Pastor’s Blog @ Covenant UMC

Have you ever been distracted? I know…some of you are saying, “Hays, I am only distracted when you preach!” Thanks so much. We all get distracted from time to time.

Mary and Martha had one such encounter. Jesus entered their dwelling and Mary immediately sat at the feet of Jesus and Martha was busy preparing the house for Jesus. Martha simply wasn’t being with Jesus. She wasn’t a bad person, she wasn’t sinning. But Martha was distracted from noticing and basking in Jesus’ presence, and becomes worried and upset by many things. Not defiant. Not hate-filled. Not rebellious. Just distracted, worried, upset.

Jesus says, “Mary has chosen what is better.” What Jesus is saying in effect, “The truth is, Martha, the real banquet going on here is the one I want to serve you.” Jesus wasn’t judging Martha…He was inviting her to come to the table!

We all can get distracted, can’t we? Jesus invites us to His table. When you are feeling overwhelmed and distracted by the world, come to the table of Jesus. Don’t get distracted by the preparations for life which we call, worry. Coming to the table of Jesus means recognizing that He is present here and now, and we don’t have to pretend that we have all the answers!

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

Have you ever been interrupted? Interruptions can become little irritations in our lives if we aren’t careful. Interruptions, as frustrating as they might seem, can lead us and guide us in a new direction!

Think about it…Jesus’ whole life, his whole ministry, was interruptions one after another. He is on his way to teach and some guy stops and says his daughter’s really sick. Could Jesus come and heal her? On his way back, a Roman centurion says his servant is really sick. Could Jesus come? “You don’t even need to come, Jesus…just say the word and he’ll be fine!” Then a blind guy interrupts his day. Then a leper interrupts his day. Little children interrupts his day. Jesus is hanging on the cross and a guy goes, “Excuse me…you got a minute?”

His whole ministry was a series of interruptions - which shows me that if I’m supposed to live my life like Christ lived his life, I need to be available and accessible and interruptible for whoever God wants to bring into my path.

That is a defining moment in life. When we understand that being accessible and inviting and interruptible is being like Jesus. Jesus demonstrated that for us. Paul said in Philippians 2: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

The right attitude is important when dealing with life’s interruptions. So, put God first in your life. Put boundaries in your life by diverting daily, withdrawing weekly and abandoning annually. Devote yourself to the power and love of God, make it the most important thing you do…and these little interruptions will prepare you to be available and interruptible for whoever God wants to bring into your path!

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

Rick Warren’s popular book, The Purpose Driven Life, talks about worship in one section. He says, “God desires your full devotion, not little bits of your life.” I love that quote. It is so true. You see, real worship is living a life that is pleasing to God. Nothing less, nothing more!

The kind of worship that pleases God has four characteristics according to Warren:
1. God is pleased when our worship is accurate. Worship must be based on the truth of Scripture.
2. God is pleased when our worship is authentic. God looks past our words to see the attitude of our hearts.
3. God is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. Thoughtless worship is “vain repetitions.”
4. God is pleased when our worship is practical. Real worship costs us our self-centeredness. You cannot exalt God and yourself at the same time.

Matt Redman’s words to his song, Heart of Worship says,
“I’ll bring You more than a song,
because the song itself is not what You’ve required.
You search much deeper within
than the way things appear.
You’re looking into my heart.”

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk. 12:30). That is the essence of worship. As Rick Warren says, “The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.”

See you Sunday as we worship together!

Hays McKay

My brother-in-law, Rory, sent me a book from New York a few years back. He found it in a book store and couldn’t believe the title when he saw it. The book’s title… Bugs: A Hays McKay Mystery. No kidding! They even spelled the name Hays the way I do!

In this book, Hays McKay is a investigator who looks into the death of a person named, Bugs. It was quite amazing to see my name on the cover of a book. Even though it wasn’t about me…my name was on the cover.

Just because my name was on the cover of that book, it wasn’t me! Many times we think our name is one thing when in reality it is quite another. For example, I know people who think there name is loser, dumb, failure and etc. But, that isn’t a person’s name. You see, your name is so much more. When you see yourself in the light of God’s grace, your name is Christ-follower. Your name is found in a different book…the Book of Life! Your real identity is in Christ. The apostle Paul said that time and time again. You belong to Jesus and there is no other name more important than that reality!

Your real name and my real name is…we belong to Jesus. Unbelievable!

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

Rick and Bubba, the popular radio hosts, have a best-selling book entitled, “Rick and Bubba’s Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage.” It is a humorous look at marriage and how to have fun along the way.

In this book, they have the Top Ten Reasons Some Husbands Don’t Pick Up After Themselves:
10. They’re making sure they can find their stuff again.
9. Because then they might have to actually put it away or wash it.
8. It’s a bread trail back to the bathroom.
7. It takes them back to their college days.
6. They’re still waiting on Mom to do it.
5. They’re leaving behind emergency underwear.
4. They love their wives too much to make them feel unneeded.
3. They’re too busy working tirelessly to do their part to provide for their families - and watching TV.
2. They’re rushing to the kids’ rooms to get one of them to take the blame!
1. If they stopped, what would comedians have to joke about?

Relationships can be hilarious! Sometimes, unfortunately, they aren’t. The center of Christ’s teachings were about relationships. We have a Heavenly Father who is relational. He sent us His Son, Jesus, to reach us, love us and redeem us. Jesus desires to reveal the Father’s heart.

So remember…even when you make a “mess” of your life…God’s heart is to love you. Wow! You are loved even when you aren’t perfect! Welcome to the family!

See you Sunday,

Hays McKay

With the new found age of GPS, it seems difficult one could get lost. Not true for me! I am so gifted.

Last November, we went to New York for a few days over Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time. We then flew back to Atlanta where I had left my car in the huge parking lot. After collecting our luggage we all decided to walk to the car. As we made our way through the parking lot (or should I say parking city), I knew the area where I had parked but for the life of me I couldn’t find the car! So we walked around and around until finally Trey and Lindsey located our car! It’s a sad day when you get lost before you leave the parking lot!

The truth of the matter is we all can get lost before we get started. The reason…we don’t know where we are going. We think we do…but we are lost. We need someone to direct us…a GPS system designed by God to show us the way. As a matter of fact, God does exactly that! He provides the right message and measure in all things. We just need to allow Him the power to lead. Too often we trust in our own measure. And ultimately, we are lost.

The right message is this: Living in the flow of the Spirit means doing what Jesus says. I will mess up a lot. I’m going to need his power. I say to Him, “God, with your help, as best as I can, I will do what you say. I will give you my life, my time, my obedience.” If that is not your settled intent, then its best to be honest about it.

The beauty of the GPS is when you decide to do it on your own and get lost, it will recalculate your route! Awesome! We call it grace, don’t we. Isn’t that what God does for you and me? God says to us when we are lost…”Execute a U-turn.” As soon as we are ready to listen, as soon as we are ready to surrender…God’s grace will bring you home. So, here is the right message when you find yourself lost: grow to desire and follow God’s Spirit each day of your life and you will never get lost!

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

Each person has their own set of core values. You might be aware of them…you may not. But, each person carries within them beliefs and values by which they live. I wanted to remind you that Covenant has a set of core values that we encourage everyone to live by.

1. We value community…we do life together.
2. We treat each other with dignity.
3. We are loyal to each other and our common vision of bringing people to Christ.
4. We do ministry as a team.
5. We model for others the way to live.
6. We are authentic in our walk. Personal integrity.
7. We are lifelong learners.
8. We choose positive attitudes.
9 We celebrate the victories of others.
10. We care for each other.
11. We have incredible freedom because we have clear boundaries.

Core values are always centered in the cross. Because that is where life was given…and that is where life begins for you and me.

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

When I was growing up I loved playing Superman! He was a character that I admired. Superman could stop a bullet, leap over tall buildings and rescue people from any difficult situation. Superman was awesome. Then…I grew up! How sad!

