Along with MySpace, Facebook I-pods, I-Tunes and Twitter, YouTube is one of those modern-day, technological phenomena that has captured the interest and imagination of many.  For those who don’t know, YouTube is an internet site onto which contributors post video clips of all varieties.  The tag line for the site is simply, “Broadcast yourself,” and that’s exactly what they mean.

Men, women and children of all shapes and sizes, all neighborhoods and nationalities are welcome to upload videos of themselves or of others or of anything in the whole wide world of interest to them.  There are instructions for styling hair, attempts at showing off musical talents, practical jokes, funny home videos, high speed police chases, sporting events, video tributes to deceased golden retrievers, music videos, scenes from that television show you missed last night or even clips from an episode of a soap opera from 25 years ago.

And, once these videos are posted on the site, any of the rest of us, can view them at our leisure.  Web surfers can search for particular topics, for particular characters, or for particular ‘genres’ of postings.  (I searched for the word “mayonnaise,” for the sake of this, and couldn’t believe the host of music videos, recipes and more that popped up as possibilities for my enjoyment.)  From what I can tell, though, most of us are familiar with the YouTube videos we receive in e-mails, sent by friends and family.  They’re often funny, inspirational or, if nothing else, good for a break from whatever it is we were doing when we felt compelled to view them.

My goal this summer is to have a little fun during worship by using YouTube videos as illustrations for my sermons from week to week.  Admittedly, the birth of this idea wasn’t about much more than the fun we could have with it, but there is something theologically provocative about the endeavor from my perspective.

“Broadcast yourself,” appeals to some need humans have – or have developed in this age of 24-hour news, reality T.V. and internet accessibility – to be seen and/or to be heard by our fellow travelers on the planet.  And, while there’s so much on YouTube that’s wasting bandwidth and business hours for so many, there is a lot of good, meaningful, fun stuff there to connect us with the presence of God in our midst. 

Keep an eye out for clips I might use and send them to pastormark@crossofgrace.org.  Look for God around you, not just online, but in the eyes and lives of the people in your world.  Join us for worship, as ever, expecting to be inspired by whatever God is up to in your midst.  And tell a friend – broadcast yourself – sharing grace and good news in the name of the God who made you.

See you soon,

+Mark

+Mark

Not long ago, I saw online that professional clergy were among a handful of careers that could expect to be impacted less dramatically by our current economic recession than many other professions. It seems rare to me that clergy make the news in any positive regard, so I paid attention. Other jobs on the list included computer programmers, government workers and green energy technicians, which made sense to me. Still, financial security isn’t something I’m used to – or feel all that comfortable with, frankly – during times that are such a challenge for so many. And then I read further.

Some of the other jobs considered “safe” in the current economic climate, and the reasons for their security, included anything having to do with health care (people will always get sick and/or die), law enforcement (crime and injustice live, regardless of the economy), and the “vice industry” (strippers, alcohol and gambling do well and even thrive when times are tough).

All of a sudden, I felt more than just “safe,” in light of the economy’s uncertainty. I felt redeemed and justified, not simply as a professional clergy person who holds a certain degree, who possesses a specific skill set or who meets some particular demographic criteria. But I felt encouraged and empowered as a member of the Church – along with so many others – who are called together at times like these to proclaim good news and grace; to work for justice and joy; to share and sacrifice and stand in solidarity with a fearful, hurting and broken world.

We are reminded – and invited to celebrate in the days of Easter – that Jesus was born for a world in “recession.” And the economy of it all wasn’t God’s only concern. The “recessions” God redeems through Jesus are financial, physical, emotional and spiritual shortfalls of all kinds. Jesus fed the poor, healed the sick, sacrificed for sinners, and he died for justice. And, in the light of the resurrection, all of that is our invitation just the same and there is no shortage of work to be done.

I hope you’ll celebrate the good news of Easter’s resurrection this time around, letting it fill you with blessing and encouragement to share yourself and God’s love with the world, and to climb out of whatever recession might plague your life these days. It would be a shame if the only sure thing about our current economic recession is the fear and scarcity we’re so inclined to embrace at first glance – and in so many other areas of our lives. God’s abundance can be found in the midst of that, in spite of that and in response to that, because in Jesus, hope grows from despair, faith is born of fear and new life dances in the shadow of the cross.

Happy Easter,
+Mark

I found a $20 bill in the pocket of my pants one Sunday as I was getting ready for worship. Do you know the feeling? Usually, it’s a coin or two or even a smaller bill. But, $20.00? That’s a nice find. And in these days of economic failure and fear, where everyone seems to be tightening their budgets, I’ll take whatever good news I can get.

I’ve heard the news about jobs being lost en masse. I know some of our own families are struggling with both the reality and the looming possibility of that bad news. I’ve tried to make as much sense as I can about falling 401K investments, the tumbling housing market, the mortgage and credit crisis and so on. And I’m praying the bailouts and whatever other strategies may be implemented for fixing things will wor k efficiently, effectively and fairly in the days to come.

Still, when I found my unexpected “windfall” of $20.00, I immediately began to imagine what I might do with this little something extra. Bruce Springsteen’s new CD had just hit the shelves, I remembered. Christa and I haven’t seen a movie in a theater for years, it seems. Twenty bucks would buy me a couple lunches and some time away from the office, I reasoned.

But I acknowledged, too, that I needed gas in my car… and a haircut …and that we always need milk and bananas at our house, these days. Bah humbug. My $20.00 spending spree was over before it began.

Then I remembered our worship this particular morning would be one of our monthly Mission Sundays, and I put the money there, convinced to let my surprise do something bigger and better for someone else.

I’m not patting myself on the back. It was only $20.00. I’m not a martyr. It was only $20.00. I’m simply sharing that just $20.00, when added to all the other contributions we shared that morning will do something holy and meaningful in the hands of one of God’s ministries in the world. This little something extra, on top of my regular tithe, gave me that much more perspective about my place in the middle of it all.

These days, I’m praying God’s people, at Cross of Grace and across the globe, will count blessings wherever we can find them – especially in times of such financial uncertainty. I’m praying we realize and remember that all we have comes from God in the first place – and that most of us still have more than we need. I’m praying for those who struggle, that answers will come, resources will be found and needs will be met. I’m praying, too, that we’ll keep sharing ourselves and our stuff generously and with gratitude for the love of God, which matters most of all.

When we do, I’m trusting God’s grace will continue to find us and fill us and change us for the better.

Peace,
+Mark

I learned the term “reso-loser” from a friend recently, who was on her way to the gym and said she wanted to get her last good workout of 2008 in before all of the “reso-losers” started crowding up the place in early January. “Reso-losers,” apparently, are all those well-intended folks who make resolutions at the turn of every new year to get into shape and lose some weight.

Most of us have been there, resolving to quit a bad habit or to pick up a good one, to eat our vegetables, to read more books, and so on. What struck me as funny about the term “reso-loser” is that my friend didn’t seem to care about whether any of these people would actually honor their resolutions or not. She was annoyed simply at the likelihood of their attempt and more than a little pessimistic about their ability to succeed.

I’ve often said that I’m indifferent to New Year’s resolutions, rationalizing that if something’s worth doing in January, than it’s also worth doing at any other time throughout the year. What’s more, I don’t believe we need any more to feel obliged to or guilty about when it comes to becoming better people in the world these days. Most of all, I’m certain that obligation and guilt aren’t the most faithful or effective ways to inspire meaningful change in the lives of people.

All of this is why I do what I do for a living and it’s why I invite you to see yourself and your fellow Christians as “reso-losers” of the highest order.

See, when we gather for worship to make our confession, to sing our songs, to pray our prayers, to study our Bibles and to share the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, we do so to hear good news. We do all of these things with hope that we’ll receive the love of God in some new way. We are all losers – sinners in our own many and various ways – and our faith calls us to make change and to be changed by the grace we know in Jesus Christ.

