Westminster Presbyterian Church Greenwood https://www.wpcgreenwood.org Fri, 29 Mar 2024 01:07:11 -0500 http://churchplantmedia.com/ The Westminster Podcast https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/the-westminster-podcast https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/the-westminster-podcast#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:00:00 -0600 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/the-westminster-podcast We've decided that it's time for a change! While the blog has been a great encouragement to all who read it (AND to those who have written posts), we're shifting our focus to...

Westminster Podcast

Yes! Our podcast is getting an upgrade! We plan to have three different series:

  1.  Information Desk - In this series, we plan to highlight news and upcoming events in the church each month. These episodes will be brief, so you can get up-to-date information in the car on your way to work or school. Check out our first episode in this series now!!

  2. Now That's a Good Question... - How many times have you had a question about something that you read in the Bible that you just can't reconcile with something else that you've read? Or wondered how a Christian should interact with the world today? This series will be devoted to answering the hard questions. 
  3. Meet a Member - We will continue with our interviews of members. Haven't heard this yet? Be sure to check out some of the past interviews here.

And don't worry - we'll still be posting on the blog from time to time. If you ever have something that you would like to share, please reach out to us! Member posts are always our favorites!

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We've decided that it's time for a change! While the blog has been a great encouragement to all who read it (AND to those who have written posts), we're shifting our focus to...

Westminster Podcast

Yes! Our podcast is getting an upgrade! We plan to have three different series:

  1.  Information Desk - In this series, we plan to highlight news and upcoming events in the church each month. These episodes will be brief, so you can get up-to-date information in the car on your way to work or school. Check out our first episode in this series now!!

  2. Now That's a Good Question... - How many times have you had a question about something that you read in the Bible that you just can't reconcile with something else that you've read? Or wondered how a Christian should interact with the world today? This series will be devoted to answering the hard questions. 
  3. Meet a Member - We will continue with our interviews of members. Haven't heard this yet? Be sure to check out some of the past interviews here.

And don't worry - we'll still be posting on the blog from time to time. If you ever have something that you would like to share, please reach out to us! Member posts are always our favorites!

]]>
Advent Book Recommendations https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/advent-books https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/advent-books#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0600 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/advent-books The Advent Season is almost here! Advent is the four week period prior to Christmas that celebrates the anticipation of the coming of Christ. We encourage you to spend time as a family preparing your heart for the Christmas celebration during this time. Below are some books that we commend to you as you prepare:

Nancy Guthrie, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

 
 
 
Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation
 
 
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The Advent Season is almost here! Advent is the four week period prior to Christmas that celebrates the anticipation of the coming of Christ. We encourage you to spend time as a family preparing your heart for the Christmas celebration during this time. Below are some books that we commend to you as you prepare:

Nancy Guthrie, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

 
 
 
Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation
 
 
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Treasure in Heaven https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/treasure-in-heaven https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/treasure-in-heaven#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0600 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/treasure-in-heaven by Gray Blocker

With the holidays just around the corner, my heart struggles with comparison and materialism. Instead of focusing on the ultimate gift of Jesus, I spend my time making lists, spending money, and comparing whatever I buy with others around me. I love giving my kids presents and decorating my home for the holidays, but when is enough really enough? I will never be truly satisfied with the exhausting game of comparison. There will always be someone with a nicer house, better clothes, and more well-behaved kids. But when I lift eyes to Christ, the things of this world fade into the background. When I pour my time and resources into heavenly things rather than into earthly things, my relationships are healthier and more enjoyable because they’re in the proper place. My heart and mind find rest and true contentment only in Christ because my ultimate home is in heaven.

I’ve told this story multiple times, so I apologize if you’re reading it again! In 2020 my grandparents passed away, three days apart from one another. They loved Jesus more than anyone I will ever know, and they also loved to collect antique furniture. Right after their house sold, I met my mom over there one afternoon. The house was completely empty – all the furniture had been either given to family or sold in an estate sale. I cried harder than I did at their funeral because I was hit with two realities that I already knew: they really weren’t coming back, and they didn’t take anything with them. My grandparents loved filling their home with beautiful furniture, but they loved Jesus infinitely more. We all know that we won’t take a single thing with us when we finally meet Jesus, but do we live like that? Do I hold my possessions, my money, and even my family with open hands?

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  I pray my treasure is in Jesus alone. When I see Jesus as the most beautiful and valuable thing in my life, I see the wonderful things He has given me as abundant blessings, instead of the “next best thing” to obtain.

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by Gray Blocker

With the holidays just around the corner, my heart struggles with comparison and materialism. Instead of focusing on the ultimate gift of Jesus, I spend my time making lists, spending money, and comparing whatever I buy with others around me. I love giving my kids presents and decorating my home for the holidays, but when is enough really enough? I will never be truly satisfied with the exhausting game of comparison. There will always be someone with a nicer house, better clothes, and more well-behaved kids. But when I lift eyes to Christ, the things of this world fade into the background. When I pour my time and resources into heavenly things rather than into earthly things, my relationships are healthier and more enjoyable because they’re in the proper place. My heart and mind find rest and true contentment only in Christ because my ultimate home is in heaven.

I’ve told this story multiple times, so I apologize if you’re reading it again! In 2020 my grandparents passed away, three days apart from one another. They loved Jesus more than anyone I will ever know, and they also loved to collect antique furniture. Right after their house sold, I met my mom over there one afternoon. The house was completely empty – all the furniture had been either given to family or sold in an estate sale. I cried harder than I did at their funeral because I was hit with two realities that I already knew: they really weren’t coming back, and they didn’t take anything with them. My grandparents loved filling their home with beautiful furniture, but they loved Jesus infinitely more. We all know that we won’t take a single thing with us when we finally meet Jesus, but do we live like that? Do I hold my possessions, my money, and even my family with open hands?

