Mark Beeson

Seth Abram at GCC

 

 

 

Seth Abram is leading worship this weekend at GCC's Granger Campus. 

Seth is a busy guy and I think he'll stay busy. He has momentum. He lives in Nashville now, but comes up to help us from time-to-time. 

I'm always amazed by Seth's gifts and his willingness to use them in the service of Jesus; even when that means long hours on the road, multiple concerts in difficult venues, bizarre snacks purchased in Truck Stops and Gas Stations, lousy weather, time away from his wife and the loneliness that accompanies life-on-the road.

He's serving well and making a huge impact with his life.

I'm proud of him.  

 

Psalm 147:7-11

Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn,
    play music on your instruments to God,
Who fills the sky with clouds,
    preparing rain for the earth,
Then turning the mountains green with grass,
    feeding both cattle and crows.
He’s not impressed with horsepower;
    the size of our muscles means little to him.
Those who fear God get God’s attention;
    they can depend on his strength.

 

 

Persuaded of Each Other's Worth

 

                                                                                                                                                    

"No distance of place or lapse of time
can lessen the friendship of those
who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth."

Robert Southey, from The Doctor, ed.
John Wood Warter (1848)  

 

My brother Matt, and his dear wife Linda, are two of the finest people I know.

When I drove to Louisville last weekend, to experience and study the multisite strategies of Sojourn and Southeast Christian churches, Matt & Linda did everything imaginable to help me; they offered guidance, behind-the-scenes tours, transportation, counsel, food, lodging, access to their relational network, hours of late-night-conversation and the precious gift of much needed advice.

I'll be forever grateful. We are "thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth."

 

 1 Samuel 26:24  -  As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me.

 

 

Must We Divide Over EVERY Issue?

 

 

I took this picture standing beside a small obelisk marking the International Boundary at the Chief Mountain Port. You can see the boundary, a clear-cut swath of land that runs east and west through the forests and across the mountains. Canada is on one side of the line; the United States of America is on the other.

No matter where you stand, you can't stand on both sides of a line. You're either on one side of the line or the other.

Nobody gets to be on both sides of a line (unless, of course, the space-time continuum goes on forever and eventually, at some point, starts repeating, which would make sense since because there is a finite number of ways particles can be arranged in space and time, so if you look far enough, you'll eventually encounter another version of you — and, theorists contend, you'll probably see infinite versions of you). Apparently, until someone bends the space-time continuum and conveniently folds it back on itself, nobody should expect to be two places at once.

Oops. I may have been distracted for a few moments there, so let me get back to the point: you can't be two places at once, and because we love thinking we know "who is with us" and "who is against us," we appreciate the clarity of the bold lines between us. 

Clear lines make us feel like we we know where everyone stands ... and we like the feeling. In fact, we love the feeling.

We've drawn about a zillion lines of demarcation: disconnecting, dividing and polarizing people, as we insist on boundaries which, in the grand scheme of things, won't make one whit of difference. Every line we draw separates people into those who are "on our side" and those who are "on the other side."

There are way too many lines in this world.  

Maybe it's time for us to be a little more discriminating about which lines are worth maintaining, and which of them should be erased.

 

Luke 9:49-50 (Amplified)  -  John said, "Master, we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we commanded him to stop it, for he does not follow along with us". But Jesus told him, "Do not forbid [such people]; for whoever is not against you is for you."

 

Judge Miller / Worthy of Honor

 

- Photo by GENE ORT -

 

There are a few men I wholly and deeply admire. Suffice it to say, Judge Miller is one of those men. Spry, sharp and distinguished at 93, he graced us with his presence this morning at the dedication of MC3's Carpenter's Hands Headquarters. 

He is a remarkable leader.

He is worthy of honor and he has mine.

 

Proverbs 3:35  -  The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

 

Can People Be Trusted to Decide?

  

 

My fast-paced Wednesday began with GCC’s “Manly Man Breakfast.” It ended with “Life Foundations,” where hundreds of GCC’ers are learning to study the Bible. (Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: 12 Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word is the great little tool we’re using as a guide. I recommend it.)

