This week I had lunch with someone I hadn’t seen in almost two decades.  We met at Cracker Barrel.  The country store entry way didn’t alleviate the initial, awkward hellos we exchanged to begin our social sizing up of obvious counterparts.  We both are pastors.  He’s currently moving from senior pastor to senior’s pastor.   Eighteen years ago he fired me.

Makes you curious, doesn’t it?  Can I make this long story short?  I was a worship leader at this former senior pastor’s church.  We tried a church plant within a church.  Two services.  Two pastors.  Too much drama, and I was out the door.  I was a much younger man.  Green.  Certainly not without fault in the whole mess.

In preparation for this week’s lunch, I had a flood of emotions surface.  I remembered Brooklynn, my oldest daughter, being about four years old.  Riding home from church one fateful Sunday, Brooklynn quietly asked, “Why do people not like daddy?”  Ugh.  As best we tried, we couldn’t keep the church world shhtufff from infecting my little girl’s heart.

I ordered a Chef’s salad and a side of fried okra.  I should have ordered fried chicken.  Before going into the restaurant, I texted four close friends.  A better man would have asked them to pray.  Instead, I asked them to text me as much as possible from 12 noon to 1.  It was a brilliant plan in my head.  If I needed an escape route from my potentially volatile lunch, I decided an incessantly beeping phone would do the trick. 

Ten minutes into our lunch, my phone was blowing up and I turned it off.  My old friend expressed regrets, ministry weariness, and tenuous emotions as he heads towards a transitional retirement.  Our conversation was good.  We remembered faces.  We laughed.  We got caught up.  We healed.

I’ve got a long way to go as a disciple of Jesus.  I press ahead, and strain to forget what’s behind.  Leaving Cracker Barrel, I thought, “Maybe… just maybe, there has been some growing along the way.  God’s grace and Word and loving hand has brought me past the arrogance of my mid 30’s.

How do you know your growing as a follower of Jesus?  Let’s talk Sunday.  Take an advanced peek at our text:  Mark 8:14-21.  There’s a lot happening here.  Are there Biblical ways to determine if we’re following or just a fan of Jesus?  I’m excited to teach this Sunday.  I hope you’ll be able to come prepared and with a friend.  You’re going to hear from Jesus.

Blessings!

(MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP FOR YOUR VISION TOUR.   THEY START NEXT SUNDAY!)

Weekly Giving | 05/12/13

$33,345.01

Weekly Need $29,000.00

My daughter, Morgan, is gearing up for middle school to wind down.  For the past three years she has flourished at her middle school.  I’ve had a wonderful front row seat to see a metamorphosis from a skinny, awkward, funny sixth grader to a beautiful, confident, rising freshman in high school.This past week, Morgan played her final eighth grade orchestra concert.  Her teacher (conductor) literally passed the baton of my daughter’s heart to the high school teacher in a very special musical ceremony.  You can watch this very cool transition on Youtube by clicking here.  (and that IS a shameless kid plug from an extremely proud and grateful dad)  Morgan sat next to a graduating, first-chair violinist senior as all the rising eighth graders joined the high school orchestra for the transitioning orchestral piece.  It made me wonder what Morgan would become in four more years.

Later that night… after the concert… I lay in bed reminiscing with Sherry.  I bemoaned, “If I was this emotional tonight, I’m going to be a basket case when she graduates high school!”   What a stunning transition I’ve seen in my third-born, red headed monster J daughter.  She’s gone from “this” to “that.”  Morgan was a mere young kid in the 6^th grade.  Now she’s a gorgeous young woman ready for high school.

I wonder if God’s ever done with us going from this to that?  Transition.  Change.  Transformation.  Regeneration.

What a wondering bunch of desert dwelling ragamuffins the Israelites were before entering the Promised Land.  And then God took them from this to that.

Has God done a miraculous this to that in your life?  Would you like Him to?

