A little guy with a big message and an enormous God

Jason gave me one of the greatest compliments ever and he meant it in a good way: “You are so ordinary.”

I love it because I am and Jason & Ronny are ordinary, too. We are just little guys with a big message (the Gospel must be proclaimed in counseling not the ideas of man to provide real care for hurting souls) and an enormous God. I think of David who knew his God and the power of His might to fight Goliath!

Join our TIL team of ordinary men and women who serve an Extraordinary God and watch Him transform lives right before your eyes!

-Mark (amazed at the enormity of God and that He would love us, His little children)

Funny Re-gifting Story

It’s Christmas time again, which can only mean one thing: RE-GIFTING.

Do you know what “re-gifting” is? Re-gifting is defined (by me) as “giving a gift that you were given & did not pay for - to someone else.” In other words, you get a gift you aren’t real crazy about and then you re-wrap it to give it away to someone else. 

We got re-gifted recently! Has it ever happened to you?

Honestly, I must admit, sadly, that in the past, we have re-gifted to others – usually when we didn’t have a lot of money to spend. Gotta admit it!

But this year, we were re-gifted in a HILARIOUS way: we received the exact gift back that we gave to the exact same person in a previous year! We know it is what we gave out because it was an autographed copy! There was no mistaking it!

Isn’t that funny? We think it’s hilarious and did not tell the person but graciously accepted the gift back. We love it, actually, because we gave all of ours away! Now, we have one again!

Spiritually, we should always re-gift what God gives us because it glorifies Him. For example, when He gives you wisdom, re-gift it to others. When He gives you joy, re-gift it to others. When He gives you peace, re-gift it to others. Counselees who have been helped can become counselors who help others – that’s the ultimate spiritual re-gifting for the glory of God (II Cor. 1:3-4).

-Mark (enjoying the Lord’s sense of humor this year)

Last Night’s Christmas Party!

God was glorified last night at our annual TIL Christmas Celebration of Christ!

What a great time we had playing “reindeer games,” hearing testimonies, listening to the vision for Kenya, eating great food, and singing about the Amazing Grace of God!

“Wow” is all I can say today! I think EVERYONE saw what the Lord is doing through this ministry. It was a milestone moment for Truth in Love Ministries.

Last night’s party demonstrated that when we are united about the message of proclaiming Christ and the sufficiency of His Word and the Holy Spirit in personal ministry to hurting souls, then we are strong in the power of His might.

Imagine what the Lord will do through us in 2010 as we seek Him and His righteousness to advance the kingdom of God in Birmingham, Kenya, and around the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

Here are just some of the BIG messages to proclaim to the world through TIL: 

• Jesus Christ is Lord!
• Repent!
• Find forgiveness and salvation for your souls!
• Be transformed by the power of Christ!
• The Word of God is sufficient!
• The Holy Spirit does the work in biblical counseling!
• God is love!
• God wants you to know Him!
• True worshippers worship Him in spirit and truth!
• Help believers to grow spiritually by “speaking the truth in love.”

-Mark (what a Mighty God we serve!)

Transformed: A Metamorphosis

2 Cor. 3:18 and Romans 12:2 use the word “transform” which is translated from the Greek word that we derive metamorphosis from!

Are you a metamorphosis? Are you a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)? Have old things passed away?

Or are you just the same old person you used to be?

In Christ, we are TRANSFORMED.

Transformation is a CONVERSION into something new. It looks nothing like a simple improvement or a recovery. You do not get your old self back. Instead, you get a new self who looks nothing like your old self.

In Christ, you are to be humble not less prideful day by day. In Christ, you are to be gentle not less harsh day by day.

In Christ, you are to be like Him and He looks nothing like you and I. He is different and we are to be hidden in Him (Col. 3:1-3). Our identity is lost in Him but what a wonderful loss that is!!!!

I want to be more like Christ everyday and I know the Lord is conforming me into His image (Rom. 8:29). Believe me when I say, I am a NEW CREATION in Christ. The old Mark has passed away, by God’s power and grace. Praise the Lord! I am a new creation. My wife will confirm it.

That’s the same transformation I want for addicts and everyone who struggles with an addiction! Christ wants it, too, and offers it freely when you surrender to His Spirit.

-Mark (transformed and continuing to grow daily)

Pet Peeves?

Have you ever thought about the idea of “pet peeves”?

It seems to me that a “pet peeve” simply causes the one who has the pet peeve to be disappointed, frustrated, and angry.

In other words, it’s like saying: “I’m going to be mad when…(insert the pet peeve here)…happens because I hate that.” It’s like setting yourself up for pre-anger to the actual event.

I think we all need to chill out, let go of our so-called “rights” because Christians don’t have rights anymore, and seek to please God no matter what someone does – even if it is a “pet peeve.” We need to show God’s love at all times at all costs. Remember Jesus’ instruction about turning the other cheek?

Let’s set ourselves up to do what’s right no matter what happens and to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21).

-Mark (peeved at “pet peeves”)

A Christmas Paradigm Shift

You know why most of us like Christmas? I think part of the reason is because the season gives us a reason to splurge on ourselves! We give with the expectation of receiving in return.

Think about it: what do children do? Make a list of things THEY want and give it to Santa. You know what this does? It breeds disappointment with high expectations when the child does NOT get what is on the list. 

So how can Christians like you and I be counter-cultural and biblical since the Bible teaches self-denial NOT self-esteem or self-fulfillment apart from Christ?

My wife and I didn’t do the list thing this year. Instead, we made a list of people we could give TO. We also listed things from our home we could sacrificially give away to needy families we know. Not our worse things, but some of our better and best things that we are still using!

We want our children to be givers not consumers. Self-less rather than selfish. Don’t you want your children to be like Jesus Who gave without an expectation of return? I do. Otherwise, I’m just bringing up children who are going to be consumed by consumerism and just like this world rather than like Jesus Christ.

Was Jesus a consumer or a giver? Can you imagine Jesus making a Christmas list of His wants to mail to Santa? Ridiculous thought yet we are to be LIKE HIM.

Make your children’s expectations low this year by teaching them to be like King Solomon when he prayed in I Kings 3 for wisdom – not for himself – but so that he could serve the Lord by serving His children better!!! This prayer was inspired by God, the great Giver of all good gifts according to James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.“ - The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jas 1:17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Let’s give this Christmas with no expectation of receiving! Let’s be like our Father of lights and be a light that realizes it’s much better to give than to receive! Let’s glorify the Lord and not get caught up in a secular season that has made it all about SELF rather than about Jesus HIMSELF.

-Mark (wanting to shift our thinking from self to Christ, especially during Christmas!)

P.S. We say, “Jesus is the reason for the season” but we sing about Santa, reindeer, mistletoe, snow, and all the stuff we get in this life that is temporary. Let’s set our minds on things above (Col.3:1-3), especially now during Christmas!

“I feel led to…” (part 2)

What about in the arena of giving money? “I want to give to this organization” rather than “I feel led to give to this organization.” Sometimes, I think we want to justify our giving as though it is super-spiritually led by the Spirit and it makes us feel more secure in our decision – almost like we are convincing ourselves.

In many places of the Bible, the Lord commands us to be good stewards of our money. For example, the Old Testament indicates that we are to tithe. So based on God’s Word, why don’t we just say, “I want to give this money to you as unto the Lord. I’ve prayed about it and believe that it’s the right thing to do based upon the Scriptures.”

Maybe this is a controversial issue. My point is that God leads us by His Spirit in accordance with His Word so anything more than that is simply extra. God does not need our help to make His Word extra special or extra spiritual. It already is!

-Mark (thanking God for the simplicity of His Word)