"For I Know the Plans..."

From Jamie Blankenship, Reflections on the flood...and the recovery...

We each have our flood story, in some way, this event impacted all of us. So, why did it happen? Was a dark force at work that day? Or was it God?

When I first saw the flood damage, I winced, heaved a sigh, and a “Really? Again?” It is sad that my life experience had brought me to a place where I knew exactly what to do to extract the water, what to throw away and what to dry, how to remove baseboard and sheetrock… I began to wonder if God was training me for a career in water damage restoration. But I never once thought this was something the devil did to me.

I firmly believe that God is always in control.

But why, God? Why?

Yes, I didn’t know – and when you don’t know stuff– you pray. Then, you go chin up and shoulders back. You fake confidence and take baby steps to go forward one day at a time.

But then I got sick. Some nasty virus that drained my energy, stole my voice and wore me down. And it just went on and on, with no relief.

At this point, I was falling behind in every aspect of life. I was letting people down. They were letting me know this, too…I “dropped my basket,” family terminology for breaking.

This involved hosting myself a big pity party, recounting everything unlovable about me and believing that I deserved every bit of misfortune that had come my way. I am an unruly child of God. I sin. God should punish me. Insert sobbing. I was a blubbering blob. Not an attractive look.

In God’s view, a blubbering blob is probably pretty good. He can easily shape a pliable blob. Once you are in a “malleable” state, the Master can really work.

In hindsight, I see the bigger picture. I don’t think God was punishing me. He was preparing me.

See, without pressing the pride right out of me and reducing me to a blubbering blob, I wouldn’t have been prepared. I would not have been able to accept the help offered until I was in a place where I really believed I couldn’t do it by myself. People, it took a lot of pressing to get that belief out of my bones.

I don’t really believe God punishes people. I do believe He disciplines us. Discipline is a process. Discipline teaches and refines with the goal of making us better. I believe God uses discipline to transform us into the servants we need to be to carry out His plans.

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.
"They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

The mission this weekend was incredible. Not just because a whole bunch of stuff at my house was fixed –that is incredible- but because we could see the hands of God working. Not just literally raking leaves and laying tile, but changing lives.

So many people were instruments of restoring lost hope and providing a glimpse into the future that God has promised. New relationships were born, deeper relationships were grown. God’s love was abundant. I believe everyone that participated knows for sure we were where God wanted us that day. I don’t believe there is anything more powerful than knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be.

Was the mission this weekend from God? There is no doubt.

Could it have happened without the flood? No.

Is His plan always perfect? Yes.

Grace & Peace,
Jamie Blankenship

Now, That's Awesome

I’ve been thinking about young people a lot recently. Keep in mind that my hands-on experience is limited so if my observations neglect to mention the horrors of raising children, feel free to laugh out loud at my ignorance.

This past weekend was awesome. A friend asked recently if there was an age at which the word “awesome” becomes inappropriate. My answer, not if you go to SOTH. This is a House where the Pastor has actually been heard to say “whoot, whoot.”

Friday night at SOTH, I saw one of the most amazing, moving things I’ve seen in a very long time. I saw more than a dozen kids (ahem, some older than others: Cindy, Tracey, Andrea, Lynn) rocking out! Anyway, these kids were lined up in front of the altar, singing, dancing, and touching with more abandon than I’ve ever seen at any concert ever. My immediate thought “now THAT is the future of our Church.” These kids LOVE God, each other, and us. Wow. Now that indeed is awesome!

If ever I needed reminding that I can trust in God for all things, it’s been in the last 4 months. Those kids were only the icing on the reminders I got last week. Funny how the minute you actually let go of things you can’t control anyway and trust, grace happens.

Our youth, our family – that’s love, that’s grace. I’ve heard it takes a village. What it really takes is a Church.

Peace --- Joy Shaver, SOTH UMC Prayer Ministry

Pre-Sunday November 22

This week's Pre-Sunday Event is LIVE! Check it out!

http://www.youversion.com/groups/sothumc

Your help this week will actually help outline a series I am starting this Sunday called "Our God is a God of ___________." YOU fill in the blank at YouVersion!

It's Raining Men, Hallelujah

At my house today it is raining men.

It started sprinkling earlier this week, and before Sunday, I am anticipating a downpour…I know, I need to explain!

Recently, in the September flooding my house was damaged. It wasn’t devastating. We didn’t lose anything we couldn’t live without. Our house was still pretty much liveable. A little unstable, but liveable… As I described it, it was just going to take some work…and since there was no insurance or FEMA funds (they said I had “insufficient damage” to qualify) it was also going to take money…and time.

Since I am a team of one, this flood really was overwhelming. Discouraging. I used all my energy and strength to remove the damaged stuff and try to save the crazy carpet. I did get some help from my dad…he helped me take everything to the dump, and started working on cutting up the fallen trees. I had just decided to work on it bit by bit as I saved for the materials to replace the damaged drywall and gathered ideas on how to replace the damaged sunroom supports…

During this time, many people in my area were facing the same situation, or worse. My pastor (Shepherd of the Hills UMC) kept asking me if we were ok, and what our damage was…I always gave a funny or sarcastic remark and never got into the details. Finally, he said, look this is what is happening. I served as an associate Pastor at a church in August that has a Disaster Relief Ministry…they have trailers of tools and a teams of workers. (Wesley UMC, Augusta, GA) They want to come here. And, quite honestly, I don’t really know what to do with them. But they told me to get it figured out because they were coming.

We need to come to your house, so, you have three weeks to get ok with accepting this. Oh, and by the way, we have a goal of raising $10,000.00 for this project-repairing 4 flooded homes completely. We are already half way there and I am confident the rest will come.

That was three weeks ago. I am almost there. See, I don’t like taking help. Especially when it is something I can do…of course, I can do everything. And I am sort of a control freak. I don’t really think I am, but I do solidly believe I am always right and my way is best…and that is sort of the same difference, right?

And, I don’t hire people to work on my house. I figure out how to do it and do it myself. One, I save money. Two, I do it my way. Three, no creepy guys in my space. And, I don’t have to clean the house for company.

But, on last Saturday when the “Scotts” Scott Samples and Scott Buchanan came to my house to see what needed to be done, I got really excited. I couldn’t imagine TEAMS of people working on my house. Since then, I have been preparing – also know as – PRAYING for me to accept this blessing and for the people helping me to be blessed. Prayer is really all I can offer them.

Wednesday, as soon as it stopped raining, two men from our church, Wendell Felch and John Ellison came to my house and began preparing and working on some of the projects. These men are so dedicated!! Did I mention their combined ages equal 156? I hope I live so long and can keep serving others as faithfully as they do!

Today, more men have appeared to work! And Saturday, there will be even more. I am so thankful to God for this, even though I am not completely convinced that I “deserve” it or “need” it, I have such an overwhelming sense of relief. A weight has been lifted. And it is so awesome to see the love of Christ pouring out through all the hands of the people serving in this ministry. This gift is so beautiful in so many ways!

I have tried to tell everyone about this amazing gift, at least this week. (Yes, it really has taken some time to come to terms with it, understand it, and embrace it.) And, I actually was telling this story to a man in Macon, Georgia, that was familiar with this ministry of disaster relief – his life had been touched through it as well after tornadoes went through their town…how cool is that?

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Psalm 105:1

Enough writing, I need to go pitch in- but I wanted to take a moment to share this miracle in my life. I am so thankful. God is so Great.

Grace & Peace --

Jamie

Jamie Blankenship, LRE (Listening, Relating, Encouraging Ministry) Leader

A Special Challenge

Dear SOTH Family,

I am sending this e-mail as a long time member of a church that I am proud to call home. I am so excited about our Grace of Giving Banquet this Friday night.

I have seen this church go through many ups and downs since our first pastor, and I am very happy to still be a member of this church. We have a wonderful Pastor with a great family who truly has God at the center of his heart and family.

We have so many wonderful new things happening at Shepherd of the Hills, and if you have been at church over the last couple of months, you have seen the programs we are celebrating.

Our Children's Ministry is growing, our women's group is awesome, the prayer team is strong and getting stronger, LRE is going great, we have a wonderful youth director and great youth group, our outreach team and outreach services in the community are phenomenal.

We have learned much from PEM on how we need to direct each of our committees, groups and ministries that support our church. We have been putting those lessons into action, and it all starts with Prayer.

