Mark Beeson

Little Blue Heron / Egretta caerulea

These guys are pretty common and I've seen them before, but until yesterday I've never gotten a good picture of one.  This beauty was hunting along the edges of the Wekiwa Springs River when we kayaked past. 

It was good to spend the day with Aaron.  Several family members are flying in today, so yesterday we spent a few hours on the river with his cousins (Josh and Isaac) and his brothers-in-law (John and Ryan).  I'm glad for the time, glad for our moments together, glad for the love we share and glad for the joy I see in Aaron.  He's ready to be married.

Today we continue painting at Aaron's house. (It's a project that was abandoned last night at 3:00 AM .... and there is still work to do.)  Thanks for praying for us. I want these days to count. We're working together and it is wonderful, simply wonderful.

Ecclesiastes 4:9  -  Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.

Family Putt-Putt

Yesterday as the sun was setting we began a round of miniature golf.  It was over the course of the next three hours that I learned three important facts - rules to live by, if you will...

1.  The recommended maximum group size of four is a very good idea.  We played with fifteen in our group, and five of them weren't ten years old.

2.  Grouping more than the recommended number of golfers in your group may result in extended play time; we finished only nine holes in three hours.

3.  Hydration matters to children.  No really.  The setting sun apparently triggers their desperate need for soda. Because it is impossible to continue play without slaking their thirst, I recommend you give in and load them up with sugar. This is especially satisfying if the children are not yours. That way you can put them in someone else's car, strap them down in seat belts and send them on to their next adventure with their own parents and siblings. 

After nine holes of putt-putt, I'm ready to finish the back nine...

Next year...

Or the year after that...maybe.

It'll be awesome.

Psalm 90:4  - Patience! You've got all the time in the world—whether a thousand years or a day, it's all the same to you.

A Day At The Beach

 

You've no doubt spent a day at the beach, so you know what we did today.

I took lots of pictures and I've sorted through them, looking for the perfect family "beach photo" for the blog. I've got some great shots of my family at the beach, but I've been married long enough to know none of my pictures merit world-wide-web distribution.

So here's the best shot of the day.  Sheila loves it, and has declared me a "fine and thoughtful husband" because I've chosen to use it instead of any of the other pictures I took. 

Aaron's wedding is just a few days away, so we're building memories and marking moments. We had a great day at the beach. Thanks for praying for us.

Ecclesiastes 11:7  -  Sunshine is sweet; it is good to see the light of day.

Artists

My sister has two grandsons: Noah and Lincoln. Apparently both are young artists, quite willing to ply their trade any place at any time.  I caught them in action tonight.  We were waiting for dinner and they jumped at the opportunity to demonstrate their prowess with yellow crayons. As I watched them I realized I've forgotten what it's like to color things colors quite different from their common appearance. It must be quite liberating to color a blue bird yellow.

As I watched them concentrating on their work, I thought, "Maybe we should all take up coloring with a single crayon."

I'm guessing those of us trapped by formal training assume our entire palette must be laid out with a rainbow of colors before we can produce something worthwhile.  But, stop and think. How often do you have every color and hue you might want at your disposal?  How often do you have every option available to you?  Not very often, I think. 

Rather, I often find myself with one crayon, one chance, one color, one tone, one option and one choice. Either I do what I can with what's in my hand, or I do nothing.  Shame on me if I don't become as a child, grasp my yellow crayon, and color for all I'm worth.  If all I have is yellow, then I'll color yellow.  If yellow is what I have, yellow is what I'll give.

And when I'm done I'll do what Noah and Lincoln do. I'll hold my picture up for my Father to see.  And just like them I'll be eagerly waiting to hear my Father to say, "Well done."

Maybe if I'm faithful with what my Father has already given, I'll be entrusted with the opportunity to do even more.

Luke 16:10  -  If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

I Admire Maxie Dunnam

Every one of us has heroes.  Maxie Dunnam has long been one of mine. 

