Power

Hey Jesus, who's first? Who gets the seat beside you? Where is your power? When will you invoke your Kingdom? Jesus crests a hill and a group of people are pretty revved about power! A political Kingdom is cresting a hill on a colt. At least that's what they are thinking. Could it be that Jesus is invoking the 'power' of God and Rome will be overthrown. Will we be first? Will we be powerful? Will we establish our reign on this earth? Bring the power....

Jesus did. He washed the feet of His disciples. He fed them. He told them of sacrifice... passion... the giving of body and blood. He talked of the least being first. He talked about submission to one another. He talked about selflessness. He talked of true power, found in true servitude. He talked about sacrifice. He talked about laying down our lives. He talked about laying down His own. Then, He did it.

He ventured from hill of waving palm branches to a meal of friendship, love, and a sharing of the future to a garden of submission of will. Jesus, with blood dripping from His brow, simply said to God the Father, it's not about my will or my power or my place or my rule. It's about Your will. Jesus submitted to God's will. He submitted to the cross. He submitted to true power.... giving His life away for the freedom of multitudes.

Jesus demonstrated power by willfully being nailed to a cross. By bearing the sins of the world. By breathing His last breath (for a moment) as He bore our sin. Power. Yeah, on a hill a man personified power.

What if the Kingdom of God, in its pure form, is through weakness and vulnerability, sacrifice and love? What if all other 'kingdoms' are trite and petty? What if the hope of mankind... my hope... your hope lies in this paradox of power: the way of Christ is truly prolific through scandalous weakness; the only way to be powerful is through remarkable vulnerability; to live is to die; the way to success is by submission.

If true, then our small thrones and our minute kingdoms pale. Our grasps for temporal power are truly a joke. Our jockey for position and to be 'right' are, at best, humorous and potentially lethal.

Matthew 26.40-41.... I truly believe that these are fulcrum verses. Jesus looks at a few who desperately wanted to serve Him. He said, the place of power..... real power.... world changing power is found in awakening to the will, direction, and passion for my Father. Can you not stay awake long enough to truly discover His heart? Can we? Will we? The Kingdom of God is near. Seek His Kingdom and not your own!

Power.... Ironically, the power found in the Kingdom of God is antithetical to almost every construct of power in our vision and vocabulary. Perhaps God is pretty well aware that His ways and ours don't always mesh. Perhaps that's why we desperately need to spend an hour with God....depths of time with Him. Let's go after Him.

Feel free to comment

For the Glory,
Mark

No Ruts...


It's good to be loved! You know, I'm just sharing my heart and soul about 'rutting' Saturday night. I even went so far as to share that Susan and I will not rut! All of it with heart-felt spiritual implications. After all, as sheep, we are prone to get into a rut when we don't follow the shepherd. So, I do live in Crestview. There are ALOT of hunters in our fellowship. They did feel free to tell me that when two deer get together and 'rut', well...... that tends to produce a little, tiny, baby deer. Yep, I was instructed not to use 'rut' as a verb.. No rutting or "to rut"... and definitely don't allude to my wife and I not rutting...just, not good. I love being a communicator : )


So, I'm a sheep who gets into ruts. I'm a sheep who will walk the same trail over and over and over. If left to my own devices, I'll follow the same trail until it becomes rutted; eat from the same hills until barren; pollute the ground until it becomes corrupt. I'm a sheep. I'll do things the way I have always done them because I am a person of habit. Jesus is the author of life. He's the amazing, good Shepherd. He is always leading me toward life... satisfaction... sustenance... His entire reputation as the Good Shepherd depends upon His guidance toward new ground.... new horizons... fresh food. If I'm in a rut, it's a pretty good sign that I'm not following my Shepherd. He's moving. He's alive. He's life!

I want to follow Him. I will follow Him. I'll find fresh water as He guides. I will drink from His wellspring of life. I will take Him in... I will believe Him... I will make so much room for my shepherds life that His life will become my very own. Despite my desire to conform.. my fears... my rutted, habitual life... Despite all these adverse characteristics, Christ chooses me.. He choose us, buys us, calls us by name, makes us His own, and delights in us. He is an amazingly good Shepherd!