So, here is my challenge to all of you as it was to Jim and myself.

Let's make this year be the best ever in the life of our church! Let's turn the corner so to speak.

Jim and I have always given to the church but after going through some training as a member of the finance team and after much discussion and prayer between us, we have decided to put in to action what we have always known and should be doing.

We are putting our FAITH in GOD when it comes to Tithing. We are just trusting God that we will be able to pay all the bills, but his has to be first this year, and we have to commit.

If we all Tithe on Friday night whether it is $10.00 a year or $10,000 a year, this will help our church put the budget together to make even more changes in our programs and outreach services to make disciples for Christ.

If you are not involved or connected in some way, get involved.

Don't wait for someone to come to you and ask for help, volunteer and say where do you need me! We have many opportunities at SOTH just open your eyes and your heart and look around. God is in the center of this church, and I am very excited.

I hope I will get to see you all on Friday night and you will bring your cards to pledge with you. Let's celebrate Shepherd of the Hills UMC and all the wonderful Blessings God has given us!

I am proud to call you all my brothers and sisters in Christ.

In His Service,
Cindi Bartlett

YouVersion Live

Every week from Wednesday at 12:00pm until Sunday at 4:00pm, you can help supplement the talk I give to the youth the coming Sunday. Its easy! Just click on this link, then click "Enter This Event." From there, you can answer questions, take polls, read Scripture, and leave prayer requests.

Everything is anonymous, so you can answer the questions as honestly as you care to!

Go ahead and bookmark the link so you can return to it every week the youth meets!

Participation the two weeks I have done this so far has been PHENOMENAL! We've averaged 35 participants each week with an age range of 16 through 62! Keep it coming, guys! Your input on the Pre-Sunday events is being utilized in powerful ways on Sunday nights!

And, hey, if you arent doing anything on Sunday evening between the hours of 5:30pm and 8:00pm, you can even jump in on the actual Sunday event LIVE and see what additional pieces of Scripture, notes, and whatnot Im using to teach that night.

Did you miss last Sunday? Its not too late! Just head to our YouVersion page (via the link above) and click the "Events" button on the right hand side and click on the "Past" tab to visit (or re-visit) the lessons from weeks gone by!

Its all free. You dont have to sign-up for anything to participate. And it helps in a huge way!

Thanks!

I Know that Church...

I am fortunate to be one of the many people that are helping with the upcoming "Grace of Giving" celebration banquet.

We were looking for entertainment and I contacted a husband and wife team from Carrollton that has a small business booking Christian artist throughout the country.

While I was speaking with one of the owners, Mark, I mentioned that it was for Shepherd of the Hills in Douglas County. He stated "I know that church, it is on the corner of Chapel Hill and Anneewakee".

The next day I met with Mark and he was telling me that when he informed his wife that they are working with Shepherd of the Hills, she stated "I know that church, it is across from that new Publix." She would not have known any other church in Douglas County, but she knew that one.

That got me thinking, on a few occasions I have had the opportunity to help out at The Pantry. When speaking with other volunteers and staff, they will usually ask which church are you from. When I reply "Shepherd of the Hills" they will say "I know that church, they are here often".

There is a community not far from the church building that the Community and Congregational Care team works with during the summer, you can bet that they say "I know that church" whenever they hear Shepherd of the Hills.

After the recent flooding, we met a roofer that lost everything to the floods. After I sent a letter to the church asking if they could help, the Women of SOTH didn’t hesitate to start a collection and wrote a check to help meet that family’s, along with others, immediate needs. They also provided guidance on where to obtain other help. Those families are now saying "I know that church, they were there when we needed help".

Families in neighborhoods and communities all around are saying "We know that church" whenever they hear Shepherd of the Hills, because of the people involved with the LRE ministry that is reaching out to them with love.

A director for the company I work for lives in Cumming. We were talking some time back and I mentioned that I attend Shepherd of the Hills. He stated "I know that church; my mother-in-law from Florida saw a news report about "Baby Nora" and wanted to give a donation." Not only does a lady in Florida know that church, but a family in Iraq, an army unit serving our country and many others can say "I know that church".

