"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8
I finished a book today that talked a lot about that passage. Does it make you a little uncomfortable? I think it makes me a little uncomfortable. I want to be able to wrap my brain around God. I want it all to make sense. I want it to all make sense. It doesn't. I want it to all be logical. It isn't. I want to be able to get a grasp on exactly how God is moving and working. I can't. God's not just a little smarter than us...we're not even in the same homeroom. We don't even go to the same school. His ways, his thoughts are not like ours. We tend to think, "Oh, that's how I think about this or this is how I would react, so God probably would, too, just a little more elegantly." No. He usually wouldn't do what you would do. He almost always wouldn't do what I would do :) He does things his way, and I don't always have him figured out. I want to...but I don't. Yet, I love him. I love him because He saved me. I love him because He is always proved right in my life when I trust Him, especially when it doesn't make sense. I love him because He has blessed me with so much that I don't deserve. So I try to let Him be God and me be me. I don't have to always understand Him to love Him and serve Him. You won't always get what God is doing. He didn't ask you to and He's not surprised when you don't. He just asked you to follow.
First United Methodist Church of Griffin
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
You do what you want
So, my oldest tonight couldn't quite recall everyone that sits at his table in 1st grade. He's been sitting with 5 other people or 6-7 hours a day for the last 3 days, but he can't think of all their names. I'm not asking for full names and social security numbers, just Sally, Joe, Tom, Mary. It's pretty simply.
Now, before he goes to bed tonight, he proceeds to tell me that the next time we go to Toys 'R' Us and he has some cash on him he's got six Beyblades he wants to buy. These are basically spinning tops that my boys love. He rattles them off, and it sounds as if he's speaking another language. But he can't remember John or Tracy.
That's because he doesn't want to. Simply, you do what you want to do. We make excuses all the time about what we can or can't do, but the truth is that usually we do what we want to do. We spend money on what we want to spend money on and we spend time on what we want to spend time on. This is especially critical in our spiritual life because we do what we want to do. There's no excuses. You go to church if you want to. You tithe if you want to. You serve if you want to. You invite others if you want to. You yield your life to Christ because you want to. And when we don't do those things, the harsh reality is that we just don't want to.
May we be people that want to follow Jesus.
Now, before he goes to bed tonight, he proceeds to tell me that the next time we go to Toys 'R' Us and he has some cash on him he's got six Beyblades he wants to buy. These are basically spinning tops that my boys love. He rattles them off, and it sounds as if he's speaking another language. But he can't remember John or Tracy.
That's because he doesn't want to. Simply, you do what you want to do. We make excuses all the time about what we can or can't do, but the truth is that usually we do what we want to do. We spend money on what we want to spend money on and we spend time on what we want to spend time on. This is especially critical in our spiritual life because we do what we want to do. There's no excuses. You go to church if you want to. You tithe if you want to. You serve if you want to. You invite others if you want to. You yield your life to Christ because you want to. And when we don't do those things, the harsh reality is that we just don't want to.
May we be people that want to follow Jesus.
Top 5 Sports Moments
A friend got me thinking about what I've witnessed in person as a sports fan. I've been blessed to see some pretty amazing sports moments live. It's really hard to decipher my 'homerism' from it all, especially since I have been to so many UGA games. But, I did my best. Here's the top five I witnessed with my own two eyes, live and in person:
5. John Isner leads the UGA Tennis Team to the 2006 National Championship. Isner is now know for his marathon match at Wimbledon, but it's the only time I've seen my beloved Dawgs win a national championship in a men's sport. I also got to see a Women's Swimming natty.
4. Kevin Butler and the Dawgs beat Clemson from 60 1/2 yards in 1984. The All-American kicker set his tee up on our side of the fifty and split the uprights to beat Clemson. It was the first time I remember hugging complete strangers at a football game.
3. Georgia beats Auburn in 4OT in the SEC's 1st overtime game in 1996. It had a thrilling comeback and breathless last second TD to tie the game. Then, the craziness started. Our defense finally held up to win 56-49.
