Are you glad the election is over?  No more signs in your neighborhood?  No more relentless telemarketing calls during dinner?

At Seneca Creek we don’t spend much time discussing elections, politics, etc.  As a result many at our church simply assume that most of their fellow church members think and vote the same way.  The dirty little secret is that often people who are on extreme opposites of the political spectrum sit next to each other, and worship the same God.

And I happen to think that’s a really good thing.  Here’s why:

1. Despite what you may have heard or read, there is no “party of God” on the ballots in this country. Neither of the major parties is without their problems, and neither is without their virtues.  But to my knowledge, neither has a plank that says, “We intend to follow God and only God in all our decisions and policies.”  That said, you will find godly men and women in every major political party.
2. The gospel is, among other things, a message of reconciliation. We can rightly believe that means being reconciled to God.  But it’s more than that.  And it’s more than reconciling people of different races, ethnicities, cultures, and socio-economic groups.  It’s also about reconciling people of different political persuasions.  Yes, the gospel is about bringing EVERYONE together at the foot of the cross.  If we were to paraphrase the apostle Paul, we might put it like this:

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither Democrat nor Republican, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus! (Galatians 3:28, PMP, Pastor Mark’s Paraphrase)

3. The church, NOT the government, is God’s chosen vehicle for bringing transformation into this world. When we worship together, we affirm God’s clear calling on his people.  Scripture clearly indicates we should respect and pray for those in government, but not expect them to do what the church is called to do.

Instead, our energy is directed at building the church (people, NOT a facility) into a dynamic, life-giving, healing, empowering, reconciling and transforming family.  When we do that, the role of elected officials become easier.  And the church becomes stronger.  And the HOPE of Christ is ignited in this world.

So I hope you voted.  But even more than that, I hope that you will join us each weekend as we seek to become a community that is being transformed from the inside out.  Consider it casting a ballot for real change…and you can vote as often as you like!

– Pastor Mark

P.S. As we continue to explore the virtue of gratitude in our weekend series, I, like many of you, am deeply grateful for the freedom to vote.

(HOPEFEST 2014)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would like to repeat myself on this…

Developing gratitude will have a positive impact on every other area of your life.  And it turns out, God’s plan for you is that you will BECOME a person of gratitude:

…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.        1 Thessalonians 5:18

We launched a series on “Gratitude” last weekend.  And as a practical way of developing this marvelous quality, I suggested a simple exercise.  Before you begin every meal, take a moment to thank God for his enduring love for you.

As we discussed last weekend, it could be that he notices you, or that he chose you, or that he delights in you, or that he values you. ALL OF THESE are expressions of love that we readily understand.  And ALL OF THEM are true of how God our heavenly Father loves us.

So if I could be allowed to repeat myself, would you please consider making this a habit over the next two weeks?  Before you start lunch today (or dinner, if you’re reading this later), simply pause and pray something like this:

• “God, thank you for noticing me…I realize that you love me.” OR
• “God, thank you for choosing me to be your child…you did this out of love.” OR
• “God, thank you for delighting in me despite my messiness and brokenness…only love does that.” OR
• “God, thank you for valuing me enough to send your Son to take my place…the greatest love the world has ever known.”

For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Every person…every meal…every day…  Then watch and see what real gratitude does to every part of your life.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. Speaking of gratitude, I am deeply grateful to the many, many volunteers who made last Saturday’s HOPEFEST an overwhelming success!  Thank you for your time, your teamwork, your ideas, and your expertise.  Because of you, we truly ignited HOPE in our community!

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Someone once noted, “Human beings can live for forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air. But we cannot live for four seconds without…hope.

Our vision is to ignite HOPE in our city and beyond.  And because of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity and the ability to offer real hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

This Saturday is our first HOPEFEST.  It’s a way to bring our community together around the themes of community, collaboration, and service.  And in the process, we believe we can offer everyone the hope they need for today and eternity.  Those hoping to find much needed resources will find them.  Those hoping to make a difference will find a way to do that.  Those hoping to find a community where they will be welcomed and encouraged will find that.

