The Worship Journey

2011-02-16T08:30:00.005-06:00

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household." Acts 16:25-34

This morning I spoke to the FCA at Captain Shreve on one of my favorite topics: "Worship Worth Giving Your Life For".

You always hear your kids grow up fast but I am not sure any parent ever truly realizes there is truth to that statement. The next thing you know, they come home and they are talking about drivers ed. I have said that some of the closest moments I have had with the Lord has been riding shotgun in the front seat while my 15 year old navigates the interstates and busy streets of Shreveport. There are moments where I think, "You know, he has got this. He is doing great!" And then there are those moments where I am bracing for the impact as he smacks into two of those large road construction cones placed on the side of the road, flattening out my side door mirror.

We have those same moments in our own lives. Moments where we have it all under control and then there are those moments where we are bracing for impact and closing our eyes because we know the decisions we have made or the choices we have chosen are not going to end pretty.

Paul and Silas found themselves in a similar situation in Acts 16 but their response to chains, flogging and prison is simple: worship. Jesus says in Matthew 12:34, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth will speak..."

A great analogy that was shared to me was to press your nose against a stained glass window. When you look at a stained glass window that closely you see a myriad of colors but nothing in detail. But when you step back, the full picture of the window comes into full view.

I don't know where you are today but can I just encourage you? Worship."Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) You are not alone. "The Lord is near." (Philippians 4:5) Have hope! "We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield." (Psalm 33:20)

Be strengthened, be encouraged!

Special Delivery...

2011-01-27T10:19:00.002-06:00

Been spending more time in the Word lately. It shouldn't surprise me that when I feel like I haven't heard a word from God, I can almost always recognize that I have not spent time in the scriptures. It truly is a necessary daily devotion.

So we are studying the letters of Paul in our Disciple 3 class at church and my reading this week has come from 1 Thessalonians. My heart was captured by chapter 5 verses 23 - 24 that reads, "May God sanctify you through and through... The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it."

One thing I notice about Paul is how he is never afraid to be bold in his faith with all he encounters. And I love this message to the church of Thessalonica. "Be sanctified. Inside and out. God is faithful and he will deliver." praise God that today, this moment, this very second, He still meets us when we cry out to Him. After all. Maybe this is why Jesus said, "Ask. Seek. Knock. And it shall be given."

So today, what do you need from God? Be bold. Be sanctified and be reminded that He is always faithful and He will deliver.

Amen, and AMEN!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Good news. It's not about you.

2011-01-24T12:17:00.000-06:00

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be lifted up among the nations. I will be exalted among the earth.” Psalm 46:10

I must confess. Sometimes I am guilty of only knowing half of the story. Maybe I should explain.

I recently was reminded of a passage that God brought to my attention found in Psalms 46:10. If you know me then it shouldn’t surprise you to know that I have always been known to be a bit hyperactive. It just takes a glance at my hairstyle to see that (it doesn’t lay down. Ever.) So I have always loved the verse that reads, “Be still and know that I God.” Slow down. Be still. Reflect on His goodness. But a friend asked me one day if I knew the rest of that verse. Upon further investigation it reads, “I will be praised in all the nations; I will be praised throughout the earth.” (NCV) Then it hit me. Being still and reflecting is only half of it. The other half, and possibly the most important part: it’s not about me. This life, this purpose we have on earth really isn’t about creating a name for ourselves. It is solely about lifting up the name of Jesus and knowing who all the glory goes to.

When I meditate on that passage, I must admit. It makes me feel small, but in the same breath it is amazing to know that the Creator of the universe, the one who breathed the stars into existence and created me, has called me to make His name great in my lifetime.

So today, hear the “rest of the story”: Be still and know… that it is not about you.

Let’s pray.
Father, may we find comfort in knowing that amidst the busyness of our lives, we all need to slow down enough to know not just who we are, but whose we are. Amen.

Advent Thoughts...

2010-11-30T08:01:00.003-06:00

Ran across this this morning in my quiet time and found it TOO good to not pass on.

