One of my favorite leadership quotes is from Max De Pree, who summed up a leader’s role in three jobs.  The first job is to define reality.  The last job of a leader is to say thank you.

In June my job was to define the reality of many kids in our community who don’t have the resources to afford backpacks for the new school year.  I also defined the reality that we had the ability to make a difference.  And now, I don’t want to fail in my job, so I need to say thank you.  Thank you to each of you who participated in our wildly successful backpack drive and giveaway this summer.  Because of your generosity:

• There are 590 little people who are going to start school in four days with a brand new, fully equipped backpack.
• There are 590 little people who will have a little more bounce in their step, smile on their face, and anticipation in their hearts.
• There are 590 little people who are better prepared to succeed in the crucial challenge of acquiring an education.
• There are 590 little people who will march into school, and march into their future with a brighter hope.
• There are 590 little people who have a better shot at success in life for decades to come.

And it’s because of you.  Thank you.  In fact, thank you 590 times over!  Is there more to do?  Sure.  But for today, let’s celebrate what we did together.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. For fun, take the poll below to see if you can guess the other job of a leader from Max De Pree’s description (between defining reality and saying thank you).  And no fair using Google!

Many of you were present last weekend when I announced that Jeannette Cochran would be rejoining our staff team as Executive Pastor beginning in September this year.  But I realize that news has created some really good questions.  Allow me to clarify things a bit.

In late 2011 Jeannette was serving as our Executive Pastor, a role for which she was well suited, but which she was prevented from focusing on due to a number of factors.

• We had recently lost our bookkeeper, so Jeannette was handling all the day-to-day functions of that position.
• We had moved into our building full time, and the demands of overseeing the facility were more than a volunteer could handle, so Jeannette added that to her responsibilities.
• And for several years we’d recognized that our ability to help people connect into the life of the local church was crucial.  However, we didn’t have a staff person designated to lead that area of ministry.  So Jeannette took on the role of providing leadership for our Converge Groups, our Connection Point, Welcome Team, and other related areas.

What most people did NOT realize is that NONE of these responsibilities were part of Jeannette’s job as Executive Pastor.  But because they had to get done, she courageously stepped up, as good leaders do, and said, “I’ll get it done.”

Fast forward to today.  We have highly talented, gifted, and passionate people working in our bookkeeping office (Jim Mozingo), our facilities management office (Steve Lanham), and our Connections ministry (Warren Neverson).  We are tremendously blessed to have each of them!  But not one of them is doing anything that relates to the role of an Executive Pastor.  That area has been vacant except for the places where I’ve stepped in over the last eighteen months.

So what Jeannette will be doing when she returns is what she was originally hired to do many years ago, but was hindered from doing because of our staff structure at the time.

If you’re interested in what an Executive Pastor does, please click this link for a copy of Jeannette’s position description.  And I would ask all of you to be praying for her as she resumes this crucial role on our staff team.  If you have a chance, ask her how it’s going, and encourage her along the way.  We have some very exciting days ahead, and we need all of our leaders to be leading with courage, wisdom, and the direction of the Holy Spirit!

Thank you for taking time to read and understand this information.  I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

-Pastor Mark

P.S. We’re going to make our goal of 500 backpacks for the giveaway this year!  Thank you to each of you who helped make this dream a reality!  We’re providing real, tangible hope for hundreds of children in our community!

When was the last time you learned something new?  Was it when you started a new job?  Read a book?  Attended a seminar?  Did you ever think about learning at a family reunion?

I’ll admit that I can slip into a “been there, done that” mentality when it comes to family gatherings.  After all, I HAVE known these people my entire life.  But when the Tindle family gathered last month for our bi-annual reunion, I noticed how much learning was going on.

1. We learned all about geo-caching, and why it’s good to wear long pants and real shoes before venturing into the woods. (Thanks, Roger)
2. We learned that it takes two days of marinating and one day of slow cooking to whip up some awesome Cuban pork that was very much worth the wait. (Thanks, Sharon)
3. We learned that if World War II hadn’t ended when it did, Mom would have likely become a nurse.
4. We learned a bunch of new recipes from siblings who are all on the same crazy eating plan that has virtually eliminated common arthritis and other inflammatory symptoms. (Thanks, Ellen, Gwen and Julie)

Observation #3: Family reunions are where we can learn from each other.

So why does this matter?  Well the church is a family.  And we have regular reunions, or gatherings.  And while it might be easy to slip into the “been there, done that” mentality, the truth is there is much to learn.  Sometimes in unexpected ways.   Sometimes from unexpected people (I’m certainly not the only one who can speak truth into your life).  And sometimes, you may actually be the courier of helpful, even life-changing information.  We might need to learn from you.

So the next time you think about joining us at a weekend worship gathering, I encourage you to think about learning.  From unexpected people.  In unexpected ways.  Maybe even from you!  It’s what families do when they gather together.

