Getting older…and thankful for it.

             One of the greatest blessings of serving in youth ministry is seeing people grow.  One of the hardest things in ministry is not getting to see people grow.  So often my calling as a youth pastor has me planting mass quantities of seeds.  I’ll be honest with you, although seed planting is an amazing thing, it is also a very difficult thing.  Many times in just 6 years of youth ministry I have had to entrust young people to God while committing to praying for them every day.  As I have gotten a little bit older and a little bit wiser the Lord has blessed me in getting to HEAR FROM a few of those young people that I have had to let go of (some because of life, and some because of my moving to new areas of the country for ministry).  This past week I heard from 2 of the first kids I had contact with while in full-time youth ministry with Young Life and Wyldlife in Texas.  When I met these guys they were in 8th grade.  They were my first class of students in youth ministry and I loved getting to walk through life with them.  We had a before school hang-out/Bible Study that we named PULP (only because they liked PULPY orange juice…they liked to chew their morning beverage).  We met up at the Young Life club room on the square in Bellville and we did 3 things together over a half hour.  We ate doughnuts from Snowflake doughnuts, we played high-low/talking about our personal highs and lows from the week, and we looked at and talked about a passage of scripture.  We closed our short hang out together with a word of prayer before I drove them to school.  After my internship with Young Life in Texas was over I had to entrust these awesome young guys into the Lords care.  They were entering the 10th grade when I left.  These guys are now in college (CRAZY) and I heard from TWO OF THEM this past week.  It completely rocked my world in an amazing way!  I’m going to embarrass them by putting their letters/ e-mails/ in today’s blog.  So Garrett, Chris, if you want me to take these out….too late!  I believe that God is going to use today’s post in a powerful way….so thanks for helping me guys!  Just about a week ago I heard this from Garrett…

                        “ hey man, Hope you’re doing good, and I hope you’re knee is feeling better (yeah i facebook stalk). but I just wanted to let you know that I just finished up Young Life training here in Abilene and we went on a leader retreat last night to hear where we would be assigned. And it turns out that I was assigned to wYLd Life. I told them that I did wYLd Life and had an amazing time and felt that I was being called to that ministry. I know that if it wasn’t for the influence that you and Zach and all the other leaders had on me, I would not have the passion I have for WL. I can’t wait to be an influence and an example of Christ’s love in kids lives just ya’ll were for us. I will keep you updated on how it goes and thank you again for everything you did for us. I’ll talk to you soon!  -Garrett-

                Garrett is a freshman at Abilene Christian majoring in Nutrition and Exercise Science!  Thanks for hitting me up Garrett!  I am proud of you and continue to pray for you.  This morning I had a note on my blog from another one of my PULP guys, Chris Tengler.  This is what Chris said…

Dear Mark,
Well, I guess now would be an appropriate time to say it. For quite a while, I have been just taking in the old fun mark I remember through these blogs. I just want to say I will never forget our “PULP” breakfasts on friday mornings. I don’t think I could have ever made it through being the overweight, uncoordinated kid in junior high athletics without your encouragement and personal testimony. I know you are continuing to change kids lives everyday. I am going to keep enjoying your blogs and keep praying for you and Becca. I love you man. thanks for everything!  -Chris Tengler-

                        Chris is a freshman at Texas Christian University majoring in Business.  Thanks for the shout out Chris.  I’m proud of you and praying for you.  Stand strong for Christ with your horned frog friends! 

                         So getting older has its advantages…and I am learning that seed planting is a beautiful thing.  I was sad to leave Bellville and Colorado after doing great ministry and building strong relationships with young people.  I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be in touch with some of the awesome kids I’ve done ministry with over the years.  I continue to pray for COUNTLESS others.  Have a fantastic Tuesday!