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  I pray my treasure is in Jesus alone. When I see Jesus as the most beautiful and valuable thing in my life, I see the wonderful things He has given me as abundant blessings, instead of the “next best thing” to obtain.

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What Makes Me Follow? https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/what-makes-me-follow https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/what-makes-me-follow#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0600 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/what-makes-me-follow by Shelby Gorman

I am not a natural follower. As my friend Meagan Howard would tell you, I am very much an enneagram four… The Individualist. I take pride in being different. In thinking differently. In being able to see different views from different people. All of that can be good. Jesus himself was not afraid of being different. He tried to tell the Pharisees that their conformed thinking had blinded them from the most important thing, Him. But when consumed with myself, as I often am, I try to be too rebellious. I doubt God and do not want to obey my Father

To the world, Jesus was a rebel, but to his Father he was obedient. I am called to walk in his ways, to be made more and more like him. Is this our natural tendency? For me, it is definitely not. I naturally want to follow no one. But I find that when I am led by the Spirit, I am my happiest following Christ. When he is guiding my steps, I have more joy, not because of my circumstances but because of my desires. My desire is no longer for my own justice but for his glory.

I love the Bible. I know that sounds like a “good christian” thing to say but I don’t mean it in that way. I love words and history. The bible has some of the most beautiful words I have ever read. It also does not go along with the views of the time it was written in. Moses was married to a black woman, Rahab was a prostitute who trusted God, Boaz didn’t take advantage of Ruth sexually even though she gave herself to him. I follow God because he is constantly taking care of and changing the hearts of his people. And when we are led by His Spirit we do remarkable things. 

I am not saying that I am amazed at the people of the Bible. All of them are nothing on their own. That’s why we have that simple but really lovely phrase, “But God.” It is His mercy acting in us that causes us to do lovely things for His glory. I give myself to him because he makes me so much better. On my own I am nothing and I can do nothing but I am amazed at what he can do through me. I am amazed at the God the people in the Bible follow, knowing that it is my God too.

That is who I follow. Jesus kills my natural desire to follow no man, to trust no one. He says follow me, trust me, I am worth it. Do not be a follower of the world or your sinful desires but follow the one who you were made to follow. He is the potter and we are the clay. Let his loving hands mold you into something beautiful. 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”  -John 10:27-30

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by Shelby Gorman

I am not a natural follower. As my friend Meagan Howard would tell you, I am very much an enneagram four… The Individualist. I take pride in being different. In thinking differently. In being able to see different views from different people. All of that can be good. Jesus himself was not afraid of being different. He tried to tell the Pharisees that their conformed thinking had blinded them from the most important thing, Him. But when consumed with myself, as I often am, I try to be too rebellious. I doubt God and do not want to obey my Father

To the world, Jesus was a rebel, but to his Father he was obedient. I am called to walk in his ways, to be made more and more like him. Is this our natural tendency? For me, it is definitely not. I naturally want to follow no one. But I find that when I am led by the Spirit, I am my happiest following Christ. When he is guiding my steps, I have more joy, not because of my circumstances but because of my desires. My desire is no longer for my own justice but for his glory.

I love the Bible. I know that sounds like a “good christian” thing to say but I don’t mean it in that way. I love words and history. The bible has some of the most beautiful words I have ever read. It also does not go along with the views of the time it was written in. Moses was married to a black woman, Rahab was a prostitute who trusted God, Boaz didn’t take advantage of Ruth sexually even though she gave herself to him. I follow God because he is constantly taking care of and changing the hearts of his people. And when we are led by His Spirit we do remarkable things. 

I am not saying that I am amazed at the people of the Bible. All of them are nothing on their own. That’s why we have that simple but really lovely phrase, “But God.” It is His mercy acting in us that causes us to do lovely things for His glory. I give myself to him because he makes me so much better. On my own I am nothing and I can do nothing but I am amazed at what he can do through me. I am amazed at the God the people in the Bible follow, knowing that it is my God too.

That is who I follow. Jesus kills my natural desire to follow no man, to trust no one. He says follow me, trust me, I am worth it. Do not be a follower of the world or your sinful desires but follow the one who you were made to follow. He is the potter and we are the clay. Let his loving hands mold you into something beautiful. 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”  -John 10:27-30

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November at WPC https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/november-at-wpc_2 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/november-at-wpc_2#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/november-at-wpc_2 November 2021 Calendar.2

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Falloween Festival last month. Congratulations to all of our Costume Contest winners, our Chili Cook-Off Champion Lori Smith, and our Pumpkin Chunkin' Champion Brad McCay! We have some exciting events coming up as we approach Thanksgiving and the Advent Season. Be sure to get plugged in and check the website calendar for the latest info!

  • We will be continuing in our Sermon Series on the book of Luke on Sunday mornings.

    Luke App Wide
  • Our Women's Study will meet for the final time next week.

  • We meet every Wednesday night at 5:30 for a Fellowship Meal and our Mid-Week Studies for all ages. (We will NOT meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.)

    Wednesday Nights are BACK!
  • Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 7th!

    DST Ends
  • Our Men will gather each Sunday night at the home of Channing Hodges from 7:00 - 8:30pm beginning November 14th.

    Men's Gathering-3
  • Our Youth will enjoy a retreat at Victory Ranch November 19-20.