On Sunday, as a special Mother’s Day presentation, we’re honored to have Tracy Hurst with us to challenge both men and women with their this to that.  Tracy is a professional counselor, author, and big dawg conference speaker.  She’s also a belonger (along with her hubby Mike and daughter Allysa) at CCC.  It’s going to be a Sunday morning you won’t want to miss.  I’ll look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Blessings,

VISION TOURS -  Whether you’ve been at Cumberland for years or weeks, please sign up for your vision tour of our facility… May 26, June 2, or June 9.  Sign up by clicking here.

NEW SERVICE TIMES -  Starting June 2^nd, our new Sunday morning services times will transition to 9 & 11 a.m.

Weekly Giving | 05/5/13

$32,221.55

Weekly Need $29,000.00

CHURCH ALERT!  For a richer experience this Sunday, bring 3 bills to church (one small, one medium, and one big one).  You can bring a utility bill, a credit card bill… whatever you can lay your hands on.

Now… consider this new research study:

Barna researchers presented a series of 20 agree-or-disagree statements to self-identified Christians.  Five described “actions like Jesus” such as, “I regularly choose to have meals with people with very different faith or morals from me.”  Five statements described “attitudes like Jesus” such as, “I see God working in people’s lives, even when they are not following him.”  Five described “self-righteous actions” such as, “I try to avoid spending time with people who are openly gay or lesbian.”  And five statements described “self-righteous attitudes” such as, “I feel grateful to be a Christian when I see other people’s failures and flaws.”

How did respondents do?  Just over half (51 percent) demonstrated the attitudes and actions identified as Pharisaical.  Only 14 percent represented “Christ-like” actions and attitudes; the rest were split between actions and attitudes.

About one-quarter (23 percent) of evangelicals were “Christ-like,” somewhat above the average, but they were also the only group more likely to be Pharisaical in attitude but Christ-like in action.  (That’s food for thought.)  Women were more likely to be “Christ-like” (18 percent) than men (9 percent); “liberal” Christians (22 percent) outranked “conservative” Christians (eight percent).

In earlier research, Barna discovered that 84 percent of young non-Christians say they know a Christian personally, but only 15 percent say the lifestyles of those believers are noticeably different in a positive way.  The new study suggests that “many Christians are more concerned with what they call unrighteousness than they are with self-righteousness.  It’s a lot easier to point fingers at how the culture is immoral than it is to confront Christians in their comfortable spiritual patterns.”

Hmmm.  What do you think?  This Sunday morning finds us in a section of the book of Mark (7:24-30 & 8:11-13) where Jesus is dealing with Jewish, finger-pointing, religious people (Pharisees) and Gentile “heathens.”   Both groups need a sign from Jesus.  Only one gets their request.  What determines this?  Are you needing affirmation, guiding, or a sign from a Divine Designer?  You should come Sunday and find out how this works.

They say it’s really going to be raining come Sunday.  The message and text is so critical to the times we live and your life, I’m asking you to think like a duck and not let anything stop you from coming — and bring a rain-fearing friend with you!! J

AND… DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR 3 BILLS!!!

Can’t wait to teach.  I think you’re going to find more grace nuggets!

Blessings,

(BTW… if you’re new and have never been to our Newcomer’s Lunch, we have one this Sunday after the 10:30 service!  Sign up by clicking here.)

Weekly Giving | 04/28/13

$27,035.03

Weekly Need $29,000.00

I’ve noticed an alarming trend lately among the younger generation still eating food, taking up space, sleeping, and doing laundry under my roof.  The shocking new normal unfolding daily is the quickness of dubbing greatness to just about anything.

We watched a Justin Timberlake “Bring it on down to Veganville” SNL skit that was “awwwwesome.”  Someone downloaded a new song on iTunes that is “Amaaaayzing.”  Additionally, there seems to be great reason for celebration of a new app that apparently is “incredible.”   Coincidentally, when asked about my message from last Sunday, all I got was, “It was good.”   Hmpfforlotzzl!

What tested competencies are required for something to really be great?  Is it an attached dollar value?  Maybe the time given to create something begins to define greatness.    What if millions enable something to go viral?  Maybe THAT creates a tangible great for all to behold.

