Elders' Corner - Live Like You Were Dying

In 2004, country music star Tim McGraw released a song entitled “Live Like You Were Dying” that went on to become a mega hit. The premise of the song revolves around a 40-year-old man who was recently informed that he has a very short time to live. When the reality of the moment sets in, he asks himself “Man, what do you do”?

Initially he decides on a few fun activities like sky diving, mountain climbing and even riding a mechanical bull named Fu Man Chu. However, in the ensuing verses and for the remainder of the song, he begins to fully examine his life and consider the things that are of most importance.

Listed below are the areas of his life that he chooses to focus on and address. You will note that they are very practical and make life more rewarding. I have listed a scripture next to each that I hope you will take the time to read.

“He Loved Deeper” 1Pet 4:8

“He Spoke Sweeter” Prov 16:24

“He Gave Forgiveness He Had Been Denying” Eph 4:31-32

“He Became the Husband He Hadn’t Always Been” Eph 5:25,28

“He Became A Friend That A Friend Would Like to Have” Prov 17:17

“He Finally Read The Good Book” Acts 17:11

“He Took A Good Long Look” 2 Cor 13:15

He ends the song with the realization that “Tomorrow is a Gift” and that we should all “Get to live like you were Dying”. As we contemplate the words and emotion of the song, it’s a reminder to us that tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives and that every day is a gift.

So………….

What are you going to do with it?

What are you going to do with it?

What are you ……..

-Richard Dostie

Contract or Covenant?

In Isaiah 55:3, God was speaking of His son Jesus when he said, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” This covenant in Isaiah is the ultimate covenant of love. When Israel turned its’ collective back on our Creator, God sent Jesus in the world to establish a covenant of love that would last forever, a covenant sealed with His own blood.

The Church of Jesus Christ is established on this covenant of love. God covenanted with us to redeem us by the blood of Jesus Christ, not because of what we could do for Him, but because of His love for us. So, what is our part in this covenant?

Jesus was once asked a similar question. When queried by a supposed expert on contract law about the greatest commandment, Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” In reality, that’s a relatively easy thing to do. How can we do any less than love a God of such mercy and grace? That’s the contract part, we love Him because he first loved us.

But Jesus didn’t stop there. He added these words in verse 39, “and the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s the covenant part. Loving others is about vulnerability. Loving others is about commitment that transcends circumstances. Loving others is about sacrificing our good for the good of someone else. And Jesus says in John 13:35 that it is this kind of love that shows the world we belong to Him.

On this Valentine’s Day, the love of your life wants to see how much you love him/her. But every day, the world needs to see how much we love Him by how much we love them. God keeps His covenant of love. How about you?

-Mike Johnson

Elders' Corner - HOW DO PEOPLE SEE YOU?

Church members Javaris Burks and James Greer, joined by fellow Christians, volunteer all day before going to their regular jobs. “I always want to hear, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant”’, said Burks, a team leader at a General Motors truck assembly plant. “We’re in the middle of a community that can really use our help.” “We just want to make sure we’re reflecting Christ,” added Greer, a lineman for a cable company. “Sometimes we are the only Bible that people see.”

The above comes from an article I recently read that details the works of a group of men from The North Central Church of Christ in Flint, MI. In 2014, they were instrumental in supplying drinking water to the community when it was discovered that the city’s water plant had become contaminated with lead poisoning.

Their sacrifice and servant hood should truly be emulated. However, what really got my attention was the statement, “Sometimes we are the only Bible that people see.”

SOMETIMES WE ARE THE ONLY BIBLE THAT PEOPLE SEE. Wow! Do we ever look at our own lives from that perspective? Often, we consider ourselves as being insignificant in God’s plans. We look at Hebrews 11, the great heroes of faith, and think that we could never be in that category. But the truth is, those great men and women likely considered themselves as insignificant, and they never knew their lives would turn out to have such an impact on the world and serve as biblical examples.

So, each day as we go about our daily routine, we must remember that people are looking at us. Will they see Christ reflected in us? Might we be the only Bible that they see? What message will we convey? It is my prayer and desire for all, that we humbly serve as Christ’s ambassadors while here in this world. So, you get to decide… HOW WILL PEOPLE SEE ME?

