Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

Sermon: "L.O.V.E.R. Advice"

Good Monday morning everyone!  This morning I'm posting my sermon from yesterday, entitled "L.O.V.E.R. Advice." God cares so much about lovers within marriage that He included Song of Songs in the Bible. Today we are reminded of some L.O.V.E.R. advice from the Bible. Join me as we study S of S 2:8-13.  I have made several resources available to assist you with this week's sermon:

• Download LoverAdvice HANDOUT Without Answers
• Download LoverAdvice HANDOUT With Answers
• Download my personal Lover Advice TEACHING NOTES

Sermon: "L.O.V.E.R. Advice" from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo.  Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.

Would you like to read my notes for today's Bible study? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

Mind Dump #7

Hey everyone!  Another crowded house again this morning.  Six of our regulars didn't show and four of the guests I invited didn't show.  Not sure right now where we would have put the other ten people.  I think I'll turn my blog into a "Dumbledore's pensive" and unload a few of these memories... or we could just call it Mind Dump #7:

• Again the interactions, conversations, and feelings here on Sunday mornings are electric!  People talking, sharing, praying.  It's so much more than a church service.  People show up early and stay way late.  And I love the fact that I'm not even close to the center of attention.  People are really making close friends with others here at Church Requel!
• I really enjoyed both writing and delivering the "L.O.V.E.R. Advice" sermon this week.  I love the fact that it came out of the weekly Lectionary.  I'm quite sure I wouldn't have gone to a Song of Solomon text on August 30th.  I might have thought of this for a Valentine's type of service.  The feedback I received this morning was really enjoyable!
• I loved my Dad's comment right at the end of the service.  We were talking about being better lovers during the sermon.  Right as we were dismissing, Dad shouted out... "I sure wish my wife could have been here to hear this!"
• Things are really clicking with Nate leading our worship.  It was great having Nate two weeks in a row.  He shared with several people after the service that he really feels called to lead our worship services.  He didn't have to tell me... I could tell from his attitude and from the Spirit's presence during his leadership today.
• I loved how we sang the same song both before and after the communion experience today.  That was not something that Nate and I planned, but it was just so right.  He was feeling the same way I was.  All I had to do was just nod to him and he knew I wanted him to do it again.  I love the willingness to change up the planned service. 
• Nate and I are now on a regular "worship planning" schedule every week.  Last week we met on Friday morning.  This week we're meeting on Wednesday afternoon.  We're still feeling our way through this relationship.  But I like the process.
• The last couple of weeks I've had only one person pray during our service.  That is a big change from the days when we had only a dozen or so folks here.  I've noticed that people just don't feel as comfortable praying out loud during the service when we have more than 30 here. 
• God really does seem to be answering the prayers of the folks here at Church Requel.  I spent the first seven minutes today just catching everyone up on the good news that people had shared with me AFTER asking our church to pray for them.  Not surprising that there seems to be such a festive, victorious attitude when these Church Requel folks get together.
• People have been BOTH praying and fasting for us to find a public place to meet.  We would like to launch in October.  And we've been in serious talks the last couple weeks with the fine folks at Mid Ohio.  There are five weekends between Oct. 11th and July 4th when the facility is not available, including both Christmas week and Easter week next year.  That's a big bummer to me.  But maybe I just want the WHOLE answer.  Mary Kay this week told me that maybe I should be happy with a 90% answer and keep trusting God for the other 10%.  Great advice, Mary Kay!
• This morning was our last Sunday morning service here at the house.  Next week we'll still be here, but we're meeting at 6PM instead of 10AM.  We'll give the evening church hours a few weeks trial at the house before we go public in October.
• Speaking of going to the evening time slot, we have one lady in our church who we are really praying will still be able to join us.  She spends time with her son every Sunday night.  So this week many of us are going to give up a meal and pray for her and her son that he will come with her to church next Sunday night. 
• I loved watching Nina and Jonathan after church today.  They were both huddled in the basement after church for a good half hour.  I found out later that Nina got ahold of a MacBook but needed some help getting it going.  When I found out she got a MacBook I asked her if she got the MacBook because I loved the MacBook so much.  She said, "No... I got the MacBook because I love my pastor so much and I want to be able to watch his Bible studies, sermons and read his blog!"  Every now and then I just get knocked over with this kind of stuff.  Thanks for the reminder that this work really does matter!
• Speaking of getting knocked over, we had another fabulous offering this morning.  It was so unexpected.  Fortunately I'm not involved in the counting anymore.  But I do find out from Shaun how things are going.  He really kept his poker face on this morning.  I went into the office to talk to him and said, "I know today is the last day of the month and it's also a 5-week Sunday, so the offering is not so good."  He said, 'Yeah... not so good..." and then showed me the sheet.  It was one of the best offerings we've ever had.  Thank you Lord!  Thank you Church Requel for your obedience!
• This week I need to work out a budget for the rest of the year with our Board of Directors.  Even though we just met this past Thursday, we are meeting again (our regularly scheduled monthly meeting ) this coming Thursday evening.  Financially, it seems like we have a lot of balls up in the air right now.  We really need to get a plan together for how all this works between now and the end of the year.
• Some of those financial balls in the air:  Seminary classes begin in October... Do we want to send me for Hebrew classes for the next six months?  October 7-9 is the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, probably one of the best young leadership conferences in the country.  I've wanted to go for years.  We have already paid for the fee for the conference.  Do we go ahead and pay for airfare, hotel expenses to get me down there?  We're also looking for equipment for the public services - sound system, microphones, projector etc.  We're trying to buy used equipment to save on the money, but even so it can be expensive.  And of course we would like to advertise our services when we start.  People can't come if they don't know about it.  And here's an idea we're starting to think about... starting a small salary for the pastor!  Like I said... lots of balls in the air!
• I don't think I've ever seen such a job like this church planting job.  Each week I seem to go through the widest range of emotions and spiritual challenges.  Put another way, I don't think I've ever loved a job more than this one.  Nor do I think I've ever thought more often of giving up than I have on this job.  How can that happen within the course of a week?  At age 52 I know myself pretty well.  And I'm usually a pretty stable kind of guy.  But this job really is both the hardest job I've ever had, but also the funnest, most joyous job I've ever had.  Go figure!
• I'm really getting tired of the look of my blog.  There's so many things that I want to do to update it.  I'm really tired of the two columns on the right.  I'd like to make only one and widen the main posts a bit.  I think I want more white space too.  I just don't know if I have the energy to make it happen.  But I would LOVE to give it a try!  (This is my geekiness coming out!)
• I took Grayden to a silly kid's movie named "Shorts" yesterday.  Loved the time together with him.  Want to know how bad I have this pastor's passion?  I walked away from the movie storing away at least 3 different film clips in my mind for future sermons!  What do you say when you can't even go to a stupid, made for kids movie, without thinking about sermon illustrations?
• Only another week of preseason football for the NFL.  Browns looking better.  Not sure they're for real.  Next Saturday is first Ohio State game against Navy.  Most of my family will be here watching the game with me.  We are doing our NFL fantasy draft after the game.  Are you ready for some football?

