Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me. You have six days you can do your work, but the seventh day of each week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day... Exodus 20:8

We live in a place where everyone wants you to work hard. Teachers, parents, bosses, coaches, and children all have expectations for what we should do with our time each day. This commandment is very familiar, but often challenging to follow through with in our day to day pace of life. Often, we think about Sabbath as rest and worship. What else do you do with your Sabbath? How do you find time to connect with God in a deeper way?

Finding time for rest and worship can be challenging during those first days and weeks of a new school year.

As we prepare to begin a new school year, I am realizing my need to be more aware of God at work in my life and the ways that I can slow down and appreciate the blessings of each day. I know that this passage and message may be challenging at this time of year. When we experience drastic life transitions like this, I find it renewing to be able to just start fresh and build in some new practices.

I would like to invite you to take one or two minutes this week to think about how you will find time to uphold this fourth commandment as we begin a new school year.

This Sunday we will take some time as a congregation in drive in and online worship services to pray a blessing over all of those in our church family that are starting a new school year. I would invite all of our students (preschool through graduate school), teachers, administrators, and school staff to join us for drive in worship with your backpacks, briefcases, tote bags or devices. During the service, you will be invited to stand next to your car wearing your mask and participate in a blessing.

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, Thank you for the blessings we experience when things change. Open our minds and hearts to the ways that we can experience rest and worship as begin a new school year. In Christ's Name, Amen.

We were . . . buried with him. Romans 6:4

For twenty-nine years after World War II ended, Hiroo Onoda hid in the jungle, refusing to believe his country had surrendered. Japanese military leaders had dispatched Onoda to a remote island in the Philippines (Lubang) with orders to spy on the Allied forces. Long after a peace treaty had been signed and hostilities ceased, Onoda remained in the wilderness. In 1974, Onoda's commanding officer traveled to the island to find him and convince him the war was over.

For three decades, Onoda lived a meager, isolated existence, because he refused to surrender-refused to believe the conflict was done. We can make a similar mistake. Paul proclaims the stunning truth that "all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3). On the cross, in a powerful, mysterious way, Jesus put to death Satan's lies, death's terror, and sin's tenacious grip. Though we're "dead to sin" and "alive to God" (v. 11), we often live as though evil still holds the power. We yield to temptation, succumbing to sin's seduction. We listen to lies, failing to trust Jesus. But we don't have to yield. We don't have to live in a false narrative. By God's grace we can embrace the true story of Christ's victory.

While we'll still wrestle with sin, liberation comes as we recognize that Jesus has already won the battle. May we live out that truth in His power.

Prayer for Today

Jesus, I know You've won the battle over evil and darkness. Would You help me to live this out? Amen.

We have learned a lot about storms in the last several weeks and are getting ready to wrap up Gray's "Living Through the Storm" sermon series.  Ironically, hurricane season is now upon us.  Hurricane Isaias has already battered our neighbors in Puerto Rico and now threatens the Florida coast.  We are still in the throes of the pandemic, which we are now perceiving to be more of a long-term situation than a short-term storm.  And there are any number of stormy situations headlined in the news every day.  We echo the psalmist and say, "Come quickly, Lord!!"  We ask ourselves if all of these storms will ever end.  Well, not yet!  This week we are in the next to last lesson:  Preparing for the Next Storm.  This week's scripture is from the Gospel of Mark.

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (Mark 13:32-37 NIV)

This text is often read in worship during Advent, and it reminds us that while we are preparing to remember and celebrate Christ's birth, we are also looking ahead to his second coming (more on that next week!!).  Likewise, Christian and I chose this week's anthem, "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come"--also usually sung in Advent--to help us focus on the hope that awaits us when Christ returns and the storms will end.  This text is adapted from Revelation 22.

Peace be to you and grace from him who freed us from our sins, 

Who loved us all and shed his blood that we might saved be. 

Sing holy to our Lord, the Lord, Almighty God, 

Who was and is and is to come; sing holy Lord! 

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, rejoice on earth, ye saints below, 

For Christ is coming soon! 

E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, and night shall be no more; 

They need no light nor lamp nor sun, for Christ will be their All!

