tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29265828726741660672024-03-13T08:47:23.530-04:00Life According to St. MarkMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-54993667263149790102012-10-10T14:29:00.000-04:002012-10-10T14:29:17.807-04:00The (Extra) Ordinary Story
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
(Extra) Ordinary Story<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Family Stories<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All
families have stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you look in
photo albums, you can find people and places and stories that go with
them…sometimes family and/or stories you’ve never heard of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Uncle John Gemini project (my uncle worked at NASA and I shared about how proud I was of that and how that shaped my bent toward science and learning)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s
family has some stories, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family
photo album is quite a compository of amazing stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">II.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mary and Joseph <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They
were ordinary people</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span>i.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Paying
taxes!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span>ii.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Life
isn’t going the ‘planned’ way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span>iii.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Between
Joseph’s middle aged callouses and Mary’s stretch marks, this couple looks a
lot like us…unless of course, we consider who lived inside them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God
used them to bring Jesus to this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus entered this ordinary world, on an ordinary day, by way of two
ordinary people…just like you and me!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">III.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You and Me</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Congratulations:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You qualify for a modern day Christmas
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God enters the world through
folks like you and comes on days like today.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2926582872674166067#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">These
were not royalty; they were not Prince Joseph or Queen Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not Passover or Columbus Day that saw
the birth of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No it was so very
ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe that’s the best part
of Christmas, the best part of God’s best story:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Word of God, Jesus, came to ordinary
people like you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if
that’s true, then it gives us hope that God can and will do something
extraordinary through our lives, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Too
often we dismiss ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hardly
ever hear someone say, “I want to be ordinary…or look normal…or make an average
living.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max Lucado points out that one
place we do want to hear “normal” is when the doctor holds the sonogram to our
pregnant wife’s bellies… ‘two arms, two feet, ten toes, two eyes…everything
looks normal.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, normal isn’t
just good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s
story is full of ordinary people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham
a simple farmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David a little shepherd
boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah, simple writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter a simple fisherman, and Mary, an
ordinary girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when they opened
themselves up to God, their ordinary lives are turned into extraordinary
miracles that changed the world forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We’re
young, old, middle aged, middle income, poor, educated, uneducated…namely, very
ordinary people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the question
is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we open to letting God do
something extraordinary in our lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
before you jump on board, I want to warn you:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Extraordinary is NOT ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us don’t get real excited about becoming an unwed pregnant
teenager like Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most us pray that
God would slay the giant so that we don’t have to battle him face to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordinary people pray ordinary prayers of
being blessed with comfortability…not extraordinary blessings of leaving
everything behind for Jesus to create God’s Kingdom on earth like Peter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">f.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
ordinary people of God’s Family stories are extraordinary because they invited
God’s extraordinary power into their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They made a decision that was the most important decision a human can
make:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Story is bigger than my
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, my story is a part of
God’s story…The question is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does my
