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.

Launching our Grace Groups…with a party!

On By MarkIn churchLeave a comment

Tuesday night from 6:30 – 7:30 we’re having our first ever “Grace Group Launch Party”. This is the one time we’re inviting all the Grace Group leaders and hosts to meet up with the new members and invite others to join them in the adventure of a small group.

This is really a prayer and dedication time for the new season of Grace Groups. We’ll have a great time squeezing as many people as we can into our Ministry Center. My prayer is that more and more people will get connected through small groups so that they can live in community in the truths of what we’re talking about in our main service on Sunday mornings. When we go to church and sit in a service and even sing along, we’re fooling ourselves if we think that is ‘community’.

Grace Groups are our invitation to gather in homes and share hearts and minds together based on God’s Word and expressed in His love.

If you’re looking for a way to connect to the community of Grace, this is your invitation to come Tuesday and let us help you make it happen!

Blessings.

Come Here…You!

On By MarkIn Bible, church, Jesus!Leave a comment

Throughout our study in John we’re noticing Jesus’ invitation to come and follow Him.  Yesterday I broke it down to three invitations: Come and See – Come and Follow – Come and Die!

Where are you with Jesus?  He invites us to “come and see”. Check it out. “You gotta see this!” And that’s more than just an invitation to a great church service with amazing music and fog machines.  That’s about an honest look at Christianity and it’s claims.  Remember the gal from Samaria, “Come and see this Jesus, you gotta check this out”.  She could say that because she had already seen, and believed.

“Come and follow” is the invitation to become a genuine follower of Christ by placing your faith in Him as Savior. Exchanging your life for His. Crossing the line of faith.  Repenting of your sins, seeing yourself and your sins as filthy rags, and telling Jesus you believe WHO He is, and WHAT He’s done for you.  Pray the prayer!  I hope several did that at Grace yesterday. If YOU never have, I hope you will.

“Come and die” is the hard part of giving your all to Jesus.  This isn’t the same as being saved. This is an act of the (already)child of God giving full surrender to a life dedicated to the mission of Jesus.  There is a cost to consider.  This is obedience.  This is where God calls/leads us to give our all.

Wherever you are, Jesus reaches out His arms and says, “come here…come to Me!”

Aren’t you glad?

Even the smallest blessings

On By MarkIn Pray, Thanks2 Comments

The front passenger tire had a slow leak.  Stopped by the tire place and was told it would be about 30 minutes.  So I made use of the coke machine and sat down with my iphone to twitter away the 30 minutes.  I realized how little of an inconvienience this was. There have been times when I’d be irritated to be told to wait for 30 minutes. But now I have this great little tool that can keep me busy for a long while.

The other small benefit was the guy has espn on and I was able to multitask and get somewhat caught up on sports news that I’ve missed lately.  I was surprised to see Edgerrin James may be on his way to Seattle.  I’ve been ‘out of the loop’ so this was news to me.

Then when I went to go pay for the repair I was told those coveted words, “no charge Mr. Smith”.  Huh?  “You bought your tires here, so, no charge.”  Sweet.  It’s not their fault a screw wound up in my tire.  But what a nice policy.

You know, sometimes it’s the small things that remind us that really, it’s gonna be alright.  I’ll have much larger issues to deal with soon enough. For now, well… ‘thanks Lord for the tire man’s policy and for the orange soda and for espn and for time to mess with my iphone.’  Amen.

Holy Anticipation

On By MarkIn church, GRACE, Jesus!, Pray, Worship2 Comments

I’m in my office on a Saturday morning going over notes for tomorrow, cleaning up the place, and…oh yeah, listening to the Grace Worship Team rehearsing for tomorrow. As I’m listening to them, I’m thinking of tomorrow morning at Grace. I’m anticipating God’s blessings on His people as we come together FOR Him. I’m picturing hundreds of people lifting their voices and some even their hands as we worship God as His holy community. We are HIS. He’s our Abba, our God, our Saviour, our Life-giver, and our Friend.

Whether you attend Grace on Sunday or your church in your community, do you go with a sense of anticipation? Here are some thoughts to help you get ready for the holy gathering of the community:

  • Lord, what will you teach me about YOU?
  • Who will I see tomorrow that needs a fresh look at YOU, someone I can love and encourage?
  • What will I learn from your WORD?
  • How can you use ME to bless someone else in this holy community?
  • Who will be there tomorrow for the first time, seeking YOU?
  • Who will be there hanging on by a thread, needing more of YOU?
  • Lord, what can I give you?
  • Lord teach me your ways.
  • Lord show me your glory.
  • Lord, bless our holy gathering.
  • Lord, may I be rested and thoughtful as I approach this sacred moment.

I seriously can’t wait to gather with God’s people and our many guests to see what He’s got in store for us as we bring our offering of praise to Him. To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Rom 16:27
to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Chris

Dating Again

On By MarkIn Laurie, Love, Marriage1 Comment

Last week in a wedding I performed, I challenged the couple to continue to get to know each other. To know each other’s ‘stuff’. What makes you happy, what are you thinking about, how are you doing? Dudes, we have to work at that. And we should. You’re not a sissy if you talk from your heart and to your wife’s heart. You’re more of a man than the guy that won’t.

