Passionate, but Frail.....

Thoughts from a beautiful weekend at Emmanuel.

Make the path to God so very clear....

I woke up this morning and I immediately began reflecting on the thoughts from yesterday. The idea of leveraging everything for the glory of God seemed very distant. The question I wrestled with was "how"... How can I really allow this day to be a day lived for God's glory, name, and renown? I feel helpless, at times, to really be a difference-maker. I felt pretty fragile as I consider that I could share a similar role as John the Baptist. Yikes! It is a challenge to ask of God that I might actually herald His glory with the strength and substance of Elijah.

So, with all those feelings of frailty, I opened and read a prayer journey thought for the day. This devotional was beautiful! So much so, that I wanted to cut and paste for your enjoyment.

Sometimes I wonder how much confidence God really has in me...in us. Don't get me wrong, I know He loves us immensely and has called us to greatness. But He also knows how short our memories are. And how frail our frames. So, once again we come to Sabbath. To rest. To remember. Sure, just six fleeting days ago we were here remembering--determining to walk with the confidence that He is I AM. But, we didn't really fully get it, did we? Nor have we made the six-day journey with confidence. Confidence, not in what we can do, but in what He can do in us.Thus, we stressed, we worried, we carried heavy loads alone... we doubted if it was possible after all. We settled for less. We settled for us.So, again today He says "stop." He says you can't. But I can.Look up. Count the stars. The Maker of all is at your disposal, residing in you through Jesus Christ. Have no doubt...He can live this day well in you.I lift my eyes up to You, Jesus. You are my daily bread. Give me the grace to rest in knowing You are God. Be glorified in me as I surrender my little strength to Yours, and wait on You to flex Your might in me. "I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." You are my I AM. Amen."For He Himself knows our frame, He is mindful that we are dust." Psalm 103:14

I love you guys. I love our God. May we live with such abandon to Him and experience His life through us. May others find delight in our birth! It might be a great week to sit down into Luke 1.15 - 16 and ask God to birth and grow within you the character qualities of John. Enjoy the week. Merry Christmas.

Add to the commentary by clicking on comments.

For the Glory,
Mark

Jesus is.....

Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Chirst, deep, deep within yourselves. -- Philippians 4.23 (MSG)

What an incredible weekend at Emmanuel. We parked our lives, thoughts, passions, and deepest longings around a memorial confession. Peter said, Jesus, you are the Messiah... the King of Glory.... the Christ!

It was sweet to ask and answer, "who is Jesus to you?" Here's a few of the beautiful responses from the Emmanuel family. Jesus is....

strength, comfort, peace, salvation, redeemer, friend, the Son of God, life, truth, guide, provider, confidant, courage, more than enough, justifier, lover of my soul,healer, teacher, rescuer, desire, example, Lord, all, joy, reality, groom, mercy, grace, ultimate, deep magic (a C.S. Lewis reader!), my conversation at any time, real, heartbeat, breath, eternity, my drive to work, my rest at night, my day, my night, my hero, my hunger, my fill, today, tomorrow, eternally my Christ, freedom, forever present, faithful One in the midst of horror, patient, available, compass, stability, light, friend who is ready to listen, the Father I never had, a river in a time of dryness, a harbor in the tempest, peace breaking through confusion, mercy lifting me from a sea of sin, grace that is greater than my flesh, strength girding my frail frame, redemption washing away weakness, my defense, protector, direction, source, music, everything, whole, assurance, refuge, hero, more, freedom giver, a gift, my delight, mender of my broken heart, unconditional, shelter, beautiful, beyond compare, treasure, power, freedom, the missing piece of the puzzle, bridge to God, amazing, the map, restoration, my clothing, amazing, ridiculous, ALL!

And Jesus turned to Peter and said, 'upon that confession, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!' May our lives... the life of Emmanuel be a continuous confession of the greatness, wonder, beauty, and majesty of our God! May we live our confession in this earth......

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comment below.

Together, For the Glory,

Mark

The Plan

A thought or two from the weekend encounter at emmanuel/ Philippians 4.18-19.

When surrounded by need..... hunger, pain, death, thirst, AIDS pandemic..... the challenge that we, as Christ followers, face is to demonstrate that God is good. Life is harsh and God is good. How do these two realities co-exist?

God has this beautiful plan to demonstrate His goodness and His grace. It's a daunting plan, but a great plan! His plan to demonstrate His goodness is us. The body of Christ.... the individual Christ-follower. It's our responsibility... our role to live out the goodness of God in this time and in our generation. We are Plan A. Perhaps the most terrifying reality is that God doesn't have Plan B! He looked at a group of followers a couple thousand years ago and said to them, 'you guys are the plan. I will live life through you and you will demonstrate the beauty of our God in this earth. I have put on flesh, walked with you and will pour out everything in order to live for and through you. So, plan A - it's you!!' I would imagine that those guys had the same reaction as we do today.

I have this intense responsibility to listen to God... to know Him well... to know His heart.... and to be keenly attuned to His promptings. Then, to join Him at work and release on earth a taste of heaven. That's what God expects from us. Actually, I think that will be good news for this world! I am thankful.... I am grateful... I am stunned to be a part of God's plan. To be in the middle of the fray as I point toward the redeeming work of Jesus Christ is intensely exciting. It is also overwhelming.

So, realizing that you and I are Plan A... that God has invited us into His plan of reconciling men, women, and children to Himself. I think Jesus teaches us a bit about how to actualize His Plan A. He was standing on a hillside with thousands and thousands of people. He was surrounded by His disciples. The people were hungry. They didn't want to go home. Jesus asked the disciples what to do. They said, send 'em home. Let them fend for themselves. Jesus smiled.... looked at His Plan A and asked, again, what should we do. They looked around at the magnitude of need and no resources to meet that need. Jesus said, 'what do you have? Will you just give me what you have?' The disciples found a kid who had a sack lunch and they said, 'here's what we've got.'

What they had... given to Christ... was more than enough. A sack lunch fed thousands and they had leftovers. I love to be a part of God's Plan A. I love that I can actually join Him in His passion to reconcile all people to Himself. Perhaps we find the capacity to meet needs in this earth with the same principles. What do I have? Can Jesus have it? He might just take it and have a bit leftover when He has finished. After all, He is good...... His name, character, and passion released in this earth is good news. His plan is good....it involves me.... it involves you.... it is infused by Christ. It's a good plan. It's a plan that invokes our passion and a life of purpose. Bring your sack lunch and let's feed, nurture, and exclaim the name of Christ to the nations.

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comment below.

For the Glory,

Mark

No Retreat....No Reserve.... No Regret

Thoughts from the weekend encounter at emmanuel flowing out of Philippians 4.14-18.

Paul wrote, about the church at Philippi, that they were uncommonly generous. He wrote that they, unlike many other churches, deeply cared about him.... about needs.... about others. He commended them. Honestly, I long to be a part of a fellowship that is commended because we care. To be commended because we are deeply passionate to know Jesus Christ and to express that knowledge of Him by living out His character in this earth.
Is it possible for Emmanuel to be known for generosity.... concern.... caring.... being a fellowship that leaves deep impression for God's glory? As I said yesterday, I believed at 20 years old that I could change the world. Literally, I had this fundamental belief that God just might want to use me to change the world. Funny, but I am 40 and I still believe that truth at the very depths of my being. The wisdom that I have gained over the past 20 years is that I can change the world..... just not alone! We need each other and, together, as this movement called the church, we can leave a great and radical impact. You know, I want to do that... I can't fathom the thought of sitting idly by as thousands die each day from malnutrition.... hundreds of thousands die from curable disease..... billions have no drinking water. It is our role to meet these needs (give a cup of water) and, after meeting needs, to share of this abounding passion we have for the Person of Jesus Christ.
Otherwise, we will die... spiritually. Our heart and passion will simply atrophy. To be idle is to watch others die... to not care.... to be lukewarm.... and it kills us. We were wired to care and we were wired (eternity rests in our heart) to do something! This image haunts me..... The photojournalist was haunted as well. A kid, minutes from a camp... food... nurture... starving but help is steps away. A vulture awaits death. The photojournalist snaps the picture, sits down under a tree and smokes a cigarette. He did nothing..... The pain of this moment haunted him as well.
We can't sit under a tree and do nothing.... we can't eat ice cream or smoke a cigarette and be idle. I told the story of William Borden yesterday.... His life statement was No Retreat.... No Reserve.... No Regret.... He lived and died with passion and purpose. What about us... me..... you?
Yesterday, I walked away with three thoughts.... I have no capacity to live with generosity if I do not know why I am on this planet. As a Christ-follower, our purpose is to glorify God.. to enjoy Him....to perpetuate Him. My life statement is consumed for that which is ultimate. That guides my decision making... investment of time.... and spending of money.
Speaking of money, giving is a delight. Really! Somehow, this idea of giving has been distorted to be some duty that we must do. You know, like check off the 10% box or dropping a bit in the basket as it passes. Generosity... giving... it's SO much more than simply a duty. It's actually beautiful! Giving allows a truck to back up to a village in W. Africa and dispense antibiotics.... a well to be dug in a village that has no clean drinking water for miles.... for hundreds of kids on our campus to experience this radical man named Jesus.... for LIFE Groups to gather and study.... for a man to give his life in Central Asia and to teach agrarian principles and the use of chickens in order to sustain life (food!).....for a man to trek through Bolivia and introduce those whose hearts beat for Christ, yet they have never heard His name. Giving is not duty... Giving paves the way for rejoicing and hearts to explode for the glory of God.
A third thought was that a life of generosity is based upon the quality of our life (not the quantity). It isn't nearly as relevant how long you live as how you live. Bottom line, Jesus really wants to know if we love Him. If so, then care for His people... love His people... meet the needs of the people that He formed.... and share His name with them. To do that, I think He wonders if we love Him. When we love Him, we will live Him out.
Enjoy today. Cut down any tree that you want to sit under and settle. Eradicate complacency. Live radically. Radical is the way of Christ. Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comment below.