    Victory Ranch21
  • Delta Stars meets for lunch the 3rd Sunday of each month.

    Blue Stars Space Triangles Picture Postcard
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November 2021 Calendar.2

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Falloween Festival last month. Congratulations to all of our Costume Contest winners, our Chili Cook-Off Champion Lori Smith, and our Pumpkin Chunkin' Champion Brad McCay! We have some exciting events coming up as we approach Thanksgiving and the Advent Season. Be sure to get plugged in and check the website calendar for the latest info!

  • We will be continuing in our Sermon Series on the book of Luke on Sunday mornings.

    Luke App Wide
  • Our Women's Study will meet for the final time next week.

  • We meet every Wednesday night at 5:30 for a Fellowship Meal and our Mid-Week Studies for all ages. (We will NOT meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.)

    Wednesday Nights are BACK!
  • Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 7th!

    DST Ends
  • Our Men will gather each Sunday night at the home of Channing Hodges from 7:00 - 8:30pm beginning November 14th.

    Men's Gathering-3
  • Our Youth will enjoy a retreat at Victory Ranch November 19-20.

    Victory Ranch21
  • Delta Stars meets for lunch the 3rd Sunday of each month.

    Blue Stars Space Triangles Picture Postcard
]]>
An Update from Josh Reagan https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/an-update-from-josh-reagan https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/an-update-from-josh-reagan#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/an-update-from-josh-reagan by Josh Reagan

Brothers and sisters,

I want to start by thanking you for all your generosity. Your faithful stewardship has allowed us to provide great resources for the youth and families of the church. This summer, we were able to take two trips to the RYM youth conferences in Panama City, FL. Our time was well spent worshipping alongside others from all over the country, as we were able to enjoy God’s beautiful creation at the beach! Some of my favorite time is spent in the youth leadership training sessions, as we are reminded of our task and equipped to carry it out. Dr. Walt Mueller is one of my favorite speakers. He has so many good resources for parenting and discipling youth on his website cpyu.org. We as a church have committed ourselves to discipling our own children and helping others in the congregation with this task. It is a daunting task, especially with everything we have going on in the world, but it is something we are called to do. Someone is discipling our children; whether it is a pop star or a YouTube sensation, someone is teaching them. I want to close out by giving some encouraging points from Dr. Mueller’s book, The Space Between:

Keep these truths in mind as we start this new school year:

  1. Your children are a gift from God.  When you don’t believe it read Psalm 127!
  1. Parenting is NOT easy. No matter what someone else’s instagram is telling you it ain’t that pretty. Dr. Paul Tripp says parenting teens is “often cataclysmic years of conflict, struggle, and grief. They are years of new temptations, of trial and testing. Yet these very struggles, conflicts, trials and tests are what produce such wonderful parental opportunities.”
  1. Will there be perfection? No! There is no perfect person besides Jesus himself. We live in a Genesis 3, post-fall world. We are sinful and our kids are too. We need the grace and mercy of God. This should lead us to have callouses on our knees from prayer and God’s word stored in our hearts. 
  1. Teens are in process. We are all in process so there will be many changes physically, mentally, and spiritually. Trust God to open their eyes at the perfect time. Be faithful to plant the seeds, and plead with God to give growth.
  1. We should be preparing our kids for independence from us and dependence upon God. Making excuses for them, sheltering them, and not holding them accountable is not helping them. Give them the tools and show them the way. 
  1. Prepare them for trials and suffering. Helplessness is a good place to be! James chapter 1 and Psalm 13 are worth taking to heart. John Foxe said, “Trouble and affliction are great teachers.”
  1. Your Child longs for God whether they know it or not. Help them see that their greatest longings point to a God-given longing to be reconciled to him through Jesus. It is in all of us, and when we are looking for love in all the wrong places we will be miserable until we are resting in the finished work of Christ.

These are some things that I want to keep in mind as I parent my own children and help lead the kids of Westminster. We are all needed in this process. 

In Christ,
Josh

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by Josh Reagan

Brothers and sisters,

I want to start by thanking you for all your generosity. Your faithful stewardship has allowed us to provide great resources for the youth and families of the church. This summer, we were able to take two trips to the RYM youth conferences in Panama City, FL. Our time was well spent worshipping alongside others from all over the country, as we were able to enjoy God’s beautiful creation at the beach! Some of my favorite time is spent in the youth leadership training sessions, as we are reminded of our task and equipped to carry it out. Dr. Walt Mueller is one of my favorite speakers. He has so many good resources for parenting and discipling youth on his website cpyu.org. We as a church have committed ourselves to discipling our own children and helping others in the congregation with this task. It is a daunting task, especially with everything we have going on in the world, but it is something we are called to do. Someone is discipling our children; whether it is a pop star or a YouTube sensation, someone is teaching them. I want to close out by giving some encouraging points from Dr. Mueller’s book, The Space Between:

Keep these truths in mind as we start this new school year:

