BONUS DAY #303

In a meeting today we were discussing the best approach in explaining to people the importance, the blessing, the responsibility, the opportunity, and the significance of………..(drum roll)…….TITHING!  Ha!  Tithing is that one thing that people who don’t do it are touchy and sensitive about even mentioning it, and those who do, and have, are doing it, feel like needs to be emphasized.  There is really no in-between.  People either are offended by mentioning it or encourage mentioning it.  The truth is, it doesn’t really matter what people think about tithing.  What matters is what God has already said about it.

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

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BONUS DAY #302

Watching YouTube for home projects has been my “go to” activity while on the exercise bicycle in the mornings.  It is interesting how each person, as convincing as they are, contradict the other’s technique, tools, ideology, etc.  The experience extended to our local hardware store where I purchased a pex crimping tool.  However, my pex tool was one of three different kinds.  I watched a YouTube video about my tool the hardware guy said was the one I wanted, and the Australian handyman indicated would only work on the Australian brand of flex piping.  WOW.  The up-side is the hardware store had sent me rewards cards that about paid for the whole thing!  I guess….you learn all you can….about everything you can!

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #301

We had an ice storm move in a couple of hours before an evening meeting here at the TCRG office/home for those going on our FEB 2019 Holy Land Tour.  Going on FaceBook live for an hour and a half and receiving text messages from people with questions, reminded me how thankful I am for living in the day and age I live–WE live.  There are a lot of down-sides to living in a technological age, but there are up-sides as well.  I am thankful for living today–and every day!

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #300

I’ve read the Old Testament book of Joel about four times today.  Joel gives us the answer to “what can we do?”  What can we do about our divided, pagan nation that insists on having their own sinful way–driving by pride and ego and celebrity worship?  We can call for a holy fast and declare a Sacred Assembly.  I did it 6 years ago at Crossroads Church in Goshen, Indiana.  We called for 24 hour fast followed by a sun down on Friday to sun up on Saturday morning time spent in the Worship Center together.  We worshiped, we prayed, we read Scripture, and we shared what God laid on our hearts.  It was powerful.  I am driven to prayer today, realizing how important it is to offer up to people something they can do to/in answer to the world around us.  We need more, many more, Sacred Assemblies.

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #299

In a conversation with someone about my age, we were discussing our outlook at this stage of our lives.  “This will be the last roof I ever put on my house,” is quite a proclamation.  I am saying that I will live less than 25 more years.  I was trying to apply it to other things, but it doesn’t work for me.  I want to use the same logic on smaller, little things I obsess over like drips, noises, and all the light switches going in the same directions, but I can’t.  Eventually I realize I get caught up and start taking myself too seriously.  “Take it down a notch” is my number #1 self-pep talk.  Ha!

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #298

In New Mexico they do an interesting thing on their long two lane highways.  If you come up on a slower moving vehicle, the vehicle will usually pull of on what we would call the (shoulder) and let you pass around them.  The shoulder are wide enough the vehicle moving over can fit nicely and can travel at the rate of speed they were all along.  When we traveled South to North on a two lane highway, it was actually the most efficient way we had ever seen traffic flow.  On most interstate highways one truck goes to pass another truck and back up dozens and dozens of cars in the “passing lane” because the passing truck isn’t even going the speed limit, slowing down the whole process.  COURTESY.  Simple courtesy toward one another goes a long way in this sojourn of life we are all on!

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #297

I was reminded today how important it is for us to walk by faith and not by sight.  Many times we try to “figure it all out.”  When we spend our time, attention, and energy trying to “figure it out” before we actually do anything, we don’t give God a chance because we are doing it all ourselves.  Sometimes we need to just get going. Get started.  Stop talking and start believing/doing.  What is it in your life that you have been putting off?  Is it something you need to take the first step FIRST……?  Let’s get going.

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #296

Pastor Tim Fisher, Lead Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, is my successor.  I have a long term agreement and mutual commitment with Crossroads as the Pastor Emeritus.  Pastor Tim asked me to help with putting some of  our “Crossroads DNA” into his Campus Pastors.  It was a delight to start that ministry adventure today on my 296th Bonus Day on this planet.  Everyone I met today has the same calling, but different personality and skill set.  I am reminded how all of us our different, but all of us are important–very important, in the advancement of the Gospel.  Don’t ever sell yourself short.  As long you are alive today, and there are people who need connected with God, then your most important day is TODAY to advance the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #295

Up at 3:30 AM wide awake today.  It’s not a good thing, however we are so close to our Tour to Israel the last minute details are bearing down on us.  I was able to exchange a number of emails with our Tour Company in Israel in real time (they are 7 hours ahead).  Trying to look on the positive side, just like Marceil taught me!  You may be sleep deprived because of a lung medication but to the Israelis I look like a hard-working dedicated guy.  Ha!

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #294

The last few days I have been focusing upon the Tree of Life.  The Tree that God put in the “midst of the Garden” but more specifically, God placed the Tree of Life in the midst of our lives.  The Tree of Life is the (Cross of Christ)–that symbol of sacrifice that overcomes sin and death.  It is Life.  Each of us needs to join ourselves to the Tree of Life.  (“Eat of it”)  The only way to really understand what it means to join ourselves to the Tree of Life is if/when we understand the idea of trust–entrusting–faith–belief–and yielding ourselves completely to God.  In life, as we eat of the Tree of Life, we develop a deep trust in God.  We learn this trust now, so that God can trust us through out all of eternity.  Even the Tree of Life is means to an end, not an end in itself.  The purpose, power, and process of God goes on and on.

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc