THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW

Do you ever look back and laugh at how when you were younger, like a kid, some stuff just freaked you out and now that you are 'mature', 'advanced', 'older' it doesn't bother you at all?

We just finished having two weeks of tremendous snow and really cold temps. It was fantastic, but it is good to see the snow get out of here!

During this cold snap, my wife and the girls would find ourselves walking in the cold and snow or sledding in it or just having snow ball fights. During one of these times I remembered back to when I was 8 or 9 and how I would really hate getting cold. Snow in the face, wet gloves, wet feet, shaking cold....I hated it.

Decades later, I'm laughing as my wife and daughters have both of my ears plugged with snow (cheap shots I might add!), I have no hat, my gloves are soaked, my jeans are freezing to my wet legs, and I'm loving it!

What did you used to fear or dread as a kid and now you actually look forward to it?

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HERE'S A GREAT READ

Merry Christmas to you!!!!

I'm wrapping up a fantastic book that was suggested to me by my cousin. I'm glad Sandy put me on to it. It's by Brennan Manning...THE RELENTLESS TENDERNESS OF JESUS.

Good stuff.

Be blessed! Be safe! Be filled with hope...the hope that Jesus gives!

Merry Christmas to you and all your peeps!

WHITE SAND OR WHITE SNOW

I've got a buddy in Florida who has just been giving me grief over our weather versus his. He's in Southern Florida and on the beach with the pool. He'll drop me a line asking me if I think he should turn on his A/C or not....what a bum!!!!

He's from Minnesota and has no mercy for me having to shovel my driveway and fight through the 2-3' drifts at my house. He mocks from a distance. Wimp!!!

It's all in good fun and I'm thrilled that he can sit by his pool and have a beverage and contemplate the inconsequential things of life.

He's a great friend, but I really don't like him very much right now!!!!

Hey Tom.....Merry Christmas!!!

STUFF YOU CAN'T CHANGE

I really am hoping and praying this weather system doesn't blow in and mess up Sunday!

What if it does?

What if it doesn't?

Ever worry about stuff you have no control over? I do!!! I shouldn't but I do. It doesn't dominate me, but I end up wondering and trying to figure out woulda, shoulda, coulda.

We have a big day planned for Sunday and I guess I should just not worry about it!

ENLARGED HEART

For the past month, as a church, we have been partnering with the Maple Valley Food Band and Emergency Services in providing gifts for kids/families. Every Monday, I take a car load of gifts, nice and new, and drop them off at MVFB.

Our church has a heart problem!

We are not a large church, but we do have an enlarged heart! The director of the Christmas Gifts program for MVFB even made a comment about how 'giving' the people of Design have been!

Our people were given 62 children to provide gifts for. They were handled quickly. So, the good folks of DCC with the enlarged heart problem, just keep bring gifts and more gifts.

No need to see a cardiologist for this problem!!!

Give on!

Make Today Count!
Mark

LOTS OF LOVE AND LOTS OF CREDIT

Hey, they got it right!!!! It finally blew in!!!

ZERO CREDIT ZERO LOVE

Having lived in a few different states in our fair land, it has been interesting to observe how local weather forcasters communicate what is, what might be, and what was, as it pertains to the weather.

The first time I saw weather forcaster utilizing intense radar imaging was in the Midwest. We lived in 'Tornado Alley' and those folks were serious about black skies with warm and cold air! But, even with their advanced gear, getting the weather nailed, was really tough. The big joke there was "If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes."

Tuning into the weather forcast in Cali was a bit ridiculous once June hit. Quite frankly, the stations could have saved some big dough and just closed that part of the operation down. Sunny. Warm. Hot. Hotter. Plan any event, just take the sunscreen and lots of liquid! See you in late October!!

Here in the NW, we give great grace and kindness to our weather people. I'm not disrespctin' the professionals, but we understand that getting the weather prognosticated properly is out of their control. The disclaimers roll off their lips like the water off of my roof. Not their fault.

When they get it right, we give them zero credit and when they say it is going to be 85 and it clouds up and drizzles with a balmy 68, we give them zero love.

So, they say we might get some snow, other places more snow, the mountains lots of snow, in this new storm. We shall see!!! At any rate, it will be fun to watch it all come roaring in.

Remember: be nice to our weather people, their doing the best they can!!!

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR

Lights! Parties! Being with friends and family! Buying gifts! GETTING GIFTS!!!!! Cold weather! Chance of snow!

And one of the most awesome things to me about living here in the great Seattle area is on those really cold, clear days....Mt. Rainier is absolutly stunning from the hill we live on!!! Then, when we go to Everett to be with family, Mt. Baker is the biggest snow cone you've ever seen!

Tis the season!!!!

Make Today Count!!
Mark

EXPECTATIONS: DO YOU HAVE SOME?

Listening to all the bantering back and forth on the radio and reading the different posts, people still possess some expectations for the future of Husky and Seahawk football. I really get a kick out of the whole process.

And I for one, think it is great!!

Why not?

Have some expectations! Have a level that you refuse to dip beneath! In our politically correct, overly sensitive culture where if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person, somebody somewhere will make you believe that the person you tried to get motivated, has lived a horribly stunted life because you made them feel bad and hurt their feelings.

Baloney!

Expectations are good. Expectations are necessary. If you are underachieving, you'd better hope you have people in your sphere of influence that can get into your mental kitchen and rearrange your furniture!

I'm glad my Mom and Dad had expectations for my life. I'm 45 and they still do! I'm totally thankful that I had professors that said I was lousy! I'm glad I've had friends that have said 'you can do better than that!'

Getting mad at my under achieving is a great motivator for me. How about you? Or do you take offense when somebody calls you out for not meeting expectations?

Get fired up! Reach for and hit those expectations! Don't be a wimp or cry when somebody motivates you to do better.

I saw on YouTube the other day an NFL coach get in the grill of a rookie....the mammoth of a man, the player, not the coach started to cry! Give me a break!!

I for one, was a fan of the Lou Pinella school of Major League Managing: if you don't like it, get over it and if you can't get over it, we'll trade your sorry carcass!

Expectations: do you have some?

MTC!!!
Mark

I AM THANKFUL FOR....

Having Christ in my life
My incredible wife
My two amazing daughters
My wonderful family (mom, dad, brothers and their families, my wife's family)
The amazing people that attend DCC
USA
Excellent health
The ability to give and receive
Food
COFFEEEEEEEE
My great neighbors
My great friends
My home
Automobiles that run
All of the people who have poured into my life the good things that have helped form who I am
And so many, many!!!!

INJUSTICE AND A TURKEY

I love to hunt!

Now for all of you that don't and you have PETA on your speed dial, just relax!!

One of my favorite things to hunt is wild turkeys. They are smart. Wary. And are a very beautiful bird.

Given this is the eve of Thanksgiving and most of us will be with family and friends eating a farm raised turkey, the mind obviously gravitates to the whole reason for the day and that is...........thankfulness. No, its not just another day off!

Two words have been rumbling in my head lately: thankfulness and injustice.

I get to celebrate and be with family and have a warm home and more food than should be legal and watch football and just enjoy.....everything!

What if that was all gone? Would I have a thankful disposition? What if I was in a place where injustice prevailed and I had no voice, no protection, no help, no governmental assistance? What if I was a child and there were no adults in my life I could trust and in a place where adults used me as chattel, would I be a thankful person?

'Injustice' is not just missing a meal or needing a winter jacket. Injustice is a dark and grievous thing that needs people everywhere to correct the wrong and make it right. It might be in Mexico or Asia or Africa...every continent is touched by it.

I am a very thankful person today....more so because of how injustice has made me focus and a huge need and the help of a turkey to make me pause long enough to really evaluate how blessed I am.

I am asking God what I can do to help destroy injustice.

MTC!

Mark

MANAGER OR LEADER?

Are you a manager or a leader?

Granted, there are aspects of each that a person utilizes when leading people, but there are some extreme differences as well.

I came across this topic the other day and it jarred me once again. The first time this question was posed to my brain was probably 15 years ago. It really challenged me.

I've never forgot about it.

So when I came upon this once again doing some reading, the query piqued my attention.

Managers- left brain

Leaders- right brain

Basically stated, managers organize and administrate and put systems together and make sure those systems are running and that people are following in them.

Leaders look to the future, the seek new challenges, they invent, they create, they ask tons of questions like 'why' or 'why not'...not to be antagonistic but to define an approach or direction to something or away from something.

Here is a huge difference: Leaders are focused on people. They realize that their greatest asset is not quarterly numbers, but the people that make the organization work!

So what are you?

MTC!
Mark

PRICELESS AND UNCONTAINABLE

I was checking out the Apple Cup special that was on last night on FSN. It really was pretty cool. The show highlighted the rivalry between UW and WSU on the football field. FSN even broadcasted the 1992, BLIZZARD BOWL. That game was a doozy....snowing sideways, shoveling the field just to see a few lines, snow piles in the end zones, and Mark Brunell and Drew Bledsoe going at it.

It was really cool seeing and listening to Don James (head coach for the University of Washington) and Mike Price (head coach for the Washington State University) talk about that game and their remembrance of the various details was quite vivid.

