Hello Friends,

Glad to have you reading today. It is official, we have begun our Lenten journey. Thank you for participating in our Ash Wednesday Service last night. We had great attendance. You should also remember that we were just a small group who joined with millions of other Christians to participate in that service as we prepare our hearts towards Easter.

As I told you in some of my comments last night, we have "set our faces towards Jerusalem" as Jesus does in Luke 9:51. There is only one place a journey like this will lead us and that is to the cross.

Many of you have asked me about giving things up for Lent. You should know that the act of giving up is patterned after Jesus' time in the desert where He fasted and communed with God. We give up certain things to deny ourselves, and to let us experience just a small sacrifice as we draw near the cross.

Just so you know, I have given up sweet tea, and sweets this year...for many that does not seem like much, but for me, it is quite difficult. What did you give up this year? Please put your answers in the comments below...it would be good for you to make them public so that you would be even more accountable.

With that said, it is day two of the Lenten journey and I have already been tempted. After officiating Mrs. Oreta Bishop's funeral this morning, I was invited to eat with Derrell and Judy Lynn at their home. There was more food there than at our Wednesday night suppers. I was okay until I saw the sweets (pecan pie, key lime cake, and of course, Mrs. Judy's famous caramel cake.) I resisted, but the devil rode home with me because Mrs. Judy insisted that I take a piece of that cake home for Ginger. If that is not temptation, then I do not know what is.

Our text Sunday, Mark 1:9-16, tells us of the first steps Jesus takes on this road...it covers His baptism, His temptation, and then His first message. In these verses, Mark outlines for us our own journey to the cross. You should know that the road is never easy, nor is the path straight...but the calling for you and me, especially in these forty days is to keep our eyes upon Jesus, and to keep the cross central in our lives.

May you turn your attention to Christ, especially when you are tempted to look away.

In His love and grace,

Josh
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Hello Friends,

Thanks for reading as always. I have been out of town for the last week and I want you to know how much I appreciate having Rev. Randy Callahan preach last Sunday, and Rev. Al Rahn to teach last Wednesday night. It is a gift to our church to have these gifted leaders in our midst. With that said, we are closing in on Sunday once again. One of my seminary professors was known for saying, "Sunday is always coming." Until I began to preach each week, I never knew how true her observation was.

The text this Sunday is one of Sunday School lore...it is Jesus healing the paralytic man (Mark 2:1-12.) I imagine all of us have drawn pictures of those four friends digging through the roof to bring their friend to Jesus.  As I was studying the text this week, that image continued to run through my head when the realization struck me...those four men let nothing stand in the way of bringing their friend to Jesus.

This Sunday, I will be focusing on that truth and will be exploring the barriers that hinder us from bringing our friends to Jesus. Some fall within the church at large, and some obstacles are of our own making. Sometimes, self-righteous judgments keep people from meeting Jesus. Sometimes, cliques within churches hinder people from meeting Jesus. Sometimes, perhaps we ourselves hinder others from meeting Jesus. As a way to help me prepare for Sunday, I need you to answer these questions in the comments below: what hinders you from bringing people to Christ and what in the church at large hinders people from meeting Jesus? Only by answering these questions honestly and openly do we have the opportunity to change the way we live and worship.

As a brief reminder, we are having our second annual Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper next Tuesday, February 21 at 6 pm. We will be raising money for Relay for Life that Night. Then, on Wednesday February 22nd, we will have our annual Ash Wednesday Service as we repent, and begin the journey to the Cross through Lent. Join us for these events.

Have a great day, and may God bless you as you serve Him faithfully.

Josh
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Being Gracious 02/07/2012
 
Hello Friends,

I am blogging early this week because I will be out of town later in the week. I was reading a sermon by Dr. Fred Craddock recently and something he said made me think, wow. In case you did not know, Dr. Craddock is perhaps the most important preacher/professor of homiletics in the last 40 years. This sermon was entitled, "On Being Gracious" based from Luke 6: 27-36. The text is Jesus' sermon on the plain (remember Sermon on the Mount is Matthew).

The scripture reads, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. But, love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return...for God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

In these words, we have before us a profound challenge. Jesus sets the bar high for He asks us to live not as we want to, or not just as humanity deems as right...but to live and love as God does. We are to be kind and to love others because we are children of God. We are to be kind and to love others because we are called to be merciful just as the Father is merciful.