#155: Living in the Moment

Do you find yourself constantly living in the future, wondering how things will work out? Or do you find yourself replaying something from the past over and over again in your mind? Join Pastor Mark Pierce of Church Requel as we study Matthew 6:34.

#155: Living in the Moment from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo and on YouTube.  Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.

Would you like to read my notes for today's Bible study? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

Excellent Resources for Bible Study

Tuesday morning I enjoyed breakfast with a man who asked me about how to best study the Bible.  He told me that he had invested many hours over these past two months reading through large chunks of the Word.  While this is commendable, he also confessed to me that he was struggling not only understanding everything in its context, but also doing all the things he read about.  He was beautifully transparent as he told me that his reading was here (stretching his right hand as far as it would go), but his personal performance was back there (and he stretched his left hand as far as it would go in the opposite direction).  He was beautiful beyond words as he stood along side of the great prophets and saints who have all confessed, "Oh woe is me... a sinner!"

I suggested he break his time in God's Word into three parts.  Reading the Bible is wonderful for getting the big picture.  But sometimes it can be difficult to do because a) the culture of the Bible is foreign in many ways to our own, and b) some translations can be difficult to read easily.  So I suggested he spend one-third of his time reading straight through and supplement this "big picture" reading with several resources (mentioned below). 

A second one-third of his time could be spent on smaller sections of the Bible, which he might want to study as deeply as he can.  Two thousand years of discussion has been taking place on God's Word and it's worth while to read what other people have written.  Rather than reading through all the New Testament, he might want to consider reading one of the epistles over and over again - maybe once every day for a month.  For example, this summer our own church has been immersing ourselves into the book of Ephesians.  Most of our parishioners have read their way through Ephesians several times.

Finally, the third portion of his time could be spent in meditation of an even smaller portion of Scripture, maybe just a verse or two.  Meditation does not have to mean twisting ourselves into a pretzel and moving into a trance.  Rather it means thinking deeply and applying directly the passage under consideration.  What does this mean to me?  What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this?  What do I need to do to live this out in my own life?

This morning I followed up with an email to my new friend recommending resources.  Perhaps what I wrote to him could also be of help to you.  If you pick up one of the resources, or already use it and like it, will you write me back and let me know how it's going?  Maybe you have another resource you like as well that I could benefit from knowing about.  Write a comment.  Share your own experiences!