  1. Your children are a gift from God.  When you don’t believe it read Psalm 127!
  1. Parenting is NOT easy. No matter what someone else’s instagram is telling you it ain’t that pretty. Dr. Paul Tripp says parenting teens is “often cataclysmic years of conflict, struggle, and grief. They are years of new temptations, of trial and testing. Yet these very struggles, conflicts, trials and tests are what produce such wonderful parental opportunities.”
  1. Will there be perfection? No! There is no perfect person besides Jesus himself. We live in a Genesis 3, post-fall world. We are sinful and our kids are too. We need the grace and mercy of God. This should lead us to have callouses on our knees from prayer and God’s word stored in our hearts. 
  1. Teens are in process. We are all in process so there will be many changes physically, mentally, and spiritually. Trust God to open their eyes at the perfect time. Be faithful to plant the seeds, and plead with God to give growth.
  1. We should be preparing our kids for independence from us and dependence upon God. Making excuses for them, sheltering them, and not holding them accountable is not helping them. Give them the tools and show them the way. 
  1. Prepare them for trials and suffering. Helplessness is a good place to be! James chapter 1 and Psalm 13 are worth taking to heart. John Foxe said, “Trouble and affliction are great teachers.”
  1. Your Child longs for God whether they know it or not. Help them see that their greatest longings point to a God-given longing to be reconciled to him through Jesus. It is in all of us, and when we are looking for love in all the wrong places we will be miserable until we are resting in the finished work of Christ.

These are some things that I want to keep in mind as I parent my own children and help lead the kids of Westminster. We are all needed in this process. 

In Christ,
Josh

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The Starving Baker https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/the-starving-baker https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/the-starving-baker#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2021 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/the-starving-baker by Anne Marie Owens

“You have to feed yourself before you can lead yourself.” –Tim Elmore

I was recently given the opportunity to help out with a leadership course at Pillow Academy. This opportunity arrived in the last hour and right on time. It was a vivid reminder that only God knows and that only God ordains the plans He has for us. Seeing as this school year is looking a whole lot different than I envisioned it, I was reminded of the mantra Elizabeth Hickley would often chant to herself around the house, “I am not God.”  Amen? Amen.

The curriculum I was given for this course is called, Habitudes. The word Habitudes can’t be found in Webster’s dictionary; however, I think it could be a useful word to incorporate into our daily repertoire. The word “Habitudes” comes from a combination of the words “attitude” and “habit”.  While the attitudes of our heart and our (seemingly) small daily habits are often invisible to others, it is those very two things that have the power to determine the course of our lives, much more so than good grades, good athletic ability, or good looks.

In week one of our class, we camped out on the truth that what other people see about us, aka “the outside”, in reality comprises very little of what makes a good leader. But rather, the most important aspect of strong leadership comes from “the inside”. Being the servant leader God designed you to be can only come from a Christ-centered heart and a strong character, which is the ability to be who you say you are when no one is watching.

To illustrate each leadership principle, the Habitudes curriculum utilizes memorable images. Week one’s Habitude image was of an iceberg. The tippy top of the iceberg, or in other words, the part “above the water” (e.g., grades, athletic ability, looks, personality, etc.) makes up only a small part of a person’s identity and leadership potential. The real essence of an individual and their ability to lead well resides in what lies “beneath the water,” which again, is their character and the state of their heart.

As much as I needed the truth that was illustrated through last week’s iceberg image, this upcoming week’s leadership principle hit home even harder. This week’s Habitude image is titled “the starving baker.” It is an image of two little boys holding out a large tray of rolls. It illustrates the oh so common leadership hazard of “baking bread” for everyone else, all the while never stopping to feed yourself. This is a particularly dangerous hazard for Christians and one that Jesus, Himself, warns about in the Gospels. Quite honestly, it is a snare that I have fallen into many times. I can be so busy anxiously “baking” all the while forgetting that “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Fortunately, the Lord is gracious. He is slow to anger and His Word even tells us that He “practices steadfast love.” He will not let His children starve. He will use whatever it takes to get our attention and to bring us back to the table. Our heavenly Father, the “Hound of Heaven,” will chase us down when we are entering the hazardous territory of self-sufficiency.

As of recent, His “chasing” after me has been via my (higher than the average bear:) ) anxiety levels, which have (loudly) been informing me, that I am “not okay.” And while this feels super uncomfortable, I know that this message is both necessary and good.  I know this, because in my experience, it is only through my felt inadequacies and the discomfort of my complete and utter neediness that I am willing to listen. His message as of late is loud and clear: AM, it is YOUR soul that needs to eat. YOU need to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” YOU need to know that the Lord is YOUR Shepherd and that in Him YOU have no lack. It is not enough to tell Jude and Sophie that I am with them. YOU need to know that I am with YOU.

This week as I talk to my sixth graders about “the starving baker”, I too will be taking time to stop “baking” and to eat. I will be savoring that alone which satisfies the weary soul, Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. And wonder of wonders, through the Gospel, He invites you to do the same. Grace and peace to you.

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1

 

]]>
by Anne Marie Owens

“You have to feed yourself before you can lead yourself.” –Tim Elmore

I was recently given the opportunity to help out with a leadership course at Pillow Academy. This opportunity arrived in the last hour and right on time. It was a vivid reminder that only God knows and that only God ordains the plans He has for us. Seeing as this school year is looking a whole lot different than I envisioned it, I was reminded of the mantra Elizabeth Hickley would often chant to herself around the house, “I am not God.”  Amen? Amen.

The curriculum I was given for this course is called, Habitudes. The word Habitudes can’t be found in Webster’s dictionary; however, I think it could be a useful word to incorporate into our daily repertoire. The word “Habitudes” comes from a combination of the words “attitude” and “habit”.  While the attitudes of our heart and our (seemingly) small daily habits are often invisible to others, it is those very two things that have the power to determine the course of our lives, much more so than good grades, good athletic ability, or good looks.

In week one of our class, we camped out on the truth that what other people see about us, aka “the outside”, in reality comprises very little of what makes a good leader. But rather, the most important aspect of strong leadership comes from “the inside”. Being the servant leader God designed you to be can only come from a Christ-centered heart and a strong character, which is the ability to be who you say you are when no one is watching.