Dr. Craddock concludes his oration with one thought..."The final work of grace in anyone's life is to make a person gracious." Did you hear that? Read it again..."The final work of grace in anyone's life is to make a person gracious."

In other words, while salvation is important...that is not the end. Ultimately, as an answer to God's grace and in response to the cross, we must be gracious to others. We must allow God to work in our hearts and lives changing us from the inside out so that we can be a little less like us, and a little more like Him.

I leave you with a question: are you gracious? Are you kind and loving even when there is nothing you will receive in return? If so, then good, because you are doing what you are supposed to do. If not, well then you know God has a little bit more work to do in your life. For me, I am certain that we are works in progress and have a long way to go. But the good news is that God does not give up on us, and though we fail, we can begin again. Be gracious church, because when you are, you are becoming more like Christ.

Thanks for reading as always,

Josh
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Hello Friends,

This Sunday, I will be preaching from a very familiar scripture, Isaiah 40:27-31. You'll recognize it as, "They who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They shall soar with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." I know that this is a favorite passage for many of you and one you have heard preachers use before. With that said, is there anything new to be learned from it? In a sense I hope so, because I want the scripture to be seen and read with fresh eyes and ears. But in a sense, this is what I call a "comfort food scripture." It is one that is like a back door friend, one that we never get tired of seeing and hearing from.  What are some of your comfort food scriptures? What speaks to you, perhaps because you know it so well? Write about it in the comment section below.

I don't want to give too much of my sermon away (I am prone to do that), but I do want you to know that I think this scripture resonates with us because life is hard, and we are simply tired. We run and run and run and it seems as if we can never finish what is before us, much less what we ought to do that is waiting in the wings. We get beaten down by bad news and broken hearts, chaos, and cancer, and we just run on empty.

If that is where you are, then I want you to know there is hope. The prophet tells us that God will renew our strength if we wait on him. But therein lies the problem...how many of us like waiting or feel like waiting is something we should do? I am convinced that waiting runs completely counter to what we think we ought to do when the world starts to cave in around us, but yet, that is what God wants from us.

You should know that waiting in this sense is not passive like waiting at the doctor's office or the beauty parlor, waiting is with great expectation of what God will do and accomplish. Waiting is active...it is seeking faith and hope and trusting God when we have no place else to turn.

I don't know where you stand this day...I don't know if you are soaring, or running or just trying to take one more stop...but I tell you...slow down. and wait...for only when you wait upon the Lord will your strength be renewed.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday. (Scroll down and see the return of The Sports Corner before you sign off).

In His Love and Grace,

Josh

Sports Corner

And you thought it was gone forever...honestly, you are not that lucky. I am reporting on two events...one was national signing day (Feb 1st). For those of you who do not know, this is the day that HS recruits can officially sign their letter of intent/scholarship with a college football program.

UGA did well on national signing day bringing in 19 total recruits. Analysts say that they had the #9 ranked class in the nation. Some of the headliners were Josh Harvey-Clemon and Jordan Jenkins (2 outstanding linebackers), and John Theus (a great OT/OL prospect). I think these will certainly pay dividends to UGA sooner rather than later.

Tech, well, they signed recruits as well. They did okay on signing day, but they simply did not have the overall depth of the UGA haul. They ranked about #59th or so, though they have an intriguing QB prospect who was committed to Alabama, but later flipped to Tech.

I guess the only thing to really say about signing day is that while it is important to bring in talent, it is what coaches do with that talent all year long that will determine on-field success. Here's to hoping that both schools do well, (but that UGA does better than Tech).

The other event, if you have not heard, is the Super Bowl on Sunday night: the New England Patriots vs. NY Giants. This will be a great game. Vegas has the Patriots as the favorites and gives the Giants three points. I must admit I am torn on this pick...the Patriots have been a machine all year, but the Giants are the hot team right now. Could Brady win this Superbowl and cement his place permanently in NFL history? Does Eli have enough to pull out an improbable victory over the Patriots as he did before?

While many are picking the underdog, I am picking the Patriots to win by 7. They simply have too much on offense, and after giving a coach like Belicheck two weeks to prepare, I just cannot see them losing.

