Honestly, I found it practically impossible to separate the lyrics and the songs and the teaching as we ventured through worship yesterday. Once again, I found myself radically attracted to the grace of Christ and to His work, on my behalf, at the cross. It was so refreshing to be reminded that it is 'not by works of righteousness, but by His mercy that Christ saved us.' (Titus 3.5) My best works that are 'right' and good are so trite in compare to the magnitude of His mercy. My right is abbreviated; short; finite; impure; and simple. His mercy is unabbreviated; eternal; infinite; and His mercy holds the radical capacity to actually create a rightness or righteousness within me. I love that truth. It is really not about my works of rightness and all about His mercy, which paves the way for His salvation. Salvation spring up from the ground.....

Yesterday was good, because....

- I was able to share in my own journey to a highly sacred and life-changing place. Camp Willow Run is a place that God radically used to shape my life and understanding of grace and mercy. Thank you for

stopping in with me there. I hope that you have a 'place' that marks you in His mercy and His grace. You know, that place where you discovered a taste of the depths of His grace. That sacred space in your life that leaves you never to be the same. Thanks for letting me share my spot with you.

- It was fun to eat a filet and enjoy that meal with you : ) It is even MORE fun to delight ourselves in the riches of foods as we feast, together, in Christ. I long, at my core, for the self-discipline to set aside the trivial in order that I pursue and live for the eternal. As I taste more and more of Christ, my taste buds will never be the same and they will not settle for trash.

- I got to hang out with multiple families who are thinking about identifying their lives with Christ and His work in this fellowship (Starting Point). I love Starting Point!

- A friend of mine ran a marathon in Korea. He finished and sent me pictures. Way to go, Guy!!

- AND, yesterday paved the way for an entire week of considering the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. I love Easter week!!

It is so sweet to enjoy this journey in Christ with you guys. I hope that your week is a feast in Christ. I am asking God to diminish your hunger for the trivial and to leave you famished for His Word and His life and His truth. May you have the self-control to feast on His truth!

He's alive and His life, released in You, brings the full-measure of His life wherever you go. Enjoy Easter.

By Grace... For Glory,

Mark