Labor Day

Labor Day is not one of those holidays I know a whole lot about. The Department of Labor has this to say about Labor Day, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” In other words, it was created to honor those who make this country work: you and I.

There is no doubt that without those who “work” America would certainly be in quite a state. Imagine a world where, even if for one day, no one worked. There would be no hospitals, police, or firefighters. There would be no supermarkets or restaurants (even if Waffle House is open 24/7, 365!). Let’s face it, from entertainers to life savers, if there was a day where no one worked, society as we know it would practically stand still.

It is nice to take a day, prop our feet up, and maybe even enjoy a long weekend in honor of our labor, but is there something we are overlooking? Without the One who had to work to get us here, there would be no prosperity and well-being at all. Sure, our society turns because people dedicate their lives to the plan and purpose they were created to fulfill, but that had to begin somewhere and with someone: God.

God, in His amazing love, set things in motion for the world and all in it to succeed. God began by creating the world and calling it “Good.” God then established a plan for us all to know just how much we are loved. Finally, God has made it possible for us to rise above the mundane trivialities of life into a meaningful and eternal relationship with Him. This was no short order, mind you and the Lord had to give all He had, even His very Son, so we would not perish on our own.

Whether we realize it or not, everything we have—even life itself—is a result of God’s work. Psalms 139.14 says, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” (emphasis mine) God wants you to recognize that whatever is good about you is because of God’s great work. Every talent you have, every gift and every grace, comes from God. Every potential you have to do good and make a difference in this world is thanks to God. And God wants you to share your life, love, and labor to touch a heart and change a life in the name of Jesus.

All too often we confuse being good with doing good. God wants both out of us. God wants us to share our lives with the rest of the world so others will know in their souls just how great God’s works are! But you must remember, all you have—inside and out—comes first from the Almighty.

So this Labor Day, as we take a break from our work, let us remember God’s good work first. It is God’s good work that enables us to be the people we are. It is God’s good work that helps us become the people we can become. It is also God’s good work that can help our country grow strong and prosper. You see it isn’t all about what we do or how dedicated we are; no, it has more to do with the One’s name in which we work and dedicate our lives to reach out further and declare the goodness of God. After all, where would we be without Him?

Stopping Temptation

This past Sunday I taught about temptation. I had a little fun talking about how tempted I get by junk food; Cadberry Cream Eggs, Oreos, and Reece's peanut butter cups are some of my favorites. As I shared during worship, when I know those items are in our pantry, I will eat everything else in there trying to avoid that which I crave. Ironically, after practically eating everything else in the pantry, I'll go ahead and indulge my cravings, figuring what do I have to lose. 

I heard a lot of comments from people following the services about how you know exactly what I mean. It seems once the temptation monster creeps in, our common sense receptors get shut off, and even though we know better, we cannot control ourselves. It baffles my mind and bothers Tiffany when I get that particular look in my eye, because when I do, I cannot be stopped. 

You might be thinking to yourself, "Pastor, there's a big difference between a cookie and what it is I struggle with." You might very well be right, but there is something scary about that loss of control where no matter what you want to do, you cannot help yourself. And this is biblical, too; check out what Paul wrote in Romans 7:14-16, "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good." Can you feel the tension? I know it is palpable for me. 

To help us deal with these temptations, I introduced a concept called, "stoppers". Stoppers are behaviors that are completely incompatible with your temptation and can be a great way to "renew your mind" when faced with temptation. For me, when I find myself craving junk food, I will brush my teeth and gargle with mouthwash; nothing quite ruins the thought of the flavor of an Oreo as Listerine! If that doesn't work, I might go and do twenty-five jumping jacks or so. If that still doesn't work, then I'll take a walk, knowing that if I'm a couple miles away from my pantry, it's harder to give into my cravings. I do have to be careful, though, because I've been known to justify a little binge here and there, thinking I earned it with my exercise. That's stinkin' thinkin' and only undermines what I'm trying to accomplish in the first place. 

In addition to physical stoppers, spiritual stoppers are important, too. Use the power of Jesus to cast out temptations. Pray to God for deliverance. Read your Bible. Sing your favorite hymn or worship song. Do something to call upon the power of Jesus in your to fight off the temptation that is plaguing. 

These physical and spiritual stoppers can be a powerful tool in your arsenal, especially when it comes to renewing your mind. When you obsess over a temptation, it bores itself deeper and deeper into your consciousness. The more you think about trying to avoid the Oreo, the more you think about the Oreo to a point where the temptation can be too much. And I know it might not be an Oreo where you struggle; maybe it's another food, drink, pill, website, person, or some other thing that tempts you. The evil one knows what it is and wants to use these items to accuse you and have you feel as though you don't deserve the love and grace of God. 

I want to leave you with a great verse from Philippians 3:21 that talks about how the power of Jesus "will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." God wants to take the trash of our lives and shape it into the treasure of heaven. Think about that. With all the ways the evil one tries to take your temptations and try to discredit your witness or claim to. God's glory, it is the lovingly powerful hand of Jesus that transforms even the lowliest parts of our lives into the glory of heaven. 

So if to find yourself struggling with a temptation right now, put a 'stop' to it! Change the way you think. Engage in behavior that prevents you from doing what you'd otherwise want to do. And call upon the power of Jesus that seeks to transform your life. The evil one wants you to think your temptations disqualify you from God's salvation, but the beauty of it is that it's Jesus who makes the change possible. Call upon Jesus...place your faith in Him...know He is with you always, even to the end of the age!

5 Ideas to Help Beat Back the Blues

I had already planned on writing about beating back the blues this week before news broke of actor, Robin Williams’, suicide. It is such a sad story and something we need to deal with on a serious note.

Did you know that for every two homicides in the US that there are three suicides? Shocking. As I shared with Ethan who could not avoid the sad news, the suicide of a friend was a major factor for me accepting my call to ministry. I also shared with Ethan that no matter how bad things seem, there is always a way out – try talking to a friend, an adult, a ministry leader, or even call or visit the suicide hotline (1-800-273-8255 | www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org). I offer these same words to you. Major depression has an 80% recovery rate with proper treatment, but 2/3 of people who suffer never receive help. If you’re battling the blues, or a full-on depression, don’t let this be you…please!

We all have blah days. I remember reading in one of my counseling text books that the average person has 5-7 “blue” days per month. I hate to say it, but I have been in one of those phases recently. There are several contributing factors: the end of the summer and school resuming; a bit of a stall in our adoption process as we move from one phase to another; the veritable dog days of summer; insane political wrangling; and just the ordinary stressors of modern life in this day and age.

Every now and then I stumble upon a great article about things I find helpful. Typically I file these away for use at a future time, but this past Sunday I got a list of five things from one of the health blogs I read on a regular basis about battling the blues. I found this very helpful, so I modified the list and added Bible verses to fit better for this forum and to share with you.

                                                  

1. Pray: Prayer has a beautiful way of taking our mind off of what is bothering us so we can place it where it belongs – God! If you find yourself struggling, take your focus off of your problem and focus on the goodness of God. The time has come to quit talking to God about how big your problem is and talk to your problem about how big your God is!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4.6-7)

2. Get some sun: Deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to depression – make sure to get some sun every day during prime hours to get your Vitamin D. And you get the fun benefits of being outside, as well.

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! (1 Corinthians 3.1)

3. Exercise: This one is pretty straightforward – exercise has been shown to boost serotonin levels in the brain, and almost always leaves me feeling great. If you're not a member of a gym, just going for a walk, or doing a simple bodyweight workout, can help. I personally do something almost daily I like to call, “Temple Time.” I go out for a walk, run, or lift weights while I listen to awesome music and focus on my devotions from the morning. Since the Apostle Paul teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6.16-19), exercising the mind, body, and soul is critical to overall health.

Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. (1 Timothy 4.8)

4. Hang out with people that inspire and motivate you.

One of the biggest things that helps me beat back the blues is hanging with a few very good friends and actually talking about what was going on and how I was feeling. Being around people that inspire you can really give you that extra kick in the keister to get out of your funk. The alternative to this, if the people around you don’t particularly inspire you is to watch a great movie or read a biography of someone who does inspire you.

Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. (Proverbs 17.17)

5. Smile: Try smiling whenever you’re feeling down. It's almost impossible to feel down or sad when you're smiling. Something biochemical happens when you smile, and it almost forces you to be happy. Try it out right now, you'll see what I mean. 

                                                                                              

God met me more than halfway, He freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. (Psalms 34.4-5)

I hope you find this list helpful if you have been dealing with some of the dog-days-of-summer blues. If you have been dealing with some difficulties of late, or for a long time, don’t suffer alone. As I wrote about last week, we help fulfill the law of Christ (to love!) when we help others carry their burdens (Galatians 6.2). If I can help, or point you in the direction of someone who can, please, let me know!

Carry On!

Tiffany, Ethan, and I had a great vacation, though we truly missed being with our church family. It’s good to get away, but it’s always great to get back home. Regardless of how nice it is to get back, there are always things that await you. This time for me, it was a dead battery.

I needed to get to the church office to begin catching up from a week away,but when I tried to crank the car, nothing happened… the battery was dead. Like really dead. No lights, no bells, no nothing! Luckily Tiffany was still home, so I was able to use our jumper cables, but before I could do that, I had to clean out the side of the garage we use for storage just so I could get the van close enough to the car.

It was already a paltry 80-plus-degree morning, so I was working up quite the lather. And I’m sure I was pretty noisy, too, because the neighbors were springing from their homes to check out the clatter coming from my garage. After getting everything situated just right, I pulled the van in and hooked up the jumper cables. Nothing. I waited a few seconds, but still nothing. Now I was getting concerned.

I made a few phone calls to let my appointments know I was going to be a little late, all the while trying to get any sign of life out of my car. Nothing. Finally, after giving up and deciding I would go get another battery and call in reinforcements to help me install it, the tale-tell ding of the bell and the interior lights flickered in the car. I turned the key, and walla, it was alive! With great relief I got the garage put back together and made my way to work.

While I was driving, a friend – AKA: my battery replacement reinforcement – showed up in my neighborhood to help me out, even after I called him to say it wasn’t necessary. Here I was, dripping with sweat and stress, and my friend just wanted to make sure that I was carrying on okay. Not the battery. Not my schedule. Just me. That meant a lot!

One of the hallmarks of the Christian faith is care and concern for others. Let’s face it, we all struggle and carry baggage. Our individual luggage might not match someone else’s, but that doesn’t make the luggage any less difficult to deal with. In my counseling ministry, one of the greatest lessons I’ve had to learn and be able to impart to others is not to compare or compete our struggles with others. True and authentic spiritual relationships are able to enter into the difficulties of others without the need to compare or compete for who has it rougher. I didn’t say it was easy, but it’s important.

To my friend who gave of his Monday morning at the spur of the moment to drop what he was doing to come check on me, thank you. I appreciate you helping me carry my luggage this week and helping me know that bearing it together is always easier than going it alone. And for the battery, thank you for reminding me that even though I just enjoyed a nice vacation, there are times when it’s necessary to pause and reflect that inconveniences are not crises. And for the rest of us, may we think this week about how we all have the opportunity and privilege to help a brother or sister in the faith deal with their dilemma, regardless of how big or small they might appear. This is precisely what God does for us in Jesus, and precisely what Jesus calls us to do for others.

I want to leave you with this beautiful call and challenge from scripture: “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) May we all carry on accordingly this week.

The ABCs of Sharing Christ's Message

This past Sunday, I delivered a message based on Matthew 10.26-39 where I taught about being the messenger of the Good News Jesus needs you to be. In context, this passage occurs when Jesus is sending out the 12 disciples to take His message of love, hope, and reconciliation public. It might seem a bit ironic, but that message is met with a somewhat unusual metaphor: Jesus as soldier. Jesus himself said he came not to bring peace, but a sword. This gives the image of a military commander preparing his troops for battle, raising his saber, and then yelling, CHARGE!

We are involved in a civil war of sorts. Jesus’ words indicate that we are at war on two fronts: internally and externally. The internal front is the one we have to fight within ourselves against the path of least resistance. Jesus said we have to take up our cross and lose our life so we can find the true meaning of life in Him. This internal struggle — where we feel inclined to serve self instead of Savior — draws us to the wrong side of the battlefield, leaving us a prisoner of war.

The external struggle in our ongoing civil war is the one we must fight against the outside influences that can distract us from living for God. Jesus specifically pointed out relationships that can cause us problems, but there are others, too: vocations, lifestyles, etc. As Jesus stands there with His saber, He wants to use His surgeon-like precision to help us cut away the things in life that keep us away from Him…we just need to go to Him for His help.

Since we are engaged in an ongoing two-front civil war, Jesus wants to enlist us for one of the most important roles in any combat situation: battlefield messenger. The messenger had the complete confidence of the commander to convey His message, which was critical to the success of the campaign.

Jesus Himself was sent on a campaign to win the soul of humanity for heaven, but there is an enemy trying to secure territory for another domain. Christ continues to be engaged in an ongoing campaign to secure humanity from the clutches of evil and despair. Jesus is commissioning His followers to be messengers that will carry His eternally important message of love, hope, and reconciliation. Since we have such an important task, we must learn the ABCs of sharing Christ’s message; be:

• Alert: we need to take the time to hear Christ’s message accurately and incorporate it into our lives so we can share it accordingly
• Bold: we need to be courageous in sharing Jesus’ message, not allowing fear to deter us from explaining the hope we have in the Lord
• Committed: we need to be dedicated to the task of sharing God’s message and not allowing the inevitable ups and downs of life to distract us from the importance of the message.

As Jesus prepared His disciples to engage the world with His message, He reminded them that He had spent time with them, teaching and showing them the heart of God. He was now empowering them to continue that work under His tutelage, because the time was coming when they would be dispatched on their own. This reminds me of a powerful Chinese proverb that explains this brilliantly: Tell me, I will forget; show me I will remember; involve me, I will understand.

This is precisely what Jesus does for us still today. He is speaking to us about the love and grace of God, showing us the signs and wonders of a life lived in God, and involving us in the ministry of reconciliation as He wins souls for heaven. Will you accept your role in sharing this with others? Will you leave behind old and worn out patterns of living? Will you join the winning team? Remember the ABCs of sharing Christ’s message and they will truly help you be alert, bold, and committed to the task of introducing others to the heart of God as shown in Jesus Christ!

The Source of Freedom

Happy Independence Day! I hope you are looking forward to a safe time celebrating freedom with friends and family. For those who are working - and especially those who are working to protect and preserve the freedom we celebrate - THANK YOU!!!

When you think about freedom, and being free from or for something, what comes to mind? We probably have some agreement on the meaning of freedom in general terms, but when it gets down to it, many of us likely view freedom through a very personalized lens. There is nothing wrong with that by any means, but there are definite problems when one’s personal view of liberty does not sync up with another’s. What to do, what to do?

During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made a brilliant statement about liberty during an address in Baltimore: “The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing.” (April 18, 1864) Lincoln was on to something. While our nation was in a great struggle about what it means to be free, different people felt differently about what freedom actually meant. No doubt that our context is different today, but we still live in the struggle.

I went back to the Declaration of Independence and was particularly struck by a tension I felt while reading it. It states clearly that we are created by GOD with certain unalienable Rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Then, the Declaration of Independence mentions that governments are instituted to secure these Rights. Interesting, isn’t it? We acknowledge that GOD creates us equally, and then we turn to government – a vastly imperfect human institution – to secure these Rights. The implication here is that we remain in a state of tension between what we might consider freedom from our personal point of view and what another might consider freedom from his/her point of view, and how these views relate to the view of the masses. Should we abandon the pursuit of freedom? Absolutely not, but we also have to acknowledge the tension that, as President Lincoln said, we do not all mean the same thing when we discuss freedom.

Since our government cannot secure freedom for every single person in the way he/she would like or hope, we have to turn our attention to another source…THE Source. It is critically important to note that even the Declaration of Independence cites GOD as the true source of freedom. In John 8:21-32, as Jesus was teaching about how GOD sent Him to help people believe, the Lord said: “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Jesus later said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If we are looking for God, the source of freedom, then Jesus – the living embodiment of truth – is the Way!

I hope that despite how we feel about things going on in the world we may celebrate our corporate and personal freedom this Independence Day. I also hope that for those who are struggling to fully understand or experience freedom, that we might look to the source of freedom that we truly desire. For as the scripture says, “In Jesus, and through faith in him, we may approach GOD with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3.12)

Have a safe and happy 4^th of July, and as we celebrate our national freedom, may we be reminded that the source of freedom isn’t in a piece of paper (as excellent as the Declaration of Independence is) or a government, but in GOD and the One who shows us the way, Jesus Christ!

Annual Conference: 2014

This week, Pastor Mark and Bobby Totten are attending the 148^th North Georgia Annual Conference in Athens, GA. This is the annual meeting of delegates (all appointed clergy and an equal number of lay delegates) from all over United Methodist Churches in North Georgia. The North Georgia Conference has nearly 1,000 churches located from as far south as Pine Mountain near Callaway Gardens all the up to the Georgia line on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, TN, and everywhere between east and west in the state. It is estimated that 3,000 delegates and guests will be present for this year’s Conference session.

Annual Conference is a special time. During the Conference, reports are given to inform the delegates of the work of United Methodism in North Georgia, the U.S., and across the globe; next year’s budget will be discussed and voted upon; we will celebrate with those newly ordained as well as those who retire; we will remember in worship the clergy, staff, and leaders who have passed away in the last year; and new clergy appointments will be read for pastors and churches. During this year’s Conference, Pastor Mark and his family will be reappointed to Cokes Chapel, and we look forward to another year in ministry to our community and beyond!

During all of these events, we will engage in something John Wesley (Methodism’s founder) called, Christian conferencing – the act of people gathering in the name of Jesus to discuss the business of the church. Let’s be honest, sometimes things can get a little boring, but all-in-all, it is for the purpose of advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ! So whether it’s a report being made from the podium to a conversation over a cup of coffee in the hallway, people will gather, meet, pray, worship, and serve for the sake of Jesus Christ!

Each year, our Bishop, B. Michael Watson, decides upon a theme for the Conference to help guide our Christian conferencing. The theme for the 2014 Annual Conference Session is “Together We Make Disciples.” It is wonderful to be a part of The United Methodist Church family. Like many families we decorate our homes with pictures celebrating many ages and stages of our lives. That is why this year’s logo gives a nod to a framed extended family portrait. Look for many different expressions of our North Georgia Conference family during the 2014 annual conference session.

The logo features just a few of the members of our United Methodist family: an older adult holding a newborn baby, a young camper exploring the natural world, a mission worker involved in the community, a student considering higher education, a young person with an adult mentor and an enthusiastic child.

We in the North Georgia Conference are all ages, diverse in a multitude of ways. We have a range of spiritual gifts. Even with all the ways we differ from one another, we celebrate that we are one United Methodist family. So we work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

The 2014 theme, Together We Make Disciples, is both a statement of ministry emphasis and a reminder that making disciples is a collective work. It begins with the promises we make at baptism and is lived out in the relationships we build as we fulfill those promises and honor our vows. It is the work of individuals and of congregations. It is the work of the whole community of faith deeply committed to the growing of children, youth, and young adults into faithful disciples who are equipped and empowered to share their experiences of God.

Please keep our delegates, and everyone attending this year’s Annual Conference, in your thoughts and prayers. It promises to be a powerful week of business, mission, and ministry, and one where transformation will be the focus! And if you choose to peek in, you can watch all of the sessions online by visiting www.ngumc.org. And who knows, maybe you’ll just see Pastor Mark or Bobby caught on camera!