To illustrate each leadership principle, the Habitudes curriculum utilizes memorable images. Week one’s Habitude image was of an iceberg. The tippy top of the iceberg, or in other words, the part “above the water” (e.g., grades, athletic ability, looks, personality, etc.) makes up only a small part of a person’s identity and leadership potential. The real essence of an individual and their ability to lead well resides in what lies “beneath the water,” which again, is their character and the state of their heart.

As much as I needed the truth that was illustrated through last week’s iceberg image, this upcoming week’s leadership principle hit home even harder. This week’s Habitude image is titled “the starving baker.” It is an image of two little boys holding out a large tray of rolls. It illustrates the oh so common leadership hazard of “baking bread” for everyone else, all the while never stopping to feed yourself. This is a particularly dangerous hazard for Christians and one that Jesus, Himself, warns about in the Gospels. Quite honestly, it is a snare that I have fallen into many times. I can be so busy anxiously “baking” all the while forgetting that “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Fortunately, the Lord is gracious. He is slow to anger and His Word even tells us that He “practices steadfast love.” He will not let His children starve. He will use whatever it takes to get our attention and to bring us back to the table. Our heavenly Father, the “Hound of Heaven,” will chase us down when we are entering the hazardous territory of self-sufficiency.

As of recent, His “chasing” after me has been via my (higher than the average bear:) ) anxiety levels, which have (loudly) been informing me, that I am “not okay.” And while this feels super uncomfortable, I know that this message is both necessary and good.  I know this, because in my experience, it is only through my felt inadequacies and the discomfort of my complete and utter neediness that I am willing to listen. His message as of late is loud and clear: AM, it is YOUR soul that needs to eat. YOU need to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” YOU need to know that the Lord is YOUR Shepherd and that in Him YOU have no lack. It is not enough to tell Jude and Sophie that I am with them. YOU need to know that I am with YOU.

This week as I talk to my sixth graders about “the starving baker”, I too will be taking time to stop “baking” and to eat. I will be savoring that alone which satisfies the weary soul, Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. And wonder of wonders, through the Gospel, He invites you to do the same. Grace and peace to you.

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1

 

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August at WPC https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/august-at-wpc https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/august-at-wpc#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2021 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/august-at-wpc August 2021 Calendar_2

It's hard to believe that August is here! We have some fun things happening at Westminster this month! We just began a new Sermon Series through the book of Ruth. Our Wednesday night studies will resume on August 18th. And our kids and youth have some fun offerings this month. Be sure to get plugged in and check the website calendar for the latest info!

2021 Softball Schedule.8.6

VBS 2021

End of Summer Bash 2021

Dinners for Eight2

Wednesdays

Promotion Sunday

Wednesdays

Blue Stars Space Triangles Picture Postcard

Ruth App Square 

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August 2021 Calendar_2

It's hard to believe that August is here! We have some fun things happening at Westminster this month! We just began a new Sermon Series through the book of Ruth. Our Wednesday night studies will resume on August 18th. And our kids and youth have some fun offerings this month. Be sure to get plugged in and check the website calendar for the latest info!

2021 Softball Schedule.8.6

VBS 2021

End of Summer Bash 2021

Dinners for Eight2

Wednesdays

Promotion Sunday

Wednesdays

Blue Stars Space Triangles Picture Postcard

Ruth App Square 

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Making the Team https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/making-the-team https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/making-the-team#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/making-the-team by Kim Pillow

With the Olympics on right now, I keep thinking about team sports. I enjoyed being a part of various teams in junior high and high school, and learned so many invaluable life lessons with each. Playing basketball and running challenged me the most, but I really enjoyed cheerleading; I absolutely loved being a part of “the squad.”

Throughout my junior high years at Central Delta Academy (CDA) in Inverness, I was a cheerleader. In 9th grade, I was co-head cheerleader, but I would have to transfer to Indianola Academy (IA) a year later since CDA stopped at 9th grade. Realizing that I wouldn’t be able to try out for cheerleader at my new school for the fall, since tryouts were in March and I wouldn’t be a student at IA yet, I went to the administration at IA and asked if I could be given permission to try out since I would be an incoming student. My chances were slim since I didn’t know many folks at the new school. I wanted to be a cheerleader so badly that I agreed to try out in front of the entire high school student body. Even though it was not a shock, I will never forget the disappointment when I didn’t see a check by my name …. I indeed did not make varsity cheerleader.

I can tell you first hand that it is no fun to be cut. The sheer embarrassment hurts deep to your core. I tried to move on and began spring track practice which then led to summer basketball practice. About three months since getting cut, I got a call at home one night from Carol Walden, the Indianola Academy cheerleader sponsor. She said, “How would you like to be an IA Cheerleader?” I could hardly believe my ears. I was the alternate; a girl that was a cheerleader had to move schools and an extra spot opened. This was on a Friday, and I was to join the squad, leaving for cheer camp on Monday. I don’t remember many more specific details from my time cheerleading this many years later, but I do remember that this group of girls were welcoming and took me right in. When I think back, this opportunity changed my entire high school experience. I so appreciated being given a second chance.

Fast forward about 25 years, when my own daughter tried out for cheer and didn’t make it. Without going into all the details, let’s just say it wasn’t fun. Twelve girls tried out in her 10th grade group and eleven made it-- she was the only one who didn’t. (OUCH!) This blow came on the heels just months after a seemingly out-of-nowhere cut from the basketball team. (The school hadn’t cut any girls in 10 years, and now after having 20 spots on the junior varsity team for years, the coach dropped to 18 spots, just because.)

