the ones who display what genuine faith in Christ looks like.  We need non-believers to see in Christian friends and acquaintances a true representation of discipleship.  No candidate is going to usher in revival.  Let's actually BE the Church in our communities.
2.  We need to PRAY for all candidates.  Pray for God to lead them, convict them, and to search their hearts.  Pray for them to be faithful to God and serve ALL the people of the U.S.  I believe you can do both with integrity.

Finally, if you're not a church person, I don't know where these candidates really stand on their faith in Christ.  I've seen enough in debates to make me curl my nose and say, "Don't do/say that."  They might very well be Christians and feel badly for some of those very things.  But know this:  just because they are upfront and on-stage, they don't represent the totality of what it means to be Christian.  They are not our savior.  Jesus is our Savior.  Visit a local church in your area, and I promise you you'll meet some fine Christians.  You'll meet people who will love you no matter what, who want what's best for you, who will cook a casserole for you and hug your neck when you need it.  You'll meet people who will pray for you and cry with you.  You'll meet people who care about you and your soul.  You'll meet the real deal.  They won't be perfect either, but they'll be authentic.  That's the whole point.  You'll meet broken people who know they are sinners but have put their faith in the grace of Jesus.  People who believe Jesus died for their sins and forgave them.  People who believe He did the same for you.  And whatever path you choose, I hope you'll know that THAT'S a lot closer to what we believe it means to be Christian.

Coffee, Cake & Coversation

We're excited to be launching a 4-week Wednesday night series called "Coffee, Cake & Conversation" at Harmony Grove Church of the Way.  We'll be discussing some of the hottest topics in our culture.  I'll be joined by other pastors and community leaders to talk about the following issues:

Sept. 9 - RACE
Sept. 16 - HOMOSEXUALITY
Sept. 23 - POLITICS
Sept. 30 - DATING

There are a few ways you can be involved:

1.  Join us for refreshments at 6 p.m. and dialogue at 6:30 p.m.  Childcare available up through 5th grade.

2.  Send in a question!  You can do that in a variety of ways:

• Leave it in the comments here.
• tweet us @churchoftheway
• post it to facebook at www.facebook.com/churchoftheway
• email to info@churchoftheway.net
• Leave a card in one of the boxes at one of our campuses

Ashley Madison, the Virginia shooting, and our mirror

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  -Hebrews 4:13

I thought all the Ashley Madison clients whose names and emails were laid bare when I saw this passage.  I thought about all the men who thought they could 'get by' in secret with their lusts and betrayal.  I thought of the secrets that are now no longer secrets that are wrecking marriages as we speak.  And I thought about how we all have secrets that could destroy us.

Then, in broad daylight in Virginia, a disgruntled former employee went up and shot two innocent people, a reporter and a camera man, right on live television.  Sometimes our sins aren't even secret.  The tragedy in Virginia and the tragedy of the Ashley Madison scandal is a reminder of how broken our world is.  We are a sinful bunch, killing each other, physically and emotionally.  We are selfish and vindictive.  We are lustful and quick to react.  We are a mess.  We need Jesus.  We need His forgiveness, and we need him to shape us.

It's so easy to point fingers in these situations.  Men seeking sex outside the covenant of marriage is wrong.  A man walking up and killing two people is wrong.  But we don't really need to be reminded of that, though it does make us feel good sometimes to point a finger.  What I am reminded of in these situations is how much we have these things within us, and when we see ugliness on full display, it's a good time to look in the mirror.  You might not seek out a secret online affair, but what secret sin are you holding onto?  In what ways are we looking outside our closest relationships for affirmation and intimacy?  What do we have the capacity to do if we thought we could do it in secret?  And how have we let rage boil up in us so hot that we could just kill someone?  Maybe we wanted to hit them.  Maybe we did.  Maybe we just cursed them, to their face or behind their back.  Maybe we gave them the ol' 'unfriend' on social media.  Maybe we wished they were dead.

This is uncomfortable, but it reminds me that not only does our world need saving, not only do people whose sins have been in the limelight need Jesus.  I need saving.  I need Jesus.  If my life were laid bare, I'd be ashamed of the mean-spirited and hateful thoughts.  I'd be ashamed of my anger.  I'd be ashamed of my pride.  I'd be ashamed of my selfishness.  I'd be ashamed.  You would be, too.  I am convinced that the ONLY way this world will find peace and rest is if we each, individually, allow Jesus to change our hearts.  I believe that kind of change has the capacity to rub off on people.

First Try

This past weekend we had a first around the McInnis house -- my 11 year-old son helped cut the grass.  Well, sort of.  He did the weed-eating.  It certainly saved me some time.  It was not the prettiest weed-eating job you'll ever see.  The aesthetics left a little to be desired.  It was a little choppy and a little scalped in various places.  But it was his.  He was proud.  It was a landmark moment that Dad believed in him.

But it was also a landmark moment because he came out while I was working in the yard and said he wanted to help.  He wanted to do the work his father was doing, and because of that, I wanted to give him more responsibility.  I wanted to give him more freedom.  I believed in him more because he was about my work.

Does God have to poke and prod you to be about his work, or do you go outside and ask if you can do what your Heavenly Father is doing?  When we ask to be a part of what God is doing, our Father is happy to give us more responsibility and freedom.  He begins to believe in us even more.

We spend a great deal of time talking and thinking about our belief in God, but one our biggest hurdles in life is coming to the understanding that God believes in us.  He trusts us with earth.  He trusts us with our lives.  He believes in us, especially when we demonstrate that we get it.  When we ask to be a part of what He is doing instead of staying inside and doing our own thing, God believes in us even more.  I'll bet God looks at our work and it's a little choppy.  I'll bet he'd describe it as not the prettiest job in the world.  But he's proud.  And (get this), He's able to concentrate on doing the things that only He can do.  Riding the big lawn mower is too big a job for my son right now.  Only I can do that, but he can handle the trimmer.  There are things that only God can do in our world.  But, the bigger question is what are we NOT doing simply because we won't join in God's work.  He believes in you.  He trusts you.  He wants you to be involved in what He is doing.  Go ask him how you can help.  It's okay if it's not the prettiest result in the world.  Your Father will be proud.

Too Close to Home

The Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney

The voice was simply unmistakable.  It had become a staple of my trips to D.C.  At my first orientation at Wesley Theological Seminary, I remember hearing his voice.  Clementa Pinckney had a voice you simply couldn't forget.  It must have been what James Earl Jones sounded like 30-40 years ago.  Clementa and I were working on our Doctorate of Ministry in Church Leadership at Wesley.  After seeing all my Georgia Bulldog apparel, he struck up our first conversation because his cousin, Sanders Commings, played for the Dawgs from '09-'12.  We were suite mates during one of my stays there.  I looked forward to seeing him, sharing a few conversations with him and hearing his wonderful voice when I'd go up for classes.  Clementa was just a beautiful man.

That's why Charleston just hits too close to home.  Clementa was the Senior Pastor at Mother Emanuel AME Church, and he was a friend.  A shooter marched into a prayer meeting killing nine people.  it was close to home.  The shooter once attended the high school where my brother teaches and where my nephew is a rising senior.  It's just too close to home.  South Carolina is my home state.  It's just too close to home.  I'm a United Methodist Pastor and Mother Emanuel was a sister Methodist Church from the African Methodist Episcopal tradition.  It's too close to home.  My church gathers for prayer meetings.  It's too close to home.

Except for one thing.  I'm white.  The last few months have seen our country struggle with violence, anger and racially charged tension.  This is the second of those that has hit close to home.  My time at Wesley also allowed me the privilege of gaining a Baltimore City Councilwoman as a friend.  I am strangely more connected to these issues than ever before.  It's close to home.  But I'm white.

What being white, and particularly a white Christian, means for me now is naming the reality that I don't fully understand the hurt, anger, fear and frustration of our African-American brothers and sisters.  To say that I understand how ALL OF THIS feels is disingenuous and false.  To say that race isn't an issue in all of this is insensitive and wrong.

But I do ache for our land, and I hope you do, too.  So what I want to say is that I weep for our broken world.  I mourn for those who were lost and their families that remain.  I stand with my African-American brothers and sisters.  I work for justice.  I pray for those who think hate and violence are the answer.  I long for healing in our hearts.  I hope for grace and forgiveness to become a reality in this world.

Let those of us who are white not pretend that there aren't real issues involving race.  Let those of us that are Christian not offer trite answers to this ugliness.  Let those of us who are African-American believe that there are many of us from all races that stand with you and want to see justice in our world. Let the people of God BE THE CHURCH in and for this broken world.  And most of all, let the Lord of love heal our land.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Leadership & Life Lessons from My First (and Probably Only) Season of Coaching T-Ball

The Fightin' Super Tigers -- Champs!

I was going to help coach.  You know, be an assistant.  I had two boys that would be playing together.  One 4 and one 6, at the time.  But, I had two other sons playing flag football, and it was a busy season at church.  Then I got the call:  "We need one more head coach.  Would you be willing to coach?"  I love my community, so I begrudgingly agreed.  I really, really didn't have time for this.  And I'm a football guy.  I quit baseball after the 8th grade and most of my glory on the diamond happened in church softball leagues.  But I know enough to coach Kindergartners.  And I know a lot about kids.  So I did it.  We had a blast, gave ourselves a cool name (Fightin' Super Tigers), made a lot of new friends and good memories and won the league championship, with a 14-0 record.  I was so proud of our boys, and I learned a good deal about life, parenting, leadership and even a little about church.

• You can't change the past, so why rehash it.  Point to a better future.  T-ballers make mistakes all the time.  They throw it when they should hold it, hold it when they should throw it.  They run the wrong direction and tag the wrong runner.  After a mistake and play has stopped, if you yell at a T-baller, they're just going to cry.  The only thing you can do is point to them to the next opportunity.  "Hey, next time throw it here."  "Next time get your glove down."  "Next time, run to this base."  People are the same.  They don't need our judgment, but they do need people who care about the them to point toward a better future.  The church could learn something from this.  We need to stop yelling at the world for the mistakes it's made and point toward a better future with Jesus.  People need hope, not condemnation. 
• There are often a lot of voices telling us what to do.  Be sure and listen to the right ones.  People are screaming like crazy in the stands when a fielder has the ball in T-ball, telling them what to do with it.  About half of those are right.  Kids have to learn to trust their coach, which says a lot about authority but also listening to the right voices in life.  All of us have voices telling us a lot of things.  Not all of them are telling us to throw it in the right direction.  Who are the influences you're listening to?
• Every organization needs team members to play their role well.  My youngest wasn't crazy about playing right field and batting last, but he was very inexperienced and the smallest guy on the team.  There is only one circle (pitcher position) and only one kid can play it.  You have to have others do their part.  I heard one comment after we won the championship game that our outfield won the game because they got the ball in to the infield after every ball hit to them.  This is an accomplishment in T-ball.  But the 'role players' made the difference in the championship.
• Listen to experts and learn from them.  Like I said, I don't know much about baseball, but last year, we played on a T-Ball team that went 15-0 with one of the best coaches my boys have ever had.  He knew baseball and I came home after the 1st practice and said, "We're going to be pretty good."  I modeled our practices and gameday routine after him.
• Winning is fun and creates organizational momentum.  The bottom line is that winning is fun.  We went 14-0.  People say the kids don't care about winning, but after every game they were shouting "We won, we won, we won!"  They came up with this on their own.  We had fun anyway, and I've been a part of teams that had a lot of fun, kids got better and we didn't win a lot of games.  Winning isn't everything, especially at this age.  But, winning creates organizational momentum.  When staffs, businesses, teams, churches, or organizations don't ever feel like they are winning, it's hard to create momentum.  So, is your organization winning?
• People don't mind working hard if they they believe in the vision.  Our last week of the season, after a 2 1/2 month season, we had games on Monday, Thursday and Saturday in the end of year tournament.  I scheduled a practice on Friday night.  Nearly all the team showed up and I think it made the difference in the championship game.  We didn't play great that Thursday, and we needed to work to play better.  The vision was not to win.  The vision was to make sure we play our best.  That's all we can control.  We needed to practice to be our best.  Parents bought into the vision of excellence.
• Sometimes others have to step up.  We had games where kids were sick, injured our out of town and kids had to switch positions.  They did great.  Families, churches, businesses, and teams all have times others have to unexpectedly step up.  Nearly every game a kid who wasn't one of our biggest hitters got a key hit and got on base we needed to avoid an out.  If your organization has a mantra of "That's not my job," that's dangerous territory.  People have to step up and share responsibilities if an organization is going to be successful.
• People skills matter.  I don't know baseball, but I know how to motivate young people to be the best they can be.  I truly believe that in our culture today, you have to have people skills.  I am concerned about a generation that spends most of its time with a face in front of a screen.  Will they have the capacity to communicate with people in 10, 20, 30 years?  I hope so.  I believe people skills are the most important.  Love people, communicate with people, encourage people.  And people respond.
• There will be days you are not at your best.  Can you still compete on those days?  No one feels like a million bucks every day.  We had days when we didn't play our best, but we had to pick ourselves up and play as hard as we could.  Life has seasons we're not at our best.  Sometimes it's as simple as putting one step in front of the other.  You have to keep going.
• Running from third base to home is a dangerous trek.  As the pitcher to my team, I ran over two kids running home as I exited the field while looking down the first base line.  One of them was my older son on the team.  Both kids lived to tell about it.  
• My youngest led the league in hat and glove throwing while in the outfield.  I mean, he was a champion at glove throwing.  Best I've ever seen.  He had a blast this season.  And I'm pretty sure he would have had just as much fun if we'd have been 0-14.  Because he was coached by his dad and got to play ball.

                                               

                                                                Brooks, my youngest, the team clown.

It was a fun spring.  Sports teach us a lot of lessons.  And I've learned one more.  I think I'm going to retire from coaching and go out on top!

The Difficult Issue of Religious Liberty (in which I don't solve much)

Religious liberty has become the 'hot-button-issue-of-the-day" in America.  From what I've seen, people are really quick to form an opinion.  I have been very slow in forming one, and I'm still not quite sure what I think.  The controversy mostly centers around the issue of gay marriage.  A common theme might include whether or not a cake baker has the freedom to deny baking a cake for a gay wedding in states where gay marriage is legal.  Or, is that baker forced to bake a cake for all who walk in the door.

I'm no politician, and I have not interest in being one.  My calling is to discover what it seems like God has called people of faith to do.  So, how should we respond?  What is the faithful witness Christians should have on this issue and those that relate to it.  Well, I think it's a very complex issue, which is why I've been slow to form an opinion.

First, let's be honest:  gay marriage will be legal in every state in a very short time.  So, we've got to figure out how to navigate this issue.  If you want to know my thoughts homosexuality and gay marriage, you can check them out here, here, and here.  The short version is that I believe homosexuality is not in line with Christian teaching, but gay people and the issue of homosexuality have been treated terribly by the Church.  I believe there is a way for us to be in community and dialogue together.  Though I can't faithfully affirm homosexuality and believe that God has a better plan, that doesn't mean we can't be friends with people with which we disagree.  And it doesn't mean that we can't love each other genuinely.  The Church ought to be a place where people from all walks of life dealing with all kinds of issues can come to connect with their Creator.