Stay out of ruts! Drink deeply in Christ. Enjoy that He will guide you to fertile ground.... life! I will follow a Shepherd like that!

Feel free to comment.

For the Glory,
Mark

Light....

Jesus asks, 'what do you want from me?' I mean, I'm blind, struggling, desperate, hungry, needful... and Jesus parks in front of me and still asks the question, 'what do you want from me?' I like that He doesn't assume! If I am completely honest, I am not always sure that I want what He wants for me. I am not sure that I am ready to adjust my life to His life in order to experience fullness of life. Isn't that the consummate life irony?!? I actually think that I know what I need more than my Creator desires and has designed for me. All the while, I'm bruising my life, breaking my heart (breaking hearts around me as well) and stumbling about blind... thinking that I am making a way.

So, Jesus pulls up to me..to you... and asks whether we really want Him to be life... to be light... to be hope... to be this amazing path that will guide us into consummation of purpose. I think that He is wondering if I really want to know Him. Whether I want to know His purposes. Whether I am willing to adjust to His ways. I think He wonders if I am tired of stumbling, hitting my shins, and my heart and swearing because it hurts. Jesus says, I am LIGHT. When you know me, you see better and, amazingly, you don't get hurt as much.

Honestly, I want to be a bit like Bartimaeus. I want the desperate cry of my heart to be "Jesus, Son of David. Have mercy on me!' When Jesus pulls up beside that level of desperation and asks what I want. I think my simple answer will be "You". I want you, Jesus Christ. I want light... I want to see... I want passion... I want life. I think Jesus will say, "I'm all of that and more."

So, I'm planning to think alot about Jesus. By that, I mean that I am planning to systematically, strategically, and intentionally think alot about Jesus. I want to contemplate Him so that, by His act of mercy, I might become like Him. So that, for His glory alone, I might actually reflect Him in this earth.

2 Corinthians 3.18 is an intense, beautiful, potential-filled verse for us. Enjoy that verse. Contemplate. Cry out with desperation. When He asks what you want, be prepared to embrace Him and adjust to His ways. See. Become. Live. Reflect!

Feel free to comment.

For the Glory,

Mark

Known....

What a weekend! So many things this weekend left me in awe of our God. Baptism is always amazing! The video 'spoken word' was just stinkin' good. Daylight savings time.. Oh, yeah!!! (Tonight, bring on the whiffle ball game until dark) As always, the band was off the chain. Jesus dropped into our weekend encounters in power. Hearts being spent before God was just radical. A sister is visiting. She embraced Christ this past week. She rolled up to me after service and her eyes were just lit up. She said, "this whole thing made sense for the first time. The Bible came alive for me!" I was a bit primed about that statement. At the 10:30 Encounter, people were just finding freedom, confession, and heart hope at the altar. It was fresh!!

You know, I just want to be absolutely vulnerable with you guys. More than that, I just want to be totally authentic with Christ. If it is possible, I long to be completely unconcerned with my fame... my success... my career path... my deal. It is my deepest passion to be totally concerned with the fame, passion, renown, and character of Jesus Christ. If no one knows my name when I fade from this earth, that's good. If people remember some guy who made much of Jesus Christ and who fell madly in love with Jesus Christ, that's even better.

Reading Revelation 3..and rolling into chapters 4 & 5 were just overwhelming. God is knocking and knocking and knocking and knocking and knocking on the door of our life and inviting us to love Him. He will never stop knocking. When we overcome... when we fall in love with Him.... when we refuse to be lukewarm.... When all that happens, we get to sit on His throne. That is massive motivation. I don't care what accolades I might receive... what I might accomplish... what I might to do impress anyone in this earth. I just want to sit on the throne! Millions gather around the throne in worship..... the roar of passion explodes around the throne... 24 elders bow down and cry out of His holiness.... wild looking creatures shout of His magnitude.... thunder rolls... lightning peals.... and, because of my love and passion for Christ, I will be invited to sit on that throne!

That thought is consuming. May we live consumed for His glory.... in love with Him fully.... abandoned to Him wholely! I want to sit on that throne! Feel free to comment below. Enjoy today. It's a good day!

