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.

Unplugged was Awesome!

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, Worship2 Comments

“What if we intentionally had a few more Unplugged services throughout the year?”

“It felt a little bit like Grace when we first started, but with more people!  It also makes me realize that we don’t need all of that “stuff” to have an incredible Sunday morning.”

“We had to sit close to other people! :)”

“There is no stopping the people of God who desire to gather together to praise and worship God.”

“I don’t usually turn around and look, but I did Sunday, Wow!”

Flagstaff saw 52″ of snow and major closures throughout the city for several days.  With no equipment we all spent Sunday morning together.  We’ve only done this a few times in our history.   It was an amazing time as 500 people squeezed together for a time of acoustic worship and preaching without a mic.  I loved it. Snow didn’t hold us back in our worship and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!   Thanks to the Grace family for being so flexible.  And remember…

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Grace Unplugged

On By MarkIn church, Flagstaff, GRACE2 Comments

What an amazing week. I’m not clear on the total amounts of snow reported, but let’s just say a lot! Last night we needed to make a visit to the hospital, so while we were out, we drove by Bookmans and saw the fallen roof. We also drove by our Ministry Center and saw a broken street sign and piles and piles of snow that had been shoveled off the roof (thankfully!).

It’s been beautiful and dangerous all at the same time. Our life with Christ is somewhat like that. Beautiful because of His grace and kindness, and dangerous because we bear His light in a dark world. We are called to love God, love one another and love our neighbor. Times like these give us ample opportunities.

Tomorrow will be somewhat unique at Grace. It’s been a few years since our last ‘Grace Unplugged’. We will all be together in the auditorium, no children’s ministry, and we’ll have an acoustic worship set, no equipment set up. Our trailers are buried as I’m sure the loading doors to the school are as well. Our guys will arrive and get the parking lot and sidewalk ready for you.

This will be a unique service for our church family to gather and pray for one another and for our community and hear from God’s precious Word.  Come expecting.

Haiti: Continued

On By MarkIn PrayLeave a comment

This is just a reminder to continue to pray for and help minister in Haiti.  As we all know, there are disasters and devastation around the world on any given day. Sometimes by natural causes, sometimes by war or disease, crime or terrorism.  What’s unique about Haiti is that you already have one of the poorest places on our planet. Add to that the sheer size of the earthquake and mounting damage, this certainly has us all awakened and concerned.

As you pray for God’s work in Haiti during these days of recovery, please know that God hears you.  Let’s be active in praying and helping.

At our church, we’ve simply adopted two of the many organizations that are on the ground in Haiti.

For personal donations, please go online and help Samaritans Purse.

As a church, we’ll send some additional help to a new initiative called Churches Helping Churches.  This is being led by Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald with a specific target to see the churches in Haiti helped along with perhaps new churches being planted as the Lord opens doors.

Remember, just because our fast-paced news moves on, the day-to-day life in Haiti will be slow going for a long time. Let’s pray, and as God leads us, let’s give.

Good News Bad News

On By MarkIn Cancer, Laurie3 Comments

Good news: The doctor said, “that’s about the smallest cancer I’ve ever seen”.

Bad news: That little piece of cancer is inside my wife.

Laurie and I had a visit with an oncologist this past Friday.  He is very optimistic based on the size and location of the cancer.  Laurie will have one more surgery to see if there has been any spreading.  Then she’ll probably proceed with a recommended radiation treatment.  We too are hopeful and confident based on information we’ve received and based on our trust in God and His great love for us. That great love does not translate into a trouble-free life or an instant on-the-spot healing. It’s based on God and His goodness. He is good.  Whether in life or death, health or sickness.  We’re on a new journey, and we’re as ready as we know to be.  We continue to thank God for allowing this to be seen so early.

Here’s Laurie’s take on it as she reflects on church yesterday:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=259289994367&id=1325443316&ref=nf

Pray and Help for Haiti

On By MarkIn PrayLeave a comment

Words fail when we realize just how bad the news is in Haiti after yesterday’s earthquake.  Like me, you may be wondering what you can do.  I honestly don’t know what we can do. I do know that there is an immediate desire to pray.  Pray for God’s mercy on those whose lives are in the balance. Pray for the thousands who just lost a family member, a home, and a way of life.  Pray for those trying to help.