life fit in?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">g.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Brothers
and Sisters, I challenge you to the ordinary life of Joseph and Mary giving
birth to Jesus so that the world might be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordinary people in God’s Story, but “in God’s
story, ordinary matters.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2926582872674166067#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our God makes the ordinary, extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">IV.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here
in this ordinary church, with ordinary people, we partake in ordinary bread and
ordinary juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here in the presence
of God, together as followers of Jesus, Brothers and Sisters filled with the
Holy Spirit of God, something extraordinary is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you open to it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you willing to be the extraordinary
person who births Jesus to this world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
invite you to this ordinary table to worship our extraordinary God, who is
calling us ordinary people to an extraordinary life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2926582872674166067#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Max Lucado, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God’s Story, Your Story</i>,
Grand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan</i>,
2011, p. 33.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2926582872674166067#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Lucado, pg. 37.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-4140037064255876952012-10-01T09:19:00.000-04:002012-10-01T09:19:02.332-04:00Sermons...Coming Soon!I think I'm going to start posting sermons again. I have noticed that those have been my most popular postings. What has fascinated me is the global interest of sermons. I'll be posting some of my recent sermons soon.<br />
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-18988262627119583912012-09-19T10:10:00.001-04:002012-09-19T10:10:17.667-04:00The Long Flight Goodbye...This morning our family paused the 'getting ready' routine to watch the beginning of the last flight of the Space Shuttles. Endeavor piggy-backing from Kennedy Space Center to Los Angeles is not quite the Shuttle legacy I would envision (LA, really!?!), but it was special to watch its last take off from Kennedy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPnHsZSYt6E/UFnSN6AduvI/AAAAAAAAAW0/YJX2dUMgt-Y/s1600/ab8fd_120917082853-endeavour-flight-delay-story-top%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPnHsZSYt6E/UFnSN6AduvI/AAAAAAAAAW0/YJX2dUMgt-Y/s200/ab8fd_120917082853-endeavour-flight-delay-story-top%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a>I'm proud that my Aunt Phyllis and Uncle John played roles in the building, launches, and missions of the Shuttle program. It was in fact the last major program in which they were involved at NASA. To see the Shuttle fly off was actually emotional for me. It was a goodbye again to my Uncle and a salute to all of the men and women heroes that led our nation's space program forward to new frontiers.<br />
<br />
Space exploration has been one of the biggest economic stimulators over the past 5 decades, and yet, the American people and the politicians are reluctant to fund the program. Our short-sightedness and our concern for today's dollar are appalling and setting back human exploration by decades. Imagine if Spain had said, "You know, Colombus, it was expensive getting there. Let's just keep fighting the Muslims and save our money for more guns and making our people happy." Ironic that the same issues were at play; however, Spain had the courage and foresight to push the envelope. Humanity would never be the same.<br />
<br />
After this flight, I wonder, when will we fly again for the stars?Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-89259845047015268812012-09-11T17:03:00.000-04:002012-09-11T17:03:16.729-04:00Quick LinksFor those new to my blog, I like to do what I used to call 'Speedlinks.' These are just some interesting reads around the web.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/12/08/28/">Here</a> is a really cool photograph of cubes. This guy takes great pictures at 'The Daily Dose of Imagery.'</li>
<li>How do you get to be a successful venue attracting millions of people every year? Go away! <a href="http://echohub.com/posts/communication/one-key-to-the-nfls-success/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollideMagazine+%28Echo+Hub%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">According to Scott McClellan,</a> the NFL brings us football, gives us a show, and goes away for a few months. The football void brings us back for more! I wonder how this could apply to other businesses or organizations?</li>
<li>Seth Godin reflects on what it means that <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/09/memory-and-media.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">we have memories from events and from people we have never personally experienced</a>. </li>
<li>Also from Scott McClellan, <a href="http://echohub.com/posts/creativity/9-truths-for-artists-from-the-fresco-restoration-disaster/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollideMagazine+%28Echo+Hub%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">here are some thoughts</a> from the "Restoration Fiasco." My two favorite: Good intentions don't justify themselves and It's easy to offer a distorted picture of Jesus.</li>
