Off QUEUE

As many of you know, Janice’s (my wife) brother Gary lost his battle with depression and committed suicide this past summer. Like many of you, I have not had the words or understanding that Janice, or her family, has needed through this ordeal. For that reason, instead of just joining Janice for the walk, I became a participant to help create awareness and try to assist other families and friends that are forced to walk this path.

This year’s walk is on Saturday October 28th at 8am beginning at the Sea Walk Pavilion at Jacksonville Beach. If you have the time available on the 28th, please join with me and the thousands of others across the US.

Regardless of whether you walk or not, please consider making a tax-deductible monetary donation right now by clicking here.

Thank you for joining with me and thousands of others in this effort.

-mark

Monday, October 2nd, over on the Off QUEUE Message Board, I (we, if you choose to join) will begin a 13 week study that will take us through the New Testament.  That’s right, with 13 weeks left in 2006, we’ll read through and follow the lead (for the most part) of Thomas Lea & Tom Hudson in their study by the same name. 

You can purchase the workbook from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Step-Through-New-Testament/dp/0805499466/sr=8-1/qid=1157413973/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4267324-0260904?ie=UTF8&s=books for under $19.  In Jacksonville, you can pick up a copy at Lifeway in the Town Center. 

This may sound like a lot for a busy time of the year, but in the same amount of time as it takes to watch Survivor, you can read a small portion (about 4 chapters) of scripture and work through a few pages of a workbook.  I won’t lie, there may be days/nights that the hour’s worth of work may impact the rest of your day, but after a couple of years buried in the Old Testament, I personally can’t wait.  My own rediscovery of the Church is a driving force in looking at the beginning of the Church in the New Testament. 

If you are going to join with me (us) on this study, drop me an email to let me know.  If it’s just not your thing, join with us in prayer that a few people will find new life in the words of the New Testament.  I look forward to hearing from you…
– mark

Our church has been hanging out with the song “From The Inside Out” for the past few weeks.  Like many others, it seems to be right where I am and a great prelude for the new endeavor we’re entering in with “The Emotionally Healthy Church”.  I found this clip and am putting it up here more as an easy way for me to find it than anything else.  I hope you enjoy it as well…

Watch Video at Bolt.

Lyrics:
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the new site.  Over the next few days, the finishing touches will be added and “regular” blog posts should begin.  I hope you enjoy the new layout and content…
– mark

After 10 years of youth ministry and 2 years of recovery, I realized that what Off QUEUE had become held very little value for the Christ-following community.  Sure there were valuable thoughts contained within, but on the whole, Off QUEUE had become a reflection of my own negativity and disdain for the local church as we trod through these postmodern times.   

 I recognized the trend about 9 months ago and imposed a ban on my own voice as I sought to regain my focus and love for the body that Christ gave us/me – the local church. 

With that, my family has relocated and begun attending a young church that is more intune with the changes brought about by the postmodern cultural shift.  For the first time in a long time, I’m engaged by what is happening in the local church instead of taking pot shots at what isn’t happening. 

That’s not to say that Off QUEUE will no longer look at or discuss the effects of emerging culture on the local church.  I’m just going to try to do it from a more balanced point of view. 

And finally, on the web-design side, Off QUEUE needed more options beyond a simple blog interface.  The blog and message board environments still hold a major role, but by opening the site back up to a more traditional design, it allows for the growth that I envision down the road. 

I hope the new Off QUEUE will again encourage you as we discover our path in this journey of faith. 

On Monday, October 2nd, 2006, over on the Off QUEUE Message Board, we will begin a 13 week study of the New Testament. This will allow for the study to complete right at the end of 2006. It also gives you enough time to order/purchase the workbook.The cool thing about doing this study on the internet, it doesn’t matter if you are reading this in September of 2006 or anytime after that – the information will remain online until a time when it is no longer of use.The workbook can be ordered from Amazon (click here) for under $19.Over the course of the 13 weeks, we will: