Mark Beeson

Transformed in Groups

 

 

Sheila and I were traveling with friends a few months ago. We visited the Church of the Nativity to see the place Jesus was born. 

 

 

Our progress was delayed by priests cutting-in-line, but someone in our group started singing Away in a Manger and the atmosphere changed from frustration to joy. As we sang together, GOD turned our long delay into one of the highlights of our trip. 

GOD transforms us as we group-up and following Jesus with friends. That's one reason we launched more than 100 new groups last week ... and we're launching more this week.

It's smarter to travel in groups.  

It's not too late for you to group-up with some friends. You can get help grouping-up here. 

 

Psalm 68:4  -  “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him...  his name is the Lord!” 

 

Doing More Than You Can Do

 

 

"Adversity toughens manhood, and the characteristic of the good or the great man is not that he has been exempt from the evils of life, but that he has surmounted them."  - Patrick Henry, from "The Southern Literary Messenger," quoted in Patrick Henry: Life, Correspondence, and Speeches (1891)

 

Our progress isn’t always determined by our personal limitations. Sometimes we can do more than we can do because we get help. It’s when we refuse to ask for help that our personal limitations define our possibilities.

A few years ago I hiked up Mt. Sinai with a bunch of guys from GCC.  I was packing 27 pounds of camera gear when dawn broke and we left St. Catherine’s Monastery.

What was I thinking?

Before we’d gone a mile I knew I didn’t have the strength to make it to the top of the mountain carrying that much stuff.

I looked around for help and saw these camels. 

It occurred to me that GOD probably created these critters to haul my photography gear up Mt. Sinai so I accepted the help GOD put right in front of me. I hired a camel and that ol’ dromedary packed a virtual photographer’s studio up the mountain, easily bearing the burden that had so recently limited me.

This Advent Season I've been thinking about helping: thanking GOD for all willingly helping me and asking GOD for strength and courage so I can help others. 

• How can I be GOD’s provision to help someone past their personal limitations?
• Will I accept GOD’s provision to do what I can’t do without HIM?

The INCARNATION involves more than guidance for the confused or therapy for the sick; GOD came in the CHRIST to give us life when we were far beyond sick and confused; we were dead in sin.

GOD saves us because we need a Savior then helps us help one another.

 

Psalm 119:144-149

Your statutes are always righteous;
give me understanding that I may live.
I call with all my heart; 
answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees. 
I call out to you; 
save me and I will keep your statutes. 
I rise before dawn and cry for help; 
I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.
Hear my voice in accordance with your love.

 

He Who Hesitates....

 

I observed no hesitation.

The waves rolled in and out and the little pipers rushed forward to gobble down the delicacies left behind after each surge. These tiny birds didn't waste a single opportunity. They ate when they could and backed away when the water returned, making the most of each opening.

Jesus once said, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

These days won't last forever. Night is coming, so while the "light of the world" holds darkness at bay we shouldn't hesitate to do our best - living holy and godly lives, making the most of each opportunity. 

Don't vacillate.

Live for Jesus.

2 Peter 3:10-14  -  The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
     Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
     So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 

 

What's Your Story?

 

Bill Hybels' story is being written through the lives of the people he led to Christ; one of those people is David Wright. 

I recently snapped Dave's picture as he helped some pastors board a bus. I know his story so I breathed a quick prayer. I thanked God Bill helped him meet Jesus a few years ago when he was one of Bill's sailing buddies. Now Dave serves on the Church Relations Field Team for Willow's Global Leadership Summit.

Our stories are being written with indelible ink through the lives we touch; Bill's is; Dave's is; mine is and so is yours. 

 

John 1 :41-42a  -  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

 

At the Foot of Mt. Sinai

The sun dipped behind the mountains as my first day at St. Catherine's Monastery was ending, so I walked along this stone path until I could see the wall where the Coptic priests of the Orthodox Church called out their prayers. The lamp provided a bit of light as I set up my tripod to memorialize my first evening at St. Catherine's.

I was traveling with several friends from GCC - as such journeys are best made in community - so I didn't climb Sinai alone. Brothers shared the path. Brothers carried me up Sinai and back down again.

This morning I'm reminded of one great truth. Life doesn't need to be lived alone. God invites us into HIS family and calls us to walk the well-worn path of the Way of Jesus together. So today I'm determined to notice those taking steps with me. I want to encourage them along the way, just as others have so often encouraged me.

2 Corinthians 12:18b  -  Don't we walk in the same spirit? Don't we walk in the same steps? 

Our Mighty God Has Come Near!

 

 

   Stop in your tracks! Take in God's miracle-wonders!
Do you have any idea how God does it all?

 

In the incarnation, our Mighty God, far beyond our reach, came to us. In HIS Passion, suffering, crucifixion and death he made atonement for our sins. In HIS resurrection Christ became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

Our Mighty God, far beyond our reach, unsurpassed in power and justice has come close, revealing his love in Jesus Christ. So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all. 

Be wise. God is no longer beyond our reach. He has come to us.

Come to HIM and worship HIM. 

Holy Communion is Good Friday at Noon.

 

 Job 37:14-24

Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? 
   Stop in your tracks! Take in God's miracle-wonders!
Do you have any idea how God does it all, 
   how he makes bright lightning from dark storms,
How he piles up the cumulus clouds— 
   all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind?
Why, you don't even know how to keep cool 
   on a sweltering hot day,
So how could you even dream 
   of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky? 

If you're so smart, give us a lesson in how to address God. 
   We're in the dark and can't figure it out.
Do you think I'm dumb enough to challenge God? 
   Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
No one in his right mind stares straight at the sun 
   on a clear and cloudless day.
As gold comes from the northern mountains, 
   so a terrible beauty streams from God. 

Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! 
   Unsurpassable in power and justice! 
   It's unthinkable that he'd treat anyone unfairly.
So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! 
   If you're wise, you'll most certainly worship him.

Life Long Friendships

 

 

Have you any life-long friends? 

Gregg and Beth Parris are our friends. They'll be our friends for the rest of our days, just as they've been true friends in 30 years of days gone by. With Gregg and Beth we've raised our children, led our churches, strengthened our marriages and loved Jesus.  We've shared good times and bad, days of soaring ministry and days of disappointing set-backs. We've shared laughter and tears and we've loved each other through it all.

We've helped each other face life's transitions. They sat with us in funerals, supported us at weddings and counseled us through trials. We prayed them through times of sickness, sang beside them in worship, cheered for them when their boys got married and thanked God when their grandchildren were born. We've had a good run and we're beginning to hit our stride. These are good days, made better by our friends.

I had my camera in hand when Gregg came around the corner on his bike this morning. Sheila and had finished our daily walk and I was cooling down when Gregg rode past. He rides about 100 miles a week. (Of course, I try to drive my car at least that far every seven days, so if you're impressed that puts it in better perspective for you.) Anyway, Gregg has been an athlete his whole life, so his prowess on the bike reveals only one small aspect of his wide-ranging ability, interest and gifting. He's a remarkable man and I'm honored to be his friend.

Gregg once reminded me (when I was struggling with a personal betrayal) that I needed to quickly forgive. He said, "When I live with unforgiveness, I'm allowing someone else's weakness to overcome my strengths." He's helped me more than he knows. I'm trusting I've been helpful to him too.

Sometimes I'm asked how anyone can maintain a meaningful friendship spanning three decades of life. I think Paul's advice on nurturing our relationship with God informs other relationships, so I'll give you what Paul gave the Philippians when he said, "What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning."  

That's great advice.

Paul then added, "Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God."

What if we did such things with each of our friends too?

• What if we put real energy into our friendships? (Gregg & Beth, and Sheila & I, have made the effort to spend a few days together every summer - when it was easy to carve time out of our busy lives...and when it wasn't.)
  
  
• What if we revered our dear friends? I'm not talking about worshipping them, but what if we held one another in the highest regard, respecting and admiring the dear comrades God has given us? (We always honor each other, living with the utmost respect for one another.)
  
  
• What if we're sensitive? Just as we're sensitive to the promptings of God, what if we're carefully attentive to the desires, emotions and words shared with our friends? (Sheila & I, and Gregg & Beth, act with care toward each other. We're responsive and aware. It's amazing how much good results from genuine conscientious care.)

The disciplines you've learned nurturing your relationship with God can help you cultivate your friendships with others. And some of those friends just might develop into true friends who stick by you for the rest of your lives.

 

Proverbs 18:24  -  Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

Jumping Rays / Mobula mobular

 

 

 

Back in 1975 I spent a few weeks off the coast of Belize on Glover's Reef. It was a curious time of research, study and glorious diving in crystal clear waters. Those days were marked with many firsts: my first time catching hold of a passing whale shark and riding it for a while, my first time diving in the inky darkness of the sea throughout the watches of the nights, my first time to use a spear gun, fend off wild monkeys, eat conch and watch rays jump. 

Someday I'll write about that other stuff, but right now I'm focused on "why rays jump."

Whether it's Mantas 20 feet across (Manta birostriss) like those I saw jumping off shore near Glover's Reef, or Mobulas with disc-widths averaging 3 or 4 feet (Mobula mobular) like the one I recently photographed, no one really knows why they jump. But whatever prompts their glorious aerobatics, those who've seen them erupt from placid seas are surely blessed.

I've watched rays jump and I assume there's a reason - that being airborne serves some kind of purpose. Maybe it's an accident, and the veil between water and air is so thin they occasionally launch themselves by mistake. But I don't think so. 

Could it be to dislodge parasites? Does it serve as practice for gathering food? Is it some form of play? Are they exercising? How about this; could it be some form of cooperative hunting? Do they launch and land to create tricky vibrations that drive disturbance-wary mysids downward and into the open mouths of other Mobulas below?

Now one knows.

But it makes your heart skip a beat when, without warning, a Mobula soars up from below the surface and leaps out of the water, glistening in the light of dawn as a whip-like tail trails behind. A somersault or two, flap, flap, flap and then a belly-flop smack, it happens again and again. And nobody understands why.

So, dear Reader, you may be wondering, "What's that got to do with anything?"

Good question.

Let me tell you what's true about me. Remembering I can't even figure out the motivations of a stupid Mobula, helps me refrain from judging the motivations of people who behave in bizarre, confusing, apparently irrational ways. If I can't even understand what motivates rays to jump, maybe I shouldn't be too quick to think I know what "good" or "evil" incentivizes the curious behaviors of people around me. I may see what they did, but it's better if I don't imagine I know exactly why they did it. Only God can judge hidden intent and unseen motivation. I need to remember that.

Question:
What's better than making assumptions about others' motivations?

Answer:
Simply asking people why they did what they did, and caring enough to listen to their explanations.
 

Ecclesiastes 12:14  -  Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.

Our Best Days

 

What’s sacred to you? 

If “sacred” implies transcendent worth and value, if hearing that word suggests you’d be wise to treasure something, someone or some magnificent experience you deem sacrosanct and holy, you’ll understand when I say, “Some things are too good to throw away, too wonderful to toss aside. Some experiences are so rich and filling, it’s obvious they’ve come from God.”

I’ve just had a some days like that.

The Lord gave me a few days with my son in northern Ontario. My brother was there with his son too. My friend Steve Smith has a little cabin on a fly-in-lake and he presented me with a precious gift - time in the wilderness with family and friends. 

I caught some fish, saw eagles fly and watched otters play.  I saw a bull caribou swim across the lake, a blond-phase black bear patrolling the shoreline and Moose tracks in the woods near the cabin.

And I enjoyed worshiping God in the beauty of his creation.

Psalm 145:4-6  -  One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

Am I Who I Say I Am?

 

When I remember God's Kingdom is coming it helps. Things are pretty messed-up here. When I remember Jesus is going to build His Church and one day He is going to put all things right, I'm encouraged because things aren't always "right" here.

I need to remember Jesus is Lord, especially when I have days like today. 

Today I was trying to manage a simple transaction when the lady at the counter says, "Oh, your Social Security number doesn't match the birth date you've given me. I can't do anything for you. You'll have to go to the Social Security Administration. Until they verify you have the Social Security number you claim, I can't do anything."

"But, I've had that birth date since I was born." I protested.

"Not according to our records." She said.

"Well, on what date does your computer say I was born? I'll be happy to be born whenever it says I was born. I'm flexible. How old does it say I am?" My tone was deteriorating and I sensed I was moving into the realm of sarcasm.

"I can't tell you what it says. You have to go to the Social Security Administration, and you better take your Social Security Card with you." She was firm in her convictions; I had to give her that.

"Well, how about I bring my Social Security Card here to you? Wouldn't that work?" I could tell her patience was wearing thin and this was my last chance. 

"No. Even if you show me your card and the numbers match what you've claimed, my computer must agree with the Social Security Administration or I can't help you. Proof is irrelevant. My computer screen is what I go by."  With that, she yelled, "Next!"  I knew she was done with me.

Hmmmmm.  I'm 56 years old and all those years I've had one birth date and one Social Security #.

I know when the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.  I just hope my Social Security # doesn't indicate it's not me. 
 

Matthew 5:48c  -  Live out your God-created identity.