<li>Relevant Magazine has a great piece to <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/current-events/features/26710-9-11-10-years-later">remember 9/11</a>. My favorite is the story of the woman saying she felt sorry for the young man because "Your generation will have to deal with this." It was an amazingly astute comment in terms of governance. Economy, military, politics, laws, freedoms, and health issues will be DIRECTLY affected by that one day for the next 50-100 years.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/when-happy-trumps-holy">Happiness vs. Holiness</a>? This writer makes a case that we have made Happiness an idol.</li>
<li>Satirical Christian writer Jon Acuff, wrote a funny piece about <a href="http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2012/09/the-facebook-prayer-interruption/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+stuffchristianslikeblog+%28Stuff+Christians+Like+-+Jon+Acuff%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">interruping Facebook prayer</a>.</li>
</ol>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-32215003185726575892012-09-10T12:55:00.000-04:002012-09-10T12:55:30.023-04:00Worship Leading to Faith?<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The<a href="http://www.outofur.com/archives/2012/08/when_worship_is.html"> Out of Ur blog</a> posted a great article on worship today. It warned of the 'mountain top' experience trap that many church leaders set up to fail.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4w2dYXYb9p0/UE4ZI3MgkTI/AAAAAAAAAWU/NF9OqfT_ywo/s1600/connectwithgod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4w2dYXYb9p0/UE4ZI3MgkTI/AAAAAAAAAWU/NF9OqfT_ywo/s200/connectwithgod.jpg" width="200" /></a>I know and agree that science rightly sees many worship experiences as reproducable, emotive events. I think worship leaders have known these things for years before the research was brought to light. However, I do not believe that the 'experience' is therefore wrong; rather, it proves that a strong worship experience does impact human beings in profound ways in regard to mind, heart, and body.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Where the failure lies is the pastoral leadership to follow the 'mountain top' experience with a process of discipleship. Worship CAN BE transformative, but that is not the norm. Unfortunately, many churches plan like like it is always transformative.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The questions we must ask ourselves:</div>
<ol><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
What do I practice daily in regard to my faith? How am I intentionally trying to grow my own faith?</div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
How do we connect small groups, mission, outreach, and other discipleship events to Sunday morning worship? In other words, how do we bring the mountain top to the valley!?!</div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Are we tracking or evaluating how we are moving people through the process? Worship to Discipleship to Faith in Action?</div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
What do we not see that we could do better?</div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<img height="64" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4w2dYXYb9p0/UE4ZI3MgkTI/AAAAAAAAAWU/NF9OqfT_ywo/s200/connectwithgod.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 634px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 128px;" width="96" />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-89177573957272670952012-09-10T11:59:00.001-04:002012-09-10T11:59:09.294-04:00I'm Back...After a year long hiatus, I've decided to begin blogging again.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have had several people ask my why I stopped. Some of the reasons are private, and some are not.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Two reasons that I don't mind sharing: I was too busy with too many things. There's only so much creative juice, and it was being spent elsewhere! The other reason wasn't sure about the future of blogs. I was starting to believe they were on the way out, but now that thought seems premature.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm going to write like I did with my first blog. It'll be more of an thought board that I'm allowing others to see and interact with online.</div>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-76746308809871409672011-04-18T11:03:00.005-04:002011-04-28T19:33:10.897-04:00Easter MusicalIt was a great experience. I hadn't done "acting" since I was in a 7th grade comedy skit-show.<br /><br />My favorite memories will be getting to know Don Cowper better (he's great!), getting goose-bumps from hearing the choir EVERY week, and knowing that I CAN memorize lines.<br /><br />It was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I did it. My prayer is that it was honoring to our Lord, and that someone was touched by the play.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-20675029437249481102011-03-28T10:21:00.002-04:002011-03-28T10:32:48.284-04:00Easter MusicalFor the first time since Junior High, I am a part of a play. I am terrified. It is an Easter Play called "The Easter Song." I play Thomas...I said yes not understanding that Thomas is the main character! Of course many people assume that since I preach every Sunday that I am not nervous about getting in front of an audience. It's true that I don't fear public speaking, but acting is totally different. We had our first entire cast rehearsal. It is a musical - don't worry, I'm NOT singing - so the choir was there, the other actors were there, some family of participants were there. I learned very quickly that practicing with 2 people in the room is very different from having everyone there! It's amazing how little noises, or side directions can totally throw you for a loop. We had no mistakes in our small practices, but yesterday we had some 'lost' lines between us. Please pray for me as I memorize my lines. Please pray for the entire cast as we all memorize our songs and parts. Most of all please pray for our community that many would show up and hear the Gospel of Jesus and in hearing we all would believe.