• One of the best books to have sitting next to your Bible (in my humble estimation) is Zondervan's Handbook to the Bible.  For $15.59 (Amazon's price), it is an amazing value.  This resource will provide much background information to all the Bible, bringing out cultural and historical context that I find invaluable.  Also, it's full color, which really helps with all the maps! 
• How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart ($11.55).   This is an excellent resource to help you understand the different genres of the Bible.  It provides an excellent and scholarly approach to understanding the Bible. 
• How to Read the Bible Book By Book, also by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart ($14.81).  This is the companion piece to the above book.  This book is arranged in the same way the Bible itself is arranged, so that you can read the background information on each book as you go along. 
• 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders ($11.55).  This one is perfect for anyone wanting to get an overview of the entire Bible in a short period of time.  This book is designed to be devoured in a 30 day period of time.  Again, it lays out the entire Bible within different historical time frames and helps you to understand the background to the whole thing.  I once taught a ten week series to understanding the Old Testament using this book and received excellent feedback. 
• ESV Study Bible ($31.49 up to $98 depending on what kind of cover you buy).  In my estimation this is the best and most current study Bible on the market today.  If you want a literal and beautiful English translation combined with all the most excellent resources (maps, notes, illustrations, charts, timelines and outstanding articles), this is the one to buy. 

Church Requel Changes to Sunday Evening on Sept. 6th

Beginning on September 6th, Church Requel will begin holding services at 6PM on Sundays.  The church will no longer hold Sunday morning services.  This is part of the overall strategy we will be using to reach more people for Christ.  The picture on the left is from the front page of the Church Requel website announcing the change.

We are changing to Sunday evenings for four good reasons.  First, we believe there are already many good churches offering contemporary worship services on Sunday mornings.  However, there are still many people working on Sunday mornings, who might prefer to attend a Sunday evening service.  We could meet a need that is not being met currently.

Second, we believe this will allow many within our church to continue to hold House Church on Sunday mornings.  I know we have greatly enjoyed our intimate times of worship at the Pierce household these past 9 months.  We are hoping that several people who have enjoyed the Sunday morning experience at our home may decide to do the same thing in their own homes in the future.  Just like the early church, we hope to meet "from house to house and in the temple courts."  Both settings are equal and important to the life of Church Requel.

Third, some people within our church may use their Sunday morning to enjoy life with their unchurched friends.  We are well aware that two-thirds of folks in Richland County no longer attend any church on a regular basis.  Sunday mornings may be the greatest divide between Christians and non-Christians.  Christians who have lived their entire lives in church on Sunday morning have not had the opportunity to enjoy friendships with people outside the church.  This could now change. 

Fourth, this will give many people the opportunity to enjoy a Sabbath experience.  Traditionally the Sabbath extends from sunset to sunset.  We think it will be wonderful to allow people to rest on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings and then conclude their Sabbath with a large church gathering on Sunday evenings. 

Remember: 6PM on the 6th!  If you're not already engaged for that evening, why not come and give Church Requel a try?

#154: Our Top Priority

I decided to reintroduce the Bible Study this week.  I've enjoyed enough time off this summer and am looking forward to getting back to our times together in the Bible. This morning we learn that our top priority in life has a lot to do with the degree of anxiousness and worry we experience. Join me we study Matthew 6:31-33.

#154: Our Top Priority from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo and on YouTube.  Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.

Would you like to read my notes for today's Bible study? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

Don't Forget Value of Personal Correspondence

In today's high tech world of social networking, email, and instant messaging, it's easy to forget about one of the best tools still available: the personal letter.  As a pastor of a new church as well as a Dad to two college students, I like to make Monday more than just a day off.  It's also a correspondence day.

While we live in a high tech world, we should remember that we also live in a high touch world as well.  Because communication is so instant these days, I don't think we can overestimate the value of a personal note or letter mailed the old fashion way - with envelope and stamp.  Thinking of my daughter Jillian off at Cedarville University, I just know that receiving a personal letter from Dad in her mailbox will lighten her day.  And I've seen the positive results many times when a friend or parishioner gets a personal card from their pastor.

Want to impact some lives around you?  Send them a personal letter.  Here are a few hints on how you can make this easy for yourself:

• Go shopping and buy yourself some stationery.  There's just something special about a letter on nice paper as opposed to lined, 3-hole punched paper.
• Make some of your own cards.  With today's great word processing capabilities, you'd be surprised how nicely (and how cheaply) you can design your own cards.  I have designed and printed off my own thank you cards and thinking of you cards and keep them available for when I need them.
• Keep everything together in one box.  I keep my stationery, envelopes, stamps, pens, etc. all together so that when I decide to write someone a letter or a card, I don't have to go looking.  The key to keeping up correspondence is to make it easy to do.
• Set aside a regular time to do this.  As I mentioned above Mondays are a great day for me.  It is my day off of work, so there's just something leisurely about sitting down and writing a letter.

