Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (7.17.14)

I hope you're doing well.  Our family had a great vacation, but we're glad to be back in Gwinnett and sleeping in our own beds.  I'm really ready for the exciting couple weeks we've got coming up at Church of the Way.  KidsGames starts Monday night, and I can't wait.  This Sunday, we're continuing to dig into God's V15ION for Church of the Way in the coming season.  I'm looking forward to sharing about God's call on our church to reach those far beyond the walls.  I get excited just thinking about the work God is doing and about to do among us.  I hope you'll join me in praying for Go Beyond:  V15ION and KidsGames.

Thought for the Week"The Lord answered Moses, 'Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.'" Numbers 11:23

God said that to Moses.  The great and mighty Moses.  I mean, Moses was as good as it gets, and even his faith sometimes failed.  Even Moses couldn't see a way when there appeared to be only dead ends ahead.  Even Moses saw a God with limitations.  Even Moses doubted.  God's message to his chosen messenger is incredible:  "Moses, your God is too small."  God is saying, "Do you think I can't do what I promised?  Do you think I can't handle this?  You think I'm not big enough to conquer whatever lies ahead?"  If you're like me, you see a plan as to how things should work out.  You see steps and a process for what will bring success.  And you see a time to close up shop and count your losses.  You see when you should take another path because this one is impossible.  But God sees ways through impossible.  He sees a way forward when the path is blocked.  If you live your life by what you can accomplish or what can humanly be done, then you will have a life that levels out at your talent or skill level and a very natural existence.  I don't want that.  I want a life that doesn't make sense.  I want God to do things in me that I just don't see.  I want God to move in supernatural ways that I don't understand.  I want God to stretch out his long arm of grace and cover my family and me.  I want my God to be a Big God in my life.  Is the size of what God wants to do in your life being limited by the size of your faith?  Is your God too small?  Make Him big.  Stop telling God how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big your God is.

In Christ,

Carter

Sunday Preview & July 4th Thought for the Week (7.4.14)

Happy Independence Day Church of the Way!

I hope you're having a great July 4th.  After all of your Independence Day celebrations, I hope you'll make plans to be at worship on Sunday.  For the next five weeks, James and I will be teaching a series pointing to where God is taking our church in the next season.  I'm super excited about what God has in store.  I hope you'll be there for "Go Beyond:  V15ION."  We'll be talking about where we're at in moving toward a permanent facility, and how God is calling us to reach more people with his love in the next year.  And we've got some exciting news about some things happening this August and September.  I get excited just thinking about it.  Can't wait to share with you on Sunday!

Thought for the Week
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17

This passage in 2 Corinthians is the backdrop from one of my favorite worship songs.  In fact, you can listen to it right here.  I can really get a good jog in when that one is rockin' in my iPod.  The old King James Version of the Bible says "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."  Freedom.  Liberty.  Typically those are words we associate with the 4th of July.  Surely, Independence Day is a time to celebrate the freedoms we have in our country.  We should be grateful for that.  But, the kind of freedom we experience DOES have parameters.  We still have rules.  We have a limited freedom, and the rules give us boundaries within that freedom to protect us and allow us some level of choice.  But, our adherence to the rules are for our own preservation, not our devotion to an ideal of freedom.  Let me put it this way.  If there were no speed limits, how fast would you drive?  Now, you probably speed a little, but you keep it 10-15 MPH above the speed limit mostly because you don't want to get a ticket.  So, you might go 45 in a 35, but that's it.  If the sign instead read:  "It's probably safe to go 35-45 MPH here, but do whatever you want"...how fast would you go?  That's the kind of freedom God gives.  His love is free.  And we have freedom to be ourselves and not who anyone else tells us to be.  We are not guided by rules, but by His Spirit.  But, God still gives us clear commands, but have a choice to follow or not.  And He won't love us any less if we 'speed' right through.  We obey in freedom because of our adoration and love for the One who gave us freedom from our sins and brokenness.  But we don't have to.  What will you do with the freedom God has given you?  Follow him or follow your own path.  I know for me, that's an every day decision.  Decide today to follow the Freedom-giver.

