Sunday was amazing..... Two massive chapters were written into the epic work of God in and through the life of emmanuel.

Justin & Christy are joining with the emmanuel family in our consuming desire of making Christ famous! Justin will lead the charge in the area of worship and global mission. I love their family.... I love God's timing... I love that Justin loves the grandeur of God. Sunday was good!

Chapter Two.... We dedicated a place. We dedicated 4 years of dreams and work. We dedicated space on our campus so that people can discover the wonder and awe of our God. It was so good to honor the 4 legendary men (Jerry, Ryan, Kevin, Dan), who have given thousands of hours toward the building of our preschool area; student room; and the amazing relational space. It was a good day!

God is writing a fresh story at emmanuel. He loves His church. I am praying that we will continue to know Him; trust Him; treasure Him and shine Him. Justin's challenge was right on. I simply cannot shine Him, if I don't know Him!

Enjoy this week. Family Production on Sunday!!

By Grace..... For Glory,
Mark

Closed out the 'Flipt' series in Isaiah 6 yesterday. Sunday was amazing. Two thoughts have been parked in my conversation with God over the last 24 hours. Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord seated on his throne....." When I see God & He is on the throne, then no rival thrones survive in my life. His throne is the only throne. He is the only One on the throne. I have had good and challenging conversations with God about that truth. I want to 'see the Lord and to see Him exalted on His throne in my life.'

The second thing that challenged me was the beauty of God putting me back together in His glorious rescue mission. His cross... His blood... His wholeness is given to me by His grace. That is radical. As I was talking yesterday, it struck me that many followers of Christ like the 'rescue' and salvation in Christ, but we want to approach it without the other characteristics of an encounter with God. To experience His rescue, I must be marked by Him... stunned by Him.... ruined/undone/ shattered by Him.... THEN, I am prepared for His rescue. Then, I am prepared to be purposed by Him! I want to be ruined for nothing but Christ. He satisfies.

This journey of faith is radical and it launches in a self-crucifixion and a God-resurrection of my life. (Gal 2.20) I cannot imagine anything more lively than testifying of God's ridiculous grace. (Acts 20.24) May we lose ourselves in Him and in Him find our real self. Yeah.

By Grace.... For Glory,

Mark

My capacity to live a flipt life can be summarized in a few words by Paul found in Philippians 3...

But, whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..... I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings..... I press on toward that prize; (the prize of knowing Christ by experience and with passion)

I want to know Christ.

Mark