Mark's Blog

I did absolutely nothing to get to be born—seems like a pretty ridiculous statement, but the truth behind it reminds me of the sovereignty of God and His complete control over my life.

Somehow after we are born, we start taking control—or thinking that we have control. We start doing things to make sure that we continue to live and don’t die. We learn safety rules, we brush our teeth, we exercise and diet, thinking that all of these things will somehow either extend our life or improve the quality of our lives—and I don’t doubt that caring for what He has created does affect our existence.  But ultimately, I did absolutely nothing to get to be here. It was all God. And I believe that when I get to the last page that He has written in my book, I will die. Period.

It’s a relief not to be in control of life and death.

I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. My parents lived in Kansas City, Kansas, but the hospital (St. Joseph’s) was in Missouri.  Mom loves to tell the story of how when she was getting ready to leave the hospital, they brought her the wrong baby. She looked at the baby and said, “This isn’t mine.” They checked it out—and she was right!  But I’ve often thought, “what if she hadn’t been able to tell the difference . . . ??” My life would have been very different—and I might not have ever known. You see, I wasn’t in control.

I don’t remember most of my birthdays—I hope that’s not too unusual!  Many of my adult birthdays were spent at the World Mission Workshop which for many years was always on this third weekend of October.

One of my funniest birthday memories was when I turned forty. Our children were 13, 11, and 9, and they decided to do something spectacular for my birthday, so they found white house paint and went into the front yard and wrote a huge 40 on the grass itself and then a big “over the hill” in the area between the sidewalk and the street.  Of course, we all thought it was funny—but it became even funnier all winter long because since the grass was no longer growing, nothing happened to ever remove their art work.   I was reminded of their birthday love for months!!

One of the sweetest gifts I ever received was from Sherrylee and the family for my 50^th birthday. Again, it was during the World Mission Workshop, so many of our LST friends were able to celebrate with us.  Sherry gave me a modest-sized bronze of “The Sower”  which truly touched me and is one of those gifts that is beyond value to me.

Our grown children planned my sixtieth birthday party as a surprise. The doorbell rang on the evening of my birthday. This mafia-dressed guy with greased-back hair was at the door and said, “I’ve come to pick you up!” Whoa! I looked outside and there was this long, black stretch limo parked in the street. Well, I know you prom goers may not believe it, but I had never been in a stretch limo, so Sherry and I climbed in to join the most wonderful kids and the most wonderful in-law kids in the world for a wonderful evening of eating and laughing and fun on Sundance Square in Fort Worth.

Last night, Ben and I had Row 6 seats in the lower section inside of third base at the American League Championship game between the NY Yankees and the Texas Rangers. We are big Ranger fans, and the game was perfect—great pitching, home runs, clutch performances—everything you would want, including a win!  Then to be a part of the celebration afterwards of the first AL Championship in Texas and the first trip to the World Series.  It wasn’t quite my birthday (about 30 minutes short by the time I got home), but I will always think of it as one of my great birthday moments!

A birthday is a wonderful day to celebrate the mercy and grace and the amazing love that the Father has wrapped into the biggest and best gift of all—a life in His presence.  “He has anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I wonder if David wrote those words on his birthday??