In Christ,

Carter 

Faith & the Flag

The flag in front of our home.

In the last week, I have driven by a number of churches of all denominations that have their front lawn lined with American flags.  Now, I love Ol' Glory.  Above is a picture of the small one in our front flower bed.  I enjoy a patriotic celebration as much as the next guy.  During the first Gulf War, I wore a homemade Desert Storm jacket that my mother decorated with flags, stars and military symbols.  I get a little teary during a flyover at a football game, and some of my best friends have served in the military.  Oh, and I still get choked up when Lee Greenwood sings "God Bless the USA" in the Stone Mountain Laser Show.  I mean, what red-blooded American doesn't?  I am so grateful to live in a country that has afforded me the opportunities and freedoms I've enjoyed throughout my entire life.  I do not take lightly the price of that freedom and those opportunities.  I am thankful of the men and women who have fallen, served and continue to serve.

Still...I can't help but wonder what kind of message we are sending when the Church joins arms with patriotism.  The religious leaders of Jesus' day wanted faith to be nationally focused.  It was for Israel.  Jesus made a new way.  It was for Non-Jews, too.  The Apostle's struggled in the Early Church with this concept, but God gave Peter and Paul a vision to reach the Gentiles.  Jesus commanded His Disciples to "make disciples of all nations" and told them they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

This church thing has always been about 'all nations.'  The Church is a global movement, not a national icon.  My faith does not bid me to raise the flag of my country but to raise the flag of my surrender to my Redeemer.  When we link faith to patriotism we run the risk of confusing the message.  Is this church only for Americans?  That's critical in the community in which I serve, which has people from all over the world.  What if I do not align myself as American...am I welcome in a church lined with flags?  Does being an American make you a better or more superior Christian?  One can make an argument that being American hinders our ability to surrender our lives to Jesus because we have so much, so many blessings to surrender.  When we place the flag beside the cross, do we endorse all they both stand for?  We fully endorse the work of the cross and all it means.  Are we ready to say that we stand for all the flag has stood for and stands for?  Certainly not.  The flag and our country are like us, limited and fallible.  America does things we're proud of, and America does things we're ashamed of.

This is critical for Christ followers.  We are Disciples first.  I believe Jesus meant what He said in Matthew 16:24, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."  Deny everything, pick up a cross and follow Jesus.  Deny all that makes us ourselves to embrace a new self.  God didn't create us as Americans -- God created us in God's image.  All of us.  Every tribe, every nation, all peoples on earth.  We are about helping all nations experience the restoration of that image.  When we stand before God, our allegiance to Jesus, not our allegiance to the flag, will be the only thing of any importance.  

Celebrate this July 4th.  Celebrate the country in which we live. We have the best justice system, the most freedom, and the greatest country that I believe has ever existed.  America has done more for goodwill in the world than any other nation in history.  We have become freedom fighters not only for our people but for people all across the globe.  I am so proud to have been born here and to live here, but let us not forget that our nationality is of secondary importance to the one in whom we were born again and offers us life.  It is this life that the world needs from Christ's Church.  Let us offer this life, for it alone is the only hope salvation for the world.

  

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (6.26.14)

I hope you're having a blessed week.  This Sunday, we were reaching the finale of the series we've been in since May:  "BASIC".  We've covered some of the core things that Christians do.  It's been challenging.  This week, we'll finish out the series by talking about how Christians "Share Faith."  This last one is definitely a challenge, and it's one of those subjects we're not sure how to approach.  I hope you'll be there as we talk about how God calls us reach out to others.

Also, I hope you're making plans to be a part of Worship on July 6 - Aug. 3.  We'll be focusing on where God is taking us next as a church and the next steps toward being the church He wants us to be for the community in "Go Beyond:  Vision 15."

