It’s that time of year when all the kids get back to the business of learning.  Buses, backpacks, and books are the hot commodities at the moment.  But what if you’re done with school?  Well fear not, there’s still hope for you!

The classroom is your life.  One of my favorite quotes is, “School’s in session.”  When faced with adversity, set-backs, frustration, anxiety, or worse, simply repeat that phrase back to yourself.

“School’s in session.  School’s in session.  School’s in session.”

Then consider this.  What could God possibly be wanting you to learn in this moment?

I wondered about that when I recently read the story in John 9 about the man born blind.  He must have wondered often, “Why did this happen to me…what purpose could God have in mind?”  Then Jesus shows up, heals him, and sets the record straight like this:

Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  (John 9:3)

So that the works of God might be displayed in him.  What would you or I have learned in that classroom?  Then think about our current situation.  Consider the “lessons” that are part of our lives.

• What about the things that frustrate me?
• Or anger me?
• Or annoy me?
• Or confound me?
• Or stymie me?
• Or slow me down?
• Or block my goals?
• Or delay me?

Is it possible that in those moments, the works of God could be displayed in you or me?  Is it possible that God’s work could involve us actually learning, and growing into the person he made us to be?  For his glory?

School’s in session.  Maybe it’s time for all of us to go back to school.

Hope to see you in class!

-Pastor Mark

I just returned from a two week trip to Tanzania with a wonderful team of 15 from Seneca Creek.  I’ll try not to bore you with too many details, but I did have one experience that pertains to you.

Part of our trip was to bring medical and dental clinics into some of the local villages that have absolutely no healthcare access at all.  We spent four days in those villages, and each time we were able to work out of a local church.  People lined up all day to get into a church because they needed healing of one sort or another.  Infections, broken bones, bleeding, leprosy, scabies, tumors, abscessed teeth, and more.

While I was typically pressed into service as a visiting teacher at the Bible school, I did get to spend one entire day with the rest of our team providing healthcare at a village.  Mind you, I wasn’t actually doing any healthcare.  (They had me counting tablets into little envelopes, and measuring out creams and ointments, and praying for people!)  What I saw was very inspiring.  Our team worked together exceptionally well.  They used their diverse skills to augment one another, and solve problems that were bigger than any one of us alone.

As I reflected on that day, it occurred to me that I was witnessing a picture of what Jesus intended his church to be: a place where people come for healing.  The church is a place where people who’ve been injured by the brokenness of life, by the violence and injustice of others, by the fears that lurk deep inside them.  It’s a place for those who have believed the accusations of the enemy of God who whispers things in our ear like, “you’re not good enough, you’re damaged goods, you’ll never amount to anything, you’re a mistake, etc.”

So if you’re tempted to avoid being with the church because you’re wounded, or depressed, or rejected, or discouraged, or worse, please reconsider.  As a church, we have a duty to become a place of healing.  For people like you.  And me.  And all of us.  And before you walk in the door of one of our worship gatherings, why not pray a simple prayer like this:

“God, help me to extend the healing power of the Holy Spirit and the gospel to someone here today.”

Then watch and see if people don’t start lining up to join us because they need to be healed.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

-Pastor Mark

Raca!  That’s not a typo, it’s an Aramaic word.  And Jesus links it to our ability to create a “judgment-free zone,” which was last weekend’s topic.

Anger, contempt, lust, control…these are all issues Jesus instructs us to deal with first before we can implement his teachings about not judging.  (Check out last week’s podcast for details if you missed it.)  At one point (Matthew 5:22), Jesus says that using the term “Raca” is an admission that things are very NOT right in our hearts. 

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘ Raca ,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

That was a well-known term of contempt in Jesus’ day.  And contempt, it turns out, can sneak into the church through the most unlikely means.

The following excerpts are from an article by Gracy Olmstead on the pervasiveness and perils of contempt in the “new community” that Jesus’ church is intended to become.

…I would argue that this [contempt] is a temptation for any intellectually serious Christian: the more we pour ourselves into Christian study and thought, the more likely we are to become profoundly convicted and impassioned by a specific vein of study or a denominational tradition. And whether you’re Baptist or Orthodox, you will be a dogged supporter of your church.

This passion, by itself, is good. Love and devotion to the church is part of what creates a healthy and functioning “body,” so to speak—a congregation that works for the good of the whole, and believe in the mission of the whole. But as Rod [Dehrer] points out, “the way in which we are faithful to the truth, as we understand it, is almost as important as the truth itself.”   He sees a greatest danger in Christian intellectual thought in what he calls “triumphalism”: it’s an attitude of superiority that “blinds us to the faults within ourselves and our tradition. It also blinds us to what is good within other traditions, misguided though they might ultimately be … [it will] likely blind the Other to the truth within our tradition, and may well, in the end, keep the Other from embracing the truth as we know it.”

So in our search for that elusive judgment-free zone, it may help to check our contempt-quotient.  In fact, having contempt for the presence of contempt would be a great goal!  Something to ponder on this Independence Day weekend.

