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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
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Please pray
please pray for the Erbaugh family, worship leader at the Rock of SW. Their youngest child, lincoln just died. Please don't call them just pray.
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Friday, June 04, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Nineteen
Day 19
We have added a few more people to our prayer list. Welcome. You can find the archives of these prayer days at http://markkraakevik.posterous.com/
For our prayer time today, I want us to consider a story from the book of Daniel, chapter 3.
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
This is what I find inspirational about this story. Here are three teenage boys who say, "We will not serve your idol. God can save us from your furnace, and EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we still will not worship your idol.
As I pray about what I want God to do in my life, I have very specific goals. And it is easy to say, I will worship God and not turn to the idols of this world, because my God is a big God and he will do big things for me. It is much harder to say, and even if he does not do big things, I will still not turn from God to this worlds idols.
For me this boils down to allowing God to be God. He will do what he will do, and I will commit to worshiping him regardless of the circumstances I face.
Remember Paul and Silas singing in the jail cell.
Acts 16: 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
That is just plain crazy, but they committed to praise God regardless of their circumstance.
Please pray with me that The EDGE becomes that kind of a church. We know God can save us (from furnaces and jail cells), and even if he does not, we will sing praises all the louder!!
Specifically today would you pray for:
1) We have planned a graduation party for the neighborhood youth tomorrow. We are hoping for 100 teens.
2) Please continue to pray for Kim Kopp, and others we know who are battling against cancer.
3) Pray for Grant Chinn, who is looking at an expensive car bill right now
4) Pray for those in our congregation looking for jobs.
5) Pray for Lois Kraakevik, as she waits for a hip replacement surgery.
6) Pray for those traveling this week
7) Pray that our services this weekend would be well received. We are focusing on I John 1:5-10.
Thanks for praying,
Mark
Thursday, June 03, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Eighteen
Day 18
This is one of my favorite Psalms. Today let's pray it over each other:
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
Selah
2 that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
Selah
5 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
_______________
I find three things in this passage that really excite me.
First there is a connection between God being good to us, and all the people praising Him.
Clearly God is given the credit for the blessings He pours out.
Second, the evangelist heart of this Psalm. He is praying that nations sing for joy to God.
Third, there is a "harvest" that happens at just the right time. God's timing is perfect.
Finally, the earth 'fears" God. God is acknowledged as God. He is our creator, and LORD.
May this Psalm be proclaimed over our cities.
Thank for your prayer,
Mark
Mark Kraakevik
The EDGE Colorado - live the message
720-308-4051
We all have demons, don't face your alone***
"Faith is our relationship to and with God. And it is given life and meaning in our relationship to and with each other."
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Seventeen
Day 17
Today was the last day of school for our daughters, and thus our schedules change gear. Summer is here.
This is a great time to make some goals. Give some thought to what you want to accomplish by the end of the summer.
What books do you want to read? http://www.librarything.com/catalog/kraakerjack
What local attractions do you want to visit? http://guide.denverpost.com/daytrips/
Where will you spend those quiet moments (in between the frantic moments) this summer? http://www.cariboucoffee.com/page/1/home.jsp
What relationships will you invest in? http://www.facebook.com/pages/Littleton-CO/The-EDGE-colorado/6486078876
What spiritual disciplines do you want to nurture? http://www.renovare.us/SPIRITUALRENEWAL/LivingLikeJesus/WhyLiveLikeJesus/tabid/2501/Default.aspx
Today I would suggest that you make some plans, and then take these plans before the Lord.
I have two favorite verses on this subject:
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
and
Ps 37:4: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
We are making plans at the EDGE for our summer.
Will you pray with us that we will be able to fully commit our plans to God.
Specifically you can pray for our graduation party this Sat. Night, our participation in the Annual meetings at the end of June, and our missions trip to Brazil in July. We are also spending our summer in I John. Pray that our Sunday mornings are worshipful and that we hear and apply what God is trying to teach us.
Thanks
Mark
Mark Kraakevik
The EDGE Colorado - live the message
720-308-4051
We all have demons, don't face your alone***
"Faith is our relationship to and with God. And it is given life and meaning in our relationship to and with each other."
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Sixteen
Day 16
Once again gentle reader, I thank you for taking the time to pray for us.
