The Bible Miniseries Begins THIS Sunday

This coming Sunday, The History Channel will begin airing The Bible TV Miniseries. This is a blurb on the miniseries from its website: “The Bible is a ten-hour, five-week, miniseries created and produced by husband and wife team, Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) and Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, & Celebrity Apprentice). Beginning on March 3, 2013, for two hours each Sunday night, viewers will see some of the best-known stories from the Bible, from Noah’s Ark and the Exodus to Jesus’ birth & the disciples. The final episode of The Bible TV Miniseries will air on Easter Sunday and will feature the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.” You can watch the extended trailer preview for this miniseries on YouTube: 

Of course I have not seen any of this miniseries outside of the television trailers and reading some articles about it online. All that being said, I would like to commend it to you – or to your digital video recorder – because I think it is a great addition to the Lenten season in which we currently find ourselves.

“Our prayer has always been that the dramatization of these stories will drive viewers to go to the Bible itself and drink in the actual text, because it is a book that changes lives,” said Roma Downey. “We are thrilled to provide millions of people with an easy way to do so with YouVersion.” YouVersion is a totally free Bible application that is available on your Apple mobile device (iPod, iPhone, iPad), Andriod mobile device (phone or tablet), as well as an online web site version. Check it out, and if you haven’t downloaded the app to your mobile device, do so…it is a perfect companion for your own faith journey with lots of tools and resources to help you dig into GOD’s Word!

The Bible Miniseries begins this Sunday, March 3^rd, at 8pm on The History Channel. For your quick reference, here is a list of channels where you can find The History Channel in our area:

•          NuLink: channel 47
•      Comcast: channel 53
•          AT&T U-Verse: channel 256
•          Dish Network: channel 120
•          DirecTV: channel 269

I hope you’ll at least give this miniseries a glance. I am sure they have taken some creative license with some of the stories, but I think it will be wonderful, and if nothing else, a great conversation starter. I’m eager to hear about your thoughts from seeing these stores come to life on TV.

Insight into the Divine Discomfort

There is a practical concept in theology called the divine discomfort. The idea here is there are times when God leads us into various kinds of discomfort in order for us to experience or effect change. I really experienced this when God called me into the ministry, because I was very comfortable in my life. I had a job I loved and was in a relationship that meant a lot to me. The discomfort came when the young lady I was dating and I went to see the old Tom Cruise movie, “Jerry Maguire.” In the movie, Maguire realizes that the job he has, working for a mega sports management company, is running contrary to his purpose. He gets fired and then starts his own firm with a vision for providing a different kind of service to his clients. Well, after my date and I saw this movie, she broke up with me, not because I wasn’t a catch, but because she could clearly see that I wasn't living according to my purpose. We broke up and I was devastated, but through prayer and reflection, I was able to see how she was correct. I then applied to seminary, left the job I loved, began my vocational ministry, and embarked on a new journey that LITERALLY changed my life. It all worked out well, because once my life was back on track, God brought that young lady and I back together and we married two years later! When Tiffany and I got back together, though, we were both changed!

Discomfort leads to change. Like in health, exercise can lead to discomfort in painful muscles, but muscles get bigger and stronger as they heal. A new healthy diet can cause discomfort when we miss our favorite junk food, but realize better energy levels and smaller waist sizes. This does not mean it is easy or comfortable, because often times it is not. By nature, we are creatures that are averse to change. In biology, this is called homeostasis as all organisms in stress want to return to balance and comfort. What we aren’t always able to do is filter good from bad in our search for comfort. This is why despite our better intentions, we will reach for the cookies and fall to the couch despite our better judgment. We get in our routines and before we know it, we are practically immovable. Think of it this way: you can’t spell routine without rut. This does not mean that our routines and habits are bad, but if we get so entrenched that we are incapable of seeing or agreeing to God leading us in a new way, we have a problem.

The good news is God deliberately places times and events in our lives that call us to make an honest assessment of how we are living, and maybe...just maybe...embark on a new grand journey that will leave us changed! Lent is one of those times. Lent calls us to discomfort as we take a look at our lives and realize that we are mortal. Lent calls us to discomfort as we realize we cannot save ourselves and we need a Savior! Getting closer to God can often lead us to a time and place of discomfort as we break some of our old habits and begin new ones that reflect the image of God to others. If we add a new discipline – like praying or giving – we might feel some discomfort from missing time or money. If we are giving something up and fasting, we might experience discomfort; yet, once the unfading glory of Easter comes, we will come to see just how true it is that life isn’t about us, but about the love and grace of God in our lives that we are also called to share with others.