As I watched them, it struck me how fast 16 years has flown by. My oldest daughter was 3 months old. Now she is one year away from attending either UW or WSU!!

Time is priceless and you can't contain it. It's here and gone. You can't buy more of it and you can't sell any of it. If you try to grab it and store it, you can't. Ask any person who is moving through life and too busy and what would they like more of.....time. Money is good, but time is better. If you have time you can make money. If you have money, you can't buy time. I've known countless people who have much more money than others, but they seem to accomplish less with their time than those who have less dough.

I always end these blogs with MTC.....Make Today Count! We all have the same amount of time. Use it and do good or lose it forever.

MTC!
Mark

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE FOG

Up here in Washington state, the fog can get really thick! Even though you know exactly where you are and where you are going, when the fog rolls in, it becomes a challenge to find your driveway. For people who live on country roads, they go to great lengths to mark their driveway or lane. Reflectors, barrels with reflective tape, flags, goofy metal works of someone's mental machinations....all to find their way home.

We are all kind of doing that now with the economic fog we all find ourselves in. We know where we are at, but it is a bit tricky trying to get through it all. My heart goes out to the millions who are out of work and to those individuals who have just retired only to find their retirement severely depleted.

When I was a little boy, I couldn't say 'foggy' very well. One morning I was looking out the window and I said, "Momma....it's really hoggy outside." Well, it is a bit hoggy outside for all of us right now as we try to maneuver through these new and interesting times.

This I know for sure: tough times don't last, tough people do! Be strong. Put your hope in God and be tough.

We're going to make it just fine.

Make Today Count!

Mark

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Stock Market.
Coaching the Seahawks one final year.
Red light.
Hunting.
Baking.
Grilling.

You make you own list, but timing has such a huge part to play in so many different aspects of our lives. Have you thought about the whole idea of timing lately?

Farmers rotate their crops so as to give the earth time to replenish it's nutrients.

Timing between a quarterback and his receivers.
Timing between a pass from one soccer player to another.
Timing belts on our autos.
Timing in music....don't get me started!

Sometimes timing either breaks a relationship or makes one. Timing can mend or wreck a marriage.

How?

Words. Acts. Deeds. Attention to detail and a response to it. Timing. Is it in you?

Make Today Count (MTC!)

Mark

WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR?

I gotta be honest whichya....I cannot wait for this election season to be over. I'm really sick and tired of the commercials on tv and radio, the flyers, the signs, the 'he said' 'she said'........

However, I am grateful to live in America and to have the opportunity to vote my conscience. To not vote is just plain not taking advantage of the great privilege we have that people groups around the world would, well, die for.

I could care less if by the time the Presidential race is called, Washington's votes don't factor into the win or lose totals, I will have cast my vote, committed to a candidate and once again said a simple and quiet prayer of thanks to God for the USA!

The vote for our gubernatorial race will be different in the sense that we will be able to see in real-time how our votes are influencing the outcome.

So,Let's get it on! Let's vote! Let's move on and clear the air-waves of the whining!!!!! Make sure you vote! You might just be the 'swing vote!!'

MTC!
Mark

BILL WAS RIGHT!

In his book, AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, Bill George speaks directly at and about the nonsense we are seeing played out on every news channel each and everyday regarding the financial mess we are in.

Bill's thesis is simply this: "Timeless leadership is always about character and authenticity."

The book is a fantastic read regarding his view of what true leaders are to be and what authentic companies are to achieve. Anything from over greedy CEO compensation packages to efforts to fraud the shareholder via bogus acquisitions to 'creative' accounting so as to meet quarterly estimates.

Let's face it, character and authenticity will stand up against slick, shiny, and hip and will outlast them all. Without authenticity and a strong moral compass, nothing else really matters or makes sense. Ask Wall Street!

So here you go: are you an authentic leader? To your kids? To your spouse? To your company? To your church? To your team? To the people who depend upon you?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

MARRIAGE

In just a few hours, I will be doing a talk on Marriage. I told my wife earlier this week that I was actually kind of stressed out over this one. We've been married for 21 years and in putting this talk together, I really see some glaring weaknesses in myself and I need to shore them up with God's help.

When I told Karen I felt like a lousy husband she laughed at me...that was not the help I was looking for!!

So, today, once again, I will be talking to myself while people listen in...isn't there help for that kind of stuff?

Here's your daily quiz:

1. How's your marriage?

2. What are your secrets for keeping it exquisite?

3. What are you doing to make it better?

4. What do you do to meet the needs of your mate?

5. Do you understand the needs of your spouse and do you work at meeting them even when you don't feel like it?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!
Mark

HOW DO YOU...

Ever do the old Google search by typing in "How do you...." Funny and interesting some of the stuff that pops up. What really is funny is how it shows me how lousy my initial inquiry was!

So, on the topic of "How do you....." Here's a few ?'s for you personally.

How do you process your anger?

How do you process when someone disrespects you?

How do you process your feelings and emotions when you've 'had it up to here!'?

How do you process the feelings you have when you feel the people nearest you don't care or begin to understand who and why you are you?

I know it's a bit heavy, but those questions have been rumbling in my head as of late and when I look at other people and see a sad face I wonder how they got there. Bums me out.


I do believe that God provides for us what we need to be more than overcomers, winners, achievers in life. But....there are people who believe it too, yet really struggle with these issues. Indeed I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength... but what about those who don't yet know about that strength and his amazing grace?



MAKE TODAY COUNT!!!!

Mark

DON'T MISS THE POINT!

I was talking with a friend the other day about some exercise questions. He's quite the workout guru and nutrition expert. He's been doing it for decades. The guy is ripped and if he didn't have a few grey hairs roaming on his head, would look about 50. The guy is pushing 70.

As we were gabbing about the questions I had he made this comment (he's really funny and says what is on his mind): "Listen you dodo, you body is eating itself! You need protein, protein and more protein!"

Suffice it to say, class was in session!

The bottom line was that I am not eating to support the caloric output from the running I do. Pretty obvious when I'm losing weight. So, I'm on an eating binge! Let's see if I can keep from dipping under the buck-fitty class!

It all made me think: you can do the right things, the healthy things, and still miss the mark!

I've never ran in my life. Now I do 4-6 miles a day. I never used to watch what I ate. Now I'm very aware of what I eat.

Being concerned about out well-being is good, but we can make some mistakes by having too narrow a focus instead of seeing the bigger picture. We can do the right things, but miss the point.

For example: we can say we are going to spend more time with our kids, but if we are "with" our kids and always on the cell phone with someone else, we've missed the point.

We can do something with the family, but if we don't make it a 'good' time because we are mentally checked out, we've missed the point.

We can tell our spouse that we love them, but if we have taken them for granted for years, we've missed the point.

My friend told me in no uncertain terms, that if I didn't start eating better, my body had no choice but to eat itself. I thought that was pretty gross, so his direct approach has worked!!!! I am seeing the point!

Sometimes it takes someone else to help us see the point and once you do, what are you going to do about it?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!
Mark

ALBERT @ WALLY'S

Saturday after Kailee's soccer game, we stopped in at Wally's for a burger and shake. We placed our order and sat down at a table. Next to us was a gentleman and he began talking to me. Usually I start talking to someone, but this guy started in. I really didn't feel like a conversation at the time, but I returned in kind.

At first I couldn't determine if he was just 'simple' or there were deeper issues. He loved sports. He loved hunting. His favorite place to eat was Burger King. Some of his words were difficult to understand. And before long, my entire family was engaged in conversation with this gentleman who loved to talk and loved to laugh.

He has a thriving business. Owns his own home. Doesn't have any family nearby (the closest is in Oregon). He is 62 and looking to retire. His highest level of education: 1st grade. We talked and laughed for an hour.

Some people would view Albert as a person to treat with kindness, but not to be allowed to get too close. I found him to be exhilarating! My kind of guy. Some have said I only have a first grade level of edjubakashun, but boy can I connect with those types!!!! Albert told me the street he lives on....I asked him three times to repeat it. Never did understand him.

Albert has a PhD in discernment. He was as sharp as a tack in areas of life that most people with PhD can't get right. Albert is a very bright person. But at first glance, you would not think that.

I want to find Albert. I want to take him to Burger King and just hang out. Maybe you know him. If you do, let me know where I can find him.

Or maybe, just maybe....Albert was an angel that God knew I needed at that moment. Albert made me laugh and made my family laugh in a way that was rich and deep and fun and honoring and decent and healthy and wholesome. It was cleansing.

God knows what you need and he might just bring an Albert along to give it to you. Accept it.

Thanks God for Albert!

NEW AND IMPROVED!!!!!

I get a kick every time I see a product with the "NEW AND IMPROVED" title. I always wonder: was it old and lousy before? Maybe its been a great product, but great products just come out with a new line or new flavor or new color schemes. I just looked at an email I received from Apple about their new Nano's and their colors.

In life, sorry to say, we are wired to look for the 'new and improved'. There are times it is appropriate as in replacing an unsafe/cash sucking car or updating your lime green/gum soled/suede slip on loafers! There are other times it is not. I don't need a 'new and improved' marriage or family or good/solid friends. If my marriage is not where it should be, well it might require some work. Same with my family and friendships/relationships.