-Pastor Mark

P.S.  Olmstead goes on to note that just like a church, a marriage is also susceptible to the perils of contempt.  Check out the full article here.

Last weekend we launched our summer series, “Beyond Myself.”  And we talked about becoming provocative people.

Mostly we think of provoking as negative.  But the New Testament writer of the book of Hebrews calls us to provoke one another to love and good deeds.  To spur one another on.  To “stir up goodness” as we called it.  In other words, the church is intended to be full of provocative people!  (Hebrews 10:24)

Here’s a simple way you can do that today:

• Tell a neighbor, or friend, or co-worker that your church is hosting a food drive this month
• Ask them if they’d like to participate
• Give them a bag (optional)
• Tell them when you’ll pick up the bag(s)
• Stop by the grocery store yourself and grab a bag full
• Bring the bag(s) to Seneca Creek this weekend
• Congratulations!  You’ve just provoked someone to goodness.

If you have other ideas on how to live beyond yourself and stir up goodness, please add them to the comment section below.  Thanks!

-Pastor Mark

P.S. See you this weekend as we learn how to live beyond ourselves in a “Judgment-Free Zone.”

Some of the coolest things take place right under our noses…and we don’t even know about them.  Last Saturday was one of those things.

I was invited to attend the awards ceremony for the Seneca Creek ESOL program that meets every Saturday.  I was blown away!  I watched as 40 or more people walked across the platform to receive their award.  They were being recognized for their accomplishments in the grueling task of learning another language.  Specifically, my language.  Your language.  And most of us never knew this was happening.

These determined adults beamed with pride as they were recognized.  They are hard-working people, often struggling just to make ends meet for their families.  Yet they were determined to learn a skill that would enable them to better function in our nation.

I was so proud of our team of volunteers who give up their time every Saturday morning to make all this possible.  What a rewarding experience for them!  It was a perfect example of what happens when a group of followers of Christ decide to live out their faith.  When people decide to ignite the HOPE of the gospel.  In particular, when people decide to “empower others” which is our phrase for equipping people to experience the good things God has in store for them.

So thank you to Yvonne Ellis and her fabulous volunteer team.  And congratulations to all those who have persevered in learning another language.  And thank you to each of you at Seneca Creek who serve in so many ways that allow us to provide this kind of life-changing ministry.  I have to believe this puts a smile on the face of God.  You gotta love this place!

-Pastor Mark

P.S. I invite you to join us this Sunday as we kick off a brand new summer series, “Beyond Myself.”  It’s only the best way to live!

So we just wrapped up our series, “Real Questions; Thoughtful Replies.”  Because there are some very real, often very difficult questions that challenge our faith on a regular basis.  And this past week was almost too real.

We took up the controversial and enflamed conversation about God and sexuality last weekend.  I mentioned that this is all over the news, and that it was a question you would likely face this week.  Then on Monday, this hit the news wire:

http://www.wtop.com/109/3638227/Westboro-Baptist-Church-protests-DC-schools-gay-straight-alliance-Photos

So how would you respond?  Hopefully you can take some of what we discussed last weekend, some of our “thoughtful replies” and engage in a meaningful conversation.  If you missed out, hit the podcast now to come up to speed.  Here’s a short summary:

1. Bodies matter
2. We’re designed to connect deeply
3. You’re an image-bearer, not an orientation
4. The church has stumbled in this area
5. Following Jesus means submitting all of myself to his will

For more details, be sure to check out the links on the Weekend Resources page for great reading, videos, etc.

And guys, thank you for your responses to last week’s “Men Only” survey.  It’s helping lay the groundwork for this weekend’s talk about “The Father Factor.”  We’re all affected by fathers.  You may be surprised to learn that you don’t have to be an actual father to make a difference.  Hope to see you this weekend!

-Pastor Mark

Usually this blog is directed at everyone.  But not this time.  I need to have a short conversation with men.

Men, it doesn’t matter if you’re single, married, young, old, kids, no-kids, rich, or poor.  All of us have had experiences with fatherhood.  Maybe good, maybe horrible.  But they affect us either way.

This year I’m going to talk about fathers on Father’s Day weekend.  There’s more at stake than just something for those who are currently raising children.  And I could really use your help.  Here’s what you can do:

1. Take the short survey below about your experiences with fatherhood.
2. If you’re a father who has found something that works for you in being a successful dad to your kids, I’d like to hear about it.  You can shoot me an email, or just use the comment box below.
3. As you think back about your own father, what things have you decided you absolutely WILL, or will NOT do because of how it affected you?  Again, I’d like to know.  Use email or the comment box below which can be used anonymously.
4. (Ladies, if you’re still reading, that’s fine.  But please refrain from taking the survey or adding comments.  Thanks!)

If you want to contact me, here’s an easy way.

Thanks for your time.  I hope to see you this weekend.

-Pastor Mark

It’s almost summer, when locally grown fruit starts to become available.  Maybe it’s watermelon, or strawberries, or peaches.  (You’re starting to salivate now, aren’t you?)

