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Things God told me while watering my lawn.

Posted on August 25, 2013 by johnmarkum

When my family and I moved out to one of the most expensive regions in the country, we became very fortunate and were able to rent a nice home, in the middle of our target area, with a yard… under budget!

So I have our first event for LifeCity Church coming up – a “Meet & Greet” in our home to develop some important connections with our new community. The back yard looks great, including a nice paved-in patio with an awning, and a nice green lawn. The front yard is a slightly different story. There are several nice, healthy plants, but the grass is dry, and slightly over half-dead. It became obvious that the previous tenants favored watering the backyard where they likely spent more time. But I want both yards to look good as I get ready to invite guests into our home, so I’ve been spending some extra time and attention cultivating the front yard back to life.

If you’re not from the Bay Area, then you should probably know that we get practically no rain over the summer. It’s not nearly as hot as it tends to get in other parts of the country. In fact, it’s actually quite pleasant in the mid 70’s – mid 80’s most days. But nothing lives long without water. I’ve been watering the lawn by hand since we’ve moved in, partly because it’s convenient for meeting my new neighbors as they walk past my house. Today I made a few observations that seem to uniquely correspond with our new mission field:

The ground is thirsty. Holding the water over one spot for several seconds, leaving it and coming back a mere two minutes later and it seems like it was as dry as before you watered it. I could practically here the ground begging for more. My new home is clearly thirsty for the Living Water, so much so, that I realize it can’t be over-watered.
It takes time. No matter how much I water it today, I’ll have to do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. Even now after nearly a week, I see minimal improvement. I know that one day, I’ll have a lush, green, healthy lawn. But right now, that’s only a vision of a preferred future. Between now and then there will be a great deal more of watering, seeding, fertilizing,… and time, the most painful ingredient. The South Bay is so spiritually parched that, while each life touched is a great gain, the long term, city-changing fruit we’re praying for is a long trip through blood, sweat, tears, prayers, serving, and repeating it all.
I can’t make it grow. Growth is a byproduct of health. Things that are healthy grow. That’s true of grass, plants, livestock, children, and especially churches. My job as a pastor and church planter is not to grow what Jesus said HE would grow, but rather to cultivate the ground to be healthy, allowing Him to bring the increase. I can’t even make my lawn grow! But I can see to it’s heath, which will lead to it doing what it does naturally on it’s own – grow.

If you can’t tell, I’m eager to see what God does here through us over the next few weeks and months as we get further into our mission to see the people of the South Bay fully experience life in Christ! If you live around the San Jose area, come join us! If you’re one of our friends from around the world, thank you for all your prayers and support! We will have pictures coming as we have some of these events.

Blessings,
Pastor John

Relocating to the South Bay

Posted on July 30, 2013 by johnmarkum

So a short, short time ago, in a state far, far away, we began the move of a lifetime. Since the first time I felt God leading me into ministry, I knew this day was coming – the day I would leave the “known”, comfortable, and familiar to take the Gospel to a new place and a new culture.
Now we’re here – and there’s nothing like being in the place you were called to, to do what you were called to do. I’m working hard to establish some routine, take care of basic obligations, and develop some early connections. So far, things are going GREAT! And God has been profoundly working on our behalf already:
1. Our entire Launch Team who has already moved out here has found housing in less than 4 days!
2. Most of them have jobs or solid leads including a second interview.
3. We were able to touch base with a good friend, Phil McGee, who works a lot in the South Bay.
4. We’re already planning and looking forward to our first couple of events to connect with people quickly!

Soon I’ll be posting more about our trip including pictures. In the meantime, on behalf of my family, and the four other adults who have already moved out here (we’re expecting a few more soon!), I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of those who are financially supporting LifeCity Church – you make it possible for us to bring the Gospel to this area. And also to our sending church family, Edgewood – you have all overwhelmed us with your love and appreciation toward us, and we are so blessed to be your church planting team to the South Bay area.
We can’t wait to share more with you in the coming weeks and months that lie ahead!

Blessings,
Pastor John

Before you know God’s will…

Posted on July 15, 2013 by johnmarkum

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:1, 2

Without a doubt, the greatest thing I get asked about as a pastor is something along the lines of, “How do I know God’s will for my life?” It’s a fair question. And it’s one that I’ve wrestled with most of my life, also. People have often asked me stuff like the following:

How did you know which college to go to?
How did you know Tiffany was “the one”?
How did you know God was calling you into ministry?
How did you know God was leading you to start a church?
How did you know God was sending you to California?
How did you know you were suppose to wear that shirt? (ok, this one, less often.)

Well according to Heb. 11:1, “knowing” any of these things is a stretch at best. You cannot “know” for sure anything God calls you to accept on faith. But the bigger reality check is that, despite all of the mystery and wonder we put to knowing the specifics of God’s will, what God really wants for each of us, is very clearly spoken to us in His Word.

No, God didn’t answer any of the above questions for my life in the Bible. He gave me answers to more important issues than the details of His specific will for the “what” to do with my life. He gave me the divine ways for the “how” I should live my life.

In Romans 12, Paul tells us quite clearly -even begging us- to submit ourselves as a “living sacrifice” to God, and that doing so is both “holy” and “pleasing” to God. When we do this, we live in such complete submission to the ways of God, that we understand this is our “true and proper worship.”

He goes on to contrast this way of living a life of worship by telling us not to be conformed to the “pattern,” or ways, of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This “transforming” comes from our regular submission in our hearts to God’s ways.

But we want DETAILS! How do I find the answers to all these important life questions?!? Paul tells us that as we submit ourselves as living sacrifices to the ways of God, “then“ He will lead us into the perfect will of God. In other words, as I obey God in what He has revealed, He will guide me in what He has concealed.

God’s will is a subject too broad for me to understand in my own life, let alone explain it in yours. But what I do know is this: As I walk in God’s ways, I will always be in His will. That’s why Paul can tell us later in 1 Cor. 10:31, “whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” If you want something for reasons that give God glory, go for it!

It still might not work out the way you think it will. But Romans 8:28 reassures us that, “All things work together for good, to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.”

When we were first telling our kids that we were moving to San Jose to start a church, my little girl, Kali, asked, “I thought we were going to California?!” I had to explain to her, “When you’re in San Jose, you’re in California.” The same is true of God’s will – when you walk in God’s ways, you’ll always be in His will.

So what should you do with your life?! Whatever you want to,… as long as you are doing so out of a love for God and a desire to bring Him glory. He’s got the details of getting you to His will under control.

Blessings,
Pastor John