As for the issues we're facing now, I would ask a Christian cake baker, "For whom do you bake cakes?"  The problem here is that I don't think the issue is Christian marriage.  Would these same cake bakers bake a cake for a man and woman who were living together before marriage or had engaged in pre-marital sex?  Would this cake baker make a wedding cake for an atheist couple who planned to have a civil ceremony with no mention of God?  Would this cake baker make a cake for a couple that had been divorced?  What if it was their 3rd, 4th or 5th marriage?  Would this cake baker bake a cake for a serial cheater?  What if the wedding is "Christian" at a local church but everyone plans to get rip-roaring drunk at the reception down at the country club?  What if the cake baker doesn't think people from different races ought marry because they have been (wrongly) taught that?  Is it okay for them to deny mixed couples?  Does this baker only bake cakes for Christian couples who kept themselves pure in courtship, are actively engaged in a local church, and have a Christian wedding in which the name of Jesus is invoked?

Is the witness Christian business people in our country want one of the exclusion?  Do we want to be known for closing off our lives to those in the outside world?  Is that what Christians did in the New Testament?  Is that what Jesus did?  Is that why Jesus went to Levi's house to have dinner with his tax collecting friends and sinners?  Was Jesus 'endorsing' their sin because he went and ate with them?  There was one group that thought that :)  I don't really wanna be in that group.  It seems we should bake the best cake we could as a witness to our love for people.  It seems like one cake could start a relationship which might lead to a conversation which might lead to our Jesus.  And when people meet Jesus -- things change.

Of course, the problem we're having here is that we're seeing how ill equipped our laws are to deal with what are moral issues.  And this is just the beginning.  Soon, people will be asking, "If the government can't tell me what gender I can marry, why should the government tell me how many people I can marry at once?"  OR, "Who is the government to tell me what the legal age of marrying should be?"  In other cultures, polygamy is common and people marry at much younger ages.  As the U.S. becomes more and more diverse, those questions will continue.  Do we reach a point where the laws can make no moral judgments about love and marriage?  And to what extent do have the freedom to live by the convictions of my faith.  I don't really know, I just know that this issue is at the heart of the matter.

And that points to how complex it is -- because then there's me and pastor's like me.  Now, I'm pretty up-front in my premarital counseling.  If couples are living together, I ask one to move out until the wedding.  I ask them to be abstinent.  I've counseled couples to not get married, that I didn't think they were ready or didn't feel like I could stand in good conscience and ask God to bless their union.  Does the government have the right to force me to marry anyone?  What if my faith, denomination and personal convictions stand against that?  Should our church building be subject to the same demands as the baker?  It's a little different.  The church isn't in a for-profit business, but it raises questions, doesn't it?

Where do we draw the line?  A good friend of my has a daughter who runs her own photography business.  She does weddings, senior portraits, and family photo shoots.  What if someone approaches her to shoot some pornographic images between consenting adults?  It's completely legal?  At what point does she have the freedom to stand on her convictions about who and what she photographs?

See there.  It's complex.  I'm not sure what the answers are.  I just know that I hope for three areas of discretion and patience.

1.  I would hope that all people, but especially my brothers and sisters in Christ, would be diligent in forming an opinion about an issue about which it is so easy to draw quick conclusions.

2.  I would hope that Christian business owners would prayerfully consider how they can help live out, display and spread the Gospel in every situation.  But we don't have to protect it.  The Gospel will take care of itself.  Death couldn't hold it down.

3.  I would hope that those on the other side pushing hard in the name of equality would understand the concerns about where the line stops.  Most Christians I know don't won't to hurt people, but they wonder what will come next and, if this isn't where people of faith draw the line, where exactly do they?

See there.  I told you I didn't solve much.  We need to be prayerfully consider these things.  We need space for conversation and understanding.  It's too easy to jump to conclusions.  God wants more thoughtfulness from us.  This issue deserves it.  People deserve it.  Our calling to reach all people demands it.

Easter Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (4.2.15)

It's finally Easter week!

The biggest weekend in our faith is finally here.  I'm so excited about the weekend ahead, and I can't wait to share an Easter message with you about our individual journeys to discover the truth about Jesus.  I believe God is going to do big things.  I know our musicians have been working hard to make it an awesome day.  We've got a lot planned this weekend, so be sure to get involved.

Good Friday Service @ Harmony Grove - 6 p.m.  We'll have a traditional service followed by Communion.  Mary Weaver, who is interning with us through Candler School of Theology at Emory, will be sharing the message with us.  It'll be a great way to prepare our hearts for the weekend.  Also, stick around after to help get the church ready for Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday 

Harmony Grove Church of the Way
7:00 a.m. Traditional Sunrise Service with Choir and a brief message.  I'll be sharing a short thought to get us ready for Easter Worship.
7:45-8:15 a.m. - Free Breakfast
8:15 a.m. - Modern Worship Experience
9:45 a.m. - Modern Worship Experience
11:00 a.m. - Traditions Worship Experience

Gwinnett Church of the Way
5:00 p.m. - Free Dinner
5:30 p.m. - Acoustic Family Experience
6:30 p.m. - Easter Egg Hunt

