Personal – Page 5 – John Markum

“johnmarkum.com” turns ONE!

Posted on October 20, 2011 by johnmarkum

I can’t believe I’ve been blogging now for a whole year! And I can’t believe you’re still reading!?!?

I started this blog as a means to express my thoughts and to better share my life, family, and ministry with the many people out there who call us “friend” and “family.” Along the way, many more have joined in following everything I’ve had to share from simple thoughts to spiritual insights.

In one year’s time this blog has had over 7,100 hits, averaging over 500 hits per month! I can’t express enough to you how much it means to me to receive the kind of support I’ve gotten from so many of you. People from my church family, community, college and high school, family members nationwide, and brothers and sisters in ministry around the world, thank you – not only for visiting my blog and reading some posts, but for taking interest in my life.

Thank you for the encouraging words. This blog is for you! And I look forward to continuing to share with you for many more years to come.

Blessings,

John

Ten things I never learned in Bible College.

Posted on September 8, 2011 by johnmarkum

Pastoring is far more than preaching and having good theology.
Performing exorcisms on technology is routine.
My most significant impact will happen with my smallest audiences.
Doubt, insecurity, pride, and jealousy are constant battles of leaders.
The significance of my personal prayer life could never be overstated.
God forges every leader through the fire of trials – and it will hurt.
The uniqueness of every person demands tailor-made discipleship.
If you’re not in way over your head, you’re not deep enough yet.
Where God leads, God sustains. Always.
My wife would play such a huge role in my ministry by holding me accountable, encouraging me, doing behind-the-scenes work, and speaking life over me.

Bizarre Memories from my Childhood…

Posted on August 7, 2011 by johnmarkum

I saw a facebook post by one of my friends that made me remember some mildly suppressed details from my growing-up years. So here are some bizarre facts that I recalled today. Parents out there, this is descriptive not prescriptive. I do not suggest your kid do most of these things. Mom and Dad, none of this is intended to incriminate you!

Driving with Dad: Long before Brittney Spears was making headlines for doing it, my father had me in his lap in the driver’s seat of the car steering it down the road. Every 7 year old today would be jealous!
Helmet-less Bike Riding: You would think we were really living on the edge by today’s standards.
Catching/Killing Snakes: I was blessed to grow up, in part, among the well forested hills of Georgia. My Dad was an Army Ranger. So my friends and I would often go off in the woods to scout the “enemy base,” devise attack plans, and come back with their snake minions as hostages. G.I. Joe was popular then too, so “King Cobra” may have had some influence on the obsession with killing snakes.
Riding in the back of a pickup: I know it’s not that safe, but man was it fun! I’m pretty sure it’s still legal to do this in at least 10 states; all of which are below the Mason-Dixon line.
Using your Fists: Ok, look… I was not some kind of big brawling bully! But both my parents taught me that there were times that physical force was required. Real men don’t walk away from every fight. We just don’t fight over the wrong stuff. I actually got in trouble once for running away from a kid that said he was going to hit me. My father taught me to avoid fights when I could, but to stand up for myself when I couldn’t. I only had to use what he taught me on a handful of occasions. Well, then there was junior high, but… nevermind…
Drinking from Garden Hoses: I only find this so peculiar now because of the overwhelming popularity of bottled water and home water purifying systems today. By contrast, it’s really funny to me!
Chicken Pox: I distinctly remember getting chicken pox as a 4 year old. Now, kids get vaccinated at 4 weeks old. Lucky!

All that, and my generation still survived! So it wasn’t “5 miles, uphill, through the snow, both ways” kind of stuff, but still! My grandkids will think I’m older than Moses when I tell them these things and more. But by then, I’ll get to drive a space ship around on auto pilot anyway. So who cares! And Mom and Dad… As far as I’m concerned, these things made you GREAT parents anyway! Thanks for not smothering me (too much) as a kid!

Blessings,

John