Assembled

This past Sunday we explored the nature of the church and the critical role we each play. The spiritual gifts we are given by God must be used to benefit the church as the church works to benefit the world with Jesus. This model of replication and multiplication is important for us to understand: we are designed by God to be assembled into the church so the church can assemble with other churches to impact the world for Jesus. Through our combined efforts, others are assembled into the church, the church keeps developing and deploying disciples, and the process continues until the whole world hears of God's great love. 

God's great love is the model for how we are to live with each other as we are assembled into the church. Our assembly into the Body of Christ, therefore, is ensconced with need...both ours and the church. 

We are assembled to need each other. None of us is an island unto ourselves. We simply cannot be everything for everyone. So if we are to be successful, and if the church is to be effective, then we must recognize we need others and others need us, too. The bottom line is the church needs us as much as we need the church.

We are assembled to respect each other. This isn't always easy, especially when we bump into each other from time to time, but it is critical. The reality is that being Christian doesn't mean we never experience conflict, but it does mean we must deal with it  — and others! — differently. The way we conduct ourselves in the midst of conflict is one of the most poignant ways we can show the world how people of faith live differently. 

We are assembled to sympathize with each other. One of the greatest lessons about what it means to be assembled to the Body is contained in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." It is a powerful testament to our love of God and others when we can authentically share concern with others when they are down, and celebrate with others when they are up. It's all about doing life together, with all its highs and lows. 

We will explore these concepts further on Sunday as we consider what Paul referred to as "the more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). I have to warn you, though, it's a four-letter word that has the potential to grab everyone's attention. I hope to see you in worship Sunday, but in the meantime, remember we all need each other, must respect each other, and share in life's highs and lows together. 

God Bless,

Pastor Mark

Restless Heart Syndrome

I got a FitBit fitness tracker for Christmas, and I really enjoy it. These kinds of devices are not necessarily new for me, because I have used a pedometer for years to track my steps and activity. What I like about my FitBit is in addition to tracking my steps, it tracks my heart rate and sleep patterns. 

It’s been years since I wore a watch, but I find the little device to be quite motivational. It urges me to add some movement and motion to my day when I otherwise might sit at my desk, or do what the Swiffer commercial calls, “deep couch sitting.” In fact, just a couple days ago, I was nearing my 10,000 steps per day goal, but it was getting late, so I did a number of laps around the kitchen to make sure I crossed my threshold. Tracking my steps is pretty neat, but I think the most eye-opening stat it gives me is for sleep. 

Sleep is critical for us. When we are young, sleep is when we grow. Sleep also is crucial for recovery and healing, both physically and emotionally. Experts recommend that children get some ten to twelve hours of sleep, and adults six to eight. If you are anything like me, though, that seems more like a goal than a recommendation. There is no doubt the world we live in — from the high value of busyness and connectivity, to the blue light we receive from our mobile devices and flat screen televisions, to the stress and anxiety that bombards us from all directions — makes it increasingly difficult to get the recommended amount of sleep we require. This, I suppose, is why the sleep tracker on my FitBit is my favorite part of the overall experience. 

Each morning upon waking, I sync my FitBit to check my sleep pattern. The trends I notice since I got the device for Christmas are not terribly encouraging. Even though I aim to sleep the eight hours recommended, I typically get about six-and-a-half to seven hours of sleep; I wake up once or twice a night; and I am restless about every fifteen minutes. Not the best of reports. 

There are some tried and true recommendations I am incorporating into my evening routine. I try to limit my snacking after dinner. I try to limit the use of my iPad and iPhone for the last hour or so before bed. I try to go to sleep with white noise (which my parents started me on when I was a baby) while keeping the television turned off to avoid politics and even sports just before bed, both of which rev me up. We keep our room cool at night (the optimum sleeping temperature, from what I understand, is 67-degrees). I also use a sleep mask to experience total darkness. I try to utilize all the tricks, but still find myself restless. 