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-52985087166335446792011-03-20T16:15:00.005-04:002011-03-20T16:40:10.959-04:00Jalen Rose, Grant Hill, & AmericaI usually don't read NBA news, and somehow I got a very important story confused as an NBA story...not an American story...which this really is. The more I looked into it and listened, the less I wanted to comment, and the more I thought we should all listen.<div><br /></div><div>Jalen Rose had <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/mccarthy/2011-03-10-fab-five-jalen-rose_N.htm">this to say in a recent documentary</a> about the Fab Five.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grant Hill, a wonderful basketball player, student, and person, on the 92' Duke NCAA Championship team, <a href="http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/grant-hills-response-to-jalen-rose/">had this piece in the NY Times</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a very interesting and important dialogue. It may anger, sadden, annoy, or bore you, but this is an important discussion for our nation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd be lying if I didn't want to berate Rose. I hated everything about the "Fab Five"...which is why I had to stop and listen to what he was really trying to say...and there is more to Rose's statements than what is on the surface. I make no comment in regard to agreeing or disagreeing, other than saying, "Stop. Listen to his point." You can make your own determination.</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-15996920411385210622011-03-15T12:25:00.004-04:002011-03-15T13:23:30.135-04:00Firing the 20 for the 80I subscribe to <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/">Seth Godin's blog</a>. I enjoy reading his leadership and organizational insights. They usually spur me on when I need a kick in the tail.<br /><br />In the interview below, he speaks of a hotel owner who "fires" 20% of his customers so that he can focus on the other 80%. Having a clientele devoted to a particular vision allows the provider to focus on that vision. How do you get that clientele? Seth suggests firing those not on board. Risky? Controversial? Yes.<br /><br />I know Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg UMC has said, "The biggest growth we ever had was from 100 to 60." Mike essentially "fired" attenders of his church and lead the church to devote their ministry to a core that ended up growing exponentially. To this day, he is unflexing in regard to the aims and direction of the church...food for thought. Lots of good stuff here, check out the video.<br /><br /><iframe height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20290657" frameborder="0" width="400"></iframe><br /><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/20290657">Exclusive interview with Seth Godin</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/giantimpact">GiANT Impact</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-27504636293451373582011-03-10T09:49:00.001-05:002011-03-10T09:51:06.603-05:00<strong>Ashes to Ashes<br /><br />Mortal Reminders<br /></strong>[Hold up gold tube] Anyone know what this is? This is a burial record holder. Long ago, when a funeral took a casket to the cemetery, this was a part of the luggage. It went with the casket, and inside was the information about the person, casket, and plot.<br /><br />It was given to me by a funeral director as a gift because he saw that I was always looking for dirt. You see I put dirt in here to take to graveside services, so when you die and I do your funeral, I will take dirt from this receptacle, pour it over your casket and say, “We commit this body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”<br /><br />Ash Wednesday is an odd day. Christians around the world take a moment to stop and remember: “I am going to die. My days are numbered.” You and I came from the earth, and to the earth we will go. It’s pretty sobering.<br /><br />I will never forget the first time I put ashes on someone’s forehead, someone I knew, someone I sat with as their spouse had surgery, someone who prayed for me before every Sunday worship service, I’ll never forget thinking as I made the Ash Cross: God, I’m telling this person they’re going to die!<br /><br />Fast forward a couple of years, and my wife came forward with our son. It truly was all I could do to smear ashes on my boy’s head and get those ancient words out, “Remember, from dust you came, to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Gospel.”<br /><br />So why do we do this?<br /><br /><br /><strong>Numbered Days<br /></strong>We do this because our days are numbered. We have approximately 26,000 days to live. It sounds like a huge number, but when you consider that at only 33, I’ve lived 12, 174 of those days, nearly half, it doesn’t look like so many...and when one of those days is over, it’s gone...There’s no getting it back.<br /><br />We have so many ways to dull that reality: TV, make-up, cosmetic surgery, games, sports, beer, drugs, relationships, even religion.<br /><br />But the reality is: Our days are numbered. When Jesus came he invited us to live the abundant life, and living the abundant life means living intentionally, deliberately, thoughtfully, faithfully.<br /><br />This day we make the sign of the cross in ashes to symbolize our mortality and frailties. The dust and ashes are a sign to us that we will someday die. They are a reminder to us to live each day to its fullest. What is important? What do we want to live for? What do we believe? What do we want to accomplish? What legacy do we want to leave? The dust and ashes bring these to mind...