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 (11.13.14)

I hope you are settling into Fall and having a great week.  It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  I'm excited about sharing about "Living Generously" again this Sunday as we continue to learn from God how to live life with open hands.  In this season of counting our blessings, the natural response is generosity.  Truly, gratefulness breeds generosity.  Can't wait to see you Sunday!

Also, our Christmas series called "That Awkward Moment" will begin Sunday, Nov. 30.  I can't wait to dive into some Christmas stories from a brand new angle this Holiday Season.  Mark your Calendars!

Thought for the Week
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:9

I don't know what I don't know.  I keep thinking that.  The farther along I get in my walk with Christ, the more I feel like I know.  There was a time I was certain about a lot of things, and my certainty has waned.  There was a time I could always come up with an answer; now I've figured out that there is a lot that is unanswerable.  I don't know a lot.  There's even more that I don't know that I don't know.  Did you follow that?  We get obsessed with certainty.  We want to carefully plan our lives.  And we want to understand everything that happens.  We want to just have God all figured out.  I thinking I've figured out that I don't have God figured out.  What I do have figured out what He has revealed to us in Jesus and His Word, the Bible.  I've figured out that God loves us so much he sent His Son to die for us. I've figured out that He wants His spirit to live in me and guide me.  I've figured out that 'spirit living in me' deal is kind of muddy and messy.  I screw up a lot.  And there are times I don't even know I'm messing it all up.  I don't know why some of my prayers are answered and others aren't.  I don't know why good things happen to people that are seemingly bad and seemingly bad things happen to good people.  I don't know why one person seems to catch all the breaks and another doesn't catch any.  I don't usually know why God puts me in the situations He puts me in.  I just don't know a lot...because his ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  And I don't always get it.  What I'm learning is that it's not what I know.  It's who I know and by whom I am know.  I am my beloved's and He is mine.  That's enough to know to walk through all I don't.

In Christ,

Carter 

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (11.6.14)

I hope you're having an awesome week.  I missed being with you on Sunday and I'm looking forward to diving back into where James left off with "Living Generously."  This week we're going to see how God calls us out of our comfort zones to be generous with our lives.  God challenges us and calls us to new directions.  I can't wait to see you there!

Thought for the Week
"'Please don't kill my son,' the baby's mother screamed.  'Your Majesty, I love him very much but give him to her.  Just don't kill him.'"  1 Kings 3:26

Have you ever read this story about Solomon's wisdom?  It's nuts, but it's powerful story.  Two mothers of newborns come to Solomon with a dispute.  They are both claiming to be the mother of a baby.  One mother had accidentally rolled over on her baby and killed it.  Now, she was trying to steal this other lady's baby.  Of course, this is before DNA test or anything.  How do you know who the baby belongs to?  Solomon says they should cut the baby in half and brings a sword out.  That way, both of them can have a part of the baby.  Of course, this solution will not end well.  One one woman agrees, but the other woman answers with the line above.  Solomon knows, at that point, who the true mother is and gives the baby to her.  The true mother would do anything to spare her child, even give the baby up.  Solomon creates tension and stress to reveal the truth.  Have you ever noticed how tension and stress reveal our true character?  When we are under pressure or stress, often our true colors show.  Are we callous, angry, selfish, or self-centered?  Are we faithful?  Do we hit our knees in prayer?  Do we look to God?  Do we turn inward or do what's best for others?  Do we have integrity or try to hide our shortcomings?  Do we do what's right or what's easiest? 

What tension are you feeling now in life?  What is it revealing about your character?  The best news is that God wants to continue shaping our character to look more like His so that when the chips are down, when the pressure is on, when the air tenses up...we respond with God's character.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Carter 

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (10.23.14)

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful Fall weather and having a great week.  I so missed worshiping with you on Sunday, but I'm looking forward to being back with you this week as we begin a brand new series, "Living Generously."  It's a really new experience for us as a church, as we'll really weave a story together over five weeks as we walk through life with a family going through some of the same things we go through.  Hopefully, we'll learn what it means to have God's generous heart permeate our entire lives.

I'll also be leading a small group study to go along with the series beginning next Monday night (Oct. 27) at 6:30 p.m. at our Grayson Campus.

Looking forward to seeing you this week!