Here's a great bonus!  Of course the reason I send letters and cards is because I want to impact someone else's day in a positive way.  But the old saying that what goes around comes around is true... for both good and bad.  I love it when I receive a personal note handwritten by someone to me.  And you know what?  I think I get more than my share because I've also taken the time to write someone else.  Give it a try.  You'll be surprised just how much good you can do someone else... and yourself as well!

Mind Dump #6

It's been a couple weeks since Mind Dump #5.  I'd like to get into the habit of doing this every week.  It's good to get things off my mind and gives me a reminder of what's happening and what needs doing.  More importantly it gives the church an opportunity to see what's rolling around up in that brain of mine and provides details of how to pray!

• Awesome morning here at the Pierce home this morning.  Mary Kay told me we had 34 people this morning, which is a lot for the home.  The house sure felt full this morning!
• Nate Williams did an FANTASTIC job this morning.  Good song selection and such a humble delivery.  I also loved how we're starting to get INTO worship and singing with hands raised and clapping after the songs.  Also Nate... thanks so much for the terrific song during our communion service.  Hit home!
• I almost didn't have enough communion cups!  Oh me of little faith!  Lucky for me, Mary Kay was watching and held off on taking her own cup.  Then she couldn't believe it when I went ahead and drank my own cup without sharing it with her.  I was so oblivious and in the moment.  But in the end, we had JUST EXACTLY what we needed.  God is good!  But I don't plan on cutting it so close again.  Note to self: up the communion cups for next week!
• I heard multiple stories from many of you about your fasting experiences this past week.  I can definitely tell how God is working in my life because of your own sacrifice.  I plan on fasting at least one meal again next week.  I'll be praying that God will provide the public place He wants for us to meet this fall.
• Speaking of public place to meet - I'm hoping that we will be able to make our final plans with the Mid Ohio Conference Center.  It's a great location.  Issues to be worked out - there are 4 Sundays that are not available between now and next June.  If we go with Mid Ohio, we need to find a place for those other 4 weeks.
• Children's Ministry rocked this morning.  Dave, Jessica and Jonathan worked with 11 children downstairs.  We definitely are going to need some more help in the childrens' area.  I'm thinking at the very least, we need to divide up the group between preschool and school age children.  From the looks of my basement office it looks like they all had a pretty good time this morning.  (Think I'll leave the mess to clean up until tomorrow!)
• I was blown away to see Rachael and Trisha both in our service this morning.  I had visited them both in the hospital this past week and had written down their names for prayer requests on my sheet.  When I saw them both walk in I crossed off the word "request" and replaced it with "praise"!
• The message seemed to go really well this morning.  Great passage of Scripture... how could I not knock it out of the park with the "Whole Armor of God" section of Ephesians 6?  (Didn't get a chance to hear it?  You can go here, here, here, or here.)  I learned so much myself this week about this passage.  God's Word never grows old, does it?
• Just one more week doing a Sunday morning service.  On Labor Day weekend we change to our evening schedule.  We'll be meeting here at the home at 6PM each Sunday evening in September.  Then, sometime in October (details to be worked out) we hope to go public... hopefully at Mid Ohio Conference Center.  Can't wait!
• Jessica (my daughter) learned about the Mid Ohio site for the first time this morning.  She has missed the last two weeks because of some job training that she has been taking.  Jessica was so excited to hear about Mid Ohio.  She wants me to take her this week to see it.  (The same reaction that Nate had last week!)
• Wondering what I should do about the Catalyst Conference October 7-9.  That will be right in the middle of our public launch.  I already have my ticket to the conference, but haven't made my hotel and air reservations yet.  On one hand I'm thinking I should stay here because it will be a critical week.  On the other hand I think the conference is exactly what I need for my own soul and for the great ideas I might pick up for our church.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.
• Speaking of "more than enough to do..." I begin my Hebrew language class at Ashland Theological Seminary in October.  I'm really looking forward to getting back into school... but I'm thinking my dance card is kinda full right now.
• Met another new person this morning: Dan.  Spent about an hour after the service talking to him this morning.  I really enjoyed doing that.
• Love the fact that Shaun is taking care of the finances for the church.  Speaking of which... thanks SO MUCH Church Requel for your generosity this month.  I never would have guessed that August would have been our best month financially!  God blows me away with your generosity!
• On the personal side of things... celebrated 30 years with Mary Kay this past week.  I hope we get another 30!
• Watched the Browns beat the Lions last night.  At least we know that the Browns are not the worst team in the league!
• Watched the Cowboys play on Friday night.  Can you believe those twin 160 foot screens in the middle of the field?  (Over 50 yards long! on both sides!)  I SO GOT A KICK out of the punter punting the ball into the screen.  I'm betting that's not the last time that happens this season.

That's enough for now.  Keep it real everyone!  Talk with you again real soon!  Mark

Sermon: "Bullet Proof Your Life"

Whether we like it or not, we are in a spiritual battle. It's important that we suit up to bullet proof our lives. Paul in his famous letter to the Ephesians counsels that we should put on the WHOLE armor of God.  I really enjoyed this study and learned quite a few things myself.  See what you can learn by joining me in a study of Ephesians 6:10-17.  It will definitely help you if you download one of the PDF files below, which go along with the sermon.

• Download BulletProof HANDOUT Without Answers
• Download BulletProof HANDOUT Answers

Bullet Proof Your Life! from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo.  Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

I'm making final preparations for tomorrow morning's Church Requel's service.  We are wrapping up our summer study of Ephesians by exploring the great text of Ephesians 6:10-17, where the Apostle Paul instructs his readers to "put on the whole armor of God."  In our lingo we might say to bullet proof our lives.  I'm reminded of a character named Detective Leo Banks from the quirky ABC summer television series The Unusuals.  Detective Banks wears a bullet proof vest all the time, even when he is not on duty.  In The Unusuals, this is because of Leo Banks' phobia of an early death.  But in Ephesians, Paul tells us that we have good reason to put on (and keep on) the whole armor of God! 

I'll leave the sermon telling for tomorrow morning, but there are a few thoughts I could share here in preparation for tomorrow.  First, I'm reminded of the defensive nature of the struggle we have with our spiritual enemy.  Paul talks a lot more about being defensive than being offensive.  In every case our offense against our enemy is God and not ourselves.  Our number one job is to put on God's armor, not to be looking for a fight.  It seems to me many Christians miss this point and talk about the spiritual battle with glorious banter.  Any glory goes to God, not ourselves.

In fact, the second thing I'm reminded of in studying this passage is that our objective at the end is to remain standing!  Note that it's not defeating the enemy.  The goal of this fight (from our perspective) is to still be standing for Jesus at the end of the day.  The important part of this is that we cannot do this on our own.  This is not a matter of being personally diligent or brave or powerful.  in fact, our job more than anything else according to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, is to put on God's armor!  (Yeah, I wrote that already.  Repetition is good for the memory, yes?)

I can't help but think that this is one place where being in the church can be such a help.  After all, even soldiers help one another make certain that they have all their equipment on correctly.  No one would ever purposefully allow a friend to walk into a battle less than fully prepared.  When we are on our own it's easy to forget a) that we are in a battle or b) that we have prepared ourselves as fully as we could. 

In this respect I greatly appreciate my new friends at Church Requel, who I know have been praying diligently for me this past week.  I know that I am weak and only in God's power do I have the strength for this battle.  So if you're one who has been supporting me with prayer and/or messages of goodwill - thank you!  I really appreciate you.  I hope to see you tomorrow morning at Church Requel.

30 Years Married Today!

It's truly hard to believe, but Mary Kay and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary today.  The picture to the left is from the cruise we took last year.  I tried to get a picture of us from our wedding day, but alas, we have nothing digital from 1979.  No video.  No movie.  We have five things left from that day: 1) an audio cassette tape from which we cannot hear each other very well, but the duet of "Sunrise, Sunset" comes across loud and echoey; 2) our wedding photo album - we paid an exorbitant $300 for it, more than the cost of our honeymoon; 3) our wedding rings; 4) Mary Kay's wedding dress; and 5) our memories.

The wedding took place in Celina, Ohio - Mary Kay's hometown.  We were married in her home church  - Immaculate Conception, a beautiful Catholic church just down the same street where Mary Kay and her family lived on Walnut Street.

I don't remember everything about that day.  Like our photo album, the memories fade a bit after three decades.  I remember that my fraternity brothers and Mary Kay's brothers all played football with me during the day.  I remember the tan tuxedo and hanging out with my brother, Todd.  I remember standing in front of the whole church filled with our family and friends, a preacher from the Nazarene church and a priest from the Catholic church.  And I remember that everyone disappeared when Mary Kay and her father began walking down the aisle - all I could see was Mary Kay.  She was so beautiful!  I remember being completely surprised that she had parted her long, beautiful hair on the side; it had always been parted down the middle before. 

I remember my sister, Kimberly, singing the Lord's Prayer.  The combination of her velvet, alto voice and the acoustics of the domed church stay with me still - it was beautiful.  I remember the party afterward - our reception was at the Knights of Columbus hall.  Mary Kay's mom and all her mom's friends made the most delicious meal.  I remember some of the dancing - people paid a buck (or more) to dance with Mary Kay.  That money came in real handy on our honeymoon.  I remember when Mary Kay and I tried to leave, my fraternity brothers had rigged the car so the horn sounded when I tried to turn on the lights.