For the Glory,
Mark

Rich..........

Musings from the weekend encounter at Emmanuel and Philippians 4.10-12.... It was pretty sweet to recognize that I/ we are rich. We have been given this magnitude of wealth in order to bless the world around us. For me, the most ridiculous statement this weekend was made in the Rob Bell video. He said that it would take approx. 20 billion dollars to meet worldwide basic needs (clean water, shelter, clothing, medical needs). He, then, said that Americans consume that $ figure in ice cream each year. I am compelled.
I do believe that God has blessed Emmanuel and God has invited us to be a huge part of His solution... to meet basic needs and to step into that vacuum and introduce the ultimate need in the Person of Jesus Christ. In fact, I think (and I am wide open to being wrong) that we make this huge God-dent in this earth by bringing water, food, clothing, and a passion for Jesus Christ simultaneously. It seems to me that we are often zealous... impassioned... for sharing this gospel with a verbal message or a video or a tract.... and people need clean drinking water! (remember, the gospel is GOOD NEWS!) I think that people are waiting for a cup of water or a bowl of soup and THAT is good news to them. They are waiting for medical relief or a roof over their head. They are waiting for a blanket when it's cold and providing THOSE needs is good news. When we have shared in meeting practical needs, then we have the thrill of sharing why.... we, then actually have been granted the right to tell of our reckless, deeply impassioned love relationship with this man named Jesus Christ. Because we love Him so deeply, we actually believe that He wants us to be bearers of good news in this earth.
At the point 0f meeting physical/practical needs, I would guess that hearts, minds, hopes, and passions would be turned on to hear about Jesus Christ. The reality that it is FAR better than soup or a blanket... it is the beautiful truth that Christ longs to take up residence in our lives. That the living God will park His very life in my life... our lives. That is amazing. Ridiculous. And that truth leaves me deeply impassioned. Let's live our lives under compulsion for His fame in this earth!
Our whole capacity to live out the mystery of Christ hinges upon our contentment in Him. Life is not about Christ +.... Christ + someone with you... or different circumstances around you... or an improved view of you......or some position given to you.... or more things owned by you.... or some label on you..... Paul actually says that our capacity to leave a deep God-dent in this earth happens when we discover and live out the truth that Christ is enough. I am in Christ and He is in me and we are hidden in God... we are immersed in this beautiful God-fest and that is enough. There is nothing to add to that equation. Honestly, that truth and reality fly's in the face of everything that I hear, read, or am told. Maybe that's why I suffer from discontent so often. My heart really doesn't long for more things... accolades.... plaudits....even though I keep stuffing them. In reality, my heart yearns for more of Christ. He is enough.
Maybe my capacity to live out this Christ life is found in this mystery.... it's Christ in me, my hope of glory (Col 1.27) Maybe that is enough. Maybe......

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments.

Enjoy Thanksgiving!

For the Glory,
Mark

Bless......

Philippians 4.10 and a few thoughts flowing from.......

I was in a conversation the other day and a term was used to describe a people group. "Trash"... there was an adjective preceding the word.... a color was used. White.... Yellow.... Brown..... people described as trash. Honestly, I didn't like it. In fact, I had a pretty sick feeling in my gut. I mean, someone who was formed and shaped by our God = trash. I don't think that fits at all! I actually began to think that she was describing treasure... creativity... that, when God was forming the people group that she described, He was feeling especially creative that day. Honestly, I am not sure how we end up labeling someone as beneath us.... as trash. How does that happen?

This weekend, we talked about Jesus thoughts and His passion for every person on this planet. We also conversed about our heart 'blooming' for others..... their needs.... who they are.... who they might become.... and when our hearts bloom for others, it sparks rejoicing, and God becomes 'greater than' to them. Greater than a difficult circumstance.... greater than a temporary trial.... greater than the current situation. God is greater than......

Jesus really challenged us concerning our perspective of others and how we serve others. In fact, He really compels us to learn from the Philippian church. In 4.10, the church at Philippi is described as giving generously to Paul and because they gave His heart flourished in joy and God demonstrated that He was greater than Paul's current circumstance (jail... potential loss of life). Because the Philippians responded, we received one of the most beautiful letters ever written... a letter about joy, passion, and contentment in Christ (Philippians!).

There is a story that Jesus told that truly moves me… compels me…. In Matthew the 25th Chapter, Jesus is walking with His followers…. He is talking to them about life… about passion… about priorities….about worship….. about investing….. and he lands on this story…… Some of you will do very well… some of you won’t….. As a Christ follower, there are pretty clear metrics for whether you are doing well…. In fact, whether your heart opens to those around you who are in need is a pretty clear sign of what you are about and Whose you are. He said,

I was hungry and you fed me.
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink
I was homeless and you gave me a place to sleep
I was shivering and you gave me clothes.
I was sick and you visited.
I was in prison and you came to me.

When you did things like this to the overlooked or ignored… it was me! You did this to me!!

It seems to me that we leave much rejoicing when we are intensely passionate about advancing the name of Christ….. when we are in the midst of needs…… we step into needs and speak, very practically, that God is greater than! It seems to me that there is no 'trash' on this earth. There are people who are overlooked, ignored, despondent and awaiting one who has found intense passion and hope to share what we have found!

Let's be honest. It's easy to frequent a bible study.... go to church. It's easy to read a bible. It's even easy to discuss who believes what and who's right and who's wrong. That is easy. It's far more difficult to actually take the truth that we are reading and live it out among those who might be overlooked or ignored. Maybe Jesus isn't about another study. Maybe Jesus is about living His life out in this earth. Maybe Jesus is asking us to live the kind of life He described in Matthew 25. Maybe that is what a Christ-follower would do.... who he would be!

I was thinking practically a bit this morning. I was thinking about the challenge yesterday.... you know - to mobilize into LIFE Groups..... for LIFE Groups to find something.... some ministry..... some area of need in our community and commit to meet that need. What if we gave 2 hours a month, within each group, to support and live out this good news in our city. What if 30 life groups gave 2 hours per month? That's 300 people + in 30 LIFE groups shaping this city.... If I can do my math correctly, our fellowship could actually serve 600 man hours a month demonstrating the God-life. That sounds HUGE. I mean, the pregnancy center would be maintained remarkably..... people who are struggling in nursing homes would be loved..... men/ women in prison could be discipled once a month.... food pantries could be organized...... kids in juvenile shelters could be nurtured.... it could be amazing!

I think Jesus would like us doing something like that in Crestview. I think He would say, well done... way to go. I think that rejoicing could happen in this city as a result. I think God would demonstrate Himself as greater than and actually use us! I am pretty confident we would be on the right track. Finally, I think we would NEVER see trash again. We would see the majesty, beauty, and wonder of God's creation as we joined with God in bringing out His beauty through the lives of His people.

Just a few thoughts..... Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments.

For the Glory,
Mark

Beautiful Day.....