For the Glory,

Mark

Mystery...

I love mystery. I love that Jesus is moving across this earth and He has every intent of releasing people from the bondage of sin and futility. I love that He has every intent of making proclamation of freedom. I love that He hears the cries of the people that He formed with His own hands. I love that He intimately cares about those cries. I love that He plans to step into lives and make Himself known. I love the mystery of waking up everyday and wondering just how He plans to reveal Himself.

I love the story of Moses in the desert. I love that God was saying all of the things that I typed. God was going to bring freedom, release captives, take His people on this radical journey. God parked by a fire with Moses and shared all the things that He intended to do. Can't you just imagine Moses saying 'amen' and 'Oh, yeah' and 'You do it, God!' HAAAAAAALLEEEELUJAH! Moses was in a worship encounter. Then, God says, I'm doing it all. So, Moses, 'you go!' The record screeched to a halt. The brakes went ON. Moses little worship encounter stopped. He was thinking that he was digging all the things that God planned to do. God just said, 'oh, by the way Moses, I'm inviting you into the story!' I love God. God is moving. God invites us into the movement! That's HUGE!!

I love that He invites us into His story. God is going to place a refuge on every street in our city. God is going to set hundreds/ thousands free in Crestview. He plans to take His fame and character from Daytona to Central Asia to Africa to England to South America. He's all in. Then, he turns to all of us and says, "You go!"

I want in! I want all of us to want in! I want all of us to say, "Yes, we are in!!!" I actually am stunned that God invites us into His story. He is an amazing God. I love that He is the bread of life. I love that He plans to feed His life.... His bread across this globe. I've tasted bread. I have bread. I have seen, experienced, and tasted the joy of bread. It's life. I want to take that bread that I have received by grace and give it away... feed as many as possible... to experience just how many God will feed with the bread that He has given me! Yeah, that's mystery. That's joy. That's God revealing His life and inviting me to give His life away. I'm in! You?

Feel free to comment. Enjoy bread!

For the Glory,

Mark

Away....

Being away is always bittersweet. We desperately miss being with the Emmanuel family. But, it was incredible to spend a weekend with St. Mark UMC in the mountains of Alabama. (Yeah, the above pic was our weekend spot!) It was an incredible retreat. Fun things that happened... a surprise visit from the Beatles (oh yeah, a Beatles 'cover' band played Friday night and they were excellent).... good food. If you've never been to camp, 'good food' is a huge plus statement.... being with Susan's 'growing up' church. She has been a part of St Mark since she was 3 years old.... the American Idol 'spin-off' with good family fun and talent to show as well..... incredible conversations.... a hike to the top of the mountain with all the kids (sans Julia - she is doing well to walk, much less climb a mountain).... the view from the top.....the top of the mountain has two pretty magnificent areas - the cathedral, which is an amazing lookout with a very simple area to sit and reflect and the cross, which is perched atop the mountain overlooking Camp Sumatanga........ and being loved by St Mark! That was good!!..... the ongoing exchange of UA vs. AU jokes that can only be appreciated in the great state of Alabama.... going back to the camp where I experienced the "Walk to Emmaus"..... having the privilege of speaking to this wonderful group of people! It was humbling to stand before so many people that I deeply admire and open the Scripture with them and feast on His Word and His life. It was a good weekend!

It's also fresh to roll back into Crestview. You know, I love this church for many reasons. Here's one.... We were due to arrive in Crestview between 6:30 and 7 PM last night (Sunday). My 11 year old, Cynthia, is just pumped because she can grab 30 minutes on campus if we 'hurry'! I love that she wants to hurry back to her 'home'. I love that she loves this place! I love that so many of you are pouring your life into her to foster that love for this place. I love returning to the church today and just being with the people that I love. I love that it's 75 degrees and just "Florida" amazing!

I am looking forward to our weekend together. We will celebrate communion... celebrate Christ.... celebrate that we expect Him to use us to reach more for His fame.... and we will celebrate giving! This is a good week. I am so anticipatory about this weekend. The giving. The gathering. The readiness to stake new territory on this property for the glory of God.