Thought for the Week
"Then Jesus said to them, "Tonight all of you will run away because of me."  Matthew 26:31

In the days leading up to Easter, it's an appropriate time to think about the events that led to the resurrection.  Some churches have Holy Thursday services to celebrate the first Lord's Supper.  Good Friday services talk about Jesus' death on the cross.  Part of that discussion is the betrayal of Jesus, and it's easy to pick on Judas, who betrayed Jesus and had him arrested.  However, all the disciples fled.  When push came to shove, the scattered.  Jesus knew it.  Really, they all deserted Him -- and we have, too.  When do you run away from Jesus?  When you've messed up and you worry you'll be judged?  When you're reminded of something in your life that He wants to change?  When you're unsure of the answer you're going to get from him?  When His will is not your will.  Honestly, we all desert Jesus from time to time.  We all flee.  Sometimes, it's just like the disciples.  It's when the going gets tough.  You wanna know the cool thing?  They were welcomed back.  No matter how far they ran, they were welcomed to come back.  Maybe you feel like you've run away from Jesus.  You can come back.  You can always come back.

In Christ,

Carter 

Together

I've been off the blogosphere for a while, as it's been a little hectic lately.  I'm happy to be back, and wanted to share what we've been up to.

On Sunday, March 1, we had a crazy day.  I got to be a part of something that most pastors never get to be a part of - serving as pastor of a merged congregation on launch Sunday.  In fact, I have been a part of three things most pastors never get to be a part of.  I was blessed with the honor of starting a church 10 years ago, and I have been grateful to see that church launch a 2nd campus in Grayson.  Over the last six months, I have had the privilege to lead that church into a merger with a church that has been around for 166 years for a newly merged permanent campus.  Planting a church and merging churches are both crazy endeavors.

There is so much power in merging congregations.  In many ways, it is much like a marriage.  The first few years of marriage you have to find your way a little.  A church merger includes lots of 'finding your way' in the relationship.  It's incredibly complicated.  Merging finances, getting a new name, and combining leadership are actually the easy part.  The hard part is merging cultures.  Whether it's 10 years or 166 years, churches develop ways of doing things.  Just like a marriage, a merged church has to learn how to do things together.

But merging a church is a beautiful thing if God's Spirit is in it.  I am reminded that I have new friends with which to do ministry.  Many of these new friends are already near and dear to my heart.  I would never have known them had we not walked down this path.  They are beautiful disciples of Jesus.  Like a marriage, a merger is an admission that we need each other to be our best, that life was not better alone.  And it's beautiful when it works.  There is great power and beauty when the Body of Christ unites and says, "We are in this together."

I'll admit it's messy.  There is no easy way.  There are bumps and long hours of prayer.  There are hiccups.  Every marriage has them.  You expect it in marriages.  We should expect it in mergers.  But we keep learning.  We learn to be better spouses.  And we learn to be better brothers and sisters in Christ.

And, like a new marriage, their remains the promise of offspring.  When young parents have children, the realize that through the messiness of the early years and the hiccups and the hard work, there are actual humans that wouldn't be here without them being together.  Their love and commitment to one another allowed a little one to be nurtured.  Young parents have a child or adopt a child and realize they have a bigger purpose.  It wasn't just to be together.  It was for the new life that emerged that they are now raising.

That's a church merger.  It's not just being together.  It's not just that together we can be better, pay the bills sooner or be with one another.  It's that together, we can bring new life into relationships with Jesus that we could not have done apart.  Suddenly, we have a new purpose.  This week, my wife and celebrate 14 years of marriage.  At this point, I can't remember life without her.  There was a time, though, in the early years, that I could.  Time and life and welded us together.  I don't even remember me before her.  I think that's how church mergers are supposed to work.  There will come a time when we can hardly remember life apart.  We'll be raising new kids together, and no one will recall there was a time it wasn't like this.  We'll just embrace the present.

That day will be here before we know it.  But it wouldn't happen without the faithful pioneers at Harmony Grove United Methodist Church and The United Methodist Church of the Way.  Somebody had to go through the dating and courtship, pre-marital counseling and wedding.  Somebody had to go through the early years.  I'm so honored to serve the men and women of God who have done just that.  After one whole week, on a Saturday night before our SECOND Sunday together, I find myself more excited than ever about ministry.  I feel like a newlywed.  If you're around the area, I hope you'll come check out what God is doing at Harmony Grove Church of the Way or Gwinnett Church of the Way.  You can get directions and worship times here.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (11.26.14)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your week is winding down and you're close to gathering with family and friends.  We're looking forward to doing the same.  This Sunday, we'll be beginning a new series called "That Awkward Moment" as we take a unique look into the lives of the characters of the Christmas Story.  Christmas is a great time to invite friends.  You can send someone an e-Card here.  

