To the Thief of My Passion CD

Well it is Monday! I know because my car broke down this morning, I made my wife mad, and my truck was broken into last night. After my radiator threw up its coolant this morning I called Carrie to come and get me. Yes I know my tone should have been better but I had wanted to go to the gym and that did not happen. I got ready in a hurry and rushed out to the truck to see that it had been broken into and the CD player taken. To be honest, I am mad that we work hard for things that people come and take. Thieves are selfish! My madness became anger when I realized they took my new Passion CD, "God of this City!" I called my dad becuase it is his truck and he laughed and said that maybe they need to hear the CD. I was not laughing at the time but I have now cooled down and prayed myself. So below I am writing to my thief:

Dear Thief,
I hope you enjoyed your time at my house last night. Thank you that you took something from me and not from someone who cannot replace it. I want you to know that I forgive you. Seriously, if you need something, please do not take from people. Ask me and I will try and help you. I hope and pray that you will listen to the CD that is the player you took from my blue truck. The lryics are very powerful. One of my favorite songs is #3 and it says, "You're the God of this city, You're the King to these people, You're the Lord of this nation, You are. There is no one like our God. Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city!" I have a greater gift that I would like to share with you, it is far better than anything else that could be taken. Thank you for helping me to love my city more today than ever. Thank you for helping me to realize what is most important.

Well thanks for putting up with my rant today.

Mark

My Prodigal Son has come home!!!

There is a story in the Book of Luke, actually a parable that Jesus told about a prodigal son. you know the story, he asked his dad for his half of the inheiritance and then and wasted it on life. He later returned even ready to be his father's slave. I do not want to get into the theology and meaning of the passage, but to just share this thought. How excited must the father have been to see his son! How great to know he was okay. He threw one of the greatest if not the greatest party ever! Tonight I am very excited, my friend has come home. Over a year ago I made a stand not to do a wedding for one of my former students. I felt the wedding was a mistake and not one that honored God. To this, I lost a friend that was very close to me. Actually just several days ago I came to the conclusion all was lost and I needed to let it go. There were things that happened between all of us that was very hurtful. Today I received an e-mail from this student's mother stating that I might receive a phone call. Regan actually received a birthday gift from this person in the mail today. Just an hour ago Carrie and I received the call. There were tears, apologies, humbleness, and love. I was told that the wedding was off and a relationship with God had been restored. This was not a son of mine but I feel that another prodigal has come home. Tonight I am rejoicing and a million prayers have been answered. I am so happy. I also learned that sometimes when you do the right thing it may not seem right. People may not understand and others may leave you but you must stand for God. Our relationship will grow and my faith has been strengthened. I love God and thankful that he never leaves us! To my prodigal, I love you and I am so proud of you! When you come to Tennessee I am throwing a HUGE party!

Shouldn't We Still Remember

Let me first say that I love my family. My wife and kids are the greatest. My wife is the most godly woman I have ever met and she teaches my children so much about God, faith, love, and how to memorize scripture. Now that Easter is past us, all of the hype and talk about the resurrection has faded. Many of us have probably not thought of nor spoken about the cross, the resurrection, nor the any other part of what we celebrate at Easter. Both Brycen and Regan have been glued to a cartoon that I bought last year on DVD. It is about the last week of Jesus' life and it shows the crucifixion and the resurrection. It ends with Jesus ascending into heaven. They both have watched it at least once a day for the last 3 weeks. Several days ago when I came home from work Carrie told me this story. Regan was coloring in her coloring book which is one of her favorite things to do. She has a coloring book which has pictures of Jesus both being crucified and resurrected. While coloring the resurrection picture, Regan drew red circles all over the picture of Jesus. Carrie asked what it was and she responded, "it is his blood." Carrie tried to explain that this was a picture of Jesus after he had died and come back to life 3 days later. Regan looked at Carrie and said, "I know Mom, but shouldn't we still remember!" What wise words from my almost 4 year old little princess. Do not let the cross, the crucifixion, and the resurrection be something we think about only at Easter. Let's remember it often and know that it is the cross that saves us but it also sustains us daily. Today I am remembering Regan what Jesus did for me!