Yeah, yesterday was a beautiful day! All was right... good. From amazing songs to a taste of U2 and the amazing 'closer' to worship - Ian, the cheering machine. Oh, yeah! It was a beautiful day.

Last night, rolling up at Emmanuel at 4:20 (40 minutes early) and seeing hundreds already on campus and dozens of grills rolling out some sweet cooking. Something about that whole deal was just right. It was a beautiful night. I really had this image of the early church.... you know, the group written about in Acts who laughed, loved, ate, and simply sat together and enjoyed life. That's what last night felt like.... Colors were everywhere..... chairs.... laughter.... joy.... kids jumping.... students loving kids.... amazing food..... mascots from all schools.... banners.... and a stinkin good fest. Yes, we had cheerleaders... followed by Ian and Jamie - our resident insane men. If you missed the 'dance off/ cheer fest' by the boys, here's a link to a taste of the insanity.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1389341832

Watching the video, I love the prayer moment.... I mean, how often do you pray and have two mascots standing beside you joining in this conversation with God. It was a beautiful day (dance off included)

This journey in Christ is remarkable. It's fun. It's mystery. It's filled with joy and it's filled with weight (kabod is the hebrew word for 'glory' and it actually means weighty). This role we live out on earth is filled with glory and it is filled with the ripe opportunity to live out the God-life in the marketplace of life. I think that we long to stand firm... I think that we must stand firm as a people who are impassioned for the name and character of Christ and who are emboldened to give all that we are for His fame alone. Paul tells us to put into practice... actually live out... what we have seen and heard. Paul suggest that the impetus for a life lived for the glory will actually move us into the fullness of our purpose. He writes that we will actually live in the midst of God's excellent harmonies! I think Paul was asking us to give our lives for the glory because we will, then, move into God's best... our best! Because we believe that God is whole and brings us to wholeness, Paul really expects that, when confronted with truth, we will put it into practice. When our lives contradict truth, Paul/ Jesus/ James... well, they actually think it best that we adjust our lives to truth because its for the advance of the kingdom AND we benefit by being in God's harmony. Wow!

People who Stand Firm…. They are Christ-followers who refuse to make excuses for their failings; instead we address our inadequacies and invite our God to enable us to overcome. After all, at the center of this whole thing, a man did die and a man was raised from the dead and He did not do that for us to merely make it through a day or to live stuck in a moment we can't get out of.... He died out of this abandoned love for us… a passion for relationship with us….. He actually thinks that the connection we share will so wholly transform us that we will take on his character… Fruit!

Think well... Live well... Become..... That's the beauty of transformation. Becoming a bit more like Christ together.

Stand Firm together.... Falling in love with Christ. That sounds right.... That sounds like a recipe for many 'beautiful days'. Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comment below. Enjoy today, it's a beautiful day.

For the Glory,
Mark

I Wonder.....

A thought or two from the weekend celebrations at Emmanuel (10/29) and Philippians 4.8-9.

I wonder if people see a pretty dim image of Christ because I reflect a pretty dim image? I wonder if it is a struggle to release ultimate passion in worship toward Christ because I fail to release ultimate passion in worship toward Him as well? I wonder if people might stumble over me on their path to find Christ?

I think it's pretty worthwhile for me...maybe for all of us to wonder about these things. Paul invites us, via Philippians 4.8, to expend our lives for what is best... all that is beautiful... and consumed in worship (praise!). I want to cut straight the path to our God. I want people to see my life... to see the life of Emmanuel... to see the life of Christ so infused in the life of this fellowship that they live in awe of Him. I long for God to bless us and for His favor and His hand and His passion to flow through us and spill throughout this earth. I am asking God to allow me... us.... this movement called Emmanuel to leave a huge dent for His glory in this earth.

Because of that passion, I think it's critical that we think about what we are thinking. I think, therefore I am...... it's actually true! My thinking will determine how I live..... how I live will shape who I am becoming... and who I am becoming is shaped by how I think. I want to think much of God. I want to think much about God. I want God to become this magnificent obsession... this radical ambition... this overwhelming passion of my life. I want to be in constant thought about Him. I want His life to shape my life... my thoughts... how I invest my time, energy, resources. I want to think well.

What do I think about? What do we think about? Perhaps this movement called the church is predicated upon our thinking. Maybe God is poised to unveil His glory, majesty, wonder, and awesome nature to those who actually think about Him.... think upon Him... think of Him... and allow thoughts of Him to shape us. Maybe it's as we consider Him that we gain a taste of Him. Maybe, as we think more of Christ, we recognize the fullness of life that He affords! Maybe, it is only in thinking about Christ often... being absorbed in His Word... fileting our hearts for His glory.... maybe that is the place that we discover wonder.

I wonder what might happen if we, Christ followers, live in wonder of Him? I wonder, when we think well, what we might reveal about Him? I wonder what could happen if we think about best, beautiful, and things that evoke worship. Is it possible that we could unleash a taste of heaven on earth? I wonder......

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking comments below.

For the Glory,
Mark

Intimacy.....

A few reflections from weekend encounters at Emmanuel. It was a sweet weekend as we attempted to understand that the God of the universe... the Infinite God of Beginning and End (is there such thing as beginning and end in the economy of God?)..... actually wants to share relationship with us. Can you imagine what a cataclysmic event it must be when we open our mouths... open our hearts... open our passions and actually begin to converse with our God? God will actually give birth to the ridiculous.

Maybe my favorite moment this weekend was considering Moses and Joshua (Exodus 17.8-13ish). Moses, Israel's famous leader, is faced with a crisis. An enemy army has just arrived near Israel's camp intent on wiping out Israel.

Moses calls in his most capable leader for a discussion and strategy planning session. After a thorough planning session, Moses determined a plan of action. He tells Joshua to take the best fighting men we have, lead them out on the plains to meet the enemy and fight with courage. Meanwhile, I am going to take two men, climb the hill that overlooks the plains and raise my hands toward heaven. I'm going to pray that God will pour out courage, valor, coordination, and supernatural protection. Then, I'm going to watch and see what God does.

Moses discovered that God's power is released through prayer. There are two parts of this story that are challenging... first, I love the planning and preparation Moses and Joshua gave to battle strategy. They were intentional about plans... advance. Second, I love that they knew that their best plans were nothing without the abounding power of God. So, Moses ventures up to a hill with two friends and they cry out to God for His presence and power..... and it works!

When we are willing to invite God into our daily challenges.... our home... our relationships..... our marketplace... our schools... our church.... There is radical power and shocking potential! It may be as simple as an idea.... courage.... confidence.... perseverance.... attitude change.... circumstance change.... or an outright miracle. God's power is released in the lives of those who pray.

I love to dream and plan.... I love the idea that God has said that this thing called the church is the hope of the world. I love that the church is us... Christ followers together. I love that God invites us to make plans, dream dreams, enjoy expectations, and posture ourselves for huge stuff. I love that we can actually dream up great stuff! What I really love is that we can walk up to the top of a hill and raise our hands to the living God and call His name... His renown... His power... His glory.... and the best plans that we can deliver are minute compared to His power.

Prayer is relationship...... Prayer gives birth to the ridiculous... Prayer merges the finite (small me.. small you) with the infinite (BIG GOD!).

Enjoy sweet conversation with your maker this week. Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comment below.

Mark

A View!

There was a very sweet moment during the 10:30 encounter this weekend. Our "M" friend and partner in Central Asia shared the coolest thing. During one of our gatherings (a glorified EBC party!), we gathered a few thousand dollars during the party. Those dollars were to supply some basics around our friends apartment (potholes, doorways, etc, AND a playground for kids). Our "M" (missionary) friend told us that we actually gave more than enough... so, she provided running water for a neighbor (yeah, you read that right - running water for the first time!) AND she was able to pay off a debt for a church who had stepped out in faith and implemented a ministry that was not resourced. You and I were an answer to a faith step on the other side of the world! I had a serious Moses 'moment' at the front. Moses actually looked at his group and said, you guys keep giving more than enough and you are blowing my mind. It was like our "M" shared that we were just giving more than enough and it was a huge moment. It's hard to grab the significance of this moment in writing, but it was a massive moment for our body.