Take a look:

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…

It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which Is Above,1986

Can't think of a better way to begin this new day that God has placed each of us in.

So may you walk through this day, not run through it. And in the process, may you see that the doors we approach are very much open to the hope that God has given to each of us through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Amen!

Knowing vs Knowing

2010-09-09T14:23:00.004-05:00

Where to start. There is so much going through my mind but I will start and end with this one thought for today. More to come tomorrow, I am sure.

I spoke to students at Loyola Prep on Wednesday this past week from a story in the gospels that most of us, if honest, have heard a thousand times. It is the parable of the good samaritan (Luke 10:25). We focus a lot on the beauty of helping your neighbor from this text and that is relevant. Deeper than that, Jesus makes the 'hero' of the story an actual Samaritan, a race despised by the jewish community. From this we learn that love goes BEYOND just loving those that look like us. Love goes much further.

But here is the part of the story that really struck me.

Take a look:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Off the start we learn that the expert in the law was just that: an expert. He knew the law. He knew the commands of God and what was important.

He knew scripture.

The problem he encountered was that he possessed a lot of head knowledge of the word of God; but that was where it stopped. What he was missing was heart knowledge. What he missed was living a life that came from intimately knowing and living out the words of God.

So today, I am living through the knowledge of God's Word, and using my eyes and heart to see how it applies to my life through relationships and loving those I encounter today and the days to come.

Care to join me?

"A Letter to Church Marquee Signs Everywhere..."

2010-09-07T12:51:00.006-05:00

On a recent trip with my son to see family in Houston, TX, I hit my brakes a lot. Now, you have to know something about traveling through Texas. There are a LOT of small towns. And in those small towns, there are a LOT of police parked in hidden places who would love nothing more than to share a coke, a smile, and a ticket with you should you forget to slow down (not that I speak from experience of course).

So as I was going through one of those unnamed town, I came across a small church with a surprisingly large white church sign in front right off the highway. On the church marquee read the following:

"Think the heat is bad now? Try spending an eternity in hell."

It caught both the attention of my eyes and my son's eyes. I literally had to turn around and drive back to make SURE that what I saw was actually there. It leads me to this plea:

"Dear Church Sign Marquee's. Please stop. I am not convinced the scare tactics are working."

I read recently a biography of Michael J Fox who shared a "church" experience as a child. In Canada he was at a fair and there was a bus that was painted and used by a local church as a witnessing tool to share the love of Jesus to those who wanted to know more. So, as a toddler, Michael J Fox loaded in the bus and a man walked to the front with a pack of matches.

He said, "I have a pack of matches. Let me ask... what would it feel like if I lit this match and put it under my hand?" One child responded, "It would hurt." Then the man said, "Right! Now, let me ask you. What would it feel like if I lit a thousand matches and it burned me all over my body? Because that is what it would feel like if you didn't know Jesus and went to hell. Right now."

Michael J Fox said, as a child, his initial response was "If this is a religion that just speaks of fear and hell, then where is the joy in any of that?" So he walked out of the bus thinking, 'not for me'.

Now I am not saying we don't address the difficult issues. On the other side of the coin, you have a lot of churches speaking a lot of grace but portraying an "anything" goes kind of religion and Jesus was certainly outspoken on a lot of things that we are afraid to address in the church (Read the 'Woes' in Matthew 23). But the simple truth is this...

Church Marquees. You have 8 seconds to reach the attention of a passing motorist on the street. Would you rather take those 8 seconds to create fear or inspire? To cause doubt or give hope? To offend or actually draw people inside the church where they possibly don't feel that they fit in?

My hope... my prayer is that it is the latter.

It is easy to beat people over the head with Romans 3:23 that reads, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." But let us also be the church that reminds those of Romans 3:24 that follows that statement with "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

That, my friends, is the rest of the story.

How will you use your 8 seconds today?

Renew.

2010-09-03T14:17:00.003-05:00

Been hung up on the word, "Renew" lately.