<br /><br />But we the ashes also remind us of our sins, our failures, our shames, our regrets, our pains, and our sorrows. In the ancient world covering oneself with ashes was a sign of sorrow, humility, and repentence. A loaded word, repentence, means nothing more than “Turning around.”<br /><br />And so the ashes are made in a cross, the symbol of the God who lived, and breathed, and died with us. The symbol of the empty tomb, and the symbol of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the grave.<br /><br />In amazing irony, the ashes reflect God’s exchanging death for life, sin for forgiveness, regrets for joy. This sign is a sign of hope to those who believe in God through Christ Jesus. It is the sign of new life...not just in eternity, but right now.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Living Signs<br /></strong>So we hear the words of Isaiah tonight, admonishing us not to just play at the religious game, but to go out and life the crucified life.<br /><br />For the next 40 days, we are to take a special time to reflect and hear God’s calling in our lives.<br /><br />This Lenten season, God invites us all to a fast of addition. A fast of righteousness. The Isaiah 58 fast: This Lent I encourage you not to just subtract or fast from something, but to add something to your life.<br /><br />Call it a fast, call it reflection time. In our church we’ll be calling it 40 for 40, reflecting 40 minutes for 40 days You can call it whatever you want. but I invite you to give to others by sacrificing our most precious possession: Time.<br /><br />Take some time to give. Take some time to love. Take some time to feed the hungry, clothe the destitute, heal the sick, free the oppressed.<br /><br />And when we do that, we will have no need for ashes. No need for sackclothe, no need for public humiliation. For then our light will rise in the darkness, and our night will become like noonday. And we will be known as Children of God. We ourselves will be living crosses of earth and ash, living signs of the hope and the forgiveness, and the love of God.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-43922189979671257552011-03-07T11:30:00.003-05:002011-03-07T11:45:51.610-05:00A Weekend of Ups and Downs...but More Ups!Purdue lost to, 10th place in the B1G, Iowa. A team everyone has mauled, except IU, we lost in what was amazingly only a one point loss. We didn't hustle or play hard, and the shots didn't go in the bucket. That always equals a loss in the B1G.<br /><br />Other than that, though, it was a great weekend. The local Girl Scouts had an overnight and joined us for worship. It was fun having almost 30 girls and their parents join us worshiping God!<br /><br />I've been wanting to fix some sound equipment issues, and I invited Terry LeMaster to check it out. Friends from CCUMC, Terry brought his whole family, and we had a great time after church.<br /><br />Later in the evening, Steph and I did Youth Group. The bright spot of any week, the DVD was very powerful. John Ortberg's The Me I Want to Be is OK, but this video was worth the entire lesson.<br /><br />What a great weekend!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-75004312765115216272011-03-06T08:18:00.002-05:002011-03-06T08:23:50.971-05:00Transfiguration SundayI love Transfiguration Sunday...<br /><br />It has so many meanings....<br /><br />Jesus on the Mountain Top with Moses and Elijah, a clear connection with the OT that Jesus is the Messiah.<br /><br />Jesus' Transfiguration, a symbol of the glory to come.<br /><br />Peter's fully human desire to capture the moment, enshrine it and focus on the place and not the Who.<br /><br />The foreshadowing of the Resurrection to come, a glimpse of glory before the darkest days ahead. A glimmer of hope in the night of Jesus' ministry. Like a cancer victim receiving news the cancer is in remission. Or that the storms are over. Or the report card with a C+ instead of an F. And those times when we feel the real presence of God working in our hearts in worship and prayer. <br /><br />Moments that can change our day, week, even life. Little Resurrections of hope barging into ordinary life and changing it forever.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-76670165093413125842011-02-23T09:17:00.003-05:002011-04-28T19:35:18.923-04:00Bono's Interview about ChristAs you know, I'm a big U2 fan...Here is a great link to bono talking straight up about faith...<a href="http://revray.posterous.com/the-poached-egg-bono-interview-grace-over-kar">This one </a>is an absolute gem!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-16689177333963331852011-01-26T11:45:00.005-05:002011-01-26T11:59:40.843-05:00Best Thing I've Read from the Middle East Since the Bible!Since the invasion of Iraq, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of attacks on Christians living in Middle East nations. From Iran to Iraq to Palestine to Egypt, the Christian minorities have been threatened, beaten, bombed, and killed. Churches have become hostage sites while worship services have been rocked by suicide bombers.<br /><br />Arab Christians have begun fleeing their homes and staying away from worship gatherings, fearful for their lives.<br /><br />The one thing that would easily solve this problem from exploding hadn't been happening, but now it has...Muslims are stepping up, speaking out, and standing beside their cousins in faith.<br /><br />This <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/95/3216/Egypt/Attack-on-Egypt-Copts/Egypt-Muslims-to-act-as-human-shields-at-Coptic-Ch.aspx">news story </a>articulates the recent turmoils in Egypt and how Muslim intellectuals and activists are calling for Muslims to support the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copts">Coptic Christians </a>in Egypt. By going to church with them, Muslims are becoming "human shields."