2. Duke shocks the world and beats undefeated UNLV in the '91 Final Four. I was there in Indianapolis. I still can't believe Vegas lost that game. Laettner was cold blooded and Hurley played every second of that Final Four. Coach K finally got his National Title and a dynasty began. It was much to my dismay...I married a Tarheel, after all.
1. Team USA beats China for the Gold Medal in Women's Soccer in the '96 Olympics Games. It was very weird to be in the stadium I've been to a million times and see it look completely different. It was pretty moving, though, to see the USA win the gold and hear the national anthem played as the team received their medals. I'll never forget it.
Feel free to share yours in the comments!
Monday, August 8, 2011
First Day of School
So, we sent two to the bus stop this morning for the first day of school. It really emptied the house up, that's for sure. Two down, two to go. It was my son Tanner's first day of kindergarten. He was excited, and I was excited for him.
Last night, as I prayed with my two oldest boys before they went to bed, I prayed for them to be influencers. That's my dream for them and that's what God created them to be. I don't worry too much about them being out in the world. They go to the school down the street, and their teachers won't pray with them. There will be no prayer to start the day. And the Bible will not be taught. Christian principles will yield to the princibles of government. Some parents really worry about that. People spend a lot of time petitioning and picketing to get prayer in school or the 10 commandments posted in the school cafeteria. They simply worry that schools have become too worldly. But that's right where I want my boys to be. They are young, but we have been preparing them their whole little lives to go out...to be sent.
Jesus said to his disciples, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves" (Matt. 10:16). He didn't pretent that it was going to be easy or everyone was going to be nice or act Christian. I want my boys to be world changers. They don't need the school to lead a prayer because they know how to pray. They don't need the Bible to be taught there because God's Word is already firmly in their hearts. They are taking Jesus with them...to their teachers...to their classmates...to their school. While peer pressure and negative influences are real dangers, I believe we have the power to instill in our children the confidence to lead with roots that lead to Jesus. School will no doubt change them. Their education will shape them in ways we don't know yet. However, I hope that when they graduate from Archer High School years from now, that Archer is different because the McInnis boys came through with the light of Christ shining through them. That's what our schools so desperately need: an army of kids commited to Christ and ready to serve and love their classmates and teachers with the heart of Jesus.
You know, come to think of it, that's what our workplaces need, too. And the grocery store. And the gym. And the PTA. And football team. And our neighborhoods. And the...you get the picture.
Last night, as I prayed with my two oldest boys before they went to bed, I prayed for them to be influencers. That's my dream for them and that's what God created them to be. I don't worry too much about them being out in the world. They go to the school down the street, and their teachers won't pray with them. There will be no prayer to start the day. And the Bible will not be taught. Christian principles will yield to the princibles of government. Some parents really worry about that. People spend a lot of time petitioning and picketing to get prayer in school or the 10 commandments posted in the school cafeteria. They simply worry that schools have become too worldly. But that's right where I want my boys to be. They are young, but we have been preparing them their whole little lives to go out...to be sent.
Jesus said to his disciples, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves" (Matt. 10:16). He didn't pretent that it was going to be easy or everyone was going to be nice or act Christian. I want my boys to be world changers. They don't need the school to lead a prayer because they know how to pray. They don't need the Bible to be taught there because God's Word is already firmly in their hearts. They are taking Jesus with them...to their teachers...to their classmates...to their school. While peer pressure and negative influences are real dangers, I believe we have the power to instill in our children the confidence to lead with roots that lead to Jesus. School will no doubt change them. Their education will shape them in ways we don't know yet. However, I hope that when they graduate from Archer High School years from now, that Archer is different because the McInnis boys came through with the light of Christ shining through them. That's what our schools so desperately need: an army of kids commited to Christ and ready to serve and love their classmates and teachers with the heart of Jesus.
You know, come to think of it, that's what our workplaces need, too. And the grocery store. And the gym. And the PTA. And football team. And our neighborhoods. And the...you get the picture.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Is it here yet?
Good Lord, I can't wait for football season. The more I read practice reports, see preseason specials and listen to sports talk radio, the more I'm growing completely restless. For my, it is simply the best. There is something about football that is not like any other sport. It is nigh unto magical. Football is a release for me. It's a time to step away from reality and have fun focusing on a game, that, in the end won't matter that much. It won't affect the economy. It probably won't affect eternity. But it sure is fun.