I love you guys. I am glad to no longer be 'away'! It's good to be home.

Feel free to comment.

For the Glory,
Mark

Scattering...

Right now, as you read this and as I type these words, Jesus is scattering seed. He's scattering seeds of grace... of life... of hope... of passion... of purpose... of promise. Jesus, without discrimination, is scattering seed. That's what He does. He extends life. He extends Himself. He gives Himself to hardened hearts, who may not respond to Him. He keeps scattering seed anyway! He gives Himself to shallow hearts, who worship Him with unfettered abandon in one moment. Then, in the next, abandon Him. He keeps scattering seed. That's what He does. He scatters seed of life... of meaning... He scatters into the person who will worship multiple things. He keeps extending ultimate life to the person who gives affections away to so many small gods. Affections given away, lead to the choking away of life. Yet, Jesus keeps scattering seed. That's what He does. He gives life.

What I love about Jesus...Why I am blown away by Jesus. Jesus isn't about a beauty contest. He didn't scatter seed only into the beautiful ones who have it all together. His grace is audacious! He reached... He reaches, today, into His bag and scatters seed around every person on this planet. His seed reflects His love. His seed reflects His desire for consummate life for every person that was created by His Hand. He keeps throwing seed, because that's what He does. In Mark 4, Jesus tells the "Genesis" parable. If we don't get this parable, nothing else makes sense. Jesus is scattering life, hope, purpose on every soil. Every one. He watches to see what is happening. What fruit results. But, He scatters seed.. life!

The question for me is, 'what do I do?' Romans 12.1-2 answers it for me. If Jesus is scattering seed (He is, because that's what He does), then my role is to become.... I am becoming more and more like Him. I am constantly pursuing Him... disciplined in my passion for Him.. studying Him, His purposes, and His ways. I am dying to self daily and coming alive in Him constantly. I am becoming.... That's what I do. I am not conforming any longer to the pattern of this world, but I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind. I am discovering God's perfect, good, pleasing will as I become. I am becoming, because that's what I do. That's the desire of my soul!! He loves for me to become, that's why He scatters seed. He scatters, hoping to find becoming hearts. But, he scatters everywhere, all the time. That's what He does! What do you do?

Jesus is scattering seed. May our lives be lives that reap all of His life! May we become.....Feel free to comment below.

For the Glory,

Mark

Right....

Ian has introduced me to a statement. Actually, I am not sure if its a statement as much as a feeling. "This is right." That's our profound statement. Hey, if you know Ian and me very well, that's about as profound as we get. We throw that statement out rarely because it really is a pretty sacred statement. Do you have those moment when everything is gelling... everything is just coming together.... you are sitting in a beautiful moment... you didn't really see it coming.... it just happened... and you look at one another and say, 'this is right!' All is well with our soul... all is good.... all is from God, for God, and to God and 'wow' does it taste good. That's what it means when we say, "This is right." Okay, so it is a bit profound.

This weekend was 'right.' There was a sense of holy visitation. God felt free to be Himself and pull up a chair in our midst and sit down with us. We had so many chances to park and bow down to Him.... to worship... to remember why we exist... to love Him more deeply... and to come together as a group to do some things that we just cannot do alone. It was right! There were several moments in the service(s) that were just so electric, that I felt a bit like Isaiah... just undone. Not sure what to do with myself. Wanting to love God more deeply. Broken. Loving Him. Begging of Him to make me...to make us, as a movement called Emmanuel, incredibly useful instruments of His grace. It was right!

I am so thankful for this place. I am so thankful that we have staked our lives, our reputations, our hearts and our greatest passions to the cross of Jesus Christ. I am so amazed by His grace. I am so enamored with the fact that we have stepped into this wild, alive story called the Word of God.

The "Genesis" of this whole deal is that we are wild olive shoots (Rom 11.17). We are a people who have been grafted into the kingdom of God with the purpose of wrestling with God. As we wrestle we discover a whole new walk in life... a whole new world view.... a whole new journey found in Him alone. We find, as we wrestle, that we don't really need anything other than Him. We find enough in Christ. As we wrestle we find that we only want to share the 'more than enough' that we have found in Him.