Today, the idea of a superman is somewhat jaded. If you work hard enough, climb up the ladder of success, own two houses, drive a number of cars, exercise, marry and have 2.3 kids, make every sporting event or activity of your children’s life, mow the yard, fix the sink, watch ESPN and go to church on occasion…then you are Superman! Is that it? Is that who we are as men of God? I don’t think so.

God calls us not to be perfect, but to be men who are faithful. A real “superman” is one who surrenders his life to his Heavenly Father and lives accordingly. Busy-ness does not make a man Superman! It only wears you out! A “superman” reads God’s word, prays with an open heart, establishes friendships with other men who are Christ-followers, worships, loves his family and understands that the defining quality of his life is not his work…but his relationship with God, his family, and others…in that order!

To all the men of Covenant…this Supermen’s Conference is just what you have been looking for. Take a “super” step of faith and attend this Men’s Conference. God has something in mind for the men of our church. David Dusek is a great speaker and you will enjoy this special weekend. Jesus said if you want to be great (super…), lose yourself in God’s grace! I love the men of our church and I am praying for a great Supermen’s Conference!

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

My daughter, Lindsey, gave me the book, The Bible for Dummies. Do you think she was telling me something? Well, anyway…it is a great book with a fun title.

The book gives great overviews to the basic Biblical story. Also, it organizes the Bible for you, too. It does everything for you…but, read it! The one thing that each of us must do as followers of Christ is read the book! God’s guiding influence for our lives is readily availabe to us. Certainly, there are parts of the Bible that are very difficult to understand. Absolutely. But, the best way to encounter God’s purpose for your life is to read His word.

There is no “easy” way to experience God’s power. It comes from faith…trusting in the unspeakable goodness of God no matter what and, faithfulness…studying God’s Word through a consistent method that helps you chart the course God has for you. If the truth be known…I am a dummie! I can use all the help I can get. But, the true test of growing as a Christ-follower is by reading His word with helpful study guides that we offer to you each week.

I am so thankful that the Bible is a book for a “dummy” like me! When I am stressed out, I can read Matthew 5-7, when I am feeling low and discouraged I can read John 3:16, when I am angry I can go to James, chapter 1, when I am worried about the world’s influence I can go to Colossians 3, and when I am consumed with life’s circumstances I can go to Philippians!

Remember…we are all “dummies.” Just because someone can “quote” a scripture doesn’t mean they can live it! Embrace God’s Word in your life. See what happens! See you Sunday!

Hays McKay

Have you ever made a mistake? Most of us would laugh at a statement like that one! Of course we have! Others of us say, “Well, I thought I had…until I realized I hadn’t!”

Mistakes are painful. Sometimes they are unintentional. Sometiimes they are just plain dumb! But, we do make them, don’t we? Mistakes should not be the final word of any person’s life. Mistakes should be the first word of any person’s life. Following the mistake, we then begin the process of making things right with God, others and ourselves.

I am so thankful that “all” of my mistakes do not have the final word! Yes, mistakes hurt and they inflict pain. But, we don’t have to carry them our entire lives. We are to learn from them, grow from them by God’s grace, and move forward in helping others who make mistakes as well. Why do some of us act as though we have never made a mistake? Why? Maybe you have never forgiven yourself!? Maybe you have never asked God to set you free? Maybe it’s time!

The greatest people that God uses for His purposes are the people who honestly admit their mistakes and then live from the perspective of grace. Grace has the final word, not your mistakes! Thank God!

Mark Twain said, “If you carry a cat by its tail, you are going to learn some things you just don’t get in books!” Mistakes give us the opportunity to learn and grow as Christ-followers. So don’t hide your mistakes, don’t pretend…let God use your mistakes to redeem you and change you…and then, in Christ’s name seek out those who are broken and welcome them into the family of God. Have you ever made a mistake? Every day!!!! But, it isn’t the final word of my life. And, it isn’t the final word of your life either.

See you Sunday!

Hays McKay