What would you say a great faith looks like?  Names of certain great Christians may begin to pop up into your head.  What does great faith do, say, or believe?  Do we have examples of people with great faith at Cumberland?

Of course, Jesus gave us an upside-down Kingdom response to greatness.  The whole first and last and least of these quotes come to mind.  What was Jesus’ thinking about someone who displayed great faith?  Did you know only two people were given great faith distinctions by Jesus in the New Testament?  Interestingly… these great faith examples were two individuals who had great distance from anything religious.

I want to have great faith.  Do you?  On Sunday, we’ll be tearing into a passage from Mark 7:24-30 to help us consider great faith.  Big faith.  Mega faith.  Got any?   You’ll be surprised as to who can actually have great faith.  For most, this will be very encouraging.  You should probably bring someone with you.

I’m anxious to teach on Sunday.  It’s gonna be AMAAAAAAYZINGLY great!  Looks like rain, so bring an umbrella for you and a friend!

Blessings,

BTW… On June 16^th, we’ll be having our next F.I.A. Sunday AT CUMBERLAND.  We have lots of work, cleaning, updating, repairs, and prep for restoration ministries we need to pay attention to.  I pray you begin signing up for this great day of service.  We need leaders in the following areas (and Ben Propst will have a 20-minute info meeting after each service this Sunday — in the Loft): Painting Exterior; Painting Interior; Window Cleaning; Parking Lot Striping; Interior Design; Landscaping; Pressure Washing; Playground Construction Projects; Interior Construction Projects; Carpet/Tile Demolition; Parking; Prayer; Registration; First Aid; Childcare; Kitchen Cleaning/Organization

Weekly Giving | 04/21/13

$33,887.67

Weekly Need $29,000.00

Something is wrong.  I’ve called good friends and even a few experts.   There is an obvious, hideous, and evil lurking, and I’m just not sure what to do.

I ended up buying some Roundup concentrate.  This seems to be taking care of the dark advancement of several varieties of weeds and grasses exploding within my lawn.  A few sprays and the once-thriving vegetation is now brown, shriveling, and placed at bay for a guaranteed four months.  My Spring smile is indication the venerable woe has been eradicated.

Something greater is wrong, and most know it.  Explosions in Boston, immigration protests, horrific news of brutal abortion in Philadelphia, a disaster in Texas… and that was just yesterday’s AJC news.  How will this invasion of evil be eradicated from our lives?  Some experts are recommending a concentrate mix of politics, education, social reform, and environmental clean up.  Will it be this easy?  Will a few sprays of our best efforts shrivel up the dark news being broadcast into all our homes?

Jesus teaches what the real problem is and how to fix it all.  Interested?  This Sunday we’ll be diving into Mark 7:14-23 for a most timely study into what can wash all the evil away.  You probably should bring a friend.

Somebody once said, “The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.”  There’s no legislation, program, educational initiative, social reform, or magical spray that can get to the root system of what’s wrong.

If you would slow and be honest with your own soul, the something wrong is not only a national problem — there’s something off deep within you.  Let’s get to the washing and the solution this Sunday.  I’m anxious to teach.

Blessings,

BTW… I’m praying for 7 men who:
1. Will meet with me once a month for 3 hours at my house for discipleship training.
2. Agree to move heaven and earth and schedules to make this an absolute priority.
3. Are hungry to be discipled, become Godly men, and leaders in the church.
4. Will commit to missing no more than one session.
5. Will do assigned reading and homework at least one week before monthly meetings.
6. Will each disciple 7 other men as a result of being discipled.
7. Value the art of listening and learning and creating community.

Interested?

Weekly Giving | 04/14/13

$22,662.04

Weekly Need $29,000.00

I sat down for my early morning breakfast and noticed the alien sitting across from me.  Are you kidding me… he mixed his eggs with his breakfast potatoes AND poured Tabasco all over the mess?  Who does that?

This strange sight prompted memories of another foreigner who sat opposite my sunny-side-up plate.  With great animation this freak proceeded to mash and stir everything on his plate into one ugly pile.  Eggs, bacon, grits, potatoes, and fruit were hand blended into pig slop and then eaten!  What the what?

