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
Friday, March 10, 2017
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Sports
 |
| Kris Jenkins wins it for Villanova at the buzzer. |
I've had a rough year in sports. It all started in Houston, but not in the Super Bowl. It started in at the Final Four at NRG Stadium. My wife is a UNC fan, and we're pretty big Tar Heel Basketball fans. The stars were aligning last march for the Heels' third National Championship under Roy Williams. Preseason #1. Regular season ACC Champs. ACC Tournament Champs. And they'd made it to the National Championship, and even hit an improbable 3-pointer to tie it up. Then Kris Jenkins happened, and Villanova won the greatest NCAA tournament championship ever.
Surely it would get better in the Fall. My Dawgs had a new coach, started the season with a resounding win in the Chick-fil-a Kickoff vs. UNC (can you say house divided?), featuring our star player's (Nick Chubb) improbable comeback from injury, and thrilling last minute win at Mizzou at the hand of our rising star, freshman QB Jacob Eason. Against undefeated Tennessee at home, we'd played our best game of the season, trailed late and made a miracle play with 10 seconds left to seemingly secure the biggest home win in several years. It would be a huge moment for our rookie coach and rookie QB, who had made the (almost) winning pass. Then the unthinkable happened.
 |
| Jauan Jennings makes the game winning catch. |
But the Falcons were rolling through the season. Midway through the year I thought we looked like a Super Bowl contender. Indeed, we were. Matt Ryan was the best player in the league, except maybe for his teammate, Julio Jones. The offense was unstoppable and the defense was maturing. The playoffs became the ride of the lifetime, and at halftime of the Super Bowl, I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. We were going to win the Super Bowl. The loss to 'Nova stung. The Hail Mary that derailed our season still hurt. This would give me some momentary sports joy. Would I get the red, black or gray Super Bowl Champion shirt? Maybe one of each, or one short sleeve and one long sleeve. And a hat. And a pennant for the basement. And you know what happened.
 |
| James White scores the game winning TD in Overtime |
But I can't just give up on sports. Hope springs eternal, and there are too many lessons. During my hiatus from sports talk, my boys' basketball seasons marched on. My youngest was in an instructional league for Kindergarten and 1st graders. They didn't keep score. At that age, the kids there were super aggressive kind of took over. Nothing wrong with that. The kids were trying to make plays and really got after it on defense. It was hard for some kids to even get a shot off all season. In the last couple of games, the referee cleared a path for a few kids who hadn't been able to score all year to get some clear shots. They were ecstatic when they'd finally made one. They beamed the whole way back down the court. That is what sports have really been about in my life.
Sports build confidence and character like few things I know of. They teach us to keep fighting and working hard. They teach discipline and effort. They teach us to respect leaders. They teach unselfishness. They teach teamwork. Few things have shaped my work life and adult life the way sports did.
They also teach dealing with disappointment. In the movie Fever Pitch, Jimmy Fallon's character, Ben, describes his affection for his beloved Red Sox and their success this way: "I like being part of something that's bigger than me...It's good for your soul to invest in something you can't control." And guess what? Much of our lives we can't control, and we have to learn to get back up and move on when we're disappointed. Even being a real fan can be positive. Can we learn to stick with a team or organization through highs and lows or will we be a front-runner fan? That teaches us something about commitment and relationships. People will disappoint us. Will we stick with them? And isn't success sweeter when we stuck with them for the long haul?
I love art -- music, movies, artwork. But someone decides what they look like and how they end up. The artists controls what they create with the skills they spent a lifetime honing. But sports are unpredictable. We have no idea what will happen when the game begins, and how hard you worked doesn't always mean you get the results you want, and sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes the ball bounces the wrong way, and sometimes one decision changes the course of the game, and sometimes your preparation meets the perfect opportunity, and sometimes you have to play again after being incredibly disappointed, and sometimes you celebrate a win only to realize there's another game. Ain't that life?
And the greatest thing about it? There's always next year, and in your life, there's always tomorrow. After all, the Heels are looking like they could make another run, the Dawgs are about to start spring practice, and the Braves look like a young, hungry team. Don't talk to me about NFL free agency. I'm not ready for the NFL yet.
I'm still not over it.
At least I'm not a Warriors or Indians fan.
At least I'm not a Warriors or Indians fan.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (2.11.17)
Hey Church!