These storms we find ourselves weathering WILL come to an end.  And God, our source of strength, our ever-present help in trouble, has not now nor will ever abandon us or forsake us.  Through EVERY storm, he remains our mighty fortress, never-failing.  And we hold on to the sure hope that at the appointed time, Christ will return (remember that "soon" is a relative term...) and Christ will be our All!

Prayer for Today

Holy God, lift our eyes above our temporary, earthly troubles, and help us to see your bigger picture of a new heaven and a new earth.  Help us to love our neighbor as you do, regardless of race, political leanings, cultural differences, or anything else on this present earth that we allow to divide us.  Open our hearts to you and to one another.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

Therefore, as you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and 

teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

 And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:19&20

"Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living."

Jaroslav Pelikan

Traditions are present in every culture, religion, nation, and family group. Even groups of friends, organizations, businesses, and churches have traditions to memorialize events, to remember certain lessons, people, and places that are gone but still important. Traditions and symbols help us remember things as individuals and groups. They are a teaching tool. Jewish folks remember their history and the law through traditional holidays and High Holy Days. Catholics remember specific saints with feast days. As Presbyterians, we celebrate Reformation day in worship. Almost all Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter and other holy seasons. And there's valid criticism that we often lose the meaning in the pageantry or elaborateness of the celebrations. And notably, Jehovah's Witnesses do NOT celebrate holidays and birthdays, with that fear in mind. Somewhere between, is a balance.

If the quote is true, and I believe it is, tradition helps us to hold onto what is important in our history and aids in passing it on. It is a dedication to remembering our history for a purpose. Traditionalism becomes dedication to the ways we remember, honor, or reflect upon or history, with little thought to the history itself. For instance, a simple meal of foods that pilgrims may have eaten hundreds of years ago, gathering with family and friends, and giving thanks for the gifts of that year from our God would be a fine tradition. Insisting on the right kind of canned cranberries and Grands crescent rolls (of which I may be found guilty) would be traditionalism. Right day, wrong focus.

Why then should any of this matter for us as Christians? We are a people with 2,000 years of history and a shared history with our Jewish brothers and sisters for thousands of years before that. It is very easy and highly tempting to trade allegiances from traditions to traditionalism. Tradition is a tool, but traditionalism is idolatry. Any time we shift or slide from the utility of something for our faithful walk to valuing the tool on its own, we have fashioned ourselves an idol to replace God, Esther than a tool to worship God. We do this when we place a value on which instruments are used in worship music, whether we sing the oldest hymns or newest, shorter or longer sermons, Old or New Testament lessons, style or location or timing of worship services. All of these are tools for worshipping God and coming together to fellowship and be encouraged. When we cling to old normals in a changing world rather than to God's word, God's work, and God's workers, we become idolaters and idle, rather than faithful flexible followers.

I hope that mask-wearing, social distancing, refraining from visiting family and embracing, or parking lot worship will become our history and not our new necessary tradition. But until then, I hope I'll see you in your cars, on Zoom, and across outdoor spaces from me as we worship and work together in glory to God.

Prayer for Today

Lord, make me faithful, flexible follower. Save me from the temptation of idolizing my favorite traditions, so I may better remember and teach about your faithfulness to us. Amen.

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. - Mark 13:32, NIV

This Saturday, I will be preaching the ordination sermon for a friend who served with me on staff at another church. He has been called to pastor his first church. In thinking about what to say in the sermon, I thought back to when I first came to this church ten years ago and the brief note I was asked to write to our congregation to go along with my bio. This is what I said:

One of my favorite TV series was West Wing. I think I have every season on DVD. Whenever President Bartlett, played by Martin Sheen, had made up his mind about some situation, he would ask, "What's next?" If anyone had any other ideas, he would listen. But when it was time to move on, he would say it again: "What's next?" So, what's next for Johns Creek Presbyterian Church? What's the next opportunity or challenge we're called to tackle together? I'm energized even considering what God has in store for this season in the life of Johns Creek Presbyterian Church and I'm eager to get started! What an incredible honor that God has given me the opportunity to serve as your next pastor.

