Pastor's Corner

What God Sees

6/12/2015

Hello Friends,
When I typed in the word beauty, this image came up. Jennifer Lopez was deemed the world's most beautiful woman.

But when I consider our scripture for Sunday(1 Samuel 16:1-13), that is not the image of beauty that the passage describes. The scripture says "God does not look at the things the way man does...man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart."

Perhaps a better picture of beauty would be this:

That's Mother Teresa of Calcutta...
Think on this as you prepare for worship this week.

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Think Different

6/5/2015

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Hello friends,
Before you come to worship Sunday, I want you to watch this video. It is the "Think Different" commercial aired in 1997 to rebrand Apple products. In the video, you will see numerous people who thought differently, and as a result, changed the world.

It is time for the church to think differently if we are going to remain relevant in the culture of the day. With that said, thinking differently does not necessarily mean changing worship style or adding a coffee shop in the vestibule; thinking differently means living more like Jesus.

As our Sunday morning Scripture attests (Mark 3:20-35), Jesus was deemed crazy. And perhaps He was...and perhaps we are too, if we believe that His love and Grace will change the world. But I believe it...and I hope you do too.

See you Sunday,

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Friends of God?

5/15/2015

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Hello friends,

Do you consider yourself a friend of God?

In our passage for Sunday morning (John 15:9-17), Jesus tells His Disciples, "You are no longer servants, but friends." That's quite a promotion...or is it? Being a friend of Jesus is an incredible gift; but being a friend of Jesus makes us responsible as well.

I leave you with a question to ponder as you prepare your heart for worship...While we would all consider Jesus a friend, what do we do in our lives that would make Jesus consider us as one of His friends?

Have a great weekend,

Josh

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New Study

5/13/2015

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A Day of Contrasts

3/26/2015

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“For all Christian Church traditions, Passion (or Palm) Sunday has a bittersweet taste. Though it celebrates the King’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the parade leads straight to the Lord Jesus’ suffering and death on Calvary.” - Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio

In preparation for writing, I took a bit of time to explore what other Christian traditions and other leaders of faith had to say about Palm Sunday. What did their reflections emphasize? The Prince of Peace, riding in on a donkey and not a horse? Christ’s ultimate suffering and sacrifice? The fickleness of humanity, one minute cheering on Jesus and shouting: “Hosanna!” only to loudly call for his death a few days later?

All of these ideas came up in one way or another. However, what stood out to me was Palm Sunday as a day of contrasts. On one hand you have the Roman Empire, a bloody kingdom built on war and dominance. On the other, you have Jesus, ushering in a kingdom with no violence, no retaliation, and no retribution. We observe a people who sought out Jesus for healing, for emotional comfort, for hope…then we observe these same people easily whipped, by cunning politicians, into a fearful and angry mob. We see a Jesus who spent so much time preaching, teaching, patiently explaining; now completely silent “like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers” (Isaiah 53: 7b).

As Christians, we enter on Palm Sunday morning with a feeling of celebration, greeting Jesus as he arrives. We exit in sadness, reflecting on his hideous and gruesome death – a necessary price for our salvation.

It is a day of grief.
It is a day of miraculous hope.
It is a day of contrasts.

Dr. Lucy Santos Green

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When God Disappears

10/10/2014

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Hello friends,

So glad you are a part of the blog. This may be my last post for a while because we are anxiously awaiting the arrival our new baby boy. When he comes, I will take some time off to be with the family. This is my second attempt at a post today...evidently I did something wrong and my whole work was lost.

The passage for Sunday is Exodus 32:1-14. In the text, the Israelite people are camped at Mt. Sinai (the mountain of God.) Moses has ascended the mountain to receive the Ten commandments and has been delayed in coming down. The people are anxious and they feel like Moses has abandoned them and that God has disappeared. So in their moment of fear, they ask Aaron (the priest and brother of Moses who was left in charge) to make an idol for them to worship. They wanted a god to touch, feel, and see, and what they got was the golden calf.

In our own lives, how many times have we bowed down to idols much like this? Don't we often succumb to idolatry when we feel alone, or feel as if God disappeared? While none of us are bowing down to statues, perhaps we should list a few idols: money, fame, prestige, ambition, family, friends, football, hunting, boyfriends/girlfriends, school, work, time, leisure, etc. Who of us has not bowed down to one of these idols this week?

Instead of falling into the misgivings of our feelings, we must renew our faith, even when it is hard to trust. So this week, as we prepare for the service, contemplate the idols in your life, and rid yourself of them. Commit to serving God, and Him alone. That is the only way to find real meaningful life.

Points to ponder or to reply to:
1. What idols do we give our allegiance to instead of God?
2. Do I allow my feelings to get in the way of faith?
3. Where can I refocus my energy to serve God and God alone?

In His Name,

Josh

Just a few sports scores if you are interested

GT over Duke
Baylor over TCU
GA Southern over Idaho
MS St. over Aub
UGA over MO on the road

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What was Jesus thinking?