This weekend of worship is going to be awesome as we kickoff our series on Love & Marriage called "Marriage is Hard." We believe that it doesn't have to be if we'll follow God's directions for relationships. Bring a friend and get ready to become the spouse God created you to be! We'll be talking about Unity, Intimacy & Faithfulness, Communication & Financial Stress. See you there!
Thought for the Week
"Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Joel 2:13
Our image of God is often that He is very quick to get angry with us when we mess up. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is actually slow to anger. I'm reminded, then, that when I am quick to get angry, I am, at that moment, most unlike God. When I blow a fuse or easily get frustrated, I feel distant from God. Why? Because that is so out of His character. When we draw nearer to God, we will become more like Him. What if all the people that called themselves followers of God were like Him in this regard? What if we were very, very slow to anger? What if we were gracious and compassionate instead? Whatever you've done, know that God is not angry at you. He's very slow to anger. It takes a while to get him all riled up. Just return to Him and you'll find grace and compassion. And why don't we try to practice a little more 'slowness' in our anger and, instead, be abounding in love, graciousness and compassion. The world (and especially the internet!) could certainly use more of those these days.
In Christ,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
This weekend of worship is going to be awesome as we kickoff our series on Love & Marriage called "Marriage is Hard." We believe that it doesn't have to be if we'll follow God's directions for relationships. Bring a friend and get ready to become the spouse God created you to be! We'll be talking about Unity, Intimacy & Faithfulness, Communication & Financial Stress. See you there!
Thought for the Week
"Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Joel 2:13
Our image of God is often that He is very quick to get angry with us when we mess up. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is actually slow to anger. I'm reminded, then, that when I am quick to get angry, I am, at that moment, most unlike God. When I blow a fuse or easily get frustrated, I feel distant from God. Why? Because that is so out of His character. When we draw nearer to God, we will become more like Him. What if all the people that called themselves followers of God were like Him in this regard? What if we were very, very slow to anger? What if we were gracious and compassionate instead? Whatever you've done, know that God is not angry at you. He's very slow to anger. It takes a while to get him all riled up. Just return to Him and you'll find grace and compassion. And why don't we try to practice a little more 'slowness' in our anger and, instead, be abounding in love, graciousness and compassion. The world (and especially the internet!) could certainly use more of those these days.
In Christ,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
Friday, January 27, 2017
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.27.17)
Hey Church!
I hope you've had a great last week of January. We're coming to the end of our "REVOLUTION" series this week as well. We'll be talking about starting a Revolution in our Community. I hope you'll be at one of our locations to be a part of it.
Also, don't forget we're continuing with Serve Team Sign-Ups this week. This is a great way to get involved, meet others, grow in your faith, and be a part of God's ministry.
Thought for the Week
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Proverbs 11:3
I read something the other day that was really striking, especially in our technology heavy culture. It essentially said that there are not two of you, an internet you and a regular life you. If you are mean on the internet...you're mean. But that is really true about all our lives. We would like to compartmentalize our lives, but something I often say is 'everything affects everything.' There is not a work you, home you, church you, internet you, by-yourself you. There is just you. That kind of duplicity will destroy you. Integrity guides you because you don't ever have to wonder which 'you' that you should be. When we have different versions of ourselves, we aren't really being authentic. Which is the real us? Integrity means we are the same person in every situation around all kinds of people. And you know what? People really want to be around people with integrity. Employers want to hire people with integrity. Children respect parents with integrity. Others respect integrity. So, is there an area of your life that is marked by duplicity rather than integrity? Don't fool yourself. That's not just the 'other you' for that area of your life -- that's you. We don't live in multiple realities. Be who you want to be and God created you to be in every arena. Have integrity.
In Christ,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
I hope you've had a great last week of January. We're coming to the end of our "REVOLUTION" series this week as well. We'll be talking about starting a Revolution in our Community. I hope you'll be at one of our locations to be a part of it.
Also, don't forget we're continuing with Serve Team Sign-Ups this week. This is a great way to get involved, meet others, grow in your faith, and be a part of God's ministry.