After wrapping up yesterday's afternoon meetings I walked into The Granger Commons, ready for a great night with GCC.

I heard singing. The music was good; the voice was great. Jason was teaching Life Foundations and I supposed he had asked Ellie Holcomb to sing. That was a logical assumption because Jason is brilliant and he often leverages the arts for illustrative purposes. However, when I got closer, I realized Ellie wasn’t in the auditorium helping Jason. She was doing a full-blown concert in The Eatery (which was filled with people who were loving every minute of it).

There I was, face-to-face with a situation pastors either love or hate; two things were happening at once. While people were learning to study the Bible in one room, people were enjoying a concert in another.

Scheduling two things at once puzzled some; it disturbed others.

More than one person asked why we planned “conflicting” ministry options. Concerns and criticisms swirled around the questionable wisdom of endorsing a ministry philosophy of multiple-choice: 

“Won’t offering a concert at the same time we’re offering Life Foundations hurt attendance in Life Foundations? If people attend Life Foundations, how can they attend a concert? Shouldn't the concert be schedule when everyone can come? Don’t you realize people can’t be two places at once?”

These are legitimate questions. 
They must be, because I’ve heard them for decades.

Late last night I had a little time to think about the simple construct I use for developing my own plans for “multiple-choice” ministry.

You’ll need to make your own decision about it and I know my theory isn’t for everyone and your ministry paradigm may differ from mine. Whatever you decide, the construct you develop for your ministry can be sourced in your answers to a few simple questions, so before you resolve your critique of multiple-choice ministry, riddle me this:

• “Does one size really fit all? Have you seen some of the folks ‘all’ includes?”
  
  
• “Why do fishermen around the world use so many styles of lures, baits and nets?”
  
  
• “Why are there so many music genres?”
  
  
• “Christ’s followers serve ONE LORD; do all have the same missional impulse?”
  
  
• “Can people be trusted to decide which of several good options is their best?”

Multiple offerings of right-sized, age-appropriate, culturally relevant, artistically enriched and biblically orthodox ministries will help people take their next steps toward Christ.  I’m convinced a loving, multiple-choice ministry approach makes success more likely if it’s embraced and, parenthetically, stymies growth when it’s not.

Since my personal ministry construct is predicated on my belief that loving, multiple-choice ministry makes sense, my realization that Jason was scheduled to teach Life Foundations, at the exact same time Ellie was scheduled for a concert, made me happy, happy, happy.  (Well, I was “happy, happy, happy,” unless the Duck Dynasty guys have claimed that phrase is their intellectual property and secured copyrights on “happy, happy, happy.” If they have, I wasn’t “happy, happy, happy.” I was thrilled.)

I like a multiple-choice ministry strategy. I’m praying we’ll continue with it as we press forward to reach all the people we can, however we can, whenever we can – as we love GOD and one another.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10a  -  Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You’re already good at it. 

  

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

 

 

This vista overlooks Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

I took the picture a bit south of Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump. That's the catchy name given to the place where folks figured out that a good way to kill bison was by driving them over a precipice. Hunters would panic a herd, rush the bison and push them forward until they plunged over a cliff. The fall killed a few animals; hunters waded into the pile at the bottom of the bluff and killed the rest.

The result was food, shelter and a chance at life.

It was an effective strategy. Everyone involved knew failure was not an option. No meat, people starve. No hides, people freeze. Pretty clear, don't you think?

People still face life-and-death issues.
   You do. I do. Everyone does, which begs the question: 
      "How do we know when failure is not an option?"

If we can answer that question, people may have a chance at life.

 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  -  I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live and may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him.

 

 

Remembering The Last Time I Was Warm

 

 

"The central problem of every society
is to define appropriate roles for the men."  

Margaret Mead,
from Male and Female:
A Study of the Sexes in a Changing World (1968) 

 

I was looking through an old file of photos when I stumbled across this one.

