Marc’s Musings

Does this qualify as a Tweeted prayer?

(Click for a larger version of this image.)

Could I ask you a big Friday favor?

Would you help me get Ask Without Fear! into Starbucks stores?

My local baristas strongly encouraged me to try to get Ask Without Fear! into Starbucks in conjunction with the National Philanthropy days in November. The "grassroots" appeal of the book is perfect for the typical Starbucks customer.

Naturally, as a former barista, I loved the idea! I think it’d be awesome to have Ask Without Fear! featured in stores!

So I found the agency that arranges for book promotions. Their email is: bookbreak@wma.com. I’ve emailed a couple times but haven’t heard anything back.

WHY NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY?
National Philanthropy Day is November 15 but groups celebrate it whenever it’s convenient to their previously scheduled events. So there’s a long "celebration" time for National Philanthropy. It also positions Starbucks as a proponent of philanthropy and partnering with the communities it serves.

WHY MY BOOK?
I wrote "Ask Without Fear!" to be a simple guide to inspire and equip normal people to start raising money for their favorite causes. Definitely a grassroots thing.

The book is available through distributors like Ingram and all the major retailers including Barnes & Nobles and Amazon. And the book has been featured and positively reviewed in national print publications as well as on the blogosphere.

Would you send them a quick email today encouraging them to do a "National Philanthropy Day" promotion featuring Ask Without Fear!? The email address is bookbreak@wma.com. Getting an email from you will really help!

Thanks so much!

If you look up the definition of “entrepreneur” in the dictionary, chances are Guy Kawasaki’s face is right there with it.

So I immediately responded when I saw him tweet about the top 5 things he’d learned as an entrepreneur.

Really good observations. Here’s a sample:

4. Ignore schmexperts. Schmexperts are the totally bad combination of schmucks who are experts–or experts who are schmucks. When you first launch a product or service, they’ll tell you it isn’t necessary, can’t really work, or faces too much competition. If you succeed, then they’ll say they knew you would succeed. In other words, they don’t know jack shiitake. If you believe, try it. If you don’t believe, listen to the schmexperts and stay on the porch.

Even though I’m 36, I was really born 22 years ago yesterday.

It’s hard to word that. I wanted to say, “I became a Christian” or “I started my journey with Jesus.”

Words fall short.

I’d been reading the Bible and doing “Christian” things for years before August 17, 1986. In the early ’80s, my parents had led me in the “sinner’s prayer.” And at some other point, I’d responded to a call from a former Red Sox baseball player when he led a group in the “sinner’s prayer.”

But it took root on August 17, 1986 at a place called Camp Fairhaven.

I was full of Bible knowledge and strong opinions. But hearing a speaker tell of the intense, grueling experience of crucifixion, something in me broke. All I’d done up to that point was built on my own effort. My work. My learning.

But the cross was the boldest statement that all I had done wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.

I remember sitting in that meeting and thinking, Jesus could’ve blurted out “I didn’t mean it!” or “Hey guys, I was just kidding!” at any point during the humiliation and incredible pain of the process.

But he didn’t.

So maybe he really meant all that he said. That he was the way, the truth, the light (ie. John 8). Maybe no one does come to the Father but by him (ie. John 6:44).

And I remember so clearing wondering if all the other teens in the room would think I were a freak for being moved by this. It just didn’t make sense. God became man? I’d be forgiven without having to earn it? God would be so restrictive as to have only one way? Come on. That’s just not right.

But, in the end, I realized I didn’t want to risk it. I decided to throw my lot in with Jesus. If it weren’t true, then I’d be no worse off at death. If it were true, then I’d have eternal life. So I timidly raised my hand and was led out back to pray.

Now, 22 years later, I know a couple things about that day. One, it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. Two, that I don’t even get credit for making that decision; God had been pursuing me and my family even before I was born.

I still don’t have all the answers. And stuff Jesus said still makes me uncomfortable. I also know that this life with Jesus is more than a one-time “(born again” experience and more about becoming life-long students or “disciples.”

But with the freedom and growth I’ve experienced in the last couple decades, I’m more convinced than ever that this journey with Jesus is the way we were all created to live.

So Happy Birthday to me. And Soli Deo Gloria–to God alone be the glory!

Here are some pix from this a.m.

Would this be considered a “bear hug”?

This one had a chair instead of a basket!

The CMN Balloon

Looks like my family is under foot! This was a h-u-g-e dragon.

We got up early for a Saturday.

But it was worth it.

Emily’s got some stunning photos in her Great Falls Balloon Festival picasa gallery. 75 in fact!

A woman at work got a “tract” in a copy of “Diabetes for Dummies” she bought last night. Four of them in fact. She was happy to give one to me. (Fortunately she was trying to be nice, thinking I’d like it.)

It was ghastly. It looked like a $100 bill. On it was written “This is counterfeit but Jesus is the real thing” and “Jesus loves you.”

I tried to explaining it to my son today. I wanted to be generous in my explanation but I think he understood what I thought of it as I was told him about “people being afraid of actually living like Jesus in front of people so they hide behind pieces of paper that try to trick people into thinking about Jesus.”

I guess I didn’t hide my feelings on this one.

His comment said it all, “Dad, lying isn’t a good way to share Jesus…”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

And I fervently hope this foolishness ceases. I have a hard time thinking of Jesus saying, “They shall know you’re my disciples by your…tricks.”

I was inspired by Mark Batterson’s In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars, so I’m thrilled to be getting an advance copy of his next book, Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God.

I just love that he names the book with the wonderfully quirky name the Celtic Christians gave the Holy Spirit. Apparently he uses this to write about seeing our lives as an adventure. How cool would it be to really see our lives as an adventure? That stirs something deep down inside of me.

I’m fairly certain, Mark will give legs…or…errr…”wings” to this concept. I can’t wait to read his book!

In the meantime, I’m going to check out Marks’ 10 Steps to Setting Life Goals. That’s no surprise, is it?

I just love that the Vineyard Church of Lewiston starts every worship service by praying for a another local church. Thanking God for them and their faithfulness. Praying He’d bless them and prosper them.

It’s a great reminder that the Body of Christ is so much bigger than our little tribe.

It’s been my habit for the past few years to ask God to bless the church I’m driving by. That His Kingdom would pour out through them. That they’d come to know Him more and more.

But today, praying for a local church, I realized that it stopped there. I haven’t been exactly blessing in my conversations. It’s as though my prayers were really more along the lines of “bless them to be as cool as I think my tribe is.”

I’m not proud of that.

It’s especially humbling to realize that these other churches are still around; whereas my congregation has closed.

As of today, I want my “bless them” prayers to be more along the lines of “bless them to be what You want them to be.”

Emily’s playing with Flock so she’s asked me to blog something so she can see it come up.

So here’s my blog post: would you be able to favorite this blog if you like it?