So, ten years later, what do I say now to this new pastor -- given all that is going on in our world? What's next? Who knows? No one knows for sure -- but I find hope in this: God knows!

This Sunday we will be looking at the words of Jesus found above. When it comes to knowing the future, and particularly when Jesus will return to set things right, no one knows for sure - not even Jesus himself. But God the Father knows. And because God the Father knows, we can face "what's next" with hope! Come Sunday for Drive-In Worship at 9:30 a.m. or watch our On-Line service as we talk about "Preparing for the Next Storm" from Mark 13:32-37. These are two great ways to worship God!

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, May you open our hearts so that your love will flourish and that we will not only love much but well. Help us to learn to love appropriately. Guide us on the path to a life filled with fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. In Christ's Name, Amen. 

One way that I grow deeper is my faith is when I take a section of scripture and consider how it may connect with a current season of life or situation I am encountering. Last week many families were creating Backyard VBS at home. As I experienced it with our neighbors and received pictures of other backyards, I was grateful for the church at work in the world. As I reflected on the week and all that God had been doing, I read this passage from Paul's letter to the Philippians. These are words I would share with all who joined us last week during VBS. It was a week of planting seeds and seeing the fruit from many years of faith experiences.
Here is a slideshow with some of the families who enjoyed VBS in their backyards. Backyard VBS Slideshow

I would also invite you to see how these words connect with your current season or situation.

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does! Philippians 1:3-8 The Message

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, May you open our hearts so that your love will flourish and that we will not only love much but well. Help us to learn to love appropriately. Guide us on the path to a life filled with fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. In Christ's Name, Amen. 

A friend posted on Facebook a picture riddle. There were rows of identical keys except hidden in one of the rows was a key that differed slightly. The riddle proclaimed that only 3% of people could find the odd looking key. I'm happy to proclaim I was a 3 percenter! So I'm going to present you with a picture riddle regarding JCPC Drive In Worship. Look at this picture of Jeff Arnold and Brian Daoust. 

When you attend Drive in Worship you will encounter these masked men; but I can assure you they are most welcoming! Now look at this picture of Jeff and Brian.

What do you notice are the differences between picture one and two? How many can you see?

How many of you noticed the shade? In the morning sun beaming over the West Parking lot there is welcoming shade; shade that provides respite and rest.

Psalm 121 offers us an image of shade that is comforting:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains-
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip-
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you-
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm-
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Remember to seek out the shade! You just might discover the one who provides shade is our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer!

Prayer for Today

God of wonder, let us give in to your mysteries and abide within your infinite love. Let us keep silent as we come before you and draw us nearer to your limitless blessings. Open our eyes to your glory. Amen.

"Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand

Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand."

- Verse 1 from Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence  (4^th cent. text)

This familiar tune, which you'll hear this Sunday both online and at our Drive-In Worship service during the anthem, always makes me feel funny. I don't mean in a bad way, but rather, it leads my mind to ponder the more abstract, mysterious qualities of God. Especially now during the pandemic with so much uncertainty, I tend to seek logical answers to all the difficult questions I face. Perhaps it's because we simply don't yet know when all of this will be over, and that kind of constant stress makes everything difficult!

But I think there is real value in pondering on the mysteries of our God. Do we take enough time to keep silent and stand in fear, trembling before God? Do we ponder things beyond the earth, even as fear and doubt surround us? Do we realize that the Word Made Flesh demands our full homage, our loving God lowering Himself to our level, yet coming full of blessings? Do we stop the painful and tumultuous paths our minds lead us down during these dark days to realize that there is more going on here than we can ever see, feel, or know?

God is here. He has always been here. Even now, the Holy Spirit twists and turns through my life and yours, taking our actions and circumstances and interweaving our very lives with other people to eventually bring about the plans that God has for us, but instead of sitting back and pondering in this way, we so often jump to action, responding with heated and sometimes hurtful words, not realizing what we are doing or where God is leading us. We so often stand firm in our own "truths", spouting judgement and anger at others who don't agree.

