Ever find yourself in a difficult situation, perhaps a difficult relationship, and don’t know how to resolve things?  In that moment, what you need is wisdom, right?  So how do we find it, and share it?

Last weekend we looked at the topic of Upgrading Your Friendships.  And along the way, we discovered a way to inject wisdom in our friendships.  As we walked through the Friendship Scorecard (see below), one area mentioned was to “speak Scripture to one another.”  It’s based on a comment in Colossians 3:16:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and song from the Spirit…

Wisdom is found in the word of Christ…the message found in Scripture.  And when that word dwells in us, and then flows out of us, there’s wisdom.  We can “teach and admonish” with wisdom and truth.

I recently had a conversation with someone struggling with a difficult conversation they needed to have, and we agreed that sharing God’s wisdom would be a crucial part of the strategy going forward.

The great part is that you don’t have to be a Bible scholar to do this.  You simply have to “let the word of Christ dwell in you.”  (For simple steps on how to do that, check out the message from February 1-2, 2014 here.)

Then you’ll not only be able to SOUND wise, you’ll actually BE wise, because that’s what happens when God’s word begins to seep into our lives.

Is there anyone in your life who speaks God’s word/truth into your life?  Is there anyone in your life that needs to hear God’s word/truth spoken THROUGH you?  (BTW, this is not to be confused with judging, condemning, shaming, or any other use of God’s truth in a relationship.)

-Pastor Mark

Friendship Scorecard: How many of the following are true of your friendships (based on “one another” instructions in the New Testament)?

• Encourage
• Forgive
• Bear burdens
• Live in harmony with
• Serve
• Greet & welcome
• Care for
• Comfort
• Bear with
• Be kind to
• Speak Scripture to
• Teach & admonish
• Do good to
• Exhort
• Stir toward good deeds
• Confess sins to
• Show hospitality
• Submit to

Last weekend was a baptism celebration at Seneca Creek.  And the stories we heard were flat out inspiring. 

A PowerHouse kid challenging their friends.  A student making their faith real. A struggling single mom recounting God’s incredible faithfulness during the darkest hours.  And one young man telling his story of faith in Christ from a family of Buddhists.

Listening to Yongwen share his story, I was reminded that for so many people in this world, the decision to follow Christ, the decision to experience the life he offers, comes at a price.  Sometimes it’s the price of financial success.  Sometimes it’s the price of physical comfort.  Sometimes it’s the price of physical freedom.  And sometimes, as in his case, it’s the price of being rejected and misunderstood by those closest to us: our families.

And yet, they continue to choose.  Why?  Because they get it.  Because they’ve understood what we can easily forget: Life without Christ is really not life at all.  Because without the freedom he offers, there is no true freedom.  And because it’s worth any price that we might pay.  As Jesus said,

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:25-26, NLT)

Not to be overly dramatic, but do you get it?  Is there a price you’re not willing to pay?  What are you wrestling with right now that God has asked you to give up in order to follow Christ in every area of your life?  Is it worth hanging on to it?  Do you get it?

-Pastor Mark

There’s nothing like a committed team working for worthwhile cause. And last Monday it happened right here in our building! 

We hosted our first MLK Day of Service event in conjunction with the Montgomery County. And it was an incredible day. We had 225 people turn out to serve for two hours. Most of them were people from our community, and only a few from our Seneca Creek family. What a thrill to be able to host them for this worthwhile event.

Some of the many serving projects included:

• Move in kits for men transitioning from homelessness
• Cards and letter for troops
• Valentine’s cards for nursing home residents
• Bag lunches for homeless shelters
• Thank you cards for first responders
• Knitting hats and scarves for the homeless
• Personal care kits for the homeless
• Making toys for local animal shelters

Additionally, we hosted a blood drive, which was a big success, with 59 units of blood donated. Thanks to all who gave blood!

None of this would have been possible without our volunteers. So…

• Thank you to each of you who donated supplies and more to help us prepare for this day.
• Thank you to the 50 volunteers who came out Monday to help us host this event.
• Thank you, too, to Jeff Hunt and Kristen Wojdan for coordinating the blood drive
• A big thank you to Jennifer Hurt, Sooky McFadden, and Melissa Widenhofer for your weeks of effort and leadership to ensure everything worked out.
• And a super big thank you to Jeannette Cochran, our Executive Pastor, without whose vision and tireless energy this great event would never have happened.

I have to believe the way our church served put a smile on God’s face. It certainly did on mine.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. For more local media coverage of this event, check out this article.

Last weekend I did something during the teaching portion of the message that’s really hard for preachers to do…and something you may never have thought you’d hear during a sermon. 

We had two minutes of absolute silence. Nothing but the sound of the ventilation system. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how it would work. I mean, preachers are used to talking. And talking. (Hey, no snickering!) Silence almost seems like malpractice. And people come to a worship gathering to hear someone sing, speak, etc. Right?

But then again…our weekend gatherings are designed to help us connect not just with one another. They’re designed to help us connect with God. Sometimes we can’t connect with God until we’re silent. As we noted last weekend, the writer of Psalm 46 gives us God’s perspective, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Several people commented afterward that they truly appreciated the time of silence. For others, I’m sure it was a bit awkward or uncomfortable. We don’t always like what we seen when we’re faced with a reflective moment.