I felt my “mother monster” surface when my daughter experienced two ugly rejections.  My sinful self was not very loving at first. God worked on my heart, and I was able to pull from my experience of not making the cheer team, knowing worldly successes fluctuate. While I wished I could erase the pain, I knew this time would shape her in a profound way. Usually, the greatest lessons come from deep hardships. Our relationship grew closer as we walked this hard, new path together. It feels like the end of your life at that age, but it’s times like this that you either get bitter or better. I remember hearing the story when the book The Help came out that Kathryn Stockett received 60 rejections letters before her book was accepted. The key to her success was persistence and not giving into the shame of being rejected.

In early 2000, I was at a New York Life meeting and heard a fantastic motivational speaker, Gus Gustafson, who authored a book entitled Turning a Set-Back into a Come-Back. Gus was a standout basketball player in high school in spite of having lost his right arm and shoulder in a tragic childhood farm accident at age 9. After a knee injury ended his collegiate basketball career, he was devastated. But, once again, his faith and courage sustained him and he redirected his energies, building outstanding academic and business careers. When you face an obstacle in your life, Gus said that each set back is an opportunity to grow. He encouraged the audience to lose all self-doubt and to find the strength to succeed. He shared with us three simple keys: Process the garbage in your life; never give up; and have the courage to face the next challenge.

I loved this first point: to process all the garbage in your life. He said that the “garbage truck” will dump on you in your life, then, you have two choices. You can either sit in it and smell like it or you can process the garbage and move forward. My children have heard me say this over and over: life is hard, and life is not glamorous. No one is immune to the garbage truck. Life isn’t fair.

When I experience rejection or disappointment, it always exposes a lack of grace for others in my heart and the pride in my arrogant thoughts. The Bible tells us to “love our enemies & pray for those who persecute you.” You can’t do this by yourself, you have to have the Holy Spirit. Naturally, we don’t love others like we should and want to be the only thing that matters in our own lives. Daily dying to self does not sound fun. We want our ego stroked, not stifled, but instead, we are to live out the Scripture that says Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourself.” That doesn’t mean fake it til you make it. It is praying to God to help you sincerely have a change in your love toward others. Daily prayer asking for God’s help to love others and practicing true gratitude in your heart for what you have. When you do make the team or get the promotion, it is having the same sense of humility and security in your faith that comforts you in moments of rejection. Giving the glory to God, not yourself.  Forgiveness of those you perceive to have “wronged” you. 

As Genesis 50:20 says, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”    I shudder to think of how ugly a person I would be if everything always went “my way;” I wouldn’t be able to stand myself! Seeing things through the lens of a gospel-centered world and life view helps me to die to myself during trying times. As Matthew 25:31-40 tells us, we should move toward the mess in other people’s lives. Satan wants us to be self-absorbed. I have shared with my children the many life lessons I had learned during these hard seasons and will continue to learn as I age. Every year I have a “hard” thing that kills my prideful heart, and it is a chance for God’s glory to be on display. God is steadfast. He will keep me close and not let me go. I trust His sovereignty over my life. I also remember someone telling me some years ago when I was going through a hard time they said “Kim, this is just a point in time in your life, it doesn’t define your life!”

As many of you know from your own life experiences of job loss, a cut from the team, being excluded from a group, the last to be chosen, a bad health diagnosis, etc…. disappointments and rejections are no fun. It hurts your feelings to the core. It feels so ugly and downright embarrassing. Life can feel shameful and very lonely. Some of the most painful life lessons are when you hit rock bottom but more importantly you are brought to the end of yourself. The eternal comfort is that through Christ I am on Jesus' team, I won’t be cut. Ever. Christ took on rejection so we won’t have to. Now that’s peace. I can say I am a well provided daughter of the King. This is my only identity. The game is over. He has won! 

Thin Line

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

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by Kim Pillow

With the Olympics on right now, I keep thinking about team sports. I enjoyed being a part of various teams in junior high and high school, and learned so many invaluable life lessons with each. Playing basketball and running challenged me the most, but I really enjoyed cheerleading; I absolutely loved being a part of “the squad.”

Throughout my junior high years at Central Delta Academy (CDA) in Inverness, I was a cheerleader. In 9th grade, I was co-head cheerleader, but I would have to transfer to Indianola Academy (IA) a year later since CDA stopped at 9th grade. Realizing that I wouldn’t be able to try out for cheerleader at my new school for the fall, since tryouts were in March and I wouldn’t be a student at IA yet, I went to the administration at IA and asked if I could be given permission to try out since I would be an incoming student. My chances were slim since I didn’t know many folks at the new school. I wanted to be a cheerleader so badly that I agreed to try out in front of the entire high school student body. Even though it was not a shock, I will never forget the disappointment when I didn’t see a check by my name …. I indeed did not make varsity cheerleader.

I can tell you first hand that it is no fun to be cut. The sheer embarrassment hurts deep to your core. I tried to move on and began spring track practice which then led to summer basketball practice. About three months since getting cut, I got a call at home one night from Carol Walden, the Indianola Academy cheerleader sponsor. She said, “How would you like to be an IA Cheerleader?” I could hardly believe my ears. I was the alternate; a girl that was a cheerleader had to move schools and an extra spot opened. This was on a Friday, and I was to join the squad, leaving for cheer camp on Monday. I don’t remember many more specific details from my time cheerleading this many years later, but I do remember that this group of girls were welcoming and took me right in. When I think back, this opportunity changed my entire high school experience. I so appreciated being given a second chance.