Thought for the Week
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Proverbs 11:3
I read something the other day that was really striking, especially in our technology heavy culture. It essentially said that there are not two of you, an internet you and a regular life you. If you are mean on the internet...you're mean. But that is really true about all our lives. We would like to compartmentalize our lives, but something I often say is 'everything affects everything.' There is not a work you, home you, church you, internet you, by-yourself you. There is just you. That kind of duplicity will destroy you. Integrity guides you because you don't ever have to wonder which 'you' that you should be. When we have different versions of ourselves, we aren't really being authentic. Which is the real us? Integrity means we are the same person in every situation around all kinds of people. And you know what? People really want to be around people with integrity. Employers want to hire people with integrity. Children respect parents with integrity. Others respect integrity. So, is there an area of your life that is marked by duplicity rather than integrity? Don't fool yourself. That's not just the 'other you' for that area of your life -- that's you. We don't live in multiple realities. Be who you want to be and God created you to be in every arena. Have integrity.
In Christ,
Carter McInnis
Lead Pastor
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.19.17)
Hey Church!
Are you living the revolution this week? I hope so. The Revolution series has me thinking about my own life. This week, the series continues as we talk about what it means to have a Revolution in our church. I believe God has big things in store for us as a church if we are obedient to Him. I hope you'll come be a part of it! AND YOU'RE WEAR YOUR FALCONS GEAR TO WORSHIP!
If you're new over the last few months, stick around this Sunday for 10-4. It's 10 minutes after worship on the 4th Sunday of the month to meet pastors and find out how to take the next step to get involved.
And don't forget Serve Team sign-ups are this week. Where will you serve?
Thought for the Week
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'" Mark 8:34
As another inauguration approaches our country, I am always in awe of the process. It's one of the things that makes our country unique and beautiful. We call it the peaceful transition of power. Think about it. Only once in the last 70 years has a president won an election whose predecessor was from the same party -- that was George H.W. Bush in 1988. Prior to that, it was Harry Truman in 1944. That means that almost every inauguration in the last 70 years has been by a President in his second term, a President taking over after tragic circumstances (Johnson after the assassination, and Ford after Nixon's impeachment), or a President taking the reigns from the 'other' party. And it will happen, again, peacefully. I cannot say that the transition of power in my life from my control to God's control has been peaceful. It's a daily knockdown, drag out fight. Sometimes, it's nearly a war. Isn't that was following Jesus demands? It's what Jesus asks of us -- deny yourself and follow Him. Like a political opponent who has won an election, it isn't always what we want. Sometimes, our desires are strikingly different than God's. I don't want to hand God control. I want it my way. I want the power in my life. I want to make decisions for myself. Don't I know what's best for me? So I fight. Many of us fight. We just won't let go. I think discipleship looks like peacefully transitioning the power in our lives over to God. I think it looks like handing over control. In our country, this only happens every four or eight years. For us, this is almost a daily ritual. Tomorrow will have more decisions that will require 'handing over' power. Daily, we are called to inaugurate Jesus the president and ruler of our lives.
In His Grace,
Carter
Are you living the revolution this week? I hope so. The Revolution series has me thinking about my own life. This week, the series continues as we talk about what it means to have a Revolution in our church. I believe God has big things in store for us as a church if we are obedient to Him. I hope you'll come be a part of it! AND YOU'RE WEAR YOUR FALCONS GEAR TO WORSHIP!
If you're new over the last few months, stick around this Sunday for 10-4. It's 10 minutes after worship on the 4th Sunday of the month to meet pastors and find out how to take the next step to get involved.
And don't forget Serve Team sign-ups are this week. Where will you serve?
Thought for the Week
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'" Mark 8:34
As another inauguration approaches our country, I am always in awe of the process. It's one of the things that makes our country unique and beautiful. We call it the peaceful transition of power. Think about it. Only once in the last 70 years has a president won an election whose predecessor was from the same party -- that was George H.W. Bush in 1988. Prior to that, it was Harry Truman in 1944. That means that almost every inauguration in the last 70 years has been by a President in his second term, a President taking over after tragic circumstances (Johnson after the assassination, and Ford after Nixon's impeachment), or a President taking the reigns from the 'other' party. And it will happen, again, peacefully. I cannot say that the transition of power in my life from my control to God's control has been peaceful. It's a daily knockdown, drag out fight. Sometimes, it's nearly a war. Isn't that was following Jesus demands? It's what Jesus asks of us -- deny yourself and follow Him. Like a political opponent who has won an election, it isn't always what we want. Sometimes, our desires are strikingly different than God's. I don't want to hand God control. I want it my way. I want the power in my life. I want to make decisions for myself. Don't I know what's best for me? So I fight. Many of us fight. We just won't let go. I think discipleship looks like peacefully transitioning the power in our lives over to God. I think it looks like handing over control. In our country, this only happens every four or eight years. For us, this is almost a daily ritual. Tomorrow will have more decisions that will require 'handing over' power. Daily, we are called to inaugurate Jesus the president and ruler of our lives.