On a daily basis, I am surrounded by electronics that are ALWAYS in need of recharging. Last night, as I went to plug my phone in, my charger was on the counter as my kids had claimed BOTH wall plug ins for their own electronic devices. Earlier this morning I found a spot at an overcrowded coffee shop and opened up the lap top to see I had 12 minutes left on my computer battery and, of course, no wall charger near me to plug into. Earlier this week, my Kindle was dead, thus leaving me to have to MANUALLY pick up a book and actually have to lift my arms to flip pages (the horror of it all).

Oh, the inconveniences of living in a technological age.

But as I was spending time in the Word, I ran across a verse that I had read hundreds of times but it hit me in a new way. So, I pass along to you praying that you might be in the same place as I.

We are a busy culture. It is not uncommon to sit at an intersection and look at the cars surrounding you seeing people on their blackberries, I-phones, rotary phones (ok, maybe not those) texting, talking, going, doing. I am in the ministry and I am, all too often, running all over town; meeting, greeting, investing in lives.

Busy is not a bad thing. But here's where I am this week:
Busyness WITHOUT renewal = Emptyness.

Look throughout the gospels. Over and over Jesus is on the move. He is meeting, greeting, loving. But then this crazy thing would happen. He would stop. He would go to a quiet place and be... renewed (Mark 1:35)

So here's the thing. If Jesus, being God in flesh, saw it necessary to spend time with His Father, over and over again in the gospels, can we really live our lives thinking an occasional Sunday morning check in at worship is enough?

I needed this message this week. I have been running on empty. But time spent in the Word has led to a refilling and a renewing of my soul and God has found me in the midst of my emptiness and renewing me daily.

So the good news for each of you, today? He can do the same to you.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Be filled and know that you are loved, my friends.

Arms.

2010-08-30T13:18:00.003-05:00

So I spoke this past Sunday on finding God in the midst of chaos in our lives. It is a topic that I feel very qualified to preach. It seems that there is always some type of conflict or adversity that our family is running into. My heart resonates with Mother Teresa when she shared, "I know the Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

Reading through the book of Numbers in the old testament I came across a passage where Moses just PUTS IT OUT THERE to God. Not sure why reading it it makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it is because I feel, at times, I really can't be THAT honest with God, can I? But Moses does and he holds nothing back.

Moses said to God, "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, 'Give us meat; we want meat.' I can't do this by myself—it's too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here."

Moses has been holding the frustration of leading the Israelites and they were, apparently, a whiney group of people. And when God puts it out there to God, God responds with two things. One, he tells Moses to bring 70 people back with him and God will put the burden on their shoulders as well as Moses did not have to carry it alone. Secondly, God asks Moses the following question:

"The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.'"

What a beautiful question. God is saying, "Do you really think that you are so far away from me that I can't hold you where you are at right now?"

We forget that sometimes, huh? We get caught in our circumstances. We try to drive the car when, in reality, we were never called to control, simply to follow and trust.

So my prayer to each of you reading this now is that you would be held by the arms of God who is still very much in control of your life.

God is good all the time and all the time... God is GOOD!

"Say 'hello' to Jesus, first, Mom."

2010-07-24T00:38:00.002-05:00

I wrote this for an event we are having at our church tomorrow called, "Pray That". It is an all day, open sanctuary event, for people who have been affected by cancer, whether personally or through the diagnosis of a loved one or friend. There will be scripture read, prayers for those needing it, and also there will be stories shared in memory of those that have died because of it.

The following is what I wrote for my mom who died three years ago to stage four small cell lung cancer. Though I am in Mandeville, LA, my son Nicholas will be reading it in the sanctuary in my absence tomorrow.

Wanted to share it with all of you.

Blessings,
Mark

--------------------------------

I have been singing most of my life. Funny thing is, my mom always told me growing up that I sang my first words, I didn't speak them. As i think back, I realize that music has always been in me and it was always my mom that encouraged me to share that gift. I sang for small city festivals. I traveled to the nursing homes and sang for the residents. I sang at our home when my parents had friends over and I always had to sing Christmas songs EVERY Christmas Eve until my mom thought our house had officially caught the "spirit of Christmas". Music; it has always been a part of my life.