There is no doubt many of us are restless. It might seem circumstantial, but I think this is more or less the default position for human beings. The great theologian, St. Augustine, wrote in his famous book, Confessions, about the human relationship to God: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” I think this sums up my life pretty well. My theological diagnosis? Restless Heart Syndrome. 

Do you have RHS, or Restless Heart Syndrome? You know the side effects. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; frequently waking up in the middle of the night; racing heart rate; staring at the ceiling for hours on end; midnight trips to the kitchen for a snack; pacing the floor; overwhelming wonder about when you’ll be able to go to sleep. I’ve had them all. And I found a pretty good antidote I want to share with you.

Prayer. 

Yep, prayer. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Yet there are admittedly times when we are up in the night, that prayer is one of the last places we turn while wondering and worrying about what tomorrow holds. This brings to mind the line of the great hymn, that we might not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds tomorrow. I know this works. I have the evidence. 

The other night I was anxious about a heavy schedule the following day. After some time of experiencing the main side effects of RHS, I took to prayer. In my prayer time, I asked Jesus to go with me into the stressful appointments. And I heard an answer. Really, I did. Wanna know what Jesus told me? He said this, as plain as the FitBit on my wrist…

“I’m already there.”

That is 100% true. Every word of it. I promise. But it’s not really my promise, now, is it? It is God’s. 

“Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you…It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, NRSV)

Beautiful, isn’t it? And profound. For me, I knew God would go with me, but hearing God tell me he was already there put a smile on my face. It helped me face the day with confidence and grace. And as I tracked each and every step thanks to my FitBit, I knew that I might as well be able to count every one twice, because it wasn’t just me who was walking through the day, but it was Christ with me. It’s amazing how knowing you don’t have to go through anything alone helps tend to RHS, or Restless Heart Syndrome.

Is your heart restless? Turn to Jesus. If you are anxious about what tomorrow holds, know that Jesus holds tomorrow. And he isn’t just holding it, he is holding you, too. For whatever you have to do, and wherever you have to go, if you are doing it for the Lord, he is already there waiting for you. And that makes me smile.

May you have a smile on your face and a spring in your step, knowing that Jesus is with you. Always.

My, How it Flies!

Our subdivision recently had a speed study conducted on the main thoroughfare. Our community swimming pool, clubhouse, playground, recreation area, and a major school bus stop sits in the valley of two relatively modest hills. Even though there is a posted 25 MPH speed limit, it is rarely (if ever) observed. Sure, some drivers in the neighborhood blatantly ignore it and travel at speeds of their choosing. Needless to say, this frightens many people — Tiffany and me included — whose children frequent those common areas to congregate and recreate. I certainly am one of those known to shake a fist and grumble about those who drive waaaay too fast on that stretch of road; yet admittedly, I’ve done the same at least once or twice in the 9+ years we’ve lived here.

Some concerned residents contacted the City of Newnan to conduct a speed study. The results were eye-opening, and as a result, the city posted a new speed limit sign with radar to alert drivers of their speed as they travel this oft-congested stretch in the subdivision. The goal is awareness, so hopefully drivers will be more cognizant of their speed entering or exiting the neighborhood.

The new sign works, at least for this driver. The other day, I was taking Ethan for a youth group activity and I traveled at a speed I felt was normal for that stretch. As I approached that new sign, it was blinking at me to inform and warn me that I was over the speed limit. And I wasn’t just over the speed limit, I was waaaay over the limit! Like, by a lot! The sign did it’s purpose. I was informed and I’m certainly more aware of my speed in the subdivision.

Now that we’re celebrating the New Year, I couldn’t help but think about how fast things can sneak up on us without realizing it. Granted our family’s 2015 was such a grand, yet strange, year, but I look back and wonder where it went. The changes last year brought to us are head-spinning, so when we say that 2015 seemed to fly by, we’re not kidding. Sure, there were signs along the way flashing at us as though to say, blink and you’ll miss this, yet due to circumstances — many of our choosing and to our delight — we were looking ahead to where we wanted to be and not as present in the moment. As a result, the year blew by us at an astonishing rate.