But we struggle with that change to be sure. We can welcome it, receive it, embrace it and even get it right some of the time when we love our enemies, give our offering, forgive a neighbor and so on. But we certainly fail often enough, too. Like so many new year’s resolutions that don’t survive the month of January, sometimes our good intentions regarding our faith don’t make it out of the church parking lot on Sunday morning.

But, God keeps calling us back. God keeps welcoming us, receiving us, embracing us and offering us another chance – day after day, week after week, year after year. And I hope every one of us will take advantage of that kind of grace in 2009. I pray we’ll open ourselves to the possibility of studying more, serving in a new way, giving generously, and growing deeply in faith.

And if we fail from time to time, I pray we’ll trust the grace of our creator enough to receive God’s forgiveness and to get back on the treadmill of this journey. Feel free, too, to let your actions annoy and unsettle the world around you. By witnessing your resolve to be changed by grace, God can change the world around you just the same.

Happy New Year,
+ Mark

The “Breathing Space” theme for our capital campaign came to me during a recent Stewardship Team meeting as we talked about our leaders’ lack of enthusiasm for another intensive, three year effort like those we’ve engaged for years. While these campaigns have been greatly successful and profoundly valuable to our growth as a family of faith, there’s a real sense that a change of pace might be good.

Another three year push with brochures, information packets and congregational meetings seemed, not just overwhelming, but overdone. We’ve “been there, done that” and don’t want to burn each other out with the process of it all. We decided, with no imminent building project in the very near future, we could take advantage of some time to re-connect, to re-evaluate and to recess some in order to catch our breath and cast a vision for what may be around the next corner.

Ahhhhhhhhh…..Breathing space!

Breathing Space means we’ll host a handful of fellowship events where we’ll share information, but where, more importantly, we’ll share fun and fellowship as a means of building up our family of faith.

Breathing Space means we’ll dream big and wonder out-loud together about the next phase of our building’s expansion and how it will inspire our mission and ministry for the sake of the world.

Breathing Space means we’ll pray boldly for what God is up to in our lives – as disciples and as Partners in Mission – and expect to be grateful in response to it all.

Breathing Space does not mean we’ll take a vacation from our Building Fund commitments. It means we’ll make them – as ever – with open hands and open hearts, with gratitude for God’s gracious blessings, already showered upon us.

A few days after the meeting where “Breathing Space” was born, I remembered a book I’d read by the same title. It’s a memoir of a woman’s journey as the pastor of Transfiguration Lutheran Church in the South Bronx, New York. The ministry of the congregation shared grace in ways that gave life — literally and figuratively — to the community it served in as many ways as you might imagine in the dark, drug-infested, depressed streets of the South Bronx.

Our dreams are different and our communities certainly don’t look alike, but the grace we strive to accept and share all comes from the same amazing God – whether we’re in the South Bronx of New York City or just north of New Palestine, Indiana. My prayer is that our effort to create Breathing Space for and with one another will continue to change our hearts and lives with the breath of life that comes through Jesus Christ.

So join us in taking a breath – a Holy Spirit-filled breath – as we embark on a whole new kind of journey together, for the sake of each other, for the sake of our neighbors and for the sake of the world.

Peace,

+Mark

I’ve always loved the Summer Olympics, and thanks to digital video recording these days, I miss very little of whatever action gets televised. From Beijing, I’ve enjoyed the swimming, sand volleyball, track and gymnastics competitions most of all.

Of course, I’m amazed by the physical fitness of the athletes. I’m impressed their level of accomplishment continues to improve. And I appreciate the competition because every stroke, every serve and every stuck landing matters when it comes to who will win gold, or not. But I’m a sucker for the sappy back-story, most of all. I love to know about the single mom who sits nervously in the stands, watching her child compete for his life’s dream. I love to know about the injury that nearly cost that gymnast a place on the team or the cancer that nearly took the life of that athlete’s child just before the games began or about how heavy the hopes of a nation can weigh upon the shoulders of a country’s one and only athlete to make it to the games.