It was April of 2008 when our family learned that my mom had stage four small cell lung cancer. From the day that she checked into the hospital and found out it was cancer, to the time she died, it was about two weeks. It happened so quickly.

I remember our talks in the hospital. I remember one specific moment when mom looked at me and said,

"You know I love you, right?"
"Of course I do, mom."
"And you know that I know without a doubt where I will be going when I die."
"Yes, mom, heaven."
"And you know who I am going to see when I get there don't you?"
"Jesus."
"No, Mark. Elvis! I am going to get to see Elvis!"

(I encouraged her to speak to Jesus first. Then Elvis.)

But the one moment I will carry with me will be the moment I brought my guitar and shared with her a song I had written several months prior to her diagnosis called, "Hallelujah, Anyway". In typical mom fashion, she called every nurse and doctor she could find and gathered a small audience for me as I played the song I had written.

"When it all falls apart. Unraveling at the seems. And the words won't even start, and you find it hard to breathe.
And you need a hand to lean on, but there's nothing there to see. You can rest upon this promise, and you can say this prayer with me:
Hallelujah, Anyway. I'll give you all the glory. Hallelujah, Anyway. Let me life proclaim this story. I may not like this place, I find myself today.
But this my humble cry: Hallelujah, Anyway."

It was hard to get through that song. As I sang, my mom closed her eyes and mouthed the words; "I may not like this place, I find myself today, but this my humble cry, hallelujah anyway". I prayed for healing that day in the hospital. And though mom passed away, i realize healing did come.

It has been three years since mom died. Hard to believe that time passes by so quickly. But I am certain of this: she is front row-center at every worship event I lead, every song I write she is singing along and every sermon I preach she is listening in. And, praise God, I know where she is and who she is with. (I just hope she said hello to Jesus first before finding Elvis;-)

Mom, thank you for starting the music in my life.
Mark

Lessons Learned from Stained Glass

2010-07-13T15:51:00.005-05:00

Our church in downtown Shreveport is known for a lot of things. It literally is at the head of Texas street. Meaning, as you drive through downtown, the main traffic road takes you directly to the sanctuary of FUMC and dead ends. Our church is on a hill. Literally at one of the highest peaks in the city. Our steeple. Well, currently, our lack there of. Rumor has it that Hank Williams Sr. was coming into Shreveport, LA, on the back of a flat bed trailer and after seeing our steeple at the head of Texas, he was so inspired that he penned the words to "I Saw the Light" (still seeking out the truth in that but it sounds good to me). Then there are our stained glass windows. Always been fascinated by stained glass windows. I literally can sit and stare at them for hours. They tell stories. They have color that is rich, deep and beautiful.

It wasn't until recently, however, that I ran into the wisdom of one of our staff members at the church that gave me a challenge. He told me to step up to one of our windows at FUMC and put my nose up against it. Now, I am a gullible person so it was easy for me to envision my sticking my nose to the glass only to have the staff member slap me on the back of the head leaving me a bloody nose and running off laughing (yes, we have those kind of people on staff). But, I went for it. Actually stuck my nose on the glass. Then I was asked the question, "What do you see."

It was an awkward moment for me trying to focus on what was in front of me. Really, I could make out color, lines, but honestly, I had no idea what I was looking it. What I was looking at was beautiful but, really, it was a picture I couldn't make out. Then, I was asked to step back and explain what I saw. It was at that moment that I took 5 steps back and it all came into focus.

I haven't forgotten that moment and here's why.

Today has been "one of those days". I feel like the more I have tried to walk towards God, the more I have been pushed, shoved and thrown off the path multiple times. The things I thought were in place, I have found they are not. The things I thought I had control of, I did not.

Then, in the midst of this day, a beautiful reminder of stained glass.