Thought for the Week
"Always be zealous for the fear of the Lord."  Proverbs 23:17

The world is taken with the World Cup right now.  On Sunday, I showed some funny pictures of some zealous fans.  Soccer fans are known for being the most passionate in the world.  Of course, in our neck of the woods, that same passion can be seen in High School and SEC football stadiums.  In the Northeast, we see it in the Red Sox - Yankees rivalry.  We also see passion in the fans of certain bands, musicians, and movies.  People follow bands around all over the country or dress up in costume to go to weekend conventions celebrating a favorite movie or comic book.  It always bothered me growing up when I heard preachers say, "Why aren't you as passionate about Jesus as you are about cheering for your favorite football team?"  I always thought, "Well, it would just seem inappropriate if I wore full body paint to church and screamed at the top of my lungs during the 4th stanza of every hymn, not to mention hug strangers around me when there was a celebratory moment in worship."  I just don't think that's what zeal for the Lord looks like.  I think it does include a kind of deep, inner passion that burns for His will, His purposes, and His Spirit.  And that passion fuels us.  It drives us to live for Him.  There is no such thing is a faith that's passionless.  Each of us have passions about different things, but let us make sure that we are zealous for God and God's cause.  If you don't have that kind of deep, inner zeal for God, what's holding you back?  Is it a sin, habit or behavior?  Is it a relationship or circumstance?  What would it take for you to get a breakthrough to finding that passion.

In Christ,

Carter 

Quiet House

My house is ridiculously quiet this week.  My two oldest boys (8 and 10) are at camp and my two youngest boys (4 and 6) are at their grandparents'.  We are childless for about 4-5 days.  It is weird.  It's hard to describe to people.  According to the 2010 census, only 9% of American families have three or more children under 18 at home.  They don't have a category for 4 or more because there are only 13 of us across the nation :)

Having four children is an absolute blessing to us.  We can't really imagine life any other way.  You hear the McInnis family coming from a mile away, and we leave a restaurant, we leave it well used.  I try to tip well.  That server deserves it.  But it's a crazy life -- and very loud.  With all four of mine being boys, we live with the reality that virtually everything in our home is on the brink of being broken.  It could happen at any minute, really.  If they haven't broken it, it's next on the list.  And they are awesome boys.  They're just, well, boys.

But this week is bizarre.  It's the first stretch we've ever had like this since our youngest was born.  Did I mention it was quiet?  I told my wife that this is what it will be like when Brooks' graduates.  He'll be the last to go, and it'll be quiet every day.  That's only 14 years away.  Fourteen years used to seem like a long time.  It's flying buy now.  I've only got nine years of school left with my oldest.  Nine!  Virtually my entire wardrobe is older than nine years.

I've been reading Numbers recently, one of the first five books of the Bible.  Numbers are important to God.  God tells us to number our days in Psalm 90:12.  I'm starting to count them.  Nine years for Morgan.  Fourteen until they're all gone.  Fourteen.  That's nothing.  I'll only be 52 when they're all gone.  But what I have is these 9 to 14 years ahead to influence them.  When they leave, my influence in their lives will diminish.  They will meet new friends, hear new ideas, and start their own lives.  For now, Emily and I get the chance to pour into their lives, and I want to soak up every second I've got.  Because I can hear the quiet house waiting for me in 14 years.  And it will be too late then.  Parents, how many years do you have left?  It. Will. Fly.  By.  Invest, influence, and teach.  Use every second.

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (6.19.14)

I hope you're beating the summer heat and ready for another awesome Sunday at Church of the Way.  I'm really excited about this message coming up this Sunday.  We've only got a couple of more weeks left of our "BASIC" series.  This Sunday, I'll be teaching about how "Christians Love Others" -- especially one another.  So, it will be a Sunday of Love at Church of the Way, and we're going to have some musical fun, too.  I hope to see you there...and bring a friend!

I wanted to tell you to mark your Sunday calendars for this July.  Starting July 6, James and I will be teaching a series called "V15ION" (i.e. Vision '15) as we look at a vision for where God is taking our church in the next 15 months and in 2015 to reach our community for Christ.  We'll be talking about where God is leading us to prepare for a permanent home in the Archer/Grayson/Lawrenceville Community, where God is leading us in a potential 2nd campus in Auburn, and how God is working to use us this next season right were we are.  I'm stoked just thinking about it.  For two years, we've been working to "Go Beyond" our walls to be the church God has called us to be.  Make sure you're there for this final stretch.  Go Beyond:  V15ION.