I guess my point is, when Mark and his wife said they know that church, they were speaking of the building. If they are able to join us on Friday night, I know that on Saturday morning that if someone mentions Shepherd of the Hills, they will say "We know that church and we worshiped with that church in the building on the corner of Chapel Hill and Anneewakee, across from Publix". They will also say, 'that building cannot hold that church, her ministries are moving out to the communities and beyond. We were there to witness the bar being raised and saw how they celebrate what Paul calls "The Grace of Giving"

Thank you for being that church.

Grace, Peace, and see you there Friday night --- or on the work sites we take on this weekend!

Randy Baskin
Chair, SOTH Finance Team

Veterans

Today is Veterans’ Day.

This is one of the occasions when many of us take time to reflect on our own service - who we were then and what it meant to be a solider. I like to go to the American Legion and listen to old warriors tell their stories and tell me they never met a “lady” paratrooper.

I once had the honor of escorting a WWII veteran during a reunion of the 82d Airborne Division. He wanted to know how many jumps I had, a common question. I gave my answer with great bravado and pride and he replied “I have 5… but they were all combat jumps.” It was 1986 and not many soldiers as young as I had ever jumped into live combat. I laughed and kissed him on the cheek and told him I was glad he was there. I never did make a combat jump. Desert Storm came and went and we declared victory and I came home safely, relatively unscathed.

It makes me think of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces today. They are dedicated, loyal, fierce, and brave. Sometimes they feel invincible. Sometimes they are afraid. They are, each and every one of them, ready, willing and able to make the ultimate sacrifice should duty require that of them. I’d rather that these fine warriors never be required to sacrifice so much.

Please thank a vet today but, more importantly, pause and, in whatever way you chose, honor tomorrow’s veterans as well. Personally, I’m praying they’ll all come home to tell stories.

Joy Shaver, SOTH UMC Prayer ministry leader

Radical

Luke 2 NIV

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

What does it take to be obedient?

It takes radical trust.

Right now, SOTH is challenging its members to embrace radical trust of God. This Friday night, folks from our church will make their financial pledges for 2010. Those pledges will support staff and facility and supplies and commitments that we have made to ministries around the world. The money will allow us to more perfectly fulfill our mission...making disciples.

For the last 6 weeks, we've spoken of "The Grace of Giving." It's God's grace that changes the world when we give anything freely to his Kingdom.

It's also God's grace that changes us within when we engage in trust and radical obedience by giving away what we've worked hard to obtain.

We're utterly dependent on God.

But most of the time, we try not to admit it. Giving changes all that.

Mary gave herself in the most incredible way. Nothing was held back. She was at personal risk. Her life was changing forever. The message seemed beyond improbably. She rightly points out that what Gabriel told her wasn't even possible.

But, "nothing is impossible with God." Nothing is impossible...if we are courageous...if we trust...if we give...if we are dependent.

It's a radical, counter-cultural act to give. It's radical not to hold back. It's radical to trust. Pray that God may give us that radical obedience.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Links!

Hello, SOTH family! I trust you are all having a great week. Some things I hope will brighten your day whether its going well or not:

1) I have finished uploading pictures and a couple of videos to the church's Flickr account for both the Berry Halloween Bash and Trunk or Treat! Just click here and you should be directed to that page promptly.

2) Last week I posted a link to the SOTH Youth's YouVersion page and asked you all to log on and participate in the construction of the talk for the coming Sunday. 45 OF YOU DID JUST THAT! Thank you so much for participating! Wow, we had users ranging from age 16 to age 52. That is an incredible range that I am quite proud of! You all made that possible.

Just to be fair (in case you are not aware) you can click here to see how I used that information in Sunday's talk. You will be able to do so every week starting at 5:30pm the Sunday I am giving the talk at youth.

The Pre-Sunday events will also be a weekly occurrence, and the newest one is up! So please check the following link out and actively participate in the youth group!

http://www.youversion.com/groups/sothumc

You can use the link above to access not only the events that are LIVE each week (the Pre-Sunday events are live from Wednesday at 12pm til Sunday at 4pm and the actual Sunday events are live from 5:30pm to 8:00pm), but you can navigate to past events and check them out by clicking on the "Events" button on the right hand side and choosing the "Past" tab.

Thank you all so much for being a part of the youth ministry!