But if you just take a moment to step back from everything, and let your mind wander into the deep mysteries of God, you might find a kind of paradoxical and profound peace. Despite pondering on something that we can never understand, there is a sense of comfort in the strange, illogical wonder of God. Give your mind a chance to slip into the abstract yet all-encompassing love of God and find rest for your soul.

Prayer for Today

God of wonder, let us give in to your mysteries and abide within your infinite love. Let us keep silent as we come before you and draw us nearer to your limitless blessings. Open our eyes to your glory. Amen.

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.

Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

-John 2:13-15

"I like to remember that when someone asks, 'What Would Jesus Do?' that a perfectly acceptable answer is yell and throw things," a friend of mine once remarked. They were right. I've tried to remember this in my walk with Christ and my ministry. You probably remember Gray referencing Aslan, the lion of Narnia who represents Jesus in those C.S. Lewis stories. When the girl asks if he's a safe lion, she's told he's not safe at all, but he is good. The Jesus of most of our artwork, our movies and TV programs, our imaginations, that Jesus is tame. Safe. But that's not the Jesus of scripture. The Jesus of scripture is gentle and compassionate when it is called for and a lion of strength and ferocity when that is called for instead.

My friend, singer-songwriter and activist, David Lamotte has a song about this more whole, more complete person of Jesus. The refrain is meant to be sarcastic, "Sing me a song about Jesus, but please don't sing about the poor. It's already been a long day now. I really don't wanna hear any more. Sing me a song about Jesus that'll make me feel happy inside. Sing me a song about Jesus that'll make this lifestyle feel justified." He's even had people come up after his shows to thank him for that song and say how weary they are of being challenged by Jesus and they just wanna be happy. They miss the whole point. Jesus was a troublemaker when necessary. Trouble that was intended to speak up for the oppressed loudly enough to disrupt the lives of those in comfort and power.

I've been reflecting all week on the life of Georgia's own John Lewis, C.T. Vivian, and all the other unnamed men and women who marched and spoke out and endured the scorn of the people of the law, the lashes of the soldier, the mockery of crowds of angry people, and all for the hope of God's Word that they could be free and have life abundantly. I haven't had the words to express my gratitude for their work, their words, their lives, their example, and their inspiration and transformation. My nation is better for their lives. But I don't need new words. God's words led them and inspired theirs. John Lewis studied them in seminary and from a young age. And he found the Jesus who was killed for being a dissenter. He captured the essence of Jesus and told us, "Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." And so I aim to misbehave, for Jesus.

Prayer for Today

Lord, help me not to despair, but to find those in need and get into necessary trouble, good trouble. Amen.

Speak the truth in love. . .

-Ephesians 4:15

Last Sunday, I talked about lament as a response to suffering. Recently, one of our church members was lamenting about how we seem to be losing the ability to disagree respectfully with one another. I agreed with him and shared my perspective that while this is true in our larger world, it can also have a negative effect on our discourse within the church. So, how do we "speak the truth in love" as scripture commands us to do?

Over the ten years I have been serving as JCPC's pastor, I have shared on a number of times some guidelines our PCUSA created for how we Presbyterians can have positive, productive interactions, even during times of disagreement. Here is the link to those guidelines. (click here) So, think of these guidelines as a reminder of something we all need to work on daily. I would invite you to download and print them. Put them in a place where you can see them, like your refrigerator or dressing mirror. My hope is that instead of being influenced by our world to be less respectful of one another when we disagree, we might be the "salt and light" that Jesus talks about -- seasoning and enlightening our world with a better way of living. When I was serving a previous church, I shared these guidelines when they first came out. One of our elders liked them so much that he later shared them at his work, after editing out the religious references.

As I mentioned in my sermon on Sunday, our Session met this past Monday evening to talk about some very difficult topics related to possible plans for both the short term and the long term. I was impressed with our Session and how they were able to speak the truth in love, listening to one another first, while maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I think the way our Session handled these things was an answer to prayer and I appreciate many of you for praying for us!

Prayer for Today

God of love and grace, help us to be your salt and light in our world that needs to be seasoned with your grace and enlightened by your love. May we be the peacemakers you have called each one of us to be. In the strong name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.