If God is taking you through a time of discomfort, know it is for a purpose. You are being given an opportunity to make a change that will change you, and likely others, for eternity! Jeremiah 29.11 tells us that God has a purpose for us, to give us a future with hope, but to realize that, we often have to embark on a new journey that we are reluctant to begin on our own. My prayer for you this Lent is that you will (1) take an honest assessment of your life; (2) spend time with God to discern where He wants to lead you; and (3) make the necessary changes to allay the discomfort – not for comfort's sake – but in order to follow the Lord wherever He leads.  For as Jesus had to spend time in the wilderness, there are times when we will, too. But think about what we might be able to experience on the other side! 

Today is Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, an annual “celebration” in the church that marks the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of worshipers as a reminder of human mortality and as a sign of repentance to GOD. Ashes were used in the Bible as a way to show mourning and reliance on GOD; for example, the prophet Daniel said, “I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3).” As we gather for Ash Wednesday worship tonight, we will celebrate with the imposition of ashes as we remember from dust we came and to dust we will return. This recollection of our mortality places us in the correct posture, if you will, by which to prepare for Easter through the season of Lent.

Lent lasts 40 days (six weeks, excluding Sundays) and it is to remind us of the time Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan (see Luke 4.1-11). This is a time when Jesus fasted, prayed, and spent time alone with GOD the Father to help prepare Him for His public ministry. And it was a good thing, too, because according to Luke, as soon as Jesus came out of the wilderness, He faced rejection in His own hometown! It was that time in the wilderness that helped Jesus get His heart and mind aligned with GOD’s so He could follow through faithfully with His holy task.

The season of Lent calls us into a similar time of preparation. For Christians today, we are called primarily to prepare by praying, fasting, and giving. Prayer might seem self explanatory, but I think that the prayer Jesus used in the desert is different from the way many of us pray today. We often run to GOD with a wish list of things we would like for Him to do for us, and then we’re quickly on our way. For Jesus, however, prayer was something that was far more about the position and condition of His heart. Jesus spent weeks upon weeks praying for guidance, listening for answers, and just finding His heart centered in GOD. During this year’s Lent, I would like to encourage you to try something a little different in your prayer life – as opposed to just taking a wish list to GOD, spend some time sharing with Him the things going on in your heart, but provide time to listen for the voice of GOD. This can be a challenge, because we don’t do too well sitting still and listening with so many welcomed distractions (smart phones, anyone?). So spend this Lent trying something new in your prayer life.

Another aspect of Lenten discipline is fasting. Fasting sounds awful daunting to many, – and it can be – but there are different degrees of fasting you can practice. Instead of doing like Jesus did and fasting from food and water for six-weeks, maybe you could try a practice of abstaining from certain vices or treats like sodas, sweets, alcohol, tobacco, or fast food. The idea is to give up something you would miss, and when you miss it, spend time in prayer with GOD. One other comment about fasting, and that is if you are fasting from something that costs you money, the money saved from these “vices” should be given to the poor.

Speaking of giving to the poor, this is the third primary practice of Lent. GOD is generous and asks us to be generous. GOD knows that we tend to use money as a means of power and/or discrimination. We are called to use our blessings to bring blessings to others, but the reality is we often hold on to them as opposed to being willing to give them solely for the benefit of another. This Lent, as you restructure your prayer life, and focus on giving up something that you will miss, you will likely find that your priorities change and your heart is being softened for others in need. Then give from your blessings to help someone else in need. And to help you with this in the church, we will be collecting money for another Stop Hunger Now packaging event on April 20th. We will have containers available this weekend to help you focus on giving as you fast and pray.

I hope that you will join us at 7 pm this evening for our annual Ash Wednesday service. As I said earlier, we will commemorate the day with the imposition of ashes as well as the celebration of Holy Communion. It promises to be a powerfully significant evening, and we hope you will join us as we begin our journey to the cross and the empty tomb! 

Truly A Souper Bowl!

