Living the Sacred Message

Just got back from Xtreme Amp’d Camp and it was the best in 18 years.  We had a great time.  What was cool for me was the laid back leadership of the camp management at Hidden Acres.  We walked into meals and recreation times without any snags.  They were totally awesome people to work with.  

As for the specifics of Xtreme we had a blast.  What was best for me was the art of worship.  We had the best live music in years.  We got back to drama and added some paintings.  The mood was set for the young people to worship and respond to God.  We had taken a couple of skits from GodTube and really reworked them so they were unique to Xtreme Amp’d.  We had done a passion play for years and I thought some of the old timers would cry out that we didn’t do the old traditional stuff, but we did this play with Jesus in it and it was a hit.  We had ten or more first time commitments to Christ and another 15 or so recommittments.  Now that’s church camp and that’s what God wants to see in what we do at camp. 

We had some really cool videos done up ahead of time with our theme from 1 Timothy 4.12.  The youth memorized the verse during the week.  ”Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.  Be an example to all believers in what you say, how you live, your love, your faith and your purity.”  We took these last five points of the verse and made them our theme for the day.  

Just in case you are interested in joining us next year.  The dates are July 26-31, 2008 and we will again be at Hidden Acres Camp in Dayton, Iowa.

Be xtreme in your youthfulness and amp’d in your faith!

We have done some form of Xtreme Camp since 1991.  It has grown and evolved since then and all for the good of the Kingdom.  I love church camp because it is one of the top places for a person, usually a young person, to accept Christ.  That’s what it’s all about.  

We are excited to have a new location this summer at Hidden Acres near Dayton, Iowa.  The opportunities of fun activities tripled and the cost of camp was cut in half.  How’s that for a bonus.  With the rising cost of gas and other things of the world, it’s great to have this new camp experience at a reasonable rate.  

If you are interested in: horse rides, climbing walls, miniature golf, paint ball, archery, swimming in a lake or a million dollar pool, going to a live concert/worship every day and lots of other great things to do at camp, then you may want to join us.  It’s geared for 5th grade through high school and our theme this summer is 1 Timothy 4.12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.  Now that’s some good material for young people.  

With all the new opportunities the youth staff suggested that we are now AMP’D.  Yes we will have more energy, a new look, a new location and of course the offering of new life, offered to us by our Creator and Savior.  Now that’s amp’d.  

If you are interested in registering for this camp Xtreme Amp’d contact me at sacredmessage@gmail.com  I would love to see you there and together let’s get amp’d!

My friend Sue had her birthday last week.  Almost mid-April.  She prayed for snow on her birthday.  They say April showers bring May flowers, but I’m not sure what April SNOW showers bring?  I know it brings some frustration for some people, but not Sue.  Guess what, she got her snow.  God does answer some peculiar prayers.  Her story goes back to her birthday in Kindergarten and it snowed.  She was thrilled and now these many years later, she still wants snow on her birthday.

I really don’t blame her though.  I remember when I turned nine, our family and another family, (whose son was named Mark and was the same age, with the same birth date) went and celebrated at a restaurant called Buffalo Bills.  To this day I remember that particular birthday celebration and often have a hankering for a steak or hamburger at some restaurant with a western theme.  Odd isn’t it.  I have a coffee mug from that trip and keep it up in the family room with other memorabilia.

I say celebrate the quirks.  Enjoy the things of life that make you, you.  Have fun with the little details of life that are the most memorable.  Laugh and play and don’t let the details dampen your spirit.  I was really looking for a beautiful spring day myself when Sue celebrated her birthday, but secretly I was praying for snow, because I knew it meant something very special to her.  May all your birthdays, holidays and just any old day, be filled with little God surprises!

We’ve been feeding the birds all winter and it has been a blast.  Cardinals, squirrels, finch, junko’s and more.  Recently we’ve been adopted by a pair of ducks.  It’s funny going out to the mail box and getting “quacked” at.  So we are creating a bird sanctuary in our front yard.  Front- so the two dogs won’t bother the birds or eat the seeds.  We’ve transplanted lilacs and snowball bushes from the farm in our front yard and some pampas grass and some other tall grass from our neighbors expanding decorative grasses.  Maybe a bird bath this summer and some kind of patio bricks.  It’s gradually growing to new and creative ideas.  The neighbors think we should put in a pond for the ducks.  I think we need to cut it off somewhere. So the neighbors can put in the pond.  

What’s fun is just watching the creatures.  The squirrel is the funniest.  We have an acrobat climbing up the metal poles to the feeders.  But what really amazes me is the culture of God’s creatures.  At any one time there can be three or more species of birds, squirrels, and a chipmunk all at the same spot at the same time.  Don’t you wish humans could get along as well?  We let our language or cultures or beliefs get in the way and keep us from being together.  

As far as congregating together, the small creatures of God have it together.  They can be singing their songs, chirping, or quacking their praises to the Creator and God loves it.  Sometimes you can hear me “quacking” along as well.  I love praising God as well.  (And sometimes that’s how my singing is viewed - quacking)  Anyway, let’s join in the chorus of praise for our Creator and learn a lesson from the creatures great and small about how to get along.