I'm often asked why the United Methodist Church is in decline in America today.  So many have inquired that I'm working on a book about it.  The complexities of institutional decline are both obvious and veiled. I don't know how to tackle the nuanced, intricate circumstances of loss with a single blog post, so I'm not attempting to intercept the entropy of American Methodism's decline with this post. But I am hoping to assist Maxie in prompting the voting constituency of the UMC toward righteousness.  (You may want to send this post to United Methodist pastors, and voting delegates in your Conference, to encourage and inform them. They can't act if they don't know.)

The survival of the United Methodist Church in America may well depend on it.

Maxie said it well when he affirmed the church is open to all persons, but not to all practices. I've often said it this way: "God loves you right where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there."

Whatever others decide, at GCC everyone is invited. We'll seek God's face, help each other take our next steps, turn from wickedness and follow Jesus...together.

Are you in?

2 Chronicles 7:14  -  If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Maribeth Roncz / Dancing With Our Stars

Maribeth is one of the most devoted, determined and gracious women serving Christ in Michiana today.  She's served at GCC for years and her leadership is astounding.  Her influence is pervasive. She's just remarkable. Period.

She's been a volunteer at the Center for the Homeless for sixteen years. Last year she accepted the Center's Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of Granger Community Church. Maribeth believes life "is not about how long you live, as much as it is about how you live." 

Too few live with Maribeth's passion and purpose.  She is on mission.  Sheila and I feel honored to work for Jesus beside this great lady.  We watched last night as Maribeth leveraged her leadership to raise money for the homeless in Michiana.  I think she personally greeted every person at the auction!

She was one of the celebrity dancers, so if you'd like to see someone living on mission....here she is!

Proverbs 8:6  -  Don't miss a word of this—I'm telling you how to live well, I'm telling you how to live at your best.

Dancing With Our Stars / Center For The Homeless

Laphonso Ellis is one of the guys at GCC.  I'm glad to serve Christ beside him.

A 1992 graduate of Notre Dame, Laphonso enjoyed an eleven year career in the NBA. He left the NBA to "love his wife and raise his kids." Currently, he is an analyst for Notre Dame Men's Basketball and is a partner in Ten Talents Productions, a company that produces Christian-themed films for families. As a long-time advocate for the Center for the Homeless, he accepted Steve Camilleri's invitation to dance at the Miracle Auction.

You may remember Amy O'Day because she danced with DC Curry at last year's auction. As you can see, she danced with Laphonso this year. Amy, and her husband Brian, own DanceSport on the Plaza. They opened their studio to the celebrity dancers and paired them up with professional dancers - who donated their time, talent, and the tops of their feet to make the auction a smashing success.

I'm really proud of the scores of GCC'ers volunteering at the Center for the Homeless. 200 men, women and children call the Center "home" every night. The good work accomplished by the volunteers at the Center inspires me.

Sheila and i were honored to participate in last night's auction, and since I had my camera I thought I'd pass along this photo of Laphonso dancing.

Psalm 140:12-13  -  Our Lord, I know that you defend the homeless and see that the poor are given justice. Your people will praise you and will live with you because they do right.

Next Steps

At GCC we're all about helping each other take our "next step toward Christ." Several people told me they enjoyed worship least night, and the Hillsong team really added value. I enjoyed it too, and I felt the Spirit nudging me to action.  Did you?

Tell me. Will you be taking a "next step" out of that worship service?  Did the Hillsong-led worship move you to act?  If so, what action will you be taking?

Here's the step I'll be taking because of last night's worship experience: I'm going to engage a new study of the words of Jesus. The more I study His words, the more I'm convicted; God's way is the right way!

How about you?

Luke 7:29  -  All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right....

Hillsong At GCC Last Night

With every seat sold out and expectations high, we gathered last night to worship Jesus with some of the Hillsong London musicians. It was awesome.

I'm grateful to be serving Christ beside the team at GCC. Volunteers and staff worked side-by-side to offer our community a very special evening, filled with celebration and praise.  Thanks for all you did to bring Michiana another marvelous worship opportunity.