'New and improved' doesn't mean better and more fulfilling/satisfying. Maybe all we need to do is focus upon that which needs some work and put the needed time and energy into making what we already have, bright and bold and beautiful. It's like a car that needs a good wash and wax: it takes some time and effort, but once that takes place, the car looks fantastic and you feel great about the accomplishment.

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

RELATIONSHIPS

I've been doing some research on the topic of relationships. We will be talking on the subject this Sunday. It's really made me stop and evaluate how I'm doing in this area. (Nothing like standing up in front of a bunch of people and using the bible to talk about stuff that I need to grow in!!!! YIKES!) Just because I'm married and have some great friends, does it mean that I've mastered the art of relationships. Terms like 'cultivating, developing, growing, investing' all play a part in whether you and I have good relationships.

We don't need to go through life and be lonely. If we've been burned before in a relationship, it doesn't mean that we cease and desist from developing new ones. We're not talking about marraige, we're talking about relationships with individuals that add value to our days and meaning to our existence.

Whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not, we were made to have other people in our lives. We are better together. We can accomplish much more together.

Life is fuller when we have a few solid relationships in our lives.

If you need to grow in this area, like me, check out the talk on this Sunday. I'm learning a ton about the stuff I have to work on in my relationships!!!!

Have a great day!!!!

MTC!
Mark

RITES OF FALL

School starting.

School supplies.

School clothes.

New schedules, classes, teachers, friends.

Sometimes a new school location.

Weather change.

Football.

Soccer.

Hunting.

With school beginning, there is a basic understanding that, even though we have 'done this before', things are new and fresh and a certain level of excitement is in everybody...students and parents alike! Appropriate change is good and healthy. A new school year brings that...for the students. But what about us who are done with the 'going to school' process?

I'm encouraging myself to take this RITE OF FALL season and change and tweak some things in my life that would be positive and helpful and healthy. As the kids face the new challenges of another year, what am I challenging myself with that will grow and develop me?

Maybe you could do the same. Maybe we all could establish as a new RITE OF FALL, some areas that we want to adjust and change and grow in that will deepen us as an individual, family member, and member of our communities.


Pack your lunch and don't be tardy!!!!

MTC!

Mark

BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS!!

Over the years and running the course of undergraduate and graduate degrees, I've acquired a few books. Like, too many books. Now, I'm not against books at all. In fact, I really have to be careful because I can fall into the trap of acquiring getting books like Mrs. Marcos and her shoe problem.

I've come to the conclusion that, as fond as I am of many of them, they need to go. They serve no purpose for me now. Yes, that is correct. No purpose. For example: COUNTERPOINT TECHNIQUES.... what in the world am I going to do with that? We're not talking leadership or counseling techniques here, we are talkin' how to write music in a contrapuntal style utilizing the appropriate techniques akin to the style. I'm no Bach!! Enough said. The book is gone.

Now, multiply that by boxes of books that were appropriate then, but insignificant now, and we need FREE THE BOOKS!!!

Besides, if I really need to find something that is of intellectual integrity far beyond my means, I have the internet. (no arrogance intended there, more of a jab at self) It's alot more compact than boxes an boxes of books.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE BOOKS. I love research. But, let's face it, things change and our culture changes and we need to be fluid in that culture.

So for now, the books from the degrees and books that have no real impact are gone! There are books that have tremendous value to me and I still utilize, theywill stay. They've made the cut! But for the other four large boxes of books...they won't even make the practice squad!!!

MTC!
Mark

I GOTTA BRAG!

I have been blessed with an awesome privilege and honor: I get to pastor an absolutely AMAZING group of people!!!!! What a thrill!

Today we did a deal we call FUNSUNDAY! We did church outside without any service, well, there was lots of service, but what I mean is that I wasn't up infront of everybody flappin' my piehole. Of which, I'm certain, the entire lot of Designer's were ecstatic!!!!

This FUNSUNDAY! deal was all about giving out free backpacks and school supplies as well as jump houses, free food, and lots of fun! Here's where I gotta brag: the awesome, fantastic, amazing, and phenomenal folks of DCC stepped up and drove it out of the park...a grand salami.

We had over 350 people today and you should have seen the wonderful interaction of the DCC crew as they served people and made people feel welcome and just plain served them. I WAS/AM STOKED!!

I am so proud of these awesome people. What a fantastic honor it is to be associated with them!

Thanks for the opportunity to brag!!!!

MTC!
Mark

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS

Sometimes we downplay the little bit we do for someone else and I actually believe that in our society, that type of thinking actually keeps us from doing something. We think, "Well, I could do this or that to help, but it's not that much." And we back away from doing something and we do nothing.

There will always be needs. There will always be someone who could use an extra little bit of help. There will always be those who are dying for someone to actually take time and talk with them and let them know they are significant. Every little bit helps.

We need to move away from the thought of being the end all and begin to think one thought: my small investment into that person or situation is multiplied over and over again when others do what I am doing!

I'm really excited for Sunday. We are doing a really fun deal and giving away backpacks to the first 400 kids that come. No talk. No church. Just free food and free backpacks with free school supplies and free bounce-houses and games, because we truly believe that every little bit helps!

THE THRILL OF TEAM

Life really stinks when you have to do it alone!!! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of down time from people even though I'm a people person. But to do life or to do ministry or to do a job all by your lonesome, well, it registers a zero on the 'fun' scale!

I was talking to a friend today, Dustin, and we were talking about a new position he has and there are 14 people on his team....everyone a winner!!! He was saying how awesome it is to have great people all going the same direction. No wonder they get so much done! Great teams get great results!!

We were laughing about another time and place where he was trying to do it all by himself and it was really tough. Now he has a great team and the team is accomplishing much!

No matter how talented we are, no matter how gifted we might think we are, no matter how much we read our own press, we still get more done with a team!

I get the greatest thrill from working with teams and seeing the team accomplish more than any one individual ever could dream of accomplishing by herself/himself. We truly are better together!

GO TEAM!!!!

MTC!
Mark

IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED!

Demoted. Bumped. Removed. Ejected. Rejected. Rebuked. Denied.

It has finally happened.

I am no longer welcome in the front seat of the car(s). The oldest now has her driver's license and I am relegated to the back row. The view stinks and the air is stale. The two in the front seat are having way too much fun. They get to make all the decisions on what music we endure and what temperature feels good...in the front. I can't hear what they are talking about, and when I ask for a repeat of the last jumbled sentence I get the "Never mind" and the conversation resumes...IN THE FRONT!!!!!

Man, I hate the back seat. I hate not driving. I hate not playing with the knobs and pre-sets. I'm losing control!!!!!

You know what I need, I need grown up sized baby seat. Padded with side dealios so that I can fall asleep and my neck won't get whacked out. They can toss me some cheerios when I start to get cranky and hand me a sippy cup when I whine. No...not filled with wine. I'm getting some clarity here! I need to mellow out and enjoy the ride. Sleep. Wear a diaper. Wait...too much regression on that point. You get the idea.

Anyway, I'm in the backseat for the rest of my life and reverting back to being what they once were won't solve a thing, so I better just kick back and enjoy the ride!

MTC!
Mark

SWEET 16

I knew this day would come, but not this fast. Come on!! I don't consider myself to be old or getting old or any of that nonsense! So how in the world is my baby, 16 years old today????? Are you kidding me?

What a fantastic, phenomonal, talented, gifted, bright, hard working, God loving and God fearing, gorgeous young woman you are. I'm so proud of you, babe. I can't believe you are 16 today, but I can't deny it either. You make your mom and dad so proud. You inspire me and motivate me to be a better person. You are a tremendous encourager and a very, very strong individual. That was obvious from a very little girl on. You freaked me out when, as a 3 year old you would look at me and say, "Dad, I don't love you." You'd grin as I would try to coax out of you a different response and you would just stare me down with this little, well, Joker grin on your face. Messed me up and you knew it. I love that about you. You are tough. You are tender. You are amazing. You are my baby!!

Happy Sweet 16, babe. I love you more than I could ever say or write.

Dad

LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING

I've been attending a two day conference in Tacoma on leadership. Willow Creek Association puts it on and simulcasts it around the world. It's called: THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT. Excellent and qualified speakers from all walks of life and all types of organizations. It is a very challenging and soul searching event.

We wrap it up today and once again I'm reminded of how important leadership is and how important learning is. I need to lead better and learn more. Once we thing otherwise on those two subjects, I believe, we will run into some trouble in life and or the families and companies we lead. If we as individuals can always learn to lead better and to always be learning new things, we will have a much larger impact when we input into the generation below us and our peers around us.

MTC!
Mark

LESS THAN 100%

This past week I have battled allergies on a grand scale. They have been driving me crazy!!! Tired. Itchy eyes. Scratchy throat. Difficulty in sleeping. Waaa, waaa, waaa!!

You know, when we are not feeling 100%, it puts a bummer on the day. My little allergy spell will go away, but it makes me think about the people who suffer everday, all day long, with physical ailments. They won't get better. They will be in this condition for the rest of their lives...unless God heals them.