-Richard Dostie

Back to (a new) Normal

In the coming days, thousands of lives in North Florida will be directly impacted as schools begin. No doubt, this school year will be unlike any other. The pandemic has necessitated difficult choices for everyone from superintendents to teachers to substitutes to administrators to maintenance workers to bus drivers to cleaning staff, and that’s just a partial list on the school end. Parents and children are facing difficult choices among brick and mortar and virtual education options.

Our education professionals need our prayers. Among the Mandarin family, please be praying for:

Tiffany Poynter Westside High School.
Meghann Sikes Cornerstone Classical Academy
Nicole McTighe Kernan Trail Elementary
Nancy Regas Shadowlawn Elementary
Troy Regas Oakleaf Middle
Lori Gallaher Rawlings Elementary
Stephanie Bennett Hickory Creek Elementary
Sandi Johnson St Johns Substitute

Our parents need our prayers as they finalize decisions on education options. Our students need our prayers as they experience school in a way that is far different to what they are accustomed.

While this is a sober moment, a moment that must be bathed in prayer, this is also a moment to be light in a dark world. It is a moment to extend grace and mercy to those around us. It is a moment to be courteous and kind, understanding that everyone is navigating uncharted waters. It is a moment to be patient when not everyone sees things the way we see them. Most of all, it is a moment of faith. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future, so we move forward with faith that God is over us, listening to us, and working in us. Simply put, this is our moment to be Jesus.

-Mike Johnson

Expanding the Blessing

In my congregational email last week, I mentioned that we have been blessed by a generous donation of school supplies from TCC/Verizon to bless some of the families in the apartment complexes we serve. We thank Andrew Smith, Darty’s son, for helping us make this connection. I also mentioned that we would soon be seeking to add to this blessing with specific items or cash donations. Soon is now .

We plan to bless 120 children this year, and to do so, we need donations! You can donate the cost of a school supplies pack, which is $15, or you can purchase items from this list:

Items Number Still Needed:
Composition book 120
Filler Paper Wide-ruled 57
Colored Pencils, 12 pack 120
Plastic Folder, Pockets & Clips 120
#2 pencils, sharpened Box of 8 64
Large Glue Sticks, pack of 3 120
Crayons, 24 pack 92

If you are worshiping with us on campus, just bring your donations with you. If you are worshiping online, you can stop by any time and place your items in the orange box on the front porch at the auditorium entrance. This box is monitored and emptied daily.

For cash donations, here are your options: a. Online Giving (Website - mandarincc.com) - From the Choose a Fund option on the Give form, access the dropdown menu and select Special Funding. Tab over to Sub Fund and select School Supplies from the dropdown menu.

b. Mail your check (USPS). Please be sure to write School Supplies in the memo section of your check

c. Give cash or checks to Rita Thompson at Sunday morning Worship.

We are asking to receive all donations by next Sunday, August 16. Blessing these children with school supplies is but one of the many ways we live out our core practice of caring for our world.

-Mike Johnson

Elders' Corner - Seven Churches

In the second and third chapters of Revelation, the Spirit shows John the Lord’s insight and judgment on the Seven Churches of Asia. It is both discouraging and frightening that the Lord “holds something against” five of the seven churches.

The Church in Ephesus has forsaken their first love. The Church in Pergamum was riddled with false teachers. The Church in Thyatira tolerated the teaching of Jezebel. The Church at Sardis was described as being dead. Perhaps even worse, the Church at Laodicea was described as lukewarm. The only encouraging thing in the letters to these five churches was there were still a few believers who were faithful, and the Lord still pursued these churches and called them to repentance.

The churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia received no condemnation from the Lord. Rather, they were praised for their faithfulness and their steadfastness in the face of intense suffering and persecution. They were not the most powerful nor the most affluent churches of Asia, but they did the most important thing a church can do; they kept the Lord’s commandments.

It is the prayer of the Shepherds and Ministers and Mandarin that the angel of the Mandarin Church of Christ would send us the same letter Smyrna and Philadelphia received.

