Monday Morning Recap, 02.08
Some thoughts from yesterday...
Still surprised this morning by the Colts loss. I really expected them to win. Watched a lot of interviews after the game and was impressed with the classy way the Colts handled the loss. Time to get excited for the draft!
Did you hear we get to pick the Preludes coming up in the next series. All middle age women are only allowed to vote once for Bon Jovi! And he is not coming here to sing the song so you won't get to look at him-so vote for Journey!
I'm very excited for the new series beginning this weekend "Ritual." We will be diving into stuff like...altars...confession...tithing...sabbath. Should be a blast! Invite a friend!!
Talked about some interesting ways to become more generous yesterday. "Giving goals"..."Income ceilings"...imagine what God could do with His resources if we start putting more and more of it into play for His cause!
Don't ever forget...we are blessed to bless. Jesus said it..."we are far happier giving than getting."
Scarcity Mentality (the more I give, the less I have) vs. Abundance Mentality (the more you give, the more you have)...which do you really live by? What if we really did set income ceilings and giving goals???
My life changed the day I began serving God...seriously. I have never been the same!
If your still "spectating" go here... http://www.oakbrookchurch.com/volunteer/...and get in the game of changing the world one life at a time!
Spend some time this week here... (CLICK ME!)
Did you know blogs are meant to be interactive? Like I write stuff and you comment back. It's lonely when no one ever writes back...first person to comment on this post gets a free drink at Lakeside Cafe' next Sunday on me!
* Men-don't forget the great opportunity you have to join a mens group and dig into Tony Dungy's latest book Uncommon. Go for it!
Well, time to do a little "table" time this morning. I'm reading a great book "Primal" by Mark Batterson. Want to change your life this week? Read something.
As always...Don't Just Talk about It, Let's Be About It.
Love doing church with you guys,
Mark
Comments
Leaving you some blog love Mark! 
Enjoyed the Vision services very much. It is always great to know and hear about where we want to go.
By Mike Wise on February 08, 2010
Dont need a drink, just did’nt want you to be lonely.
Another great message that we all need to hear. When our incomes are getting cut sometimes we do tend to hold on tighter. But God’s word is so true, we need to keep giving.
By Chris Lawlyes on February 08, 2010
I used to wonder why I never felt a “connection” when leaving a Sunday morning service, the message was great the music wonderful the people friendly, but the connection wasn’t there for me.
A few years ago I decided that I needed more. I never realized how rewarding volunteering could be. I have met some of the most wonderful people and made some of my closest friends just by steping out of my comfort zone and asking if help was needed in the cafe.
I cannot tell you how rewarding spending a few hours a week serving pretzels and oatmeal can be.
I would like to challenge others who feel the same
to step out and find your place.
ps: volunteers in the cafe recieve a drink of choice!
By Tami Hellriegel on February 08, 2010
LOVED the message yesterday,(as always!).We all have SOOOOO much stuff.The closer I have become in my relationship with God,the less I think about me & more about others & the less “stuff” I want. It is so much more rewarding to give to others than to keep stock piling for myself,useless things that don’t make me happy. It’s about HIM…..not me!
By Lisa Drotleff on February 08, 2010
Am I the first one to respond?? I love free drinks ... can you throw in a free cinnamon role too?!?! 
But really, I loved your talk yesterday! I couldn’t agree more that getting “into the game” completely transforms your life. God has taught me so much about myself through volunteering. I specifically resonated with the comment you made about the deep sense of fulfullment felt when God uses you for His purposes. It is seriously amazing!! Thanks for using your gifts to influence all of us!! See you next Sunday @ the cafe )
By Emily Hays on February 08, 2010
I loved reading Primal too and was struck by the idea of giving goals and an income ceiling. Great stuff! Keep up the good work.
By linda herr on February 08, 2010
I would really encourage people to pick up the book you mentioned “PRIMAL”—great stuff in there on generosity and the whole idea of becoming more like Jesus.
By Morgan on February 08, 2010
Mark, your right the Colts failed but its just a game (thats what I keep telling myself) Caldwell= classy….. well for me the jury is still out on that one ......going to do the dungy’s small group on Mon. Agreed we are blessed…. I thank GOD every day for what he has given me….. Haiti changed my attitude… and at times its hard to walk the path that GOD has layed out for us these are some of my thoughts for today…...Love ya man Greg
By Greg Taylor on February 08, 2010
Hi, am I the first to leave a comment? Probably not, it’s almost noon! Looking forward to listening to part 2 on CD (I was in the nursery yesterday). Thanks Mark!
