Whoa, can you believe Christmas is a week away? It has crept up on me faster than ever this year. I'm excited about our Christmas services, as this year we'll host four services, all with the same message. So pick one that's the best fit for you. And invite a friend or neighbor. You can send an e-Vite with all the details here.
This Sunday, we'll wrap up "That Awkward Moment" as we talk about the Wise Men and the big shift in direction that their journey took. I believe it's a story to which we can all relate.
Thought for the Week
"The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them." Isaiah 11:6
If you've been in church around Christmas much in your life, you've probably heard that passage. Isaiah contains many prophecies about he birth of the Messiah, and it's often read in preparation for Christmas. But it never gets old. The world sorely needs the power of Christmas, and only the Christ-child can give us that hope. It seems unattainable. Heck, we can't even live with PEOPLE who think or look differently than us. More than ever, we are a culture with deep divides: red state/blue state, black/white, immigrant/native, conservative/liberal. We are divided by for and against. We don't seek to understand one another -- we just argue, fight, and post. The power of the Christmas story told in Isaiah's prophecy is that what divides us no longer does under the leadership of the child born for all. In Christ, we are all equal. In Christ, we love one another. In Christ, the last shall be first. In Christ, there is no Greek nor Jew, male nor female. In Christ, we pray for our enemies. In Christ, we love our neighbor just as we love ourselves. In Christ, the wolf does not eat the lamb. They lie together. The weak and the strong become friends. The hunted and the hunter share a couch. This is Christmas. The arrival of a new day on earth. If we want to be a people that truly 'spreads Christmas cheer' throughout the year, this is what it looks like from the perspective of God's Word. We break down barriers. We cross the battle lines. We risk for new relationships. That's what Jesus did in coming to earth. That's what we are called to do. That's Christmas. I think our world needs Christmas more than ever before.
Season's Greetings,
Carter
First United Methodist Church of Griffin
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (12.12.14)
I hope you're having a fantastic week. It's hard to believe that Christmas is
less than two weeks away. This Sunday we'll continue with our series
"That Awkward Moment" in which we look into the
characters of the Christmas Story and their awkward moments with God. This week
we'll be talking about Joseph. Hope to see you
there!
Also, don't forget to be making plans for Christmas @ Church of the Way. We've got four different Worship Experiences to choose from:
Grayson Campus @ the SE Gwinnett Co-Op
Tuesday, Dec. 23
6:00 p.m. - Modern Acoustic Worship
Lawrenceveille Campus @ Archer High School
Wednesday, Dec. 24
4:00 p.m. - Traditions Communion Service
5:30 p.m. - Family Experience for Adults & Kids
7:00 p.m. - Classic Experience
Childcare is provided for all services. Invite friends and family with an e-card here.
Thought for the Week
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel -- God with us. That is the story of Christmas. In fact, that's the story of God's relationship with us, really. We would rather God's story be another one. We would rather the story be that we never have to go through anything difficult. We would write a story in which life was easy and we were removed from any uncomfortable situation. That is not God's story. God's story is that He is WITH us. Impossibly and incredibly with us. In a manger. Fleeing to Egypt. With us. In disease and divorce. In the loss of of jobs and loved ones. In tears of joy and cries of laughter. In pain and suffering. On top of the mountain and in the valley. God is with us. If we could really wrap our heads and hearts around the idea that God is with us, how would that change how we walk through the valleys? Would we walk with more confidence knowing that the God of all creation walks alongside us? Be encouraged. No matter what you're doing through, God is with you.
In Christ,
Carter
Also, don't forget to be making plans for Christmas @ Church of the Way. We've got four different Worship Experiences to choose from:
Grayson Campus @ the SE Gwinnett Co-Op
Tuesday, Dec. 23
6:00 p.m. - Modern Acoustic Worship
Lawrenceveille Campus @ Archer High School
Wednesday, Dec. 24
4:00 p.m. - Traditions Communion Service
5:30 p.m. - Family Experience for Adults & Kids
7:00 p.m. - Classic Experience
Childcare is provided for all services. Invite friends and family with an e-card here.
Thought for the Week
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel -- God with us. That is the story of Christmas. In fact, that's the story of God's relationship with us, really. We would rather God's story be another one. We would rather the story be that we never have to go through anything difficult. We would write a story in which life was easy and we were removed from any uncomfortable situation. That is not God's story. God's story is that He is WITH us. Impossibly and incredibly with us. In a manger. Fleeing to Egypt. With us. In disease and divorce. In the loss of of jobs and loved ones. In tears of joy and cries of laughter. In pain and suffering. On top of the mountain and in the valley. God is with us. If we could really wrap our heads and hearts around the idea that God is with us, how would that change how we walk through the valleys? Would we walk with more confidence knowing that the God of all creation walks alongside us? Be encouraged. No matter what you're doing through, God is with you.