Fast forward about 25 years, when my own daughter tried out for cheer and didn’t make it. Without going into all the details, let’s just say it wasn’t fun. Twelve girls tried out in her 10th grade group and eleven made it-- she was the only one who didn’t. (OUCH!) This blow came on the heels just months after a seemingly out-of-nowhere cut from the basketball team. (The school hadn’t cut any girls in 10 years, and now after having 20 spots on the junior varsity team for years, the coach dropped to 18 spots, just because.)

I felt my “mother monster” surface when my daughter experienced two ugly rejections.  My sinful self was not very loving at first. God worked on my heart, and I was able to pull from my experience of not making the cheer team, knowing worldly successes fluctuate. While I wished I could erase the pain, I knew this time would shape her in a profound way. Usually, the greatest lessons come from deep hardships. Our relationship grew closer as we walked this hard, new path together. It feels like the end of your life at that age, but it’s times like this that you either get bitter or better. I remember hearing the story when the book The Help came out that Kathryn Stockett received 60 rejections letters before her book was accepted. The key to her success was persistence and not giving into the shame of being rejected.

In early 2000, I was at a New York Life meeting and heard a fantastic motivational speaker, Gus Gustafson, who authored a book entitled Turning a Set-Back into a Come-Back. Gus was a standout basketball player in high school in spite of having lost his right arm and shoulder in a tragic childhood farm accident at age 9. After a knee injury ended his collegiate basketball career, he was devastated. But, once again, his faith and courage sustained him and he redirected his energies, building outstanding academic and business careers. When you face an obstacle in your life, Gus said that each set back is an opportunity to grow. He encouraged the audience to lose all self-doubt and to find the strength to succeed. He shared with us three simple keys: Process the garbage in your life; never give up; and have the courage to face the next challenge.

I loved this first point: to process all the garbage in your life. He said that the “garbage truck” will dump on you in your life, then, you have two choices. You can either sit in it and smell like it or you can process the garbage and move forward. My children have heard me say this over and over: life is hard, and life is not glamorous. No one is immune to the garbage truck. Life isn’t fair.

When I experience rejection or disappointment, it always exposes a lack of grace for others in my heart and the pride in my arrogant thoughts. The Bible tells us to “love our enemies & pray for those who persecute you.” You can’t do this by yourself, you have to have the Holy Spirit. Naturally, we don’t love others like we should and want to be the only thing that matters in our own lives. Daily dying to self does not sound fun. We want our ego stroked, not stifled, but instead, we are to live out the Scripture that says Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourself.” That doesn’t mean fake it til you make it. It is praying to God to help you sincerely have a change in your love toward others. Daily prayer asking for God’s help to love others and practicing true gratitude in your heart for what you have. When you do make the team or get the promotion, it is having the same sense of humility and security in your faith that comforts you in moments of rejection. Giving the glory to God, not yourself.  Forgiveness of those you perceive to have “wronged” you. 

As Genesis 50:20 says, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”    I shudder to think of how ugly a person I would be if everything always went “my way;” I wouldn’t be able to stand myself! Seeing things through the lens of a gospel-centered world and life view helps me to die to myself during trying times. As Matthew 25:31-40 tells us, we should move toward the mess in other people’s lives. Satan wants us to be self-absorbed. I have shared with my children the many life lessons I had learned during these hard seasons and will continue to learn as I age. Every year I have a “hard” thing that kills my prideful heart, and it is a chance for God’s glory to be on display. God is steadfast. He will keep me close and not let me go. I trust His sovereignty over my life. I also remember someone telling me some years ago when I was going through a hard time they said “Kim, this is just a point in time in your life, it doesn’t define your life!”

As many of you know from your own life experiences of job loss, a cut from the team, being excluded from a group, the last to be chosen, a bad health diagnosis, etc…. disappointments and rejections are no fun. It hurts your feelings to the core. It feels so ugly and downright embarrassing. Life can feel shameful and very lonely. Some of the most painful life lessons are when you hit rock bottom but more importantly you are brought to the end of yourself. The eternal comfort is that through Christ I am on Jesus' team, I won’t be cut. Ever. Christ took on rejection so we won’t have to. Now that’s peace. I can say I am a well provided daughter of the King. This is my only identity. The game is over. He has won! 

Thin Line

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

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Dear WPC https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/dear-wpc https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/dear-wpc#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2021 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.wpcgreenwood.org/blog/post/dear-wpc by Mischa McCray

I think that most people can look back at a couple events in their lives and see how pivotal those moments were in forming their current life.  On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, I opened an email from Teach for America that informed me that I would spend the next two years of my life teaching in the Mississippi Delta.  Fast forward over 12 years later, and I can now see how that simple moment shaped the direction of my life immensely.

When I moved to Mississippi, I had no intention of ever calling it home.  I figured I would work here for two years and then return back to the Midwest, somewhere closer to family and friends.  I’ll never forget driving to Mississippi for the first time.  I can remember driving down Highway 61 from Memphis headed to Cleveland and thinking, “There’s not a lot going on here.”  At one point, my GPS tried to tell me to exit the highway in some place called “Alligator” and it wanted me to drive on some dirt road in the middle of a field.  I remember thinking to myself “GPS’s don’t even work here and they have towns called Alligator! Where am I?” 