Doesn’t everyone know you must order your eggs over-easy, poke a neat half-inch hole in the yoke, and then dip your rye bread in the yoke until the golden yellow is gone?  That is the ONLY way to eat your breakfast eggs and not be a freak.

How do you go about making disciples?  What does a disciple even look like?  Is there a lesser option just below disciple?  Kyle Idleman, in his book “Not A Fan,” says you might be a fan of Jesus if you:  came forward during the 12^th verse of “Just As I Am,” own three or more Bibles, have a picture in a church directory, worn “witness wear,” kissed dating goodbye, vowed never to watch Harry Potter movies, or actually know the meaning of traveling mercies.

Is it possible for us to think we know what a disciple looks like, but we’ve actually settled for being a fan and not a follower of Jesus?   Let that question probe some deeper crevices for a moment.  Jesus was often skeptical of folks who would say, “Lord, Lord,” but they never lived the Gospel-driven life out.

Do all disciples look alike?  Are we allowed to mash and stir things into an ugly discipleship pile, or does one size fit all?  Perhaps there’s a “look” of being a disciple we should be shootin’ for.  Or… would Jesus say, “What the what?”    Can I be follower of Jesus and not be a freak?

On Sunday, we’re diving into Mark 6:45-56.  There are deep, harder lessons for disciples and disciple hopefuls.  You ready for this?

Jesus loved, taught and provided miraculous evidences for the crowds.  He often, though, slimmed down the crowds when he pushed for true disciples beyond the signs and wonders.  Many who initially believed went away.  They wanted Jesus’ stuff more than they wanted Jesus.

Last Sunday our seats swelled with guests and friends.  It was awesome to love on, teach, inspire, and give evidence for Jesus.  It was one of our best attendances ever with 1,350 folks on campus.  This Sunday we’ll be pushing for people not to be stuck in the crowds as fans of Jesus, but rather true followers.  Disciples.  You in?

I’m excited to teach.  Bring a friend… back… to CCC!  See you at 8:30 or 10:30.

Blessings Ya’ll,

Weekly Giving | 03/31/13

$42,079.10

Weekly Need $29,000.00

This time of year, for me, is a bit funky.  My yard is a mess.  The weeds are in full bloom.  It feels like I’m never gonna get on top of things and see beauty and intentional green things flourishing again.  Sherry tells me, “Just wait.  It will all come back.  Just wait.”

May I reflect briefly… one more time… on our church sign.  That THING has been driving me crazy for a while.  It was falling apart.  The once-welcoming banner of CCC had been faded with years of sun torture, Atlanta downpours, and unwelcome southern freezes.  I didn’t think we’d ever fix this one.

How much could a brand spanking new sign cost… really?  Twenty to twenty-five thousand smackeroos.  Our turn around church didn’t have those kind of dollars to dole out for signage.  The broken, wounded, and hurting of Smyrna couldn’t justify the spending either.

I’m not sure when I began hearing the whisper, but at one point God sounded a lot like Sherry (oh she’s gonna love that!), “Just wait.  It will all come back.  Just wait.”

Thanks to a company called Miller-Clapperton, a timely donation, and some volunteer work… we finally have our new sign with dollars available for ministry.  The sign all came together this past week, and this pastor is elated!  I wondered if our new sign taking flight at Easter was coincidence or not.

Did you go through our 24/7 Holy Week prayer labyrinth?  For me, there was a sense of heaviness as I went through the first six stations.  My emotional read was wondering if Jesus’ closest friends wondered if things would ever intentionally flourish again.  Did they think nothing would ever get fixed?  When will this whole experience turn around?  When does the EPIC story get better?  “Just wait.  It will all come back.  Just wait.”

On Good Friday there is a dark sense of waiting.  On this grim day, death seems to highlight our doubts, fears, and feeble living.  But as an old, African American preacher once powerfully said, “Friday’s here, but Sunday’s a comin’!”