<br /><br />How amazing. How Christ-like! And I say that with total admiration for my cousins in faith. God bless you! May our LORD, the God of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac bless you and keep you. May the God of our Fathers and Mothers protect you and our Coptic brothers and sisters.<br /><br />Insha'Allah, we can have peace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-7102890242651144972011-01-25T08:28:00.002-05:002011-01-25T08:41:32.078-05:00Boiler Up!#12 Purdue @ #1 an Ohio State University tonight!<br /><br />Can Purdue win? Absolutely! Will they win? Well, that's why they play the game.<br /><br />The key matchup according to the media is 6' 9" Fr. J. Sullinger of aOSU vs. 6' 10" Sr. J. Johnson. Both lead their teams in scoring and rebounding. Both are the top candidates for Big Ten player of the year. Each have a lot to prove about being the dominant post player of the year...<br /><br />BUT...I'm going with the guards. I think that Sullinger and JJ will both play well, and thus negate each other. The key is going to be Etwuan Moore and Purdue's defense vs. Lighty and Buford. If Threetwuan Moore continues to play like he did vs. MSU and Purdue's guards are able to deny the aOSU guards entry passes, it will be a long frustrating night for the school that pays their players...umm...I mean aOSU. If Purdue is not able to deny Sullinger the ball, it will be the beginning of a long, terrible darkness over the Big Ten as Sullinger's game will open up aOSU's long game, spelling certain doom for the forces of good.<br /><br />I don't think it will go like that, though. I think it will be a hard fought game going down to the wire. Threetwuan Moore hits the game winning three.<br /><br />Purdue 71<br />aOSU 69<br /><br /><br />P.S. Look for Seth Davis to still say Purdue is not good after the win.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-61381675030769685472011-01-17T13:03:00.005-05:002011-01-17T13:18:16.664-05:00Respecting Your EldersIn my line of work, I deal with a large percentage of older adults. It is no surprise, and it is often admitted by older adults themselves, that this demigraphic strongly dislikes change.<div><br /></div><div>However, life is full of change, and we are living in a moment in history when the change from week to week is literally equivalent to the changes occurring in a century for most of history. Change has exploded into an ever quickening pace. More has been learned in the 20th century than all of human history combined. It truly is an unbelievable time to live!</div><div><br /></div><div>Leading an organization, leading for best practices in communities, that means I am advocating change often. Sometimes those changes are small. Sometimes they are big.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, I have found that resistance to change often finds the most base, ad hominem arguments, which gets to my point: At what point does the "I'm 90..." become a trump card?</div><div><br /></div><div>It leaves us with giving up and letting resistance to change have its way, or it becomes the perception that you're "attacking a 90 yr. old."</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess maybe I'm jealous. I want a trump card that shames everybody even when their logic is sound. "No! You can't do that! I have brown eye brows! You just leave little ole me with brown eyebrows out. You non brown-eyebrow-liker!" Man that would be awesome to pull out when I'm obviously not right. The brown eyebrow trump card...something I didn't decide and don't control...but makes me right nonetheless.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also tired. Tired of fighting. I'm tired of "That's not the way we've done it." I'm tired of "You're just young." I'm tired of "You'll learn some day." I'm tired of "Old people are left out." These accusations are merely that...accusations, ad hominem attacks that surface when the facts prove a point.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, culturally, we let these arguments stand...and win. I guess I have a lot to learn about respecting my elders because I just can't when they play these games.</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-1522767576814726602011-01-11T10:05:00.003-05:002011-01-11T10:26:10.356-05:00Cheaters Do Win!One of the lessons I'm going to have to teach my son and daughter is that cheaters do win. Contrary to what Daddy and Mommy have taught them their short lives, the NCAA is proving time and time again that it DOES pay to cheat (pun intended)!<br /><br />Last night a player whose family asked for $200,000+ to play for two different schools was lauded as a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls10/columns/story?columnist=wilbon_michael&id=6010585">hero for winning the BCS National Championship Game</a>. In case you haven't heard, his father asked for money for Cam to go to different SEC schools. The schools turned this in, and the NCAA, ever so moral and righteous, deemed that <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2010+news+stories/december/ncaa+addresses+eligibility+of+cam+newton">Cam nor Auburn can't be held responsible for his father's indiscretions</a>. The cheater wins.<br /><br />This year O$U players were actually caught <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2010-12/osu-suspensions/story/reports-osu-investigating-tattoo-allegations">receiving special perks </a>for being players and for selling Big Ten Championship rings. They were suspended for 5 games next year...BUT, they were allowed to play in the Bowl game this year. Again, the cheater wins.<br /><br />John Calipari, the cheatingest coach in all of sports, has been the head man at two different universities that were given sanctions for improper recruiting violations and recruits having <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4412279">someone else take their SAT</a>. Yet, the NCAA has cleared him every time. Yet, here he is the lauded Coach Calipari, at head of the (formerly) prestigious Kentucky basketball program. This cheater <em>really</em> knows how to win!