He completes me

                Awkward….maybe….uncomfortable hearing that…a little bit.  The man I speak of in the title of this post is not my Savior (although I’ll let you figure for yourself who REALLY completes me).  It is, in fact, Jonathan Jonas!  Jonathan was the former Senior Pastor here at First Farragut.  Back in the summer of 2007 he hired me onto the staff as our director of youth and young adults.  Our time together in ministry was sweet.  He offered me great accountability, great partnership in ministry, and a great friendship.  Almost on a daily basis he would flop down on my office couch with the Starbucks coffee hot in both of our mugs and just visit with me.  Topics ranged from family and marriage to sports and theology.  More often than not he was a spectacular voice and ear for ministry related topics.  He challenged me in my ministry to youth and young adults.  He desired to have a hand in those ministries as the pastor here.  Losing him as a mentor so early in our time together was difficult.  We talked about 10 years together upon my arrival and we barely got through 10 months.  Nonetheless, his legacy and desire for people, relationships, and an authentic walk with the Lord lives on.  He was and still is a family man and continues to have a significant impact for the Kingdom in Marion, Virginia at First United Methodist.  I miss him and his family dearly.  Jonathan is in the building today doing interviews with a group of Senior Pastors.  Was able to have an extended visit with him back in the offices.  We even proclaimed audibly the void that still exists without the other persons presence (creepy, I know!). 

                 All kidding aside, its good to see the face of a man who believed in me.  He believed in my faith and in my desire to see youth and young adults come into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  He believed in my desire to serve my family first.  He believed that as a Bible Church kid and Young Life staff that I understood what it would take to do successful ministry within the walls of the local church.  Now almost 3 years into my tenure at First Farragut we are beginning to see exciting fruits of our ministry.  Thanks Jonathan for believing in me and for what you taught me in our time together.  Much of what I do in the church as a man in ministry and as a husband is because of you!  Praying for you today brother.  You complete me!

                   When was the last time you re-connected with somebody in your life who believed in you and who cared about you and your family?  Cell-phones and e-mail are a beautiful thing.  I guarantee that a phone call and a conversation or even leaving an ecouraging voice mail will bring extra Joy to your day!  Talk to you all tomorrow!

It gets better

               I was sitting with some high school students at the Altar’d State yesterday in Turkey Creek and we were talking about school.  They are having a difficult time with the reality of living in a fallen world.  They desire Holy living, righteous conversations, and quality relationships that can have an impact on their souls.  They often feel alone as they walk through their school hallways, anxiously awaiting the day to be over.  It is during conversations like those that I know why God has called me to this place of Youth Pastorship.  Almost everyday felt just like that for me growing up.  I wanted school days to be over.  I wanted more friends who wanted a deep and intimate relationship with Christ.  I was and still am a preachers kid.  The honest truth is, I love it!  I had and still have a fantastic family who loves me and encourages me every single day.  Even so, school days seemed impossible.  They felt like 40 hours a day and not 7.  I wanted to go home, I wanted to go to church, I wanted to go anywhere but to a place where I more often than not felt alone.  God prevailed though, and I stood strong.  I didn’t cave into the pressure to party.  I didn’t break down and run out of the doors.  I hung in amidst the pressure and the feelings of loneliness.  I spent many and most weekends home with my family.  And in the year 2000 I received a diploma and headed off to my next phase of life at Grace University!   The question that was asked of me yesterday was, “Mark, does it get better?”  The simple answer is, “yes!”  Life gets better, especially when you hang in there each day holding onto Jesus Christ.  I do have some regrets in my “holding on” to survive high school.  Sometimes, knowing some of what I know now as an adult, I wish I had stood up stronger and taller for what I believed and what I knew was right.   I wish I hadn’t cowered in the presence of those who were popular by worldly standards.  Yes, life gets better.  It gets much better.  There is nothing more powerful and amazing than maturing and growing in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Once we humbly accept Christ, listening to his word and living it out, we have got to hold on to Him.  If we are able to hold on and not be swept away by the swift current of life and culture God will continue to mold us into the people HE desires for us to become.  Even with a solid family and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I struggled.  I felt alone.  I had low self-esteem.  But God doesn’t abandon his children.  And life gets better.  To my young friends here in East Tennessee….hold on!  You can do it!  Life right now is better than it seems.  And if it doesn’t seem very good it WILL GET BETTER!  Have a great Thursday!   