In Christ,
Carter
Friday, December 5, 2014
Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (12.5.14)
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
Hope for the Hurt
This past week, I had the honor of praying at a Candlelight Vigil for those from Gwinnett County that had been murdered in the last year. It was sponsored by the District Attorney's Office of Gwinnett County. We prayed, sang songs, lit candles, reflected and read the names of every murder victim from the last year. There were too many names. One is too many. People from all walks of life and every nationality gathered in remembrance. Past victim's families also gathered, as they have become a part of this make-shift yearly congregation of hurt and loss. I asked myself a question as I left, "Why do we hurt each other?" How could that many people be murdered in the last 11-12 months in my county? Why are we killing each other?
The events in Ferguson and the death and anger over Eric Garner continue to raise difficult issues. I would not begin to understand the emotions, evidence and politics behind it all. I grew up white in the deep South. Those are the only shoes I've ever walked in, and the only experience from which I can speak. I'm not an attorney and wouldn't dare to dive into legal issues I don't understand. But I know this: we've got to stop hurting each other.
A couple of months ago I flew out to a conference, and I was struck by a sense of despair as I prepared to put my shoes, everything I had on me and my belt in the X-ray machine. My shoes. We are now afraid of my canvas crocs. We don't trust each other. We are afraid that if we trust others, we will get hurt. So, we choose to not trust and when when there is one step past the imaginary line we have drawn, we hurt others to protect ourselves.
We do this emotionally and spiritually, and in recent tragic cases, we do so physically. A teenager is dead because of a lack of trust. Maybe it was well-founded. Maybe it was completely unfounded. Rioters have taken to the streets to inflict hurt because they lack trust in authorities. The natural order of our DNA is to hurt others if we fear getting hurt. I'll bet you know someone who does this with their heart and tongue.
But, Jesus gave a different kinds of commands, "Love one another as I have loved you" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Don't protect yourself from hurt -- love! The thing about love (and you learned this at 13 with your first 'steady') is that if you love and trust, you can get hurt. But it's the only way. I don't now all the answers to stopping crime. I don't know the answers we're all seeking in race relations. I don't know the issues to fix our legal system. I do know the answer the world needs, though. We have to show radical love. I have to believe we live in a world hungry for it. And I have to believe that if the Church would do as our Lord commanded us to do in our communities around the world, that people might want to know where that love comes from. And we might get the opportunity to tell them that it's not a 'where' but a 'who' that is the source of our love. Love someone. Trust someone. Risk for love. If you follow Christ, this is the only way.
The events in Ferguson and the death and anger over Eric Garner continue to raise difficult issues. I would not begin to understand the emotions, evidence and politics behind it all. I grew up white in the deep South. Those are the only shoes I've ever walked in, and the only experience from which I can speak. I'm not an attorney and wouldn't dare to dive into legal issues I don't understand. But I know this: we've got to stop hurting each other.
A couple of months ago I flew out to a conference, and I was struck by a sense of despair as I prepared to put my shoes, everything I had on me and my belt in the X-ray machine. My shoes. We are now afraid of my canvas crocs. We don't trust each other. We are afraid that if we trust others, we will get hurt. So, we choose to not trust and when when there is one step past the imaginary line we have drawn, we hurt others to protect ourselves.
We do this emotionally and spiritually, and in recent tragic cases, we do so physically. A teenager is dead because of a lack of trust. Maybe it was well-founded. Maybe it was completely unfounded. Rioters have taken to the streets to inflict hurt because they lack trust in authorities. The natural order of our DNA is to hurt others if we fear getting hurt. I'll bet you know someone who does this with their heart and tongue.
But, Jesus gave a different kinds of commands, "Love one another as I have loved you" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Don't protect yourself from hurt -- love! The thing about love (and you learned this at 13 with your first 'steady') is that if you love and trust, you can get hurt. But it's the only way. I don't now all the answers to stopping crime. I don't know the answers we're all seeking in race relations. I don't know the issues to fix our legal system. I do know the answer the world needs, though. We have to show radical love. I have to believe we live in a world hungry for it. And I have to believe that if the Church would do as our Lord commanded us to do in our communities around the world, that people might want to know where that love comes from. And we might get the opportunity to tell them that it's not a 'where' but a 'who' that is the source of our love. Love someone. Trust someone. Risk for love. If you follow Christ, this is the only way.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
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...
With Thanks,
Carter
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.
With Thanks,
Carter
Thursday, November 13, 2014
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
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
Thursday, November 6, 2014
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
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
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