-Dan Nix

Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome Here

I am excited to begin a new sermon series called, “The Parting Gift.” Over the next several weeks, we will look closely at John 14-16, as Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit. My understanding of the Holy Spirit has significantly evolved over the last quarter century, and I pray that my understanding and love for the Holy Spirit will continue to grow over the next quarter century. I say that to emphasize that I approach teaching on the Holy Spirit with great humility. I still have much growing to do.

If you are a Jesus follower, you come to the topic of the Holy Spirit with predispositions. Some of you were raised in environments the Holy Spirit was ignored. Some of you have been raised in environments where the Spirit was acknowledged and relied upon. Some of you have been taught that the work of the Spirit was completed in the written word, The Bible. Some of you have negative experiences because you were told that if you didn’t possess supernatural gifts, you didn’t have the Holy Spirit.

Whatever your background, I humbly ask that we look carefully at what Jesus says in John 14-16, not just to confirm what we already know, but to seek a growing relationship with the One we desperately need to know. By no means will this series be fully comprehensive, but here are some of the topics we will pull from John 14:16.

1. The Best Gift Ever
2. Opening the Gift
3. The Gift of Presence
4. The Gift of Conviction
5. The Gift of Truth
6. The Gift of Obedience
7. The Gift of Peace

I look forward to taking this journey with you.

-Mike Johnson

Growing Up

We are now a couple of weeks into the second half of 2020. If you’re like me, you’d be delighted either for this year to come to a quick end, or you’d like to start the year over. From fires that devastated a continent, to political wrangling over an impeachment trial, to a horrific global pandemic that has transformed the way we live, to an inexcusable murder of George Floyd that forced all of us to look deep inside and examine our hearts for own prejudices, 2020 has been a year like no other, and we’ve got half the year left!

I would never suggest that God caused a fire in Australia or planted a virus. I know God played no role in the political wrestling, and I know God grieved over the killing of George Floyd. But I would suggest that God grows us in hundreds of different ways, and one of His most effective methods is using hardship and challenges to cultivate our character.

The best way to cultivate patience is to be put in a situation that demands it. There is no greater opportunity to exercise the love of God than to be surrounded by enemies. You cannot exercise forgiveness if you’ve never been wronged. And if you need more patience, courage, love or forgiveness, don’t be surprised if you find yourself in a situation that demands more.

So, rather than asking God to make 2020 just go away, could we ask God to teach us what we need to learn so that we can be less like ourselves and more like Him? Rather than longing for what used to be, could we ask God to grow us to be better than we ever thought we could be? There’s never been a more important moment than now to work together to guide people into a growing relationship with Jesus.

-Mike Johnson

Elders' Corner

This past week I have been reading in the book of 1 Samuel. I have always admired Samuel’s spirit and devotion to God.

In chapter 15, God sent Saul to destroy the Amalekites. In verse 3, God says “3 Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” Saul did go and defeat the Amalekites, but he spared the King and the best of all the animals. Samuel confronted Saul, but Saul said he had done “all that God had commanded.” Saul could not see how his pride and greed had blinded him to what God told him to do. God then tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul as King over Israel. 10 Then the LORD said to Samuel, 11 “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.

Notice Samuel’s response to God’s denouncement of Saul; “Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.” That is an incredible reaction. Samuel cared so much for Saul and the people of Israel that he suffered for them as God rejected Saul and set about establishing David. His ability to empathize is something I have not yet reached to that level, but the men I serve with as your elders are men that truly DO suffer for you in prayer and in spirit.

We meet, virtually, every Tuesday night and spend much time in prayer over this body at Mandarin. These men are teaching me how to develop this kind of spirit, to become more like Jesus. I look forward to growing with these men, and both you and I are privileged to have them as elders here at Mandarin. Please keep all of us in your prayers. It is our desire to serve you beyond our ability, and we thank you for your love of Jesus and your hearts to help others.

-Chip Meghee

Remember to be Forgetful

The servant lifestyle requires a certain kind of forgetfulness, the ability to forget about ourselves long enough to prioritize someone else. In I Peter 5:5 (NLT), the apostle writes, “All of you, serve each other with humility, for God sets himself against the proud, but He shows favor to the humble.”