Looking back, I was right where I needed to be.  While some people may view themselves as the one directing the course of their lives, for many of the most pivotal moments of my life, I feel like I’ve been in the passenger seat.  I didn’t choose to come to Mississippi; they just told me that’s where I would be teaching.  Once I got here, I had no agency over where I would be.  That didn’t matter much to me at the time, as the names of the towns being mentioned meant nothing to me.  What difference is there between Indianola, Greenville, Ruleville, Helena, Cleveland, Leland, Greenwood?  Those were all just names of random towns that I knew nothing about.  When I found out that I would teach in Greenwood, I did what any other 22-year-old would have done: a google search to figure out where “Greenwood, Mississippi” was. 

Then there’s the matter of attending Westminster.  I don’t know how much I even chose that.  I remember going to the house of this youngish couple and meeting a bunch of people who went to this one church at the end of Park Avenue.  Some of my friends from TFA wanted to visit their church that next Sunday, so I figured I would join them.  To this day, I haven’t gone to any other church in Greenwood on a Sunday morning.

About midway through my second year teaching at Greenwood High School, I knew that I didn’t want to come back for a third year, but I had no clue what I wanted to do instead.  Through conversations with several people, I chose to attend Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson for their counseling program.  Westminster supported me through those years, and after I graduated in 2013, you all welcomed me back and supported me as I built up my practice. 

It’s been nearly eight years since I moved back to Greenwood from Jackson, but for the first time since moving here in 2009, I don’t wonder about what will be next.  In those eight years, I’ve had over 400 different clients and met for thousands of hours of counseling.  I’ve worked with people from Grand Boulevard and Robert E Lee extended as well as Avenue I and McLaurin St.  I’ve done over 1,000 hours of pro bono counseling.  And all of this because of the generosity of a church who was willing to come alongside me for this journey. 

So, THANK YOU Westminster.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.  Thanks to all those who have dedicated time out of their lives to give me advice or help me get my name out there (Stephen, Lee, Gary, Kathryn, Richard, and Kim to name a few).  Finally, thank you to all of the people who have trusted me to hear their stories and listen to them in some of their hardest moments. 

It’s hard for me to truly believe that I’ve lived in Mississippi for 12 years now, but I’m so grateful that God put me here.  I hope that you read this and are encouraged to see how he has worked in my life, and I look forward to many more years of working to glorify him here in our small corner of the earth.

In Christ,
Mischa

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by Mischa McCray

I think that most people can look back at a couple events in their lives and see how pivotal those moments were in forming their current life.  On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, I opened an email from Teach for America that informed me that I would spend the next two years of my life teaching in the Mississippi Delta.  Fast forward over 12 years later, and I can now see how that simple moment shaped the direction of my life immensely.

When I moved to Mississippi, I had no intention of ever calling it home.  I figured I would work here for two years and then return back to the Midwest, somewhere closer to family and friends.  I’ll never forget driving to Mississippi for the first time.  I can remember driving down Highway 61 from Memphis headed to Cleveland and thinking, “There’s not a lot going on here.”  At one point, my GPS tried to tell me to exit the highway in some place called “Alligator” and it wanted me to drive on some dirt road in the middle of a field.  I remember thinking to myself “GPS’s don’t even work here and they have towns called Alligator! Where am I?” 

Looking back, I was right where I needed to be.  While some people may view themselves as the one directing the course of their lives, for many of the most pivotal moments of my life, I feel like I’ve been in the passenger seat.  I didn’t choose to come to Mississippi; they just told me that’s where I would be teaching.  Once I got here, I had no agency over where I would be.  That didn’t matter much to me at the time, as the names of the towns being mentioned meant nothing to me.  What difference is there between Indianola, Greenville, Ruleville, Helena, Cleveland, Leland, Greenwood?  Those were all just names of random towns that I knew nothing about.  When I found out that I would teach in Greenwood, I did what any other 22-year-old would have done: a google search to figure out where “Greenwood, Mississippi” was. 

Then there’s the matter of attending Westminster.  I don’t know how much I even chose that.  I remember going to the house of this youngish couple and meeting a bunch of people who went to this one church at the end of Park Avenue.  Some of my friends from TFA wanted to visit their church that next Sunday, so I figured I would join them.  To this day, I haven’t gone to any other church in Greenwood on a Sunday morning.

About midway through my second year teaching at Greenwood High School, I knew that I didn’t want to come back for a third year, but I had no clue what I wanted to do instead.  Through conversations with several people, I chose to attend Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson for their counseling program.  Westminster supported me through those years, and after I graduated in 2013, you all welcomed me back and supported me as I built up my practice. 

It’s been nearly eight years since I moved back to Greenwood from Jackson, but for the first time since moving here in 2009, I don’t wonder about what will be next.  In those eight years, I’ve had over 400 different clients and met for thousands of hours of counseling.  I’ve worked with people from Grand Boulevard and Robert E Lee extended as well as Avenue I and McLaurin St.  I’ve done over 1,000 hours of pro bono counseling.  And all of this because of the generosity of a church who was willing to come alongside me for this journey. 

So, THANK YOU Westminster.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.  Thanks to all those who have dedicated time out of their lives to give me advice or help me get my name out there (Stephen, Lee, Gary, Kathryn, Richard, and Kim to name a few).  Finally, thank you to all of the people who have trusted me to hear their stories and listen to them in some of their hardest moments. 

It’s hard for me to truly believe that I’ve lived in Mississippi for 12 years now, but I’m so grateful that God put me here.  I hope that you read this and are encouraged to see how he has worked in my life, and I look forward to many more years of working to glorify him here in our small corner of the earth.

In Christ,
Mischa

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