For a long time, I’ve had the thought, “Balance is over-rated, so often unbalanced people leave a greater mark on the world.” We’re not totally comfortable with that are we? Obsession scares us. Radical. Pouring all that we have into one-thing. Yet, some of my greatest heroes of the faith were unbalanced.

Paul was seriously unbalanced, wasn’t he? Not very healthy, right? We’re more into balanced lives.

But think about this, if someone put you in a field and told you that spread throughout the field were piles of pennies…piles of quarters…piles of hundred dollar bills…and piles of very large flawless diamonds. You have one hour and your goal is to gather as much value into your basket as possible. If you come back with an equal amount of pennies as you do flawless diamonds, you may be balanced, but you will also have missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

You see balance in all things is only an effective life-strategy if we suppose that all things have equal value.

Paul had come to the conclusion that not everything in life had equal value…in fact one thing…one endeavor stood above all others. In Philippians 3 he writes,

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him (be found in him). (vs. 8-9)  I want to know Christ…I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and recieve the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us up to heaven. (vs. 13-14)

Paul thought that Jesus was the flawless diamond and he could not even imagine wasting his time with pennies.  So how much of our lives are spent picking up, cleaning off, counting and collecting pennies?

Last week at Calvary, as we wrapped up our study of Mark’s gospel, we talked about momentum. Closing the gap between hearing God and responding to God.  The more we ignore God, the harder our hearts grow, but when we listen and respond, we gain momentum.  (If you missed the message

One of the reasons I love the time from Thanksgiving through Christmas and onto New Year’s Day, is that it can be an amazing opportunity to gain some leave-a-mark momentum.  So last weekend we talked about some potential momentum-gaining opportunities coming up.

1) Food Drive: We gave out over 500 grocery bags last weekend.  Each grocery bag had two lists, a Thanksgiving Dinner list, and a food shelf general needs list.  We are asking everyone to fill one of those lists and bring it back in your grocery bag.  Bring your bags to 1250 University Drive, or Calvary Grays Woods, or Calvary Warriors Mark (No Midtown this week.)  If you didn’t get a bag or list.  Click Food Shelf List and you can still participate.

2) Leadership Advance: A 40 hour leadership intensive held from 3pm Friday, January 7 to 1pm Sunday, January 9.  Though this experience draws primarily college students, this year, our schedule will make it available for non-college adults.  Through personal assessments, team building activities and speakers, you will ponder how God has shaped you to leave a mark in the world.  Click for more info.

3) Bountiful Breakfast and Christmas Cookie Sale: December 11th from 8am-1pm come and buy Christmas cookies and candy and have a great pancake, eggs and sausage breakfast.  If you would be willing to bake cookies, please email lynn@calvarysc.org.

4) ONE% OFFERING: In my heart, one of the most important and most inspiring opportunities of the year.  A gift of one% of our annual income to serve those in need around the world.  The goal this year is a knee-knocking faith goal.  But if reach it, we will leave an amazing mark around the world.

Gain some momentum.  Respond.  Serve.  Give.  Once upon a time Christmas changed the world.  It still can.

Okay, so it’s not Monday Morning…it’s been a long week and I can’t believe it’s already Thursday, but I still have a few observations, thoughts about last weekend. So here goes.

1) Last weekend we finished our 10 month series on Mark’s Gospel. It’s all about Jesus. I asked the question, “Has Jesus left a mark on us?” Someone sent me an e-mail asking me to restate the places we might look for his mark. So here it is.  Some questions to ponder…

Our theme for the last 10 months has been “Leave a Mark.” We’ve talked about the ways in which the untamed Jesus leaves a mark on us — and the ways we are called to leave a mark on the world around us. So where is your life, where is my life marked by the good news of Jesus…the news that Jesus reigns.

Have I crossed out the I? Do I boast in the cross and live by the resurrection?. Where in my life am I more like Jesus this year, than I was last year? Is my prayer life more personal, my generosity more extreme, my service more consistent, my leadership more humble, are my relationships healthier, my faith greater? Do I forgive quicker, love deeper, hope stronger, persevere longer? Is Jesus becoming my first of all? Do others see Jesus in me?

2.  Last weekend, I preached live in six of our gatherings.  Only Calvary Grays Woods and Calvary Warriors Mark were missed.  Add in a Congregational Meeting and it was a draining day.  But here’s what I love about a weekend like that…  I love every one of our gatherings.  Each one has a different personality, different worship styles, different energy, different people, and each one works my heart in a different way.  I am amazed at the way God has drawn us together and sent us out…one church in many locations.  One mission throughout the region, church without walls. Two weeks ago, I was at Calvary Grays Woods and this weekend I’ll be live at Calvary Warriors Mark.  I am blessed!

3) If you haven’t been out to Harvest Fields for a bit, you are missing the excitement.  The road is being paved.  Actual blacktop.  Actual progress.  We are seeing other answers to pray related to the property.  Keep praying.

4) “It’s almost like God is showing off.” Lately I keep hearing that phrase from Lynn.  It comes out of her mouth in relationship to prayer.  On Tuesday in our staff prayer time, it was described as “open heavens.” It’s like God is just waiting for us to ask.  So pray.