Humility means we hold an accurate and unbiased assessment of our strengths and weaknesses. We understand our abilities, and we’re aware of, but we don’t fret over, our limitations. We see everything we have as a gift from God, for we know that without Him, we have nothing. This kind of humility makes it easy to look at the people around us, asking ourselves, “how can I help?”

One night, Jesus answered this question about help when he took a towel, wrapped it around his waist, poured water into a bowl, and began to wash his disciples’ feet. Washing another’s feet was typically a task reserved for the lowliest of servants. But Jesus, speaking without words, shows that no act of service was beneath his heart of love. Even as the shadow of death darkened the upper room, Jesus placed the needs of His disciples above His own.

The key to humility is knowing who you are. Jesus knew that He was the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Savior of the World. We know that we are children of the King. When we understand who we are, we’re comfortable grabbing a towel instead of grabbing the spotlight. Jesus didn’t care if someone mistook him for a lowly servant because He knew serving and giving His life was His mission in life (Mark 10:45).

Now it’s our mission, and it’s easier when we are secure enough to remember to be forgetful.

-Mike Johnson

Build Up!

You have the power to give life!

Many of the messages we hear from the world are the killing kind. We’re told, “you’re not smart enough; you’re not thin enough; you’re not fast enough; you’re not young (or old) enough; you’re not good enough.” Is it any wonder The Message paraphrase of Proverbs 18:21 says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.”

In a world where people are beat up and beat down, you and I have the opportunity reset the narrative. We have the power to give life by telling others, “you matter to me; your life counts and has purpose; God loves you, and you are incredibly valuable to Him.” Our words may be the only encouragement other people hear. We have the opportunity to be the voice of God’s grace in their lives.

In the New Testament, the word, ‘encouragement’ literally means to come alongside another, to build up. In I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), Paul says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” If you break the world ‘encourage’ into parts (en courage), it gives us the idea of pouring courage into another person.

Every person in your life needs encouragement. So, I hope that this week, your conversations will be filled with phrases like, “I believe in you; I am grateful for you; I see Jesus in you; I appreciate you; I am so thankful God has placed you in my life.” When we encourage each other, when we build up each other, we are better together!

-Mike Johnson

Reaching Out Intentionally

Love cares about the destiny of others.

If you had the cure to Covid-19, would you want to keep that to yourself while millions suffered? Yet as followers of Jesus, we have a more important, urgent message to share with the world, and the eternity of people all around us is at stake. So how do we reach out to share Jesus with our friends, neighbors, co-workers and classmates? The starting point is to be intentional.

In Colossians 4:5-6, Paul says, “5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In this passage, Paul shares four ways we can be intentional in introducing others to Jesus.

First, be wise in the way we act with people who are not yet believers. That means being aware that everything we say and do is a witness for or against Jesus. The way you handle disappointment, problems, irritations, and delays can attract or repel potential Jesus followers.

Second, make the most of every opportunity. To make the most of opportunity, we must be aware of them. We must ask God to open our eyes to see the daily opportunities He gives us to share a simple word about the impact Jesus has made in our lives.

Third, our words should always be kind and pleasant. People are never argued into the Kingdom of God. We are never persuasive when we are abrasive.

Fourth, be able to answer everyone. That does not mean we have to know every answer to every spiritual question. But we must always be ready to speak of the reason for our hope.

Be intentional!

-Mike Johnson

A Place to Love and Be Loved

Decades ago, the men and women who planted the Mandarin Church of Christ prayerfully came up with a phrase to designate the personality they determined would be our identifying marker: A Place to Love and Be Loved.

This is a critical designation. In I Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul says,

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

In this sobering passage, Paul makes it clear that without love:
· Nothing I say will matter;
· Nothing I know will matter;
· Nothing I believe will matter;
· Nothing I give will matter;
· Nothing I accomplish will matter.

There has never been a more important time than now to show the world we are followers of Jesus by our love; love for people who don’t look like us, love for people who don’t agree with us, love for people we find the most difficult to love.

Paul continues in chapter 13 by describing this love with words of action. Paul says this love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered. This love keeps no record of wrongs. This love always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. This love never fails.

This week, you and I will experience conflict somewhere along the way. When we do, may God help us to choose love!

-Mike Johnson