On Sunday, we made a huge and historic announcement.  Church of the Way has merged with Harmony Grove United Methodist Church in Auburn to form two strong campuses, giving us our first permanent home in Auburn and taking another step toward a permanent home in Gwinnett.  Beginning March 1, our morning worship will move to our new permanent home at the Harmony Grove Church of the Way (1385 Harmony Grove Church Rd., Auburn, GA 30011) with 9:45 a.m. Modern Worship & 11:00 a.m. Traditions Worship.  Our Gwinnett Church of the Way will meet on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. at the SE Gwinnett Co-Op.  This move is another step in the journey to be the church God has called us to be.  Archer High School has been so gracious to host us for nearly five years, and we're excited to still reach out to the Archer Community through One Way on Wednesday nights and connecting in the community, but we're elated to have a permanent place to be a mission outpost for ministry.  We're excited about new friends at Harmony Grove and partnering to increase our borders to reach more people.  God has given us a great gift, and the best days are ahead!  This will also free us up to truly find the best permanent location for a Gwinnett Campus.  I hope you'll be in prayer about the days ahead.  We've got an exciting season before us!

Thought for the Week
"Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes this stumble."  Psalm 119:165

On the eve of Thanksgiving, it's my tradition to make a list of things for which I'm thankful.  With the events in Ferguson, MO, it seems more striking this years.  I don't understand why we hurt each other.  I don't understand injustice.  I don't understand fear of one another.  I don't understand why we have such a hard time understanding people different from us...or why we don't want to.  There is a lot of ugliness happening in the midst of this mess, but I want to cling to God of peace.  All I can do is my part.  All I can do is love His instruction and embrace the peace that comes with it.  I'm thankful for that this season.  

I am thankful for...

• The blood of Jesus that covers over all my sins.
• The new life I have in Christ...daily.
• A wife who loves me more than I deserve.
• Four healthy children who love the Church and Christ's mission.
• The diversity in our community and church.
• Leading a risk-taking and missional church.
• Pastoring a church that is truly open to ALL people.
• Mentors.
• Friends.
• The people who have allowed me to mentor them.
• Music.  I love music.
• More food in my fridge and pantry than I can eat.
• A house that suits our family.
• Cars that run.
• Getting to do many of the hobbies I enjoy.
• My health.
• Good books.
• The new friends I've already made at Harmony Grove.
• The United Methodist Church allowing me to serve in ministry.
• Fried Turkey, dressing and my mama's pumpkin pie.
• My wife's mac'n'cheese.
• Football.  

We all have much to be thankful for.  May our nation find peace in the turmoil and in our hearts this Thanksgiving.

With Thanks,

Carter

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.25.14)

I hope you're having a great week, and I hope you've considered what we talked about on Sunday and you're taking the high road to get to the right place God has for you.  I'm excited about this Sunday as we'll be talking about another "CRAZY" story about David when he 'danced madly' before the Lord.  We'll learn what it means to truly be devoted to God.

Also, don't forget if you've got some time this Sunday at 1 p.m. we'll be cleaning out our old storage trailer at 1505 New Hope Rd.  You might even get a treasure as we look through old supplies.

Thought for the Week"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

As I sit here and type this, I'm tuning in and out to a little Thursday Night College Football on ESPN.  I usually love watching the Thursday night game.  Oklahoma State is playing Texas Tech, but I don't recognize them.  Most folks know I'm a pretty avid college football fan, and I'm kind of a uniform junkie.  More and more, college teams are wearing multiple uniforms and helmets.  You have to look closely to figure out who's playing.  I'm kind of a traditionalists when it comes to uniforms, so I'm not crazy about it.  I like flipping it on an knowing who's playing immediately.  I wonder if non-Christians feel that way about Christians sometimes, like we're always changing uniforms.  I wonder if they can recognize us.  I turned it on tonight and the Cowboys and Red Raiders were both in brand new uniforms...again.  They weren't wearing their iconic helmets.  It was confusing.  For the Christian, the iconic look is love.  This is what we're to be known for.  When we wear something other than love, we confuse people.  We don't look like ourselves.  We are a cheap imitation of what Jesus intended.  Disciples love each other.  They love others.  Love.  When we come out in resentment, jealousy, or hate, we don't look like disciples.  We look like a different team.  Hey, if you like all the funky new football uniforms -- different strokes for different folks.  However, let's make sure that we wear our iconic Christian uniforms.  Let's make sure we are recognized by love.  Maybe you're still on the journey.  I hope you know that love is what we Christians are supposed to be known for.  Know that we sometimes get it wrong.  We're trying to wear the right uniform.  A uniform of love.

In His Love,

Carter 

Blood Moon Rising

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."  Joel 2:31

That verse is reason enough for pastors like John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in Texas to declare that Tuesday's 'Blood Moon' marks the beginning of the rapture, surely to happen in the next 2 years during four Blood Moon's we'll experience from 2014-2015.  Apparently, a lot of people are buying his book and believe the same thing.  I've been wrong before (a lot), and I could be here, but I'm not buying it.  I'm sure Pastor Hagee is a good man.  I've listen to his sermons on occasion.  He's passionate.  I like that.  But I don't get this mindset.

Christianity is, by nature, weird.  This week is the high and holy festival of our weirdness.  We believe a man rose from the dead and ascended into heaven after spending a few weeks risen and hanging out with his friends.  Their testimony is why we believe what we believe.  We believe it to be true because it happened, and they saw it with their eyes, told everyone, and gave their lives for it.  Would you give your life for something you weren't sure of?  I didn't think so.  But this is still weird to the rest of the world.  It's okay to be weird because of what we know to be true, what we believe happened.

