I’m not much for resolutions – new, old, or otherwise.

I prefer to prayerfully consider where God leads me then make what He speaks to me a personal discipline for the next year.  In January of 2014, God led me to read the New Testament through on a monthly basis (read it 10 times).

Here’s where I’m headed for 2015.

I’ll be reading “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers – a daily devotional I’ve used 4-5 times before.  I also feel directed to keep a prayer and praise journal (new for me).  I also set a goal of reading 10-12 books.

2015 goals will also include more systematic exercise (I use the word systematic instead of daily so I won’t give up by February.)  I know, it sounds a lot like a New Year’s resolution.  Since learning I’m a diabetic, my dietary habits are going through radical change – I sold my stock in Captain D’s and bought stock in Subway.

While it’s not too late to plan for the God given and directed opportunities for 2015, we may have to make a (more?) serious commitment to growth and change.

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

My administrative assistant has an 8 month old son.  She brings him to work one day a week and it’s my joy to hold him.  But today was special in ways I didn’t anticipate!

She manages typing and many other tasks while holding him, so midafternoon I took him to my office.  He yawned, put his head on my shoulder, and went to sleep.  He occasionally let out a little extra breath as he grew more calm and comfortable.

I closed my eyes while he slept and then realized I was holding him so that his heart was over my heart.  Though his heartbeat was faster than mine and our hearts never got in the same exact rhythm, I felt my heartbeat slowing a little.  I let out a little extra breath and became more calm and comfortable.

This precious experience reminds me of God’s desire for everyone – to sense His heart for us and experience peace, even in life’s occasional storms.  This intimacy is something we need and God loves!

My prayer for all of us is simply this:  “Lord Jesus, please keep my heart close to Yours so I may know this intimacy not just occasionally, but daily.”

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

I decided to get this out of my system early this year so I can enjoy Christmas.

It wasn’t THAT many years ago that a sacred and secular Christmas could peacefully co-exist because most in the secular world knew (and at least respected?) the real meaning of Christmas – the birth of God’s Son, the Savior of the world.  I remember when the most secular TV shows had episodes about Christmas with at least some sacred context.  A couple of years ago someone from our church left the Old Navy store in the Lima Mall (and told the manager) because the store was playing sacred Christmas music where all words were changed to secular meanings – like Joy To the World music and none of the words of the carol.

So what are Christians to do?

Worship Jesus, sing and appreciate both the music and lyrics of the carols, and perhaps most importantly – remember Christmas is about the Messiah, the Savior and Son of God! The church, of which Jesus is the Head, is here for a culture that needs the message of Christmas and the Gospel!

Lord, help me to keep my focus on you this Christmas and not on all the things that try to steal what’s sacred and special about the season of miracles.

Don’t EVEN get me started on Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

It’s going to happen today, Tuesday, November 4^th.  There will be a transfer of power from one Senate, House of Representatives, state of offices, etc. individual or chamber to another.  Though it won’t be reported, this transfer will happen without bloodshed.  Buildings will not be burned. Our military will not have to intervene to restore peace. Mistakes will be made, but there will no widespread voter fraud.

I still don’t understand why people spend millions of dollars to get a job that pays thousands of dollars, but it’s still a great system and overall – it works well.

So the next time you see election coverage in a foreign country where there are 30+ candidates for one office or voter fraud or bloodshed on election day – let’s thank God for our freedom and government.

It’s imperfect, flawed, often lacks common sense – but it’s OUR nation!

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

Last night, just before the Fuse meetings, my dog accidently got a bone stuck on her snout. She grabbed a round steak bone (kind of looks like a glazed donut).  Somehow, it got stuck around her lower jaw & teeth.  She yelped and tried to get it off.

We tried to help her, but she was way too scared & ‘jumpy’. We couldn’t get a hold of the bone.  It probably wouldn’t have taken much to get it off if she would have remained calm.  Since she wouldn’t calm down, we headed to the emergency clinic.  They said that they could put her to sleep and get it off, but might have to cut the bone (not her).  Thankfully, they were able to get it off easily, once she was asleep (calm).

Couple lessons learned:

1)      Dogs should not chew on bones (even rawhide). I didn’t know this.  The vet said bones can scratch the dog’s insides or even break teeth.

2)      Use real life to train kids. We needed to be calm in the situation and do what was necessary.  Tina made sure to take time to pray for the dog & vet.  Then, when we got good news, the kids said a prayer of thanksgiving.  Cool stuff!

3)      Calm down. Sometimes we go through struggles in life.  We get trapped or stuck in a situation where we need help.  I don’t know about you, but I get a little scared or jumpy.  God lovingly wants to help, but I am too busy tossing and turning that I don’t let Him help me.  Sometimes, I think He is just trying to get my attention but I am too busy doing things on my own to listen.  If I would just listen earlier, it might be a whole lot easier & less costly (emergency vet visits aren’t cheap!).

On a side note, take some time to listen to the messages from Fuse (they are right here on this website). Even if you were there for the messages, listen again.  Maybe God is trying to get your attention.  Maybe He is trying to get my attention.  Let’s listen to Him!

PB

It’s not a new saying, but “Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty” is a philosophy of life. We all know people who always see opportunity and others who miss opportunity.  Some are positive and some are negative.  Some individuals have had a very difficult life and are optimistic, while people who have no real reason to complain do complain.

Next time you’re sitting at a railroad crossing (and if you can see what the shipment is – cars, trucks, steel coils, pipe, lumber etc.) – you’ll see railcars loaded with finished products and empty railcars. There are two processes involved here: “free” cars, meaning the empty car can be reloaded anywhere along the line and kept in circulation to make money for the railroad and car owner.  The other process is call “assigned service”, meaning the empty railcar is returned to the origination point for reloading to ensure that company has a predictable number of cars to service their needs.

Do railroad managers wring their hands about handling freight trains (or least many of the cars in the train) that are empty? No, because part of the railroad industry has always been about getting empty cars back where they need to be.

In a very real sense every railroad, every day, has their glass half full and half empty! “Half” full or empty is their reality, and, I believe, ours as well!

Maturity and balance in life is seeing the glass of water realistically and managing effectively from there – whether it’s half full or half empty!

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

Interesting word, isn’t it? Premeditated means “characterized by fully conscious willful intent and a measure of forethought and planning.” If I make a mistake while driving and someone is killed (not because of drugs or alcohol), it might be called vehicular homicide.  If I wait for my neighbor to walk across the street to get their mail and then run over them – that’s premeditated murder.

After a recent meeting at the church I landed at McDonalds in Beaverdam around 9PM, hoping to score my favorite $2.00 sandwich – a Bacon McDouble. Alas!  Ronald was nowhere in sight.  It was closed due a “boil your water until further notice” problem with the Beaverdam water supply. I wandered aimlessly around the truck stop.

And then I saw it – a fully cooked ¼ pound hot dog with jalapenos turning quietly on the rollers. I was “fully conscious with willful intent and used a (miniscule) measure of forethought and planning” and bought it. I was living large and on the edge!

Until 3:30AM. Then my insides (tummy and esophagus) pushed the panic button and I was up looking for heartburn medication.  As I reflected on the experience in those early morning hours, I realized that some of the smartest and best things we do in life are, in fact, premeditated.

Forgiveness is premeditated. As is honesty, integrity, moral purity, and authenticity. Commitment to our marriage covenant is. Love is an act of the will and is premeditated.

I want my faith to have premeditation and my hot dogs to have premedication!

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

I have a 2014 Dodge Charger. No, it doesn’t have a hemi (which is the first question I’m always asked!). It’s bright red with chrome wheels.  It’s fast (for not having a hemi).  It’s just a car (yeah, right!). I don’t own a boat or a motorcycle and I don’t have a classic car. But, yes – I have a car I love to drive.

I was turning into my parents drive-way recently and the nine-year old neighbor girl said “nice wheels.” When a nine-year old girl says you have a nice car, you know you just arrived in Cooltown!  That really happened.

I was driving slowly through Lima the other day and my window was down. As I slowed for a traffic light I heard two teenage boys say “Man, that guy is lucky – he got the car AND the girl!”  That didn’t happen, but it could because it’s no fun having a nice car unless you have a foxy chick to ride in it with you.  I do!

Dinah is the love of my life and wife for over 41 years.

I’m hoping she will read this. Maybe she will let me buy some more cool stuff for my Charger.

Yeah, right.

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

One of the churches in our denomination needed a new roof, so I took a couple of days to join with six other churches to tear off two layers of shingles and put on 16 squares of new ones. I worked on the ground picking up shingles and wheeling them to the dumpster.

One of the workers brought his family of six children and they worked alongside the adults and did a great job. Their ages ranged from 13 to four years. On the second day, the nine-year old, Mary (not her real name) was asked by two of the ladies from host church if she wanted to go to the store with them to buy more food for the evening meal. Mary looked at one of them and said “How long have you known your friend, is she trustworthy, and is she the kind of woman who steals children?” You’d have to know this nine-year old to fully appreciate why this was so funny.  But it shows great training from her parents to their children!

This is one of the many reasons why children coming to know Christ as Savior and Lord is so important – children are being stolen every day by the enemy of all that’s good, descent, and pure. The great confidence we have in the gospel is that “Jesus loves and saves the little children of the world!”

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

One of the things I do for me is going to Cairo to read, watch trains, eat pizza, and drink a cold Pepsi. Something happened last night that’s worth sharing.

As I was picking up my pizza a couple approached me about their lost dog. Lucky had been gone for two weeks but was seen at Biggies the night before.  What “clicked” with the pastor side of my brain was something they said.

“Someone was probably feeding Lucky and taking care of him.”

The spiritual parallel is powerful! When we were lost (unsaved by Jesus) someone does, in fact, take us and feed us!  Satan loves to care for (and keep) the lost.  His menu IS satisfying at first, but ultimately – we find we’re not just lost, we’ve surrendered our freedom forever.

What joy it is to be saved and kept by Jesus – the lover of our soul!

Blessings!

Pastor Mark