Hey Church!
I hope you're finishing up a great week. I know students across Gwinnett
& Barrow are enjoying a day off today! This Sunday, you'll hear
special messages at each campus. It will be a great day of worship.
Then, gear up for a 4-weeks series called "Pray-er" beginning March 19. It's going to
be a great season ahead as we prepare for Easter!
Thought
for the Week
"He changes times and
seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and
knowledge to the discerning." Daniel 2:21
This Winter (if you can call it that) has been one for the books. You can
see signs of an early Spring peeking through nature. The older I get, the more
fascinated I am with the seasons. Almost overnight, you wake up to see
greenery in the Spring or the leaves turning in the Fall. It's an amazing
process that takes a year in the making, and it reveals there is much going on
behind the scenes. This is our God -- Master of the Season. The
Orchestrator of "much going on behind the scenes." It is in
those moments of recognizing God's grandeur that I remember He is orchestrating
much behind the scenes of my life. And I need not worry. I can't
hurry the process. I can do things to harm it, but the most important
thing is to think about what I can do today that will ensure that whatever God
is doing blooms when it's supposed to. That may mean a season of being
dormant. It may mean letting go of the 'leaves' that need to go. It
may mean soaking in the rain of a wet season (which isn't particular fun).
What I can do is trust the process and be faithful in it. There's a
lot going on behind the scenes of your life. A lot. But the God
that directs the seasons is the same God who is working in your life to
spring-forth something beautiful. You can trust Him. He's got this.
How can you be faithful today to be ready for whatever God is doing in
your life?
In Christ,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
First United Methodist Church of Griffin
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Friday, March 10, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.12.17)
Hey Church!
I am being challenged by our series "Revolution." How's your heart doing? Are you letting the revolution begin? This Sunday, we're continuing the series as we talk about God starting a revolution in our families. We all want God to move in our families. Learn what God wants to do this year in yours. Join one of our locations this weekend.
*Reminder, because of the MLK holiday on Monday, we will NOT have our Monday night service at the Co-Op. See you at Harmony Grove or Lovin!
Thought for the Week
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
I remember having this passage taped on my mirror at one point. It's a message to Christians, and as a young Christian it stuck out to me. That idea of "taking captive" stuck out to me. Have you ever been taken captive? We are taken captive against our will. To capture something, you have to catch it and control it. I don't think most of us think of our thoughts this way, but they are wild things. If we don't take our thoughts captive, they can run away with our lives. If we don't surround our thoughts with the knowledge of God, they'll be anything but obedient to Christ. The problem is that our thoughts become actions which become habits which become character traits which become who we are. We can become someone we never planned on being simply because we didn't take that original thought captive. So how do you do it? Well, what do you surround yourself with? Who are you letting influence your thoughts? What are you filling your mind with? What are you reading and listening to? If we are not careful, something we did not intend will take our thoughts captive, and it could lead to actions we never intended on doing. But it starts with a thought. Everything that gets into our head has the potential to captivate our thoughts. Put good stuff in there and surround yourself with people, media and things that will help you (and your thoughts) be obedient to Christ. If you're thoughts are surrendered to Christ, your actions will follow.
Because of Jesus,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
I am being challenged by our series "Revolution." How's your heart doing? Are you letting the revolution begin? This Sunday, we're continuing the series as we talk about God starting a revolution in our families. We all want God to move in our families. Learn what God wants to do this year in yours. Join one of our locations this weekend.
*Reminder, because of the MLK holiday on Monday, we will NOT have our Monday night service at the Co-Op. See you at Harmony Grove or Lovin!
Thought for the Week
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
I remember having this passage taped on my mirror at one point. It's a message to Christians, and as a young Christian it stuck out to me. That idea of "taking captive" stuck out to me. Have you ever been taken captive? We are taken captive against our will. To capture something, you have to catch it and control it. I don't think most of us think of our thoughts this way, but they are wild things. If we don't take our thoughts captive, they can run away with our lives. If we don't surround our thoughts with the knowledge of God, they'll be anything but obedient to Christ. The problem is that our thoughts become actions which become habits which become character traits which become who we are. We can become someone we never planned on being simply because we didn't take that original thought captive. So how do you do it? Well, what do you surround yourself with? Who are you letting influence your thoughts? What are you filling your mind with? What are you reading and listening to? If we are not careful, something we did not intend will take our thoughts captive, and it could lead to actions we never intended on doing. But it starts with a thought. Everything that gets into our head has the potential to captivate our thoughts. Put good stuff in there and surround yourself with people, media and things that will help you (and your thoughts) be obedient to Christ. If you're thoughts are surrendered to Christ, your actions will follow.