Makes me quit complaining and helps me to focus on how wonderful life is and healthy I am. I know I take my health for granted sometimes and I shouldn't. But all it takes is for me to dip below the 100% bar and I really focus on how God has blessed me with great health.

Maybe take a moment and thank God for your great health AND pray for someone who is battling a tough physical condition!

MTC! (make today count)
Mark

STUNNING

We were at my cousin Brian's wedding last night. What a blast!! Their wedding was an outdoor deal at The Golf Club at Newcastle. It could not have been a nicer day!!

Having never been to the Club, I was unaware of the view. Talk about a view. Cloudless sky. From the Club house you can see the tower at SeaTac Airport, you can see Seattle's skyline, Bellevue's sky line, Lake Washington snake along from Renton to Kirkland, and this was the most amazing thing: you can see the entire range....from the north end to the south end...of the Olympic Mountains. I'm still stunned!!!!

The wedding was spectacular and the view was God crafted!!!! Unbelievable. The sunset was nothing short of perfect. I have never seen this before, but as the sun finally crept behind the Olympics, the last itzy, bitzy part of it as it went down was this intense light....like a laser. Pretty cool stuff.

If you ever get a chance to take a drive on a sunny day or evening, head up there...the view is outrageous!!!! God sure does nice work!

Have an awesome day!!!!

MTC!
Mark

WHAT A WEEK!

Ok, so here's the deal, last week went like this:
Wednesday- friends in town from Minnesota
Friday- friend in town from Greece
Saturday- cousin's wedding (awesome wedding Meredith and Tommy!); hadn't seen one of my cousins for the past 12 years and was able to re-connect with him (he's lived in Hong Kong for the past two decades), met his wife and stepdaughter.
Today- friends in town from Sacramento and later today, another cousin is getting married!!

I love it!

Have a great day! I'm going to!!!

MTC!
Mark

A GOLDEN GOPHER, GREEK FISHERMAN, AND A CALIFORNIA EYE DOCTOR...

Sounds like one of those goofball jokes, doesn't it?

What they all have in common is that they are all fantastic friends of ours and they will all be with us this week at different times. What a blast!!!

These exquisite friends are all fantastic people that have impacted my life and the lives of my wife and kids in tremendous ways. I haven't seen the Golden Gopher (Minnesotan) for eight or nine years...the Greek commercial fisherman almost 10 years...and my dear eye doctor friends for over two years.

They have all been in churches we have served and they are some of the finest people God ever made.

So, needless to say it has been culture week at our home and we have laughed ourselves silly!

Thank God for life-long friendships!

Have a super day and stay connected with the important people in your life!!!

Make Today Count! (MTC!)

-Mark

BATTER UP!!

What a riot!!!

If you don't know this, our church is only 10 months old. We have a great mix of people and one of the guys thought we should have a church softball team....jack and jill! So James put it all together. He coached it. Designed the jerseys. Called practices. The whole nine yards! James, you did an outstanding job, bro!!!!

I was the second oldest player on the team. There were five of us over forty, two guys in their thirties and the other eight players were in their twenties!! We had a blast.

Laughing at each other was mandatory. Encouraging each other was necessary. And winning, well, we played better than .500 ball!

The experience was very fun and quite entertaining. My wife played as well and she had a great time!

I think the best line of the season came from our post 40 year old pitcher as a grounder came rolling by him just out of his reach and I heard him holler: "If that was a cookie, I would have got it!"

That's just beautiful!!!!!!!

MTC!
Mark

Just a little more effort

In the 100 breaststroke in 2004, as Puyallup's golden girl and two-time Olympic champion Megan Quann, she was out-touched at the wall by rival Tara Kirk of Bremerton to finish third by 11-hundredths of a second at the trials, missing the Olympic team.

Four years later, at the trials earlier this month, Jendrick eked out an Olympic berth by one one-hundredth of a second, beating none other than Kirk.

That's the story from a recent article in the Seattle Times on the two local Olympians. When interviewed further, Megan Quann Jendrick admitted that when the training got tough and she would want to ease up, she would remember the narrow loss by 11-hundredths of a second and she would continue to push herself.

How many times do we just plain quit instead of giving it just a little more effort. Maybe in that 'little bit more' we would find the 'win'. Don't stop. Don't quit. Be a Megan. Come back after four years of training hard and win. Just a little more effort is all it might take!!

MTC!
Mark

INCOMPLETE

Ever take a class and recieve and 'I'? Incomplete. Well, even though I never have, it feels like I'm getting an 'I' on this blog!!!! I haven't written anything for way too long! Some time away. Hectic schedules. Sometimes not feeling like writing anything.

So, today, I'm revoking the Incomplete and turning in some work!

The funny thing about an incomplete is that if it stays that way for too long, it becomes more than that...like just plain failing. Not finishing, quitting, giving up are all incompletes which ultimatley lead to failure. Sometimes taking a break or catching a breather is necessary, but we should all work towards finishing and finishing well!

I hope you have a FANTASTIC day! Turn the incompletes of your life into completes! Do it today!!! You can do it!!


MTC!
Mark

LAUGHING UNTIL YOU CRY

I read a blog this week about a guy who had a tryout with one of the NFL team trainers. His objective: to be able to write about the typical tryout with an NFL team in areas speed, agility and strength.

As I began to read his blog, it was obvious by his self deprecating humor, that he was a writer and not an athlete. I was in a public location reading away when I started to laugh. The more I read the louder I laughed and then it hit me.....'I've got my headphones on and music playing and I'm really laughing quite hard.' I quick took a check around me and only a couple of people were glaring at me. I turned off the music and took off the headphones!

The blog only got funnier!

It reminded me of one of our friend's grandaughter. We were with them and her little daughter began to laugh. She laughed so hard that after a minute or so of laughing she started to cry. She would laugh and then cry. When everything settled down, we asked her why she was crying she said that her tummy and face hurt from laughing so much!

It's good to at least once a day (better if more), that you bust a gut laughing at something or someone. Be nice, but go for it! Ever notice how laughing is contagious? The bible says that laughter is like medicine. Researchers have noted that people who laugh and laugh often are healtheir than those who don't!

My suggestion: laugh until you cry!

MTC!
Mark

RED SCHWINN WITH THE CHOPPER HANDLEBARS

For my birthday in 1972, I received from my mom and dad a shiny, brand new, red body, white metallic seat, a big fat slick for the back tire Schwinn bycycle with the big chopper handle bars. I thought I had hit the big time!!!

That bike received major use! It took me to football practice, baseball practice, the local fishing ponds, to my friends and towed home-made hydros made out of plywood that we would drag up and down our street! Too many good times to count and far too many care-free moments to remember.

Today, yes today, I sold it in a garage sale. Kinda weird. Both tires were flat. The seat cracked and torn. The guy that bought it thought he was pulling a fast one by getting such a great deal. He hit the jackpot! I already had.

Getting the bike, for that fella, was a grand coup. But the reality is that there is no way to put a price tag on the years of fun the bike gave me. You couldn't put a price tag on how grateful I am, these many years later, for my mom and dad sacrificing to get me such a cool bike.

I hope the guy fixes it up and makes it look shiny and new once again. Maybe he'll re-sell it and make a few bucks.

The red Schwinn with the chopper handlebars is now history, but the good times on Robinhood Land riding my bike will always bring a smile to my face.

If only everything we possess could bring us that much joy!

Enjoy what you have and make great memories with it!!!!

MTC!
Mark

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

School's out! Unbelievable!! Remember how when you were a kid and the school year took forever? Now as parents we understand much better the phrase our parents would say: 'I can't beleive where the time went?'

I believe it now!!!

Time they say is our most precious commodity (well, now that gas is $4.37 a gallon we could debate that one!!). And we all know that once its gone, its truly gone. Things happen in moments. Learning to cherish the moments while focusing on the big picture of the day or week or month or year can at best, be a huge challenge. I'm trying to focus on moments more than the macro image in life. In other words, taking each day and absorbing mentally and physically and emotionally the varied and unique moments versus just looking at the 'to-do' list for today.

I, like my parents would often say, can't believe where the time goes and the end of the school year just seems to highlight that even more. BUT....the good news is that today is here and there will be great things that will happen and you and I need to be ready to seize those moments!!!

So, instead of trying to figure out where the time whent, add up the awesome moments of today!

MTC!
Mark

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Hey all you dads out there....HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Being a dad is one of highest honors we could ever have. What we do with that honor is up to us. We can wear it well or we can misplace it or we can neglect it or we can shine it up and polish it and make it bright and beautiful.

Listen, don't live in guilt if you feel that you have not met the standards you had hoped for in being a father. Rather, START NOW! You can do it! The game isn't over. There's lots of time on the clock. Begin today!!!

If you are doing well in this area of being a dad, right on! Keep going! Don't slack off!!!

Being a great dad has nothing to do with giving your kids all the latest and the greatest, but rather, focusing on them as individuals and helping meet their needs in each area of their lives. As we help our kids grow into potential packed young adults by giving them love and encouragement and boundaries and relationship and a solid spiritual foundation, we will have done well!

Go for it dad!! You are so very important to your kids!!!

MTC!
Mark

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH

I bought a new running watch. Totally nuts. The thing has a barometer and altimeter on it. Tells you the temperature outside. It syncs to the computer and in no time flat puts out what you just ran, how fast, how far, heart rate, average heart rate, oxygen consumption, etc.

