Pastoral Notes for Sunday, October 6, 2019

First of all, what a treat it was to gather last Saturday for the fall Cornerstone picnic. Though the temperature wasn’t quite as cool as we hoped, the food was delicious, the kids had a blast, and the fellowship was sweet. A BIG “thank you” to our Hospitality Team for their hard work, especially Missy Chapman and Sharon Haney! We couldn’t have done it without your faithful labors.

Then, on Sunday, after a glorious morning of worship, we closed the Lord’s Day with Rev. Ben Griffith’s installation service. And what a great celebration it was! Rev. Matt Bradley from All Saints Presbyterian Church in Brentwood and Rev. Casey Cramer from Christ Community Church in Franklin delivered wise and tender charges to the Session of Cornerstone and to Rev. Ben Griffith respectively. It was also a delight it to have Rev. Brian Phillips from Parish Presbyterian Church and Rev. Vinny Athey, RUF at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, serve on the commission. (Vinny is Ben Griffith’s brother in law!)  

And, how about that reception? I told you it was going to be good. Christy Shurden and a host of Cornerstone ladies outdid themselves, which is saying something. They certainly pulled together quite the feast. David Steffens and our deacons were all hands on deck, making sure the tent was up, lights were strung, and the grounds were in good order for the festivities. Thanks to all of you! You’re the best. You really are.

Seeing you all under the tent with the cascading glow of light spilling over the grounds, listening to the squeals of children playing, and the laughter of saints enjoying true fellowship around a feast for the ages was a vision for me—a vision of what the church is to be about. Apparently, I wasn’t alone in that thought. A number of you have said that the installation service and reception was one of the most spiritually edifying events you’ve ever been a part of in a long time. Indeed it was; a real glimpse into the glory the church is destined for, a true foretaste of our future life together before the throne of grace.

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.