Last night we got to go out for dinner. We don’t do it a lot. I’m glad we don’t. But I love it when we get to. Going out for dinner is still a treat for us. We don’t have to go out, we have food in the fridge. But, after a great productive day, how nice it is to clean up, put on a shirt that doesn’t have a sports team logo and go out. Try going to a place that uses silverware and cloth napkins. Go out, spend a few dollars and look at each other. Listen to each other’s heart. Treat her like you did when you were trying to win her heart.

I’m not about to write a book about marriage or dating, or heart stuff. But, I’m in the game. I love my wife and I love spending time with her. Whether it’s at home or out on the date. Make it real you guys. Live in the moment with the one God has blessed you with.

TUESDAY Night Call to Prayer

On By MarkIn Family, Pray1 Comment

Grace is gathering at the Ministry Center this coming Tuesday August 11 @6:30 for an evening of prayer for our church, our community, the ministry of Christ and the needs of one another.

NOTE: changed from Monday to Tuesday due to scheduling conflict. So, mark it down, plan on TUESDAY night! All are welcome, bring the family, all the kids, any and all that would like to take some time to pray with us.

All Church Call-to-Prayer

On By MarkIn church, PrayLeave a comment

Last week I spoke on prayer @Grace. This coming Monday, August 10th, I’m asking the Grace family to gather at the Ministry Center at 6:30 for a special night of prayer. We’ll be praying for the church, the beginning of school, for the sick, for the financial challenges and for God’s favor on us as we serve Him and know Him!

Complaining or Laughing?

On By MarkIn Laughter, Thanks14 Comments

Seriously, I have a few things to groan about. So, naturally I’ve been in groan mode for a bit. But now the list is getting longer and the groaning is turning to laughter. I wonder why? I wonder if it’s God’s way of getting me to Stop It! Stop complaining, stop pouting.

Humor me by letting me therapeutically write this out. You may find something familiar in your own story today.

You ever have those times when everything is breaking, like all at once, or at least in one long continual stream of events? I’m almost afraid to go anywhere, because something will break.

Here’s my list that makes me laugh:
1. First day of travel to California: ipod quits working. Like in one instant, it’s playing, but no sound.
2. Within first hour of travel to Tucson, CD player quits working. It reads: “see dealer”.
3. Within first 10 minutes of leaving Tucson (3pm, mid-July, 100+) a/c goes out.
4. An hour before company arrives, toilet breaks, leaks to a constant running.
5. Company arrives, screen door falls off. Like on top of them.
6. For the past two Mondays, I have to spend way too much time on IT stuff to figure out how to get my computer properly working with office server. Why?
7. Truck odometer reads the multi-hundreds-of-dollars maintenance is due (in man-talk that means over-due)
8. Because one car is in shop getting a/c fixed, I ride my bike only to get a flat tire on way home.
9. After a nice walk home I’m welcomed with an old medical bill sent with an apology, but with a huge balance due.
10. This morning, power window switch quits working in truck.
11. Now at my office the barking dog next door is relentlessly crying for someone’s attention. Next door means right on the other side of my 4inch wall. Directly.

You see why I’m laughing? Partly because the list grows everyday, but mostly because as I ponder this little list I realize none of this matters. Like really, not one bit. It all has to be dealt with, but really nothing on this list is of significant loss.

1. ipod? Big deal. We have radio. We can drive in quiet and talk if we want
2. cd player? Big deal. We have radio. We have quiet time. Still stuff to talk about.
3. a/c? Okay, very inconvienient, but once we get out of the dreaded desert, we do live where a/c is mostly optional. We still can drive home in a nice car. We can have the windows down (every man’s dream). Not so quiet. No talking.
4. Toilet? We have two. (Odd Bonus: company came and fixed toilet!)
5. Screen door? We actually own a house. Close the door or buy a flyswatter.
6. IT? At least I have a good computer. Working through the server is always optional.
7. Truck maintenance? Really who believes those books anyway? It’s all a scam to get you to spend too much money. Runs fine. For now.
8. I own a nice bike.
9. I live where I can walk home in July and love every minute of it. I have insurance that covered most (apparently not as “most” as I hoped) of a medical procedure in a clean, modern hospital.
10. Power windows? Are you kidding me? I have 3 other windows in my truck that open. Three. I’m spoiled.
11. Dogs eventually leave the vets and go home.

What a fun list. Your list may not be quite as easy. You may be going through stuff that really does matter. My list ranges from a .50 cent fuse to a few thousand dollars of bills and repairs. Whether your list is laughable or seriously causing pain, let’s choose not to complain, but bring our stuff (great and small) before a loving God and trust Him with the ‘why’ of right now.

I’m not lying…the dog just quit barking. Things are already looking up!
Have a great day. Regardless.