July Camp Adventure 2010

Since I'm at camp (and the internet is less than reliable) I'm posting a few pictures when I have the opportunity. Before I head to the afternoon activities, I want to give you a "visual update" on the adventure we're sharing at Camp Adventure.

I'm not sure who first thought this was a good idea, but it has become customary for everyone to go outside on the 1st day of camp, stand under the balcony of the lodge, and look into the sky so we can take a picture. Remember when your mom told you not to stare at the sun? Yeah, well, this is camp.

It's hard to imagine anyone getting more fired up about gathering for lunch than DC. And I'm not just talking about dynamic leadership enthusiasm. DC's passion gets expressed physically too. If I bent over like that my spine would snap like a rotten twig.

I've discovered you can't ever have too much protective gear for Paintball. Though I've not personally tried this concealment strategy, I've already seen the benefits of red "camo" PJ's utilized during yesterday's competition. I'm reserving my opinion on the matter.

Paintball strategists have a brilliant plan for teaching middle-schoolers to play the game. They load the kids up with safety gear and safety instructions prior to their first competition. Once the kids have been "marked" by a paintball, and the first game is over, the trainers bring them into a safe area and tell them how to strategize for a "win."  It's amazing to see how intent the campers become as they listen for ideas that'll help them win. Middle-school-kids love winning!

 
More instruction from the trainers in the Paintball Safe Area. (Notice the white socks, pulled high on the calves of this experienced camp-paintball-guru.  Surely this is a sign of cautious wisdom, proving once again that as surely as a wound just above the ankle took down the great Achilles, a paintball strike to the unprotected calf can be a man's undoing.)

I caught these guys one their way to the canoes. The weather man says we'll hit 90 degrees this afternoon. Nobody is complaining about being on the water today.

I've been a leader at Camp Adventure for 40 years running. It's been a great journey. I've nothing but cherished memories of the people I've met, the worship I've shared, the campers I've encouraged and the young leaders who've taught me so much. Jesus has changed me - and my world - at Camp Adventure. I met God here. I raised my kids here. I learned to lead here. 

Doing the math I realize 40 years at Camp Adventure, multiplied by an average of 150 attending each of those weeks, equals 6,000 middle-schoolers I've seen through a week of summer camp. Occasionally accused of being a "Burned-Out-Youth-Pastor," I contend I'm not burned out at all. I LOVE the young people of the next generation.

Sometimes people ask me if I am concerned about the future of the Church.  I'm not. In fact, I'm more confident than ever. God has already raised up the next generation of leaders and I've met a lot of them. They're strong. They're faithful. They're determined and they will succeed. Gender doesn't matter to them. Ethnicity doesn't matter either. 

What matters to young leaders is Jesus. He towers above all their other concerns, affections and values. He is the Lord of emerging leaders, apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers.  Of this one thing I'm sure; the Church is in good hands. Christ's ministry to the next generation will flourish under their capable leadership.

Four great young leaders I love and trust met up for a quick conversation yesterday afternoon. I caught their rendezvous in this picture. Left to right: Stephanie Rorie, John Keim, Jeff Myers and DC Curry. (All are GCC staff leaders for GSM.) I'm honored to serve Jesus beside them.

No worries. Our children are in good hands. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

1 Timothy 4:12  -  Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

A Few More Pictures From Camp Adventure

Tonight I'm speaking at our sacrament service. Before I walk into that room full of middle-school campers I'll be praying for them. I hope you'll pray for them too. Tonight is a holy night at Camp Adventure.

DC delivered the gospel with clarity and passion last night. The result? Scores of campers took a step toward Christ. It was incredible, awesome and wonderful! The man can preach!

When I gave my life to Christ, I was at Camp Adventure. I was a 6th grader and I was so sorry for my sin, and so grateful for Christ's forgiveness, that I knelt down and wept like a baby.   As I'm convinced there are some things worth crying about (like personal sin against our Holy God), I'm glad for those tears. I've never regretted crying at the altar.

Valley Games are a staple of camp. 

The Lap Game.  I know it sounds sedate, but it's crazy.

I couldn't post this without one more picture of our GSM worship leader, Seth Bible.

Did you ever figure the odds of getting a dozen people off the ground at the exact same moment?  How many times do you think we had to take this picture to get one successful photograph?   The answer: more than you think...

There is some kind of new "Ninja" game everyone is playing. I don't understand it, but it seems I've been excused from any expectation that I would.

Every camper lives all week with a "group," called his "Home In The Woods" group, comprised of a guy counselor and a gal counselor with a bunch of boys and girls.
 It's "family."

John 17:23  -  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.