Things I'm looking forward to, in no particular order:
Things I'm looking forward to, in no particular order:
- The first big hit
- Interceptions. Man, I love interceptions.
- The Sanford Sunshine
- Crazy plays
- Tailgating and hanging with friends
- That feeling when a bomb is in the air
- Thursday night college football games
- Monday Night Football
- Those Tuesday night Conference USA games
- Bands...college football is supposed to have bands, not piped-in techno music
- Helmets
- Special uniforms
- A tailback going 'up-and-over' for a score
- Throwing my boys up in the air after a touchdown
Man, I can't wait.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Welcome Back
Someone who used to attend our church asked me the other day if they could come back. I was a little taken aback. My answer was, of course, "Of course!" That's a lot of 'of courses' there. It made my heart sad to think that someone thinks that they might not be welcomed back in the family of God.
Whether we admit it or not, a lot us feel this way. We feel like our mistakes are simply too big for the grace of God to overcome. We feel like we there's not enough room for our baggage. And we're left asking God, "Can I come back?"
God's answer is ALWAYS like mine. "Of course, beloved, you can always come back." I tell my boys all the time that there is nothing they can do that will make me stop loving them. That doesn't mean I'm not sometimes disappointed or irritated with them. But I never stop loving them. God is the same. There is nothing you can do to make Him stop loving you. He decided a long time ago that He loved you forever. You are always welcome back.
Whether we admit it or not, a lot us feel this way. We feel like our mistakes are simply too big for the grace of God to overcome. We feel like we there's not enough room for our baggage. And we're left asking God, "Can I come back?"
God's answer is ALWAYS like mine. "Of course, beloved, you can always come back." I tell my boys all the time that there is nothing they can do that will make me stop loving them. That doesn't mean I'm not sometimes disappointed or irritated with them. But I never stop loving them. God is the same. There is nothing you can do to make Him stop loving you. He decided a long time ago that He loved you forever. You are always welcome back.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Getting Better
So, I'm thinking about going back and getting my doctorate. I wasn't ever really sure I'd consider something like that. I've always said that I could care less if people call me doctor. I don't care about titles. And, I really, really don't like school. That sounds bad, but you gotta think about my context. I went straight from high school to college and straight to seminary. When I graduated from seminary, I had been in school for 20 straight years. I was a little tired of it.
But I've come around. For the first time ever...I think I want to go back to school. Because I want to be better. I want to be better at my job. I want to be a better pastor and better leader. I want to vision for our church better. I simply want to get better. I believe there are programs out there that can help me do just that - get better. That's where this came from. A desire to get better.
Complacency irritates me, maybe as much as anything else. This is a new revelation to me. I mean, I just figured out it irritates me. I don't ever want to be complacent. I don't want to sit in the status quo. I want to strive, strive, strive to be the best I can be...for our church to be the best She can be. I don't believe complacency honors God. God is a God that moves forward. God believes in excellence. God wants to push you to new horizons. God wants more out of you than you can imagine. And God says you will accomplish even bigger and better things than Jesus (that's in the Book). Don't just sit idle. Stretch. Reach. Strive. Get better. God needs you to be the best you you can be. And he wants that life for you.
But I've come around. For the first time ever...I think I want to go back to school. Because I want to be better. I want to be better at my job. I want to be a better pastor and better leader. I want to vision for our church better. I simply want to get better. I believe there are programs out there that can help me do just that - get better. That's where this came from. A desire to get better.
Complacency irritates me, maybe as much as anything else. This is a new revelation to me. I mean, I just figured out it irritates me. I don't ever want to be complacent. I don't want to sit in the status quo. I want to strive, strive, strive to be the best I can be...for our church to be the best She can be. I don't believe complacency honors God. God is a God that moves forward. God believes in excellence. God wants to push you to new horizons. God wants more out of you than you can imagine. And God says you will accomplish even bigger and better things than Jesus (that's in the Book). Don't just sit idle. Stretch. Reach. Strive. Get better. God needs you to be the best you you can be. And he wants that life for you.
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