Because of Jesus,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Everyday Courage
"The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. A man does what he must -- in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures -- and that is the basis of all human morality...In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience -- the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men -- each man must decide for himself the course he will follow...For each man must look into his own soul."
-Sen. John F. Kennedy, 1956
Profiles in Courage
More than ever, I am finding we are a culture obsessed with approval. In some arenas, it is more blatant than others. In this election season, we are bombarded by it because approval is the life-blood of the politician. They even call them 'approval ratings.' Can you just imagine how awful it would be for your existence to be wrapped up in an approval rating? But we all want to be liked. We want likes and smiley faces on our posts on social media. We want pats on the back. My profession, pastoral ministry, is overcome with the desire for approval. We serve large volunteer organizations, and I don't know a pastor that doesn't want to be liked.
But this is true of nearly everyone. Yet, approval isn't all we want. We want security, peace, and to be admired. We want easy street. Courage requires a detour from easy street. That's why it's often so absent.
I am convinced that we need a new generation of courageous people. We need courageous leaders, courageous parents, courageous coaches, courageous pastor, courageous teachers, courageous bosses, and courageous. But to act with courage, one has to face the discomfort that follows it. If nothing is ever difficult, ever costly, ever risky...courage is not needed.
The problem with our lack of courage is that our value is derived from the things we stand to lose should be act courageously. We like being liked. We like fame. We like our security. We like being popular. We like that our friends respect us or think like us. But nothing great will ever happen in this world if people put their need for being liked about what is the right thing to do. We call that integrity. We call that character.
For people of faith, there is a deeper calling for courage and a deeper understanding of our self-worth. The inner urging for courageous action must be coupled with the understanding that, though our courage might lose us favor with others, our favor with God was determined on the cross of Christ. Our valor is rooted in the undeterred belief that God's love can never be separated for us. You see, for people of faith it's actually easier to be courageous. But that doesn't mean it's prevalent. All of us, even those of us who call ourselves Christians, are subject to the temptation of security, being liked and not rocking the boat. But this world that needs changing won't be changed by those that are liked most. It'll be changed by those that exhibited courage for the most noble causes.
Whatever you face today. Be courageous. The world needs the most courageous version of you.
But this is true of nearly everyone. Yet, approval isn't all we want. We want security, peace, and to be admired. We want easy street. Courage requires a detour from easy street. That's why it's often so absent.
I am convinced that we need a new generation of courageous people. We need courageous leaders, courageous parents, courageous coaches, courageous pastor, courageous teachers, courageous bosses, and courageous. But to act with courage, one has to face the discomfort that follows it. If nothing is ever difficult, ever costly, ever risky...courage is not needed.
The problem with our lack of courage is that our value is derived from the things we stand to lose should be act courageously. We like being liked. We like fame. We like our security. We like being popular. We like that our friends respect us or think like us. But nothing great will ever happen in this world if people put their need for being liked about what is the right thing to do. We call that integrity. We call that character.
For people of faith, there is a deeper calling for courage and a deeper understanding of our self-worth. The inner urging for courageous action must be coupled with the understanding that, though our courage might lose us favor with others, our favor with God was determined on the cross of Christ. Our valor is rooted in the undeterred belief that God's love can never be separated for us. You see, for people of faith it's actually easier to be courageous. But that doesn't mean it's prevalent. All of us, even those of us who call ourselves Christians, are subject to the temptation of security, being liked and not rocking the boat. But this world that needs changing won't be changed by those that are liked most. It'll be changed by those that exhibited courage for the most noble causes.
Whatever you face today. Be courageous. The world needs the most courageous version of you.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
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:
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?
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?
Monday, July 11, 2016
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.
-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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)