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

As if I need to know all that (which begs the ? why did I buy it in the first place!!).

The watch is really, really cool. It is a great help in my running. But, man, I can't believe how much stuff is on it. It will take me some time to get the most out of it.

I probably stepped up and out of my league on this one, but I am using it and learning how to use it better and it has already helped in my daily running routine.

What's the lesson here: absolutely nothing, just letting you know about my new watch!!!!!

RELATEABLEVANTCY

Terminology changes all the time. Phrases become obsolete. Words come in and out of vogue. The word 'cool', was something we said in the '70's and it has been back now for a number of years.

Relate, Relevant are two words that on the surface, may not appear to connect. You hear alot about being relevant. You hear alot about relationship.

In our culture there is a huge need for both: being about connecting in meaningful and positive ways with other people and being connected with what is happening 'now' in the most sensible and positive manner.

The rub comes when relationship and relevance twist and contort into a pressure packed, either or scenario.

When relationships become pressured, they don't work. When someone or some place or some group tries too hard to be relevant or hip, it comes off contrived and superficial.

If we can sing at the top of our lungs each day the phrase "I gotta be me!", and if everyone of us did that, relatability and relativity would rise. Being authentic with self and to life (another word) promote relateablevantcy.

MTC!
Mark

MEASURABILITY

I read some rather jaw-dropping stats today. Check these out.


Tiger Woods
$111,941,827

Oscar De La Hoya
$55,000,000

Phil Mickelson
$51,256,505

Shaquille O'Neal
$35,000,000

Kobe Bryant
$33,718,750

Between salary/winnings and endorsements, that is what the aforementioned gentlemen made last year.

Interesting. The decimal point is at the end of the numbers. We're talking millions. We're talking playing games and punching someone.

What is the measureable worth of someone to something?
How valuable are you to your kids?
How valuable are you to your spouse?
How valuable are you to God?

I would say your measurable worth to your family and to God is much greater than the numbers listed above. You are worth more than a few hundred million per year. You are irreplaceable, invaluable, and worth far more than any team or corporation could pay.

Players come and players go, but there is only one of you and you are the most important person in quite a few people's lives!

MTC!
Mark

REMEMBERING

Memorial Day weekend. What big plans do you have? Any? Regardless of whether you are out enjoying the lake or camping or just getting together with friends, take a brief moment and reflect, yes I said reflect, think about those loved ones of your's that have passed away. Remember the good times. Ignore the bad ones. Take the good.

Remembering during this weekend, the tens of thousands who have given their life and their efforts over the decades to preserve and secure our freedoms, is always appropriate. It should never be considered an awkward or 'old school' experience when we pay tribute to men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. It's a matter of respect. Honor. Dignity.

Remembering the price others have paid so that we didn't have to, should always be at the front of our mind.

If you know a veteran, tell them thank you. If you have a relative who has served, tell them thank you. If you don't know of anyone, call your local VFW hall and you can get a list of names pretty quick in the city you live.

Remembering and giving thanks keeps life real.

MTC!
Mark

PGF

We talked on Sunday about THE FOUNDATION OF FIDELITY AND TRUST and how important it is in our families.

You need to listen to it!

So, last night I'm checking in on the score of the Spurs/Hornets game and I swing past Dr. Phil and I hear him say the word 'fidelity'. So I quickly hit the clicker brakes and backed up. Wouldn't you know it, he was talking to a couple about Fidelity and Trust!!!! Maybe you saw it.

I watched for about 10 minutes and was blown away by how jacked up this marriage was due to infidelity and distrust. It made me very sad.

When we PUT GOD FIRST in our lives, everything else works out. Sure, as a Christ follower, we blow it and make mistakes. We're all flawed, but when we attempt to live our lives with God taking priority in our lives, fidelity and trust works and life is much better.

Fidelity and Trust won't resolve every tension in life, but it will make for a home that is filled with live and acceptance. Try it, you'll like it!!

MTC AND PGF!!!
Mark

HERD STATUS AND A DODGE PICKUP

Herds meander along. Herds run when one starts to run. Herds stop when the one in front stops.

Have you ever noticed how many times you do something just because the people in front of you or around you are doing the same thing? For instance, when you are in a crowd, most everyone just follows the person in front of them. How many times have you been in traffic and you just keep creeping along and then it dawns on you, "The other lane has been going by me quite a bit faster and for quite some time! Maybe I should get out of this lane and move over one."

I saw something this morning that made me think about this whole 'herd status' deal.

In the mornings I travel a certain road and there is always a back up at a certain four way stop (four stop signs). About a mile from the stop sign, I noticed a Dodge pick-up with two high school guys trying to get onto the road I was traveling. I went by and paid zero attention to them. As usual, there was probably a 15 car back up at the four way stop.

When I was about four cars back from the stop sign, I looked at the stop sign on my left and noticed the two boys in their truck taking a left and started down the road I was on!

They didn't follow the herd!

Well done dudes!!!

They veered left when the herd (me included) stayed right. They added two turns to their route, but beat all of the herd by a long shot!!!

It has never crossed my mind to take the other road. Not anymore.

Life is like that. Most everyone follows the herd. The herd defines the status quo. The herd determines what the herd will do, where it will go, what it will accomplish.

Few are the herd busters and status quo smashers.

The four minute mile was unheard of until Roger Bannister broke it and then everybody started running sub-four miles.

Climbing Mt. Everest seemed improbable and ridiculous until Sir Edmund Hilary ascended it.


Think about other areas in life and in human history where people said 'it can be done' while the herd is off talking about how silly the people are who are defying herd status.

Mind over matter. Heart over opinions. The road less traveled.

There are different and better ways to do some things that have always been done a certain way by the herd.

Thank you Dodge pick-up!

MTC!
Mark

WHAT A DAY!

Yesterday's weather couldn't have been more perfect! It was stunningly gorgeous!

We took in the Mariner's game last night with some kids from the church and even when the sun went down, it stayed warm. How sweet it is! Now, if the Mariners could have played a bit better...

Today is going to be another beauty so enjoy it. Enjoy everything you do today and just imagine if instead of it being sunny and warm, it was 57 and drizzling!

It's ok to sweat.


MTC!
Mark

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Yesterday was absolutely fantastic!!!

After having a fabulous morning at church (big crowd, awesome people, loads of fun), we headed up to spend the rest of the day with Karen's mom and later my mom. It was all wonderful!

I was talking on the phone today with one of our leaders and she had mentioned how they had spent the day with their daughter who lives in Seattle and how much fun they had. Another great day!

I talked with a buddy of mine who lives in Cali today and he said yesterday was great as well. Of course 85 degrees and celebrating Mother's Day guarantees a great day!!!

All in all, it was great celebrating moms and then being able to celebrate with my mother in law and my mom made for a great day!!!

Great days are good!!!

MTC!
Mark

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

We celebrated Mother's Day at our house yesterday!! Karen is such an awesome mom!! God must really love me for letting me marry out of my league! I love it!!!

Hey, to all the mom's out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!! You guys are the huge heroes of life!!!!! For all of your tenderness, we guys know how you really are...there is no way on earth we could ever endure the whole childbirth thing. Shoot! We can barely endure the child birth classes!!!! You mom's really are tougher than us guys!!!

I hope everyone of you has an absolutely wonderful day as we celebrate YOU!!!!!

MTC!
Mark

ARE YOU READY?

I love Mother's Day!!! Are you ready for it? Do you have the cards, the gifts, the reservations made? The older I grow, the more I love Mother's Day! I suppose it is because I understand more fully the effort, love, sacrifice, instrution, devotion and just plain hard work mom poured into me! Let me tell you, I was a ton of work!!!!

My mom is one of my heroes!

She was raised on the wind blow landscape of North Dakota at the end of the Depression. My mom did not have running water until she was in high school. She was the youngest of six. Never really had Christmas presents, they were far too poor. In the winter, grandma would put stones in the oven and heat them up and then my mom and her sister would take them upstairs and put them in their beds to stay warm...for a while.

Needless to say, my mom could kick my rumpus any day of the week. She is a very strong woman.

That's why God gave her four boys.

She poured into us boys everything she had and now she does the same for her grandchildren. She laughs at hard work, scoffs at sacrifice, and has never wavered in her faith and love and devotion to God.

I remember when my girls were five or six years old. She was walking with my two little girls with their sandals on the wrong feet and two high school age boys were coming in my mom's direction. My wife and I were about 30 yards behind my mom and the girls. The boys had the low hanging shorts and my mom didn't think that was too cool for her to see let alone her two precious grandaugthers. She gave those two boys the verbal berries!!! Had they lipped off I'm afraid she would have decked 'em. She had obviously gotten her message across because those boys hiked their drawers up and were beat red in the face when they walked by my wife and me.

Mom is the most loving person I know. She can't get enough of her grandkids. She has almost killed every single one of them when they were babies, because of her never ending kissing and hugging. She really knows how to pour it on.

All I can say is that I am eternally grateful to God for my mom. I am eternally grateful for allowing me to be raised by such a wonderful, charming, beautiful, talented and strong woman.