This coming Sunday is a sort of national holiday, if you will: Super Bowl Sunday. It is a day when even the most casual of sports fans will pay attention to the “Big Game” if for no other reason than to watch the commercial breaks. No matter how you feel about it, Super Bowl Sunday is one of those major sporting and television events that seems to capture the nation’s attention, and in some other cases, the world’s! Get a load of some of these numbers:

It is estimated that more than 100 million people will watch this year’s Big Game (more than 111 Million watched last year, so these estimates are conservative).

CBS is charging $4 million for a Super Bowl commercial slot.

A ticket for the cheapest seats to the Big Game starts – STARTS – at $2,067.

If you’re going to the game, chances are you’ll need a hotel room, running from $100 to $15,000 per night this weekend.

If you are the adventuresome sort, Vegas is expecting $90 million in LEGAL betting on the game, and this does not even count the less reputable (read “illegal”) betting that will take place everywhere. Please note: I am absolutely, unequivocally, categorically saying that I am NOT condoning gambling…just quoting a stat that I read. I am not a gambler and do not recommend it for anyone. Okay, disclaimer: check.

Even if you aren’t going to the Big Game, be expected to shell out some “dough” if you plan on watching from home or a party:

Major pizza chains charge more for pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday than at almost any other time of year. Did you know that Pizza Hut alone, in preparation for 2011’s festivities, prepped 1,100 tons of dough and 90,000 gallons of tomato sauce?

Last February, Americans downed an estimated 1.25 billion chicken wings and more than 15,000 tons of chips – for a grand total cost of $55 million on food and $237 million on soft drinks. With the estimate that 100 million people will watch this Super Bowl, crunch the numbers (along with all those chips) and you get a $3 tab per TV viewer.

All told, the National Retail Federation projects that people will spend $68.76 to enjoy the Big Game. To be sure, $68-plus sounds more like a meal at a nice restaurant, but this is the Super Bowl! It's not just the food that drives up the per-person amount; that estimate includes what fans spend on apparel, merchandise, and even electronics (the costs run up in a hurry when you're buying a new big-screen TV just for the game or commercials).

Suffice it to say, the Super Bowl is a big game, but even bigger business! These numbers are astounding and it is clear (to me at least) that if the Falcons had made the Super Bowl, we might very well be contributing more emphatically to these totals. Alas, the Falcons are home and we will enjoy the game like the other 19,353 “cities” in the US (according to the Census, there are 19,355 incorporated “places” in this country and I subtracted Baltimore and San Francisco, whose NFL teams will meet on the gridiron this Sunday afternoon).

In all of these 19,355 “incorporated places,” there are people who are not able to enjoy the game like others because of their need. This caught the attention of the Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina in 1990, so they had an idea that gave birth to a movement that has provided assistance to people in need, known as, The Souper Bowl of Caring. For more than two decades, The Souper Bowl of Caring has helped draw attention to those who are not able to contribute to the $55 million on food, or $237 million on sodas, by providing some relief through local support and outreach charities and ministries.

This coming Sunday, we will have soup pots in our worship facilities so you can make a donation in our own Souper Bowl of Caring. All of the money contributed will be sent directly to the One Roof community outreach center to help provide relief to those in need in our community. We also are collecting non-perishable food items to help restock the shelves of the One Roof food pantry, which are bare after so much demand during the holidays. Your contribution, regardless of size, can go a long way to help meet the real needs of neighbors in our community.

So this week, while you are getting ready for the Big Game, think about the difference that you can help make in the life of an individual or family. While you are out shopping for chips, dips, and sodas, pick up some canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, etc., that you can leave in one of the bins at the church. If you don’t want to bring food items, you can make a contribution to the One Roof ministry by making a check to the church and marking “One Roof” in the memo blank. And remember, even the smallest of contributions, when added together with others’, can make a dynamic and lasting impact, not just for those in need, but even for the Lord Himself. For as Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25.40)

So let’s get ready, not just for an afternoon of (hopefully) exciting football, but for the opportunity to help someone in need. You have the opportunity to make a difference, and I pray you will during our 2013 Souper Bowl of Caring!

Have a Great Rest of the Week,
Pastor Mark 

On Flies, Honey, and Vinegar

Yesterday was an interesting day in our family, and one that has left an impact on me. Ethan, who is on the Academic Bowl Team for his school, was preparing for his first meet. It is not unusual for him to experience nerves before such things – perfectly normal, right? – and he experienced some upset tummy issues preceding the event. I was certain it was just nerves, as were the teachers who were there to support and encourage the kids in their competition. As the event went on – and our school did very well, placing second in the meet – Ethan obviously was not feeling well. He had to make repeated visits to the restroom, but every time, was accompanied by one of his faithful teachers. After the event was over, poor Ethan only got sicker, proving that his affliction was not nerves, but a bona fide stomach and intestinal virus. When I asked how he was able to compete, and contribute significantly to his team, he indicated that he did not want to let his team or teachers down. I was stunned and so incredibly proud!