Jason Miller leveraged some relational capital to bring Hillsong to us. He spent a couple of weeks in London with Hillsong's worship team. It was through Jason's contacts that we were able to make this happen, and offer our community this night of worship.  Jason did a good thing for all of us, don't you think?

Mark 5:6  -  When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him...

Your Influence On Your Friends...

Last weekend's service clarified the need we have for friends who help us achieve our best. We need friends who influence us, encourage us, and inspire us as we face the challenges of life. Plenty of people will try to pull us off course. We need friends who help us persevere and do what's right.

Do you have friends who inspire you?
Do you encourage your friends to stay-the-course and live on-mission?

Watch this.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 9:25  -  To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.

Michigan Turkey Hunting Season / Day Two

Michigan's Turkey Season opened yesterday.

This is the Tom that was standing in front of me this morning - the cold and rainy 2nd day of the 2009 Spring Season.

"Did you shoot it?" you ask.

"Sure did," I answer, "but only with my camera." 

Even sopping wet it's still a pretty cool bird, eh?

Genesis 27:5  -  ... Esau left to go hunting.

Bishop Janice Huie / Yesterday

 

Bishop Huie served as Chair of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. She's been bishop of the Texas Conference since 2004. 

Effective leaders attract effective leaders. Since Mike Coyner, Indiana's bishop, is a good leader I wasn't surprised that he asked another good leader to speak in his area.

I really like Bishop Huie. I met her during a conference in Houston and when I learned she was going to be speaking to all of Indiana's United Methodist pastors, my expectations for the Indianapolis conference soared. So, after the weekend services I drove to Indy. I wasn't disappointed.

I took some notes as Bishop Huie spoke. I'm passing a few of her leadership thoughts along to you.  Enjoy.

"The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

"You can change structures, plans and systems, but the hardest thing to change is us."

"This is an interesting paradox: You can't impose 'mission' from the top down.  Though 'mission' can be claimed from the top down, it must be owned from the bottom up."

"Purpose without alignment of the structure, and budget, is just playing with words.  Methodists historically love to play with 'structure.' The hardest work is the realignment of 'budget.' Don't ask, 'Is this good?'  Instead ask, 'Does the expense of this budgeted line-item help us accomplish the purpose God has given us?'"

"Minimizing structure is a good thing. Too many things in the older structure are regulatory. Unintentionally, we have created a culture of 'No.'"

"Try to keep focused on the purpose. Expect resistance. Learn from it. Adapt. Change is hardest for the individuals involved."

"Work with the 20% who are ready."

"It is not possible to over-communicate, but it is possible to be unfocused in your communication."

"Trust is everything."

"When we think we have arrived, we've only started."

"Christian ministry is rooted in the heart of God. It grows and matures in the form of Christ. It brings forth fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit."

"We need to create environments where 'accountability is supported,' and we offer 'support that is accountable.'"

"We should develop flat communications models."

                                                               

Romans 12:8  -  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.

Hillsong at GCC / The Tickets Are GONE!

Tuesday's Hillsong Concert will be awesome. The tickets are gone. GCC's auditorium will be packed and I can't wait!

Psalm 22:27-28  -  People everywhere will remember and will turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will worship him because the Lord is King, and he rules the nations.

Relationally Challenged?

 

Julie Burget nails a poignant monologue to capture the essence of a two-week-relationship in just two-minutes.  You've got to see it; she's amazing!

If you'd like to have better friends, and be a better friend, make it a point to bring your friends to one of our weekend services.

Let's take a step to get our relationships in SYNC.

Granger Campus: Saturday at 5 and 7, Sunday at 9:30 and 11:30.
Elkhart Campus: Sunday at 10:30. (Note the time change!)

Ephesians 2:19  -  Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.

TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY?

Did you hop on the bandwagon and dump tea-bags in the river?  Did you join the protest?

Think you've paid enough taxes? Don't jump to that conclusion too quickly. You may think you've been "taxed enough already," but others have a differing view. Before writing them off, consider the implications of increasing the size of our government.

Debt is increasing. It'll require more taxes to pay down more debt, not less.
Our budget is increasing. It takes more taxes to pay for more government programs, not less.

Here's my understanding. The government can't give anyone anything the government doesn't first take from someone.  If government does more and more, it must take more and more...and that means higher taxes.

Here's my opinion: If one person receives without working, another person must work. The more government taxes spread the wealth around, rather than allowing productive people to share their wealth as they see fit, the more taxes will increase....and charitable giving will decline.

Here's my experience. I'm 55 years old. In all my years I've never heard one person say our VA Hospitals are the best hospitals in America.  Not one. Not once. If the government adds to its current responsibilities the control of America's health care, taxes will increase and the quality of health care will decline.

Here's my prediction. Eventually Americans will decide: Do we work for the government, or does the government work for us?  How that question is answered will ultimately determine the true measure for "excessive government spending." How that question is answered will ultimately determine whether we've been "taxed enough already."

Until then...give your tithe and pay your taxes. 

Whether this is a Christian nation may be secondary and consequential to this poignant consideration: Am I a Christian?  How many ask the former question to avoid facing the latter?  How often do I find myself so worried about what everyone else is doing that the soul-searching work of fulfilling God's purposes in my own life never gets done? No one is going to do God's work, with God's love, in God's Name but God's people. Be one of God's people! This is no time to shrink back. There is work to be done.

So is the future dark?

Well, if people keep trying to find ways to get the government to provide all the things they want, instead of working to produce those things, taxes will increase.  For hard-working, wage-earning, tax-paying Americans that is dark news indeed. There are huge federal, state and local government debts to pay. Pork-filled bills are bloating government budgets and legislators are piling more debt into the largest deficit in our country's history. And no one is going to finance our government programs and debts but us, and our children, and our children's children...

Luke 20:21-25
   They questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
   He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
   "Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

"Be Brave And Strong."

 

 
                                                 - photo from the Hunter Family

Joel Hunter is my sister's husband; he's my brother-in-law.  

Joel amazes me.  I'm inspired by his willingness to serve Jesus in circumstances that would overwhelm most Christians.  God has prepared him for the tasks before him, but I'm still amazed when I consider the burden of responsibility he carries. I love Joel and continually strive to serve him. One way I do that is through prayer.  I pray for him - a lot.

As I pray for him I wonder, "What would I say if I was there?  What would I do if I was the one called upon in that moment? What counsel would I give in such a time as this?  If I was praying with the President, how would I pray?" All those questions prompt me to pray more.

Joel is an evangelical and he serves as Sr. Pastor of Northland Church - Distributed in Orlando. (More than 18,000 people attended Northland's Easter Services last weekend.) He was recently appointed to the president's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Among other things, his proximity to President Obama makes our family conversations interesting.

"Hey Mark, what'd you do today?"
"Me?  I filled the bird feeders.  How 'bout you? What'd you do?"
"I went to the White House for some meetings."
"What?"
"I had some meetings in DC."
"What'd you talk about?"
"You're on a 'need-to-know-basis,' and you don't need to know."
"Oh, I get it.  Keep me in the dark so I have the protection of plausible deniability. If I don't know anything, it's better. Thanks man. Thanks for not telling me anything."
"No problem."

Since you may not know Joel, you'll be comforted by my sister's comment in the Orlando Sentinel:

"But to those who fear the liberal and charismatic president will transform the church leader from Longwood, the pastor's wife notes firmly: 'What makes you think that if Joel Hunter and Barack Obama were in a room that Joel Hunter would be the one to change his mind?'"

You can read the article about my brother-in-law in the Orlando Sentinel here. 

God intends for Joel to speak to the powerful....and I'm honored to serve him, pray for him and encourage him along the way.

Daniel 10:17-18  -  I am merely your servant. How can I possibly speak with someone so powerful, when I am almost too weak to get my breath?" The angel touched me a second time and said, "Don't be frightened! God thinks highly of you, and he intends this for your good, so be brave and strong."

He Is Risen!

                                                           - photo by Dustin Maust

Christ the LORD is risen today!  Hallelujah!

Like 24:5-7 - Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive?  He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Don’t you remember what he told you back in Galilee,  that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?