An obediant direction

              I think it would be fair to say that as  young person my direction following skills were a little lacking.  I would like to attribute my struggles in following directions to a wild imagination and a desire for independence in my school work and home life…but I think it was more that I was a little bit of a rebel and a little bit disruptive at times.  My mom says that she prayed for me constantly, that God would help to smooth out the rough edges and continue to lead me through life.  Direction is a challenging thing.  We like to be in control.  We like to know where we are going.  We like to have a say in where we are going.  For my Dad’s 58th birthday all of the kids chipped in to purchase a TOM TOM GPS for him.  My Dad was legendary for his mapquest print off’s and directional agendas and itineraries for road trips.  We decided to send him in a new direction with a little Satellite leadership.  We all laughed as we heard stories from mom about him initially having a difficult time trusting the GPS as they would be on the road.  It was different, new, and the control was out of his hands and in the hands of  a Global Positioning Satellite.  Slowly but surely Dad began to trust the TOM TOM and getting from point A to point B became easier and more enjoyable than flipping pages of directions and maps.  Interesting how when we allow ourselves to experience that small amount of discomfort we are molded more fully into the people that God desires us to be; more trusting, willing, and submissive servants.  More humble and committed to an appropriate direction in life than ever before.  Isaiah 66 says, GOD’S MESSAGE:  “Heaven’s my throne, earth is my footstool.  What sort of house could you build for me?  what holiday spot reserve for me?  I made all this!  I own all this!”  GOD’S DECREE.  “But there is something I’m looking for:  a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.”  Am I being responsive to what the Lord is saying to me today?  Am I willing to throw out the 10 item check list of my work day in order to make sure that I am living a day in the life of a true follower of Christ?  Is my day today flowing in an appropriate direction according to the will of God?  It is long past time that we all began trusting more in the ultimate instruction book, God’s Word, as our guide for life and as our TOM TOM for our everyday existence.  Allow yourself to feel uncomfortable today.  Stretch your faith and change your direction towards a greater Kingdom focus.  Be responsive to God.  And have a fantastic Wednesday!

An Altar’d State of mind

               Freedom is a beautiful thing.  I love  being able to make my own coffee, drive into Turkey Creek, meet with people from the church at locations other than my office, and show up at my wife’s school to surprise her during the week.  Yes, I’ll be limping around for the next 4 months…but limping in freedom is better than being stuck on the couch with nowhere to go for 336 straight hours.  Amidst my limping around town I have found myself spending more time at a new store in Turkey Creek, “The Altar’d State Book Store.”  They have an incredible set up!  Very contemporary, great atmosphere, trendy Christian clothing, fantastic coffee, great books and CD’s, and an awesome spot to hang out and read in the back.  When somebody goes to Starbucks (like me) they go for a quality coffee drink and an experience.  I’m so excited that there is now that same experience at a Christian Store here in Knoxville.  Altar’d state has really stepped out of the box to provide something that can be a witness to a TON of people.  I’ve enjoyed spending time there visiting with the management.  They truly desire to fulfill a mission for Christ in their service to Knoxville with the store.  They desire to serve local ministries in anyway possible.  I’m thrilled to be partnering with them for some youth events that we are going to do and I am excited to continue to refresh my mind and soul there over the coming years!  Please make sure you stop by the Altar’d State in Turkey Creek.  Say hi to Beth.  She’ll serve you a great drink and take care of you!  Just behind Red Robin and just down the street from Best Buy!  As a follower of Jesus Christ it is so important that we seek to meet people where they are at to show them Christ.  Although I love just about any Christian bookstore, not everybody else does.  Altar’d State meets the needs of everyone in providing a fantastic experience in a trendy environment.  I’ll be there in a couple of hours for a triple shot Latte…hope to see you all there.  High School youth from FFUMC UMYF…I’ll see you guys at the Altar’d State tomorrow at 4:00pm for Mocha’s with Mark!   Have a glorious day serving our Lord!  Talk to you all tomorrow!

Congratulations Ben Crane!

                Wanted to shout out Mr. Ben Crane on my blog today.  Ben has been on the PGA tour for a number of years and is a God fearing man.  Loves the Lord, loves his family, and is a great golfer.  Yesterday, 5 years removed from his last win in Milwaukee at the US Bank Championship, Ben won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego!  He won with a final round score of -13.  After being a big fan of the Crane family for a number of years I had the honor of getting to meet and spend a little bit of time with Ben and his wife Heath at the International in Denver, Colorado.  Since 2004 I have been praying for Ben and his family as they serve as a witness on the PGA Tour.  Here is a small exerpt of an interview Ben gave on Saturday after his 3rd round at Torrey Pines.

BEN CRANE: It’s just a hard test of golf. I don’t know, I don’t think it’s the fact that I do well here, I think maybe it’s just a grind mode that players get in. I think there’s no let-ups on this golf course. I don’t know, I sure appreciate the scenery, appreciate God’s beauty, and that certainly gives me a sense of peace. When I look out at that ocean, I go, oh, my. I think it’s a big deal playing in this golf tournament, but God is a lot bigger than that. I’m just kind of reminded of my place and love it here.

