Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Vision to Reality


Below is the newsletter article for October at Memorial.  I wanted to share this on the blog for those who did not already read it.  Blessings @ you!  PM


To My Church Family,
            We are in a season of discovery as a church.  This season of discovery is characterized by seeking the Father in order to know his direction for his church.  Memorial is his church.  Our desire is to turn our lives over to Father and let him direct us in his Kingdom work.  So, we are in a season of discovery.  Here are some different questions that are guiding our search:
1.     How do we continue to use our buildings for Father’s redemptive purposes?
2.     How do we respond to the needs of our city and community?
3.     What opportunities do we see Father opening up for our continued influence of the gospel in culture?
4.     What updates and/or changes need to happen with our facilities?
This list of questions will help you to both pray and prepare for the future at Memorial.  I am excited about what God is doing.  We are being stretched in our imagination of mission and ministry to our community and world.  I ask that you join with us in preparing our hearts to receive the direction as Father faithfully leads.  Also, I ask that you join with us in preparing our hands to work diligently as well.  I am convinced that we must not pray to know unless we have also prepared to obey.  The hear of scripture is equal to the obey of scripture.  They go hand in hand.  We must prepare to engage the work that we are instructed to do. 
Last Sunday, I mentioned a passage of scripture from Ezra 3:10-12, which verse 12 says, “but many of the older priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy.”  This is an interesting picture of how different people see changes.  Sometimes, people see change and it causes them to remember the past.  Sometimes, people see change and it causes them to dream about the future.  How do you see change?  Maybe this is a better question:  When do you see change?  This question is better because it relates to our situation.  You see, the question says, “when do you see change?”  Meaning, not all change affects us directly, so when do you take notice of changes?  Do you allow yourself to be concerned with things that do not necessarily concern you today?  This is the real issue with change.  Life is changing for many people in our community and world.  However, these changes do not directly affect us.  So, should we be concerned?  I would say yes.  We should be concerned.
Concerning ourselves with the cares of others requires that we experience heart change.  When Father changes our hearts for others we are then able to move beyond: 
--Anxiety to Commitment
--Fear to Courage
--Loneliness to Community
--Needy to Fruit-filled
--Confused to Focused
--Protective to Productive (from, The Church of Irresistible Influence, Lewis, 93.)
What will it look like to concern ourselves with the needs of others in the future?  That is what we are praying to discover right now.  I ask that you would join me in this season and rejoice at the foundation being laid for the new work Father is doing in us!                                                               See you Sunday!  PM

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Serving Leftovers

Just thinking about what Francis Chan said in Chapter 5 for this week.  He is talking about the labels that have started appearing on Chip bags boasting 0grams trans fat.  He stated that the chips usually have some form of trans fat but the levels are within certain limits that the FDA allows the producer to claim 0grams.  I have fallen victim to this form of advertisement before.  I have read the packaging on the front and forgot about the back.  You see, the back tells you what is in the bag.  The front tells you what is not in the bag.  The reality is that chips are mostly empty calories.  We should gauge the quality of a product by what is in the product not otherwise.  Some candy companies label similarly with "fat free" labels.  A candy that is fat free is not necessarily sugar free.  Check out the sugar content and you realize that the candy although free of fat now, will eventually create fat later.

Have we allowed this same kind of issue to describe our Christianity?  In other words, have been content to present ourselves in light of what we are not rather than what we really are?  We could be parading around looking like we are holy by what we do not do and all the while be nothing more than empty calories.  Our Christianity is based on the substance of Jesus in our lives.  Before we change outside, he transforms us inside.  This is the true measure of Christ following.