Maybe you are there. Take refuge in this: what you face, what you see may not make sense to you now. It may be various colors, shades and lines that are completely undecipherable that looks like chaos. But the truth is, God is still making a beautiful work in your life even if you don't see it. Take some steps back and may you be reminded that you may not get it today, but God is still very present and at work, even when we don't see it. So my challenge to you is to take some steps back and remember that you were put here to shine, bringing out the God colors in the world.

You are prayed for!

His Peace,
Mark

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:15-17 MSG)

Too Busy?

2010-07-02T10:12:00.002-05:00

Mark 6:31 NCV
Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.”

Confession; I work for the church and all too often I have very little time to breathe. Reading this verse this morning reminded me of a simple yet profound statement:

If we are too busy for God, then we are much busier than He ever intended for us to be.

So today, I plan to breathe. Not shallow, non sustaining breaths, but really deep ones. I plan to "see" people. Actually look and listen when engaged in conversation and take rest in the fact that I am a child of God and He loves me unconditionally. Just as I am.

Care to join me?

You Are Loved...

2010-07-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

Love this. Read on...

A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again."; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough... It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again," to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again," to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.

That was a quote from G.K. Chesterton.

Be inspired. You are loved by the Creator of the Universe.

"Build a Bear/Jesus Theology"

2009-06-10T11:41:00.004-05:00

As my daughter gets older, I hate to admit that she is outgrowing her favorite store, Build a Bear. If you have never gone through the Build a Bear experience, I highly recommend it. You start at the very beginning looking at these limp little bears and animals that have absolutely nothing in them. You pick out the type. You then move over to the stuffing section. You give them form, definition. And it goes on. You can pick out a heart, place it inside. You fluff it, pick out clothes for it, give it a name, print out a birth certificate and then BAM. You have your own little bear creation made exactly the way you want it. I have to say, the whole experience is quite cool.

I reflect on the Build a Bear experience this morning because I came across a quote yesterday that continues to make me think. It was from Voltaire and it read,

"God created man in His own image and now we are returning the favor."

Voltaire is saying that God created us in His own image and now we as a people are returning the favor; recreating God the way we want him to be.

Francis Chan, a pastor of a church in California recently spoke on this. He added,

"Inevitably what we are saying is this. 'Let me create God. I want a God who is OK with me being filthy rich. Spending it on myself and giving 10% to him. I want that type of God so I am going to say that that is the way Jesus is. I want a God who says that it is OK for me to sleep with my girlfriend because we are in love. And I am going to say God is OK with that because I am OK with that and God must be like me.'"

As hard as that is to write and read, I have to admit that for many there is truth in this post. It is easy to take the Build a Bear approach and turn it into Build a Christ. I am afraid that we as a society are taking Christ and turning him into this middle class Jesus. But read the scriptures and you find that Jesus was anything but. He was radical. He would tell his disciples, "I have no idea where i am going to eat tonight or where I am going to sleep tomorrow. Do you still want to follow me?" He said things like, "Stop storing up treasures on this earth where moth and rust will destroy. Put it up in heaven! And stop worrying about tomorrow. I will take care of that. See the birds of the air? They don't worry because they know that their Father is providing for them. And how much more will our Father provide for each of you?"

These are heavy words but truthful ones. The truth is that we are called toward holiness. And it is not easy. Christ never said it would be. We have just finished a study on the book of Philippians in our college group and it has been beautiful, challenging, encouraging and pushed many of us to look at our lives and our walk with Christ. As Paul writes Philippians, he is under house arrest. Reflecting on persecution and having gone through every emotion possible (see Philippians 4:12), Paul responds with learning to be content whatever the circumstances. And it is found in knowing that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Living a life that reflects the walk and the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

If you really want to find a Jesus that lets you live a certain kind of life you will find it. We can really make Jesus whomever we want Him to be. But read through a gospel and you will see how Jesus really wants you to live.

"We should be living lives that demand an explanation."

My prayer for you reading this now is that you know that God is for you. This lifestyle that Jesus lived, it is attainable. Holiness is something to strive for and we are never alone on this journey. Know that I pray for you as I pray that you do the same for me.

Blessings to each of you!

Community; It's What's For Dinner"

2009-04-02T08:27:00.000-05:00

Hey friends.