Perhaps the most sacred thing that we, as His people, can do with His sacred text is to wrestle. Perhaps Mark 4.14 is about the logos.. the Word. Perhaps its about the Word coming alive in us. Perhaps its about us wrestling with the Word - the easy, the difficult, the challenging... the living, active, impassioned, untamed, beautiful word of God. May we be known as a people who wrestle with the Word. May we be known as a people who limp... who walk in a new way through this deal called life. May we live madly in love with Christ.

Hey, wild olive shoot, enjoy this week in the Word. Feel free to comment. Beyond that, live wildly!

For the Glory,

Mark

Genesis...

In Mark 4, Jesus is standing in a boat on the banks of a river and He speaks the Genesis - The Tale of where it all begins. He actually explains to the disciples that the 'Word' of God will open eyes that cannot see.... allow the spiritually deaf to hear..... and explode lives by the grace of the living God. Jesus invites a group of people down the 'rabbit hole' of the faith and dares them to plumb the height and depth of the love and grace of Jesus Christ! He whispers to a group of disciples, "do you want in? Do you want to this movement called the Kingdom of God? It's mammoth.... it's life altering.... it's mind blowing... and the seed for this whole colossal deal is the Word of the living God!"

I am driven by a desire that I just cannot resist. I share an insatiable curiosity and a holy dissatisfaction with the norm and it presses me to abandon restraint. I am not sure that I even have an option to stay in a 'normal faith' or a 'safe life'. I want to constantly awaken to the Kingdom of God.... I want to see the unseen... to hear the anthem of the King of Glory... I want to plumb the depths of His grace.... I want Jesus Christ!

So, if there are a few of us who long for something this radical, Jesus paves the way to gain a deeper passion for His Kingdom. He says, in Mark 4, that the Truth is the beginning. The Kingdom of God is conceived by the planting of seed. The seed is the Word (Mk 4.14). If you or I get the start wrong, all that follows is wrong as well. Concerning the Kingdom of God... the mysterious, unseen, unheard - our expectations, hope, and faith are directly linked to our passion for, study of, and eyes wide open to God's Word. If I don't begin with the Word, then I am blown around by the best that I have to offer... my best thoughts or considerations in the moment. I want more than my best thought! Jesus is pretty passionate about the idea of being saturated by His Word!

To plant the Kingdom of God and see it grow and bear fruit, two things are absolute; the good soil of our lives and the good seed of God's Word. This simple necessity is from God and its true. Unchanging. To see the life of the Kingdom of God germinate, grow, and bear fruit, then God's Word must abound and it must penetrate deeply into our core. If I do not plant the seed, I will not grow and I will not see the fruit of God's harvest. It's that simple.

I want to change the world! I want to hear, see, comprehend, and bask in God's grace. I must devour His truth..... His Word. I must rest in Him... Read large chunks of His truth... Put His truth into practice... Memorize massive sections..... I must fall in love with Him. It seems that loving Him and allowing Him to roam freely is directly correlated to His Word.

May the Word of Christ dwell in us richly! May we be well-known as lovers of the Word!!

Enjoy today. Enjoy Him. Enjoy His Word! Feel free to click on comment below and enter the conversation.

For the Glory,

Mark

Heaven and Earth...

I was connecting dots last week. I think it was Journey 12 on our 40 Day Journey together. I was reading the great commission. Jesus said, All authority in heaven and earth has been given me. Then, Jesus felt free to give us a task that could probably encompass several lifetimes. He said, 'hey, why don't you live, move, and have your being in me and as you move baptize and make disciples of all nations. Yeah, every people group on this planet hears the grace message of the cross of Jesus Christ.' (Okay, that was a very loose paraphrase!) Honestly, who has time to waste... who has time to complain... who has time for self-absorption... who has time for petty stuff when the radical invitation of Christ is to GO to the ends of the earth for His fame. Who has time for any possiblity of spiritual lethargy when infused by all of the authority of heaven and earth living through her?

