Mark Beeson

A Good Moment

 

I know "out of sight, out of mind" applies more readily to 2-year-olds than full grown adults, but with so many GCC congregations meeting in so many different places, at some many different times, that phrase describes the situation for all of us. If we don't see each other from time-to-time, we can forget how diverse and numerous we are. 

For the thousands who gathered at the fairgrounds this morning, God gave a reminder of who we are and whose we are.

Joshua, Nyke, Leroy and Gene helped me see the truth more clearly. God has deployed HIS people across Michiana and we are accepting HIS invitation to adjust our lives and follow Christ... together. As we do, we see HIS Kingdom coming. In the midst of a great service, the time those guys shared on the stage brought a moment of great clarity to me.

We're blessed to have each other, no matter which campus or congregation we attend.

 

Zephaniah 3:9b  -  All of them will speak the name of the Lord and worship me together.

 

Before Her Brother Arrives

 

There's always a lot to do.

It's easy to get busy enough to lose your priorities. When that happens you can mistake activity for accomplishment, thinking your pace and effort determines the total value of your contribution.

How silly.

If you're busy doing things that don't matter as much as the things you should be doing, it doesn't matter how busy you are. What you're doing won't bring the best long-term results if you're not doing the right things... no matter how impressive your pace.

With that in mind, Sheila and I drove to Columbus to spend a little time with Amber and her family before our grandson is born. There are other things we could be doing, but our priority is "family" (as you undoubtedly know), so when we arrived Sheila put Clara in this tu-tu, gave her some bubbles and took her to the playground. In a few days she'll have a little brother so this was the best thing we could do today... and I'm glad we did.

• Do what's right.
  
• Establish the proper priorities and live them out.
   

You'll never regret doing the next right thing.

Proverbs 1:1-6

These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
    David’s son, Israel’s king—
Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right,
    to understand what life means and where it’s going;
A manual for living,
    for learning what’s right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
    and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,
    still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
    the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Continuous Focused Action

 

Squirrels always seem busy to me, scurrying back and forth, searching for seeds or nuts. From time to time they stop briefly, dig furiously, then dart off in their unending quest for more seeds and nuts.

It would probably be a ridiculous notion to suggest a squirrel is aware of its own finitude. I’m pretty sure the limitations of time, energy and resources are inscrutable for most squirrels, but even though they race away from every perceived threat, chase each other and seem erratic in their ways, squirrels always seem to return to their towering incessant preoccupation… searching for food.

In a world of limited time and energy, focus is a good idea, because constant focus gets results. When you direct time, energy and resources in a continuous focused manner, things happen. Drops of water continuously hitting rock in the exact same spot again-and-again will drill a hole through it. Water dispersed in a scattered spray produces very different outcomes.

Concentrated action gets results.

What are you focused on?

 

Romans 8:6-8  -  Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.

 

A New Week Begins....

 

It's Monday. 

Joanna Beasley was with us during our weekend of worship and sacramental wonder. (She's recorded some great music to help you along the way and you can get it here.)

I referenced Day Camp in the services, even showing a video from last week. This morning we launched two new Day Camps: one includes 114 children at our Elkhart campus and the other has 305 kids at our Granger campus. By the end of the week we will have served 655 K-4th grade children.

Thank you for praying, serving and giving. Scores of children could not have experienced this week without your financial support, but you gave and they were able to participate.

Well done!

You are shaping the lives of the children of Michiana with your love.

I couldn't be more proud of you.

 

Exodus 12:26-28  -   ^"And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’" Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded.

 

Something To Smile About

 

A beloved child's smiling face is one of life's most touching images. Its impact defies explanation. Go ahead. Look with love at a child and try to describe the experience: heart-warming, moving, inspiring, overwhelming, challenging, rewarding, stirring, rousing, motivating and gratifying. No matter which words I use, my description is inadequate.

Words don't suffice, but I've heard a picture is worth a thousand words. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 7:31b  -  Jesus said, “How can I describe them?"

 

 

Baby Raccoon

 

Apparently this Spring's baby raccoons have been born.

Seeking safety in this tree, this particular youngster seemed double-minded; on the one hand fleeing my perceived threat and on the other too curious to let me out of its sight.

 

James 1:7  -  These doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. 

Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership

 

I first heard "Everything rises and falls on leadership," from John Maxwell. His insight jerked me into a new orbit of gratitude and respect for the leaders around me. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to say John's succinct little summary statement about leadership has served as the foundational premise for many of the teams I've built. 

When I prayed for our Day Camp this morning I prayed for its leaders: the SpringHill staff, our GCC staff, the camp counselors and the campers too. I especially prayed for these young leaders. We call them "CITs," or "Counselors In Training," and they're rock stars. The arrive early, greet the young campers, work hard all day long and stay late to clean up, pack up and put things in order before they leave for the evening. 

When I saw them outside the building this morning, decorating the sidewalks with remarkable "chalk-art" graphics (kind of a Day Camp inversion of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel artistry that you look down to see instead of up to see), I asked them to stop for a quick picture. So they tore themselves away from their artistic endeavors and here's our take-away, a picture of a some emerging young leaders who just might change the world.

1 Timothy 4:12-13  -  Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Day Camp Arrives With a Splash

 

The weather is fantastic and our first morning of Day Camp at the Granger Campus proved to be everything we'd hoped: hundreds of kids, fantastic counselors, fun inflatables, water games with friends and more singing than you can imagine. 