What about you? If you were with us, have you extended that practice beyond 120 seconds of silence on the weekend? If you were not with us, why not take a few minutes today and shut off all the other noise. And reflect on these questions:

• “How have I been wanting to be with God?
• “How has God been wanting to be with me?

There’s nothing wrong with being with all kinds of other people. Or of wanting to just be alone for a while. But what about being silent, and just being with God? The most valuable thing I could say to you may possibly be that you stop listening to everyone else (yes, that includes me), and listen to God for a few minutes.

I hope you can join us this weekend for “Upgrading Your Satisfaction,” and also for the MLK Day of Service on Monday.
– Pastor Mark

The Christmas gifts are all opened, and the trees are mostly gone. But did you receive the gift you really wanted?

At our staff meeting this week we wrestled with this crucial question, “What do you really want this year?” The conversation ranged from personal goals, to dreams, to hopes, to the extremely challenging obstacles.

In the past month I’ve probably read more than 30 articles that offer advice on how to make resolutions stick, how to start new habits, and how to finally stop procrastinating, etc. After all, this is the time of year we think about what we’d really like to change. Often this is what we really want, even more than a new sweater.

So as we launch this year, what do you really want for yourself? And before you answer that, let me ask it another way. Think of yourself as a child—specifically a child of God—and think of God as your heavenly father. What would a good and wise father want for you this year? (If you’re a parent, this may be easier for you to imagine.) Are your desires for you, and the desires of your heavenly Father even in the same neighborhood?

Whatever your answer is, I believe that our new series, “Upgrade Your Life” can help. We can help you learn how to live a purposeful, spirit-empowered life. Be sure to join us or tune in to the podcast each week. Topics include how to upgrade several key areas:

• Your net worth
• Your downtime
• Your satisfaction
• Your appetites
• Your faith
• Your friendships
• Your legacy

So stay warm, and I hope to see you this weekend as we gather to connect with each other, and with our heavenly Father.

-Pastor Mark

Sunday morning staff parking lot

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Q: What’s the only place in our culture where music from centuries ago is played everywhere, enjoyed by everyone, and even re-recorded by pop stars year after year? A: Christmas carols. Which got me thinking, which one is the BEST?

Sure this may sound like a cheap ploy to get you to read my blog. But there’s another reason. These songs contain some rich expressions of faith that can be an anchor for us in our everyday world. The lyrics get stuck in our head, and the message gets buried in our hearts. Sounds like a good combination.

So at the risk of offending most of you, here’s my (current) favorite carol. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. The lyrics contain SO MUCH truth about the person and mission of Jesus, including the impact his arrival (advent) would have in our world and our lives. Check this out:

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

So now it’s your turn. What’s YOUR favorite Christmas carol? Preferably one that’s been around at least 100 years. Use the comment section below. And be glad this isn’t MySpace, or you’d be listening to my song right now! 

-Pastor Mark

P.S. Hope to see you this Sunday as we continue learning how to live “The Great ADVENTure.”

You’re probably reading this on Thanksgiving. Maybe you’ve already stuffed yourself on turkey, sweet potatoes, and pie. Maybe you’re taking a break from the football game. Maybe you’re trying to escape the in-laws. But there’s one thing I really want you to hear.

We all know the question. “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” This year I was thinking, “If a pastor feels gratitude in his heart, but doesn’t express it, is it really gratitude?” So here goes.

Thank you. That’s my message. Thank you for the privilege of being your pastor. Thank you for the opportunity to serve in an amazing church. Thank you for the grace to learn, to fail, to grow, and to learn some more. Thank you for memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for serving alongside me in some amazing and sacrificial ways. And thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey toward God. Sometimes the journey is full of delight and discovery. Sometimes it’s full of pain and confusion. Sometimes it’s a “long obedience in the same direction.” Regardless, thank you for inviting me to be part of that journey.

I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3)

My prayer is that you will be overwhelmed with the gratitude that comes from receiving God’s gift of grace. I look forward to seeing you this weekend.  

-Pastor Mark

Last weekend we were deeply moved by the stories and music of the Children of the World choir. And they pointed out something that we sometimes miss out on.

They helped us see some of the ways in which rescue operations are taking place around the globe. Rescuing people (including babies) from the injustice that lurks in virtually every corner of this world.

By helping us see, they challenged us to respond. They invited us to participate in the rescue of those who have lost hope. Then Pastor Warren reminded us that when God comes to the rescue, he does it through people like us.

I’m thrilled to report that because of your generosity, over $10,000 was received last weekend to help with the ministries of World Help, and their Operation Baby Rescue! I can’t thank you enough. Especially since many of you have recently made courageous financial commitments to our Unleash initiatives. You’ve demonstrated that Seneca Creek is, indeed, becoming a generous church. And that is evidence of living a Spirit-empowered life. Thank you for “coming to the rescue” in a tangible way.

I hope you can join us again this weekend as we kick off a new series, “The Great ADVENTure.” We’re going to discover (again?) how to experience the Advent season as it was intended.

-Pastor Mark

Life isn’t always about having the right answers. Often it’s about having the right questions. Here are three questions that just may be the right ones to change your life. 

1. If you could ask God for just one thing…what would it be?

2. If God could ask you for just one thing…what would it be?

3. What’s stopping you?

Feel free to comment in the section below.
-Pastor Mark