I allowed the events of Tuesday evening to ruminate in my spirit. When I woke up on Wednesday, I was still impressed by Ethan’s resolve and the inspiring events of the previous day. This led me to write a letter to the principal informing her of not just how faithful the teachers had been, but how compassionate as well. I also wanted the principal to know that the encouragement Ethan received from his teachers enabled him to power through the competition when in all honesty he would have far preferred to go home and crawl into bed. I realized there was a cycle of encouragement that I needed to participate in and I wanted to make sure that the administration knew just how important it was, not on a Tuesday afternoon, but in what could be a significant life event in my son’s life.

Almost as soon as I sent the complimentary email to the principal, I got a very kind reply. She indicated that she was pleased that I took the time to write a note and wanted to make sure that the teachers saw it as well. Then something struck me: we are far more willing to share our displeasure with something or someone than our appreciation. I think it is true and I know it is sad. There have been times in the past when I would have good service at a store or a restaurant that I would share that with management, and almost every time I hear that they typically only hear complaints, not compliments. And honestly, as a leader in the church, I have found this to be true as well – as human beings, we seem to be more adept at sharing our complaints than our compliments. Sure, squeaky wheels get the grease, but maybe, just maybe, wheels wouldn’t get quite so squeaky if we let people know how grateful we are and how much we appreciate them for doing things for us, even when it is their job!

In 1 Thessalonians 5.11, the Apostle Paul wrote, “So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it” (The Message). I love this verse. It speaks to this phenomenon, I do believe. The more we make an effort to encourage someone, the more likely we are to go the extra mile and make a difference for someone else in the midst of their daily coming and going in life (see Matthew 5.41). It reminds me of the old idiom, that it’s easier to attract flies with honey than vinegar.

I hope you will allow this concept to do more than just go in one eye and out the other as you read this article. I hope you will think about how quick you are to compliment or complain about someone or something. Know that an encouraging word from you for someone else – even when they are doing what they should be doing – can and will make a difference. May the wisdom of Proverbs 12.25 stick with you and inspire you to do something to brighten someone’s day: “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” You never know…you might just realize how much even you yourself needed to shine a little light for someone!

Have a great rest of the week!

Pastor Mark 

S.H.I.N.E.

I hope you are having a blessed start to your New Year! It has been great on so many levels and I have been -- and will continue to be -- praying that GOD will add His blessings to you and all your endeavors for 2013. 

In last week's blog, I wrote about how the light of the Christmas star is STILL shining! On that first Christmas, it was the light of the star that led the Magi (or Wise Men) to Jesus, indicating that GOD had indeed come for all. Since the light of Christ still shines, people are being beckoned to The Lord for Jesus. Christ has invited us each and everyone into the beautiful and blessed task of bringing people to Him and has shared His light with us so we may use our lives to point people to Him. 

Jesus, being the light of the world, has called and challenged us to shine brightly for Him. In Matthew 5.14a & 16, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world...In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." In this past Sunday's contemporary service, I offered some ideas and advice as to how you can make sure that your light shines for The Lord. I created an acrostic using the word, shine, that I want to share.

The 'S' stands for your skills: GOD wants you to use your skills and talents to point people to Him. Since GOD has created us uniquely and wonderfully, we all have a myriad of skills, that when used for the Lord's glory, allow your light to shine for Him. If you're a butler, a baker, or a candlestick maker, use your skills to shine for GOD!

The 'H' in our shine acrostic stands for your heartaches: the things that cause us pain have the ability to deepen our compassion reserves. When we feel compassion for certain people, issues, etc., we are asked to shine by bringing the presence of GOD's light and love into someone else's darkness. Maybe your heartaches are for orphans, poverty, illnesses, addiction, or so on and so forth...if you allow the depths of your compassion reserves to motivate you to serve GOD by illuminating someone else's darkness, then you are shining for GOD!