 

We've got two more Day Camps planned for next week. It's NOT too late to register a child for either the Granger Campus or Elkhart Campus. Both camps (for kids K-4th grade completed) run simultaneously June 24-28, 2013. 

 

Our partnership with SpringHill is strong. We share values, mission and excellence thresh-holds. Some fantastic leaders from SpringHill are here and we're looking forward to working beside them as we invest the next two weeks in the children of Michiana. 

 

 

Psalm 126:6  -  Those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

 

Father's Day 2013

 

I am Mark, son of Max who was the son of Floyd; father of Amber, Aaron and Angela; Grandfather of Ruby, Lydia, Clara and Norah. I’m writing on Father’s Day 2013, one day after returning from a week of middle-school summer camp and one day before heading into two weeks of elementary camp. 

 

Our summer camps provide some of the best experiences kids can have, so it's not surprising to learn I'm asked from time-to-time, about GCC's summer camps: why they work, why kids love them and why everyone involved comes home better than they left.

Good questions, all.

 

Central to my answer is “leadership;” the same kind of responsible, caring and strong leadership we celebrate each Father’s Day.  As surely as good fathers do more than “point the way” their kids should go, so it is that the best camp counselors and leaders “show the way” as they help kids take their next steps toward Christ.

Kids need someone willing to “lead the way” with coherent lives and consistent steps. They require guidance, patience, love and prayer – lots and lots of prayer. All children need leaders who love them enough to pray for them.

 

Dads know more is caught than taught; camp counselors know that too, so this Father’s Day I’m praying God will bless every kid’s dad with the faith-filled courage and strength they’ll need to be great examples for their kids: positive, disciplined, loving and prayerful. 

 

I'm praying today because all dad's need help - whether they feel they've done a good job so far, or not.

It's tough being a great parent. It's hard to lead with a steady hand, reliable example and loving authority... but that's what dad's are called to do... so I'm working beside dads to fill the next generation with followers of Christ who are world-changers for Christ.

 

Ephesians 6:4  -  Fathers [or Parents], do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training [discipline] and teaching [instruction] of the Lord.

 

Worship & Assembly Moments From Camp

 

Camp wraps up on Saturday morning. Well, actually... Camp moves south to Michiana and continues with scores of the campers, counselors and staff joining the GCC congregation for the 5:00 PM Saturday Service. You're welcome to participate too. I'm guessing it'll be a lively time worship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 29:1-2 

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, 
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

 

 

The Lap Game

 

At camp we play a game called "The Lap Game." It requires more than 200 people to get in a circle and sit on the knees of those behind them.

"Success" means everyone is sitting at the same time; the circle doesn't break. 

You'll notice I have more pictures of "preparation for success" than "success" itself, but hey, it's Middle School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genisis 42:1b  -  “Why do you sit around here and look at one another?"

 

 

Andrew Staal's Story

 

We're pondering the Story of God during the days of camp.

It's a great time to consider our stories inside God's Story so we asked Andrew to tell the kids some of his story. He took the stage and walked the camp through his journey.

It was awesome.

Mark 5:19  -  Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” 

 

Shots From Our Meetings

 

Significant moments with Jesus are sometimes experienced during our assemblies; these are the times when the entire camp gathers for Bible study, singing, prayer and corporate worship.

We seek the Lord and God shows up.

It's awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 3:7-8  -  This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ.

 

Camp Has Officially Begun

 

Our Middle School camp has officially begun. We're off and running so I figured I'd share a few pictures. This is going to be a great week! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua 5:10  -  The People of Israel continued to camp...

 

Middle-School Camp Starts MONDAY!

 

Nothing to see here... except a bunch of wild-eyed, fired-up, camp staff and leaders lined up for a pre-camp photo.

More than 200 campers arrive at SpringHill Monday morning. Their leaders are ready. Pray for them and the campers. It's going to be a awesome week!

 

Titus 1:5  -  It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to.

 

Aaron Niequist Offers GCC His "New Liturgy #4"

 

Bill Hybels leads the incredible "Willow Creek Community Church." His genius is partially revealed through the lives and ministries of his teammates, and one of his colleagues (a man named Aaron Niequist) is leading worship at GCC this weekend. 

Aaron's "New Liturgy #4: CREATION" was developed to create holy space for worship and he describes it as a "moveable, sonic sanctuary."

Make room for this new liturgy, and this new liturgy will make room for you to connect with God.

If you want more of Aaron's resources, you can get them here.

 

Revelation 1:10  -  On the first day of the week, Sunday, when Christians met for worship, I was in a state of deep spiritual communion with God...

 

Being Watched

 

This chipmunk was aware I was watching. 

I would have been astonished if it wasn't.

Maybe I'm missing something, but the more I hear news reports regarding the "collection of meta-data" the more surprised I am; not that meta-data is being collected but that anyone thought it wasn't. 

 

Job 10:13

You never told me about this part.
    I should have known that there was more to it—
That if I so much as missed a step, you’d notice and pounce,
    wouldn’t let me get by with a thing.

 

How Great Is Our God!

 

I was moved during the services this weekend when Lisa Vukmirovich sang: "How great is our God! Sing with me. And all will see. How great, how great is our God!" Others must have been inspired as well because hundreds stuck around after worship to learn about this summer's "Decision 2 Disciple" guide training. Check it out; we're learning to follow Jesus together.

 

Psalm 95:3

For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.