                        Such an awesome response to the question he was asked.  God is so much bigger than everything in our lives and he has the ability to lead us no matter what.  Last night at Youth Group we talked about letting the Word of God change us.  What is the point of youth group if we don’t allow it to change our way of living?  We looked at James 1:19-27, addressing 4 major points relating to the Word of God.  Humbly Accept it, Listen to it, Live it, and then Hold on!  We give so much credit to man for being a changing influence in our lives.  But behind every God fearing man is a heart that has been changed by the Word of God.  Allow the Word of God to change you today. 

                        Congratulations Ben on your victory last night in San Diego.  May God continue to use you for the Kingdom on the PGA Tour and beyond.  May he continue to bless you and your family as you journey through life with your eyes focused on our creator!  Here’s to continued success on Tour in 2010!

Office sweet office

            It has been 2 long weeks since surgery.  The recovery phase has been longer and more difficult than anticipated.  After 2 weeks at home, a lot of cabin fever, and some real FEVER the last few days, I am back in the office at FFUMC!  This week will be short days in the office, most likely for the mornings, and I hope to be returning to a full schedule by next week! 

               As I have sat and sat and sat for the last 14 days I have had plenty of time to reflect on life!  How are things at the church?  How are things in my marriage?  How is my family?  Am I doing what you want me to be doing Lord.  I was reading in Isaiah this morning as I ate my ZERO SUGAR & HIGH FIBER cereal (with ZERO taste….post surgery health stuff) and came across a verse that made me smile.  Isaiah 40 is talking to us about COMFORT…something that I have been in great need of.  Starting in verse 6 and reading through verse 8, “A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’  ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.’” 

                  How powerful a challenge!  What an incredible comfort.  Physically standing for me right now is extremely difficult.  My quad muscle, even with excercises at home, has been reduced to JELLO.  My strength to get from one room of my house to another room has been affected mightily.  No matter how many times I have been through knee surgeries it is difficult to find myself in a place where I feel helpless, a place where I cannot even stand.  Isaiah offers me the comfort I need.  Standing is not necessary as a believer in Jesus Christ.  I can put my trust and what strength my physical body does have right now in the TRUE Word of God!  I am grass and my pride are the flowers.  Both will fall.  But the Word of the Lord stands forever!  As Isaiah says in verse 8, “grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever!”  I can’t think of a better way to begin my return to the office and to ministry; to stand on the promises of God in His Word!  I might as well, because I cannot physically stand today.  Begin this week in the truth.  Don’t let your week move forward any further without planting it in the truth and allowing it to speak in you and through as you journey through life this week.  Have a great week!   It is so wonderful to be back serving the Lord at FFUMC!

Resurrection 2010 through the eyes of the youth

I’m going to publish a series of blogs written by kids in my youth group talking about their experiences at Resurrection 2010 (winter youth conference in Gatlinburg, TN). It is an incredible weekend in which the Holy Spirit shows up in amazing ways, changing the lives of our students forever. One of the coolest things that happens during course of the weekend is the unification of the youth group. In past years this retreat has provided an exciting opportunity for the kids to come together as children of God, putting aside everything that the world is telling them to focus on what makes them all the same, perfect, in the eyes of God! Today’s post is written by Sophomore at Farragut High School Amanda Cleveland. Amanda is a leader in our youth group and will take that leadership to a new level as she begins serving on our FFUMC Youth Leadership Team at the end of this month! Thanks for your thoughts Amanda!

This Resurrection, God really revealed Himself in ways that I had never expected. He broke any barriers that I had created. He showed Himself in the pure passion that I saw-from the band, to the speaker, to my own youth group. People dedicated their lives to Christ for the first time, or recommitted themselves. He showed Himself in conversations and in friendships. Our youth group family was overflowing with Christ’s love this weekend, and I have never been so grateful for the LOVE that we all have for eachother – and I know it comes from Jesus! God showed me His support through my youth group. God showed Himself by steering me in a direction that I want to go with my life, by reminding me that He is my refuge, and by challenging me to let Him have all control. I can’t say enough about Resurrection 2010.

You can read more about Amanda’s experiences at Resurrection 2010 on her blog at acleveland.wordpress.com! Have an awesome Tuesday!