What say you? Write about it in the comment section below.
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What do I do? 01/26/2012
 
Hello Friends,

I have been asked the question, "What do I do?" many times since I have become the pastor of The Oaks. What do I do about my husband/wife? What do I do about my children? What do I do about my job? What do I do about...?(you fill in the blank). It is a very common question and one I take very seriously before I answer.

In a similar light, Paul was asked by the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, what do we do? What should we do about the meat sacrificed to idols? Should we eat the meat? Should we let it go to waste? You have to remember that meat was difficult to come by and was considered by many as a luxury. Is such a luxury worth committing a grave sin? These were the questions they were grappling with at the time of the writing, and Paul's response is the essence of the sermon Sunday morning.

Without giving away too much of my sermon, I can summarize what Paul says in two lines. First, eating meat is okay because whether the meat has been sacrificed to idols or not, we know idols don't exist, therefore you are only eating meat. Secondly, while eating the  meat is okay in and of itself, there are some in the church who are uncomfortable with the practice; therefore, whatever you do, you must not cause anyone to stumble in their faith so refrain and err on the side of love.

Now you may ask, what does this have to do with me today? I answer that question by asking you another: is it okay to have a drink while eating out with friends? Is it okay to play blackjack while in Vegas? Those questions seem innocent enough, but I have seen churches split over less. There are some who say no Christian should drink or gamble. Others ask what does having a drink matter or what is the big deal of playing the lottery if it is done in moderation? Who is right and who is wrong?

The worst thing we can do as we answer these questions, (and honestly, Baptists are perhaps the worst denomination about it), is to be so bull headed about what is right or wrong that we forget that love is the most important aspect of our relationships with others. Paul writes that knowledge puffs us, but love builds up. Being smart or being able to justify our position makes us feel good but if that comes at the expense of another, then we are wrong.

Regardless of how you come down on these issues or many others in the church or politics or wherever, there is something that Paul demands of us as followers of Christ. Paul implores us to be humble and loving in our responses. He tells us that no matter what "freedom" we may have under Christ, we are obligated by the law of love not to become a stumbling block for others. So sometimes, being a loving person means you willingly sacrifice your personal freedoms for the benefit of the Body of Christ.

As I have told you before and will tell you again, whatever we do personally or as a church, let's err on the side of grace and in doing so, we err on the side of Christ.

May you consider this writing and our text as you prepare you heart for worship Sunday morning.

Thanks as always for reading,

Josh
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Let's Go Fishing 01/20/2012
 
Hello all,

If you know me at all, then you know I love the outdoors. I enjoy hunting and fishing and spent a significant part of my childhood doing both. Even today, when the weather warms up in the spring, I love to bass fish, and you can always count on me to bream fish after the first full moon in May (that is the time when they are on the bed and you can catch dozens at a time). 

In our text for Sunday, Mark 1:14-20, Jesus calls His disciples, who happened to be fishing,  by saying, "Follow me, and from now on you will fish for people." The calling of the disciples then is our calling now. We are implored to follow Jesus, and we are commanded to fish for people.

With that said, I ask you, what does it mean to fish for people? It simply means telling others about Jesus. If we know we are supposed to do this, why is it so hard? Why do we struggle sharing our faith with others? I would love for you to comment on this below.

This Sunday, we will commit ourselves to breaking out of our comfort zones and living out Jesus' command to fish for people. As I will say in my sermon, fishing for people is not really about numbers, church growth, or reports to the denomination. Fishing for people is about telling our story of what Jesus has done for us, and about what He can do for a world so desperate for hope. Fishing for people is about the power of God to change lives; if we have that good news, how can we not share it?

I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday. Thank you for all the comments last week. That really enhances these musings of mine.

May God bless you today as you serve Him,

Josh


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Hello all,

Thanks for reading as always. My sermon for Sunday is found in
1 Samuel 3:1-10. It is the call of Samuel to become a prophet for God. You know the story. Samuel, who is an apprentice in the temple, hears a voice calling him in the middle of the night. Samuel goes to Eli, the chief priest, and says, "I'm here." Eli replies, "I did not call you, go back to bed." This is repeated several times when Eli realizes Samuel is hearing God's voice. When Samuel hears the voice again, he follows Eli's advice and replies to God, "Speak Lord, for you servant is listening."