Time does fly, doesn’t it? Even in the moments when it seems to crawl, we reflect in the aftermath and wonder where it went. This is so true for us as we waited on word to travel to China, because it seemed to never come. Yet the night before we left, we didn’t sleep, because there wasn’t enough time to get everything done. While we were in China for two weeks, it seemed like we’d never get home. Looking back, though, there are things we miss and wish we could have made more memories with Mia in her homeland. Then getting home, and dealing with the challenges of illnesses and sleep deprivation, we couldn’t wait for things to normalize. But today, we think back and wish we could have some of those days and nights back to do things differently for Mia. And all the while, we look back over Ethan’s 13+ years and wish we could get the 3-year-old version of him back to parent him then with what we know now.

And therein lies the rub, doesn’t it? Too often we take this same approach to life — if I knew then what I know now, I’d do it differently. Well, a New Year provides us with a version of that every time we change our calendars. Was last year’s Valentine’s Day, birthday, anniversary, or Christmas gift a flop? You have a chance to do better this year. Didn’t adequately prioritize family and friends in the face of other demands? Use the rhythms of last year to plan better for this year.

       

Didn’t take advantage of spiritual seasons and opportunities to connect with God and others at a deeper level? Make and stick with a plan to spend time with God daily, worship weekly, and service regularly. However you might look back at 2015 with an eye to 2016, remember that life is so much more than the tyrannically urgent demands that seem to gobble up our precious moments.

As I begin 2016 with all the challenges and opportunities it will deliver — from those I know of, to the possibilities I’m aware of, and the surprises I can’t even begin to fathom — I want to resolve to be more present in the moment…for those dwindling trips I’ll have to drive Ethan to school or church; for those moments I’ll have to cuddle a little toddler yearning for trust and predictability in her new family; for those times I can surprise my bride with a hug, a kiss, and maybe a flower to let her know she’s loved and  cherished; for those moments I get to walk with families during times like weddings, funerals, and other watershed events; and for those times when I get to take advantage of the opportunities to pause, rest, and be alone with God, even while other things seem to distract my attention.

Time flies…my, how it flies…and we all have moments we’d give anything to get back. As we begin a New Year, maybe your prayer is like mine, to better enjoy the moments you’re in, so this time next year there’s more to celebrate and less to want back. Let’s aim to be present in every moment for those that are truly most important, and be available for God to use us fully, so 2016 can be a year unlike any other.

Happy New Year, and Love Always,

Pastor Mark

Happy New Year!

I had a moment of excitement come over me a few minutes ago — I got a new calendar this year...a "Star Wars" calendar, no less...and it's time to remove it from the shrink wrap and hang it in my man cave. 

Even though I'm pretty digitally-centric these days, there is something kinda fun about breaking out, and breaking in, a new calendar. Tiffany and I both enjoy getting new calendars and using them to track things like birthdays, anniversaries, and special reminders, as well as to maintain perspective as we travel through the currently wide open spaces of the new year. 

There's a lot of hope and anticipation that goes with a new year. Chances to get things right...to do them better than in the previous year...allowing the lessons learned from the past to become the wisdom through which we approach the brand new. I certainly learned a lot in 2015, and I'm ready to begin anew; to allow the lessons of forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love to be my path through the unknown of 2016. And these divine gifts — given us by God — truly help us turn the page from previous missteps and mistakes so we can embrace the newness in store for us all. 

So in these waning hours of 2015, I want to share a piece of scripture that has inspired me countless times to leave the past right where it belongs and embrace the unbridled potential of this, our New Year.

[God said,] “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19a, MSG)

For 2016, instead of merely turning the page to the New Year, I am hanging a brand new calendar. I'm bursting it out of the packaging with great anticipation for the new thing that God wants to do in my life, in your life, in all of our lives. 

Do you see it? 

Can you feel it? 

Be alert and present, because something brand new is coming!

Happy New Year with love!

