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.

What a Day That Will Be.

On By MarkIn Cancer, Jesus!, MemorialLeave a comment

On Monday, Karen Gandy Richardson got to see Jesus face to face. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/karenlrichardson/journal

Death for the believer is a whole different ball game.  Sunday I shared from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 that we are the inheritance of Christ.  We’re His. We belong to Him.  And also, Paul prayed that as we realize what we already have because of Christ, that we’d realize the hope we have because He called us.  Because we are saved, we now have a hope. That hope is to see Jesus. That hope is to have eternal life with God.  That hope has now been realized for Karen.

There’s a lot about death we don’t like. I get that. But as followers of Jesus and worshipers of the Most High God, we have a hope that death gets us there.  Hope isn’t wishful thinking. Hope is factual assurance based on the character of God and on His loving, gracious history.  We trust Him because He can be trusted.  We have hope because it is in Him.

Let’s keep our eye on the prize.  Let’s keep our focus on Jesus no matter what curve balls have been tossed your way lately.  He’s got you. And yes, He too is looking forward to the day when we all get to be together.

October, rough month for blogging

On By MarkIn Baptism, Family, GRACELeave a comment

Not sure how that happened, but I just noticed I wrote one time all of last month. I won’t try to catch up now, not all at once.
This Sunday at Grace we’re baptizing some amazing people who will share their story via video. I just LOVE our baptisms! People standing for Jesus!

We’re also at week three in our study in Ephesians. If you can, read the rest of Chapter one in prep for Sunday.

On a personal note:
Laurie’s grandma passed away last week in Three Rivers, CA. This past summer, we were able to stop in one afternoon for a sweet visit with this godly woman. I’m glad Laurie was able to go for the memorial service yesterday and spend some time with her mom and other relatives. She’ll be back tomorrow afternoon, for which I’m most anxious.

Why Grace @ Noon?

On By MarkIn church, Family, GRACELeave a comment

Last Sunday I visited 3 different churches in Albuquerque as I began my study break week.  I’m kind of a freak like that, I guess.  I love the church. I love how God is using the church today. I have a lot to say about my observations, so I hope to in future blogs.

But for now, just one quick observation from last week that will help answer the above question.

Each church was unique in how it welcomed me at the door. By far, my favorite was the church that greeted me with an older gentleman saying, “Welcome, make yourself at home”.  That was it. Simple and to the point. I won’t comment here on what they could have done better once I got inside, but I will say I loved that as an opening line.  You see, that’s what a church is. It’s a home. A home for family.

A couple of times each year, maybe more, we have what we call Grace@Noon.  Essentially we have a meal after the church service to encourage people to stick around and get to know a few more people.  It does involve a lot of food. We have an amazing crew of people working to provide a meal for around 500 people!  But it’s really not about the food.  It does use the entire Commons area at Sinagua.  Children’s Church adjusts a bit as we set up and prepare to use every possible corner in the Commons. But it’s really not about how many people fit into a room.

It’s all about extending what Grace is about to a wider circle of people.

Most everyone who attends Grace does so with the same group of people.  Call it a family, call it roommates, or ministry peers, we all have our circle.  Many even sit in the same part of the auditorium each week, again, surrounded by the same people that like that particular vantage point.  Nothing wrong with that… until.  Until you meet someone who goes to the same church as you but sits on the other side, or works most weeks in a certain ministry, and you don’t even know you’re in the same church. Or until you meet someone who ‘used’ to attend Grace but never connected with the people, the family of Grace.

As Grace grows and we see more people coming to our church services, we will have to work harder at welcoming others and making sure people feel ‘at home’.

So yes, that’s the biggie behind Grace@Noon.  Get to know just a couple of more people. Widen your circle just a bit. Guess what? If we all do that, the church remains friendly, welcoming, and best of all; family.

Thanks to everyone who serves at Grace in any way shape or form. Thanks for the team putting together our meal time so we can enjoy some extended ‘family time’.

What a great week

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, Theology, WorshipLeave a comment

This has been a great week. It started with an almost record attendance at church as we witnessed three people getting baptized.  Each Sunday the worship has been amazing, our worship team is doing an excellent job.  You are a great church that loves to worship the Lord.  I love being a part of that!

I’ve had several meetings with new members of Grace.  The Grace 1.0 class was just a couple of weeks ago. We now have several new members. I just love getting to know these dear people that want to make Grace their home.