Our "M" friend outlined a few critical prayer needs:
-- perseverance for believers in her country
-- not overwhelmed by circumstances (political upheaval, removal from country for "M"'s}...... instead, to be overwhelmed by our God
-- to carry the person of Christ to unreached people groups in their nations.
-- in the midst of persecution (fines, imprisonment, familial rejection), pray for the believers/ church to stand firm
-- pray for VIBRANT churches, not a fearful gathering, but bold believers
-- our partnership to be stronger than ever. Short term teams to go and prayer to heighten
-- for those who are sensing God lead them to 'go' long term. How beautiful to leverage your life in a 10/40 window country!

It was a great day. It was a great day to actually believe that the God of the universe wants to be in relationship with you..... even further, to believe that prayer unleashes the ridiculous. What an amazing prospect to consider that we (the finite) can merge our lives with He (the infinite) and watch as our relationship brings into fruition the ridiculous! I want to learn to trust Him…. I want to wake up and know He is with me…. And I want to enter into conversation with Him…. I want to be in relationship with a God who moves stones…. Who releases the dead…. Who allows blind to see and who lends the deaf, ears to hear! I want to know and be in relationship with a God like that! Prayer is not my magical shopping list, it is my opportunity to actually be in conversation with the God of the universe. I think he wants to converse with us about what we love and what we hate. I think he wants us to thank him for things. I think, when what we want doesn’t happen, he wants to hear about it. He wants us to experience His love and His joy.

God wants to reach into our cell structure and impulses that He put into our mind and he wants us to walk away at times knowing exactly what it is He said and at other times not having a clue…. But, we will then be tapping into this infinite resource.

So, enjoy the day. Enjoy the collision of the finite and infinite. Expect the ridiculous!

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments.

For the Glory,
Mark

Depth...... Joy....... Satisfaction

A thought from worship encounters at Emmanuel.

Celebrate God all day every day. I mean revel in Him. Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up at any minute. -- Phil 4.4 (MSG)

Joy is much less about circumstance and much more about a person. There is a far deeper faith than mere circumstance! As long as you and I live by circumstance, then our joy and our faith are absolutely contingent upon how we interpret events and circumstances around us. I am not sure that God ever intended for us to experience joy based upon a circumstance. An incredibly provocative thought from this weekend was that Jesus sent out a dozen men into the earth to give their lives for the advance of the Kingdom of God. He did not guarantee them safety.... He did not promise them 'good' lives. In fact, He promised that they would be scorned, beaten, and perhaps even give their lives for the Kingdom. GO ANYWAY! 11 of 12 were martyred for the faith! Jesus said, if there is any mystery at all about the trouble you will face, let me make it clear. You will find trouble in this earth! But, take heart, I have overcome this whole deal. Fix your eyes on Jesus and set your hearts on eternity.

The foundation of joy. The foundation of who we are in Christ. The foundation of this journey called the church and the capacity to stand firm is based upon a person and not a circumstance. At the center of everything someone died and someone was raised from the dead! We have to direct our lives away from a current situation and fasten our lives, focus, and passion upon Jesus Christ.

The idea that we want a formula.... a simple little seven step program to our best life today...… Give me 4 steps to faith. The problem with formula is that it never satisfies. I am always let down when the formula just doesn't work. But, answer this… how do I fall in love? Far more ethereal.. far more impassioned… far more stable……far more crazy.... far more founded…. Paul is not inviting you into joy based upon a few principles… I am inviting you to know a person… to fall in love with a person! Paul is asking us to rejoice in the Lord! He is telling us that our ability to live with joy is in Christ alone. He invites us to a person and not a circumstance.

The book of Hebrews was written to a group of Christ followers who were being pressured by their community and difficult circumstances to abandon their faith…. For the first three chapters, the writer challenged them to believe on the basis of their identity in Christ. He presents a mountain of evidence pointing toward the conclusion that Christ is God….. We can have joy… we can stand firm because Jesus walked this earth…. Claimed to be God…. Gave evidence supporting His claim…. Died for our sin… rose from the dead…. And went back to heaven in clear view of hundreds of witnesses….. He concluded that thought by writing. Therefore, since we have a high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jeuss the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess!

Our joy… our foundation rests upon Christ. Hebrews says, Faith is being assured of this identity in Christ… and being convinced of what we can’t see at times… In Hebrews 11, he gives dozens of illustrations of people who showed joy…. Radical faith… Their lives were grounded in their identity in Christ! Noah spent 140 years building an ark… it hadn’t ever rained…. Abe left His home and ventured to destination unknown…. Gideon charged an enemy camp with a few hundred guys because God…. Moses went back to Egypt and stuttered His way through… Joshua walked around walls seven times…. Crazy strategy but God!

There was this confidence that Jesus is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. Paul invites us to determine our lives and our joy based upon the character and person of Jesus Christ living in us. Can you imagine the trajectory of our lives if we woke up every day and believed that God is with us? That He longs to live through us? We could be a bunch of Used to be’s who are turned on to radical things in Christ…. Who are turned on to a radical person named Christ…… That’s how Paul writes something crazy like this! Rejoice in the Lord always... Yeah, let me say it again... REJOICE!

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments Enjoy today, for the Lord God is with you!

Mark

We.... Us.... Church

The pic from Tiananmen square is profound! One man, standing in front of a tank and risking everything for the sake of a cause... something He deeply believed in... to the point of death. What the picture does not tell is the 'plural imperative' of this moment. To his left and right are thousands of students, intellectuals, those who were partnered with this unknown rebel. This image is not about a man standing alone in his principles. This image is about a man exemplifying the plural imperative. The image below displays the streets of Tiananmen Sq. filled with revolutionaries. To be an uknown rebel - yeah, that's provocative. To be partnered with unknown rebels is world changing!

Honestly, most of us in the faith get the 'vertical imperative'. We grasp inviting Christ to be our life. He comes into your heart... He changes your life... You spend time with Him. Your passion for 'knowing God' is there and its compelling (or at least your want it to be). I know we know about this vertical passion - to personally know God. I am not sure, however, that we truly grasp God's intense passion for the 'plural imperative'. This movement of Christ followers is a 'we or us'. Our western notions of rugged individualism really don't jibe very well with the plural imperative of this movement called the church.

I was reading some thoughts about the church of late, and I like what the guy was saying. The church has never been a building. Church is Kingdom dwellers put together. The plural of Jesus follower is 'church'. It's a simple way to say 'we' or 'us' - church. Jesus insisted that there is a plural imperative: Church is disciples following together.

After Jesus had sent His Spirit to His followers, they spoke about the good news and three thousand people believed, crossed the border into the Kingdom of God, and became Jesus Followers. When they joined in the band, the "US" was amazing. Someone actually wrote down all the plural things that were happening. They devoted themselves to one another... to prayer.... to eating bread together.... an awe comes upon everyone because of the power the Jesus followers have.

They are all together.... all things in common... they actually sell what they own and give money to everyone who needs it. They meet together in the Jewish temple.... house to house... and when they eat, they are glad and very sincere about it. They cannot help but talk about how great their God is! And everyone can't help but notice and be attracted to them.

This beautiful thing called us... the church is so creative, imaginative, beautiful, united and impassioned that it stirred and fulfilled the deepest passions and longings of people... the desire to belong.. the desire to belong to something far bigger than themselves... the ultimate desire to belong to Someone - the living God!

Let's live the Plural Imperative. We belong to Him. We belong to one another. Feel free to click on comments below and add to the commentary.

Mark

The Unknown Rebel....

Ponderings from a worship encounter this past weekend. (Philippians 4.1 = launching pad)

So a few thoughts about being an 'unknown rebel' actually served to accomplish more than I could have imagined. I was pretty confident that God was inviting us into a deeply impassioned lifestyle of standing firm.... I was pretty confident that all of us have this heart longing to stand firm..... I was pretty confident that every person in the room this weekend would identify with the picture on the screen and agree that we genuinely want to risk everything in order to be a difference maker...... I mean, eternity rests in our hearts (Eccl 3.11), and because eternity rests in our hearts, we all are pretty bent toward vesting our lives in something that lasts far beyond ourselves. I really do think every person wants to stand firm and be a difference maker. Christ follower or not, we all want to leave some sort of mark. So, I really expected that the whole 'unknown rebel' image and challenge would leave us with some pretty provocative thoughts. But, leave it to our biker (CMA) gang to step way outside anything I expected. Our CMA gang grabbed the title 'unknown' rebels and they are running with it as a theme name. We'll see where that leads.....