WORSHIP / Easter 2009

                                                             - Photo by Dustin Maust

 

Q:  At the end of the day, what matters? 

A:  The worship of Jesus and the Glory of God...that's what matters.

Romans 11:36  -  Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

EASTER SYNC 2009

Why would you live a lonely life, out of rhythm and missing the beat of God's purposes? 

Come to any of the eight Easter Services at GCC this weekend and sync your life to the pulse and rhythm God created for you.  We're prepared to help you get in SYNC. All you have to do is open up your life to God's love.

I'll see you soon.

Jeremiah 15:11  -  The Lord said, "Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose."

I Like This Picture

 

Here's another example of Mindy's photography.  I like it.

It appears that Amber and Ryan are casually walking in the middle of the road.  I'm sure they are so relaxed because they cautiously looked both ways before entering the street.

Proverbs 12:4  -  An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.

What Matters?

This Easter I'm consumed with desire. I'm clarifying my purpose. I'm working to chart my course - to identify my next step and to focus on "what really matters" during this season of life.  Holy Week served to enhance my need for clarity. I've spent days praying and pondering - searching the scriptures to gain wisdom.  I want to serve God's purposes.

How can I know God's purpose for my life if I don't (a) study the scriptures, and (b) take careful stock of my life: my attributes, abilities, passions, pace and temperament?  I must slow down, pray and think.  That's what I've done each day of Holy Week.

"Why does it matter?" you may wonder. "What's so important, that you set aside time to grapple with virtually impenetrable and esoteric questions about God's purpose for your life?"

This wonderful photo of my daughter Amber, eight weeks from delivering our first grandchild, is partial answer to your query, "Why does it matter?"

It matters because life is sacred and my children will be influenced by the way I live my life.

It matters because every child is endowed by God with sacred worth. Even if my role is small, my life either reinforces, or undermines, the probability all children will be loved, nurtured and trained in the way they should go, so their stories give God glory.

It matters because - whether I like it or not - my life will serve as an example to others. Whether my example is good, or bad, is up to me.  My witness is my responsibility. My integrity is my obligation, and my example will be noticed.

It matters because no one can obey God for me, but me.
   No one can serve God for me, but me.
      No one can worship God for me, but me. 
         No one can love the Lord with heart, mind, soul and strength for me, but me.  When I own-up to my personal responsibility, I testify to God's Truth....and I want everyone to know the Truth...because the Truth sets us free.

So, I've wrestled for days about God's purposes.

The result?

For the next five weeks every service at GCC will offer inspiration and biblical instruction on God's purposes. We'll worship and sing. We'll study and pray. And we'll dive deep into the Truth of God's love and purpose for each and every person's life.

My children aren't the only people who matter to God. My grandchildren aren't the only people who matter to God. It's not just my family...everyone matters to God!  Me. You. Everyone!

Start this Easter weekend and join in a five-week-journey to discover God's purposes for your life.  You have a role in God's story. I invite you to "SYNC" - the five-week-adventure that just might lead you to the meaningful life you're seeking.

1 Peter 1:18-23  -  God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him for this purpose long before the world began, but only recently was he brought into public view, in these last days, as a blessing to you. Because of this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone. Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts. For you have a new life.

(Special appreciation goes to Amber's friend [Mindy Leigh] for the remarkable pictures she recently produced from a photo-shoot with Amber and Ryan. She is quite good. I recommend her.)

GSM MEXICO MISSIONS TEAM

 

Granger's Student Ministry is fielding a team for our Mexico Mission.  That means dozens of High School Students need to make money for their summer missions trip.  (We've got the costs down to the bare minimum, but it still takes some serious cash to get to the orphanage where our student ministry teams engage their work.)

Would you like to help some of our students serve Jesus?  You can!  Just do what Sheila and I did.  Hire some of them to help you with your spring cleaning, yard work or other chores. 

This picture captures the moment of celebration when their work was done. They split and stacked wood, cleared brush, swept our garage, carried patio furniture, picked up a zillion sticks and made my wife happy. 