There are two men in the picture: my son Aaron (profiled on the right) and my nephew Phil (silhouetted against the flames on the left). 

My picture triggered three thoughts.

• It's good to have young men around when you're tending a fire.
• Young men behave differently than old men around a fire.
• Young men enjoy building fires as much as old men enjoy sitting around them.

 

Acts 28:3  -  Paul had collected a large bundle of sticks and was about to put it on the fire.

 

Moses Went Through Here ...

 

 

I traveled the route through this wilderness.

It's a Trade Route the ancients called The King's Highway and its use has been contested for millennia. Those in control of the only way forward can demand anything for its use. Why? Because it's the way through this land.

My friend Ron Vandergriend included me in a trip he led through Egypt a few years ago and we traveled The King's Highway. When we got to this desolate place (in present-day Jordan), we all took pictures. Somewhere near here Moses asked the Edomites to let Israel pass along the highway. The Edomites not only refused, they attacked the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land.

Your WAY forward may be difficult.
  People may stand against you.
    They may fight you.
      They may attack you.

Know this.
Resistance doesn't always indicate you're going the wrong way. In fact, you may be facing trials because you're going the right way. 

The easy way isn't the best way; the best way is the best way.

 

Numbers 20:14-21  -  From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom. He said, “Your brothers, the Israelites, say to you: You know about all the troubles we have had, how our ancestors went down into Egypt and we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to us and our ancestors, but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard us and sent us an angel to bring us out of Egypt."
       “Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your land. Please let us pass through your country. We will not touch any fields of grain or vineyards, and will not drink water from the wells. We will travel only along the king’s road, not turning right or left until we have passed through your country.”
       But the king of Edom answered: “You may not pass through here. If you try, I will come and meet you with swords.” 
       The Israelites answered: “We will go along the main road, and if we or our animals drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to walk through. That’s all.” But he answered: “You may not pass through here.” 
       Then the Edomites went out to meet the Israelites with a large and powerful army. The Edomites refused to let them pass through their country, so the Israelites turned back.

 

 

Cambodian Thai - Birthday Lunch

 

 

My friend Dustin Maust, who happens to be a media genius, artist, a multi-faceted "creative" and a manly man, celebrates 32 years of life today.  

Since Dustin is full-grown, you'd think he would have learned to avoid spicy food, but alas, he loves it. He ate hot and spicy Cambodian Thai food to celebrate his birthday today.

Except for the fact that he takes a curiously astonishing delight in spicy food, Dustin is a fine fellow, a fine fellow indeed.

 

Hosea 9:2 (The MESSAGE)  -  All that party food won’t fill you up. You’ll end up hungrier than ever.

 

Meteorological Phenomena ... and More

 

  

There are storms rolling in, fueled by colliding Highs and Lows in far-away places. We know they're coming; in the viscera of our being we sense their approach. The pressure is about to change. We feel it. 

So we make preparation. Right?  

We face what's coming with the ONE who rides the storms and speeds along on the wings of the wind. We call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall we be saved, sheltered and confident, finding refuge in the shadow of His wings until the calamities and destructive storms are passed.

 

Proverbs 3:25-26  

No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
    or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
    he’ll keep you safe and sound.

 

Papaw Celebrates 89 Years of Life ... Today!

 

 

 

"The man,
whom I call deserving the name,
is one whose thoughts and exertions
are for others rather than himself."

Walter Scott,
quoted by Charles D. Cleveland
in English Literature of the Nineteenth Century
(1857)

 

Sheila's father is a remarkable man.

He is faithful, devoted and courageous: a man of sterling character and integrity. I thanked GOD when Papaw (an exemplary husband and father), blessed my marriage to his daughter. I will always be grateful for the love and goodness Sheila gleaned from her "Daddy." 

Today Papaw celebrates 89 years of a life devoted to GOD, country and family. 

Happy Birthday Papaw.

I pray GOD continues to pour HIS blessing on you, and your dear "Elly," in this 62nd year of your marriage.

 

 

Proverbs 11:3a  -  The integrity of the upright shall guide them.