I can't wait to see mom on Sunday and give her a hug and a kiss and once again tell her how much I love her.

I love you mom!!

MTC!
Mark

LET'S BLAME THE WEATHER!

It seems that up here in the greyed out PNW, we could just about blame everything on the weather. I mean come on, let's get real, we haven't seen a streak of nice sunny, warm, border line hot weather since, well, I can't remember!!!!

I remember discussing this with a friend who moved out here from Wisconsin over twenty years ago and he had to get on medication for a while because of the grey! So I blame the weather for that!

When I was in college the old road rage thing started up. People blamed it on too many people moving into Seattle from sunnier climates and the weather made them drive weird! Go figure!!

I would like to blame the Mariners and their abysmal playing on the weather.

Starbucks is blaming their recent struggles on the weather! Seriously!!! Just kidding!

Why do you think tanning establishments are so effective up here??? Yep, the weather!

Why do we drink so much of the aforementioned black stuff in a cup???? Yep, just to stay warm.

So, whenever you have a problem, just blame the weather. Don't blame the dog or the wife or the kids or the boss or the garbage man or the traffic man or even the weather man...now there's one for you! Why would you want to even be a weather man up here?

So, just be happy. Deal with it! Get over it! I just checked outside, it's grey again!

MTC!
Mark

MENTAL

No! Not that!!!

I saw a deal on Discovery or something like it about the physical effects of the IronMan competition on the body of a normal joe. Pretty amazing.

At one point during the run, he had to stop and get checked out by doctors. He thought he was a gonner. The doctors convinced him otherwise after a complete check up.

He was suffering from severe pain all over due to a lack of proper hydration. His muscles were tearing and could not mend themselves due to a lack of water. Once he reydrated, he convinced himself to finish the race. And that is just what he did.

He said the turning point was when he made the switch in his mind from "I can't go on" to "I can finish this thing!"

You've heard it before. I have as well...."Mind over Matter". There is a simple yet profound truth to it all. If we set our mind to complete versus quit, we normally do what we think.

So here is the deal: what are your primary thoughts regarding a challenge you are facing?

• Quitting
• Slacking
• Leaving
• Finishing strong
• Perservering
• Completing
• Doing the right thing

Most of it is just mental!

MTC!

Mark

SUPER BLESSED

I am one of the most blessed humans on the planet! There are so many things in my life that God has blessed me with that blow my mind!!

He has blessed me with phenomenal kids, a fantastic family, super parents, awesome brothers, a great church filled with outstanding people, etc, etc.

But at the top of the list is my wife! God has given me a woman I do not deserve. Trust me, he hooked me up with her, because, quite frankly, I'm just not that sharp!!!

One really cool thing is that her birthday just so happens to fall one week prior to Mother's day. Celebrating her birth and then having the privilege of celebrating her 'momship' one week later, is for me, a really fun deal!

So, today is a big day because we get to celebrate her birthday and me and the girls get to party with such a wonderful lady! And then next week we do it all over again!!!!

I'm just flat out super blessed!!!

MTC!
mac

PLAY BALL!

It's been at least 15 years since I played on a church softball team! What a riot!

Last night we had our first practice and it is obvious that 15 years have gone by and the body just doesn't do what it was once capable of doing. But some things never change!

Winning is not the objective, staying healthy is!
Being an encourager to the other players, knowing they are doing thier best!
Enjoying the opportunity to hang out with people and get to know them better.
Laughing at: 1. myself 2. my fellow team-mates 3. Anything and everybody else
Looking forward to the games and laughing some more!!!

So, here we go. A summer of games and good times on the old church softball team. I'm just hoping Casey doesn't get too winded over there playing first base!!!

Let the laughter begin!!!!!

MTC!
mac

WHAT A CHARACTER!

This Sunday we are going to talk about CHARACTER.

Someone once said, "Character is who you are when no one is looking."

• How do you define character?
• What does character look like?
• Can you tell if a person has it? If so when? Why?
• Do you live your life by it?
• Do you instill it within others?
• Is it one thing or many parts?
• Of what benefit is it to me or anybody else?
• Do you wish others had it only when they do you wrong?
• Does character help you determine how and what to do at any given moment?

Character is a big issue in our personal lives, our homes, our leaders, etc.

Have a great day!

MTC!

Mark

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT KIDS

Yesterday was absolutely fantastic!!! What a great day it was: we had a ton of new people at church yesterday, people I had never met. Great people!!!

Then we had our small group yesterday evening. The kids were wanting to play outside and so I took them to the park. The kids ranged in age from 2yrs-12yrs. We had five of them and I'm telling you what, they were hilarious!!!

• they love to have fun
• they love to have fun doing the simplest of things
• they love to play chase
• they love to make their own 'bases' (you remember, safety zones)
• they love to make a base on a bark chip if they know you are going to catch them
• they love to slide down slides and get thrown in the air
• they love swings
• they love to rough house when they know they can hit someone bigger and not get hit back
• they love to laugh
• they love to get dirty because they've never done laundry
• they love to scream really loud
• they love to just be a kid

I was struck once again at their perfect innocence and perfect view of how life should be lived.

What I love the most about kids is their ability to love and accept and trust. We would do exceptionally well to guard these virtues in them with our very lives.

MTC!

Mark

ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN THE WORLD

You've got your Deadliest Catch, Dirty Jobs, and Ice Road Truckers. Sure, they are tough jobs and it really is amazing to see what situations they must contend with.

But I believe that parenting is one of the toughest jobs a person could ever have.

Some jobs are seasonal. Some jobs fall into a mundane, same-old routine kind of job. Some jobs are even highy glamorous.

Parenting is not seasonal, it is a life long process.

Parenting isn't just dirty, it is sometimes quite nasty!!!

Parenting is never mundane or boring and never falls into the same-0ld-routine category.

Parenting is never glamorous.

Parenting, even though a very difficult job, is the best gig around. Really! My kids make me a better person. They keep me current. They challenge me. They test my compassoin level. They look up to me and see how my faith is doing. They want me to make them laugh and then tell me that was 'lame'!

I still highly value my parents' input into my life. I still look up to them. I wonder how they raised four boys.

Today at Design, we are talking about parenting. It is going to be great! If you can't get there, check out the podcast on our website.

Parenting is tough. Parenting is not a science. I need to get better at it.

MTC!
Mark

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

For a couple of days this week I was at a conference in Vancouver, WA and it just so happened that my dad and I were able to room together. On Tuesday night, I was sleeping soundly and I suddenly woke up to a noise and tried to sit up. As I was doing so, I twisted my shouler and tweaked it. Man, did that hurt!!

The noise part was just my dad getting a drink of water!

Had I just not freaked out and opened one eye, I would have been fine. I freaked and then tweaked!

There is junk in life just like that. We don't need to freak out over things that may not be an alarming situation even though our first response is to believe so. Sometimes we make a good day a bad one by worrying over something that never materializes. Or we ruin our home by being overly worried about something that never ends up happening.

I've had older friends who could have lived life in a much more exciting way. They could have invested their lives and huge money into God's work and other great human need type organizations. They didn't. They feared certain 'bump in the night' things that had nothing to do with faith. And the very things they feared, those 'bump in the night' things like: Do I have enough? I haven't traveled enough. I'm retired now, it's my turn to have some fun. If I actually gave more of my time and resources I may not have enough time and resources to do what I want.

Fear is not faith, but faith always has to conquer fear. If we fear the things that might happen to us in life, we will never go forward. We will never achieve. We will never acquire. We will never realize God's grand design for our personal life.

There are things I'm dealing with that are requiring deeper levels of faith than ever before. And I must say, fear is in there. But, with God's help and the help of others, the fear is pushed out as God brings things together. Faith grows. New challenges are met. People are helped. Needs are taken care of.

The next time you wake up in the middle of the night to a sound or an anxiety, just remember, you might just be freaking out over something that is not a problem at all.

MTC!
Mark

To

LEAD WHERE YOU LIVE

I get a good laugh at people who want to lead everyone else but refuse to lead where they live. These are the people who offer you advice on how you should do this or that even if they have never done what you do! These are the types who believe they have a knowledge base large enough to tell just about anybody how to do their job, run the governmnet or fix transportation issues.

Leading where you live is a strong rule to live by. Leading, as others have put it, in your sphere of influence, is always best. Of course that implies you must first have a sphere of influence.

Leading where you live starts with you and it starts with me and then flows out to others we have input.

Leading where you live starts inside of us; our thoughts, our motives, heart, how we view others and our relationship with God. Once we get these things right, we can then effectively begin to lead where we live and that might mean leading a few or many people.

Leading where you live is needed, necessary and not an option if we are going to fulfill God's design for our lives and be a help to others!!!

MTC!
Mark

FANTASTIC!!!!

What a great day yesterday!

We had a ton of new people visiting as we kicked off our FLIP THIS FAMILY! series. It was really great meeting all of you.

We talked openly and honestly about marriage. I've been challenged to step it up in some areas in my life where I could be a better husband!!!

God wants our marriages to be great. He invented the whole idea. Sex is His idea, too and He has boundaries for that. GOD IS NO PRUDE! He made it for us to enjoy within the confines of marriage. We talked about a ton of stuff. We also talked about God's love and desire to help us out of and over our hurt and pain and sorrow for things run amuck in our lives regarding marriage.