You know, I have really thought about the man in this image (see pic above). We have no idea his name.... what he is about.... what happened after this moment.... We just know that he believed in something so deeply that his belief sparked a revolution in the hearts of many. I really want my life to be marked by that level of passion. I could care less if anyone knows who I am.... if anyone remembers my name... or if any accomplishment leads to my own accolade. If I can be marked by one thing, it would be that this unknown guy left such an intense impression of passion for Jesus Christ that we really don't remember Him, but we are crystal in Who he believed in. Mark my life with that level of passion!

The closing thought this weekend really left me with much to ponder. My capacity to live that sort of life... to stand firm... to live a relentless life for the glory of God alone.... is directly related to a discipline of my heart and life. All of us long to play the song in our souls, and more of us would do so if it didn't require endless hours of discipline. I want to give my life for the glory of God.... thus, I must invest my life in discovering who He is and who I am in light of Him. I want to play the song... to hear the song... to live the song. The question remains, will I spend my life attuning to His song?

The capacity to stand firm hangs in the balance of my answer to that question.

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking comments below.

Mark... the one longing to be an unknown rebel!

A Passion to Illuminate....

There is far more to life for us -- Philippians 3.20 (msg)


It's a pretty amazing feeling to close out a series of thoughts about who we illuminate! This weekend was sweet... the songs... the passion... the release of our joy in God. Yeah, it was good. It's also profound when we share life together with the emmanuel family. There is hurt (a loss of a dad in the past few weeks).... gain (family members embracing the truth of Christ)... there is challenge ('this series of thoughts have really compelled toward Christ').... status quo (some of us will remain as we are.... ).... and there is this longing to be consumed for that which is ultimate (many will never be the same!)

I think the most challenging part of this weekend was watching the cross and the towers video. You know, Paul really wanted Timothy to be 'spot on' at all times. Paul said to Timothy, be very clear about your hope and your passion because you will not know when season hits and God gives you an opportunity to shed light upon His majesty. Watching the 'cross and towers' video, it really struck me that it matters who I illuminate. It really is a joy to guide others toward the cross and it leaves me under compulsion to fall in love with God and to be prepped to share of that deeply impassioned love relationship. I don't think I was prepared for 9/11 five years ago. I am not sure any of us were. What I do want to be prepared for and to be crystal clear in my life about is who I illuminate. Then, I am stepping into a moment of highest high or lowest low with the path of my life leading directly toward Christ!

Maybe that's it.....I want to make clear the path of my life. When you follow me, you will find Christ. A sentence I spoke at the last two services this weekend really struck me. I don't want anyone to be searching for Christ and to stumble over me trying to find Him. What a horrifying thought! God, let my life cut a straight trail toward You!

So, we are about something radical... illuminating someone because at the center of everything we have talked about SOMEBODY DIED AND SOMEBODY WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. It is not a cakewalk what we are about… not a nice moral addition to life… not a few principles on the table and we will be okay…. We are in a movement that was started when someone died and someone was raised from the dead… We are a generation who live our lives in around or about that very reality…. What will that look like… Will we be a radical people of hope? Will we will illuminate someone who died and someone who was raised from the dead? This world is desperate for us to cast great light on Jesus Christ!

Illuminate.... add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. Enjoy an amazing week.

For the Glory,
Mark

Heart
Guard your heart. It's the wellspring of life. -- ancient proverb

Most people assume the cross is the total work of Christ. The two go hand in hand – Jesus Christ and the cross; the cross and Christ. The resurrection is impressive, but an afterthought for many Christ-followers. I mean, we really do like the resurrection. After all, we get a new outfit AND we score in the candy department. We might even hunt an easter egg and shout he’s alive. The resurrection is important to us... maybe like an extra point after a touchdown or the medal ceremony after the Olympic event… not the big kahuna.

This thought might cause a bit of introspection. The cross was never meant to be the sole central symbol of the faith. I mean, art historians say that early art was focused on miracles, healings, life transformation and the resurrection. Give or take a few years, it was not until around 430 that the first artistic focus on the cross occurs….400 years…. are you kidding me!? This is challenging to us…. Not that we diminish the cross… it is just that there is more….

Paul says, If Christ is not raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith…..

Listen to multiple accounts of the early church chronicled in the book of Acts…. Peter stood and said, we are witnesses of the resurrection…. Peter and John were speaking to people and making proclamation of the resurrection… With great power the followers of Christ continued to testify to the resurrection of Jesus Christ…. Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection….

A dead person is not a lot of help to us. A dead God is even worse! But life, real life, the power of God to restore life.. the power of God to resurrect from the dead. The power of God to restore you… to bring our dead heart fully alive, now that’s a whole new matter. Christ died for you – right on… Christ was raised for us! Whoo hooo!

I came that you might have life.. have a new heart.. live with passion… We are saved by His death and we are saved unto His life…. I am a citizen of heaven! We are free to be what he meant for us to become. You have a new life – that life of Christ.. You have a new heart. Do you know what this means. Your heart is good. You are transformed. That’s what Paul means when He says, live to the level you have attained… Live to a person who is forgiven, freed, and filled with the very resurrected life of Christ… Live with a person who has been given life… Live with heart!

You are a citizen of heaven…Your heart is circumcised toward God…. I was in a conversation awhile back… wrestling with this and a friend said, If I believed that, I could do anything! We would follow Him anywhere! Exactly – it would change our lives…. It would change the trajectory of our lives… It would change priorites… our passion would be released…. We would be resurrected to new life…. It would change the face of Christianity – We would be fully alive! It would make for a proclamation of freedom…. It would mean LIFE!

Yes, we boast gladly and loudly in the cross of Christ for in the cross is the remission of sin… but, we also hold boldly to the resurrection of Christ for in that explosion of life is the light to all men… it is the stamp of authenticity….. it is the hope of glory… it is the explosion of life into our hearts…. It is the catalytic force that will compel us anywhere, anytime, in all ways for His glory… It is actually the good news that will allow us to be a room full of 17’s…. It is actually the good news for this world…… It is the news of freedom…

So, I am percolating this week on a bit of art history. Could it be that God wants the Emmanuel family to be a canvas through which He will render one of the most amazing, God glorifying pieces of art ever recorded? Could it be?! Could it be that God is searching for a group of people who are radically, passionately devoted to Him and He will live and 'image' a masterpiece through us. I think that He longs to bring LIFE through our lives and that He will demonstrate this remarkable resurrection power through the canvas of a people who are turned on to Him. May the artwork of our lives - - together -- be an amazing tapestry of God's goodness, grace, and life.

Enjoy this week. We are forgiven, freed, and made alive. Live!

Feel free to add to the commentary by hitting 'comments' below.

Mark

Obsessed......

Give me one magnificent obsession. To be obsessed is to share a ruling passion... an irresistible impulse.... spirit control.... Obsessed with the desire to know Christ and to release a bit of Christ on this earth. Yeah, that seems like a worthy obsession.

This weekend, there was an image that was seared into my consciousness. I am quite confident that I will not soon forget this 'worship' moment. I had just talked about living with passion for the name and character of Christ. We made this emboldened proclamation that we are citizens of the reality that Jesus Christ is Lord. We actually 'reside' in that confession. He is magnanimous. He is amazing. He is our pure and holy passion. So, we sing 'worship you, my Lord, until the very end.' The song is resonating...it's eerily beautiful... and as we are singing a man with a 'lot of years' under his belt walks toward the cross. White t-shirt.. dock shoes... simple.... He's walked with God a long time. His hearts cry is very simple.."I just want Jesus!" The song echoes, the moment is ripe, and he falls to His knees right in front of the cross. Tears streak his face. Not everything is clear in his mind..... but, he is very aware that God is central in his life and he longs to live and die with purpose. As clarity of thought fades, depth of heart prevails. "Just give me Jesus!"

Everything that we have talked about in "illuminate" was captured in that moment. One throne.. one passion... one obsession... simplicity of life... days numbered... needs simple... purpose clear....longing... desperate.... It was rich to watch varying people become the hands of Christ as they prayed with him. It was sweet to watch a new friend of mine.. a new guy on this journey of the faith... sit with him after the worship encounter and share life.

You know, I experienced a plethora of emotions in that moment. Worship... Clarity... Simplicity... I also had this very practical thought. I wish I had a camera! I wish that I could have snapped a picture of an old man dreaming dreams with a full band playing in the background and a body of Christ behind him singing with abandon and the cross immediately before him. Wow! Beautiful!!