I pray this finds you enjoying the grace that God has rained on you at this very moment. I am sitting in reflection this morning still pondering Philippians 2 which we finished in Bible study last night. We re read the chapter finishing with Paul's comments about Timothy and Epaphroditus. In it, Paul said the following that is from the Message version...

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. "

I fear that the institution is losing the importance of community. I shared recently a story from Francis Chan's church about a gang member that recently joined his congregation and got baptized. As he attended their church for the first time, his initial reaction was, "this is the group of brothers and sisters that I want to stand beside" and he left the gang. However, 5 weeks later he was no longer found in the church. When a congregant ran into him he asked him how he had been. He shared with the member of the church that he had the wrong impression about the definition of 'church'. "In a gang, I know that no matter how tough it gets my gang members have my back. But in your church, I joined, I got baptized and that was it. Outside of the building, no one recognized me. No one invited me to their house. Guess I just had the wrong impression of what being a member of the 'church' was."

Amazing that Francis Chan would share this story with his congregation (honestly, I believe we need more pastors willing to share hard stories to speak the truth even when it makes us uncomfortable. Sign me up for THAT church...)

Take a look at Acts 2. When the church formed, it was all about community...

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved"

So, today, I look for community. I look to share in the joys, sorrows and experiences of those I encounter. Today, I look to BE community. To those I know, and those I run into. And may we, as the church and body of Christ, recognize OUR role. May we gather around the table, may we tear down our walls and freely receive that God's grace is enough for us all and the Kingdom work is far from done.

Grace and peace, friends! Grace and PEACE!
Mark

Can't Waiti for Haiti

2009-03-02T12:01:00.002-06:00

Not going to lie. Feeling puny today. Not sure if it is the new vegetarian diet or a "bug" but not going far from my home today, that is for sure. I am spending a majority of my "home confinement" in silence and I don't do enough of that.

Thoughts today go towards my Haiti trip next week. I was informed that leaving my computer here is a necessity. Funny how that led to a speck of panic as the thought occurred, "can I make it without my computer?" And then at the same time I realized that the possibilities of getting a WIFI signal where I am going to be are remote, to say the least. And what will come from the lack of computer and technology, actually, is exactly what I have been seeking as of late.

Lastly, thinking about my Uncle in Iowa. I would appreciate all of your prayers as he is having a pretty major surgery this week. I spent a lot of time with my aunt and uncle over summers as I was growing up and they mean the world to me. Certainly keeping them in my prayers and I would appreciate that you could do the same!

Grace and peace, friends.

The Danger of Busyness

2009-02-27T14:51:00.003-06:00

Happy lent, friends.

Been a busy week. Ever notice that when God wants to get a point across to you that the same message comes in repetition? For me as of late, the topic of "busyness" continues to creep into my path on more than one occasion a day.

I recently was reading the latest "Relevant" magazine subscription and came across an article that was written by Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. In it, he quoted a missionary by the name of Jim Elliot who said,

"I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry and crowds... Satan is quite aware of the power of silence."

I was sitting at Starbucks when I read that and just thought, "yeah, point made, God. Point made." But the truth is, how hard is it to avoid all of the noise, hurry and crowds that we all come in contact with on a daily basis? I mean, the idea of "being still" is great. But, there are things that we HAVE to do, jobs that HAVE to get done and check lists we HAVE to complete.

So what is the secret? Wish I had the answer. I think it all boils down to one thing and one thing alone; practice.

I still consider myself to be a horrible runner. But you know what? I can run solid for 30 - 45 minutes. I remember when I started, however, my distance was 30 seconds. It was horrible. I remember thinking, "no WAY will I ever make a full mile!" But with some patience and practice, I made the mile and have gone well beyond.

Maybe the secret to being still is found in my lesson learned in running. Practice. What if, on a daily basis we stopped for a moment and just let silence enter in. In our car, in our home, in our thoughts. If you go back to scripture you find Jesus, time and time again sneaking off for some quiet time with his Father (Luke 5:16).