I'm proud of these kids.  They represent our congregation well.

Matthew 20:4  -  He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage.

This Will Be Awesome!

Sync | Your Life In Rhythm from Granger Community on Vimeo.

I've never been more excited about a five week study of the purposes of God. That's what SYNC is all about - celebrating Jesus and getting life into the rhythm of God's purposes.

 We launch SYNC on Easter with a offering of eight identical services in two locations. 

Saturday night at the Granger Campus services are 3PM, 5PM, 7PM and 9PM.
     The 3PM service has free Cotton Candy for the kids.
     The 9PM service has free Pizza.

Sunday morning at the Elkhart Campus and the Granger Campus:
     Services are 9:30AM and 11:30AM.

Colossians 1:15-20  -  We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.

Love Knows When It's Personal And Private

 

 

“It’s personal,” she said. She assumed the STOP sign she erected with her “It’s personal” comment would back me down.  She was wrong.

Some things are personal. Some things are private. Some things are very personal but not at all private.  It’s good to know the difference.

Want help with that? Consider these examples:

A man asked me to baptize him, “in private, because it’s so personal.” I refused. Baptism is very personal but it is anything but private. 

A couple asked me to marry them in, “a secret ceremony because we want it to be intimate and personal.” I refused. I suggested they go on a date, tell each other they love each other on a moonlit walk and get their clandestine conversations out of the way so they can go public with their marriage commitment in the presence of witnesses. “Marriage is not a private matter,” I told them.  “Weddings are public statements of deeply personal commitments.”

One woman told me she wanted to keep her faith “to herself.” She said she didn’t want to tell her children she was a Christian. She said her faith was “too personal.”  I told her she was a selfish woman. I told her, “If everyone who deeply loves Jesus kept their faith to themselves, the church would be extinct in just one generation.”

Everything “personal” isn’t confidential, but some “personal” matters should be kept private.
Of course, reasonable people should assume a modicum of respect and civil decorum will militate against impropriety. In polite society, dignity and honor govern privacy issues. Confidentiality is the result of love as much as a corollary of decency. 

I’m concerned that we may be losing both: civility and decency.  Love seems to be missing. Our confusion about public and private matters, coinciding with voyeuristic tendencies riding the internet’s rails of information saturation, exacerbates the issue.

Some things are personal and should be kept private. When they are unfortunately made public, it’s shameful. 

Ponder this...

Levi Johnston (who had described himself as “sex on skates”via MySpace) demonstrated the civility of a goat when he discussed the personal and private details of his sexual technique on The Tyra Banks Show. As millions watched he revealed more than he realized.  Johnston’s mother, Sherry, and sister Mercede, sat next to Levi and laughed as he and Tyra traded winks and jokes. Young Levi behaved like a beast and betrayed Bristol Palin, the mother of his four-month-old son, with giggles and swollen self-importance. 

There wasn’t enough love, decency, civility or honor on that television set to temper the boy’s words. Deeply personal, intimate and private moments went public. Salacious comments fueled the exchange. Tyra leaned in close to the boy, feigned intimacy and probed for more secrets. He fell for the trap. He forgot the words of Proverbs 5:3-4. “The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet; her soft words are oh so smooth. But it won't be long before she's gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.”

Flushed and full of himself, Levi told the world the secrets he’d promised Bristol he’d share only with her. In that moment his shame became ours. 

How could he?  If you haven’t asked yourself that question, you should. 

Was it just immaturity? Levi told Neal Karlinsky of Good Morning America he wasn’t ready for marriage. “It’s just…me not being mature enough, or something, and having a kid and thinking…it could be better – better for us to separate for a while.”  Really? It’ll be better? Hmmm. That’s what my dad told my sister and brother and me when he betrayed our family and left us.  If the pile he left us in was “better,” I’d like to ask, “Better than what?”  But, that’s not the point of this blog…

Here’s the point.  Some things are personal, intimate and private; some things are not, and we better learn the difference because there is no upside to confusing which is which. 

So, how do you know?  What’s personal and private? What’s personal and public? 

The answer is found in love.  Love will guide you.