5) Part of the reason why I’m doing Monday Morning Quarterback on Thursday is because my week has been filled up with working on the details of this year’s 1% Christmas offering.  Our goal this year is a knee-knocking faith goal.  I am praying for God to inspire and empower us to give more than we’ve ever given before… so look out…remember #4 above.  :)

Rhonda is a young girl from Myanmar. She has stolen my daughter’s hearts — both of them. There are 169 other children like Rhonda in four homes that we support in Myanmar.  There is Agape Orphanage, Blessing Orphanage, Kid’s Life Orphanage, and Wonderful Calvary Orphanage. We need $6000 to support them through the end of the year. So far 25 people have donated over $1100.  Every dollar you give goes to the kids, to buy rice, winter clothes (Yes they need winter clothes in Myanmar!) and to pay for school.

1000 people read this blog in a week’s time, if half of us give $25 we will cover the need going into next year.  Can you help?  If you would like to give, click the “Donate” button on the left sidebar of my blog.  Or if you do not have a facebook account you can click Calvary Donate to go to Calvary’s secure sight.  Just choose Myanmar Ministry in the drop down box.

Thanks from me and Rhonda…read her letter below…

I just spent an hour chatting through google with David in Myanmar.  He gives leadership to the Bible School that Calvary has helped start.  I love his heart.  He has a passion to see people in Myanmar love Jesus.  A number of the children who grow up in the orphanages we support, choose to go to the Bible School so that they can help others know Jesus.

We support 4 homes that serve 176 children.  So far in the last two days, 22 people have donated over $900 to help support those children in November and December.  Pray that the momentum continues. Share the opportunity with a friend.  We need at least $5100 more.  Thank you!

Just wanted to give an update and a bit more info… First of all if you haven’t read the previous blog post, start there.  Then here is the update.

So far…in the last few hours 9 people have given $325. Let the momentum continue! Perhaps you would be willing to pass this blog on to others or tweet it or facebook it, or whatever!

Also a bit more info on the giving part, as someone was asking me… If you click the give button at the left, you will give through Facebook’s “Causes” app. If you aren’t on Facebook or simply prefer not to give through Facebook. Calvary also has a secure online giving option. Just click Calvary Giving and on the drop down box select Myanmar Ministries.

Many people doing a little — together — can accomplish much.

Here is an opportunity for you to leave a mark in Myanmar.  Would you give $25 to leave a mark in Myanmar?

In January, I shared the story of a Buddhist priest in Myanmar who became a follower of Jesus. We’ll call him MS. MS’ story is shared a bit more indepth here (What Are Your Stories?)  It’s an amazing story of the way God’s grace leaves a mark on people.  But throughout this year, the story has continued.  MS is now serving children in a new orphanage that we are trying to support.

About 15 children — mostly refugees from the Nargis Cyclone that devastated Myanmar — are currently living in this Bamboo home and being cared for by MS and his family.  It’s an amazing story of hope and God’s grace.  They have named the home Wonderful Calvary in honor of the part that we have played in their lives.

In Myanmar the needs are great.  The average person earns less than $2/day.  Poverty is extreme and children die without help…and so many of them have never even heard of Jesus.  At the Wonderful Calvary home, a man who met Jesus about a year ago is serving 15 children who are just now learning about Jesus.

MS learned about Jesus at a Christmas Outreach put on by the leaders we support in Myanmar.  At a Christmas Outreach the leaders we support and students from the Bible School we have started will go into a village, offer food and clothing, and then share the Christmas Story.

Here is the need.  We would like to support 3 of these Christmas Outreach events — about $1500 each.  In addition the four orphanages that we support in Myanmar are in need of year-end support.  We have used up all our 1% funds from last year…prices have gone up and the value of the dollar in Myanmar has gone down.  We need about $6000  to cover the year-end needs.

In December we will collect our 1% offering and those dollars will help support these kids throughout 2011, but there is a need now.  Over 1000 people read this blog every month.  If each of us would give $25, the needs would be more than met.  Would you be willing to click the “GIVE” button on the upper left sidebar of this blog and make an investment in an ongoing story?  The “Give” button will give you a secure and easy way to give and every dollar we receive will go to the kids!

Three Christmas Outreach Events — Feed and Cloth almost 200 children from now through Christmas.  Would you give $25?  Click the “give” button to the left and leave a mark on Myanmar.

For some reason this week, I keep running into — or perhaps God keeps steering me into some of the questions that define us as a church. (Click Questions for the first set.) I’ve been thinking about — or perhaps God keeps bringing to mind — some of the questions that define us as a church. There are a handful of defining church questions that shape us, whether we intentionally answer them or not. Here are a couple more that I’m pondering…

1)  How do we manage the tension between a Pioneering spirit and a Settler’s spirit?  You know what I mean?

 Pioneers strike out for new land.  Pioneers take risks.  Pioneers are willing to die to see what’s in the next valley over the mountain.  The pioneer prefers expansion over a well managed settlement.  I tend toward pioneering but I value the settlements.  It’s not an either/or problem to be solved, it’s a tension to be managed.  But I think churches have a natural tendency to settle and put more and more of our resources, time, and energy into taking care of the settlement rather than pioneering the next expansion.