And I remember the honeymoon.  We didn't have any destination the first night - we hoped to drive part way towards Kentucky, where someone had generously donated a cabin for our first week together.  I remember that we were so tired that we didn't get very far - only about 25 miles to the first Holiday Inn we came across.  We made it to the cabin the next day, but we only stayed a couple days.  Believe it or not, we got bored.  So, on the spur of the moment, we decided to make our honeymoon a road trip.  That week we saw the Smokey Mountains and stayed in Gatlinburg; we also drove to the ocean and stayed in Virginia Beach; and we drove up and stayed one night in Washington, D.C.  We learned that we both love to travel and we still get turned on by the words, "Road Trip!"

There's one more thing I remember: I am the most lucky guy in the entire world.  Mary Kay said "yes," and has been saying "yes" ever since.  We have seen the better and the worse (but much more of the better), the richer and the poorer (used to be richer, now poorer all the time), as well as the sickness and the health.  But we're still here and we're still together.  We've been blessed with a wonderful family - now four children and five grandchildren - and we're loved so much by all of them that we can hardly stand it.  But the love of my life is now, and I hope will always be Mary Kay Hawk Pierce. 

Jen and Mike Celebrate Anniversary #7 Today!

My oldest daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Mike, celebrate their 7th wedding anniversary today.  The picture at the left was taken ten years ago, shortly after they began dating.  Yes, they were high school sweethearts.

Now, 10 years later, they are celebrating 7 years of marriage and two beautiful children - 4 year old Sicily and two year old Violet.  They have their own home down in Mount Gilead designed with bright blue and gold colors.  

Jennifer and I have grown very close to one another.  She works hard as Mom, Wife, and as a Blockbuster manager.  Balancing everything is never easy, but somehow she manages to find a way.  Yesterday she also came and filled the role of teacher to our Children's Ministry at Church Requel. 

I have learned that one of the best ways to show her love is to show up at her Blockbuster with a Starbucks Hazelnut skinny latte.  As she told me recently: "Better than food!" 

Congratulations Jennifer and Mike!  May you have many more years together!

Sermon: "Getting the M.O.S.T. Out of Life!"

How do we get the M.O.S.T. out of life? Yesterday we talked about the examined life, following God's plan, being filled with God's Spirit, and living with an attitude of gratitude. Join mel as we study Ephesians 5:15-21.  I have provided two resources to assist you with this sermon:

• Download MaximizeLife HANDOUT Without Answers
• Download MaximizeLife HANDOUT With Answers

Sermon: "How to Get the M.O.S.T. Out of Life!" from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo.  Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.

Would you like to read my notes for today's Bible study? Just click on the "Continue reading" link below.

Anniversaries Galore!

It's anniversaries galore this week in the Pierce household.  Today our youngest daughter, Jillian (pictured with Mary Kay and me at the left) turns 20 years old.  This prompts an even more significant right of passage for us - the first time in 15 years we do not have any teenagers living with us.  As I commented to someone else earlier this week this means goodbye to hormone swings, pimples, toilet papering of houses, and higher car insurance rates.  Jillian has already left for her last year of college at Cedarville, so Mary Kay and I are back to being empty nesters.  (Last year we moved Jillian into Cedarville for the first time - read about it here.)

There are also wedding anniversaries this week.  Mike and Jennifer (our oldest daughter) will celebrate their 7th anniversary on Monday the 17th, and Mary Kay and I will celebrate (drum roll) our 30th anniversary on Tuesday the 18th.  We're talking about staying at a fabulous 4 bedroom bed and breakfast and renting out the whole place to ourselves... but after talking it over we decided we really should go somewhere.  After all it is our 30th.

We went out with our long time best friends, Roc and Kim, last night and watched Julie and Julia.  Meryl Streep plays Julia Child, and honestly, I don't know how she could fail to win the Oscar for her performance.  It was a thoroughly delightful movie, telling the love stories and writing passions of two women from very different generations.  At the movie theater we ran into four other friends (Kyle, Christy, Cheri, and Mark), which made our evening even more delightful.  Let the anniversary celebrations begin!

Getting the MOST Out of Life!

This morning I put the finishing touches on our sermon for this coming Sunday morning at Church Requel.  The name of the sermon is: "Getting the M.O.S.T. Out of Life!"  We'll be focusing our attention on Ephesians 5:15-21, with our key verse being verse 16 - "Make the MOST of every opportunity" (NLT).  How exactly do we do that?

Sunday, we'll talk about several ideas.  We'll talk about how important it is to examine our lives regularly.  We'll talk about the difference between our plan for our life and God's plan.  Along the way we'll also have an interesting discussion on the topic of drunkenness and why this is included in any talk about the Spirit-filled life.

We'll wrap up with the connection between maximizing our opportunities and also having an attitude of gratitude.  We'll discover the example of a woman who put this powerful idea to work in her own life, and as a result, brought great joy to hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women.  Not only that, but her idea probably saved dozens of lives as well!  All because she put Operation Gratitude to work in a unique way in her own life.