I was at the airport today. Doing my limo driver thing, waiting for a client to show up. I have a great view of the escalators. Two going up and two coming down. While waiting I observed people. Fascinating creatures aren’t they?

At the bottom of the up escalator were three people. One was going to get on their plane and two were staying in town. It was a tearful good-bye. Of course I don’t know how far away they were going or for how long, but it was very tearful.

At the same time the top of the down escalator, some lady was waving profusely and grinning from ear to ear joyfully. There was a man, boyfriend or husband maybe, who was waiting at the bottom of the down escalator for this waving lady. She continued to wave all the way down and then they hugged. It was a joyful greeting.

A week ago today, I and my family buried my mother. I have shed many tears and continue to do so. Losing a parent is really hard. I know my mother is in heaven. She was a godly woman and a prayer warrior. She served God her whole live and believed in the salvation message. So that was a no brainer. But what got me to thinking was those escalators today. I know some cartoons portray escalators to heaven. Jacob did have his ladder.

What got me thinking was the up and down; the tearful goodbye and the joyful hello. I know I will always miss my mother, but in the scheme of things eternal, my goodbye this last week will only be a joyful hello in God’s blink of an eye. I don’t know how long in earthly terms it will be, but because of faith, it won’t be long.

In the mean time, grieving is hard, but it is supposed to be. My dad commented a day or two after the memorial service, “I know what a heavy heart is.” Yes we do. Life and faith go on and help us with the heavy hearts and the grieving. What blows me away is the friends who have sent cards, brought in food, ordered flowers, made phone calls, sent emails and showed up for visitation and for services. Family came from every corner of the U.S. Stories and memories were shared. And I found out just how much mom touched peoples lives. Those are the things that help hold us together. It’s nice to know who your real friends are.

If you are grieving, no matter what the loss, I pray that you know God and the salvation message of Jesus Christ. I pity the ones who do not know were their loved are headed after death. The loss is then eternal. The hope is absent and the future has no purpose. If you are pondering such questions, read the Gospel of John chapter 14. Get to know Jesus, who says he is the Way to the Father in heaven. Learn from a pastor or christian friend more about this important matter. Secure for yourself a future and a hope. I know we celebrate the resurrection for my mother and I am fairly certain most of my family will be at that great reunion someday. My escalator’s going up. There may be a few tearful good-byes, but I am certain there will be more joyful hello’s.

Things have been a lot simpler since we moved and started a church. Sunday afternoons are free. We have cut back on budget things like not eating out as much. Christmas was one of those things that was supposed to be much more simple. My wife and I were going to cut back spending on each other. All I wanted for Christmas was a stack of firewood for our fireplace. Simple, yet practical. Yet she decided to do more than that and she had a few other surprises as well.I asked my parents for one gift also. They have been very supportive of this church plant and my leaving the denomination that we have all been a part of for decades. They have prayed for us and given the church money and they bought the vinyl sign that we put in front of the school every Sunday. So I asked for magnetic signs to put on the truck to advertise our church. I knew that would be in the ball park of Christmas gifts and maybe even over the top. Let me make the long story short. I didn’t get the magnetic church signs to put on my truck. No I got a check. It seems they didn’t want to go shopping this year and we all got checks for our Christmas present. I’m not one to complain about gifts and generosity of others, so I won’t. But there was a gift bag I did receive. It was for the church. In it was the magnetic signs - a gift, not for me, but for the church. Thank you mom and dad for your generous support of this ministry! Thanks for not giving me what I asked for!It was not just a good Christmas, it was a great Christmas! It was somewhat simple, but it ended up better than expected.What did you get for Christmas? Was it everything and more than you expected? What did you give? What has really blown me away in 2007 has been the people who have been generous to the church! I believe that when we truly are doing Kingdom work, people will join in. How will you share in God’s generous giving in 2008? Will you bless the church that is Christ’s mission field?

Our church has been doing some marketing for Christmas this week. I wasn’t sure it would all work out, but I placed it in God’s hands and so far it is moving along. We are sending out 15,411 postcards to a three mile radius around the church location. We are using the same marketing company the Chamber of Commerce is using and they have been very good at working with us in our first huge mailer. What was interesting, was going to the post office to fill out a non-profit. This morning the local news said, today, December 19th, was the busiest day of the year to deliver mail and yesterday was the busiest day to have people come and ship out their mail. So here I was in the Des Moines, Iowa Post Office on one of their busiest days of the year and this guy walks me through all the guts of Iowa’s largest Post Office. He showed me huge sorting machines and ones that sniff out drugs . I wasn’t just at the desk buying stamps (which by the way postage for over 15,000 mailers takes a chunk of change) I was where they were sorting Christmas cards and packages that were going all over the place. Though the church postcard is big to us, it’s nothing compared to the millions, or billions of mail that goes out every day. It was humbling. But here’s what is really humbling. God sent his messengers, angels, to proclaim the good news. It was sung out to some lowly shepherds about a young couple stowed away in a stable. God has some pretty amazing ways to get the word out. I hope and pray that you are getting the word out. Crossroads is doing it’s part in central Iowa.Jesus is born! God’s own Son is our greatest gift! Merry Christmas - get that Word out!