Love helps you know which personal matters to make public.

Do you love Jesus? Is your love personal, deep and meaningful? Going public with your love honors Him.  Publicly praising God contextualizes your life and explains why you are who you are.

Do you love your husband? Is your love personal, deep and meaningful? Going public with your love honors him.  Tell your friends how much you love him and everyone wins.

Do you love your church? Is your love personal, deep and meaningful? Opening up about your commitment to the Church strengthens your witness.  Telling people about your congregation’s ministry adds value to others.

Do you love your wife? Is your love personal, deep and meaningful? Going public with your love strengthens your marriage and blesses your bride. Tell your secretary, your teammates and your neighbors how much you love your wife.  Keep saying it: “I love her!”

Love also helps you know what to keep private.

Do you love your children? Is your knowledge of them personal, deep and confidential? Of course it is!  So don’t speak of their private struggles, failures or weaknesses. Preserve the trusting safety of your family circle. Never take their private matters public.

Do you love your spouse? Is your knowledge of them personal, intimate and private?  Of course!  So don’t tell others about your intimate moments. Don’t publicize details you privately cherish. Don’t embarrass them. Don’t shame them. Don’t ever put them down in public.  There are things the two of you should share with no one but each other!
Love gives clarity.

Personal is sometimes private, but not always.  Love helps you know the difference.  And if you still can’t figure it out, ask advice of the one whose issues you're about to make public. Tell them what you’re planning to reveal to the world.  If you’re not sure whether it’s OK to take their personal matters public, they’ll tell you.

Trust me on this one….we all need more love. 

Our next five weekends are dedicated to love. Bring a friend to every SYNC Service and love will increase.  I'm sure because love comes from God!

1 John 4:7-11  -  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

 

Aaron Says I Live In Russia

 

If there was ever justification for my Florida-dwelling son's oft-repeated declaration, "You live in Russia," this is it. 

Good grief. 

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It's supposed to be Spring, but what do I see when I look outside the office window?  Yup. We've got two inches of snow on the Star Magnolia blossoms. 

Anyone south of the Mason Dixon Line ever seen that?  Of course not. You live in Shangri la.

It's a good thing God loves the rugged places....

Psalm 68:16 - Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever?

Live Worship at the Elkhart Site

 

As our Palm Sunday service began, we followed our worship leaders and ascribed "worth"to the King. The live band at the Elkhart campus is helpful, and seeing Jeff Bell lead the congregation is inspiring.

All of that activity had coherence with the great truths Jason Miller taught during his sermon when he said, "It may feel like you can't choose your desires, but you can always choose your worship."

Brilliant and true! 

When we remember what's "worth" most we can do something about it. We can choose words and sing songs that shape our desires and generate deeper worship, which increases our desire for God, which triggers more praise, which invigorates our worship, which prompts us to again declare the "worth" of God and "worship" Him, which is why we sing!  And so the cycle continues...

Jason's teaching was profound. "You can always choose your worship," he said.  His words made more clear the Truth of God's Word. 

Want more help with worship?  Take two steps:
     1.  Get tickets for Hillsong London at GCC, April 21st at 7:00.
     2.  Get tickets and attend SYNC, April 11th or 12th.

Colossians 3:1-5  -  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Holy Week Begins

 

Who knew? 

On the day Christians celebrate the Prince of Peace riding into Jerusalem, North Korea does a product demonstration for potential buyers of nuclear weapon delivery systems - with free advertising from the American Press.  This week, the cover of Newsweek magazine proclaims - in the bold shape of a cross - "The Decline and Fall of Christian America."

The world is watching.  I can't help but wonder what the people of the world see.

The One riding into Jerusalem was hailed as king, but who guessed by week's end He would rise from the grave? 

But will the world see Jesus this week?
Will the world see Love, Forgiveness and Hope?

Or will the world see no better way than the path of hate, fear and decline?

The world is watching. 
What does your life proclaim?

If others do what you do this week, what will the world see?
If others say what you say this week, what will the world hear?
If others emulate your manner, what message will be communicated?
     Hope or despair?
     Courage or fear?
     Confidence or discouragement?