You know, there are some things you just can't orchestrate. I think that moment was alot like God. Yeah, the song was amazing... the message clear... the passion abounding, but God loves to step into moments and shout "surprise!", it's even more beautiful. He loves to take moments and magnify them for His glory and His renown. He loves it when we cry out like a whole bunch of '17's'. He loves it when we are obsessed with knowing Him.

It was a glorious weekend. God felt free to unveil Himself. Wow, did we ever 'go off' during 'Did you Feel'! During all three encounters this weekend, it was sweet as we threw down during the last song. Hey, I want to be a 17. I want to know God. I want people to know me for knowing Him. I think that will make for a very clear path toward Him. I love 17 yes I do; I love 17 how about you!?!

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on 'comments' below.

Enjoy Life!
Mark

Conflicted... Compelled

I am pretty confident that this path of being a Christ-follower is not intended to be conflicting. I am relatively confident that I am not intended to be in conflict. However, I venture through Paul's thoughts in Philippians 3.17... There is a path of my life that leads directly to the throne of my life and I deeply long for the path of my life to lead others to only one Person at the end of the path -- Christ. I genuinely long for people to find a pattern/path through me that points only toward Him. I genuinely want Christ to be found at the end of the trail of my time, possessions, passions, resources, energy.... at the end of that trail is Christ alone. Then, Paul writes in 18-19 that there are a group of people in the heart of the church at Philippi who are about themselves... their purposes... their ways.... They are 'enemies of the cross." Through their legalism and/or their filling of their own desires for their own glory, they hang around the periphery of worship and miss the point. Not only are they distracted... they are a massive distraction from this incredible grace message of Christ.

Instead of celebrating the fleeting glory of my own life... Instead of inviting people to follow me to the throne of my distractions... Instead of settling for something small, temporary, and lacking in worth, I long to say, I have been rescued. I am in Christ. He is in me. No rival throne survives. I have been rescued to be a rescuer. Maybe the conflict of my life is to maintain a level of vigilance concerning rival thrones. I will, at times, attempt to build this small throne...... I will, at times, deviate off the path of consummate passion..... I will be distracted..... and I don't want to be or do any of those things. Rival thrones - the place of conflict. I don't want to be conflicted!

I want to live with laser-like focus on One King, one hope, one passion for one glory. I want to live with that level of focus because satifaction is found there. I want to live with that level of focus because peace is found there. I want to live at that level of focus because purpose is found there. I want to live at that level of focus because this abounding life that Christ describes is found there. I want to live at that level of focus because it matters.... because life counts and Life is Christ.

So, I'm asking God to elevate my vigilance. I am asking Him to walk to all thrones in my life.... is He alone elevated? If not, I really want Him to partner with me and tear down all thrones that point toward me OR distract me from Him. I want Christ. Really! I want Christ. I think the secret of one pure and holy passion is saying, "Christ, you are more than enough and I want more than enough of You!" Susan was reading a quote from Andrew Murray. He wrote, "the great lack of our Christianity today is..... (I'm expecting the incredibly profound leap from the pages of the book she was reading!!), 'we do not know God!' " I want to know God. I want us, together at EBC, to know God... to share intimacy with Him. Could it really be that simple?

I'm thinking that its pretty intense to be a Christ follower. I am thinking its incredibly freeing to be a Christ follower. I really think God is inviting us to determine that we will follow.... that we will remove distractions.... that we will be a group of people who really do exist to ignite and inspire passion for Jesus Christ. That will happen because our passion is crystal clear... no rival thrones.... the King of all Glory sits on the throne of our lives. It matters.

Add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. I love pursuing God together! Enjoy Life.

Mark

Follow Me.....

Thoughts from Philippians 3.17 and an incredible weekend at Emmanuel.

I am not sure if its legal to suggest that Paul was crazy when he wrote Philippians 3.17. Maybe he wasn't crazy, just incredibly bold and intensely passionate. He actually thinks that we will fall madly in love with Christ... Crack open our chest and allows others to watch as the deepest parts of who we are resonate with His glory, His name and His renown.... that we will run after God, removing all obstacles to the knowledge of Him..... and when we discover truths about God, we actually acclimate those truths to our lives. Okay, here's the crazy part. Then, we might have such clarity of focus and passion that we look at others and humbly... oh so humbly say, I think my life and what I am about is a pattern to be about the things of God. I think that my life pattern will actually guide you to Christ. Follow me.... Follow me in my passion... Follow me as I seek to understand and wrestle with His truth... Follow me as I am so stinkin honest.. I don't have it all nailed... I don't know it all, yet.... But, I know that I have found this amazing relationship... Follow me and I think the trail of my life, time, treasure, commitments, resources, energy... that trail will lead you to someone HUGE! I am small... I don't want to be the next big thing.... I am NOT the next big thing. But, I know Him... He is THE BIG THING!

I had no idea how to wrap my mind around Paul's challenge in Philippians 3.17. Follow other's patterns as they follow Christ. Then, I shared with you guys about this little woman, who traveled nowhere, and in the eyes of this world was a nobody... no big job... no power... no stature....no big plaudits.... no visible accomplishments. She kept a garden, loved God, loved her church, loved her family. She thought that when people were hungry, you fed them. She thought it was important to share this passion and love of Christ with her family. She watched her son lead churches for over 60 years now. She led her son-in-law into a relationship with Christ and then watched him impact the world. She left an indelible imprint on this earth for the glory. This quiet, loving, woman, My gran is amazing. She patterned the Christ-life, then, like Paul, she left me with the same challenge.... to pattern my life so that people really are not sure who I am, but they are crystal clear who God is. I am small, God is huge! So, grannie joined the 'cloud of people who are cheering us on' a year or so ago. She is well... doing well.... glorified.... standing immersed in the light of Christ.... and longing for me - for us - to run this race well. Life counts! Live well!! Know Christ.... Follow Him... The Kingdom of God is near.

Who has left a pattern for you? Who has lived out the Christ-life in such a beautiful way that you are following their pattern. Click on comments below and add to the commentary.

There is far more to life for us --Phil 3.20 Live well..... Live with Passion... Live for the glory.

Mark

Turn Around....

thoughts from Philippians 3.17 and a weekend of an outpouring of passion at ebc.

Jesus walked up to people and asked them to turn around and follow Him. What is profound is that many people actually did turn around and follow Him. Lives shifted and perspective, passion, and focus changed for many as they turned around and followed Christ --- making them Christ-followers. I think that same invitation is extended to each of us on this journey called life. He makes His way into our lives and says to us, turn around, follow me and I will lead you into life unimaginable. Repent was our word of the day..... repent being the action word for application of truth. When we encounter truth, we are faced with this internal disonance... what do I do with this truth? In my life, turning around/ repenting, and making application of truth is both difficult and breathtaking.

Jesus stepped into this earth with an alarming proclamation..... The Kingdom of God is near! Turn around and walk into the kingdom. Honestly, I am so deadened to the word 'repent'... I am so skewed in my perspective of that word that I really felt Jesus hitting me with a 2x4 as He said REPENT and DO SOMETHING BIG FOR THE KINGDOM. After letting go of the guilt complex (I have a BIG one), the heavy shoulders, the shame... after letting that go, I realized that Jesus message was not to have regret, to embrace remorse, or to feel bad!

Jesus was saying turn around and walk into the outrageous kingdom of God. Some of His first recorded words are "turn around, the kingdom of God is near". Turn around and look, walk straight into passion, forgiveness, freedom, hope, redemption, justification, purpose, healing..... turn around, giving up only those things that are 'killing' you, and walk into the fullness of your purpose. The kingdom of God is here... Turn around! That's beautiful....It's beautiful. The kingdom of God is change and beauty has arrived! (I'm having an 80's Bonnie Tyler Total Eclipse of the Heart moment... "turn around, bright eyes").

To repent... to turn around is the only alternative to pretending. Wow, do I ever grow weary as I attempt to 'fake' my way through this thing called Christianity. I want to settle for nothing less than turning to Christ.... experiencing His life.... living in the radical, revolutionary lifestyle that He has for me.... living with, for, through, and to the Kingdom of God..... knowing, at the depths of my heart, that Christ is the giver of every good thing. I long, daily... moment by moment, to turn into His kingdom, His ways, His purposes, His passion and to come alive.

To turn around is to grow. To turn around is the motto of the Kingdom of God. It is running into the arms of an incredible, loving Father. It's freedom!

Hey, Turn Around..... the Kingdom of God is near. When you are about you.... your deal... your ways, it's killing you. Christ says, I am here. Turn to me. I am life! Walk deeply into the Kingdom of God. It's what you were created to do, be, and live. Come on in!