If you weren't there check out the podcast.

MTC!
Mark

GREAT DAY!

Today is going to be a great day!!

I can feel it! I know it is!! Even though it is snowing right now and the 82 degrees from last Saturday seems like some odd dream, today is going to be sunny and warm!!!! Well.....in my head anyway!!!

I am totally pumped!! We kick off a new nine week series on the family today. It has been amazing to me as I have been studying for this series, how the family is precariously perched on any number of precipices that could lead to their undoing. It doesn't have to be that way. There is hope and help for all of our families.

So today, we kick it all off with a talk on marriage: FIRE UP YOUR MARRIAGE! Should be fun!

God wants you and yours to be a great family!!!

He can Flip Your Family!!!

MTC!
Mark

OPPORTUNITIES MISSED

Taking responsibility is one of life's greatest opportunities. However, it is an opportunity that is more often than not ignored in our society.

People would love to come up with their lists or items they feel you should be responsible for, but I'm refering to those basic and good and honorable areas of life that as humans, we have the opportunity to take responsibilty...to own.

I have found it interesting to watch this whole Hatfield (Seattle and Co.) and McCoy (Bennett and Co.) feud heat up revolving around the Sonics. He said. She said. They said. Good faith. No faith. Recission. It all comes off at times like immature teen-agers name calling on the playground.

Our benchmark for behavior should never be as low as being demonstrated by the afformentioned groups. Yuk!!!!

Rather, we have the opportunity to step up and take responsibility for some wonderful things in life like:
Being a great spouse
Being a great mom or dad
Being a great teen-ager or young adult
Being a great neighbor
Holding up our end of the agreement
Saying kind words and not hurtful words
Being a great employer or great employee

You get the point. So, let's not miss the opportunities we have right in front of us in the area of taking responsibility for things we should!

MTC!

Mark

DRIVEWAY CRASHING

Having spent six years in SUNNY, WARM, even HOT Cali, I picked up a few lessons on life that were really quite fun!

One of those lessons was how to hang out with your neighbors and just talk and be neighbors!

I'll never forget turning the corner into our court on one SPECTACULAR, SUNNY, HOT late afternoon, and being totally surprised to see my neighbors in their beach lawn chairs, sitting in the driveway. The dude was checking out the latest PotteryBarn catalogue!!!

My first thought was total Blue Collar TV type thoughts. Who in the world sits in their driveway in lawn chairs!!!!!!!

Bret and Juree and the kids became some of our dearest friends. You know, life-long, deep, rich in relationship, kind of friends.

But, my buddy Brett taught me the art of driveway crashing. Just grab a cold beverage of choice, a beach lawnchair and crash. Hang out. Chill. Talk. Laugh. Philosophize. Good times!

One day, Brett and I were DC'ing and we were evaluating people who were coming to check out the house that was for sale across the street from his home. Absolutely hilarious!!!!

I do miss DC'ing with my good friends, and I think that is one thing we lack miserably up here in the Western WA because of our cold weather.

I'm hoping for a hot summer and I plan on transporting the whole DC'ing concept to my neighborhood.

Thanks Brett for the schooling!!!

MTC!
mac

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Have you ever had anybody ask you that question? And then you try to explain it.

Some jobs are pretty obvious as to what is invovled: garbage truck driver, fireman, policeman, dentist, doctor, teacher, professor, banker, etc.

How 'bout....church planter!

Now there's one for the old, 'what in the world do you do all day????" file! Trying to explain this to people is like trying to have the farmer explain how he goes about germinating the corn crop!

A new church, ex nihilo, being made out of nothing, is much like planting a garden or shrubs or lawn. It takes time, care, protection, nutrients, patience, attention, focus, determination, an ability to shrug off discouragement, proper maintenance, and time. Did I say time???

Before stepping out to do this 'church planter thing', the supporting cast around me was quite large. All that to say, there are no other departments to handle this requisition or that, no media department or graphics department.. it's just the planter and the people that have made the huge decision to jump on board and see this thing through! God bless them!!!

All in all it is a daily dose of faith and function squashing out the fear! God is so cool. He is in this! It's a far cry from a human perspective from being in front of 4,000 people each week, but I wouldn't trade it for the this world!!! For sure, the next one!

So, what do you do?

MTC!
mac

TAKEN FOR GRANTED

Everyone of us understands how life really can grind to a halt when we lose our health. It might just be the common cold or worse, the dreaded stomach flu. When it really gets tough are those prolonged medical situations that everyone dreads.

I'm amazed at how often I take my good physical health for granted. What an incredible creation the human body is. It functions without me having to think about it and I just keep on living. I don't think about breathing or walking or talking or swallowing or how to regulate my temperature...make up your own list of amazing things that you take for granted related to your excellent physical health.

I'm grateful today to God for my excellent health and I apologize for taking it for granted!

Have a great day!!!

MTC!
mac

BOWLING AT MIDNIGHT

Last night we went bowling with a bunch of the students from the church. What a riot!! I would starve on the PBA...if they even still have one!

The kids were totally cool. We all laughed at each other and everyone had a blast. The highlight for me was when one of the chaperones, Casey hit the hardwood after a mighty hefty release of the ball!

What was really great was just hanging out with the kids. They are really great!! Sharp. Intelligent. Good looking. Funny. Their future is exceptionally bright.

For all the stuff you hear about in the news and read in the paper about how today's youth are all jacked up, well, if you could have been bowling with us last night at midnight, you would have seen some great kids heading in the right direction in life...not on the lanes, however!!!!

MTC!
mac

GREAT PEOPLE

There are certain people in life who make your day brighter and better. They come in all shapes and sizes and personalities. They are the kind of people who have learned from life that you don't need every question answered ahead of time and that sometimes you just figure it out as you go. They have experienced enough diversity and adversity in life that diving in and helping is the point, having 'every duck lined up in a row' is not.

My car broke down the other day, the heater core (now I know what that is!) sprung a leak and I had coolant dripping inside the car. I was in rush hour coming from Bellevue back to Maple Valley. I had the windows down and the steam was belching out of the car. I'm sure somebody was wondering when the car would explode.

Made it home just fine. I was calling around trying to figure out how and when to get it fixed when my wife said I should call a friend of ours..H.C. So I did. He said, 'great! Bring it over.'

H.C. is really a gifted guy. Great mechanic. One of those guys who can look at it and know what everything does and where it goes. I'm looking at it wondering 'what in the world is the first step?' H.C. get's after it and after a few hours of wrestling with a metal bear, get's everything put back together and it runs like new!

H.C. didn't ask 'how', 'why', 'what if', he just said 'Bring it over!'

When we can and we know how to help someone in need, we should.

Thank you H.C.! You rock!!!!

MTC!
Mark

April 1

1. I'm amazed at how fast time flies by.

2. There are good people everywhere.

3. I need to listen more.

4. Getting in shape always used to be easy.

5. Every day I thank God for how He has blessed me with such a wonderful wife and kids.

6. Each day I am more aware of my need for God in the best of ways.

DUDE!

I have always viewed running as something to be done in short bursts, never for a long period of time. However, as we get older there comes the need to get in shape and stay in some semblance of shape, thus running seems like a necessary evil kind of thing.

So, my friend Greg was discussing with me his high cholesterol yesterday and we were talking about it and he brought up the horrific question: "Do you run?". The conversation then began to include our wives and before you know it we decided that I should join him on his daily run and it would be a good thing.

Tell, me, what good can come out of a three mile run when one has not run for over three years?

After the first hundred yards I had already hit the wall! Yikes.

We pressed on. The talking got less and less. The breathing became much more labored and then about a mile and a half into it we hit the first hill. The running turned into a walk up the last little bit of the hill. Yikes!!!

All I could get out of my mouth was, "Dude!"

So, I know this will be good for me and I know my body needs the work and I know that this will be a challenge, but why do I hate it so much??? It's like practicing scales in every modality and working on the arpeggios...not glamorous, but it sure pays off when you actually have to play them in a piece!!

It's like anything else in life: whenever there are things that need work in my life, it takes focus, discipline, a willingness to say "I need to improve" and then just plain starting the process.

So, here we go. Another three miles tomorrow and the next day and the next. By week's end I should be back down to 125 pounds!!!!

MTC!
mac

SHARED BIRTHDAYS

I share the same birthday as my nephew. The only difference in the date is the year...like 42 of them! Yikes!! He just turned 3...OK! Put the calculator away!

What a trip it is to consider that we share the exact same birthday! We celebrated his and as I was watching him open his presents, I couldn't help but wonder about what his world will look like in 42 years. What will he pursue educationally, vocationally, etc. Right now he is into cars, maybe he will stick with that motif. The funny thing about it is that the Matchbox cars still look as hip and fun as they did when I was playing with them...and the dinasours!

All I know is that he got way more cool stuff than I ever did at age 3 and I'm lodging a formal complaint with my parents as of right now!

MTC!
mac

FEAR

Some would argue that it is an emotional response to a percieved threat. Some would say it is a sign of weakness. Others would say you should never trust it.

