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.

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.

Got the ball?

On By MarkIn Leadership, Missions2 Comments

Pick any sport with a ball.  Doesn’t really matter the sport. If there’s a ball, all eyes are on the ball.  Actually what happens to the ball is the whole point of the sport.  Think of all the other aspects of the sport you thought of, and bottom line, it all comes down to where the ball is, and who’s got it.

In basketball, 9 other on-court players and two benches full of players and coaches along with countless fans are watching the one guy bouncing the ball.  In baseball, 18 guys are watching the ball as it speeds from the hand of the pitcher at 90 miles an hour or as it explodes off the bat and out 300 plus yards.  Again, all the players, coaches, investors, fans, are all watching the ball and watching to see if the player can cross home plate before the ball does.  You see how this works? Soccer, tennis, football (yes! it’s finally here!!), even four square and kickball…it’s all about the ball.

When Jesus got ready to leave this planet and head home, He looked into the eyes of His small group of followers and He saw the future ball-carriers.  He told them they’d have to wait on the Holy Spirit and then they could run with vicious passion to get the ball across the line.  They’ve since passed it to us.  All Jesus came to do, His ‘mission’, has been passed on to us.  He finished the work, He completed the gift of salvation. And now today He’s given us the ball to carry right where we are and in the exact times we live in.  Through lives dedicated to Him and His mission of loving others in truth and grace, we carry the ball He so carefully has tossed to us.

You got the ball?  What are you doing with it?

God’s Masterpiece – YOU

On By MarkIn church, Flagstaff, GRACE, LeadershipLeave a comment

There’s an old song I remember hearing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing, “God is working, He’s still working, God is working even now”.  That was the essence of this past Sunday’s sermon.  According to Ephesians 2:10, we are in fact God’s masterpiece because of the gift of salvation we’ve been given by His amazing grace.  We are who we are because of Him. And He’s still working on us.  Our salvation is secure, but our sanctification is a daily, growing process.  You can listen to the sermon and watch the video we used by going to our website.

Don’t forget to sign up this week to help the Flagstaff Connect opportunity.  I’m so in awe of how our church is stepping up to serve throughout Flagstaff.  I’m telling you guys, this is huge.  I’m hearing of people filling sandbags for flood victims, and groups going to Hope Cottage and others giving blood and some serving our senior citizens.   This is taking the message of Grace and living it throughout our local community.  I’m so thankful we have these opportunities.   God bless each of you for giving of yourself!

NEWS:

On Tuesday, August 17th we’re having a Leadership Vision Night! I am so pumped about this one night event where we will gather as a church and hear what’s coming and pray for God’s blessing on this coming semester.  I am really looking forward to sharing my heart with the Grace family and encouraging you to say “Yes” to what God is leading us to be and to do!  Mark the date and remove all excuses.  I really want you to be there for this evening.  We’ll have something for all the kids, so you don’t even have to get a babysitter.  We got you! Plan now.

Remember, you’re God’s masterpiece. You’re in His hands. He’s got you.

So… trust Him!

Identity In Christ

On By MarkIn Bible, GRACE, Identity, Jesus!1 Comment

Last Sunday I read a few verses that described who we are in Christ and I wanted to make the whole list available to you! I hope these words encourage you today. Don’t forget to keep Gal 2:20 on your mind this week.

Can’t wait to see you on Sunday as we take back our faith!

Have a great week!
Pastor Mark

I got this list from:  http://crossinglouisville.com/2009/05/03/our-identity-in-christ/

