Marshall's Blog

      So much about this Summer has been busy, hectic, and crazy fun. Those that were involved with our Summer Youth and Kids activities were incredibly blessed in their efforts and I have seen relationships deepen and change quickly under the compressed circumstances of mission trip and camp. In each trip we gathered, worshiped together, and told each other the truth and heard the truth from each other. Whether that was from scripture or from our encouragements of one another throughout each trip. Every kid and adult that joined us this Summer, whether they intended to or not became part of our Youth and Kids family here at United Methodist Church Karnes City. There was not a person too weird or "unpopular" to gather with us, and join us. Our kids have become old pros at ministering an important part of the Gospel which is that "You Belong Here."       If a person cannot see themselves as part of the group, or see past a disingenuous invitation, ...

      I've been listening to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast by Christianity Today. It is the rise and fall of not only a significant church in our culture, but also the rise and fall of a genuinely polarizing figure, Mark Driscoll. I am amazed to hear some of the things said and written in 2014 through my 2021 head phones. I am remembering how I felt back then and how differently I feel now. I can see how his tough male bravado mixed with a promise of authentic Christianity rang strongly in the ears of his flock. If I had been older, in a different spot in life, I could see myself being swept up in something like that. I will not delude myself into thinking, that I would somehow be stronger than such a strong personality. Stonger than the accusing voice in the room that will not be denied, stronger than the chorus of yeses and amens. I believe a different set of circumstances could have led me to different places that seem somewhat unthinkable as I couch them...

      I am about to embark on a five day youth camp after a quick turn around from taking the kids on a 9 day mission trip. The calendar is always kinder when we are a few months out, but is sterner the closer we get to time. That may be due to my general inexperience with life or that I am still young enough to overestimate myself on a regular basis. OR it may be general pride that says I can handle that. But as I move forward I am finding out something different. When I was young and single being gone was an adventure. The only one there to miss you is your apartment and the road was always calling me. Now I feel the pull of what happens when I am gone.       It is an interesting feeling being missed, but it is a whole other level when it is your wife and child missing you. You don't feel the miles, but you really feel the days. Leaving is tough, but coming back is awesome! Just thinking about it reminds me of the beginning of the movie Love Act...

     How does the work of the Lord get done? Is it through tireless effort or through the Spirit Himself? I find myself working tirelessly to make things happen, I worry quite a bit, and tend to be endlessly caught up in the idea that there is a better mousetrap so to speak. That is not the best metaphor for ministry, but maybe it is telling that it is the one that comes to mind when I think about striving. The truth about Mouse traps whether they are in a family board game, a movie, or in real life the most interesting part of a mouse trap is its faulty nature. Even at its best engineering there a myriad of ways that a mouse trap can fail, but only one way it can work. So the planning, engineering, and building phases are used not to better the outcome(at its best it alwasy ends with a trapped mouse), but to limit the amount of failures it will encounter.       A great amount of literature, air time, and conferences are dedicated to the desire to avoi...