I finished teaching the class on “Telling the Gospel”. I absolutely love helping our church family in sharing the gospel.  The next class starts this coming Monday. Jason Alley will be teaching on Theology Proper.  Come to the Ministry Center at 6:30 this Monday.  You’ll be glad you did!

Then the following Sunday, which happens to be 10-10-10, I’ll finish up Habakkuk and right after church we have Grace@Noon – this is our way of saying we’re having a huge lunch. We have ordered food for the entire church. So, plan on sticking around after church on Sunday, Oct 10th and you’ll get a good meal and have the chance to meet a few people.

God bless you, as you also celebrate the week God has giving you!

Praying for what matters

On By MarkIn church, GraceGroups, PrayLeave a comment

I’ve noticed whenever I’m asked to pray for someone or for some event, it’s because it really matters.  We don’t ask for prayer about things we don’t care about, or at least we’re not too concerned about.  Right?

We pray for a job interview, a potential new relationship, a decision to be made, help for the test, for someone’s health issues, we pray for strength, wisdom, and even patience.

Can I invite you to pray for your church and your pastor?

Whatever church you attend, pray today.  This thing we do called ‘church’ is a pretty big deal. We are the church as we are saved and following Christ in our local community.  This is not man’s idea. It’s not some denominational mucky mucks idea. This is God’s church.  We are His people.  And when things seem to be clicking along, the enemy would love nothing more than to take our feet out from underneath us. This can happen through a subtle apathy, or a divisive issue. It can happen when we are too comfortable or too busy. It shows up in gossip as well as good works. Let’s not let the enemy inside our church!

So, as your church follows the Lord’s leading and is teaching the grace of God to the lost as well as to the maturing followers of Christ, let’s pray for God’s protection and blessing. Let’s be a part of the harvest of seeing people trust Jesus with their lives and in obedience, give the Lord first place in everything!  We live right where we do and in the time that we do for a very specific reason.  Therefore, let’s pray. It really matters.

For those that attend Grace, there is a weekly prayer meeting open to everyone. They meet on Sunday mornings at 9:25.  Head to the welcome table and enter through the door right there.  I love that these people are gathering as people are making their way to church. I love that each week prayer is happening in Grace Groups throughout the community.  I love that this matters. So, join me in praying for God’s Word as it goes out tomorrow to His people and those He’s pursuing.

Telling the Gospel

On By MarkIn commitment, GospelLeave a comment

Preaching sounds like only ‘preachers’ can do it.

Sharing sounds like the exchange of good ideas or new recipes or secrets on where the fish are biting.

But telling. Ah telling. That sounds like talking about something that I can’t wait to tell you about.  Like an amazing thing that happened in my life.  Let me tell you about it. Or about something I witnessed that I’m sure no one has ever noticed before. Let me tell you about it.

Tonight at 6:30, I’ll start a three-week series on the Essentials in Telling the Gospel.  If Jesus left us on the planet to tell others, then how come they don’t know yet? Why do we spend so much time, energy, resources on Christians talking to other Christians each week in really nice buildings, while people drive or walk right by us unnoticed, untouched and unchanged. This isn’t about guilt. It’s about a decision we need to make.

I’ll do my part to help you with the information you’ll need.  Truth is, God does most of the work.  But He does need us. It’s His plan, to allow us to be a part of the process.

Three Monday nights. That’s the only commitment you need to get started.

Guest Blog From Jim Smith

On By MarkIn Family, God's Glory, ZacLeave a comment

James SmithToday is Zac’s birthday, His dad, my brother, is my guest blogger today:

Exactly 34 years ago today, on Friday, September 10, 1976, at 1 p.m., Zachary James Smith arrived in Denver, Colorado. He was in a hurry to get here. He was born two months early and weighed in at 4 lbs., 3 oz. Before he lived very long, his weight dipped below 4 lbs. Kind of a scrawny little guy, he was taken by ambulance from the hospital where he was born to the Children’s Hospital in Denver where he lived for many days in NICU. His heart and lungs were not fully developed. He had no sucking reflex. He was weighed every night at midnight. We would stay up and wait until 12:05 so we could call the nurses and see if had gained any weight.