Who Am I?
Matt. 5:13 I am the salt of the earth.
Matt. 5:14 I am the light of the world.
John 1:12 I am a child of God (part of His family).  (see Rom. 8:16)
John 15:1, 5 I am part of the true vine, a branch of His (Jesus’) life.
John 15:15 I am Jesus’ friend.
John 15:16 I am chosen and appointed by Jesus to bear His fruit.
Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ for Christ.
Rom. 6:18 I am a slave of righteousness.
Rom. 6:22 I am enslaved to God.
Rom. 8:14, 15 I am a son of God.  (God is my “daddy” so to speak) (see Gal. 3:26, 4:6)
Rom. 8:17 I am a joint-heir with Christ sharing His inheritance with Him.
1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19 I am a temple (home) of God.  His Spirit dwells in me.
1 Cor. 6:17 I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.
1 Cor. 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.  (see Eph. 5:30)
2 Cor. 5:17 I am a new creation (new person).
2 Cor. 5:18, 19 I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation.
Gal. 3:26, 28 I am a son of God and one in Christ.
Gal. 4:6, 7 I am an heir of God since I am a son of God.
Eph. 1:1 I am a saint.  (see 1 Cor. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2)
Eph. 2:10 I am God’s workmanship (handiwork) created in Christ to do the work He planned beforehand that I should do.
Eph. 2:19 I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God’s people in His family.
Eph. 3:1 / 4:1 I am a prisoner of Christ.
Eph. 4:24 I am righteous and holy.
Phil. 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven and seated in heaven right now (see Eph. 2:6)
Col. 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Col. 3:4 I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life.
Col. 3:12 I am chosen of God, holy, and dearly loved.
1 Thes. 1:4 I am chosen and dearly loved by God.
1 Thes. 5:5 I am son of light and not of darkness.
Heb. 3:1 I am a holy brother, partaker of a heavenly calling.
Heb. 3:14 I am a partaker of Christ … I share in His life.
1 Pet. 2:5 I am one of God’s living stones and am being built up (in Christ) as a spiritual house.
1 Pet. 2:9, 10 I am a part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession to proclaim His excellencies.
1 Pet. 2:11 I am an alien and stranger to this world that I temporarily live in.
1 Pet. 5:8 I am an enemy of the devil.
1 John 3:1, 2 I am now a child of God.  I will resemble Christ when He returns.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God; the evil one (the devil) can’t touch me.
Psalm 23 & 100 I am a sheep of His pasture.  Therefore, I have everything I need.

What Happened to Me?
Rom. 5:1 I have been justified (completely forgiven and made righteous).
Rom. 6:1-6 I died with Christ and died to the power of sin’s rule on my life.
Rom. 8:1 I am free forever from condemnation.
1 Cor. 1:30 I have been put into Christ by God’s doing.
1 Cor. 2:12 I have received the Spirit of God into my life that I might know the things freely given to me by God.
1 Cor. 2:16 I have been given the mind of Christ.
1 Cor. 6:19, 20 I have been bought with a price.  I am not my own.  I belong to God.
2 Cor. 1:21 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God in Christ.
2 Cor. 5:14, 15 Since I have died, I no longer live for myself, but for Him (Christ).
2 Cor. 5:21 I have been made righteous.
Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  (The life I am living is Christ’s life.)
Eph. 1:3 I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing.
Eph. 1:4 I have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him.
Eph. 1:5 I was predestined (determined by God) to be adopted as a son.
Eph. 1:7, 8 I have been redeemed, forgiven, and am a recipient of His lavish grace, Eph. 1:13, 14 and have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge (a deposit/down payment) guaranteeing my inheritance to come.
Eph. 2:5 I have been made alive together with Christ.
Eph. 2:6 I have been raised up and seated with Christ in heaven.
Eph. 2:18 I have direct access to God through the Spirit.
Eph. 3:12 I may approach God with boldness, freedom, and confidence.
Col. 1:13 I have been delivered (rescued) from the domain of darkness (Satan’s rule) and transferred to the kingdom of Christ.
Col. 1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (the debt against me has been cancelled).  (see Col. 2:13, 14)
Col. 1:27 Christ Himself is in me.
Col. 2:7 I have been firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built up in Him.
Col. 2:11 I have been spiritually circumcised (my old, unregenerate nature has been removed).
Col. 2:10 I have been made complete in Christ.
Col. 2:12, 13 I have been buried, raised, and made alive with Christ.
Col. 3:1-4 I have been raised up with Christ.  I died with Christ.  My life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Christ is now my life.
2 Tim. 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Tim. 1:9 I have been saved and called (set apart) according to God’s doing.
Heb. 2:11 Because I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier (Christ), He is not ashamed to call me brother.
Heb. 4:16 I have a right to come boldly before the throne of God (the throne of grace) to find mercy and find grace in time of need.
2 Pet. 1:4 I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which I am a partaker of the divine nature (God’s nature).

I Get to Preach Sunday

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, WorshipLeave a comment

I’ve enjoyed sitting in the congregation these past three Sundays. A big “thank you” to Paul, Doug, and Bob for their timely teachings. I’ll be speaking this Sunday and leading our church in remembering what the Lord has done for us through communion.