Anyone who needs a positive reminder of just how blessed we are as Christ followers will not want to miss out.  If you want information on Church Requel, including service time and location, click here.  The number of services we will have in our home are becoming fewer and fewer.  Soon we'll be in our new location.  So if you want to be part of the core team of Church Requel or just want to hear an uplifting message, consider this my personal invitation to come to our home Sunday morning at 10AM.  Hope to see you there!  Mark

Pastor of New Church Wears Many Hats

As the pastor of a new church, I wear many hats.  Today is one of those "many hats" days.  I feel a little bit like the fellow at the left trying to keep his balance while balancing all the hats piled up on top of one another. 

Don't misunderstand me.  I'm not complaining.  Actually I like the variety of tasks.  So far today, I've worked a little bit on my sermon for Sunday, did a walk through of a potential locale for our public launch, met with our treasurer (Shaun) for a couple hours, and met with an engaged couple who have asked me to officiate their September wedding.  The many hats are fun - wearing only one would be just too... boring!

Last night Mary Kay and I took a Myers Briggs Personality Profile quiz together.  It's funny, no matter how many times I have taken this test over the last 30 years, my results are always the same: ENTJ.  Here's the summary of my personality:

You are frank, decisive, and assume leadership readily. You quickly see illogical and inefficient procedures and policies, and develop and implement comprehensive systems to solve organizational problems. You enjoy long-term planning and goal setting. You are usually well informed, well read, enjoy expanding your knowledge and passing it on to others. You are forceful in presenting your ideas. Famous people with your same ENTJ personality include: Franklin D. Roosevelt , Harrison Ford, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Sigourney Weaver, Margaret Thatcher, Al Gore, David Letterman and Jim Carrey.

I don't know how much like these famous people I am, but the other stuff definitely describes me well.  I notice that they didn't provide the negative personality issues that also describe me.  So, in the interests of "fair and balanced," let's also include the fact that I can become bored with repetitive tasks, sometimes I don't listen as well as I should, and I have to work really hard to be as empathetic as any pastor should be.    But on days like today - a "many hats" day - being an ENTJ is a good thing!

Church Planting Books Fail to Inspire

Yesterday, on my day off, I picked up two books on the topic of church planting:  Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer and Launch: Starting a New Church From Scratch by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas.  Even though it was not a working day I thought it would be worthwhile for me to get inspired and maybe pick up some good ideas for our own new church launch.

Admittedly, I haven't finished either of the books yet.  And I'm convinced that both books are well written by experienced authors, who have much to offer.  I'm sure I will pick up some good ideas.  But I must admit that both failed to inspire me.

At first this really bothered me.  After all, I'm an avid reader.  Reading usually does inspire me.  Books have changed my life so many times.  But, in this case, I was left flat. 

After I thought about it for awhile, I realized that these books could not accomplish what God has already accomplished in my heart.  I'm already so inspired, so excited, so transformed by the mission we have at Church Requel - that no other book could ever add to the vision we already have.  Church Requel is new.  It's different.  It's special.  It's a vision that God has given to a small group of people in Mansfield, Ohio to reach people for Christ in Mansfield, Ohio.  While I'm not opposed AT ALL to using good ideas that have worked in other places, we already have so many great ideas.  My primary goal now is to accomplish the ideas we already have.

The other thought I walked away with yesterday was that I'm not all that excited about the concept of "launching a church."  I AM VERY EXCITED about "being the church," whatever its size or length of existence.  What got me up and running this morning was thinking about specific people and how they would partner with CR to reach our community.  I'm excited about Shaun and his commitment to help with financial organization.  I'm excited about Rich and his commitment to helping people find their spiritual gifts for service.  I'm excited about Tami and Nate and Mary Kay and Nancy and Cindy and Steve and Jonathan and Bethany and Jessica and Ron and Mary and Matt and Windi and Mark and Bonnie and Nina and (I could go on and on here... Don't want to be the Romper Room lady looking through her magic mirror - {if you're younger than 40 you may not get that last reference}).  I'm excited about some of the folks I'm talking to who have not yet partnered with us, but are thinking about it.  I'm excited about the kids who are coming (SO MANY!) and what God may accomplish through them in their lifetimes, if we do our job right.  I'm excited about our communions, our worship times, our prayer life, our fellowship, our vision casting.

I know I'm rambling - but you need to know that this new church and its new life is SO COMPELLING to me!  Reading other books about how someone else has launched a church is like looking at a still, black and white photograph compared with being immersed in a full color, 3-D movie.  I'm glad God has used other men and women in other places.  But I'm really turned on by what God is doing with my partners and me right now and right here.

