Hello everyone! All you new readers of Church Requel, welcome! I suppose if there is one good thing about losing my job it may be that so many are tuning in here to see what I might have to say. However, as a strategy for increased blog readership I don't think I would ever recommend it to anyone!
Last night was an odd night. While my character was being attacked at Crossroads, I was with good friends enjoying some of the best prayer time in my entire life. There is something incredibly powerful when a friend takes your hand and begins praying for you... and then keeps praying for more than 30 minutes! Wow! Talk about the peace of God powerfully overcoming any thoughts of anxiety... I thoroughly experienced that last evening.
My Christian brother last night pointed out Psalm 37 to me and I have been richly drinking in God's Word this morning:
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday. (verses 5-7)
This morning my heart is light. I am overjoyed to be fully committed to God. I am trusting Him entirely for my way, for my livelihood, for my defense, for my friends, for my family, for my ministry. What a GREAT opportunity to not return harsh words. Don't get me wrong... I SOOOOO want to tell my side of the story. But God tells me here that I need only trust in him and He will act. So I'll leave it to Him.
I have so much more to say to you that I CAN say, things having nothing to do with Crossroads. God has been so real and so rich to me these past couple of days. And much of that has been because of you and your many phone calls, emails, twitters, and Facebook messages. But I don't have more time to write this morning.
So let me leave you with this. I know that some of you who are reading this are greatly grieving and saddened by my decision. You may be hurt by what you are hearing. And I know that you have questions. If this describes you, please call me. I have nothing to hide or to fear. If you have been under my pastoral care, I'd love to have the opportunity to answer anything you might like to know. My cell phone is 419-564-1525.
For the rest of you who are watching from afar, pray that I continue to be sensitive to God's guidance and subject to His provisions. As a good friend reminded me lately... firmly in HIS grip, Mark