For me, the medal counts don’t add up to much unless there’s a story behind the glory of it all. For me, I’m unmoved by victory or defeat unless someone gives me a reason to care about who’s competing in the first place. I can root for pretty much anyone, regardless of the flag on their uniform, if they have something compelling about which to cheer. And I pray you’ll consider your life and faith at Cross of Grace this way. As summer ends and fall begins, our life together is full of opportunities to connect, through Bible study, with the drama of our lives as God’s people. Whether it’s a midweek study, a Sunday morning Adult Forum, Grace Quest, Sunday school or Faith Formation for Teens, I’m praying every one of us will take advantage of at least one opportunity to connect with the story behind the glory of what God does for us in Jesus Christ.

Our congregation’s simple but holy mission is “to worship, learn and serve in the name of Jesus Christ.” Separately, these elements of our journey don’t mean nearly so much. When we put them together and practice each of them as faithfully as we can manage, they tell a story through our very lives that’s worth sharing. It’s worth cheering. And it’s worth more than all the gold your money can buy.

Peace,

+Mark

As I look forward to the month of July and to the celebration of our country’s independence, I look forward to the fireworks and the flags, to the pie and the parades, and to all the other signs and symbols of our nation’s nostalgia. At the same time, I’ll be praying…

…that flags will be waved with as much humility as pride.

…that we’ll worry more about living the 10 Commandments than about where or if they’re displayed in public.

…that families will teach their children to pray at home, trusting they’ll have the tools to pray in the world.

…that “evangelical” will come to mean sharing good news, period.

…that Christian fundamentalists will be recognized less for their political initiatives and more for Christian fundamentals, like caring for the poor, loving one’s neighbors, forgiving one’s enemies.

…that our nation’s leaders — and potential leaders — will benefit from our prayers and our forgiveness, regardless of how we vote.

…that war will end, hunger will cease, justice will prevail, genocide will stop, disease will be cured.

…that the blessings enjoyed in this land will be used to bless the world we share with the rest of God’s children.

…that our neighbors will look to Cross of Grace as a place and a people that helps all of this to happen.

…and that all will come to trust that real independence and true freedom don’t depend upon where we live. They depend upon the promise that Jesus lives, grace lives, love lives. And in the light of that, each of us is called to live freely just the same.

Amen,

+Mark

I was President of my fraternity in college and yes, it was precisely as crazy as you imagine when you think about college fraternities.  That’s why this is the first time – and likely the last – you’ll hear much about those experiences as part of anything having to do with Church, aside from confession and forgiveness, perhaps.

Besides all of the fun we had, though, I remember there was business to care for as well.  There were weekly meetings, regularly scheduled fund-raising events, and dues to pay.  And, of course, there were officers other than me charged with making sure all of these things happened.

And I remember how difficult it was, among a group of college guys who really just wanted to find the next party, to get much of that business done.  We bribed and ridiculed those who didn’t get their dues in on time – all in good fun, of course.  We threatened those who didn’t participate in a fund-raiser with the prospect of not being allowed to attend the next party.  And, in one of our most clever and creative acts, we moved a refrigerator into our meeting room so that “refreshments” could be part of the business proceedings!

The good news is, most of what I learned about being Pastor of a church didn’t come from my days as a fraternity president.  The bad news is, it’s typical for the attendance at congregational meetings in churches these days to look a lot like a fraternity meeting, without the “refreshments.”

Which is why I want to take this opportunity to encourage everyone who is or who would like to become a Mission Partner at Cross of Grace, to be part of the “business” that’s coming our way.

Join one of two “Question and Answer” sessions between worship services on May 4th and May 11th to find out about the decisions we’re called to regarding Spending Plans, adding staff, amending our constitution and more.  And join us on Sunday, May 18th, as we welcome new Partners in Mission during worship and make some holy and official decisions about all of the above at our Annual Meeting between services.

This business matters – for you and for us – because it fulfills God’s mission through Cross of Grace for the communities we serve.  You won’t be ridiculed for not showing up.  You’ll still be invited to attend every party we throw on Sunday mornings during worship.  And, of course, the refreshments – the bread and wine of Holy Communion – are better than whatever could be found in my fraternity’s refrigerator!  God’s grace abounds.  Please join us to be part of it.

See you in May!

+Mark