Hello Friends,
Just a reminder: this week is "Trunk or Treat!" While I am excited about this night, we have plenty of work to make everything run smoothly. First, we need more cars. We had 17 last year...I am promising the children 20. Please decorate your car and have it in place in the front church parking lot by 5:30 PM Sunday afternoon. Furthermore, we will begin "trunk or treating" at 6, followed by a meal cooked by the Men on Mission. Don't forget, we will have face painting, games, and a moon walk as well as cotton candy and popcorn for you to enjoy. Let's come together to give the children a night they will never forget!
On to the sermon musings for Sunday...
Are any of you guilty of saying to your children, "Do as I say, not as I do?" If so, then you have fallen into the trap of the Pharisees' leadership style. They knew the laws, but they would sometimes apply those laws more harshly to others while absolving themselves of the punishment they deserved for the offenses they committed.
In our text Sunday, Matthew 23:1-12, Jesus uses harsh language against the Pharisees, condemning them for tying up heavy loads on people and refusing to help lift the burden. Jesus condemns them for seeking honor, glory, and titles for themselves. But perhaps the greatest condemnation against the Pharisees was Jesus' statement in verse 3..."Do not do what they do for they do not practice what they preach."
I must admit that I am fearful that Jesus would say those same words against the church in this day in time. How many of us as good faithful Christians and church members seek recognition rather than repentance? How many of us demand more from others than we are willing to give ourselves? And most importantly, how many of us do not practice what we preach on a day in, day out basis? I believe we as church members and followers of Christ must be very careful to not became that which Jesus condemns.
The only way for us to protect ourselves from falling into that rap is to follow the scripture in verse 11 and 12, "The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." It is time for us as a people of God to humble ourselves, and become servants. We do this not from a seat of authority or judgement, but by kneeling down, and washing the feet of others.
I challenge each of you this week to shirk the siren song of power, authority, and condemning others; instead humble yourself by serving someone else, and give God the glory for the opportunity to be one of His followers. Amen.
Sports Corner (11-6)
Well sports fans, this is a great week for football.
To start us off, GA Tech simply laid a stink bomb at Miami last week. This team looks completely different from the team at the beginning of the year. They are struggling at the point of attack and that spells trouble for a team that runs the triple option. Their opponent is the hated Clemson Tigers of South Carolina who are ranked #6 in the country. This is an I-85 battle that could prove costly for those Yellow Jackets. While I am tempted to take the home team, Clemson has more of an identity and is playing with passion that seems to be lacking on the flats. Clemson by 10, maybe more.
Ga Southern travels to Boone, NC to take on Appalachian State. This will be the biggest game of the year and the biggest test for GA Southern. They face an opponent who is undefeated at home and who will certainly give the Eagles all they can handle. With that said, this is a special season for Ga Southern. They beat App State on the road in a barn burner.
And now to the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party...UGA travels to Jacksonville to face the University of Florida. To say UGA needs to win is a great understatement, for this game could prove to make or break UGA's season. This is a tale of two teams on separate paths. UGA lost early, but has won 5 straight. UF won early, but has lost 3 straight to quality opponents LSU, Bama, and Auburn. The Gators are getting healthy and will most likely have Brantley under center (not good for UGA). UGA will get back their leading receiver Malcolm Mitchell as well as their starting ILB Alex Ogletree who was hurt at Boise (not good for UF). This game reminds me of 2007 when UGA celebrated a grand victory...My gut tells me to be careful of the Gators, but my heart says UGA to win. Dawgs by 7, and pulling away at the end.
As always, thanks for reading and may God bless you as you serve Him.
Josh
Just a reminder: this week is "Trunk or Treat!" While I am excited about this night, we have plenty of work to make everything run smoothly. First, we need more cars. We had 17 last year...I am promising the children 20. Please decorate your car and have it in place in the front church parking lot by 5:30 PM Sunday afternoon. Furthermore, we will begin "trunk or treating" at 6, followed by a meal cooked by the Men on Mission. Don't forget, we will have face painting, games, and a moon walk as well as cotton candy and popcorn for you to enjoy. Let's come together to give the children a night they will never forget!
On to the sermon musings for Sunday...
Are any of you guilty of saying to your children, "Do as I say, not as I do?" If so, then you have fallen into the trap of the Pharisees' leadership style. They knew the laws, but they would sometimes apply those laws more harshly to others while absolving themselves of the punishment they deserved for the offenses they committed.
In our text Sunday, Matthew 23:1-12, Jesus uses harsh language against the Pharisees, condemning them for tying up heavy loads on people and refusing to help lift the burden. Jesus condemns them for seeking honor, glory, and titles for themselves. But perhaps the greatest condemnation against the Pharisees was Jesus' statement in verse 3..."Do not do what they do for they do not practice what they preach."
I must admit that I am fearful that Jesus would say those same words against the church in this day in time. How many of us as good faithful Christians and church members seek recognition rather than repentance? How many of us demand more from others than we are willing to give ourselves? And most importantly, how many of us do not practice what we preach on a day in, day out basis? I believe we as church members and followers of Christ must be very careful to not became that which Jesus condemns.
The only way for us to protect ourselves from falling into that rap is to follow the scripture in verse 11 and 12, "The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." It is time for us as a people of God to humble ourselves, and become servants. We do this not from a seat of authority or judgement, but by kneeling down, and washing the feet of others.
I challenge each of you this week to shirk the siren song of power, authority, and condemning others; instead humble yourself by serving someone else, and give God the glory for the opportunity to be one of His followers. Amen.
Sports Corner (11-6)
Well sports fans, this is a great week for football.
To start us off, GA Tech simply laid a stink bomb at Miami last week. This team looks completely different from the team at the beginning of the year. They are struggling at the point of attack and that spells trouble for a team that runs the triple option. Their opponent is the hated Clemson Tigers of South Carolina who are ranked #6 in the country. This is an I-85 battle that could prove costly for those Yellow Jackets. While I am tempted to take the home team, Clemson has more of an identity and is playing with passion that seems to be lacking on the flats. Clemson by 10, maybe more.
Ga Southern travels to Boone, NC to take on Appalachian State. This will be the biggest game of the year and the biggest test for GA Southern. They face an opponent who is undefeated at home and who will certainly give the Eagles all they can handle. With that said, this is a special season for Ga Southern. They beat App State on the road in a barn burner.
And now to the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party...UGA travels to Jacksonville to face the University of Florida. To say UGA needs to win is a great understatement, for this game could prove to make or break UGA's season. This is a tale of two teams on separate paths. UGA lost early, but has won 5 straight. UF won early, but has lost 3 straight to quality opponents LSU, Bama, and Auburn. The Gators are getting healthy and will most likely have Brantley under center (not good for UGA). UGA will get back their leading receiver Malcolm Mitchell as well as their starting ILB Alex Ogletree who was hurt at Boise (not good for UF). This game reminds me of 2007 when UGA celebrated a grand victory...My gut tells me to be careful of the Gators, but my heart says UGA to win. Dawgs by 7, and pulling away at the end.
As always, thanks for reading and may God bless you as you serve Him.
Josh
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