When we propagate stories like this surrounding the Blood Moon, we become weird in the wrong way.  Not weird because we're different.  Not weird because we love our neighbor as ourselves.  Not weird because we put others first.  Weird because we believe something we don't know to be true and what we believe will happen.  That's totally different.  When we lean toward that weirdness, we lose our voice with those outside of the Church or Christianity.  That seems crazy (it's borderline) and like fear-mongering (it is).

I don't think it is our role to lead the Jesus movement based on what we don't know.  I think we're supposed to reach out to our culture with what we do know.

• We are made in God's image.  I want everyone to know that.
• God loves us.  Ditto.
• Jesus died for us to forgive our sins.  Isn't that good news?
• Jesus arose to give us victory over our sins.  That's great news.
• He wants to restore His image in our lives.  Couldn't we all use a makeover.
• He's coming again -because he said so, just not when.  So I want to live in such a way that if it's tomorrow, I'm content with how I've lived and in such a way that if it's a million years from now, I'm content with how I left planet earth, Christ's Church, my community, and the people I love.

If we push people to make decisions on unsure data, then those are unsure decisions.  If we lead people toward standing on the firm foundation of our faith, they will stand on the Solid Rock.  And it'll be a lot less weird.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (3.20.14)

I hope you're having a great week and enjoying this first day of Spring.  I can't remember ever being this ready for Spring!  Can you believe Easter is one month from today?  I hope you're inviting friends and preparing your heart.  Easter is a great time to invite others, and our Worship Experience is going to be awesome.  If you've got friends and family that are skeptics, new to faith, exploring God, or unsure about Jesus, it's the perfect opportunity to invite them as I'll be teaching about the basics of the Easter story and why it matters 2,000 years later.

This Sunday, we're continuing our series "How It All Went Down" as we talk about Jesus' Trial Before the Sanhedrin.  If you don't know what the Sanhedrin is, we'll make it all make sense on Sunday.  There are some great lessons for our own lives in these stories.

Thought for the Week
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."  Matthew 6:33

I was telling Emily the other day that I can't remember a season of our lives like this.  Well, there's never really been one.  We're in the thick of preparing for Easter and working on building plans for a permanent home.  I'm reading about a book a week in preparation for another couple of weeks of school in May.  And we're chasing around the four baseball teams that our boys play on.  We talked about how we're having to say no to a lot right now.  My focus has been baseball, church and school.  That's about all I have time for these couple of months.  It will be over in May, and we'll breathe, but it's a crazy season.  I'll bet you've had or are having seasons like that.  Family life, work life, and something else all ramps up at the same time.  There are a couple of important things to note in a life cycle like that:

• It's okay to give yourself permission to say 'no' for a season.  That doesn't mean it's a forever 'no.'  There are times you have to choose.  Know that you can always come back and choose differently when that period of life is over.  And let people know that.  Tell them, "I can't know, but talk to me about it this summer or in a year.  I'll be in a different place then."
• Keep the main things the main things.  Where frustration happens in relationships is when people feel like we're short-changing what is vitally important to them.  For me, school comes last of those three.  While I'm going to school to help me grow as a leader (which is important to our ministry), I can take classes over again.  I'll never get watching my boys play baseball back and I'll never get the opportunity back of preaching a message that someone needs to hear or leading our church through this important season.
• Don't say 'no' to God.  It's what I need most, and what I constantly remind myself of.  In the madness, we all need time to stop and exhale so that we can breathe in God's Spirit.  We need a moment in the Bible.  We need a time of prayer.  We need to connect with our Creator.  We need to seek Him first, not last, so that God my be moving and working in all our baseball watching, soccer mom-ing, school reading, client meeting, softball practicing, dance recital-ing, Bible studying, LIFE Group-ing, Volunteering, and family obligation-ing.  

May we seek Him first, even in the busiest seasons.

In Christ,

Carter

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.30.14)

I hope you've stayed warm and safe this week!  What a crazy week in the ATL.  Glad the weather is warming up and excited about our upcoming series starting this Sunday.  We'll be talking about God's plan for marriage and what it means to 'live out' our wedding vows with "The Vows."  This is a great time to invite friends and neighbors.  I think it's going to be a fun series, and I believe God will change the direction of lives, marriages and families this month.

Also, don't forget to bring "Hot Hands" this week to share with our Random Kindness on Feb. 8.

Thought for the Week
"What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider's web."  Job 8:14

This week I couldn't help but think about how fragile we are.  Our lives, they're so fragile.  Have you ever seen a snow flake?  It's nothing.  Millions upon millions of them together wreak havoc.  You've got ice in your freezer, but when it is somewhere we don't want it to be, we're in trouble.  A drop of water is nothing, but we've all stood on the shore at the beach and marveled at the ocean's power.  We are fragile, and we we rely upon is so fleeting.  This is the testimony of God's presence most important to me.  I need something thicker on which to hang.  I need something more substantial to set my life on.  This week was a reminder that the things we take for granted are so weak.  The power of our mighty cars are really nothing.  But there is another power.  On a week like this, I'm more mindful than ever that I want my life to be aligned with the one who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  On Him alone will I lay the foundation of my life.  What we think is strong, secure and sure is nothing in the face of Almighty God.  What we think is so important now is so fleeting and fragile.  Careers can be derailed by one employee tearing down the company.  Athletic endeavors can be derailed by one injury.  Our finances can go under with one disease or surgery.  The things that we spend most of our time worrying about and working on are not what make up reality in eternity.  There is a more firm foundation.  That doesn't mean that we can live in this world where things like careers and money and other endeavors preoccupy our minds.  It means we hold them loosely and hold tightly that which matters most.