My heart goes out to the family members of the crew that was lost up in the Bering Sea this past week. The skipper had some reservations (fear) about piloting the Ranger. Have you seen this in the news?

Fear can save us.

Our brains have the ability to recall and use fear to keep us from getting hurt or being hurt again. A hot stove. A rattlesnake. People. You get the point. The amygdala, hypothalamus, ventral medial prefrontal cortex, all of these play a part in recall and reinforcement.

Fear can hinder us.

When we don't step out and take advantage of an opportunity. When we shrink back. When we hide behind. These times in life may call for us to have faith instead of fear. Courage is not the size of your heart, but actually a part of our brain that over-rides our fear.

God is big on faith. God uses fear to keep us from harm. God likes it when we put our faith in Him.

So, what do you do when you are fearful? Determine the source. Define it's reality or non-reality. Ask God for direction. Then make a decision based on that and move forward.

Things might look bleak or you may have lost it all, but don't let fear keep you from moving forward.

MTC!
Mark

WHERE ARE WE??

Is this Denver? How about Bismark? Moosejaw?

We are just a few days away from April 1 and we have 5 inches of snow at our house! I would feel better if it was April 1 and chalk it up as a real cruel joke!! This is crazy!!

Karen received a text from one of our friends in Cali on Easter Sunday that said it was pushing 80 at their place!! Not nice! Bizarre! This is Seattle not Minot!!

On the other hand, it is absolutely beautiful. It has this quieting affect and I love how it blankets everything and puts a certain perfect look to everything.

Even still, I would love for it to be a balmy 60! Is that being greedy? Is that asking too much? OK, let's do 75!!!!

Have a great day and don't get in an accident!

MTC!
mac

KUDOS TO CHILDREN'S ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL!

I went and visited my little buddy yesterday at Children's. He had a little surgical procedure done. He is an amazing little guy!! He was in surgery for an hour and a half and when the nurses wheeled him into the room where his parents and I were waiting, this little seven year old gave a thumbs up!!!!! What a stud!! When I grow up, I want to be just like him!!! He really is an amazing little boy!

Here's the kudos part: the nurses and workers were so wonderful! They were cheery and positive, highly interactive, talkable, and had wonderful senses of humor! Talk about making what could be a difficult place (if you want an attitude adjustment in your life, go to Children's and take a walk down a hallway and see what these little kids and families are having to deal with in their personal lives and you will get over yourself in a HURRY!) and turning it into a positive place...I was impressed!

So to my dear friends Steve and Denise and C, you guys hang in there! You are the best.

And to everyone and Children's, thank you for doing such an awesome job!!! Oh, and to our friend Nurse B., next time please lower the telescoping I.V. holder...this is why it is telescoping...so you don't have to stand on the bed!!!! You were hilarious!

MTC!
Mark

You Are All Heroes!!!!

What a great day yesterday was!!! I just want to thank every person who worked so hard to make Easter Sunday a huge success!! Every children's area worker, every musician, every Guest Services volunteer, every person parking cars in the rain!! To everybody who brought Easter eggs and more eggs!!! You are all heroes!!

I had a great time watching the 3 and 4 year olds go down their hallway for their Easter egg hunt!! There were so many eggs...it was like egg heaven. One little girl, only picked up pink eggs!!! I loved it!!

What a powerful vibe to see kids having so much fun and parents laughing and everybody having a great time! Perfect!!

Design is filled with phenomenal people that continue to go over the top!! Everyone of you is a hero in my book!!!! Way to go!

MTC!
Mark

FLOATING DOCKS, EASTER SETS, AND MUD GOLFING

Yesterday we talked about 'encouragment' and how it really doesn't cost us anything, yet how motivating it can be to receive and even to give!

Then my phone rang.

I didn't recognize the number, but after answering it, I recognized the voice! I hadn't talked to this friend of mine for probably 10 years or more and his second sentence to me was...

"I've been reading your blog and you need an editor!"

Thanks for the encouragement!!

We had a good laugh! We are hooking up today to grab a burger and get caught up on tons of stuff!

The title above relates to goofball things that we did before we were married and well, should have got in trouble for it, but by the grace of God we didn't!

Like tearing down the whole Easter production set and putting it up in the backyard of one of the pastors who was on vacation!

Playing golf at Jackson in Seattle in the rain and mud and almost getting one of our friends in some major trouble with the group in front of us...like egging him on to swing away! Needless to say if the ball had hit the dude, it would have left a nasty mark!!

The time he untied the dock we were fishing on and the wind pushed us out into the middle of the lake. The resort owner pulled up hours later in his boat apologizing for the instability of the dock and that the storm must have loosened it. Yea, right!!!!!

That's enough for now!

MTC!

COSTS YOU NOTHING

ENCOURAGEMENT.

Recieving can make the difference between success and failure; the difference between pressing on and passing; the edge in wining and losing.

Giving it costs you nothing.

Why is it that so many people have a hard time giving encouragement? Their past? Their present? Themselves? Encouragement makes everyone of us feel appreciated and loved and when we feel good we do good and when we do good we feel good so why don't more people give something of such great value when the price is so right?

Kids are really something here. When they receive encouragement from someone they look up to (and that is the key...you may feel they do not look up to you, but you would be shocked to realize that they most likely do), they get a bit shy and nervous and excited and then it hits them...'Hey! Wait a minute! I just did something that went good! I was just told I did good! My coach/dad/mom/teacher/neighbor/grandparent/aunt/uncle/friend just said I CAN be or do and I believe them!!!!!!!" Their confidence soars. Their face can't contain their smile. At that moment they are world changers!!!!

Isn't that what we want?

How about your fellow work compatriots? Spouse? Friends? We are all just like kids inside. We crave for someone to encourage us and help us excel and succeed.

The true encouragers see what someone CAN BECOME. When you get someone in your life like that, you are truly blessed.

Maybe you need to give more out today than you receive. And maybe you need to receive more than you give, today. But in anycase I'm here to tell you this:

YOU ARE UNIQUELY CREATED. YOU ARE AN ORIGINAL. YOU POSSESS AND HAVE INSIDE OF YOU TRAITS AND ABILITIES THAT YOU WERE DESIGNED TO USE AND APLPLY FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS, AND BY SO DOING ACHIEVE GREAT PERSONAL SUCCESS. YOU ARE AMAZING! YOU ARE TALENTED! LET THOSE ABILITIES AND TALENTS BE USED TO THEIR MAXIMUM TODAY AND EVERYDAY. I TOTALLY BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT! YOU CAN MAKE IT! DON'T STOP NOW! YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT!!

Now, go for it and encourage someone near you!

MTC!
Mark

COMPANY

I'm not a political activist, but I must say, watching and listening to this Obama deal with his pastor has really been interesting. I know that if you really want to get people fired up either talk about politics or religion (of which I'm no expert on either...I propose relationship over religion anyway!!).

There is a great verse in the bible that says: "Bad people can make those who want to live good become bad."

I'm not saying one thing about either of the aforementioned individuals, but the truth is this: there are times we are known by whom we hang with!!

Here are some random questions:

Who you hangin' with?
Do you know what they stand for?
Are they a person of good character?
Do you even care?
Do they promote or demote good character in you?
Define character?



MTC!
mac

GOOD TIMES!

We had our new Community Life Group begin last night! What a blast! I got to know some people better than if I only said 'hi' to them at church. I never used to like the small group setting before!

I love it now!

Why the change?

Well, in total honesty versus lying to your face, I was just too selfish before! Yep!! Selfish. Who's going to be there? Will I be able to hang out with only those I know really well and like? Etc. And quite frankly, it was based upon insecurity.

A few years back I noticed that everytime I didn't want to go to a function where it was a smaller group setting, I would come back revved up, excited. I'd had a ball even though I didn't want to go!!

The shift for me was in recognizing that I truly do love meeting new people and getting to know them: what they do, where they have lived, what they like, etc. I realized that for me, I get great satisfaction in just plain talking with people!

The other element that shifted was the realization that for me to truly enjoy people, I needed to focus on them and not me, myself, and I! The tri-polar focus needed to go!!!

Once I was able to square these things up in my life, I really love the small group dealio! Besides, like I found out yesterday, Mathias is a great cook!!!! Dude, the shrimp things flat out rocked!!!!! I met Gwen who actually knows a bunch of people that my wife knows. Gwen and my wife had never bet before. I learned that Chris says that if I ever get a chance to go to Egypt and check out the pyramids and such, that it is a trip of a lifetime!

I had a total blast!!

Good times!

MTC!
Mark

BANANA BREAD

My wife makes the best banana bread in the world!!!

I look forward to the bananas turning nasty, because I know I'm going to get the chance to 'od' on some fresh banana bread with melted butter!!!! I know my heart freaks out when it sees all the butter, but oh my word!!

Guess what I'm eating right now?!!

Yep! Just took it out of the oven. This is livin'!

My dad alwasy says that line when he his enjoying life. It might be at a sporting event or hunting or just hangin' out with his sons and grandkids.

Tomorrow we are talking about taking time to live...looking at how Jesus did that the week He was killed. Interesting stuff.

Well, my slice of banana bread is gone and I need more!

This is livin'!

MTC!
Mark