In His Grace,
Carter
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
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (1.5.17)
Hey Church,
It's an exciting week as our Lawrenceville & Grayson Campuses relaunch at new times and a new location. I hope you'll join me in praying for what God is doing across all our church. Also, we're beginning a new series, "Revolution", that I believe we all need for the New Year. Hope to see you there!
We're watching the weather closely. As of right now, we're still planning on all our normal services as the weather is supposed to clear significantly on Saturday afternoon.
Here's a few things to know for the weeks ahead:
1. Re-Launch in Gwinnett beginning this weekend
3. Sign-Up Sundays. January 22 & 29. Sign-up for Serve Teams & Connect Groups. It’s the best way to get involved.
4. Baptism Sundays. Harmony Grove – Jan. 29. Lawrenceville – Feb. 12. Contact Amber Watts at amber@churchoftheway.net or mark your Connection Card on Sundays to get more info about the Baptism Course for all participants. For infants through adults.
Thought for the Week
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
I've spent the week trying to get back in the groove after the holidays. I'll bet you've done the same thing. By nature, I think we're all kind of creatures of routine. I head to the coffee pot first thing every morning and make the same amount of coffee. We all like routine. I'm learning more and more that this need for routine is directly opposed to life in relationship with God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn't do routine. The Spirit is wild and untamed. Does this make you as uncomfortable as me? That means the Spirit doesn't follow the plan, it doesn't follow the script. But it's a much better and bigger plan, and it's a script you or I would never write. But this is the life, outside of routine, outside of normal, that you and I were meant to live. This will mean every step becomes a step of faith because life in the Spirit means that we never know where it will lead next. But isn't this exciting. God has yet unknown plans for your life. And they are good plans because He is a Good God. Routines can be good. They ARE good, but don't let your faith be routine. Embrace life in the Spirit by putting ALL your trust in God. We have no idea where it my take us, but it will be awesome when we get there.
In His Spirit,
Carter
It's an exciting week as our Lawrenceville & Grayson Campuses relaunch at new times and a new location. I hope you'll join me in praying for what God is doing across all our church. Also, we're beginning a new series, "Revolution", that I believe we all need for the New Year. Hope to see you there!
We're watching the weather closely. As of right now, we're still planning on all our normal services as the weather is supposed to clear significantly on Saturday afternoon.
Here's a few things to know for the weeks ahead:
1. Re-Launch in Gwinnett beginning this weekend
- Sundays - Church of the Way @ Lawrenceville. 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. (meeting at Lovin Elementary School, 1705 New Hope Rd., Lawrenceville, GA 30045)
- Mondays – Church of the Way @ Grayson. 7:00 p.m. (meeting at the SE Gwinnett Co-Op, 55 Grayson Industrial Pkwy., Grayson, GA 30017).
3. Sign-Up Sundays. January 22 & 29. Sign-up for Serve Teams & Connect Groups. It’s the best way to get involved.
4. Baptism Sundays. Harmony Grove – Jan. 29. Lawrenceville – Feb. 12. Contact Amber Watts at amber@churchoftheway.net or mark your Connection Card on Sundays to get more info about the Baptism Course for all participants. For infants through adults.
Thought for the Week
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
I've spent the week trying to get back in the groove after the holidays. I'll bet you've done the same thing. By nature, I think we're all kind of creatures of routine. I head to the coffee pot first thing every morning and make the same amount of coffee. We all like routine. I'm learning more and more that this need for routine is directly opposed to life in relationship with God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn't do routine. The Spirit is wild and untamed. Does this make you as uncomfortable as me? That means the Spirit doesn't follow the plan, it doesn't follow the script. But it's a much better and bigger plan, and it's a script you or I would never write. But this is the life, outside of routine, outside of normal, that you and I were meant to live. This will mean every step becomes a step of faith because life in the Spirit means that we never know where it will lead next. But isn't this exciting. God has yet unknown plans for your life. And they are good plans because He is a Good God. Routines can be good. They ARE good, but don't let your faith be routine. Embrace life in the Spirit by putting ALL your trust in God. We have no idea where it my take us, but it will be awesome when we get there.
In His Spirit,
Carter
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