What will your life proclaim during Holy Week?

You get to decide.

John 12:12-13  -  On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord , even the King of Israel."

I Love Weekends

 

I'm not sure if you can go too many times to our weekend services, but I can't get enough. Saturday night I was at the Granger Campus. Palm Sunday morning I'll be with our Elkhart congregation, enjoying the service again.

Wish I had a Palm Tree I could pluck...

Revelation 7:9-12  -  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

ONE PRAYER 2009

I spent yesterday working on my message for this year's One Prayer campaign.  Since I'm submitting a sermon for One Prayer, Ben Sanders, Dustin Maust, Jeff Petersen, Gene Ort and Hugo Manriquez worked their media magic to capture the audio and video content. 

Several times during the day I thought, "Most people have no idea how much effort goes into our weekend services. Most have no idea how much time and energy goes into our weekend music, media and messages. It's the prayerful work of guys like these that makes the ministry of thousands soar." 

Spending time with these media-gurus made me all the more grateful for the privilege I have to serve Christ beside you.  I'm inspired by our teams. I'm encouraged by our church family. And I can't wait to see how God amplifies our ministry for His glory.

What if we are the answer to Jesus' prayer that all who believe in Him will be one?  Our unity in One Prayer will allow churches around the globe to explore the theme, "God is...."  Each message in June will complete that statement. My message declares, "God is....waiting on you." 

Last year, One Prayer churches partnered to support an ambitious initiative: planting 500 new churches in Cambodia, India, Sudan, and China in 18 months. GCC played a vital role in the work. God has blessed our efforts and all four geographical areas are on target (or ahead of schedule) to meet that goal. Let's pray God uses One Prayer to advance His Kingdom in 2009.

One Prayer begins in June. 

John 17:20-23  -  My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Who Is Jesus? from Granger Community on Vimeo.

In the midst of worship last night we experienced this remarkable video. Created by our team at GCC, it's worth another look. 

Check it out.

Luke 9:18-25  
     And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?" They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again."
     And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
     And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day."
     And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?"

Preparation

Before our 1st Wednesday service I was moving like a ninja, along the rows of chairs in our dark auditorium, trying to get in a good spot for a picture.  (No, not a picture of me. A picture of our artists.) Focused on the stage, eye glued to the back of the camera and digits dancing on the aperture dials and shutter speed wheel I almost tripped over Dr. Bob.  He had secreted himself in a chair and I’d failed to notice him. 

He was just sitting there.
     Praying.
          Worshiping with the artists.
               Thinking, I guess. 

So, I sat down behind him, framed the communion elements in the background, and took his picture.

Then, I started thinking too. 

I paused long enough to ponder a few of the questions people have asked about Dr. Bob.  Questions like, “How does he know so much?” and “How come he seems to feel things so deeply and say things so passionately? What's driving that?” and “Why is it that whenever Dr. Bob is preaching, I feel like he is talking just to me?”

As I sat there with Bob it came to me.  “Bob prepares,” I thought, “Bob actually prepares. He studies before he gets here. He prays before he preaches. He thinks about Jesus and he thinks about us. He prepares his mind and his heart and his spirit.  Maybe that’s why he connects.”

After all that deep thinking about Bob’s deep thinking, I got up to leave. I didn’t get all the way out of the auditorium before I sat down, bowed my head and prayed, “Lord, help me learn from Bob’s life and Bob’s example.”

Then I stood up and went to prepare myself for Holy Communion.

Here's a passage Bob referenced during the service.  I'm passing it along to you...

Colossians 1:18-23  -  During the service Bob quoted this passage.  I'll pass it along to you.Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead,* so he is first in everything.  For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross.  This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions,  yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.  But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world...

1st Wednesday / April 2009

OK.  The artists have prepared to lead us. You've got just enough time to get here.

Leave now.

Join in the worship of our King. Come and observe the Lord's Supper.

Acts 20:7  -  On the first day of the week, we gathered to observe the Lord’s Supper.