Seven reasons to go to a different church

It’s vacation season.  Since last summer we’ve endured the Redskins season (ugh), the winter of way too much snow, and another pollen-festival, sometimes called spring.  And now we’re ready for summer!  Beaches, mountains, relaxation, and more.  Chances are you’ll be gone for a Sunday or more.  But no matter where you are, here are seven reasons to go to a different church wherever you happened to be:

1. You’ll remember again what it’s like to be the guest, and be thinking about that when you return to Seneca Creek.
2. You’ll witness the variety of ways in which people worship God, and be reminded that we’re just one part of God’s richly diverse family.
3. You might pick up a new idea, song, or inspiration to bring back with you to Seneca Creek.
4. You might meet someone and discover that God brought you together for a divine appointment.
5. You might be able to experience God in a powerful way, especially if you’re busy serving every week at Seneca Creek.
6. You might create some rich family conversations as you talk about what you experienced in a different place.
7. You’ll probably return with a fresh appreciation for the unique church that God has built here at Seneca Creek.

All in all, seven great reasons to seek out a local church wherever your vacation travels take you this summer.  And then please, be sure to share your experience with us when you return.  Bon voyage! 

-Pastor Mark

Four questions that will rock your friendships

The response to the series, “iRelate,” has caught me by surprise.  God is doing some incredible things in peoples’ lives and in their relationships as a result of the tough, painful conversations we’ve been having.  Many of you could probably tell stories similar to the one I shared last week.  This is an area that is so real and so challenging for all of us.  But before we leave this topic and move on, I’d like to invite you to a challenge based on last Sunday.

Just like in every other area of life (career, hobbies, fitness, etc.), our friends can be game-changers in our spiritual health and growth.  If you were with us last Sunday, you know all about being P.E.A.S. in a pod.  Spiritual friends Pray for us, Encourage us, Ask great questions, and Share the journey.  (If you missed last Sunday, check out the podcast here.)  And one way to kick-start your friendships toward becoming life-changing spiritual friendships is with questions like this:

How are you experiencing God?

What is God teaching you?

Where are you stuck in your life?

What are you attempting for God?

So as you launch into summer this week, why not take 10 to 15 minutes and do something radical.  Ask the questions that will rock your friendship.  Your life and your friendships will never be the same!  And when you do, I’d love to hear how it goes…and how your friends are shaping your journey toward God. 

And if possible, join us this Sunday as we revisit some of the questions that you asked during our winter series, “Making Sense of the Bible.”  

- Pastor Mark

What would you say in a crisis?

When things look bad or hopeless, it can be tempting to say nothing.  It can be easy to assume that, “no one will listen…I’m just one person.”  Igniting HOPE can feel like someone else’s job, or it can seem like an impossible task.  

Which is why I was so inspired by the words of Ryuichi Doi.  He lives in Japan, and was touring the region devastated by the recent earthquake and tsunami.  Here’s what he said,

“This is my responsibility, to tell the people.  As a Christian and also as a politician.  Let’s start from this.  Let’s have hope.  We need faith.  Here in Japan we are a very small group [of] Christians in this society.  We must tell them how to have faith.  From this situation people can live again.”

Understand that only 1% of the Japanese population is Christian.  And yet here’s a courageous Christian leader , and a Japanese congressman, who’s saying, “It’s my responsibility, AS A CHRISTIAN to tell them how to have faith.  How to have hope. 

The next time you encounter someone in a crisis, let Ryuichi Doi be a reminder and an inspiration.  And tell someone how to have faith…how to live again.

- Mark

P.S. If you have a story of attempting to do this, why not share it?  Use the box below. 

Refueling or Reuniting?

Our family just returned from a three day drive-a-thon, during which we brought our daughter back from college in Chicago.  We spent more time than I’d like to remember on the turnpikes.  (Definition:  a mediocre road that costs a lot to use, but is no better than the roads that are free.)  Along the way we passed numerous “travel plazas” that are strategically located on the turnpikes.  On a couple occasions we actually stopped, but ONLY because we were low on fuel.  Otherwise, we just kept going. 

But what if I knew that my family was having a reunion at that travel plaza?  Would that change my decision?  Absolutely!  Sure, it’s a strange place for a reunion, but it’s pretty convenient, right?  I’d pull in, park the van, and spend time relating to those who were family.  We’d share stories of our recent journey along the highway.  We’d laugh about old memories of trips we took together.  And we’d leave that travel plaza having encouraged each other for the next leg of our journey.

Think about Sunday worship gatherings as a travel plaza.  You’re going to see a lot of them, strategically placed along the journey of life.  Many times we view them like a refueling stop.  We see it coming, we check the fuel gauge, and we decide whether or not we’re low on fuel and need to pull in.  If the tank is okay, we simply drive on by.

Let me offer a different way to think about Sunday gatherings.  They’re more like a family reunions.  It might be a strange place for a reunion, but it’s pretty convenient.  And we could pull in for a short time, share stories from our recent journey, and laugh about memories of trips we’ve taken together.  We could even remember the reason why we’re on this journey in the first place.  And we would leave that travel plaza knowing that we were encouraged, and so were the people we spent time with.  And, yes, our tank would also be on full.  

So as we head into the summer months, think about Sunday gatherings in a new way.  Not so much a refueling stop, but a reunion.  Bring your stories, your memories, and your encouragement.  Let’s share them together.  And let’s remember the reason for this incredible journey of following Jesus.  Which, by the way, we’ll do this Sunday as we celebrate communion.  See you at the reunion!

- Pastor Mark