The 'I' stands for your interests: this is an area where your hobbies can really come in handy! If you have a particular interest in something, you undoubtedly have a group of friends that share in that with you. Maybe you are an avid football fan -- invite some friends to watch a game and have a devotion during halftime. Maybe you are an exercise enthusiast -- invite someone to workout with you and share with them your salvation story as you exercise. These are just two examples, but I think you get the idea. 

The 'N' in our acrostic stands for new beginnings: our lives are full of these opportunities; in fact, we just celebrated one in the New Year. Whether it's in a new job, a new school year, or a new relationship, new opportunities provide us the chance to meet new people, do new things, and discover new horizons -- use those to shine for GOD!

Lastly, the 'E' stands for experiences: the idea is to use your past mistakes and discoveries, victories and defeats, to give you the insight to make the most of your new opportunities. We all have a history that is being written and GOD wants us to weave these together within the purpose He has placed in our lives and use these to shine! Our experiences also allow us to take advantage of past mistakes and lessons to maximize our eternal potential. The beauty in this is that even if we might have the most despicable past, we can discover our newness in Jesus and shine for Him despite what we've been through...self-inflicted or otherwise. Like the old saying goes, every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

This New Year we are called to continue to point people to GOD through The Lord Jesus Christ. In nature we see that lights (particularly at night) draw creatures forth, regardless if it is a campfire or a light bulb. There is no doubt that there is darkness all over our world; just as GOD sent Jesus to illuminate our spiritual darkness, we are called to bear witness to the light of Jesus and share with others just how brightly Jesus shines in spite of your past and your present, and in hopes of a blessed future! So regardless of who you are, where you have been, or what you have done, know that the love of GOD enables and empowers you to SHINE when you give your skills, heartaches, interests, new beginnings, and experiences to Him!

Happy New Year and SHINE On!

Pastor Mark

The Light of the Christmas Star is STILL Shining!

On Monday, I began the sad and arduous process of taking down the Christmas decorations in our home. Because of some specific family traditions, we have had our decorations up since the day before Thanksgiving, so the festive merriment has been a huge part of our lives for the better part of the past six weeks. That being the case, taking them down is a little sad. On the other hand, there is something cathartic about reclaiming our home in its more everyday fashion, and it helps me begin to look forward to next November when our home will once again be the festive wonderland that we adore.

The process of decorating and de-decorating is an important one as we welcome the Christmas spirit into our collective consciousness. As the song, The Christmas Waltz states, it truly seems to be the time when the world falls in love. But as the New Year arrives and our schedules and routines normalize, it is astonishing how quickly we leave Christmas in the old year and worry about things like groundhogs, valentine gifts, and getting our income tax documents prepared. It seems like eons ago we were lighting candles, singing Silent Night, and filling Christmas wish lists. I know it reeks of cliché, but we really do need to learn how to let the spirit of Christmas order our everyday lives!

Part of our church’s Advent and Christmas emphasis was looking at various aspects of GOD’s miraculous love and how it has the ability to change our lives in the here-and-now. One particular aspect of this was how we talked about the Christmas star announcing the birth of Jesus as it pierced the darkness and proclaimed the perpetual light of GOD in our hearts and in our world. The fact that we are called to be light-bearers for the world means that the light that forever pierced the darkness on that first Christmas morning has the ability to pierce the darkness we experience today! That light has not been extinguished, and based on the scripture, it cannot be extinguished! Friends, this is the essence of eternal hope, for the Light of the World has come.

I was doing some reflection about the light of the Christmas star into the New Year while I began de-decorating our house on Monday. This scripture passage from Isaiah was at the heart of that reflection: “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your GOD will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end” (Isaiah 60.19-20, emphasis mine). The power of this passage reminds us that it is GOD whose light shines perpetually! It overcomes the darkness we experience in our personal life and in our collective life in this world. So again: the light of the Christmas star that pierced the darkness of the world when Jesus was born still has darkness-piercing power when we welcome the LORD into our lives.

If you are entering 2013 experiencing darkness of this world, know that the light of GOD that we celebrated at Christmas is still shining! If you are still basking in the loving glow of Christmas morning, know that you have the ability – and responsibility – to bear the light for others that vanquishes the darkness. The light of the Christmas star is indeed shining still, and shines every time we allow our lives to point people to Jesus. Just as the light of the Christmas star led the Magi (or wise men) to Jesus, we can point people to the everlasting love of GOD as we light the way for others!

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5.14, 16)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!