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