After our discussion on “calling” about a month ago, I talked with Shandel and we came up with some more definitive thoughts.  None of this is great insight from us, but I think gets us closer to how God would have us see our “callings” in this world.  I’d love your thoughts on it as we continue the dialogue and the quest for following and serving Him with our lives. 

First, we all probably use the word “calling” a bit too liberally and people end up thinking it is something that they MUST FIND…so they end up seeking “calling” instead of seeking the Lord.  This we must guard against!! 

Second, I think the Lord does have a “Calling” (capital C calling) for each of us individually that pertains to our vocation and/or our ministry service, but not much else.  In this case, Calling means (this is a loose, not well researched, Heather Flodstrom definition–so don’t put stock in it!) a direction from God to us individually about what we’re supposed to do or how we’re supposed to operate for the Kingdom.  That Calling should encompass at least some of our spiritual gifts, and we should be rockin’ when we’re working/serving in it.  (I continue to have a question about whether this type of Calling can change as we move through life and I’m pretty sure the answer is yes…but it will be interesting to see as life progresses.) 

Third, I know that ALL of us have “callings” (small c callings) and those are spelled out throughout the Bible and are the directives of how we’re supposed to live as Christians, i.e., honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12), love one another (John 13:34), provide for your family (1 Timothy 5:8), spread the gospel (The Great Commission – Matthew 28:19-20), honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10), etc.  There are MANY of them and these are things that we are ALL ‘called’ to do as Christians and we must live them out everyday. 

If that all makes sense, then I think the answer to my question about whether we have calling in all areas of our lives is yes–but they’re not capital-C Callings in all areas–some are small-c callings that transcend all areas of our lives.  AND, (a wise piece of wisdom from Shandel) we must make sure that we don’t forgo living out our small-c callings ALL the time in order to live out our capital-C Calling.  Because if we’re not operating on the foundation of being a Christian, then it doesn’t matter if we are doing what God has given us as our individual direction in work/ministry/life. 

Folks,

Shandel asked that I post the following.  If you are interested, please contact either Shandel or myself. 
Respected Leaders Help Others “Lead Like Jesus” — Live Via Satellite!
When it comes to leaders in leadership, there are many choices: CEOs, coaches, professors, politicians. The shelves of the local bookstore are filled with their leadership insights. Yet the most revolutionary leader – and the only perfect one — walked the Earth 2000 years ago.


“After studying both the theory and practice of leadership for more than 35 years, I have found that Jesus of Nazareth is the greatest leadership role model of all times,” said author Ken Blanchard, co-founder of Lead Like Jesus.
 
In conjunction with Church Communication Network (CCN), Aurora Church of the Nazarene is presenting Lead Like Jesus Now: The Leadership Revolution on Friday, October 19 at time — live via satellite on CCN. The outstanding array of business and church leaders scheduled to speak includes:
 

• Ken Blanchard, Co-founder, Lead Like Jesus; co-author of The One-Minute Manager
• Erwin McManus, Lead pastor, Mosaic Church; author of Soul Cravings.
• John Ortberg, Teaching Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church; best-selling author of The Life You’ve Always Wanted
• Nancy Ortberg, former Teaching Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church; founder of Teamwork2
• Laurie Beth Jones, best-selling author of Jesus, CEO
• Rosey Grier, former professional football player; founder, Impact Urban America
• Margie Blanchard, Co-founder, The Ken Blanchard Companies; author of Working Well: Managing for Health and High Performance
• Bill Pollard, former CEO, The ServiceMaster Company
• Phil Hodges, Vice Chairman and Director of Product Development, The Center for Faithwalk Leadership; co-author of The Servant Leader
• Patrick Lencioni, Founder, The Table Group; best-selling author, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team
• Phyllis Hendry, President, Lead Like Jesus
  

“Lead Like Jesus brings together some of the best leadership practitioners in the world,” says Bill Dallas, founder and president of CCN. “This broadcast will challenge people to grow as leaders. We’re proud to host Lead Like Jesus Now: The Leadership Revolution exclusively on CCN.”
 
Lead Like Jesus Now: The Leadership Revolution is presented by Lead Like Jesus, an organization co-founded by Blanchard and dedicated to inspiring and equipping people to adopt the servant-leadership model of Jesus Christ. For more information, go to www.leadlikejesus.com.