By Shannon Dowden on February 08, 2010
Love reading these on Monday mornings!
I voted for “Livin on a prayer”
can’t wait for those cool preludes.
By Kristy Fortune on February 08, 2010
Hi Mark…The story about the sheds at Lowe’s speaks volumes! I’m sure it was embarassing to tell him they were for our extra STUFF. I have a quick Haiti story. I visited Haiti when I was 14…at that time Cruise ships visited Haiti and you could go all over the Island. Our family took a donkey ride up a large mountain to the top where there was an old fort. They told us there would be a boxed lunch at the top, but asked us to leave the boxes on the tables when finished because the kids cmoe up and eat what’s left. Never-the-less, we didn’t eat. I’ll never forget that day, it really marked me at the age of 14.
By Lisa Weed on February 08, 2010
For all you Colts fans, don’t feel so bad - think about us “signed on for life” sorry Browns fans! “Our Day Will Come” - but you don’t have that one on your “pick the prelude” list. Since most of the picks are from the lame ‘80’s (or late ‘70’s)I guess I will go with Kansas “Carry on…” (nice drum variations throughout, Morgan, send me your video when you do it) and 2nd Fleetwood Mac since they are the closest thing you have to the golden age of 1967 - 1977 or so. If I win the free drink, save it for my next visit - or give it to my daughter/grandsons. Well, “There is always next year” is a reality for the Colts; but it has become a byline for the Browns!
By Don Workman on February 08, 2010
I always appreciate your comments about your Sundays. Sounds like your next series will be another good one. Now for the drink from Lakeside Cafe’, I will have to take a rain check but will be coming that way this summer… Love to one of my favorite nephews. Auntie C
By Carolyn Malin on February 08, 2010
Mark, the concept of setting giving goals and income celings was extremely interesting and really makes sense to me.
I have been using the concept of the income ceiling (at least to some extent) for many years and it really paid off last year with the down turn of the economy. I had several weeks of lost income, but was able to make adjustments easier because I had not made it a habit to spend more just because I made more.
Your talk has motivated me to take that to an even higher level… especially in terms of setting giving goals. Thanks for a very inspirational message.
By Jim McKinley on February 08, 2010
Looks like mark should bribe people every week! Now THIS is a blog!!
By Jason Lee on February 08, 2010
OH… and the comments are showing in order of appearing… sorry all those who posted later… MIKE, be sure to hit up mark on Sunday for that drink!
By Jason Lee on February 08, 2010
Hey Jason ... I can never make fun of you again. I spelled “roll” wrong in my comment above. From this day forward, I will never laugh when people refer to you by your nickname! Scouts Honor!
By Emily on February 08, 2010
Hey Mark,
Thanks for the confirmation on our new giving goal. I had made a new commitment and your sermon showed me that God was in it and gets the glory again! And rock on Bon Jovi!!
By Val Cuthbert on February 09, 2010
Mark, it was great running into you last night during our impromtu tour of Oakbrook. Lindsay and i were passing through town with some friends and we were telling them how awesome and accepting the church is—As we were talking and driving, i guess i just navigated the Jeep right into the praking lot and walked them right in. It’s refreshing to know how peaceful and welcoming Oakbrook can be on a Wednesday at 5pm. Thanks for taking the time to meet my friends and for not just “saying it” but “showing it”, finally, a church that doesn’t just talk about, but IS about IT!!!!
By the way, i am only 27, so i am technically not middle-aged, therefore there are no rules on how many times i can vote for Jovi!!!! (Please do not implement any) —thanks again and i’ll throw a Journey vote in there for you, only because you suggested it!!—dkb
By Daryl Bollhoefer on February 10, 2010
Just wanted to piggy-back on Daryl’s comments. It was really nice to run into you Wednesday evening. We have really enjoyed the last few months since attending Oakbrook. We truly feel it has changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. As we were chatting with our friends last evening we began discussing church and they just seemed really unhappy about the experience they are having at the church they are attending now. Once we heard what they were looking for in a church, we were able to share our experience at Oakbrook. They seemed really interested in it, so we thought we’d drive by the church to show them what it looked like. We saw people coming out of the doors so we ventured in to show them around. To make a long story short, they will be attending with us on Sunday! I was disappointed that my choir was not able to perform the Star Spangled Banner at the Pacers game last night, but had we been able to sing, we would never have gotten the chance to share Oakbrook with our friends like that. God really does work in wonderful ways!
By Lindsay Russell on February 10, 2010