9/26/2014

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Hello friends,

Thanks for reading as always. I have a question for you...have you ever asked someone, "What were you thinking?" It is a question of exasperation. Clearly, if they were thinking, you would not have asked that question.

I often wonder what Jesus was thinking...what was He thinking when the rich young ruler walked away? What was He thinking when Peter said, "Lord if it's you...bid me come to you on the water"? What was Jesus thinking when He saw the cross at a distance through His swollen eyes? And what was He thinking when He came to earth in the first place? Why would Jesus descend to live a human life?

This week, we are studying the "Kenosis" Hymn found in Philippians 2:1-11. It was a hymn of the church, and in it, we hear the story of salvation. With that said, we can also read into what Jesus was really thinking, and in fact, what we should be thinking about as His followers today. Take time this week to read the passage...if you are feeling really spry, why don't you respond here, and tell us what it is Jesus was thinking. It would be good for us and for you.

I hope you come and worship with us this Sunday. And if you can't, tune in on the Lyons Radio Station at 6 PM and listen to the service there.

Thanks for who you are, and who we are becoming in Christ.

Josh

Only a couple of Games to pick...

Great win for GA Southern last night over App St.

Tech is off this week after a stunning 4-0 start. We will see how they hold up down the stretch.

Mercer goes on the road to VMI this week...Go Bears...they'll pull it out.

And now for what you've been waiting for...UGA vs. Tennessee. This is always a tough game...UGA stole it last year up at Neyland...but I have good news DAWG fans, UGA's running game will overrun a very good Volunteer defense. UGA wins, by 14 or so...let's hope it's more!

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Unusual Generosity

9/19/2014

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Hello Folks,

Thanks for reading as always. I have a simple question for you: are you a generous person? Unusual generosity is not found very often these days. In fact, most people want to figure out the catch. It is almost as if they have an issue with someone giving too much?

I start there to say generosity was a problem in our text this week (Matthew 20:1-16), the Parable of the Vineyard Workers. Some workers thought that the Landowner was too generous...he gave too much money to those that came to work too late. Do you think those workers were right? Don't they have a case? The way you answer that question is really about where you locate yourself in line.

The point of the parable is less about place, and more about God's unusual generosity...God's choice to give His one and only Son as the sacrifice for my sins and for yours. This passage speaks directly to God's grace...but it also demands a response of us.

Don't you think we should be generous, like God is generous to us? Couldn't we all stand to be more generous towards others with our money, our time, and perhaps, even with grace, kindness, and compassion? Wouldn't the world be a better place?

As you prepare your heart for worship this week, look introspectively and ask yourself: am I a generous person? And before you answer, ask yourself where can I give more? My contention is that when we are generous, we are walking closely in the ways of God.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Josh

SPORTS CORNER

For a couple of sports thoughts--

1. UGA over Troy

2. VA Tech over GA Tech

3. GA Southern over South Alabama

4. Mercer over Ave Maria

5. FSU over Clemson

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How Many Times?

9/12/2014

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Dear Friends,

How many times? How many times do you have to forgive that person who has wronged you? 1? 2? 3? 7? 20? Jesus said, "Not 7 times, but 70 times 7 times." For you math whiz kids, that's 490 ( I think). I guess I better get out my notebook to make sure I count every instance of forgiveness because when it gets to 491, I'm through. Is that what Jesus really meant? Of course not...but what did He mean?

I think Jesus meant we are not to count how many times we forgive at all. Forgiveness must become our lifestyle, not something we do once in a while. Do you know why we must not count the faults of others? The answer is this...because God does not count our own.

Let's stop here and ask...what does forgiveness means? Does forgiving someone mean forgetting the wrong? Does forgiveness mean freedom from consequences? Does forgiveness mean reconciliation?

These questions are the foundation of my sermon on Sunday...The text is Matthew 18:21-35--"The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant."

I challenge you to bring your Bible and an open mind as we discuss this difficult passage.

And if anyone is brave, I ask you to answer some of those questions above...or better yet, I ask you to write down the name of the person that you need to forgive in your past...or better yet, I challenge you to go to that person today, and do what needs to be done.

Come Sunday, because we are better when you are here.

In His Name,

Josh

Sports Scores

1. GA Tech vs. GA Southern...I'm going with TE...No I'm not...GA Southern in a stunning upset.

2. UGA vs. South Carolina...UGA wins, but closer than the experts think.

3. Tennessee vs. Oklahoma...really? OK wins big

4. UCLA vs. Texas--UCLA, not close

5. Air Force vs. GA State--AF wins big

6. Texas Tech vs. Arkansas--In a game that might split the Green household...Texas Tech

What God Sees

Think Different

Friends of God?

New Study

A Day of Contrasts

When God Disappears

What was Jesus thinking?

Unusual Generosity

How Many Times?

August 29th, 2014

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