Church Stats Tell Why New Churches Are Important

This morning I'm reading Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer.  Ed provides a list of statistics about churches in North America, which is startling.  If you've ever wondered why you should be a part of a new church plant, consider the following:

• Churches are closing at a phenomenal rate.  Eighty to 85% of American churches are on the downside of their life cycle.  3500 to 4000 churches close each year.
• The percentage of Christians in the U.S. population dropped 9 percent from 1990 to 2001.
• The number of unchurched people has almost doubled from 1991 to 2004.
• There are 120 million secular undiscipled people in the United States.  The U.S. is the largest mission field in the Western Hemisphere and the 5th largest mission field on earth!
• In 1900, there were 28 churches for every 10,000 Americans.  In 2004, there were 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
• Churches over 15 years of age win an average of 3 people to Christ per year for every hundred church members.  Churches under 3 years of age, on the other hand, win an average of 10 people to Christ per year for every hundred church members.

When I read these BIG PICTURE statistics, I'm reminded anew why it's important to be part of the church planting movement. 

Mind Dump #5

As I sit here this August afternoon, I realize that I haven't written a "Mind Dump" post since my days at Crossroads.  So this seems way overdue.  The idea is for me to just write down my random thoughts of the weekend and progress of Church Requel.  So no literary masterpiece, just out loud thinking...

• Church was great this morning.  Average size group, but filled our home and we had several new families come and commit to being a part of Church Requel going forward.  That's always welcome news!
• Another great week giving wise.  The people who are coming are really committed to the new vision.
• Missed Nate Williams today.  He was gone for the Mexico trip and got back home at 5am this morning.  Can't wait to get caught up with him and hear about his trip.
• My dad came this morning.  It's always great to see him seated in our church when I'm preaching.
• Timothy Vincent, Jillian's boyfriend, was here this morning.  He brought his guitar and participated in our worship service.  Nice way to step in Timothy!  Good pick of boyfriends, Jillian!
• Shared our plans for the public launch this fall of Church Requel after church this morning.  This is the third week in a row that we've done vision casting.  I keep telling myself that I can't just say things once.  I keep telling myself that I can't just say things once and expect people to get it.
• I am SOOOOOO appreciative of my leadership team.  Today Rich Workman really stepped up and protected me from overcommitting myself during our vision casting time.  Thanks so much Rich!
• This week I'll be meeting with several different potential venues.  I'm hoping we can announce our next location by the end of August and begin public services sometime in October.
• We really need to find another children's teaching team.  We need to divide our kids up into two groups - preschool and elementary age.  I never would have guessed that our style of ministry would have been so attractive to the young married with kids set.  What a GREAT privilege and opportunity this is!  God is so good!
• I am so thrilled that we have a treasurer!  Shaun Jourdan has really stepped up and done a great job!  For the second week in a row, I didn't have to worry about counting the money or taking it in to make the deposit (and making sure everybody donating gets accounted for in our internal software.)  Thanks Shaun.  You are really setting a great example.
• Speaking of accounting, we need to get an accounting program going for our church.  Shaun has some good ideas.  I need to get this ALL turned over to him.  He is responsible and wants to do it.  I need to make the time to get this all done so it will free up my time in the long run. 
• Jonathan and Bethany really came through for us in the children's area.  We had seven children downstairs today, even with several families not here.  Jessica is doing her nursing clinicals this weekend and next weekend.  I know teaching children is sometimes thankless.  But let me say it:  THANK YOU!  Jennifer and Mike are coming next weekend just for the purpose of taking care of the kids.  It's great to have family help!
• I have a suspecion that we will look back with great fondness some day at these days of church in our home.  There's no doubt that God has done some work on me to prepare me for church planting.  I'm learning to appreciate things I never thought to appreciate before.
• Just two more weeks on our Ephesians series.  I really enjoyed the Benjamin Buttons approach to the sermon today.  It was neat starting the sermon and end and working it backwards.  I think people enjoyed the idea, even if they'd never seen the movie.  I love the creative aspects of putting a church service together.  That may be one of the aspects of the new church I'm most excited about.
• Speaking of what I'm excited about with the new church, I love the mix of house church with BIG church.  When we were vision casting several people really seemed to get it.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had dozens of house churches all over Mansfield and then came together for one big church.  Each has its own strength and its own place in the strategy.
• I couldn't help but get excited today about the people we've never yet even met, but who we may know for all eternity because of the commitments that are being made by those in our church.
• And I can't help but laugh at how the word "requel" is finding its way into people's vocabulary.  I heard someone say:"That would really be a "requel" thing."  I doubt that this person had ever used the word before.  Cool!
• The first NFL pre game is on later today.  I'm ready for some football!

Sermon: "Imitating God"

How do we become imitators of God?  This morning I talk about the 5 A's of becoming like God.  Join today's Church Requel sermon as we study Ephesians 4:17-5:2.  I have made the handouts for this sermon available for you to download:

• Download ImitateGod HANDOUT Without Answers
• Download ImitateGod HANDOUT With Answers

Sermon: "Imitating God" from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo.  Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.