The Weary World Rejoices

I am a Christmas music junkie. I love it! From driving up and down the road and listening to the radio to preparing for the church’s Christmas cantata, the silly and sacred songs take me back to my childhood while helping prepare my soul for the glory of Christmas.

This year has been a little different, though, for various reasons. I have not listened to as much of it as I typically do. Some of it is due to the usual craziness of the season. Some of it is due to adjusting to a new normal as life with a toddler and the energy that requires. Some of it is due to the unrest we experience in the world. I suppose I could sum up my feelings with one word: weary.

Confession is good for the soul, right? I lament about weariness every year about this time. With all of the fun and frivolity of the season, it seems I do not take the time to ponder the power of Christmas until after  the services conclude, Christmas dinner is consumed, the gifts are unwrapped, and I don my cap to settle in for a long winter’s nap. Is this something you can relate to?

Christmas really shouldn’t be this way. We follow Advent to help us intentionally prepare for Christmas, focusing on hope, peace, love, and joy.  And through that, we remember the truth in the midst of this season – Christmas began with weariness.

There was oppression. There was violence. There was fear. God’s people were yearning for a savior. Even creation itself was moaning for deliverance from the hopelessness of sin. And then that one holy night, the light from the Christmas star, the presence of God’s glory, and the songs from the heavenly host broke into our weariness to proclaim that from then forward, history was divided in two with this message:

“’Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2.10-14, NKJV)

That was good news then, and it is good news still! And it reminds me of the line from the Christmas carol,  O Holy Night, “The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

Tomorrow as we gather for Christmas Eve worship, we will once again visit the exclamation point of the account when God broke into our history to usher in the hope of eternity. Sure, weariness remains from fatigue, fear, and anxiety, but the message of Christmas isn’t one of survival, but thriving thanks to the presence of God in our lives.

Are you weary today?

Are you looking for a reason to rejoice?

If so, you can rest assured that the truth we proclaim is timeless, meaning it’s just as applicable today as it was some 2,000 years ago: for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, so whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have life everlasting (John 3.16).

Regardless of how you find this Christmas, I hope you will come and rejoice with us in worship as we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. The world was chaotic and dangerous then, just as it is today. So if you’re feeling weary, know you’ll be in good company. Come anyway. Let’s sing together. Pray together. Light candles together. Share Holy Communion together. And spread the good news of Christmas once again. Together.

Christmas. God’s perpetual glory that makes even our weary world rejoice. Today, just as it has for 2,000 years!

Touch the World

Ethan and I were talking earlier this week about our crazy schedules, and it occurred to me just how close we are to Christmas! Admittedly, in this season where there is more to do than can possibly be done, it feels like it can fly by and drag on simultaneously. 

This season, though, is so much more important than a month-long party, because this is the time when we celebrate God busting through the veil of history so we can get a glimpse of eternity. In Jesus, God touched our broken world with a tiny infant hand that would one day bear the scars for our transgressions. In Max Lucado's daily devotion for today, he touched on this concept. Check out what he wrote:

"Where will God go to touch the world? What a great thought and an even better question! It’s that time of year when we hear about the virgin birth. And yet it’s much, much more than a Christmas story.  It is a story of how close Christ will come to you!

"The first stop on his itinerary was a womb. Where will God go to touch the world? Look deep within Mary for an answer. Better still—look deep within yourself.  Christ in you, the hope of glory! Christ grew in Mary until he had to come out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs.  He will come out in your speech, in your actions, and in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Bethlehem. And every day you live will be a Christmas. Deliver Christ into the world!"

Each of us has a responsibility to bear the love of God to this broken world. And since this is the prime time for sharing that with people who have yet to fully embrace God's love for them, I hope you will make every opportunity to share heaven's touch with with others. Invite someone to worship or one of the special events at the church. Send cards and goodies to those who are alone, ill, or grieving. Reach out to estranged friends or family. Volunteer. Be inventive in hospitality, and creative in showing others how precious they are. 

