I equip people to serve God and others in a way that is both fruitful and sustainable. I do this through teaching, writing, and coaching. This newsletter is part of that work.
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1. Update -- life and ministry in the time of COVID-19
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: Spiritual Perspectives on the Coronavirus Pandemic
3. Quote of the Week
4. How to Share -- and Sign Up for this :-)
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I hope this newsletter finds you safe and reasonably well. As I write this, most of the U.S. is under "stay at home" or "shelter in place" orders, and infectious disease experts keep telling us that things will get worse before they get better. Experts in finance keep telling us that the world economy is being disrupted in an unprecedented way, and although it's impossible to predict what will happen ... it's certainly not
going to be good.
This is not the time for trite reassurance or denial. Our interconnected world is being shaken by a tiny and deadly virus that knows no boundaries, to which we have no immunity, and for which we (thus far) have no vaccine. Our lives are changing.
I do believe God is in control, and that good things can -- and will -- come out of this crisis. But I'm also very concerned about the increase in depression, anxiety, domestic violence, and addiction that these times of stress and isolation only exacerbate. These are growing problems, and it's only getting worse.
I'm focusing on how I can support people in their recovery, and in their whole-hearted service to God and others, that's currently being challenged by the stress of this crisis. I'm looking at ways of making my recovery and support programs more available to a wider group of people ... I think we all need all the help we can get.
I hope to roll out some new programs soon.
Right now, if you're not on the email list for our church -- Bethel Church -- I invite you to click here, and get on our email list. This will allow you to get links to our online worship gatherings each weekend, and then a live Q and A time with my wife Charlene and me, where we interact with the comments and
questions people leave after viewing our service.
Be blessed!
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“If you feel like it's time to level up your game, and make a bigger difference -- this book will show you how. Mark is someone who knows what he's writing about. He's lived it, and he's helped equip leaders around the world to maximize their impact.”
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- Paula Rizzo
Media consultant, former Fox News producer, author of "Listfully Thinking"
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2. FEATURE ARTICLE: Spiritual Perspectives on the Coronavirus Pandemic
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“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full
of the overcoming of it."
We are living in the midst of a shocking world-wide crisis. At this point, we don’t know how long it will last, how much physical suffering and economic devastation it will create, or how many lives it will take. At a time like this, when people are reeling with job losses, fears about the future, fears about their health, and fears about loved ones … what we need most of all is the comfort and encouragement of community.
And that’s where this crisis is so perverse: the requirements of “social distancing” are cutting us off from the connections we so desperately need.
With physical presence restricted, we’re having to be creative and find ways of supporting each other through phone calls, emails, and video chatting. In our churches, we’re exchanging face to face small group gatherings and worship services with video conferences and virtual worship services. It’s weird.
In the midst of it all, there are spiritual questions to wrestle with, and mental health struggles — especially depression, loneliness, and anxiety — to work through.
Like many of you, I’ve been following the news closely — probably more than is good for me. I’ve been reading a variety of articles from authors of various stripes in an effort to understand better for myself what’s happening around me, so I can hopefully offer support and encouragement to others.
Here’s what what we need to remember: While we’re in the midst of a crisis, it’s nearly impossible to understand it. Insight and wisdom come later. Right now we have to muddle through, putting one step in front of the other.
Don’t get me wrong: There is important wisdom being shared. Amidst the deluge of blog posts, magazine articles, and social media updates, there are many helpful things being written.
In that spirit, I thought it might be helpful this week to draw your attention to four different articles that have been helpful to me, in hopes that you might find something for yourself too. For each, I give a short synopsis, some quotes, and a link to the original article. I hope this helps!
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"These times are also open for a redefinition of the nation, not only of our government, but also of how we live. We are learning that many of us can work from home—how will that change our urban and rural spaces? We are learning that our lives depend on a strong
government response to pandemics and economic dislocation—how will that change our government? We are learning that our families and friends are even more important than even we knew—how will that change our priorities?
"The questions raised by this life-changing crisis are open… and so, suddenly, is America’s future."
- Heather Cox Richardson
4. How to Share ... an Sign Up for This Newsletter
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Please feel free to send this newsletter along to someone who might like it. Obviously you can just forward this email ... you can also send someone a link to the newsletter archive:
Or ... here's a link to a quick sign-up form:
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I write and speak at events as director of Renew Resources. I also am leader and teacher at Bethel Church in Princeton, MN. If you're ever in the area, come join us on a Sunday morning! Places to find my writing:
The Recovery Journey
Check out my 90 Day program for starting (or renewing) your recovery from sexual addiction / compulsion called "The Recovery Journey". There's also a special program for the partners of addicts. Also check out my other Audio Product:
Read my latest book:
"Leaving Your
Mark Without Losing Your Mind"
This book focuses on the innate need we all have to make a difference with our lives ... and what gets in the way. Building a life of meaning and purpose is essential for our happiness, but many people get sidelined because of stress, overwhelm, and discouragement. This book will help you find strategies to overcome those challenges (and others).
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