It has been a while since I have written to you. I wish I could blame not having the time, but the truth is I have not had the inspiration. The last Bridge I wrote was so bad and confusing, I refused to send it and then nothing struck me as pressing in our missional movement. Then something happened this last weekend at Odyssey. Read more »
A couple of weeks ago the Masts gathered for a few days in New York City! My brother and his family came from Missouri, my mom from Michigan, and we headed down from good old Poughkeepsie. It was a wonderful trip, but something strange kept happening. Everywhere we walked, pushing Kyle and Courtney in their wheelchairs, very rough looking people would bless them. “Bless you my son!” “Bless you and keep going, girl!” Read more »
My newest phrase that I have been sharing with folks is to “Embrace the Grace.” As we talk and they share their pains, their frustrations, their feelings of not measuring up to God, I encourage them to “Embrace the Grace.” This grace comes in many forms. Sometimes it means giving yourself a break and accepting God’s grace through Christ, and sometimes it means accepting love and support from those that Christ has put in your life to offer his grace. This second piece is where I have trouble “Embracing the Grace.” Read more »
The last time I wrote I invited folks to respond with “Thank Yous” of their own. The first person I heard from was Doris Johansen.
Hi Mark you said keep the THANKS coming, so here goes. I thank everyone at HRC for the wonderful celebration they gave me at the two coffee hours on the 18th April, and a special thanks to Jackie, her husband, Randy, and their son Richie for supplying the wonderful sheet cakes, the largest I have ever seen, and all the decorations, balloons etc. It is a birthday I will never forget,but after that one, I am not celebrating anymore!! Thanks and God bless you all.
And then I heard from Pam Hansen. Read more »
I know when pastors start thanking people we often miss folks. There have been, however, a few things I need to lift up and thank people for even though I know I will miss others!!!
ONE: I had made a request for money to buy beds for Bed INC…Got it all and more (even from Michigan and Ohio)! Thank you for all who have given (and offered me dinner for those meals I skip). Now the Mast’s just need to turn in their check (so don’t feel bad if you have not done it YET)! Read more »
I spent this past weekend in Iowa for my nephew’s graduation. Whenever I travel, the first thing I say at night as I crawl into MY bed is, “I sure love MY bed!” I take it for granted the rest of the time. It is only when I don’t use it that I realize how nice and comfortable and cozy it is. Bed INC, our ministry of giving beds to people without beds, is a constant reminder to me how important the little things are. I was so impressed with the out-pouring of support for Bed INC last November and was amazed how quickly we gave away over 35 beds to people in need. To deliver these beds and see where many children sleep with grandma on a bed we would not allow in our home. To see a couch where a disabled person had been sleeping FOR YEARS because beds are not covered by any government agency and since it is against the law to donate a bed, there are no beds at The Barn or Salvation Army. Who would have thought something taken so for granted by you and me would be such a need for so many people!
Now the ask! Read more »
I was stopped at a light trying to figure out what to write for today’s Bridge when I saw a man dancing down the side walk. Yes, he was dancing! He was wearing dress pants, yellow shirt, tie and sneakers. Obviouslyhe was taking a lunch break walk/dance. He was smiling, twirling and doing a bunch of dance steps I can’t name. I was jealous! I get so caught up in the details of life, meetings, writing sermons, coming up with Bridge articles, having serious conversations about evangelism, the missional church, theology . . ., I long for just enjoying the sun and dancing down the street. Read more »
Our annual Spring Children’s Bible Fellowship family mission trip in Carmel, NY is approaching quickly for May 21st through May 23rd. All ages can participate; all skill or non-skill levels are invited to join us as we build 2 decks, ready the camp, and invest in the hope and joy of the disabled and inner city children already preparing for summer camp. For more information help yourself to a brochure at the kiosk and CONTACT Leslie MacConnell for details
Last Wednesday at the evangelism seminar, I made a bold statement. Not necessarily bold for the church, but bold for my own life. I said that the problem with spiritual gift tests is that it gives us an excuse not to do what we are not gifted in. Evangelism is not one of my top 3 spiritual gifts. For years I have said I would leave evangelism to those who are gifted and I would teach the basics (remember, those who can’t, teach)! The true understanding of Spiritual Gifts is that those are the places where things come naturally for an individual. They are not the places we get a ”get out of jail free card.” Read more »
As HRC explores conversion stories of the Bible and delves into the theological and practical aspects of evangelism, I thought I would take this opportunity to share my conversion story . . .
I always tell folks I was not “Born Again” but “Born Into” (I know the theological issues here!). What I mean is that I have never NOT known the grace of Jesus Christ. Like Paul, I was born into the church family, raised in a wonderful Christian family, and educated well from before I could read in the ways of Jesus Christ. As a child of the church, I was surrounded by people who took seriously their Baptismal promises to help me in my to become a faithful (and radical-my addition) follower of Jesus Christ. To this day, there is a group of women that pray for me regularly and one phone call would bring in an overwhelming army carrying out their Baptismal promise! Read more »
Incarnational Evangelism Launching Point
Every time I talk about “evangelism,” most people get a look in their eyes like I have asked them to walk a tight rope across Niagara Falls. I am always told they know they need to and they know people who need the grace of Christ, but they need to learn how. NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! Read more »
ONE: It is cold and dark and Jill, Kyle and I are leaving the hospital after his last surgery. We cross over the Sprain Brook Parkway and come to a long line of cars. This never happens this late at night. Horns start blaring. Cars start swerving into the on coming lane. It is our turn. I pull around the lady sitting in her Audi frantically trying to start it. My son just had major surgery and we needed to get home. Jill hits me on the arm and tells me to turn around. Long story short, I take up another lane as I move in beside the Audi, hook up to her battery and get enough juice for her to get out of the middle of the road so she can wait for her friend. Even with hoods up, flashers blinking and me standing outside with a flashlight, cars blare their horns and give us dirty looks (Too dark to see any other jesters!). Thirty minutes and we are on our way. Read more »
Tidbits of Mission at HRC
Matthew 5 reads:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Multiple ChristCare groups and other Bible Study groups are asking a simple question, “How can we be Christ in this world through our missional life and service. Can you imagine 35 ChristCare groups doing missional service regularly? The community would not know what hit them!