Sweet! Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments. Enjoy today.

Mark

Apply.....

I love James.... He writes in a letter found in the Bible that truly contented people are those who carefully study God's Word and that Word makes people free. They don't forget what they have heard, but they apply what they hear to their lives. Those who do this will be free!

I love freedom. I think God loves freedom. God has, at the very depths of His core, a passion to free each of us to become..... to become a people who are actually growing and morphing into the character and likeness of Himself. It is His goal that we are free to worship... to live for truth.... to grow in compassion.... to see and respond to the needs of others - hungry fed, homeless given a roof, widow nurtured, imprisoned loved..... a plethora of things that are beautiful, wonderful, and amazing about our God actually become in us. We kicked the idea around that change does not happen because a group of us sit around and have wonderful intellectual debates about truth...its veracity.... and develop a few thoughts about truth. Instead, God is inviting us, not merely to truth.. but to truth applied. James says, (James seems to be a pretty smart cookie) that we are not just to hear about God and His Word. We are actually to DO something with it! When we do something with truth, it changes us from the inside out.

I shared with you guys that there have been manifold moments when God has used His truth to change the trajectory of my life. A massive part of my personal spiritual growth has been the process of replacing lies with truth.... of allowing the truth of who I am in Christ to define me..... of finding that I had some pretty nasty definitions of who I am and God has some pretty amazing things to say about me. Because I (we) are totally committed to change (change = being transformed into the character and likeness of Christ), then we must be committed to a deep level of passion for God and His Word. So, as we read His Word we are expecting, and in fact looking for application. It's critical that we write an action step.... an application. That action step could be personal - involving you..... practical - something you can do..... passionate - something new about God. Every application will involve either a relationship to God... to others... or to your character. Honestly, it could become quite amazing, exciting, and world changing (I do not type those words lightly!) when a group of followers of Jesus Christ share deep passion for applying truth..... living in truth.... and allowing truth (the person of Jesus Christ and His character) to shape their impact in this earth. You want to talk about releasing on earth what is happening in heaven...... that happens when we are about change and change is about truth applied!!

Maybe, just maybe Hebrews 11.5 could become a reality. Is it possible that you and I could actually be like Enoch? Enoch walked so passionately with God and the character of God became so one with Enoch's character that the two were indistinguishable. Enoch simply faded into God (or did God pour into Him?) and he just walked off this earth. As we study Paul in Philippians 3.15 and Paul lays this massive gauntlet... "Live to what you currently know.... Live to who you are in Christ!".... He is challenging us to make application of what we currently know about Christ... about you.... and about how to two might mesh. He is also writing this out of his depths of passion to know Christ (v.11) at the deepest levels of intimacy. Like Paul, I want to know Christ... to be so stinkin' inseparable from Christ that you can't distinguish us. I actually want to believe that I could be like Enoch. I want to believe that...... I want to know God... and then apply what I know. Knowledge + Application could be radically "Enochlike". Yeah!

Add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. Enjoy a great week.

Mark (the Enoch wannabe)

Rhythm

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. -- Jesus (Matt 11.28 MSG)

What does it look like to be tuned to the rhythm of God's grace? Jesus asks if I am tired or burned out on religion? He then says, "Come to me." I can embrace an invitation like that because I am tired... at times I am exhausted. I know... I mean I really know that I cannot live out this whole thing called the faith without Him. It really exhausts me to try. I loved it yesterday as we watched the "Rhythm" video and heard Rob Bell share a few thoughts about being in rhythm with God. It's such a beautiful image to consider myself joining with and even playing my own unique rift in this amazing song of heaven. This song that God has been playing for a long time.... it seems that the song has and will play forever.

You know, I was thinking about the song... about the intrumentalists.... about the skill level... about the nuance of the song.... about what it might look like to be an 'instrument of grace' in the hand of God. Having dabbled with playing the guitar and having played the sax for quite a few years, I recognize that I don't just pick up my guitar and immediately begin strumming with a level of excellence. It seems to me that being attuned to the song of God, there is the divine reality and the human responsibility. There is a process in my becoming a part of the song... of becoming all that God created me to be.

This thought is the human side of divine change. Transformation is both the miracle of God and the stewardship of man. Becoming like Christ... His character... His passion... His truth.... His compassion... it's the result of divine activity and human action. There is miracle... Wow, is there ever miracle and there is also responsibility. I really have to ask if I expect to change. Do I expect to watch as the character of Christ explodes into my life. In fact, I have to take that a step further and live totally committed to change. (Phil 3.15 MSG). It is my responsibility to posture my life in that manner. It is our responsibility to leave God all the margins He needs to teach us about Himself, His purposes, and His ways.... to teach us His song.

You know, If I don't achieve my God-given potential, it's not just a bad thing... not just a bit of a letdown. Jesus tells this challenging story in Matt 25. He says to each of us, I have given you gifts. Now, what will you do with them? If I don't tap into and live abandoned to my divine potential, Jesus has pretty strong feelings about that reality. He calls that action 'wicked'... an abomination. He thinks that is a pretty serious deal. The servant in this story was declared wicked when what he could have done was measured against what he did. When we neglect our God-given capacity and refuse to maximize our potential, it is detestable in the sight of God.

Yikes! So, I think I have to ask if I expect to change.... maybe even deeper than that, am I totally committed to allowing the character, person, and passion of Christ to become my life... my essence. I want to become like Christ. I want to love... to live with compassion.... generosity.... truth..... I want to move in the rhythm of His grace. I want to know Him! That will involve my daily decisions and choices and how I posture my life.

In a nutshell, it seems that God thinks that my life... our lives... they are instruments of grace. He actually thinks that our lives are intended to be lived in rhythm with His grace. He even thinks that the rhythm is unforced and learned from Him. Hmmmmm...... perhaps the choice that I make in this process of change is the choice to know Him. .... not about Him... not another story.... but Him. Jesus says, 'walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.' I want to..... I think I will. I want to change. I want to be totally committed to change.

Add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. Let's 'change' together.... the song sounds amazing!

Mark

Illumination

Amblings, Ramblings, and thoughts from the weekend of July 16,2006

Who or what do I illuminate with my life? Illuminate defined - to brighten with light; to make lucid; clarify; to make resplendent. Before we can move into a life that is far outside the norm.... a life that is radically impacted by the presence, person, and passion for Christ, we must determine who or what our life illuminates. What do we brighten or make clear or, even better, make resplendent? I love the Message translation of the Bible and Jesus says "You and I are here to be light. We are here to bring out the God colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept." (Matt 5.16) I am really asking myself, who or what do I illuminate? Do I bring out the God colors in this earth? Over the next seven weeks, we will dive deeply into the practical outworkings of a life impassioned for the kingdom of God. We will evaluate our lives via the plumbline of Philippians 3.15-21. Yet, we will be remiss to assess our lives before we wrestle with what or who our lives illuminate.

The visual for the next seven weeks is beautiful. At the front and center of our worship room is a simple candle and the bread of life beneath it. It will be compelling to view our lives through the lens of God's Word as we look at an physical representation of a huge spiritual reality simultaneously. As the 'church'... the ekklesia... the 'called out' who long to ignite and inspire passion for Jesus Christ, our role is intensely simple. We are to illuminate the bread of life. We are God's lampstand and at the base of the lamp must be one thing... the person, the glory, the reality of the presence of God that brings intentionality and intensity to everything that we are about in life. It's weighty.... It's incredible.... It's exciting..... It's the glory of God that is at stake. So, I.. we have to wrestle with who or what we illuminate in life. I love the way Lucado writes that God's to do list consists of one item - Reveal my glory.... Heavens framed mission statement of life's purpose and focus is Declare God's glory.

So, I am following the trail of my time, possessions, passions, life choices, energy and evaluating what I find at the end of that trail. I am finding that some of what I illuminate is not really that pretty...... some things I want to discard.... and with the deepest part of my heart, I want my life to be very simple. As God reveals His glory to me, I want to make loud declaration of His glory, His character, His fame in every arena. I am quite primed about the next seven weeks. I am primed about the idea of a 'breakaway' life and the desire to live, move, and have my being outside the norm. It is my passion and prayer that I... and that all of us at EBC are 'breakaway' and believe at our deepest core that there is 'far more to this life for us.' I want to walk down the trail of my life and find at the end one throne..... one thing at the base of my lamp... Christ. He's more than enough!