In Christ,

Carter 

Thought for the Week 1.27.14

Thought for the Week
"However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  Luke 10:20

I stumbled across this verse this week studying for some future messages.  It stopped me cold.  These are Jesus' words to his disciples after the excitedly return from a season of ministry in which they even casted out demons.  They were feeling pretty good about themselves.  There were getting a little impressed with their own power.  Jesus sets them straight.  "What you think is power is nothing.  The real power gives you eternal life.  Casting out demons seems like a big deal to you because you don't understand power.  The miracle is that you have a spot in eternity."  We are all prone to get a little too enamored with our own accomplishments, even the good ones.  Pastors, coaches, students, athletes, salespeople, physicians, teachers, administrators, and even parents.  We can all get a little too full of ourselves, thinking God sure is lucky to have us on His side.  That's because we underestimate what it took to get our names written in heaven.  There's nothing wrong with wanting to accomplish great things on earth.  The disciples were even doing it for the Kingdom!  Nevertheless, let us never forget that the real power and the real accomplishment was the blood which saved our soul and wrote our names in the Book of Life.  That is something we cannot accomplish ourselves.  And it's reason to be grateful.

In Christ,

Carter 

Too Famous Jameis

I didn't have a dawg (see what I did there?) in the fight on Monday night as I watched the final BCS National Championship Game.  It was a thrilling game.  Florida State's brilliant redshirt freshman QB, Jameis Winston, came through in the clutch after struggling for much of the game.  The kid is just fun to watch play when he gets rolling.  But it was after the game that bothered me.

Now, granted, Jameis just turned 20.  I remember being 20.  I was pretty stupid.  Yet, Jameis has been on a roll for about the last month with foot in mouth statements.  Winston was not accused in a sexual assault case that stemmed from 2012.  It all came to blows in late November and early December this past year.  Winston's attorney claimed for him that the sex was consensual.  The accuser had alcohol in her system and Winston's DNA on her underwear.  At the Heisman Trophy presentation, where Winston won the award, and on Saturday to the New York Daily News, he proclaimed, “I didn’t do anything wrong."  Then, postgame, Winston said that FSU winning the National Championship was 'all God.'

As a pastor and passionate sports fan, this really, really, really, really bothers me.  And what bothers me most is that THIS is what non-Christians see out of Christianity over and over again.  This is why the American Church is struggling in mainline denominations.  At the very least, we know Winston had premarital sex with a girl that was a little tipsy.  And he did nothing wrong.

Our student pastor is teaching that THAT's wrong to our teenagers.  I teach that's wrong to singles in our church.  Youth ministers across the world have been teaching that's wrong.  Now, the world outside sees the behavior and hears the proclamation that winning and getting through all the Seminoles went through with the allegations as "All God."  And, apparently, God was for FSU winning the game Monday night.

Winston is 20, but who taught him that what he did wasn't wrong?  Where is the pastor, coach, parent or spiritual mentor that is in his ear saying, "Jameis, you made a mistake and it almost got you into bigger trouble.  It'd be best to admit that and thank God for his forgiveness and the opportunity to keep playing ball."  I like Winston's charisma, but I can only imagine what every girl that has had a guy sleep with them when they were a little tipsy to never follow through on the heart promises their body made.

The Florida State Attorney didn't see evidence to press charges, but that doesn't mean Winston didn't do something wrong.  Non-Christians see Winston's actions and hear his words and think, "That's why I don't go to church.  They don't do what they say they believe in, then they claim God is on their side."  

Listen, none of us are perfect.  I constantly fight temptations of selfishness, stubbornness, pride and a host of other things.  Daily, I ask God to forgive me for those and a myriad of other things.  It'd be foolish for me to say, "I didn't do anything wrong."  I do stuff wrong all the time.  Winston just needs someone in his ear, and I wish a non-believing world could hear something closer to what seems more in line with a heart for God:  "You know, I made some mistakes and disappointed God and my family, but I knew I had not broken any laws.  I'm thankful for God's forgiveness, and for the opportunity to keep playing football.  We played a great team tonight with a lot of good guys on it, too.  I'm grateful for healthy bodies to play the game we love."   We've got to do better at this.  When we're wrong, we've got to admit it.  The world doesn't need our brashness or perfection or some kind of persona.  The most radical statement to the world is that we are broken and messy and make mistakes, and God's Grace overcomes it all.  When we sin and claim to be without sin, the power of God and His grace is muffled:

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claimed we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."  1 John 1:8

From one sinner to another, my hope is that Jameis gets some people around him speaking more truth, and less adulation, in his ear.  But for the grace of God go I.