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Did you know that Loving Stitches made 25 sweaters for Guidepost’s third world project. 13 prayer shawls were prayed and stitched for people in need. 153 hats, mittens and scarfs were made for the Homeless Shelter. 15 baby blankets were delivered to Care Net. 20 lap blankets were made for local nursing homes. Countless squares were made from “leftover yarn” for Warm Up America. All this by only 13 gifted knitters and those who graciously donated yarn! Read more »
10 Sightings of Jesus at Christmas
(It’s long, but I have not written in a while!)
1. Kyle clinging to my neck as I carried him into the house at 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Day after TOO long in the hospital.
2. The incredible response of love, prayer and way too much food during our kidney ordeal!
3. The right people in the right place helping us get home (you know who you are. . .THANK YOU!) Read more »
This year HRC is offering an opportunity for you to give a gift that will change a life in honor of your family and friends. Catalogs will be available after Thanksgiving with gift ideas that will allow you to become personally involved in the lives of those we serve around the world. There are many items that you can choose from, including bags of food, blankets, medical supplies, construction materials, student sponsorships and clothing. Look for the mission tree table in the Fellowship Hall after each service, beginning November 29th. For further information, please CONTACT Sue Nieves @ 592-0764 or suzyn6@yahoo.com
Part of our HRC family needs your help! Yesterday we had some 70 Odyssey (our new worship community WITH people with special needs) friends praising God and learning to Love God with everything we’ve got and others as ourselves. Read more »
Common Ground: From the Inside Out
Many have asked about Common Ground. They wonder about its purpose, its mission and its direction. I know there are some out there that do not value it or its ministry. Although this is a group that is following the Spirit into some new places and functions a bit different than what the established church is used to, I found the following e-mail (I was “CC”‘d) – a wonderful glimpse into Common Ground from the eyes of a Vassar student who is on the “inside” looking out. Read more »
“All Around”
I saw Jesus this week. Beth, an Odyssey friend who lost her mother this year, was wrapped in a prayer shawl being loved by fellow followers of Jesus Christ. I saw Jesus this week. Went to the city to meet with a woman who is starting a church of diverse people in her diverse community in Queens. They are almost all homeless. I saw Jesus this week. VBS!!!!!! I saw Jesus this week. My daughter ran up and gave me a big hug when I came home from work. Read more »
“All Around”
I saw Jesus this week. Beth, an Odyssey friend who lost her mother this year, was wrapped in a prayer shawl being loved by fellow followers of Jesus Christ. I saw Jesus this week. Went to the city to meet with a woman who is starting a church of diverse people in her diverse community in Queens. They are almost all homeless. I saw Jesus this week. VBS!!!!!! I saw Jesus this week. My daughter ran up and gave me a big hug when I came home from work. Read more »
GPS or No GPS . . . That is the question!”
This might surprise some of you, but I get lost all the time. It is not that I am bad with directions I just get a little lost in thought and the next thing I know I have taken the wrong exit from Boston, express way from Queens or the street to Tymor Park. Read more »
“RACE MATTERS . . . but the children will lead us”
As I watch the news and listen to the commentary on President Obama’s beer with the professor and the police, I am again reminded that we are a nation of race. As a nation of diversity, there is racism. I am one of those who believe that racism is a very BIG sin and that we are all racist (I am sure I will hear arguments about that one). Read more »
The LaBorde family is going on a mission trip to Moldova on July 22-August 4. They are askng if someone is willing to donate the following for their trip: vitamin C, children’s vitamins, adult and children’s tylenol (acetaminophen). Please place the items either in the blue soccer bin or contact the Labordes. CONTACT: Shauna LaBorde
“Priorities”
Often sermons and devotions speak more to the preacher or presenter than to the listeners. Recently that has been very true to me. At the deacons meeting this week I asked, “For whom or what would you drop everything to go take care of?” Read more »
“Compassion”
I have been preparing for Common Ground’s summer at my house (Did you know Common Ground will be meeting at the Mast’s – 461 Noxon Road- at 4:00 p.m. every Sunday this summer beginning on May 31st?) by reading about the Desert Fathers. These were men living in the deserts of Egypt around 300 A.D. searching for a life that glorified Christ (yeah, my wife thinks I am a little strange, too!). Recently I read something that might just change my life. Read more »
“Grey Days”
I have come to the point where nothing is black or white. There is always a grey in everything and I believe this applies to the reading of the Bible as well. This weekend, Memorial Day, is a constant reminder for me that my world/biblical view is grey.
“TIME”
The month of April was crazy. I have not traveled in and out of my family or my ministry so much in such a short period. Now that I am back with no new travel plans I find myself running around trying to catch up and getting nothing done. Read more »
