So I just submitted a state mandated annual report to the Maryland State Bar Association about whether I had represented any court cases pro bono- that is, whether I had voluntarily represented any indigent clients for free who were in need of legal services but couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer. Most attorneys I know would grumble at the thought of doing cases for free (this is our livelihood after all) and the fact we’re required to report the number of pro bono hours has a bit of a forced charity to it that diminishes the gesture. Why do lawyers have to donate their particular expertise anyway?!? Whose idea was that? Why don’t other folks have to volunteer according to their occupations? For example why don’t mailmen have to volunteer delivering mail for free? Why aren’t street mimes required to mime for free?
This is just good-natured whining and ranting of course which is my wont to do (but don’t worry I won’t sue street mimes). The sermon today is on God’s desire to have an intimate loving relationship with us through the gift of his Son Christ Jesus on the cross. There is a profound sense of love we experience through Christ that transcends any human emotion. God’s love is unconditional. But nevertheless when we truly experience God’s love for us it calls us to action and releases us from our natural hesitation I described above in order to express our love for the Lord.
But it occurred to me that God’s “love languages” don’t all necessarily apply directly back to Him. By that I mean that yes God is pleased when we lift up praise and adoration to Him and give Him all the glory (eg Words of Affirmation and Quality Time). However, God does not personally need any of our tithing and gifts and He most certainly does not need any pro bono Acts of Service from me or anyone else whatsoever, mimes included. But the beauty of God’s exquisite grand design to his Gospel message of love is that we obey his second command, which is to love one another as He loves us. So each of us is gifted in God’s unconditional love. And so as God compels us to do, therefore we ought to be striving for ways in which to express that love unconditionally towards others through something as simple as a kind gesture towards another in a desperate time of need. It then becomes the natural flow from our desire to live in communion with God, regardless of our occupation or social status.
That kind of unconditional expression of love towards others transcends any state mandated requirement. Amen to that.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
June 22, 2014

Happy Father’s Day from Calvin and Hobbes!

Fathers, contrary to popular belief, we actually do listen to the things you say=)!
There’s a story about my father that I will never forget – a story of his character and actions that speak to me about life and ministry.  This story was told to me in a leadership group by our previous senior pastor.  Many years ago when my father was an oikos leader, he and a leader in training were sitting under a seminar/teaching from our then senior pastor.  The topic was on care ministry and the role of the oikos leader and subjects as love, compassion, leadership structure were all being spoken on.  There came a point in the seminar, where the senior pastor wanted to use his life as a personal example and how the people sitting under his teaching can relate to him.  So he asked a simple question, “who is your pastor?”  Thinking that all would point to him, since he was the pastor, there was a brief moment of silence, and with a quiet but confident voice the leader in training pointed to my father and said, “he is my pastor and mentor.”  When I heard the story, I couldn’t help but beam with pride.  You see, my father is not a pastor by title.  In scripture, Paul talks repeatedly about gifts given to people from the Lord to admonish, encourage, and challenge the church.  Often times the role or gifts of “pastor” and “shepherd” are limited to that of the elders or capital “P” pastors of the church.  My father never told me this story, but what he taught me was that compassion, love, and care for the flock that the Lord (and no one else!) has placed under you is a serious responsibility and calling.  He showed me that though he was “only” an oikos leader by title, he went the extra mile to love and care for his people as any Pastor or Elder would and should. 
Friends, Jesus gave a new commandment (singular!) to his disciples during the last meal He would have with them – love God and love others.  He said do this simultaneously, not one after the other.  Fathers and future fathers, the greatest gift you can give to your children, wife, the people around you, the flock God has placed before you, is to love and care for them as Jesus loved and cared for us.  We look to you to lead but more than that, we look to you to love as Christ loved the church.  As Paul prayed over the church in Ephesus, I leave you with this prayer:
 “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
God bless you and keep you.  Amen.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
June 15, 2014