And remember the words of scripture that instruct us to do all that we do as though we're doing it for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Thanksgiving: A Time to Rejoice, Pray, & Give Thanks

Dear Friends and Family,
I have so much for which to be thankful. This was a year unlike any other. Last Thanksgiving, Tiffany and I were excitedly trying to wrap our minds around the little girl's file sent to us just days before by our Lifeline case worker. We discussed it with family and looked at those pictures incessantly. Over the coming weeks and months, as our lives aligned with another some 8,000 miles from home, we experienced a purpose that left us changed. Forever.

It wasn't without challenge, though. Not everyone was thrilled about the addition of Mia to our family. Some opposed it quietly, while others actively. Tiffany and I were undeterred amidst the noise, because we knew we were doing God's will for our family. Admittedly, though, there was one concerned voice that meant more than any other, and that caused us worry: Ethan's.

We tried so many different things to help Ethan warm up to the idea of adoption. He was an only child for more than 13 years, so the addition of a new child was tough for him to comprehend. We learned his initial and primary issue was inner conflict. He knew the plight of orphans throughout the world, and he knew that such children needed loving parents and homes, and in his mind, there is none more loving than his. Yet, as any person facing radical change, he could not help but worry about what this would mean to him. So much was being made about "Mia's Place," but internally, he was roaring, "What about ETHAN's Place?"

Throughout the summer we placed a huge emphasis on Ethan. We visited Disney, made a couple trips to the beach, and did as many fun things as we possibly could to make it a summer that would even make George Costanza jealous! We had fun...lots and lots of fun...but as August arrived, and with it the start of a new school year and our trip to China (which he withstood all sorts of bribery to reject going himself), we all began grieving the sweet simplicity the three of us enjoyed his entire life. We began focusing on the lasts: the last ride to Florida, the last swim in the neighborhood pool, even the last meal as a family of three. It was bittersweet.

Then China. Then Mia. Then illness. Then a surprise pregnancy. Then a heartbreaking miscarriage. All of this converged to reek chaos in our previously serene life.

It's been well documented that the first month home with Mia was a challenge unlike anything we ever experienced. And I mean, EVER! The grief, the anger, the tantrums, the sleep deprivation, the pregnancy symptoms, the disruption...all of it stressed and strained us. Then the seizures and three days at Camp Scottish Rite changed everything.

It hasn't even been two months since the weekend that was probably the scariest and most difficult of my life. What we did not know at the time was as we emerged from that experience, we were on the other side of the crisis. Deep down, Mia learned she was part of a family and had something never before experienced: home. She began sleeping. The tantrums diminished from lasting one or two hours at a time, to one or two a day, barely lasting minutes. She began playing and squealing with joy as opposed to screeching her intense displeasure with how we turned her life upside-down. A sweet, funny,mischevious, and joy-filled child began breaking out of the grief-stricken and angry one we brought home Labor Day weekend.

As I awake on this Thanksgiving morning, and continue with my morning routine of coffee, scripture, and news headlines — while keeping an eye to the video baby monitor — I do so with a full heart! Watching Mia play in her room and feel so comfortable in her place is nothing short of miraculous when I think of where we were just three short months ago. But that isn't even the grandest miracle I'm celebrating this Thanksgiving.

For the past 10 years, our Thanksgiving is celebrated with our Christmas decor in place. There was a time when I would have technically and theologically bristled at that thought, but there's something about parenthood that softened that edge in me.

My sister is friends with the lady who brought the "Elf on the Shelf" phenomena to the world. It was a simple tradition she did in her home with her children, and as she realized she might be on to something big, she took it to craft shows and holiday bazars. My mom bought one for a two-year-old Ethan at a craft show. That next Thanksgiving, the tree had to be up to welcome back our scout elf, Sportakiss, with Christmas cheer, since that's when his annual mission commences. We obliged. Ever since, Thanksgiving Eve is spent as one of our family's favorite days of the year when we decorate our house for Christmas. That way, when Sportakiss arrives in the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning, he can see we're ready for him. Then, as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins, we're all cuddled together with the pleasant warmth of a fire and the ethereal glow of our Christmas tree. And today, there is a fourth Jordan experiencing this tradition for the very first time. And it won't be the last of the traditions Mia experiences for the first time over the next month.