Here are some pictures to help us realize how bad this is.  http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/earthquake_in_haiti.html

If you feel that you want to help financially, there are probably many good ways to do that. Many organizations and ministries that are designed to help and are somewhat prepared.  Let’s help them. Let’s pray they can be the hands and heart of Jesus to these who are hurting.  Let’s pray and help.  One such organization is: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/.

Classic Passages

On By MarkIn Bible2 Comments

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across Proverbs 3:5-6. Many of you know that I read the Proverbs through each month. Along with the monthly drive-by, I also see this passage referred to often in cards and even in a Bible my dad once signed for me. I love this passage.

Prov 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

What I’m learning is what it means to ‘trust’. We trust God for our salvation, through Jesus. We trust that ‘all things work together for good’, Rom 8:28. But are we trusting Him with today.

What is it that God is leading you to trust Him with today? Your financial stuff? Job? Family? A snag? A bump in your road? Your health? What is it that God wants you to turn over to Him and know that He’s got your back? He doesn’t promise that it all goes away and everything is great, and good, and comfortable. What He tells us, is that as we trust Him and acknowledge Him, He’ll make our paths straight. He’ll make sense out of our chaos because He is ALWAYS working.

Trust Him. Go ahead, I’m right behind you.

Christmas is JESUS

On By MarkIn Christmas3 Comments


For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us

Titus 2:11; 3:4

The Word became flesh

God became man

Light entered darkness

All-sufficient became dependent

The Ever Present Help became the ever needy baby

King of kings humbled himself among his subjects

Creator came to the created

Infinite joined the finite

Wonderful came to not so wonderful

Counselor came to those in need of his counsel

Mighty God came to the extremely weak

Everlasting entered time

Father sent the Son to show the world God

Prince of Peace entered chaos

The God of humanity has come to rescue, to bring life-saving measures that we desperately need. He comes for the sorrowful, the resentful, the depressed, and the oppressed. He’s the God of the second chance, the third chance and the thirtieth.

Jesus, God with us, is the God of all comfort, healing, purpose, meaning and life. He’s not an option, He’s not an offer to be considered, He’s the Creator, the King, the ever present One, the all-sufficient One, the One who needs no introduction and deserves nothing less than an eternal ovation, He will be worshiped and praised. One day, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is God, that the Baby of Bethlehem, is in fact the Savior of the World, God with us, God come to be in us.

Happy Birthday to my Laurie.

On By MarkIn LaurieLeave a comment

Yesterday was Laurie’s birthday. We’re both at that age where you start to think less and less of the birthday. Still love the birthday celebrations and making a fuss, but do we have to add a year to the age?

Because I was to do a wedding in Holbrook, we stayed Thursday night at La Posada in Winslow. I highly recommend this place. Especially the restaurant. I’d drive the 45 minutes just for the meal. After a great breakfast and leisurely morning, we headed to Sun Valley AZ for the wedding of Brian Fries and Jessica Pruitt. It was a great wedding with several sweet touches that made it unique.

Laurie and I then headed home to Flag where we enjoyed a nice meal and caught a movie. It was a great day that I thoroughly enjoyed sharing with my best gal ever.

Blessings

On By MarkIn Christmas, Flagstaff, SalvationLeave a comment

Some people complain about Mondays.  I probably have also. But not this Monday.

Yesterday was the first of the Christmas sermons and 5 people crossed the line of faith to place their trust in Jesus alone for eternal life!  AND we also had 3 baptized, 1 who just recently was saved at Grace!  It is such a blessing to be a part of God’s activity.  Yesterday, I was really going for 2 Cor 5:21 in the sermon, when I came across vs 20 that best summarized the point that we are invited to be participants in the Christmas Story, not merely onlookers.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

God makes his appeal to lost people through us!  Let’s not simply observe Christmas, let’s participate. Be an ambassador for Christ!

Flagstaff is under a Blizzard warning right now.  Snow is falling big time and schools have already cancelled for Tuesday.  NAU/CCC have also called off finals for today.  A blessing for some, I’m guessing. Also, we’re closing the church office for the remainder of today, and probably tomorrow also.

As we all enjoy the snow and the adjusted schedule that goes along with it, let’s be careful, and thankful!