Connecting dots still, Paul says that it is Christ in you and that is your hope of glory. Christ - yeah, the one with all authority in heaven and on earth - that Christ lives in me. So, Jesus ends His thought about going to the ends of the earth with these words. 'I'll go with you!' I'll live through you. I will take up residence in you and I will empower you to actually live the impossible. I will ask you to do the impossible... I will invite you into a commission that you cannot possibly accomplish... I will lend you the authority of heaven and earth to pull out the impossible.... and I would love to be in the middle of this mix with you! Now, that’s a journey worth tapping into.

All power of heaven and earth has taken up residence in you! All power of heaven and earth goes where you go!!! How could we not abandon ourselves in worship? How could we not ask God for the impossible, knowing that the impossible lives in us? How could we not long for His fame to rise up to the nations and expect Him to use us to increase that fame? How could we not believe that He wants to work beyond our imagination?

I don't know about you, but I want in on that Journey! I want to live with a bunch of people who believe that Jesus is radical... who believe that He holds all authority.... and who actually allow Him ample room to move in us and to move us into realms we cannot fathom. That's a journey worth taking.

Have an insane day for the glory of God. Feel free to post a thought by clicking on comment below.

For the Glory,

Mark

Edge of Insanity

Jesus actually has the audacity to illuminate a bit of what the Kingdom of God might look like and ask those in the Kingdom to adjust our lives to live as big as our God. As I read God's Word, I find a history of people who were driven out of their minds for God (I love Paul, as he writes, 'if I am sane in this moment it must be for you.... most of my life is lived with insane passion for and advance of the person of Jesus Christ!') God will actually call His followers to believe things we cannot see, become someone that we are not, accomplish feats far beyond our own capacity.... and then hold us accountable. To put this Kingdom deal 'into practice' is to actually become who we could not be without the One who created us and is shaping us into His image.

The bible is filled with those who lived on the edge of insanity. Noah, never having seen rain, felt free to build a massive boat to preserve mankind; Elijah called down the presence and person of God to an altar that he had repaired.... never having done it before. God fell; David would have been wise to leave the giant alone; Hosea should never have married a prostitute; and what in heaven's name was Moses thinking as he lifted a glorified stick over a sea.... Their actions, and hundreds like them, were ludicrous and irrational if God is removed from the equation!

That's why Jesus says to follow Him... to love Him... to know Him... to know His Word... and to move when He moves. God's Word opens the doors to God's life - an unexplainable life. The living, active, passionate Word invites us to go out and live among people demonstrating the magnitude of Who God is.

Let's know Him... Move Forward In Him.... find satisfaction from Him... and crave for more of Him. As Augustine wrote, 'You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find satisfaction and rest in You.'

Speaking of satisfaction and rest, we are on a 40 Day Journey of rest. Rest = allowing our lives to be defined by God and allowing God to guide the trajectory of this fellowship. Rest = recognizing that God will lead this body on an incredible journey... that we are His body and that we are preparing to build shelter to house the thousands who long to discover this journey 'home' in Him. Rest = Christ... His load is easy and burden light. Rest = active - knowing Him and moving with consummate passion after Him and for Him. I can gain 'traction' in a 'God-only' life as I love the Word and allow the Word to breathe life into me.

I love you guys. I love what God is doing in this place. I love being in the middle of His life! Enjoy this week. Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comment below.

For the Glory,

Mark

Elemental

There was a moment, this weekend, that was just beautiful! At the 10:30 Encounter, we waited with expectancy to worship as a collective. Ian launched the encounter by sharing a bit about Elemental Weekend (a student intensive weekend in which they pursued a love for God - heart, soul, mind, & strength). As Ian talked, 150 students & leaders encircled us. They lined the sidewall... the middle... across the front.... and there were many in the foyer leaning into our worship encounter. The Grace Campus Ministry (Auburn U) played the song Marvelous Light and the place was just electric with the presence of and the hope we share in Christ. To stand in the front of the room and watch generations worship together... to watch our students pour out a weekend of passion in the middle of that room.... to recognize that we were sitting in the middle of a 'spiritual marker'..... it was just a remarkable moment!