I wouldn’t appreciate my yard’s beauty without facing the weeds.  Our new CCC sign wouldn’t be so awesome without experiencing how ugly the original one was.  The miracle and life of the resurrection is short-circuited without significant reflection on the darkness and graphic reality of the cross.

But Sunday’s a comin’!  Tonight we will gather, mourn, and remember at 7 p.m. for our Good Friday service.  This will be a very somber, sobering, one-hour experience.  Please don’t miss it.   Tonight’s gathering will elevate expectations for  Resurrection Sunday.  “Just wait.  It will all come back.  Just wait.”  I can’t wait.  Sunday’s a comin’!   See you there, and bring lots of friends!

Blessings,

Weekly Giving | 03/24/13

$36,028.93

Weekly Need $29,000.00

I’ve told Michael he should,  “Go for it!”  I hope he cuts loose and let’s his budding talent flow to the best of his ability and with great fun.   I believe he should soak in this great night, enjoy the love ALL the kids will receive from adults, parents, and grandparents in the seats.  It’s just one of those great seasons and opportunities a kid should take full advantage of.  I don’t want Michael to miss or take for granted such a cool, cool thing.  He’ll remember this one for a very long time.

I also get the sense we’re in a very opportunistic season at CCC RIGHT NOW.  Please don’t miss it.  Our “Haplotes” generosity study of II Corinthians 8 & 9 took us powerfully into giving ourselves away at a grand F.I.A. Sunday last week.  Click here to be inspired (again) by this!

Now we’re coming to Palm Sunday with a Messianic Jewish rabbi teaching us through the powerful, significant meanings attached to Passover and the Lord’s Supper.  You will not want to miss David Zauber’s terrific insight into the bread, the cup, and the distinctively Jewish tenets attached to it all.  Take full advantage of our gatherings this Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30.

Tabitha’s Heart will set up “a day in the life of an India street child” from 3:30 til 7 p.m.   God will use this creative event to open your eyes and enlarge your Kingdom heart.  Click here for more info.

Our 24/7 Holy Week of prayer also begins at 5 p.m. this Sunday.  Wow.  You won’t believe the creative prayer stations.  Your intimate experience with God will be powerful.  You, your family, and your community group should take full and advantage of this.  Click here to sign up.  There are a few slots left.

Our sobering Good Friday service will grab your heart at 7 p.m.  Easter and a grand celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is incomplete without a proper perspective as to what happened on a very cruel cross.  Please invite a friend to share this.

And on Easter Sunday… we’ll have a grand celebration of dance, spoken word, choir, rockin’ music, baptisms, and a message of life and hope from Mark  6:30-44.  Begin praying about whom God can bring along with you for a very special Sunday.

I hope you understand my heart here.  I trust you see why this is such a great season at CCC to take full and absolute advantage of.  Your soul and the lives of those around you will be nurtured.  You’ll remember this season for a very long time.

Blessings,

FIA Weekly Giving | 03/17/13

$14,034.02

Weekly Need $29,000.00

I went the entire Winter without getting sick.  In spite of hearty hand-shakes and high-fiving our Cumberland knee nippers, I avoided the crud so many fought.  I attribute my virus avoidance to my voodoo smoothie Sherry and I drink every morning.  You don’t WANT to know what’s in that thaang!

Now Spring is springing, and I caught my first cold.  What’s up with that?  Tis the season for pollen, hayfever, allergens, and a definite needed tweak to my smoothie.

I love the Spring season, I just can’t afford the Kleenex I go through in a week’s time.  Ugh.

I DO love the season we’re in at Cumberland.  This Sunday is our much-anticipated F.I.A. Sunday.  We’ll be doing a makeover at Belmont Hills Elementary School.  Several churches are joining us, and the CCC registrations look strong.  Way to go.

Here’s a brief note from our head FIA director, Chris Ruetlinger:  “Thanks so much for volunteering your time this Sunday. God will use each of us to transform Belmont Hills Elementary School.  Click here to see our website and find information such as volunteer assignments, schedule of events, directions to the school, where to park and other pertinent stuff.  I look forward to seeing all of you at 8 AM on Sunday morning at Belmont Hills.  Peace!”