I like the approach Pastor Driscoll is taking in his life and, dare I say, I might strive for this in my own.

"I try and spend at least five short minutes an hour in silence, at least 30 minutes in uninterrupted silence each day, and a full day of silence once a month."

Not sure about you but silence is needed in MY life. And I have a feeling that if I allow the silence into my life, it might be found with the reassurance that I am not alone in the noise of the world. And THAT is something I need more than ever.

Grace and peace, my fellow journeyers!

Mark

The article posted the following. If you have the time, check it out...

the Bible has a great deal more to say about the benefits of purposeful silence including:
hearing from God (1 Kings 19:11-13)
waiting patiently (Lamentations 3:25 - 28)
worshipping God (Habakkuk 2:20)
knowing God better (Psalm 46:10
praying effectively (Luke 5:16)

"Meat. It's NOT What's for Dinner"

2009-02-25T10:51:00.001-06:00

Lent begins today and, honestly, I am quite excited about it.

The older I get, the more I have grown to appreciate the lenten season. I remember growing up, easter was that "day of the year" you wear the new tie, go to church and become overwhelmed with the smell of easter lillies, which, I am not convinced that they smell very pleasant anyway (Am I alone in this thought?)

But easter is so much more than that. Lent, for me, is a walk with Christ through what He did for each of us on the cross. Holy week has become a journey for me. From passion Sunday with the praise and rejoicing, to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and ending with the BEAUTY and UNASHAMED rejoicing on Easter Sunday morning recognizing that Christ HAS RISEN, He has risen, INDEED!

So with Lent comes the question, "What do I give up this year?" I haven't always participated in the 40 day fast of something. Only within the past 5 years or so have I started really recognizing this. And I might also add, who says you HAVE to give up SOMETHING? One year my wife and I took ON the task of having a daily devotion with one another. It was committing TO something and not giving something up. That is a beautiful thought, the thought of committing to something.

This year, Nycki and I are giving up meat and going vegetarian for 40 days. Honestly, I am excited about the thought. Of course, I am excited and it is day one. Ask me again in 20 more days.

Now I hesitated to type this out because it is not in the spirit of, 'my lenten give up is better than your lenten 'give up'. But here is what I would ask of you.

Walk the journey with Christ this lenten season. Don't just look up Easter Sunday and say, 'oh yeah. That thing Jesus did, did happen."

Breathe it. Walk it. Take your time in the journey and what awaits you on the other side, I have no doubts, is a total blessing.

Know that you are never alone on the journey, my friends!

Grace and Peace!

Mark

Could it Be Possible? (Part Two)

2009-02-24T08:14:00.000-06:00

So I listen to Francis Chan via podcast. I love listening to Francis and I will tell you why. He is just so bold in his Word. He is working through Philippians with his church (coincidentally, I am doing the same with our college group and Mars Hill just finished a year long trip through the book of Philippians). The sermon Francis was giving this past Sunday was on rejoicing. As the sermon started, Francis Chan started with a confession. He shared that he was just having a terrible morning. He was angry, he was not in a mood to be with people and just felt that he was under spiritual attack. Then, he opened up with this beautiful spirit of authenticity with his congregation. Saying that he could easily go through the motions of speaking ON rejoicing, but, honestly, it is not where he was and more than anything, he need to be prayed for by those around him.

I loved this message. In fact, he shared that in the early service he had previously preached, he just "went through the motions" of what he had prepared and he said that it "failed miserably." Love it. And I will tell you why. I think at times, we put this amazing expectation on ourselves that we HAVE to act like we have it all together when, truth be told, there are moments when we just need to be transparent and admit we are a mess.

I relate to this all to often because I, too, feel this huge expectation from people to be "up" all the time. As I type this, I also realize that it is an expectation that I put on myself. I don't really think people "hold me captive" to my magnetic personality. But, truth be told, I feel the pressure. But here, in a moment of honesty, Francis shares that he just "doesn't have it all together" and needs some prayer.