<br /><br />Here's to the cheaters! Yours is the victory and the glory and the wins! Cheers to the NCAA for being a leading force in the change of antiquated ethics...pshhh...who needs integrity...It doesn't give you trophies or $$$.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-13181687805219132552011-01-04T08:59:00.002-05:002011-01-04T09:32:49.537-05:00More Than We Can Handle1 Corinthians 10:13 is often misquoted/misused...I've heard it (and probably said it this way myself) "God won't give you more than you can handle." And, while this is true in a sense, it is often pulled out of its context to mean something like "God will not allow stuff to happen in your life that you cannot effectively overcome." This is false.<br /><br />John Ortberg pointed this out in It All Goes Back in the Box, as he correctly writes,<br /><br /><em> <blockquote><em>People twist that statement into saying that God will never give us<br />more than we can handle. Really? Look around the world: <br />holocaust, death, martyrdom, cancer, war. Whether it's a special<br />assignment or just living in a fallen world, people all the time are given<br />burdens they cannot handle...Paul's point is that we can never worm out of<br />responsibility for sin by saying it's God's fault.</em><br /></blockquote></em><br />I'm glad I ran across this. It challenged a reading that I had blindly accepted. I <em>knew </em>people had more than they could handle. I've read that verse and said to myself, "There are things, I'm not sure <em>I</em> could handle." To be honest, I felt a sense of pressure when reading this. Nothing can break me? Really? No...that's just religious platitude.<br /><br />God gives us an out when it comes to temptation, but there are circumstances in life that will beat people down, sometimes even take their life...literally and/or figuratively.<br /><br />That is why it is so important for the Church to be involved and missional in its endeavors to the community and world in which it exists. There are evils and oppressions out there that are taking people's lives slowly and painfully. And it's more than any of us could handle...alone.<br /><br />This is why I believe in the Church: I have seen, felt, and participated in Her Salvific mission given by Christ to redeem the world. The message of God's love and mercy are so vital to give hope, and the active love of the body of Christ through mercy and caring ministries demonstrates what salvation is really all about: wholeness.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-89319585461508700872011-01-01T17:21:00.002-05:002011-01-01T17:26:27.331-05:00Happy New Year!!!Holiday wishes to everyone! I hope that your Christmas and New Year were fun, safe, and meaningful. This has been such a unique year, but I can say that I am learning a lot about myself lately...mostly where I need to grow as a person. As long as I can follow through with it, that's a good thing!<br /><br />Speaking of growing, I've made some resolutions for myself this year. They are:<br /><br /><ul><li>Exercise regularly.</li><li>Maintain a reasonable diet.</li><li>Lose 20 lbs.</li><li>Not lose my temper as much with my children.</li><li>Get back to dotting more i's and crossing more t's. 2010 was a huge step back in that area!</li></ul><p>Do you have any resolutions? Want to share?</p>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-41814370661326978162010-12-23T10:14:00.003-05:002010-12-23T11:01:07.015-05:00WassailOK, so I've always wanted to see what the big deal was about Wassail. As most of you know, I'm a history major and lover, so to see 16th - 18th century England obsessed with Wassail, I'm curious as to what it tastes like. Why is this drink in so many songs? Why did the English have such a connection to it?<br /><br />Yes, I've had the modern American stuff we call wassail, but it's really just a mulled cidar. I've always harbored some doubts that the stuff in church lady's crock pot was the stuff of song and dance! From what I've read Wassail is more of a "hearty" drink. The name itself means "Good Health."<br /><br />Finally, I've found it: A professional chef's research into a 16th <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BPaoH6QrGRo/TRNyHiW_R6I/AAAAAAAAAT8/u1ZNofulltU/s1600/Lambswool-Wassail-6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553908239285831586" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BPaoH6QrGRo/TRNyHiW_R6I/AAAAAAAAAT8/u1ZNofulltU/s200/Lambswool-Wassail-6.jpg" /></a>century Lambswool Wassail: It looks stout, hearty, and...interesting! I'm pretty sure it's more ancient than I thought. It's a basically a spiced beer; however, I'm confident it has a pagan religous origin. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailing">Apples</a> and eggs were very important to the British Isles' pagan religions, and Wassail has always been related to Christmas...or Winter Solstice, an important holiday for most pre-Christian religions.<br /><br />Overall, it's been a fun little research project, and now I'm trying to decide if I take the next step! Should I make it...and more importantly, should I serve it! Lol!<br /><br />See what you think...would you drink it if I make it!?!<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://http//www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/wassail-recipe/index.html">Wassail by Alton Brown</a></strong><br /><strong>Ingredients<br /></strong>6 small Fuji apples, cored<br />1 cup brown sugar<br />1 cup water<br />72 ounces ale<br />750 ml Madeira<br />10 whole cloves<br />10 whole allspice berries<br />1 cinnamon stick, 2-inches long<br />1 teaspoon ground ginger<br />1 teaspoon ground nutmeg<br />6 large eggs, separated<br /><br />Don't try this without looking up the Foodnetwork show on how to do it (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN9gT3hwkE0">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v9TXRstvmI">Part 2</a>)! Apparently, it takes a few special twists to get it to come out right.