So I invite you to join us for HOPEFEST from 2 to 5 pm this Saturday, October 25^th.  If you’re volunteering, thank you!  And if you’re inviting friends and neighbors, you’re outstanding!  Because everybody needs hope.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. We’ll have a special HOPEFEST prayer session at 1:00 pm on Saturday in the lobby at 13 Firstfield.  Join us if you can!  Even if you can’t join us, please pray that God would use this event to spread the HOPE of Christ in our city.

We’re having a celebration, and we’d like you to be part of it!

This weekend Seneca Creek will celebrate 25 years of God’s faithfulness.  It’s been an amazing quarter of a century, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU.  That’s why I’d like to invite you to join us at one of our three gatherings this weekend:

• Saturday at 6 pm
• Sunday at 9:15 am
• Sunday at 11:00 am

For this celebration party, you don’t need to bring a card or wrap a gift.  Just bring yourself and expect to be encouraged and inspired.  We’ll share the stories of God’s faithfulness, we’ll celebrate together as a family, and we’ll sharpen our vision of what lies ahead in the next 25 years!

It just won’t be the same if you’re not there.  See you this weekend!

-Pastor Mark

P.S. Mark your calendars for HOPEFEST on Saturday, October 25^th from 2 to 5 pm.  And check out the details at hopefestupcounty.net.  It’s going to be simply unforgettable!

In ten days you’re going to face a decision that could impact a lot of people, starting with you.

It’s the Celebration Challenge.  As Seneca Creek marks our 25 year anniversary, we’re challenging our entire church to four areas of action over the next year.

1. Pray Regularly
2. Memorize the Word
3. Move Forward
4. Give Generously

We shared these four ideas, and their significance a few weekends ago.  (Details here.)  We’ll explain them again in the next two weekends.  But on October 18/19, during our Celebration Weekend gatherings, we’ll ask each of you to consider making a commitment to these four actions.  In preparation for that event, would you please prayerfully consider your involvement?

• Consider the impact of unleashing the power of prayer into your life, your challenges, your friendships, and more.
• Consider the impact of having God’s Word at your fingertips in those crunch times of decisions, temptations, frustrations, etc.
• Consider the impact of taking the next step in your faith journey, maybe that step you’ve known you always wanted to take.
• Consider the impact of unleashing Christlike generosity with your time, your talents, and your treasures.

I can’t make you decide to join us.  But I can challenge you to join us.  Because only when you do will we be able to have the impact our church is designed to have.  (Remember, you’re not here by accident.)  Your decision will affect more than just you.  It will affect everyone in our community.  When our church begins to grow in these four areas, everything changes.

So please, take a few moments today—and tomorrow—and use this prayer:

“God, show me how I can best participate in the Celebration Challenge.  For your sake.  For my sake.  For the sake of your church and your world.”

And let me say thank you for doing that.  Know that I’m praying with you on this.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. – Guys, don’t forget to join us this Saturday at 8 am for breakfast and the kickoff of our series, “Restoring Manhood.”  Topic – How to act like a man.

It occurs to me that the way I live my life—and probably the way you live YOUR life—is by believing in something that God actually DOESN’T believe in.  “What is that,” you ask?

In a word: accidents.  Because we often can’t see the big picture, or the cause behind the effects, we believe in and call certain things accidents.  Random, purposeless events that impact our lives in some way.

But I don’t think God believes in accidents.  Consider this bold statement:

Psalm 139:16

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

God always has a purpose in mind.  And when it comes to Seneca Creek, I believe that part of his purpose is for us—all of us who are part of this local church—to be involved in bringing together the needs in our community and the resources to help meet those need.  It’s no accident that we’re located precisely where we are as a church.

And THAT is why we’re so excited about HOPEFEST!  This brand new event is our way of bringing together as many resources, and as many needs as we can in one place on one day.  We’ve invited organizations from the local area to join with us in creating hope right here in Gaithersburg.  Here’s a partial list of the organizations that will be present at HOPEFEST:

• Montgomery County Dept of Health & Human Services
• Montgomery County Public Libraries
• Boy Scouts of America
• Metropolitan Ballet Theatre
• MCPAW
• American Cancer Society
• Arc of Montgomery County
• Cornerstone Montgomery
• Habitat for Humanity (Metro Md)
• Hospice Caring Inc.
• Operation 2^nd Chance
• Women Who Care Ministries
• Montgomery County Fire & Rescue
• and more!

Furthermore, we’re inviting over 10,000 homes from the community to come and hang out together.  We’ll provide free food, games, entertainment, bounce house, obstacle course, and more.

• It’s a way for busy, disconnected people to spend a little time reconnecting.
• It’s a way for people who want to make a difference in our community to find meaningful ways to volunteer.
• It’s a way to build strong partnerships with other organizations in our community.
• And it’s a way for those who are most vulnerable in our community to find the help, and the hope that they so very much want for themselves and their families.

This bold initiative is a very clear message that we are not here by accident.  We are here to make an impact as a church.  And if you’re part of Seneca Creek, YOU’RE not here by accident.  So I’m inviting each one of you to join us on Saturday, October 25^th from 2 to 5 pm for HOPEFEST.  And please invite your friends and neighbors.  It’s no accident that God has put them in your life at this time, either.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. In case you’re wondering, it will take some serious volunteer power to make this work.  If you would like to be part of our team, please click here for more details.

P.P.S. – Hey guys, I’m starting a new series at the Men’s Breakfast this month.  Saturday, October 11th at 8:00 am at 13 Firstfield.  Join me and the other guys for breakfast, a short teaching, and a chance to grow together.  Topic: How To Act Like a Man.   $5 at the door

P.P.P.S – (really…) There will be a video crew on scene this Sunday getting footage for our 25 Year Anniversary Celebration weekend. If you’ve got a Seneca Creek story to share (how God has used Seneca Creek to change your life), you may have a chance to share it with them. Watch for them in the lobby.

Right now the battery indicator on my laptop is slowly inching toward the danger zone.  I’d usually plug into the wall, but there is no power at my house this morning.  Maybe your life feels like that sometime.

Sometimes we just need a power boost, don’t we?  And whatever your situation is, one way you’re sure to increase your power is to tap into the power available to us through prayer.  It’s not just saying.  When we pray, the power of God DOES begin to flow in and through our lives.  If you’ve ever tried prayer, you know what I mean.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  Eph 1:18-19a

This Thursday, September 25^th at 7:00 pm, we’re meeting as a church to unleash the power of prayer in our church, our lives, and our community.  I invite you to join us for 25 minutes of focused prayer (celebrating our 25^th year anniversary coming up).

You don’t need to register, just show up.  We’ll provide some guidance for your prayers, and you can join others in a group, or simply sit with us and pray silently.  Either way, we’ll tap into the awesome power of prayer, and unleash what God wants to do in your life, and your community.

Hope to see you there.  And I hope my electricity comes back soon.

-Pastor Mark

During my time in the Marine Corps I experienced some celebrations.  Every year, on November 10^th, the Marines have a “Birthday Ball” and celebrate the founding of the Corps in 1775.  They celebrate in a very “Marine Corps” kind of style.

Suffice it to say, there were plenty of adult beverages being consumed, and quite a bit of bizarre behavior taking place.  It’s such a huge celebration that many units take the next day off, since so many of their people are not in good working condition.  I know that doesn’t surprise anyone who’s familiar with Marine Corps life or tradition.  It’s kinda their way.

Seneca Creek is also coming up on a birthday/anniversary.  And we want to celebrate in a very “Seneca Creek” kind of style.  Our style is very focused on our mission as a church, on igniting the HOPE of Christ in our lives, our church, and our community.  So last weekend we introduced our “Celebration Challenge.”  Over the next year, we’re challenging each person who’s part of Seneca Creek to do four things:

• Pray regularly (on the 25^th of each month we’ll have an Unleash Prayer event)
• Memorize the Word (we’ll work together to memorize 25 verses over the next 12 months)
• Move forward (make a plan and take the next steps in your spiritual growth)
• Give generously (we all have resources such as time, talent, and treasure which we have been blessed with)

Those four things, done on a church wide basis, will unleash God’s power in your life, your church, and your community.

If you missed last weekend’s gatherings, please check out the details on the podcast.  And be sure to pick up an Unleash magazine the next time you’re at 13 Firstfield.  Then plan to join us on the weekend of October 18/19 as we share the stories of God’s faithfulness to us over the last quarter century.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. If you want regular updates on our Celebration Challenge events, simply text SCCC25 to 38470.

P.P.S. If you have your own story to share, please take a few minutes now to do that here.

Ever notice how easy it is to become complacent…about any area of life?  Work.  Marriage.  Fitness.  Diet.  Even faith.

The key to sustained vitality is simple: Continue to learn.  It’s been said that, “the best leaders are insatiable learners.”

Maybe you’ve seen this in your relationships.  Those who keep learning about each other and keep asking questions are the ones who are fascinating, faithful, and fun to be around.  Those who think they’ve arrived begin the slide into the relationship graveyard.

You probably have seen this at work.  Those who are curious and who keep asking questions and expanding their knowledge…are the ones who excel and advance.  And coincidentally, they are usually the most interesting and engaging people to be with.

One of the most influential speeches ever given in the history of American business was delivered by John Gardner almost 24 years ago.  As a recent HBR blog pointed out,

“…his focus that day was on neither money nor power. It was on what he called “Personal Renewal,” the urgent need for leaders who wish to make a difference and stay effective to commit themselves to continue learning and growing…

What was his message? “We have to face the fact that most men and women out there in the world of work are more stale than they know, more bored than they would care to admit,” he said. “Boredom is the secret ailment of large-scale organizations. Someone said to me the other day ‘How can I be so bored when I’m so busy?’ I said ‘Let me count the ways.’ Look around you. How many people whom you know well — people even younger than yourselves—are already trapped in fixed attitudes and habits?”

To quote a wise proverb: It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.

This phenomenon is absolutely true in our faith journey.  If we stop learning, stop exploring, stop discovering the infinite wonders of God and his ways and his world, we become complacent.  We lose our vitality.  We get stale, bored, and lifeless.  We cease to make a difference.

This weekend, we’re going to offer a solution.  I hope you can join us Saturday at 6 pm, or Sunday at 9:15 or 11 am.  It’s going to be a great year!  Don’t miss it…don’t let complacency sideline your life.

-Pastor Mark

I’m not sure those were ever in style.

Probably watching the Cosby show

I keep stumbling across the acronym, “TBT,” which stands for “throw-back-Thursday.”  So I thought it would be fun to play a little TBT here on the blog.  Here’s what I was doing (yes, with pictures) in September of 1989.

I was part of a church-planting duo that helped to start Seneca Creek.  I spent my time:

• visiting other churches in the Germantown area
• contacting musicians who we could pay (coerce?) to come and help us when we got started
• purchasing some very cheap, very basic sound equipment, about which I knew precious little
• using my Atari computer and Korg M1 keyboard to build soundtracks that we would use as the “live band” when we launched on October 15th
• searching for an affordable second vehicle for our family, which could double as an equipment hauling vehicle on Sundays
• wondering what in the world I’d gotten myself into
• getting lost driving in DC as a rookie sight-seer/tour guide

Got my coffee, got my awesome shorts.

The van was ugly, but it hauled a lot of church stuff.

Talk about throw-back-Thursday, right?  Now it’s your turn.  Maybe it’s a throw-back of 20-plus years.  Maybe it’s a throw-back of just a few months or weeks.  But sometime in the last 25 years your journey has brought you to Seneca Creek.  We’d REALLY love to hear your story.

We’d love it if you could take a few minutes and let us know how you came to Seneca Creek, and what God has done in your life since that time.  Your story is important for us as we approach our 25 year celebration next month.  You can either record your story below, for all to see, enter it on our Unleash story site, or you can send it via email to info@senecacreek.org.

Then I invite you to join us this weekend as we kick off a brand-new series, “More!”  We’ll discover how to get more of the things we really want and need into our lives.  Starting with more of God himself.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. Saturday Gatherings are back, starting this week, September 6^th!  If you have conflicts on Sunday, be sure to join us Saturdays at 6 pm for the same great experience!