I do not know about you, but I wish I could hear the audible voice of God clearly like Samuel did. Sometimes I wish God would just bend down and tell me exactly what I am supposed to do in certain situations. I would even be amenable to God throwing a brick through my window with a note tied to it if God would clearly explain what He wants from me.

I cannot tell you the number of people who have asked me, does God still speak to us today? The answer is yes. While it may not be as clear as the voice that Samuel heard, God speaks to us even in this day in time through a variety of mediums. To be honest, the problem is that often, we are not listening as we should.

Let me ask you a question, blog friends: what does the voice of God sound like? When have you heard the voice of God in your own lives? Please reply to the blog in the comment section, and share about a time when you have heard the voice of God, or you can tell us what that voice sounds like. Thanks.

This Sunday will be a time for us to listen and respond to the voice of God. Come, hear, and respond to Him by living the calling of Christ.

On another subject, I wanted to say that I enjoyed the State of The Oaks Town Hall Meeting last night. We had a great crowd, and as always, a good time.

For those that missed it, I wanted to tell you two things that we are working on here at the church. First is our building debt. We will begin fundraising soon, and I am counting on your full support. The second is that I want our teams to function more efficiently. To be honest, there have been some teams that have not met since I have arrived (3 1/2 years); that has to change. Furthermore, I want to apologize to you because I believe I have at times kept the teams from functioning properly. In my desire to be successful, (and because I am OCD), I often find myself doing the tasks to which the teams are assigned. That is poor leadership on my part. So with that said, I am giving the responsibility back to you. While I will lead with a vision and with servant leadership, I want you, as the members of the church and the teams, to be responsible to meet the needs of the church within your areas. By doing so, you will be better church members, I will be a better pastor, and we will all be a better church.

I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday.

In His Love and Grace,
Josh
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Dear Friends,

It has been a long time since I have blogged and I apologize for neglecting my duties. I am learning that a 3 month old takes precedence over everything in life.

My sermon Sunday is based on Isaiah 60: 1-6; "Arise, Shine for the Light has come." As I said on Christmas Eve, when Jesus arrived, everything changed. The world that once was in darkness, was illuminated by his presence; and that is good news.

Many in our world continue to walk in darkness. Look at the news...it seems that all we hear about are terrible things happening in our society. Just this week, we heard about rising tensions in the Middle East as well as a park ranger being shot at Mt. Rainier State Park for no discernible reason.

That darkness is not just over there happening to someone else. Many times it is right here in our own lives. Whether it be difficulties at work, problems in a marriage, debilitating diseases, or dwindling finances, none of us are immune from the devastating darkness that desperately tries to overwhelm us.

But the good news is that the light will always overcome the darkness...that is what Jesus speaks of in the gospel of John and that is at the heart of our text for Sunday. Jesus has come into the world. He brings light even to the darkest reaches of our souls and as such, we have hope.

I want you to be prepared to worship on Sunday. And if you find yourself in a dark place, then this Sunday is especially for you. We will rejoice that the Light has come and we will also celebrate this day by participating in the Lord's Supper. Join us, and may we worship well.

In His love and grace,

Josh
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Merry Christmas! 12/23/2011
 
The Pastor's Corner will be taking a short Christmas Break and will be back the first week of the year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
 - Dr. Lucy Green, Web Manager
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Just like any good shopaholic, I have many Christmas shirts and sweaters. My favorite is a t-shirt that I purchased many years ago.  (Yes, I still wear it.) On the front of the t-shirt, the words are: “God wrapped His Christmas present, too.” During the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, God  showed the world love by sending His only son to earth. God   was willing to sacrifice His son for us. How great is His love! 

How do you show love during this Christmas season? Searching for that perfect gift? Wrapping the presents? Sending food to a food pantry? Decorating the trees with lights and              ornaments? Allowing an exasperated mother to go before you      in the checkout line? Hanging wreaths? Helping a needy         family? Opening a door for someone? Cooking special dishes and treats? Calling a shut-in? Sending Christmas cards that are sure to bring a smile? Smiling as you shop?

Jesus exemplified love. He cared for the sick and the                 exploited. He cared with grace and mercy. Showing love was    natural to Him.  In 2 Timothy 1:7, we are told that God has given us the spirit of love. It does not say we are given this spirit only during the Christmas season. Do we exercise this spirit year round or let it sit on a shelf hidden? How can you show your spirit of Christ-like love during the entire year?

Linda Johnson
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