John Markum

Tag: life

Life-Defining Decisions

Posted on by johnmarkum

The older I get, the longer I’m married, the more I know Christ, and the greater experience I have in life and ministry, the more my life has been impacted by a few decisions I have made along the way. These are not all necessarily from the Bible, but the principles are all there. I’m taking for granted a few things that should be obvious: give my life to Christ, etc… These are more specific. And the benefits – and burdens – of these decisions continue to guide my life. These are not general guidelines. These are personal declarations that I intend to follow through at the cost of everything else if necessary. These are decisions that have radically altered and determined the direction of my life:

  • I choose to love 1 woman, my whole life, with all of my heart, soul, and mind – and earn her honor and love in return.
  • I will raise my kids not to simply survive their world, but to change their world.
  • I choose to enjoy every season of my life. I will embrace my youth while I have it, my seniority when I’ve earned it, and every day in between.
  • I will retire in Heaven. When it is time for me to step off the scene of “full-time ministry” I will invest the rest of my days into the next generation to take the mantle of leadership.
  • Aside from my wife and children – I will not sacrifice the vision that God has given me for the demands of anyone.
  • I will commit my life and ministry to reaching those who are not yet reached.
  • I will trust God enough to boldly attempt to do the impossible. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
  • No matter the cost, no matter my comfort zone, no matter others’ opinion, I will 1) listen to God, and 2) do what He says.
  • I would rather be known by what I am for, rather than what I am against. I will speak life and call people into their potential.

What principles do you live by? What are the things that define the direction you are going? I suggest that you think through some things that you will stand by as well. This was NOT an over-night list, and depending on which aspect of my life we’re talking about, the list gets longer and more specific. The point is, I intend to get somewhere on purpose. Of course I am open to how God wants to lead me, but I find these things to be consistent with God’s Word and His character. So it’s safe to bank my life on them. What are you banking your life on?

Blessings,

John

We are not human

Posted on by johnmarkum

People often try to categorize their lives…

  • Family
  • Career
  • “Me” time
  • Church
  • etc…

And when we look at our lives through these narrow lenses, we often neglect to see – or even flat out deny – that there is an intricate relationship to all of these dimensions of who we are. Chiefly at stake with this, is the idea that our “spiritual life” is some how separate from other parts of us. That way of thinking is on par with saying that I am a father at home with my kids, but when I’m at work I’m not a father.

We are not human beings having spiritual experiences. We are spiritual being who have human experiences.

I don’t want that to sound more mystical than it’s suppose to. But what I mean, is that in comparison to eternity, this life is only a fraction of our existence. We cannot separate who we are eternally from who we are relationally. Or vocationally. Or even recreationally. And God wants to intervene in your life on all sides. He does not desire to be the most important part in your life followed by other important things. He wants to be the center of all parts of who you are.

Embrace your spirituality, and see how God wants to work mightily on your behalf in every area of your life.

Blessings,

John

“I don’t believe in church”

Posted on by johnmarkum

I’ve heard lots of people – some of which claim to be Christ followers – excuse themselves from being connected to a church. Given, many churches are off the mark, and every church is full of people who are full of problems, and you going there only makes one more. But it is not right to claim to follow God, but be divorced from His bride. Saying “I believe in God, I just don’t believe in going to church,” makes about as much sense as saying “I believe in eating, I just don’t believe in food.” Believing in an idea, but not in the tangible expression of it is vain and empty. Besides, for all the faults of so many churches, the church still belongs to Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I cringe when I hear people berate another church.

I’m pretty thick-skinned. You will be hard pressed to get a rise out of me by calling me names, criticizing me, making fun, or otherwise putting me down. But you say one thing about my family, and… let’s just not go there. You got something to say about my wife and I’m likely to end up running a prison ministry… from the inside! If you’re married, I’m sure you can relate. The Bible refers to the church as “the bride of Christ.” Jesus died for the church. Jesus loves the church. Before you make a cut-down against a church, remember whose bride you’re picking on! I wouldn’t want to answer for throwing mud on His bride. Instead, live within that community. Make it better. Add your gifts and talents to the work of God within the church, and allow the gifts and talents of others to make you a better follower of Christ as well.

Blessings,

John

The phrase no pain, no gain has been a mantra for athletes and fitness junkies for years. And what they understand about physical pain needs to be broadened to a much more general use in all of our lives. Pain hurts. That's the whole problem. No one enjoys it, and if someone does, we rightfully

The Premium of Pain