His beginning was somewhat frightening to his dear mother. I think I was scared, too. But my memory works differently than hers and what I remember most was the overwhelming weight of responsibility. I had married an amazingly beautiful wife at a young age and now, all of a sudden,  I was a father. We went from two rather small salaries to the smaller of the two.

The 30 days in the hospital finally came to an end and young Zachary came home to our little house on Kansas Drive. By now, he was in a hurry again. He was quick to develop and catch up with the growth charts and the statistics. We could tell from very early on that his mind was advanced. He had inherited some stubbornness and some IQ from his grandfathers. That turned out to be a really good thing.

That first Christmas, he wore a newborn Santa outfit and we bought a long-play record of John Denver’s Christmas songs. Among them was A Baby Just Like You. This was a song Mr. Denver sang to his son, Zachary. Merry Christmas, little Zachary.  That turned out to be a long-standing tradition.

Zac learned to read, listening to his mother read to him incessantly. He knew his letters and was putting together words when he was 2 years old. He loved to read. Before he was two years old, his little sister arrived to complete the family. He knew from the very beginning his role as a big brother. (Further chapters to follow…)

He was in a hurry to exit, as well; wasn’t he? He has left his parents and sister and wife a heartful of memories. He has left his amazing children an incredible legacy. Join me in thanking God today for Zac’s life.

HUGE Sunday Coming!

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, GraceGroups1 Comment

I say it’s huge, and I guess it really is. It’s huge because we start a new series on an OT guy we know very little about but who passes on an amazing message that we NEED today.
Also, many Grace Groups are beginning this week. This is a huge part of our church family experience at Grace. Many people signed up a couple of weeks ago in the gym. There’s room for more and this week you’ll see the updated list of Grace Groups available.

I’m praying now that you’ll find a place to connect at Grace via the Grace Groups. This is where we discuss and apply the sermon and enjoy doing life together.

I just gotta say this. I’ve been blown away at how many people are at Grace BEFORE we start. Our auditorium is filling up before the 10 am start time. That’s awesome! And that’s all I’ll say.

Can’t wait for Sunday to begin our new study together and our Grace Groups.

Thank you, Bekah!

On By MarkIn Staff, Thanks1 Comment

Grace has a wonderful staff of people working to serve our body and the purposes of our church.  This past week we said farewell to Bekah as she devotes more of her time to her Senior year at NAU.

Bekah joined our Grace office staff about three years ago.  Her family has been such an integral part of Grace for a long time.  True to her roots, Bekah has extended grace and kindness to everyone she has touched in our front office. She was the one who likely answered the phone when you called, or welcomed you as you entered.  She has been the one to produce our bulletins and keep all the calendar information flowing as well as a host of other duties critical to the smooth functioning of our church. Bekah, we will really miss you. Thank you for your sweet servant’s heart that clearly reflects Jesus to all as you’ve ministered through our office.

You’ll still see Bekah faithfully serving around Grace. She’s very committed to serving alongside our Children’s Ministry and she is one of the leaders in GSM as well.

Thanks Bekah.

Grace in Relationships

On By MarkIn church, Community, GRACE1 Comment

Even wonder what makes your best friend your best friend?  Ever stop and think about the people you feel closest to?  How about those you feel safest around?

Yep, it’s probably all the same answer.  I call it ‘grace in relationships’.

We do our best around people who accept us for who we are and are quick to extend grace as we live in our humanness.  These are the same people that love us too much to let us stay in our junk. They’re quick to lend a hand, say a hard thing, speak the truth in love, sit and listen, and talk to the Creator on our behalf.  But always extending grace.

Our biggest struggles seem to be when we’re in the pressure cooker of trying to impress others or always finding ourselves living defensively.   I’m not a relationship expert. I am a follower of Jesus and I rather enjoy watching others around me follow Him too.  As mentioned in church a few weeks ago, we are His masterpiece, and He is working on us.  Listen, just the fact that He’s working on us is evidence of His grace.  He doesn’t give up on us. He doesn’t leave us alone to rot.  He graciously puts us in community so we can see Him and quite frankly, so we can ‘be’ Him.  You see, the church is the body of Christ.  We don’t get that title by staying away or hiding alone. We get that as we assemble ourselves and commit to community.

This week at Grace we’re gonna learn something about the beauty of connecting in our community.  If I were you and was anywhere close to Flagstaff, I’d be at Grace on Sunday.  Just sayin.