Author: Mark

Hubby to the greatest gal, Pastor of an amazing community, brother to a bunch of people called my family, lover of God, follower of Jesus.

Yep, it’s been awhile

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Finally opened my blog site, and I’m noticing a poor pattern here.

Seriously, it’s just about everyday I think of something I need to blog about. What that means is, there’s something I want to either add to last weeks sermon, or some observation I just made, or I just witnessed a real-life answer to prayer and I want you to know it.  There’s always something.  I am a little intimidated to even think about making a list of such observations since I last wrote here. Yep, it’s that bad.  (Maybe a few highlights will show up if I can in fact get on this horse and stay on it for a while.)

I’ve mentioned before that I like to read either a chapter from Proverbs each day or one of the Psalms.  No matter what else I’m reading (currently the wild ride of King David), I like to keep the Proverbs open.  As you probably already know, the 31 chapters in Proverbs makes it easy to stay in the game.  You know life happens, you get busy, and you realize it’s been too long since you’ve had meaningful time in the Scriptures.  With the Proverbs, you simply pick up reading on the corresponding day of the month.  That’s not why I read it, but it’s probably what got me started and yes, it still helps.

Have you found yourself saying, “yep, it’s been awhile” since I …?  It’s not too late. If it’s about taking care of your soul by reading, meditating, enjoying some good worship music, then do it. Now. Today. Open the Bible and read a paragraph and stop for 5 minutes and think on it.  Has it been awhile since you’ve exercised, enjoyed your favorite meal, or written in your journal or spent time with someone near you?  Just do it. Today. Even if it’s simple.

Kinda like today’s blog.

Jet lag? and Blessings

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It is so good to be home. The time in Thailand was amazing and I’m so grateful I was able to be a part.  

I really don’t even understand jet-lag.  I mean the time change makes sense that it would bother you a little, but this is just odd.  I’d think a good night’s rest would take care of it. Of course I know better. We’ve traveled enough to know what this is and to expect it. But that doesn’t make it any easier. I’ve heard it best described as living in a ‘fog’.  That about says it.  So, forgive me if over these next few days you and I meet and you leave wondering if I haven’t suffered a stroke.  I think I’ll be fine. Eventually.

This morning at Grace was one of those special times.  I can’t wait for Resurrection Sunday and the opportunity to share more of what happened today. Blew my mind!  God’s grace is amazing the more we understand and celebrate who HE is and what HE had done for us.  To think, we deserve hell, but instead we find ourselves in the righteousness of Christ.  All because of His love and grace for us.  What a blessing to be a part of this church and to know God is working through a bunch of ordinary people.  

Nice. 

Headed Home

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We’re leaving in just a few minutes to teach the last session at the college, then this afternoon we’ll take the 2 hour drive to Bangkok and get on our flight to LA.  Once we arrive, we’ll rent a car and drive to Phx, arriving about 3 or 4am on Friday.  This might be a long day!

Thanks for praying for me while I’ve been here. It’s been wonderful and I’m grateful for all God is doing and has allowed us to be a part of here in Thailand. I’m ready to come home.

 

Teaching at the Bible College

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We’re here in Sriracha teaching a few classes each day at the Bible College.  I really do love teaching the Bible and that is only highlighted when you’re teaching students at a Bible College.  Pray for these students as they are preparing for ministry and just like the rest of us are learning to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Final day with Hmong Pastors

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The three of us each spoke Thursday morning to conclude the teaching for the week. Later that afternoon we were privileged to visit one of the churches in a nearby village and pray with the pastor and his family. Thursday evening in our closing service we gave and received gifts as a cultural expression of saying thanks.

 

Praying for Hmong Pastors

On By MarkIn GRACE, Pray, Thailand1 Comment

After a full day of ministry, we ended our time by praying for pastors and leaders. At the close of my teaching, I asked for any pastors that wanted prayer to stand and we’d come and pray for God’s peace and power to encourage them.

We’ve been teaching at a high level the past couple of days and we have more for tomorrow.  It was my turn to speak tonight, and my fellow pastors agreed that the men may need some encouragement.  You see, persecution is not a foreign thing to them. I’ve not lived through the same kind of persecution as they have experienced. Truth is, we know life is hard and the enemy is still working full time to hinder the gospel no matter where you serve Him.  But these guys really are facing tough issues.  So, we prayed.  We prayed individually over many tonight.  It was humbling to think of who I prayed for, the cost of ministry for them, the people they lead and teach. I was blessed to come before Jesus on their behalf and ask God to continue to strengthen them and keep them focused on Him and the amazing mission of grace we’re all called to be a part of!

Tomorrow we each lead one more session, then close out this part of the trip tomorrow evening and Friday morning.  It’s been good.  And we’re all tired. But it’s a good tired.

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power 2Thes 1:11

Grace and the persecuted life

On By MarkIn God's Glory, GRACE, Thailand, Thanks1 Comment

I’m not even sure how to write this evening (morning in Flagstaff).  The people I met and what I learned today is of the kind that can change a person’s life.  It will take some time for me to process.

My main assignment is to do what I love and that is speaking on grace.  However, I’m asking myself why I am the one up front doing the teaching. I’m speaking to men who have experienced great persecutions.  I talked to people today who are not allowed to own property in their particular country because they are Christians.  I met a man who spent over 2 years in prison, because he is a Christian.  I need to find out what I can and cannot say about the men I met with today from an underground church movement. The numbers blow me away.  These are humble men.

And I’m the one teaching them about grace.  I should just sit down and shut up.

But, by God’s grace and in obedience to Him, I’ll keep teaching what I know. And, I’ll also continue to sit and listen to the stories.

I’m not going to lie, I’m tired.

And grateful.

Thank you Lord, for letting me have the mic on this needed topic of grace. And Lord, bless these dear men.  Help me to learn from them in our time together.  I’m so grateful #T2RS

Snowy Flagstaff

On By MarkIn Pray, Teaching, Thailand, TravelLeave a comment

It’s Monday morning and we’re soon on our way to the pastor’s conference to begin the teaching today through Thursday.  Yesterday we were able to visit another of the Children’s homes of Bahn Immanuel.  The young man that leads it was raised in the first one and now married with two kids is running a home in a small village not far from town.

I woke up early to see several messages on my phone.  The big snow has arrived in Flagstaff causing a few changes.  I’ve been thinking of you all and praying for you as the day is winding down for you.  Grateful for Laurie’s family visiting and helping her out in my absence.  Who doesn’t want to run a snowblower while vacationing on Spring Break?  Yikers.

Thanks for praying for us as we travel today and begin the conference.  I hope to check in this evening.