Aurora Church of the Nazarene
1900 North 175th Street, Shoreline, WA  98133

Founded in 1998, CCN provides more than 150 satellite events per year to churches. With a desire to help local churches become continually more effective, Silicon Valley-based CCN focuses on providing leadership training, special events, and outreach opportunities for member churches throughout North America. For more information about CCN, visit www.ccn.tv

Last reminder group.  Tonight we’ll be meeting at the Mars Hill Ballard Campus to help transfom MHB into the Equipping Center.  Most of the work needed will be painting.  Work starts at 6pm so please plan on being there then.  If 6pm is too early, please show up when you can.  I believe we’ll be working until 10pm, but you can leave when you like.  Snacks and beverages will be provided.  Can’t wait to see everyone again. 

Nick

Guys and Gals,

Just a reminder.  We’ll be meeting at the Ballard Campus this Tuesday, Sept. 4th, to help transform the Ballard Campus into the Equipping Center.  Help is needed to paint the sanctuary and other construction projects, so bring your best work oufit and plan on getting your hands dirty for the Lord!

I feel strongly about us all serving on Tuesday as Mars Hill has given much to every one of us.   God calls us to love and serve not only our neighbors but our church and each other as well. 

“For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13).” 

 This project is important to the furture of Mars Hill.  I know the church is behind schedule because they don’t have the bodies.  This is a great way to meet new folks, serve the church, and ultimately Jesus. 

 I’m looking forward to working along side you all and the conversations we’ll have.  I hope everyone has a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend!  See you Tuesday! 

Nick

I had a typical upbringing; my dad (Chris) taught me to play sports, fish, and let me help fix his truck.  The truck thing was usually boring to me and my dad would start swearing, which made me uncomfortable, so I didn’t spend a whole lot of time doing that.  Needless to say, my dad had quite a temper when he was younger, I’m happy to say as he’s aged the temper has turned luke warm at best.

My dad was my rock until I met Jesus.  My dad raised my sister (Trista) and me from age 8, when my mom (Roberta) divorced my dad because she is gay, to age 10.  Trista and I split our weekends between my mom’s place and my dad’s.  Knowing what it is to be a father, I am grateful for the hard work and the sacrifice my dad made for us.  He was a great example to Trista and I both; my dad had a lot of reasons to be negative, depressed, and bitter.  And I’m sure he was those things from time to time, but we never saw it from him. 

Mom is also a great lady, very loving and kind.  She would give you the last of anything she had.  My relationship with her has been quite different however.  She is more like an aunt to me, as I see her as much as most people see a distant aunt.  I have only recently, through God’s grace and provision, forgiven her and let that part of my life go.  I do love my mom, but it has been a rocky relationship.

When I was ten, my dad remarried to a crazy (in a good way) woman (Suzette) who had three daughters (Jennifer, Megan, and Lindsay).  That first year was crazy!  Trista and Jen were the same age so they were always fighting, and Megan and I were the same age so we’d team up and pester Lindsay who was the youngest.  Someone was always pissed at someone else, and I think once a day one of kids would cry.

When I was thirteen my parents (I got in the habit of saying that when I was younger so I didn’t have to explain that my real parents were divorced.  This also kept people from asking me why my parents were divorced) moved us from California to Spokane, WA.  I missed the ocean in California, but Spokane was actually a great place for a young kid to explore, as we lived on the outskirts and near a lot of vacant forest land.

After high school I went to Spokane Falls CC to run track and after one year I decided to quit my track career and go to Washington State University.  Looking back I only went there to party.  Education was secondary to me at the time.  I thought partying would make me cool and give me lots of friends.  Well, I did party, and I made some friends, and I did get a diploma.  But I also got into drugs and binge drinking (SHOCKER!), which I had done a little of in high school as well. 

After graduation I got a job, quit drugs, except for smoking weed from time to time, and continued my binge drinking on the weekends.  I moved in with a girlfriend and when that went down the tubes I got my own place.  I vowed to clean up my act, but the only change I made was going to the gym.  About 3 months later I got arrested for a DUI. 

At this point I was the lowest I had ever been.  The DUI was compounded by the fact that while in college I had received two MIPs (Minor In Possession, for the home schoolers out there).  I was depressed, very lost, but determined.  After trying numerous methods to get out of my funk, which all failed, I began to pray to God or Jesus; I didn’t understand the Trinity at the time.  I knew of Jesus because of a Vacation Bible School my grandmother put me in when I was about 5 or 6.    

After a few nights of praying, I finally told God I’d do whatever he asked of me.  I told him I didn’t want to go down this road of destruction anymore.  I said I would submit to him if he would turn my circumstances around.  This is kind of like testimonies gone wild, but it is true.  I was lying on my back praying all of this, and I said “God if you’re here, I need you now more than ever.  I just feel like I’m down and I can’t get up.”  My eyes were closed and I stopped talking.  All of a sudden I saw a big hand coming towards me.  It was God lifting me up.  I can’t explain it really, and I didn’t visualize a hand.  I saw a hand with my eyes closed, if that makes sense. 

So I gave my life to Christ that night.  I stopped doing all the things I had done prior except the drinking thing.  I thought God or Jesus was my friend and I wasn’t hurting anyone except maybe myself.  I just didn’t get it, I believed in the “good person” theory.

Later that fall I met the most amazing person.  My friends and I had season tickets to WSU football games so I was going down to Pullman about twice a month.  Post game festivities ended up at a local drinking establishment one night.  It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you the entire story if you ask.  But the long and short of it is, B and I hit it off, B ditched me, and the next day my friends saw her at restaurant and told her she had no class.  We ended up running into each other two weeks later, and now we’re married with a beautiful baby girl (Lucy).

After moving to Seattle just before our wedding, we began looking for churches.  One of B’s brothers (Gavin) said he had been to Mars Hill and the pastor was cool so we checked it out.  We’ve been going since that day. 

I’ve been blessed since coming to Mars Hill to have strong leaders and great role models.  These last two years have been years of growth and maturity.  I can see it some areas, the physical ones, like who I hang out with, my role as a community group leader, etc.  I often feel like that frat guy who’s afraid of his issues and problems and wants to run to worldly things.  I’m so thankful God called me into relationship with him because in those times, Jesus is there for me.  He gives me strength through prayer and his promise to never leave me.  I try (big emphasis on try) to glorify Jesus in all I do.  I realize all I have is because of Him, God has truly blessed me with a wife I don’t deserve and a healthy daughter.  I can only wait to see what He has in store for me and my family in the years to come.        

7:30 pm Dinner at Via Tribulnali Map here

9:00 pm Beginning Salsa lesson at HaLo Ballroom Map here
$5 includes Lesson & Dance

9:30 pm regular Salsa dance with DJ at HaLo

Hey   Gang

We’ve come a long way since last Summer’s Blue Angels on  the Dock.  Thought it would be fun to invite the replicated  community groups to  join up Sunday, August 5th from 12:45 – 3:00pm  at my house.  Folks need  to arrive by 1:15 as the show starts  at 1:30 sharp (no late comers please).    Have everyone bring their own food, drinks, chairs, towels, etc  and for sure their  swimsuit.  It would be nice to know who is coming but pretty open.  My phone will be off during the show.

Parking is  a nightmare and it  is not uncommon to have to walk 3-4 blocks during  Seafair – sorry 

 Contact Shandel:

(206) 718-5656

Address: 1800 43rd Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Thanks to everyone who helped make my birthday so fun! I had a wonderful time and hope you all did too. If you took photos be sure to send them to me! I was really blessed to hang out with you all at the beach and afterward at Ray’s. See you this week on Tuesday at the Mangini’s…

Love & Blessings to you all,

Cambria

Please remember – there will be no Tuesday night community group this week. Instead we will join other groups at Gas Works park for a BBQ. See details below.

GAS WORKS PARK
Presented by the Ballard Campus

When:
6pm – 9pm
Wednesdays: July 11 through August 2

Where:
1758 N Northlake Pl
Seattle, WA
Directions

What:
Grub and playtime (volleyball, frisbee, football, freeze tag), followed by worship, a weekly teaching on the parables of Jesus, and small group discussion.

Food:
Bring your own side dish and drinks. Ballard Campus will provide the meat.