Couple of reminders that you’ve heard about: This Sunday is our only summer time Grace 1.0 membership class. If you’ve not yet joined the Grace family in who we are and what we’re doing, then this Sunday is for you. Please call the office today and reserve your spot. We meet right after church at the Ministry Center and provide materials and lunch. We can’t provide childcare so you’ll need to take care of that. Church number is 774-8091.
Also, next Thursday is our blood drive here at the Ministry Center. We’ve just about met our goal, but there’s probably room for you if you’d like to help our community by donating blood.

Can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday at Grace.

Thanks, Emily

On By MarkIn Thanks2 Comments

A few months ago I hired my first assistant.  Emily took on a new position and helped give it definition. She has been an amazing blessing to me and Grace. I’m very thankful to God that He sent her our way.

Seth and Emily were relatively new to Grace and she was looking for a part time job.  Just a couple of months into her new job Emily broke the news that they were moving back to the Show Low area where they both were raised. There she is taking on a new job at a local Christian school.

Last night we said good-bye. Though sad I’m loosing an excellent assistant, I have observed a few things during this time:

1. People do their best work when they’re using their talents for God and His purposes.

2. When we each do our part, we free up others to do their part as well. Kind of like a body.

3. It’s okay to take a risk when you’re trusting God.

Shortly after Emily announced they were moving I was asked if it was a mistake to hire someone I didn’t know that well. My immediate and confident response was “No. Look what I’ve learned in the process.”  And now I’d add, “Look at this wonderful family Laurie and I got to know.”

4. After some coaching and wise counsel from others in my profession, I learned the value of an assistant.  That was only confirmed once I took the leap and made the hire.

5. In a less dramatic fashion than Job’s experience, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed is HIS name.  I gladly welcome my new assistant Nicole to the team.

Thanks, Emily.  Thanks for learning a new job that had little clarification on day one. Thanks for representing Jesus and His church so well. Thanks for assisting me in changing the world from Flagstaff.

Sunday to Sunday

On By MarkIn church, Preaching4 Comments

Wow. I loved Father’s Day at Grace.  I loved that we honored dads. I loved that we prayed for the many that were out at that very hour fighting the fire that shut down Sinagua. And I loved that we had a place to meet for church.  I’ve gotta tell you I was pretty energized having three services on a Sunday morning.  Our attendance was down considerably, but WE DIDN’T HAVE TO CANCEL!  Praise God we could fit over 200 people in the Ministry Center throughout the morning.

A big shout out to the team that served our body that morning.  Many came early and stayed through all three services.  I think the Worship Team, the Levites, the Tech Team, Aaron and Matt could each retell the sermon better than I could by the third time.

Thanks, Grace, for being so gracious. We need to be ready for whatever the Lord has for us.

On a personal note: I’m taking a few days of what is called a study break.  A few days this week and a few next allows me the opportunity to be away from the office and pray, read and meditate on how God is leading me and Grace.  I’ll be back Thursday for a couple of appointments and will stay through the weekend before taking a few days next week to do the same.  I want you to know so you can pray for me. I love what I do, and I take it seriously.

After these couple of partial weeks, I’m going to take Laurie away and go find a vacation spot to rest together. No apologies, we all need some time away.  Make plans, take care of your family!

All that said, I’m so thankful for the guests we’ll have at Grace.  This week, we’ll get to meet Paul Wegner. Check it out here, http://www.allaboutgrace.com/#/welcome/guest-speakers

Can’t wait to see all of you on Sunday.  I’m looking forward to hearing Paul and worshiping with our Grace family!

3 Services at Grace for Father’s Day

On By MarkIn church, Flagstaff, GRACELeave a comment

With the fire causing evacuations in the neighborhood, Grace will NOT be meeting at Sinagua. Instead, we will have 3 services at 9, 10 and 11 at the Grace Ministry Center (office) at 963 W. RT 66. If you’re a regular, maybe come to the 9 or 11 and give room for others at the regularly scheduled 10 a.m. service.
We’re praying for our firefighters and neighbors as we go through this difficult time.
Yet with all of that, we’re very excited we have a place to go for our time of worship and the teaching of the Word. Come expecting. Pray for what God may do in His creative ways.
And it is Father’s Day! I have something for the dads. If I were a dad, I’d be there. Just sayin!

Reminder: not sure about parking. I think we should be fine. If it’s too full, worse case is park over near Safeway lot and have a nice, short walk.  Looking forward to our time together.