I’d have a hard time picking just one favorite, although a juicy, ripe cantaloupe has to be near the top of the list.  We actually try to grow fruit in our backyard each year.  Tomatoes.  Set aside for the moment the age old argument of whether or not they’re fruit or vegetables.  The fact is they’re downright awesome on a BLT in late summer when they’re just picked out of the backyard.

The last couple years have been a major disappointment for the Tindle family “fruit farm.”  After prepping the soil and purchasing the plants and carefully protecting them from the rabbits.  After watering and weeding and waiting…we got almost nothing.  The plants hardly grew, and produced a few scraggly tomatoes.  We expected more.  Why?  Because tomato plants are SUPPOSED to produce fruit.  Lots of fruit!  Nevertheless, we’re trying again this year, using the advice from the expert at the local nursery.  Here’s hoping for a bumper crop!

Even if you don’t have a garden, you may find it interesting to know that followers of Jesus are compared to a garden.  Yep…and not a flower garden, but a garden that produces fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Read that list again.  Slowly.  There are nine different types of fruit mentioned.

Which one is the most attractive to you?

Why?  (Really think about this one)

Chances are your favorite fruit in this list is one which God is desiring to produce in you.

Your life is like a garden, designed to produce fruit.  What kind of fruit will you be bearing in three months?  What can you do NOW in order to ensure that your life doesn’t become a small, scraggly, fruitless one?

When you get to the end of this summer, will your life be an attractive, nourishing source of fruit for anyone?  That’s God’s plan.  What’s your plan?

-Pastor Mark

Your life, just like your car, can quickly slide from a sweet ride to a junk heap (you know, where things don’t work right, you don’t enjoy your life, you’re embarrassed for anyone to see what it really looks like, etc.).  The good news: you can do something to halt the slide.

We’ve already looked at “routine maintenance,” and taking action when the “check engine light” comes on.  This week, we take up the topic of limits.

When you exceed the design limits for a car, things start to go wrong.

• You run out of fuel because you’re limited to a certain amount of fuel.
• You slide off the road because you exceed the limits of your tires to grip the slippery road.
• You break a front suspension part because you hit a pothole and exceed the limits of the metal parts that help steer your car.
• You burn up a transmission because you tried to tow a trailer that was too heavy for your car.

(taken in Waldorf, MD)

Your life is designed with limits, too.  (I’m sorry if someone told you otherwise.)  When you exceed the design limits, things start to go wrong.

• You begin to snap and snarl at others because you aren’t getting enough rest.
• You resent your job/boss/career because you’re working seven days a week and ignoring the Sabbath design.
• You feel sluggish and exhausted because you try to fuel your body on food that it wasn’t designed to process.
• You’re spiritually apathetic because you’re trying to live life without regularly connecting with the source of spiritual life.
• You feel a persistent anger because you’re carrying around bitterness and unforgiveness that you weren’t designed to handle.

When I meet with people who are sliding into a junk heap, it’s usually because they’ve ignored limits.  Or because they’ve ignored routine maintenance.  Or because they’ve ignored a check engine light.  The good news is, you can do something about these problems.  The question is, what’s stopping you?

-Pastor Mark

Despite the absence of any data to support us, car owners sometimes believe (wish?) that ignoring a problem with their cars will lead to a happy conclusion.

I’m referring to the “check engine light,” that annoying little yellow icon that seems to appear on the dashboard for no apparent reason.  I know I’ve been guilty of trying to ignore that light.  Perhaps you have, too.  We think, “Well, the car is still RUNNING, right?  Maybe it’s just a problem with the light…and it will fix itself and go away if I wait long enough.”  Right! The warning light is warning you to take action before it’s too late.  It’s like insider information…act now, and save a whole lot of headaches and money later.

There are “check engine lights” that come on the dashboard of our lives, too.  And sometimes it seems easier to simply ignore them…hoping they’ll go away.  After all, we’re still functioning pretty well, right? Maybe they’ll fix themselves?  Besides, who’s got time to deal with that problem right now?  What are those warning lights?  They’re things like:

• The tendency to hide things from your closest friend(s)
• A growing desire to avoid that difficult conversation you need to have
• Wondering if your life has any purpose
• Looking forward to escaping your real life through media, alcohol, drugs, fantasies, etc.
• A lack of any desire to seek God, or his purposes in your life
• Inability to have meaningful, life-giving conversations with your spouse
• Inability to have meaningful, life-giving conversations with your children
• Continually living beyond your means
• Hoping no one finds out about your struggle with _____________ (anger, porn, alcohol, etc.)

When these types of warning lights come on, it’s time to act.  It’s time to get yourself connected with someone who can help you diagnose what’s going on (e.g. a trusted spiritual friend, a Converge group leader, a ministry leader, a counselor, a pastor, etc.)  It’s much easier to deal with these things BEFORE your inner life disintegrates into a junk-heap.

Is there a check engine light that’s been glowing on the dashboard of your life lately?  Why not do something about it today?  You could save yourself (and others) a whole lot of headaches and expense later.

In my next blog we’ll take a look at the third way to keep your life from becoming a junk heap.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. Click here for Part 1 of this series.