Thought for the Week
"I will do whatever you think is best."  2 Samuel 18:4

Do you know who said that?  Kind David.  Do you know who he said it to?  The commanders of his armies.  They were preparing to go into battle to 'win back' Jerusalem for him and his kingdom.  He said he wanted to lead the troops in with them.  They urged him to stay behind, and that was his answer.  The guy who was king, who had slain the mighty Goliath, who had conquered nearly the whole known world.  Instead of putting his foot down, he listened to his advisers even though he had veto power over them.  What a leadership lesson!  What a life lesson!  Sometimes, people over whom we have authority are speaking wisdom to us, and we need to be willing to listen.  Parents need to learn to listen to their children.  Employers need to learn to listen to employees.  Civic authorities need to learn to listen to citizens.  Coaches need to learn to listen to players.  Teachers need to learn to listen to students.  The generation in charge needs to learn to listen to the generation coming up.  Leaders need to learn to listen to followers.  Sometimes, even strangers are speaking a word of wisdom to us.  David would have done himself or the cause no good by being stubborn here.  Stubbornness can be a good thing, a needed thing.  But stubbornness can also be our downfall.  David was no good to the cause dead.  He listened.  he went against his own wishes and original idea because he trusted their judgement.  Of course, what is pivotal her is to surround ourselves with people whose judgement we trust.  And then trust them.  If King David can humble himself and listen to others, we can, too.

In Christ,

Carter 

Gregg Popovich and the Spurs on Leadership

You probably don't remember it.  You were shopping for last minute Christmas gifts or going to an office Christmas Party.  Gregg Popovich, iconic coach of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, had done it again.  A year after being fined $250,000 by the league for resting players, Pop did it again on December 19, 2013.  He sat 38 year-old Tim Duncan and 37 year-old Manu Ginobili down for a Thursday night game at Oakland.  I think he might have even put them on a plane and sent them back to San Antonio.  He received harsh criticism from the league office.  Sports talk radio personalities blasted him for hurting the integrity of the game.  Fans who bought tickets were outraged that they didn't get to see two of the Spurs' starts play.  Do you think that game was the only time the Pop made strategic decisions to take care of his aging stars?  Didn't Duncan and Ginobili look fresh against those young Heat stars (D-Wade notwithstanding)?

Here's the deal.  Gregg Popovich knows what his job is.  He is NOT paid to:

• Make the Commissioner happy.
• Keep competitive balance on track for a December 19 game in Oakland.
• Please fans who bought tickets hoping to see Duncan play.
• Do what sports talk radio personalities think is the proper thing to do.

Pop is paid to win games, namely a championship, within the rules of the league.  If a coach can rest a player because his knees are bothering him, can't he rest a players because his knees are 38 years old?  As the Spurs dismantled the Heat in five games, Pop was giving leaders a valuable lesson:  do what's the in the best interest of the organization.

Pop's December decision did not win him any fans in the league office, but it might have won him a fifth Larry O'Brian Trophy.  Doing what's in the best interest of the organization will not always be understood by others.  I'll be there are people even within the Spurs' organization that didn't like it.  Doing what's best for the organization will bring about criticism, and Pop got plenty.  In 2012, he did the same thing and it cost him financially.  Doing what's in the best interest of the organization might mean financial sacrifices by the leader.  Do you think Pop would trade that trophy for $250,000?  Not a chance.  He did it for the trophy.  He did it because he could see the future, and did what he knew was in the best interest of the organization to achieve the desired future.  When we see someone win and hold the trophy, we sometimes forget the sacrifices, criticism deflected and strategic decisions to get them there.  This will be true in families, church, business and non-profits.  Leadership requires strategic decisions that the leaders knows to be in the best interest of the organization, no matter the criticism.