2)  Who gets the ear of the church?  When it comes to budget time who gets to vote.  When it comes to decisions who has the most influence?  I would guess that each of us could come up with a segment of the church that we think is being heard, or should be heard — but aren’t being heard.   With passion, I agree, there are people who need a voice that we are not hearing.  But let’s dig into that one a bit more…as we make decisions, vote on budgets, ponder strategies and goals, who are the people that should be heard, but aren’t being heard?   Here is my list of people we should hear, that might not have a voice in our decisions —

• – PSU students who never go to church but get drunk 3 weekends a month, or more.
• – The single parent who is too drained to get up on Sunday and go to church.
• – Every person whose heart has been damaged by sex outside of God’s beautiful plan.
• – The retired couple who no longer have a purpose for living.
• – Children that are growing up in a fractured family.
• – The students at State High who don’t have a friend.

I could keep going, but you get the idea.  When it comes to the decisions that move us forward, sometimes the people who need it the most, have no vote.  The church that votes in abstentia for those who are not there yet…make decisions that thrill the heart of God.

Those of you on Calvary’s mailing list will get this letter sometime in the next few days. But I’m pretty passionate about this cause, and passion gets publicity…and besides its not really just for the Calvary family, it’s for the Jesus family. So here is the letter

———-
Dear Calvary Family,

…and I use that term intentionally, Calvary Family. If you remember all the way back to our first message on Mark – you probably don’t, even I had to go review – one aspect of the good news is that we have been given a family. We are part of a family. With all of its messes, hardships, and glorious joys, we are all part of a family. But this family stretches globally, there are kids around the world, who are part of our family.

This Thanksgiving, I will be spending the day eating with my immediate family. We are going to gather in Pittsburgh at Sarah’s apartment. Katy will be coming from Bethel to meet us there. We’ll watch football. We’ll cook Thanksgiving dinner (or maybe hire Boston Market to cook for us) and we’ll eat together. Family. We’ll do the same thing on Christmas Day. It’s one of the holiday traditions I love most.

But that family of six is not my only family. When we decided to follow Jesus, we became part of a bigger family, a global family. Many of the kids in that family won’t be filling their stomachs with turkey on Thanksgiving or ham on Christmas. In fact many of them won’t even be gathering with family. But they are part of our family – kids in Myanmar, kids in Rwanda, kids in the Dominican Republic, kids locally – a global family.

So between Thanksgiving and Christmas, at Calvary, we save up and give a gift to what we call our 1% offering. Why do we call it a 1% offering? Because the challenge is for all of us to give 1% of our annual income to serve our global family. Don’t worry, you are free to give more if you would like. :) Last year over $130,000 was given to serve our global kids. With these funds we helped families adopt. We served local families at Christmas. We clothed, fed and educated over 150 children in Rwanda, Myanmar and the Dominican Republic. We built a dorm for girls. We built a kitchen and dining hall for an orphanage. We even helped kids get dental care. In other words, we left a mark.

This year our goal is even larger, because there are a lot of kids in our global family. In the coming weeks you will receive more information, but for now, would you join me in praying about how you might be led to join in blessing our global family?

I’m not sure which is harder to believe…that we are done with our study of Mark’s Gospel or that it’s only two weeks till Thanksgiving! I am so looking forward to eating around the table with me family… but even more than that, my family is looking forward to being a blessing to our family around the world.

I’m so thankful for you…and all of God’s blessings!

Pastor Dan

For some reason today I’ve been thinking about — or perhaps God keeps bringing to mind — some of the questions that define us as a church.  There are a handful of defining church questions that shape us, whether we intentionally answer them or not.  Here are a few that I’m pondering…

1) Will we structure our strategies and shape our decisions for the alienated 2%?  In a recent blog Seth Godin writes,

If you have fans or followers or customers, no matter what you do, you’ll annoy or disappoint two percent of them. And you’ll probably hear a lot more from the unhappy 2% than from the delighted 98. It seems as though there are only two ways to deal with this: Stop innovating, just stagnate. Or go ahead and delight the vast majority. Sure, you can try to minimize the cost of change, and you might even get the number to 1%. But if you try to delight everyone, all the time, you’ll just make yourself crazy. Or become boring.

2)  How do we help a consumer oriented society change their paradigm of the church from that of a business providing services to a family that serves?  When we go into a business, for example a restaurant, we expect to be served and if we are not adequately served we feel it is our right to complain.  When our kids eat at home, they are expected to serve…and if they chose not to serve, but still exercise their right to complain…well let’s just say, I don’t give them a tip.

3)  Are we going to be a people of the Word and the Spirit?  Do we recognize that the work of God is the work of God, to the extent that we really believe that strategies without the Spirit, programs without prayer, service without the supernatural are a waste of time?

4)  Do we really care if our neighbors live and die without Jesus?

5)  Will we embrace extravagant generosity?

The answers to these questions shape us and I’m not talking about the answers we give with our mouths, but the answers we show in our actions.  I encourage you to look at those questions and think through the answers as they apply to you personally.