Pastoral Notes for Sunday, September 29, 2019

Reverend Ben Griffith’s Installation Service

On the behalf of the Nashville Presbytery and the Session of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, you are cordially invited to attend Rev. Ben Griffith’s Installation Service tonight in the chapel at 6pm with a church-wide fellowship to follow. Please make plans to attend this beautiful service of celebration as we rejoice in God’s kind provision of Rev. Ben Griffith.

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry…”—Ephesians 4:11-12

“So I exhort you elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the suffering of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”—1 Peter 5:1-4

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, September 8, 2019

“My heart is heavy. My mind is a blur. I can’t really feel anything until all the sudden I feel everything and then break down. I’m not really sure why I’m here. I just need help.”

I penned those words in the notes of my first counseling session. The man who had come to me for help was riddled with depression brought on by a series of traumatic events extending back to childhood. He’d reached a breaking point in his life. You could literally see the pain on his face; it was as if he was wearing it. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes darkened, his appearance disheveled.

Though you wouldn’t think so, this was the look of a man on the cusp of radical transformation. Over the course of the next couple of months, his posture changed, his eyes brightened, and he began tucking in his shirt. In saying that, I don’t mean to suggest, of course, that he was doing anything sinful by slouching or not tucking in his shirt, but, in this case, the fact that these things changed was evidence of a bigger, deeper change. This man was finding renewal in the power of the gospel.

That man would become to me an example. An example I would need to remember when I had my own bout with depression years later. It was fairly low-grade as far as depression goes, but for someone who is typically glass-half-full about life, it was deeply unsettling. Mental fog descended into my psyche. Impatience and frustration replaced kindness and empathy in family and ministry difficulties. Emotional scars that I thought were long gone resurfaced and haunted my thoughts.

Though I’m not sure it was noticeable outwardly, it was inescapable inwardly—I needed help. I needed friends to cry with, counselors to speak with, and pastors to care for my soul. I needed someone to serve me the medicine that I had served others but was unable to receive from myself. Hear me when I say this: I couldn’t do it myself. Even though I knew the answers, I couldn’t “hear” the answers from myself, for myself. I needed someone else to minister them to me. Only then could I be helped.

Take a moment this morning to look around the sanctuary. Many of those around you are suffering in silent. If you’re one of those, take heart. You’re not alone. You’ve come to the right place. Open your heart to the ministry of the gospel today in worship. Fill out a prayer card. Approach a pastor or elder for help. If by grace, you’re walking in a season of spiritual encouragement, give thanks and minister to those around you. Listen for the heartaches and needs in conversations. Pray with and for those around you. If appropriate, remind them of gospel promises. In every way, serve the medicine of grace today.

For if history holds true, you’ll need them to do the same to you very soon.

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, September 1, 2019

“Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12

For most of human history, there was no clock. No big or small hand to mark the hours and minutes. No bright digits identifying the time of the day. For most of human history, people looked to the heavens. They paid attention to the sunrise and sunset. Throughout the day, they paid attention to the sun as it made its daily trek across the sky. They were ordered by the rhythms of creation.

With the invention of the mechanical clock, time began to be measured more precisely. Small units of time framed the day. The day was scheduled by the hour, and so rather than looking to the heavens, we had to check that circle on the wall or on our wrist to get our bearings.

In many ways, the clock made life more efficient and orderly. With the measurement of hours, minutes, and seconds, the trains could literally run on time. We could be specific about when and where to be and when things started and ended. The clock helped set firmer boundaries for the ordering of life.

At the same time, the clock also made life more rigid. With time being organized into smaller units of measurement, we began to calendar our days in smaller increments. We tried to fit more and more into the days time slots. In a word, we began to order our lives according to the clock rather than the heavens.

It wasn’t long before we began to feel the pressure of the tick-tock. Time management systems arose, and we began to speak of time in economic terms like, “Time is our most valuable asset” or “We need to save time” or “We need to spend time wisely.”

Interestingly, the more detailed we became about measuring time, the more we tried to manage time, the more we tried to fit into our schedules, and the more we felt like we didn’t have enough of time. We began to say things like, “There just aren’t enough hours in a day.”

Now, let’s pause and think about that statement for a moment. Do we really think that God made days too short? Do we really think that what we have to do is so important that it requires a longer day than the one God supplies? Of course we don’t mean it in that way, but that’s the implication.

It has been argued that God created time and placed human beings within time as an ongoing reminder that He’s the Creator and we are creatures. If we think we need more time than He’s given, we’re actually kicking against the fact that we’re creatures and not the Creator. We’re rebelling against the constraints of not being in charge. 

God has given you and I and everyone in the world the same amount of time in the day, and as far as I can tell, that’s not going to change any time soon. What could change, however, is how we think about time, how we talk about time, and how we experience time. In other words, we could once again “look to the heavens” and learn how to redeem time for the purposes God intended (Ephesians 5:16).

Join us on Wednesday nights this fall for a topical series entitled, Redeeming Time. Starting on September 11th, we will explore fascinating Biblical topics such as the creation of time, the ordering of time, and the relationship of time and eternity alongside practical subjects like the rhythm of work and rest, calendaring margin, and learning to enjoy your limited time as a gift from God.

Can you think of a better way to redeem the time than to spend Wednesday nights with the Cornerstone family? Let’s take some time to talk about time and learn how to redeem the time God has given us.

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, August 25, 2019

We announced a month ago that the elders extended a call to Rev. Ben Griffith to be an Assistant Pastor at Cornerstone. As you might imagine, Ben and his wife, Rebecca, have been busy making all the necessary preparations for the big move to Franklin—selling a home, buying a home, packing, registering for school, etc. Thankfully, if all goes according to plan, the preparation to move stage will end this week. Lord willing, the Griffith’s will close on their house in Franklin and move this week!

 As they take this big step, continue praying for them. Pray practically for the details of the closing and move to go smooth. But more importantly, pray for their hearts. They are leaving a sweet community in Hattiesburg, MS, and it’s hard to say so many tearful goodbyes and turn around and say many excited hellos. Pray especially for their sweet children—Margaret (10), Owen (8), and Elizabeth “Libby” (5). They will see Franklin and their new home for the first time this week! Pray their first few days in Franklin are filled with surprising joys and new anticipations.

Thanks to the many of you who have asked what you can do to welcome the Griffith’s to Franklin and Cornerstone. My wife, Christy, has pulled together a team of folks that are preparing meals and helping care for the needs of the Griffith’s during the transition. If you are interested in being included in some way, feel free to drop Christy a line at cjshurden@yahoo.com.

As we prepare for Ben to join the pastoral staff, it’s appropriate to ask the question, “What exactly will Ben be doing?” Like Tony and I, Ben’s first and primary responsibility will be to care for the flock of God at Cornerstone. He will spend the majority of his time ministering the ordinary means of grace—teaching, preaching, leading, and discipling the congregation at large. Ben will spend a smaller, more concentrated portion of his time serving our youth ministry, primarily through equipping and training volunteers, ministering to families, and teaching on Wednesday nights.

One of the many things that drew us to Ben was his desire and gifting to work with the whole church in a variety of different capacities. You will see Ben in the pulpit, behind the lectern, in a small group, at a hospital bedside, across the table at Merridee’s, and just about everywhere in between. He strives to be a pastor who serves God’s people according to the priorities of the Bible, believing that happens most effectively when the shepherd is with the sheep. I am personally delighted at Ben’s eagerness to get-to-know you and throw himself into the work of ministry at Cornerstone, so that we might further our mission: “To glorify God in the gospel together as disciples who make disciples.”