On the road again

Here I am once again on the road to recovery. Let me begin my first post-surgery post by saying a HUGE thank you for your prayers, your phone calls, your texts, and the great meals we have received. Becca and I have been extremely humbled by the outpouring of support as we went through surgery last week. Last Tuesday’s surgery was a success. Our surgeon was able to repair my torn ACL and cleaned the knee out in the process. The meniscus problem was the most concerning as I went in for surgery. I truly believe that God heard your prayers as Dr. Naylor found some meniscus under the bone that was not visible in the MRI, which means that a second surgery will not be necessary! Praise the Lord! I am excited to begin my rehabilitation at the end of this week and even more excited to get off of my pain medications and begin a normal life again. Last week was much more challenging than I expected with the pain. Having been through this surgery a number of times before I thought I knew what I was up against. A close friend of mine, a physical therapist, wasn’t surprised at all with the amount of pain I was in, due to the amount of trauma that my right knee had been through in previous injuries. Fortunately I feel as though I have made it through the worst of things, and after one more slow and easy week at home I should be ready to re-enter LIFE in East Tennessee. I have missed my youth group (who had an amazing weekend at Resurrection 2010!), I have missed my staff friends at First Farragut, I have missed grabbing coffee at Starbucks, and I have certainly missed my being able to live life on two legs. I believe the last 5 weeks have been very strategic in the eyes of my creator. It was time for me to slow down, spending more intimate time investing in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ and with my amazing bride Becca. (you’ll notice on the front page of my blog that you can now click a picture link sending you directly to Becca’s jewelry website! Check it out!) I will have some blogs coming up talking about my youth group’s experience at Resurrection 2010 and about what God has planned for the youth ministry at FFUMC in the coming weeks and months! Thanks again for your incredible support through this difficult couple of weeks. God has made himself known through your prayers and your encouragement. I am thrilled that the surgery is over, that it was successful, and to now be on the road to recovery! Here’s to having 2 good knees and to being so blessed by my family, my church family, and my awesome friends. Have a great MLK day off!

Surgery is my friend

                  Tomorrow morning I will head to Parkwest Hospital for knee surgery #5.  I know, it is getting a little bit ridiculous.  I tore my Right ACL and meniscus for the second time back on December the 14th and am excited and ready to get healthy tomorrow morning.  The surgery will be about 2 hours long, and after about 2 hours in recovery I will hopefully be headed home to my couch to begin the recovery process.  The most difficult part of this particular injury has been the timing as I will be missing our winter youth conference, Resurrection 2010.  I have the utmost confidence, though, in our leadership team as 12 adults will take up close to 50 youth from our church for an unforgettable weekend together experiencing the amazing love story of Jesus Christ!  Here are some specific ways that you can pray this week.

#1  Pray that a second knee surgery is not required.  They have talked to me about the potential of a second surgery in a few months to add some cartilage (cushion) to my knee.  The hope is that we will not need to do that; however, we will find out for sure tomorrow.

#2 Pray for my wife Becca as her life will be turned upside down a little bit over the next couple of weeks.

#3 Pray for the Youth of First Farragut as they head to Resurrection 2010 this Friday!  They will return on Sunday

#4  Pray for the 11 adults from First Farragut who are leading our youth into the mountains (Greg, Scott, Randy, Barry, Leslie, Diana, Kerri, Marian, Tammy, Liz, and Tracy.

                     I haven’t quite pegged why I continue to suffer such a beating with my knees…but I guess its not for me to know and understand.  I believe with EVERYTHING that God is in control of my life.  With that belief in hand I trust that He has control of this particular situation.  One of my youth sent me a text this morning.  It said, “Hebrews 13:6, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what.  Who or what can get to me?  ‘Stay strong Mark, don’t be afraid, God will be with you tomorrow, now, and always.  I’m praying for you!  He can make your knee stronger than ever before.  You are in good hands!’”  I’m not sure I could encourage myself any better.  So…I’ll take those words into surgery…words from God’s divine inspiration and words from the heart of my amazing Youth Group!  Thanks again for your prayers.  I hope to get a blog out within 48 hours of surgery (I’m sure you would all love me to blog immediately upon returning home…would probably be about German Elephants eating twinkies in a tropical location…or something like that).

               Have a fantastic week serving the Lord with everything that you are!  Talk to you on the flipside of a forced nap.