So, the students leave the room (150+ students, leaders, hosts/co-hosts leaving is a HUGE void of energy!!). I am thinking to myself, 'self, where do we go from here?' The moment that we just shared was pretty intense and here we all with all of us 'old people'. God smiled. Then, He answered and He took all of us on a journey. As we ventured through our worship and landed in a moment singing (shouting with our hearts... releasing deep passion) "Hallelujah, Our God Reigns!", I felt like God smiled, waved at us, and said "Here I AM in Spirit and in Power!" It was a moment to remember. It was an encounter with the living God that was ripe with His presence and His desire to deepen us in Him. I can gain 'Traction' in moments like that! God is good... so good to share a tangible, powerful expression of His presence.

Our current conversation is about traction. It's about gaining our first foothold as being in a love relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the starting point. Beyond that, we build our lives on His words... His truth.... and we will constantly transform into His image. Traction = strong foundation on the journey after Christ.

It's a significant week. We will delve a bit more deeply into Luke 6 and a a life built upon solid foundation. The Emmanuel family has launched a 40 Day Journey that holds long-term hope through the life of Emmanuel. We are still reveling in the repercussions of D-Now weekend. And, on a personal note, Susan and I will be burying her father. This truly is a journey.... and the trajectory leads 'home' - in Christ, by Christ, for Christ, and ultimately, to Christ.

Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking on comments. I love you guys!

For the Glory,

Mark

The Letter

To sit and soak in the Scripture this weekend was rich. As Heather read, I realized the profound nature of Philippians and the gravity that the study of this book had in the life of Emmanuel. Our lives have been changed. The things that I value have changed. My hunger to be consumed for that which is ultimate has amplified. Reading the letter, as a whole, was a fresh means to close this chapter in the life of Emmanuel.

As Heather was reading, several quips leapt off the page through me.... thoughts like living a life that Jesus will be proud of.....making Jesus attractive to all....because of Paul's life and example most of the Christians here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith....live in such a way that I am a credit to the gospel....There's suffering for Him. The suffering is as much a gift as the trusting..... God's energy is at work deep within me...I've dumped all else in the trash compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ.....There's far more to life for us.....Celebrate God every day.. revel in Him!... let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.... Put into practive what you've learned....

Each of these thoughts, and a hundred more like them, were launching pads of reflection for me. It was fresh to marinate in His Word and to ask God to bring His Word alive in me... in this body called Emmanuel from the inside out. I really do want to release all passion toward Him and revel deeply in Him as I recognize that He longs for me... for each of us to receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within ourselves.

It's true! Very true!!

Bring on 2007.... Fateful Tales..... and an ever-increasing passion to gain traction in all things that advance the Kingdom of God. May we gain ultimate traction in securing a deep, abiding foundation in Jesus Christ. Yes!




Feel free to comment below. I love you guys.

For the Glory,
Mark

New...

It's 2007! 'Resolve' is birthed with the new year. I am asking God that Emmanuel is resolved to know Him. I am asking God that we are resolved to live, move, and have our being in Him. I am asking God that we are resolved that He carry us on adventure beyond our wildest imaginations. I am asking God that we are resolved to actually believe that He will use us to change the scope of history and to release His character in this earth. May we resolve to live with alarm for the glory of God and with resolve for His fame. Jesus Christ is the famous One in our fellowship and it is our passion that His name is ignited across the globe.... beginning in our hometown. Yeah! It's a great New Year!

This year is a year of Fateful Tales.... Fateful = adj. having momentous significance or consequences; decisively important. Over the next year, we will explore a 'fateful tale' of Christ each month. Jesus told amazing stories (parables) that unveiled the Kingdom of God. As Christ said, his fateful tales will 'create readiness and nudge each of us toward receptive insight.' 2007 will be a year of momentous significance as we open God's Word and we study His fateful, decisive, momentous tales. Our lives will be changed and we will take on a bit more of the character of Christ.

This really could be a sweet year! Welcome to "New". It's all about Him. All that we have is from Him. All that we do is for Him. Glory. Honor. Renown.

Speaking of renown, our students fasted through the day Sunday... then providing much in the area of medical needs for Niger, W. Africa along with hundreds of dollars. Ridiculous!

I love you guys. Feel free to add your passion for 2007 by clicking comment. Feel free to add to the commentary by clicking comment.

Mark

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