We should have a fun seven week journey through Breakaway. We will settle into this thought... There is far more to life for us! --- 3.20 Hey, wasn't it sweet to celebrate 300 kids in the Arctic Edge, 30+ of whom embraced the story of God; a team returning from Brazil; 2 teams heading to Pine Island and Central Asia; our Daytona partnership pastor in the house.... and incredible worship at EBC?!? What a day yesterday. If you haven't checked out our Brazil team, try on www.ebcbrazil.blogspot.com - Good reading!

God is amazing. Illuminate Him!

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments below. Enjoy today.

Mark

Away.....

Two weeks of no stress..... good life.... playing..... enjoying my folks.... enjoying life..... 3 days and 2 night of just Susan and me celebrating 15 years of marital bliss (hubba hubba!!!)... It's been a great time to download life and play with kids and enjoy God. I had this rule of thumb - no 'heavy' books.... no work thoughts... no planning. Yeah, it was good. About 11 days into the journey, Susan and I were sitting on the beach at sunset and watching our kids build sandcastles and I (we) were just blown away by our God. He is good.... truly good. I just sensed His presence, goodness, passion. I just heard Him whisper of His love and of His joy for life.... for my life.

I think I had a few thoughts at that moment. I rarely find time to 'sabbath' on a regular basis. I believe that God is inviting me to find a day to unplug, turn off my cell, turn off the TV, forget e mail and to really just be His on a weekly basis. As I look at the life of Christ, I see a man who made pretty radical impact (might that be the understatement of the year?!) I also see a man who spent much time 'away' and attuned to the voice of His Father. I want to hear His voice... to sense His touch.... to trust His move.... to experience that 'right' feeling when I know I am in the middle of God. Yes, that can happen on an extended vacation. But, I think God really wants me to make a bit more space for Him. I think I have found a day that will be sabbath for me. A day where I am God's.... I am with my family.... and I unplug from all else. I think that is a biblical mandate and even more profoundly, a spiritual necessity. My heart beats with an even deeper longing to know Him.

Returning to the joy of Emmanuel was even greater. The Brazil team has returned with manifold stories of God's grace and goodness. The Arctic Edge was in full swing upon return and we hit the ground running. 30+ kids moving their lives into the epic story of God is pretty sweet! The Pine Island team left this morning to venture to the Islands and to watch as they rejoice through the Arctic Edge. The Central Asian team will fly out Monday and prayer walk with much anticipation for God to plant a home church in every county in that nation (a nation that professes to be 100% muslim!). Adding team members to our staff..... seeking a person to work with our kids..... amping up to rejuvenate in Philippians.... it's a great return!

So, here we go. The thrill of asking God to leave deep imprint for His glory and His fame. Here we go, recognizing that it is Christ in me.... Christ in you that is our only hope of living for the glory. Let's live, move, and have our being for His fame alone. That will be sweet, eternal, and worthwhile! It's good to be back.

Mark

Revolution

Thoughts from an intense, incredible weekend at Emmanuel (June 24-25)

10... many things come to mind when you type the word 10... Bo Derek? Beautiful? Top Ten? Big Ten (Good Football)? Challenge? 10, after this weekend, is an intense passion to see 10 of 10 kids watch our lives... see a Christ revolution... and actually follow us as we follow Christ. Research suggests that 8 of 10 kids who are a part of the church have no intention of continuing in the fellowship after graduating HS. I heard that a few weeks ago and EVERYTHING inside me rebelled against that thought. NO! NO WAY! Heavens NO! In front of the gates of hell, screaming NO! I had a pretty significant reaction.

Then it struck me.... we truly can see 10 of 10 link their lives to an increasing passion for Christ WHEN they see a whole group of us who are crystal clear about our passion. Kids, at 18, actually believe that God will use them to feed poor, house homeless, provide water for those who don't have clean drinking water.... 18 year olds actually believe that they can change the world. They actually believe that they can change the WHOLE world! Would it not be sweet for them to swivel their heads and see a whole bunch of OLD people (like me), who STILL believe that we can change the world.

We really do exist to ignite and inspire passion for Jesus Christ. This requires each of us to live revolutionary! Revolution is not necessarily the "big stuff"... it's found in the every day decisions of life. This whole deal of Christianity is the "good news!!" Just imagine this… Person X in Crestview comes to know Christ…. She became a follower…. Her life is shifted…. She lives it out. She is becoming more generous…. More compassionate….. more loving…. She is becoming a far better neightbor. If you are her neighbor, you are thrilled about her faith….. This is good news… good news for people who know her…. Revolutionary news for the whole street….
We are revolutionary when we are impassioned – day to day….. underground, subversive…. It is the quiet, humble, stealth acts that change things.

Bring on the good news. Enjoy life. Live out the Augustine confession... Love the right things in the right way to the right degree with the right kind of love. Then, watch as our kids follow us into this revolution called the faith.

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking 'comments' below.

I am venturing away for a couple of weeks.... Away with family... Away from work... Away with kids.... Away! I cannot wait to see the EBC family when we return from vacation - rested, ready, and plunging in with hundreds of kids at VBS! Live on the Arctic Edge! I love you guys.

Mark

2 Suitcases and Christ.....

Meditations from the weekend of June 17-18 in the life of Emmanuel

So, I am sitting across from Bonnie. Bonnie is around sixtyish (give or take 20 years : ) She is heading for the next three years to Niger, W. Africa. She's a nurse.... The people in Niger have medical needs. She's going. Here I am at the "BonnieFest" eating, laughing, and enjoying life and I experienced a moment that placed me at a crossroads. Bonnie said, 'my life has boiled down to 2 Suitcases... 50lb's each and that's all I can take with me." I responded, 'wow, all of life boils down to 2 suitcases and Christ." Bonnie's reply has left me bereft.... pondering.... challenged.... longing to live for the upward call of God. She said, ' and that's more than enough!!!" Are you kidding? 2 suitcases and Christ is more than enough. Honestly, I don't know how that will pan out in my life, but I want to get there. I want to genuinely say to God, You, O God, are more than enough. I am not even sure if I need the 2 suitcases. A party... a meal... and my eternity gets rocked. I will wrestle with God alot.... hopefully as long as I live.... with living holding loosely to this earth and holding fast to Him.... His values.... His passions..... HIs move. I have no idea what the 2 suitcases and Christ will look like for me. But, I really, desperately want to find out.

We closed out echo (with a sweet Rocky I bonus video shot just for dads... Happy Father's Day! Rocky is always a good daddy's day gift to receive in church). What we do on earth really will echo throughout eternity. We arrived at a few conclusive thoughts. Paul had this whole 'upward call of God' as a deep, piercing passion. In Philippians 3.12-14, he is not writing of an insignificant pursuit. He is writing from the deepests point of his soul. He is really letting us see what makes his heart beat. I think it goes a bit deeper.... he's asking us to evaluate what makes our heart beat. He truly felt that the pursuit of this Christian life is a quest. I don't think he would have worded life just as Bonnie did, but he would say something like"life boils down to 2 suitcases and Christ and He is more than enough"... or I am a man about one thing and I strain with all my passion, affections, and heart to be about this upward life in Christ.

What do I do with this kind of passion? How do we actually make application to our lives? We asked a few questions.... questions like, do I really see this upward call as a quest? If I do, what do I do with my affections? My heart? Do I love the right things.... in the right way.... to the right degree... with the right kind of love. I am SO stinking good at taking something beautiful from our God and abusing it. I can take a hobby (the right thing) and allow it to dominate my life (the wrong way to the wrong degree with the wrong kind of love). I tend to veer with so many things... like money, relationships, etc, etc. So, I have to ask if I love the right thing in the right way to the right degree with the right kind of love and I have to ask that often.

Our closing challenge was about a rule of life.... what is your rule of life. What do I do regularly that really postures me to grow in Christ. That would be my rule of life. For instance, when do I pray? study? how do I handle money in a way that draws me closer to God? How can I fill my life with the sense of His presence?

What is your rule of life? What do you do regularly? My friend Joe said he plants corn, works on deer stand, spends countless hours preparing for one thing --- to harvest deer. Likewise, how are you posturing your life to harvest the character of Christ.

Bottom line... life is an echo. Life is a sound heard near its source again and again. What (or who) is your source? Real bottom line.... if we don't have a rule of life - things we do regularly to posture our lives to harvest Christ character, we will not be able to say "2 suitcases and Christ is more than enough". Train for life!

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments below.

Mark