Speaking of tradition, there is a new one that Tiffany decided to initiate this year: matching family Christmas jammies. Maybe you saw the picture I snapped of Mia trying on her's for the very first time. We all tried on our new Christmas sleep gear on Tuesday evening, and within those few moments, our Thanksgiving miracle occurred.

Ethan snapped a similar picture as the one I shared of Mia in her elf pajamas and shared it with some of his friends who just adore his little sister. With that picture, he added a caption: "When you become that family that wears matching Christmas jammies, and realize you like becoming that family."

Tiffany was reduced to tears and left the room in that authentic reveal of affection from a teen who just a month ago was more inclined to receive a hug from this new child in order to slap a "Return to Sender" sticker on her back and walk her to the shipping store barely a mile from our home. Tiffany told me this the next day, and I, too, was filled with such gratitude as we see ourselves coming full circle this past year.

On Thanksgiving 2014, we were just getting glimpses of the massive changes coming for our family. On Thanksgiving 2015 we can see the evidence of God weaving four souls together to form one family. This occurs as we warm ourselves by a pleasant fire and the ethereal glow of our Christmas tree, reminding us of God's gift of Jesus, signifying we all have the spirit of adoption to be accepted into God's eternal family. And now, this year, our family is under the watchful eyes of two scout elves: Sportakiss (who, by the way is sporting a new leather jacket!) and a little she-elf who has yet to receive her magic-inducing name.

Through the thick and thin of 2015, as I again awake on Thanksgiving morn, I can see God's providential hand guiding me to this point. Through life-altering decisions; staying steady in the face of opposition; raising more money than we thought possible; traveling miles upon miles from the RACE for the Orphans to China and home again; nearly two months of sleepless nights; countless temper tantrums (Mia's, Tiffany's, and mine); a multitude of doctors visits and trips to three different hospitals to date; the ordinary mornings, mealtimes, and bedtimes; to one simple, yet extraordinary moment, where my seemingly indifferent teen son proved he was anything-but by quietly declaring we were indeed a family of four — this Thanksgiving is one I will never forget. Ever.

The Apostle Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18 strike me with a renewed profundity this Thanksgiving: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." My life summed up in three short verses. I rejoice for what God has done, and is doing, in my life...and not just this year, but for eternity. I remember the prayers of desperation uttered, and especially the ones that are now lifted as prayers of celebration. I do indeed thank God for the circumstances of 2015, because the flames forged a brand new Mark, revealing a renewed sense of purpose in my life for the cause of Christ Jesus. A Happy Thanksgiving, indeed.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated to thank God for the help He provided the pilgrims to survive that first year in a new homeland, even in the midst of life-threatening circumstances. I know definitively that I cannot compare my past year with the first year the pilgrims experienced in the New World, but I see parallels. Crises endured and conquered. Strangers turned into family. Prayers lifted and answered. A time to pause, feast, and give thanks for it all. We know from history that there were dark times on the horizon for the Native Americans and those staking claim to the "New World" as their home, just as I'm sure there will be some for us in the future. Today, though, I pause to rejoice over my family, pray with my family, and thank God for my family since this is God's will for us in the good days and tough days alike.

So from my Thanksgiving 2015 musings in my recliner with a cup of joe and my babies surrounding me, to the dinner table later today, and into whatever the future holds, I want you to know I am truly grateful. Sure, I've become that dad that defies spiritual morés to enjoy our Christmas decor prior to Thanksgiving and the start of Advent no less — and I will don my silly elf jammies in due time — but I'm taking a cue from my 13-year-old son to declare that I like it. I love being that dad, in fact! I've literally circled the globe to make it possible. I can say with great joy today, despite all that's happened, that I'd do it again without reservation. And with thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours. May it be a day of rejoicing, prayer, and gratitude for all of us. For this is God's will. And not just on our American Thanksgiving holiday, but all day every day.

Gratefully Yours,
Mark