Thought for the Week
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8

Last week I took advantage of Verizon's offer to turn in my old iPhone for the new iPhone 6.  Now, you must understand that I went to a liberal arts college.  I don't really 'do' technology that well.  It took me a least a full day to get it up and running after many attempts to throw my computer, old phone and new phone out the window.  It was incredibly frustrating.  I thought, "This is how it must feel when people are going through change."  I'm a pretty good adapter to change (new personal technology devices aside).  We've built our church on changing with the direction of God's Spirit.  Nevertheless, change is often very frustrating, even if you know something is better on the other side.  Now, I love the new phone, but the process of changing over was frustrating.  We face all kinds of changes:  family changes, job changes, church changes.  Life changes.  Kids grow up, we take new jobs, friends move away.  Change happens.  I think there are two things to remember.  In the midst of frustration during change, we need to keep our eyes on the better days ahead.  Yes, it will be frustrating to take a kid from pre-teen to teen, but there will be lots of fun experiences with teens.  It will be difficult to have your youngest leave the house for the real world, but many new experiences will be awaiting you as an empty nester.  Seeing friends move will be sad, but your best friends ever might be the next ones to move in next door.  Just remember...you'll love the new phone if you can get through the change.  Of course, the greatest comfort is that Jesus is the same in the midst of our change.  As the world changes, Jesus is the Rock.  As life ebbs and flows, Jesus remains steady.  So, hitch your wagon to Jesus.  You can't stop life from changing.  It's supposed to.  Jesus doesn't.  Make sure you're anchor is in Christ.

Be blessed,

Carter

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (10.9.14)

What an awesome week!  I hope you're having a good one.  Good things are happening at Church of the Way and I can't wait to see what God does next.  Hey, have you heard about our One Way Middle School ministry on Sundays at noon at our Grayson Campus?  Check it out!

This Sunday, we'll be concluding the "CRAZY" series on King David by talking about his relationship with his son, Absalom.  It is a powerful story.  It's been speaking to me for months as we planned this series.  I hope to see you there.  

Thought for the Week
"The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord."  Judges 10:6

Again.  If you read Judges, that's the theme you'll find.  I've been teaching about Judges recently and we keep reading that word.  Again.  Again God's people turned away.  Again they were unfaithful.  They did was was evil in the sight of the Lord...again.  Do you struggle with again?  Why don't we get it?  What speaks to me in all the 'agains' is that God keeps coming back.  We often feel like "this time" we went too far for God.  He'll never take us back.  We've turned away one too many times.  We've done it -- again.  There a few lessons here:

1. If we are not diligent, we'll fall back to former ways again.  When we don't focus on God, spend time with God, take time to pray and read God's Word, get ourselves in a Bible Study, or whatever makes our faith grow, we'll be sure to stagnate and, again, fall away.
2. God's love stretches beyond 'again.'  God pursues us because of His great love.  We don't deserve.  We might run away, but God always runs after us again.  He loves us that much.
3. Bonus:  What would it mean for us to have the heart of God when others hurt us again and again?  That's a tough.  We'll talk more about that on Sunday.

Have an awesome weekend!

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 

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.18.14)

I hope you've had a great week.  It's been another crazy one around the McInnis household -- fitting for our current series!  Hey, if you don't have plans tonight and you're a big college football fan, come on over to the home of Noah & Mariah McNeely (100 Herring Rd., Grayson, GA 30017).  We'll have food and fun.  You can bring food to share if you like, but you don't have to.  All ages welcome.  We'll watch the Auburn vs. Kansas State game and have a short devotion and prayer time at halftime.  Don't worry if you've got head home early.  Come out at 7:00 p.m.  Kickoff is at 7:30.  You can contact Noah at noah_mcneely@yahoo.com to let him know you're coming if you're bringing a crowd!

This Sunday, we'll be continuing the series "CRAZY."  I'm going to be teaching about David and Saul, and how they dealt with their respective situations differently.  It's a powerful story of what it means to walk faithfully with God, in His time, when it's so easy to take shortcuts.

Thought for the Week
"Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God."

We're not touching on Jonathan in the story of David, but he was another prominent player.  I couldn't help but think of him this week as I've thought a lot about encouragement and friendship.  I learned recently about a friend who had a moral failure.  It his ruined his career, and it's a body blow that will take him a while to recover from.  We don't see each other much, but I thought about the times we did and the subject came to faith.  He was about 12-13 years older than me and had a much higher social standing in life because of his position and pay scale.  For that reason, it seemed to get awkward around conversations in faith.  It can be strange to challenge, encourage, rebuke or guide someone who is older and makes more money.  I thought this week about how I might have been the only Christian in his life who ever asked him about faith or church.  I should have encouraged him more.  In the end, his job and income couldn't save him from his sin, and it's wrecked his life for now.  God puts us in people's lives and others in our lives for a reason.  I hope you'll receive encouragement in the faith when a spiritual mentor offers it.  They may be trying to save you from heartache to come.  And I hope you'll give encouragement in the faith to a friend that might need you to say something no one else will.  Is there someone God is calling you to be more of an encourager to?  Be a Jonathan to someone.  And listen to the Jonathans in your life.

In Christ,

Carter