<br /><br />Seriously, I'd love to hear your thoughts!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-18747342653329764922010-12-22T12:03:00.003-05:002010-12-22T12:07:21.388-05:00WordlingOK, so I spent too much time playing while I was designing the front of the bulletin cover...<br /><br />But here is John 1:1-18, our Advent and Christmas Eve texts, in Wordle form! Click here if you want to <a href="http://www.wordle.net/create">Wordle</a>!<br /><br /><br /><a title="Wordle: John 1:1-18" href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2917084/John_1%3A1-18"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ddd 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ddd 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 4px; PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; BORDER-TOP: #ddd 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ddd 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 4px" alt="Wordle: John 1:1-18" src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/2917084/John_1%3A1-18" width="189" height="137" /></a>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-81489303105145450842010-12-21T10:30:00.004-05:002010-12-21T10:49:05.325-05:00SpeedlinkingHere are some great links to check out!!!<br /><br /><ol><li>If you've ever put yourself out there, you'll know this already. But, it never hurts for all of us to be reminded: <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/12/you-will-be-misunderstood.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">You will be misunderstood</a>. It's OK...Keep at it!!!!</li><li>Interesting <a href="http://www.emergentkiwi.org.nz/archive/commercialism-at-christmas-an-ancient-story-worth-pondering/">parable</a> about ascetic theology from author Steve Taylor.</li><li>Cathy Escobar's great blog has a good post about <a href="http://kathyescobar.com/2010/12/13/single-mommies-and-daddies/">single parents</a>.</li><li>Andrew Conard lists some <a href="http://andrewconard.com/2010/12/03/non-negotiables-for-church-staff-and-volunteers/">non-negotiables for church staffs</a>. What do you think? What would you add? Subtract?</li><li>Is <a href="http://www.outofur.com/archives/2010/12/can_yoga_be_chr.html">Yoga compatible with following Jesus</a>? Interesting thoughts by my least favorite attention...lover, Mark Driscoll, but I found myself unable to disagree with what he was saying.</li><li>Apparently, the founder of the Tea Party movement <a href="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/tea_party_nation_founder_lets_get_rid_of_the_socia.php?ref=fpb">isn't a fan of the United Methodist Church</a>...and apparently, I'm not a big fan of him either after reading some of his other tirades!?!</li><li>If you haven't seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2OfQdYrHRs&feature=player_embedded">the new translation app called "Word Lens" </a>you're missing out on Star Trek being made real today! It instantly translates any words/signs/etc. you point at...check it out!</li></ol>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-25675493778788798762010-12-17T15:15:00.002-05:002010-12-17T15:24:35.590-05:00Silent NightI'm a huge fan of Six Pence None the Richer. It seems they get what Christian music should be about, which is probably why they have had a rocky relationship with the industry. The following video is their rendetion of Silent Night. It is amazing. I love the angel smiling at 2:46. It made my day, and I hope it makes yours.<br /><br />Btw, we're singing Silent Night to this to close out worship on Sunday...come join us if you can!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6ml_YbgJsQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6ml_YbgJsQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2926582872674166067.post-51245936987423263792010-12-15T09:38:00.002-05:002010-12-15T09:48:04.519-05:00Peace on EarthOne of U2's great songs (aren't they all!?!) is <a href="http://www.u2.com/discography/lyrics/lyric/song/104">Peace on Earth</a>.<br /><br />It asks the obvious question: How can we read and sing "Peace on Earth" when so much of our news, our politics, and our lives are full of anything but peace?<br /><br />If the Christ Child came to bring peace or to announce peace, where is it? Did God fail to deliver? Is God lying? Is God even there?<br /><br />Something that I have learned is that the greatest gifts I've received are the gifts that I must do. For example, the greatest gift I received from my parents is how to love and be loved. This love is not something that is just given me...it fails to be what they taught if I only receive. The love they taught is a love that gives. What they gave me was giving. What they gave me was a giving of myself. The gift they gave was a gift I give.<br /><br />I think the gift of the Christ Child is peace and goodwill; however, that peace isn't something that magically appears. It's not something that just happens.<br /><br />The Peace of the Christ Child only happens when the birth of Jesus happens in our hearts and lives...when WE become peace and goodwill...when our lives and our selves offer peace.<br /><br />Where is peace? It comes from the heart that receives the Christ Child. Do we want peace? We must live it! Do we want goodwill to all? Then we must live it!<br /><br />"Heaven on earth...we need it now..."<br /><br />May God be with the fathers and mothers who weep this Christmas for the sons and daughters lost to our insane violence. Amen.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08607335847577250019noreply@blogger.com2