REMINDER: This weekend is the last time to bring your donations for the Backpack Giveaway.  Our goal is 500 backpacks for 500 kids to get a great start on the year, and possibly the rest of their LIFE!  For a complete list of supplies, click here.  Or you can make a donation ($20 will cover the cost of one filled backpack) at the kiosk, online, or by check.

Pastor Mark

P.S. For the first two lessons in this series, see previous blogs:

Observation #1: Family reunions remind us of what we have in common.

Observation #2: Family reunions are where ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they work together.

For months my dad had commented on the magnitude of the project, and how he doubted we would have time to get it done at the reunion.  This was gonna take a lot of muscle…

My parents like to heat their home with firewood, which works well because they live in a densely wooded area of Tennessee, and have access to trees that have been knocked over by storms, etc.  Some friends had three gigantic oak trees that were down on their property.  Would my dad want to come cut them up and haul them away?  Sure!  But he’s 82, and that’s a lot of work.  It would probably take him weeks to get it done on his own!

With the family was coming in a couple months, I assured him we could knock it out in a day with all the siblings, in-laws, and adolescent nephews.  We started early on Tuesday morning.  There were probably twelve guys in all, some as young as 10.  And the total time it took to drive to the site, load the trailer full of logs that measured over two feet across, return and unload: about 30 minutes.  In less than two hours we knocked out three loads and headed to the second site.  Before 11:00 a.m. we had made three trips to the second site, towed ourselves out of the mud, and finished the entire project.  At least a winter’s worth of firewood ready to be split, and it wasn’t even lunchtime!

Now none of us were superman.  We were simply working together.  The lesson from the family reunion is this:

Observation #2: Family reunions are where ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they work together.

The church is a family.  And we have regular reunions.  And when ordinary people like us come together under the direction and mission of God, we can accomplish extraordinary things!  Here’s an example.  We’re hosting a backpack giveaway for under-resourced kids in our community.  We want to provide at least 500 filled backpacks.  We have well over 500 households that are part of Seneca Creek.  If every home just provided one backpack (approximate cost = $20) we’d meet our goal.  Many of us would like to do more.  What can we accomplish in this one area?  We can provide a school year’s worth of hope.  And we can get it done before the school year even starts!

Please consider being part of this HOPE filled project.  We’ll be collecting supplies and donations for two more weekends.  It’s not too late!

-Pastor Mark

P.S. For more family reunion lessons, see last week’s blog, Observation #1: Family reunions remind us of what we have in common.

Family reunions are fascinating events.  They’re never what you expect, and often not what you’d like them to be.  So why do we keep having them?

I just returned from the Tindle family’s reunion.  We meet at a “resort” in Tennessee near my parents’ home.  All my siblings travel hundreds of miles and spend hundreds of dollars to come together for this unique experience.  Why?  I think there are several key reasons…and I also think those reasons are very similar to the foundations of what a church is and does.  After all, the church is a family, right?

So for the next few weeks, I’d like to offer some observations from the world of family reunions that may help us be better equipped for doing church as a family.  And consequently, we’ll be better equipped for doing life in every aspect.

Observation #1: Family reunions remind us of what we have in common.

Yes, my siblings and I all have common parents, and common history.  But in one telling moment, one of my sisters noticed a group of spider veins on my ankle and said, “Hey, that looks familiar!”  She then proceeded to prove that this was a unique family “heritage.”  (I’ll spare you the picture.)  In this, and other areas, we’re reminded at our reunions that we have common ailments…common places where we’re not “perfect.”  If one of us has a medical concern, chances are the others do, too.  (In another post I’ll offer how we learn to help one another in our common struggles.)

In the church, we often forget what we have in common.  Part of the value for the church family to gather together is to be reminded of what we have in common.  Yes, we have God as our Father.  But it’s easy to look around and think, “No one else understands…they don’t have the kind of struggles, problems, dreams, etc. that I do.”  Nothing could be further from the truth.  And connecting honestly with other family members reminds us that we have this in common.  We don’t walk alone.  Look past the skin color, the zip code, the marital status, and the birthdate, and you’ll discover that we have an awful lot in common when it comes to the things that really matter in life.

So when you plan your weekend, think about our weekend gatherings as family reunions.  It’s a place to go and be reminded of what we have in common.  And that belief will change how you see yourself, your problems, and your ability to make a difference in this world.

See you at the reunion!

-Pastor Mark

Today is Independence Day in America.  Who doesn’t love independence, right?  Unless it starts to erode your freedom.

Typically we think of July 4^th as a celebration of freedom and independence.  And to a point, it is.  But at a personal level, our independence becomes a barrier to freedom.  Here’s how that works.

We love to be independent.  We want to be self-sufficient.  And asking for, or seeking outside help, assistance, or direction is antithetical to independence.

• When you’re independent you don’t need Christian community.
• When you’re independent no one has access to your life.
• When you’re independent there’s no one who sees the real you and still loves you.
• When you’re independent you don’t have anyone speaking truth into your life (except the truth you want to hear).
• When you’re independent your blind spots remain hidden and you continue to do what you’ve always done.
• When you’re independent your ability to grow is limited to what YOU can see.
• When you’re independent the things that hold you back don’t ever change.
• When you’re independent like this, you’re actually a prisoner of your independence.
• When you’re independent, the freedom that Christ offers remains elusive.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

How would your life be different if you didn’t only rely on yourself for the difficult situations in life?  Could it be you would live a life of freedom?  On this Independence Day, why not celebrate your national independence, and then embrace an interdependence that will help you move toward the freedom Jesus offers?

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.  Galatians 6:2-3

Let freedom REALLY ring!

-Pastor Mark

I’ve often thought about starting a recovery ministry for people recovering from church.  The horror stories I hear often mash my anger button. Those stories range from cold, harsh legalistic churches to pastors who abuse their authority or indulge their appetites.  “How could a church or church leader ever DO something like that?” is often my thought.  Recently I found out how.  And in the process was served a great big ol’ piece of humble pie.

When we hire staff we often sort through hundreds of resumes.  I’m committed to giving people prompt, courteous replies so they’re not left wondering “am I still a candidate?”  The last thing I want to do is leave someone in the dark on our decisions.  To me, that’s unprofessional, rude, and definitely not very Christlike or loving.

So imagine my surprise when I recently learned that I had done exactly what I’m so strongly opposed to.  I’d failed to notify someone who had submitted a resume and sat through an interview.  To make it worse, it happened almost a year ago.  That’s a long time to wonder “why didn’t Pastor Mark ever get back in touch with me?”  There was only one thing for me to do: pick up the phone and apologize.

The person I called was very gracious.  But I still had to own up to my failure.  The hardest, most humbling part was that I had done the very thing I’d looked down on others for doing.  I’d given one more person a good reason to join a “church recovery” ministry.

I have a severe allergy to the taste of humble pie.  But I had to eat the whole piece of it.  But humble pie can actually be good for us.  God reminded me that I still have some growing to do.

• I still need to be more gracious toward those about whom I know very little.
• I still need to be more attentive to the important relationship details around me.
• And I still to begin each day with the deep awareness of God’s grace and mercy to me.

What about you?  Has your diet included any humble pie recently?  Has it helped you grow?

-Pastor Mark

I hope so.  So this week I listened to my daughter, Sandra, discuss her strategy for tutoring an elementary aged student.  And I was blown away by what I heard.

After only three years of studying elementary education, she had concepts, strategies, knowledge, and experience that I never even knew existed.  Never mind that she was using terms I’d never heard before; my daughter is maturing into a talented young woman who possesses the knowledge, skills and passion to make a difference in this world.  I get choked up just writing these words.  Why?  Because every parent longs to see their child grow, mature, and step into the world ready to make a difference while pursuing God’s design for them.  So am I bragging?  You bet!  (I’ll save the bragging on my other daughter for a later blog post.)

Why does this matter?  Because as we learned last weekend at Seneca Creek, we have a similar ability to put a smile on the face of our heavenly Father…to give him something to brag about.  (If the concept of God as your father, or daddy is uncomfortable or foreign to you, please take 30 minutes to listen to the podcast from last weekend.)  Just as a parent gleams when their child takes steps toward maturity, so does God.

So here’s the question to ponder: have you grown in maturity recently?  Not simply “have you acquired more knowledge or information?” but “have you begun to incorporate that into your life in a way that makes a difference for you and for the world?”

If your answer is “yes,” would you be willing to share that in the comments section below?  It will definitely give God something to brag about.  And if your answer is “no,” then why not take steps today to change that?  There’s a good chance you know what those steps are already.

-Pastor Mark

When I turn onto one road near my home I’m greeted by a sign that welcomes me to a “speed camera corridor.”  Nice!  It’s like a game of cat and mouse.  WHERE is the camera THIS week?

Now the theory behind the cameras is that they’ll discourage drivers from dangerous speeding.  Which got me thinking that speeding can be dangerous in life, too, not just in driving.  It’s easy to speed through life, isn’t it?  With one eye on the calendar and another on the people around us, we can get swept up into a mad rush to wherever it is we’re rushing off to.  But just like with driving, if we go too fast, we face certain dangers.

• The danger of ignoring our physical health…and becoming poor stewards of the incredible body that God has entrusted to us.
• The danger of speeding past broken down people and relationships…and missing opportunities to share the HOPE of Christ in tangible ways.
• The danger of thinking that faster is better…and never actually enjoying the moment that we’re in because we’re rushing so fast for the moment in the future.
• The danger of relegating our spiritual life and health to an hour or two on Sunday…and living as though God was absent, silent or unconcerned about every other part of life.

The writer of Psalm 127 was onto something when he wrote this:

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Maybe when you step out of bed or step out of your house tomorrow, you may want to imagine that you’re stepping into a speed camera corridor for life.  And ease off the gas pedal just a little.  And begin to live a better life.

-Pastor Mark