Rough Places

We think that just because we go through a hard time we have come under divine judgment. Think about how some folks say that when something bad happens it is always judgment from God. Hurricanes and such in New Orleans were the judgment for sin, yet the floods in Iowa were a tragedy. The basic difference is that we open our eyes with glasses on them each day. Those glasses color our perceptions and cause us to find fault in others that cause them to have judgment come. Have we ever thought for one minute that our views of judging others is not shared by God, but rather by The Evil One.

Judgment does come, but that is not from God it is from the one that wishes to destroy. Judgment as declared by most is about the condemnation of individuals and groups rather than the conviction of them by the Holy Spirit to change. The condemnation is what is used to cause confusion and division in such a way as to attempt thwarting the intent of God.

So how do we begin to deal with the difficulties that lay ahead for each of us? First, we need to be in a community that is committed to being there for one another in a faith that sustains and grows us to new levels. That means being willing to understand our need for others as instruments of God to support and encourage us on our way.

1 Peter 4:12 says: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

So many get confused because the do not understand what is happening in their lives or their communities. They see every bump as something that is a reason to give up, or surrender. Carl Nelson has said, “You cannot climb the mountain if there are not rough places.” Use each difficulty as a learning experience that can help you learn to deal with things in a spiritual manner. Our only enemies are those that try to keep us limited in our growth with God. Our enemies are spirits that try to hijack the intent and purpose we have and make ours sorrows and difficulties the focus rather than the problem solver the focus.

Paul wrote: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

If we understand that achieving anything of significance is going to take a toll we will be as Paul. We will stand firmly as we allow God to fight the battles we face. Too often we think that it is our battle to fight, when we are just the person who needs to stand in the gap.

This week I pray that you know the promise and power of God as you move into the future. Remember to use those rough places as a way to leverage yourself to a higher place!

Blessings,
Pastor Greg

A Sneak Peak

We are about to announce our first worship date in the new facility. In the mean time, here's a sneak peak for all of you who faithfully ask to see it. See why I'm excited now?

I'm Officially Excited!

For those of you who were at church this week, you heard me say "I'm officially excited!" We've been in the renovation process on our new church for several months now. I've stayed away from the work site as much as possible (due to work and harmony). On Saturday night, I went inside for the first time with the chairs set in place, the stage lights on and J.R. (our technical engineer) playing with the systems. The new place is simply amazing. It's classy, comfortable and big enough for the entire family. The best part, however, is that although we can't fill the seats now, we finally have room to grow. We've seen so many people leave our parking lot because of parking issues. We've heard so many people say that they couldn't bring themselves to come in because it was too crowded. Now, all these issues have been resolved. No excuses, just a great place to worship, gather and love.

Amazed

I'm constantly amazed by God's grace and goodness. No matter where I've been in life, I've always been given the privilege of knowing my God. The past few months have known tumult and turbulence for many people. Even in this perceived chaos, the Holy Spirit has expounded strength, freedom, unity and, most unexpectedly, peace amongst the many.

I think it's interesting that, at the eye of a hurricane or a tornado is where it's the most calm. It's like this with God's Eye too.

When we allow God's eye to be at the focus of our own personal hurricane, even though all around us is chaos, we are able to have a calm and peace that is only capable through the power and focus of God's Holy Spirit.

We're Going Interactive

Find out more this Fall! Check out www.covenantofthecross.com.

Looking For A Miracle.

I came to Nashville Tennessee in the winter of 2005. And as a young Afro-American woman, new to the city, it was important for me and my family to find a church home that was diverse in preaching, teaching, worship and people. And to add to the challenge a church home that was truly Affirming. Now i know what you are thinking. I was looking for the impossible. I guess in a sense i was . I had always grown up, and even in my adulthood, after i had committed my life to Jesus Christ, attended churches that were completely Afro-American so that was not what i wanted. On the other hand i didn't want to attend a church that was completely Caucasian either. It has always bothered me to see how this country, that has come so far, by the heroic efforts of individuals such as Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X and Virginia Durr to end racism and segregation but, still has not found a way to end the segregation that's occurring in our churches among the family of God. So i longed for something different. Something that was more of an example of the type of unity Jesus Christ prayed for in His final prayer for all Christians. Jhn 17:20-21......that they all may be One, as you Father are in Me and I in You; that they also be One in Us. I guess it was not the impossible i was looking for but rather a miracle. I must be honest when i first attended Covenant of Cross i was skeptical. I wasn't sure this was what i had been looking for. In alot of ways it met the standards i set but i still wasn't sure. But i continued to attend and worship, fellowship and serve until something began to happen. I started to realize that while i said in my mind that i wanted diversity and unity in the family of God, my heart was still stuck in the frame work of segregation that i had become accustomed to. And it was only through the growing unity, diversity love and acceptance that i experience week after week at Covenant, that brought me to that realization and began breaking down the walls of doubt, guilt, and fear of change built brick by brick through years of hurt disappointment, sin and shame. I had found my miracle.So how would i describe Covenant of the Cross? Its a diverse Affirming Church that has its door open and arms wide for sinners and saints, men and women, gay, and straight, lost and found, broken and whole, Afro-American and Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian. There's room for all at Covenant of the Cross.

I Believe in God?

Over the years, we have seen many images of God in Movies. Dogma presented Alanis Morissette as God. In The Rapture, the image of God is not a visual or loving one, but rather intellectual and judging. In Evan Almighty, Morgan Freeman images a God that is personal, humorous, and relentless. In Oh, God!, George Burns gives us a gentle, funny and encouraging God that admits making mistakes. There are many other images that are presented in American films about what God looks and acts like.

Many have a difficulty seeing God as both personal and all-powerful. We cannot fathom a God that transcends our limited, even jaded, perceptions. Sometimes we limit God because we so desire independence and lack of accountability. Sometimes we limit God because of our usual way of dealing with the world. In short, we have an intellectual assent that there is A GOD somewhere out in never land.

If, as Margaret Guenther states in The Practice of Prayer, that: “Our spirituality is not what we PROFESS to believe, but how we order our loves” then our creeds define our lives and how we behave. I emphasized profess in that last sentence because we say a lot of things that do not play out in how we live. That is why a Creed is important as it defines life and the way we intend to live.

We all have beliefs so we all have a creed. The first paragraph of the Apostle’s Creed reads: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” This Christian Creed gets to be specific about some things that believed about God.

The claim of the Faith is that there are knowable attributes to God. First, that there is a particular God that exists, not just one of a pantheon. This statement is one that challenges many due to the gauntlet nature that it presents. It argues against intellectual assent and for a personal decision that involves the entire being that you are.

The above paragraph from the Creed also illuminates some elements of God’s personhood that are important. Creator is easy, but it is important to see the almighty and father aspects as well. Without these aspects, God would become a cardboard cutout. Perhaps that is what we want a God that is just easy on us, or is always controlling or just creates and leaves us alone. Yet, a one or two-dimensional God would leave us wanting more. We already want to feel more and yet the reason we do not feel is our senses, not a lack of personality and ability upon Gods part.

Whatever your faith, you need something on which you can hang your hat. A definitive statement that defines who God is, that outlines Gods abilities and relationship with you and the world around you. Fight against the urge to pick from only the dessert menu of what you want God to be.

Blessings,
Pastor Greg