Well I have had my first week of being a limo driver. Got the license a few weeks ago. It took two attempts though. I flunked before I got out of the DOT parking lot the first time. Not a good enough stop.Anyway, the past few days has been the debates in Iowa for presidential candidates. I have been through security and seen some of the candidates up close. But mostly I have been driving the support for the candidates and a radio and tv personality that was in town the same day as the Republican debate. What’s interesting is fame. Some people think they are pretty important. Self-induced I believe. “Hi, my name’s ___________”. And I just gave them the blank deer in the headlights look. I didn’t know who he was. What’s really good to see is some of the candidates (I did watch all 90 minutes of the debate last night) being as humble as they can. I think the media (and the world has bought into it) has made fame a terrible thing. We used to respect the rights of the movie stars and the politicians and big wigs of the world. Now we terrorize them with photographers hanging out at there private locations. And admittedly some of the celebs have liked the limelight. But my point is FAME has taken an ugly turn for the worst in our world. So my attempt this week is simply to serve. I may know the client in the back of the limo and I may not, but the person is a person and deserves my respect, even if I don’t agree with their politics or religion or whatever. It’s not just the job of serving, but it’s spiritual. God has called us to serve. Jesus set the example with a towel and basin of water and asked us to go and wash people’s feet. Wouldn’t that be a hoot if a washed the feet of my client’s. But I am, not just in opening the door for them or driving them where they need to go, but by respect and honoring who they are - fame or no fame. Who are you serving? And why are you serving them? Is it just a job or is it a higher calling?

Yesterday’s study in God’s Word said that Nehemiah returned and discovered that the Levites had not been given what was due them. And then I read about Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement”. I started to pray and my list of thanks to God went on and on. I asked God’s blessings on countless people who in just the past few months have been my source of strength and support. Some I haven’t shared my appreciation with and a few I have.

There are people helping start our church that volunteer countless hours and are deeply devoted to this new ministry, for which I could not do without. And then there are even the little things that happen. One lady brings bars every week and her husband, even though he doesn’t come to church, makes sure that she has the chocolate chips for those bars. Why, because he really does care.

The list is endless of those who make a difference in our lives, but the question remains, do we appreciate them and do we show them that appreciation? I watched a motivational video this morning about an eighty something, retired teacher who got a letter of appreciation from a student, obviously years after their school year together. The story indicated it was the only thanks she ever had all of her years teaching, and that she would read his letter every day until she died.

What a difference one word of thanks or appreciation it would make in a persons life. This is Pastor Appreciation month. I went back to a church I served 12 years ago and got a shock. I lady that was always totally opposite of me on most subjects and on the opposite end of the theological scale from me, said the most amazing thing to me. She said, “I am so glad that you continue to be a minister.” That was so meaningful to me. Hallmark couldn’t have said anything better.

I’m not searching for someone to send me a card this month because I’m a pastor, but I just want people to stop and see what all kinds of people do to impact their lives and to not ignore it, but simply say, “thanks”.

For the lady who makes bars for our church and her husband who gets the chocolate chips around - Thank you! For the people who have dedicated Saturday mornings to going out with door hangers around the neighborhood - Thank you! For those who set up and tear down week after week the things to run a church in a school setting - Thank you! For the guy who takes the pastor out for breakfast and a walk (just to keep me healthy) - Thank you! For those who don’t go to our church, but pray for us and send us a check in the mail - Thank you!

For anyone, anywhere who does the work of God’s Kingdom - THANK YOU!

No he didn’t die. Nor did he move away. Actually I don’t know what happened to him. He was the best student in class. He was on time, every time. He got perfect scores on every quiz and there were plenty of those. Last week he was absent. I thought he was just sick, several others were missing due to illness. But today his name was off the roster of students.
I was impressed with this young man and I wanted to get to know him more. He wasn’t going to be a project of “are you saved” kind of stuff. I just wanted to be friendly!

It’s been that kind of year for me. Losing friends. Major changes in my life this year for spiritual reasons have really tested my friendships. I found out some who I thought were friends, have failed me. But then there have been those who have stuck by me in some of the toughest of times. Sounds like God purifying us and getting rid of the dross, like refining gold or silver. And then there have been the opportunities to develop new friends.

I believe this year has reminded me of the 99 and one principle. Jesus told a parable in Luke about one lost sheep and how there were 99 others. He left the 99 just to go find the one. It’s that important. The Free Methodist church which I joined this year in my spiritual turmoil has as their theme for the next four years, “One More Soul”. We may have 99 friends, but there is always one, that is special and needs to be brought back home.

Today I contacted two friends that I have missed, this student and another friend. Yes, they are that important to me. I know we cannot control peoples lives and sometimes separation might be the best for everyone, but sometimes you just have to make sure it’s time to part. Maybe there were hurts that were felt or needs unmet, so one has to dare to risk and make the effort for the ONE!

Standing at the Crossroads of friends and decisions and life,
Mark