Let me know what this means to you.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Look forward to seeing you Wednesday Night at the United Service!  6:15p.m.  (Dinner at 5:15)

Show Hope!  PM

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Beginning a new journey

What an exciting opportunity awaits us in this new year!  I hope and pray that you will sense the LORD leading you as you walk into the future.  As the church, let us move with purpose and vision into the days ahead.  Let us keep in mind the 3 main objectives set before us:  to Praise the Savior, Prepare the Saints, and Proclaim Salvation!  God bless you this new year!  PM

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Wednesday in Matsanjeni





Greetings!
This was our last day of ministry in Swaziland.  It is hard to believe that we have been in the country for a week.  We have had many different experiences during our time here.  Today, we worked at a medical clinic in Matsanjeni.  We played with the children and cared for the sick.  We got to play soccer today!!!  I know that many may not share my excitement but it was a joy!  The kids grow up playing soccer.  They are really good.  They love to play and it opened up opportunities to share Jesus with the children.  I was able to share with a 13 year old boy that attends church in Matsanjeni.  He told me that he was a Christian and that he was glad to be a part of the church.  It was awesome to visit with him and talk about the Lord.  
Tomorrow, we are leaving for Kruger National Park.  We will stay there Thursday and Friday night.  Saturday, we will leave for Jo'Berg.  We will leave Jo'Berg Saturday night and arrive in London Sunday Morning.  Sunday we will leave London for DFW.  I look forward to being back in the USA on Sunday.  It has been an amazing trip, but I have missed being with my family and with the people of Pine Springs Baptist.  I hope to blog tomorrow.  I do not know if Kruger will have internet connection.  So, I will try to let you know what is happening...if not, I will fill you in next week.
Blessings to you, and pray for the Swazi people...God is at work here!  Pray for the Myers...they are a called couple!
Pastor Mark
(Pics:  Soccer in Matsanjeni, our 4 translators after the Braai tonight (barbecue South African style), the church in Matsanjeni, Children in Matsanjeni)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

A great day in Africa!





Hello everyone, 
Tonight, I want to give you some really good pictures of the rural church in Africa.  We went 2 hours into the bush of Africa today.  Our team went to Nthutwakazi to have a medical clinic for the community.  We met at the church.  We had a wonderful time with the children.  We taught them some songs:  My God is So Great, Hokie Pokie, The Noah Song, etc.  They taught us some of their dances!  It was so funny, they would clap and sing and start dancing!  What a time!  The people are so friendly and so gracious.  The church was a the top of a mountain.  We could see the eastern border and Mozambique.  It was incredible.  We walked up to the peak and what else was up there?  A Soccer Field...i was so excited...Felt right at home!
We were able to see about 250 people, Men, Women, and Children.  I walked around and gave out suckers to the children.  The children know what candy is!  They are so precious.  Well, enjoy the pics.  
Tomorrow, we are going to another clinic for half of the day.  Then, we will return to the farm house to pack for Kruger National Park.  Please pray that God will continue to bless the people of Swaziland as we bring the message of Jesus to their homes.  
God Bless each of you!
Pastor Mark

Monday, June 23, 2008

Blessings to You!




Hello everyone!
Thankyou for your patience with this blog.  We have had sporadic internet connection
 this last week.  The trip is going great!  There are some exciting things happening in this country among these people.  They are so gracious and they love to Worship and Serve the LORD!  The children at church yesterday were so much fun...  Yesterday, we worshiped at a church that meets under a tree in Zikhoteni.  The children told the story of the Prodigal Son.  It was so humbling to watch the children act out this amazing story of God's grace.  The child playing the part of the Father ran to the son who was lost and kissed him on both cheeks!  The whole congregation erupted in praise and clapping!  It was awesome!  
I have been using the limited time for internet connection to reach my family with updates.  Thankyou for checking this blog.  I will continue to send you information and pictures.  I am so very thankful to have been given this opportunity.  I look forward to telling you all about this trip next week.  
Today, we went shopping in Manzini and Mabane.  The people are very good in sales.  They would try to talk you into buying everything in their shops.  We tried!  We got to spend the whole day with Wayne and Barbara.  Their picture is in the blog below.  They are extremely gifted and their ministry is amazing.  Wayne is doing better.  He has been suffering this week with bad back pain.  We took him to the hospital today for a follow-up visit.  The doctor was not able to see him.  He is making good progress. So, he will try to see the Dr. in Jo-berg on Saturday when we go to the airport to TRAVEL HOME!!! :)
Please continue to pray for the Myers.  God is doing great things through their lives!
I will look forward to sending more information soon.  
Love to you all!
Pastor Mark 

Monday