So, a challenge for me today is to be authentic. If I need prayer, then I intend to ask for it from those who know me. If I see a brother or sister in need of prayer, then I intend to offer it. And I also plan to spend the day and days to come with "eyes wide open" and seeing what God has in store for me in the days ahead.

Need some affirmation? Re read Isaiah 43 OR read it for the first time and know... this is YOU God is talking too...

Grace and peace, my friends. Grace and peace!

Mark

PS...check out Francis' sermon by clicking here...

EVEN FRANCIS HAS A BAD DAY

Click under media and the sermon is the titled link above...

Could it be possible? (Part One)

2009-02-23T14:25:00.000-06:00

Hey friends. I am thinking this is going to be a long blog so I will release in two parts. Here is part one!

Took awhile to break away and blog today but WAY too many thoughts going through my mind. Good thoughts. Challenging thoughts. Reflective thoughts.

I spent the weekend in Bryan, TX, with friends at First United Methodist Church in Bryan. It was such a recharge for me to be with that church family and speak to the youth at their youth Sunday service. I recently spoke in my own church on the desert and the need to know that, 1) it exists for us all and 2) no matter where we are in it, we are never alone. As I prayed and searched out direction for what I should speak on, God led me to the "desert" message and, honestly, I wasn't quite sure why. But afterwards, it was was very revealed that there was a need for many to hear it. Beautiful stories came from the service. I think a favorite came in the form of a grandmother who grabbed me at the conclusion of the service. She looked me square in the eyes and said, "You're weird". It caught me off guard and I just kind of laughed and said, "i'm sorry?" And then she repeated the compliment. "I said you're weird. But you know what? My grandson is too and he needed to hear what you had to say today. I am going to fill him in on all of it." She then just gave me this hug that I didn't know a grandmother was capapble of giving! Crazy strong bear hug. So the moral of the story is, "Embrace your weirdness. God will use it for His glory!"

Grace and Peace!

Mark

Coming up next... this quote from part two...

"Be careful when you can hear the word of God and do nothing. Because it quickly becomes a habit. And that is a scary habit to have in your life. When you can hear a sermon, get convicted by it and then do nothing."

Some Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

2009-02-19T07:55:00.000-06:00

I wish my coffee addiction was just that... an addiction to coffee. Truth is, I hate coffee. It is the fraps and non fat mocha's that get me at $4 a pop. There might be hope, however. This morning I launched into a $1.27 tall bold pike's peak coffee with some half and half and it is not bad! I see hope...

I am heading over to Bryan, TX, to speak for the morning worship services of First United Methodist Church, Bryan. Going at the request of some dear friends, Matt and Kelly Idom. I am so looking forward to the opportunity. I would appreciate your prayers as I head in that direction over the weekend. Speaking "Desert" with them and the need to be reminded that, a) the Desert is uncomfortable, hot and we hate it... BUT... b) it is where we are refined, molded and become stronger and where are never alone as God is there with us in the midst of it. Beautiful stuff.

In regards to the 'No Ordinary People' tour, we just added First United Methodist Church, Houma in May. Dates are coming and we are stoked. Hey? What about bringing us to YOUR church?

Grace and peace, friends. Grace and peace.

Mark

The Blogging Begins

2009-02-15T21:21:00.000-06:00

Here we go. The first of many blogs, I am guessing. I am so excited about so much that is in front of me. At present, I am thinking about the "No Ordinary People" tour I am doing with my friends chasingCANAAN. We are spending the better part of July this year in Haiti. Les Cayes, Haiti, to be exact. We will be working with a local orphanage, helping the local pastor in ministry and loving on people. Can't wait.

We are asking churches to help us by hosting "evenings of worship and awareness" where we will come in and lead worship. A lot of new songs are coming into this tour, as well as current worship songs. All we are asking is for a love donation of some kind, of which ALL monies go towards the cost of our trip.

It is amazing to think that it is already mid February. Lots to do.

Signing off now. Blessings my brothers and sisters and know that NONE of us are simply "ordinary people". In the eyes of the Creator... we are extraordinary!

Grace and Peace!

Mark