(PARENTS OF LITTLE ONES:  Nursery care at the church during FIA is provided for babies 0-2 years old.)

 But this is just the beginning of a great season at CCC.  On Palm Sunday (March 24), David Zauber, from Jewish Believers In Jesus, will speak and unfold the tremendous insights attached to Passover.  You’ll want to bring a friend to this one!  Then in the afternoon on that same day… March 24^th… our church will be set up like a Calcutta slum as you’ll have the opportunity through Tabitha’s Heart Ministries to experience a day in the life of a slum child.  Please RSVP to Jen Overly (jenoverly@cumberlandchurch.org) if you are coming.

As if this wasn’t enough for this great season… we’re doing a 24/7 week of prayer during holy week.  Our prayers stations will be amaaaaazing.  Have you signed up yet?  Click here!

THEN…  Our very somber and awakening Good Friday service will unfold at 7 p.m..  This is a very special service to keep our Easter holiday in it’s proper perspective.  I count this one as an absolute must for Jesus followers.

ALL OF THIS… leads us up to Easter.  What a tremendous morning we have planned.  Will you make some definitive invites for this very special day?

TIS THE SEASON.  I hope you’re all in.  I don’t use massive amounts of Kleenex and hyper links for nothing!  Have a very blessed, 70-degree Friday.  Get out there… but drink your smoothie first.

Blessings!

Weekly Giving | 03/10/13

$36,090.17

Weekly Need $29,000.00

Friday morning riddle:  How do you try not talking about something, but intentionally make sure your point is clearly understood?

My wide-eyed, blonde-haired, blissfully innocent, 11-year-old son came home with a purple paper a few weeks back.  The paper went under the radar for several days… perhaps even weeks.  It was a dated purple paper requiring signatures of both parents.  Sherry discovered it in Michael’s folder a day or two before the deadline.

It was the 5^th grade boy’s health class announcement of THE talk.  THAT was the purple paper.  Kids at Cheatham Hill Elementary School would face the nemesis of the purple paper only with authenticated signatures of parents.  No wonder Michael was avoiding and burying the purple paper.  For a 5^th grade boy, the purple paper was the equivalent to a Presidential edict making all rising 6^th graders commit to weekly asparagus.   Sherry and I were left smiling… a lot… to cover up our internal laughter.

Finally, on the night before the purple paper was due, Michael kissed his sweet mother good night.  Just before Sherry closed the door on his bedroom, Michael whispered, “Please, please, please… don’t sign the purple paper.”   He wanted to NOT talk about something while intentionally making sure his point was clearly understood.  I still smile.

On Sunday we’ll finish out our 4-week “Haplotes” series.  We’ve taken a diversion from our study in Mark to explore generosity.  I’ve intentionally tried NOT talking about just money, while the point of generosity is understood.  Of course, money is included in the topic and was one of Jesus’ most often-used bullet points.  BUT… there’s so much more going on in our study of II Corinthians 8 & 9 than just your wallet.

I believe CCC gets this.  My prayer is that this series has and will be a source of encouragement.  We have been given much as individuals and definitely as a church.  God expects our generosity.  When you’ve experienced His love like we have, you can’t help but be generous.

Take an advanced look ahead to II Corinthians 9:15.  It’s the very last verse of this two-chapter-long section on generosity.  There’s no purple paper to avoid here.  There’s simply and powerfully an Indescribable Gift.  Let’s gather and worship and celebrate on Sunday.  Bring a friend.  I’m excited to teach.

Blessings,

Have you signed up for CCC 101?  Click here.

And… do you have your time slots nailed down for our  upcoming 24/7 holy week of prayer?  Click here.

DON’T FORGET DAYLIGHTS SAVINGS THIS WEEKEND! MOVE THEM CLOCKS UP ONE HOUR. UGH.

Weekly Giving | 03/3/13

$46,346.84

Weekly Need $29,000.00