Psalm 98
A psalm.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Today I was thinking about joy. I was remembering that last Sunday we looked at 1 John 1:4, where John says that sharing the gospel makes his joy complete.
I know what joy looks like. I hear it as my kids make up songs, and sing them. As they laugh and play around a pool. Their laughter is contagious.
What does our joy look like? Is it in calling a friend we have not talked to in a while, just to say hi. Is it in helping a neighbor with a chore? Is it found in taking a meal to someone who needs encouragement?
And what steals our joy? Despair, anger, jealousy, laziness, and well...to be honest...just about any sin robs us of joy.
Will pray with me that The EDGE would be filled with joy. That we would find our lives filled to overflowing with joy.
Action step:
1) As part of your prayer time today consider singing a song. You can make it up if you like, but sing a song of joy.
2) Please lift up those at The EDGE who are facing difficult life situations, and pray specifically that they would experience joy.
3) Pray against those sins that still our joy.
4) Praise God with us for the many opportunities we have had recently to celebrate his faithfulness.
Thanks,
Mark
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Fifteen
Day 15
On my best days, I find myself dreaming big dreams.
Thinking of all the remarkable things God can do.
I see God answer the prayers of a husband for his wife to have a child.
Genesis 25:21
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Our own story has been no less miraculous. Heidi and I know that prayer is powerful, that prayer is heard by God, and that God is answering your prayers on our behalf.
If God can take a woman who is barren and change her body so that she can have a baby, what else can he do.
What other miraculous changes can he make?
Can he give us eyes to see people the way He sees them?
Can he give us ears to hear the cries of our neighborhood?
What might God, the great physician have in mind?
Please pray that God changes our hearts and minds.
Thanks for your continued prayers,
Mark
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day 14
Day 14
Two weeks down! Thanks so much for your faithful prayers.
We had a tremendous day at the EDGE.
We had a violin player today - Naomi Sellers. She was incredible.
We watched a Memorial day video: warning, this one will make you cry.
Tara Borman told some of her story today. We will need to have her back to tell more of her story, but it was so good to hear what she did in Africa this last winter. You can hear a spiritual depth in her words that is priceless.
Here is a link to her blog: http://taraborman.myadventures.org/?nMonth=5&nYear=2010
We started our new series on I John today. I hope to have the podcast posted soon.
_________________
Today, for our prayer time I want to give you a link to a photo taken 100 years ago in a church. And I simply want us to pray that 100 years from now, the legacy of the EDGE will live on in the lives of people around the world.
Great church. Looks to be about the size of the EDGE. I wonder who worshipped there. I wonder what songs they sang. I wonder what they prayed about. I love old photos. Reminds me of the movie Dead Poets Society.
Psalm 61:4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah
5 For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Let us thank God for the heritage he has given to us. Those who went before us who paved the way for us to live the lives we enjoy today.
_________________
Please keep in your prayers
- My mom, who will be having a hip replacement surgery in June. She is in a lot of pain, and could not be in the nursery today - which of course is where she loves to be.
- Kim Kopp - who continues to battle cancer. You can read her caringbridge here:
- Pray for the Brazil trip that is going this July.
- Pray for those traveling today and tomorrow.
- Pray for those looking for jobs.
Thanks for lifting these things to heaven with us,
Mark
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Thirteen
Day Thirteen
Dear Prayer Team,
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
I remember learning this passage in Sunday school when I was very young.
Today I have been exchanging emails with our Children's Director, Annmarie, and I have some very specific prayer requests for us to pray today. One of the core purposes of The EDGE is to help parents raise their kids to become Godly men and women. There is no doubt that God has entrusted to us a bunch of very bright, future leaders. Please pray that we would live out the gospel, as they watch our every step.
Here is a depressing example from Youtube of the negative influence adults can have on kids.
I wish I knew of a video that showed the positive side of adults showing kids how to live.
Lets pray that our church would continue to be a beacon of light in a dark world.
Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
One way we can set the example is by showing our kids what it means to rely on God, and to turn to him often in prayer.
AnnMarie makes a habit of asking our kids what they want prayer for. Here is this week's list of kids who have requested that people pray for them:
Ethan - Allie - Eli - Chloe - Zach
Grace for her soccer, Angel has a possible scholarship to her school
Please pray for our kids who have been struggling with anxiety/ being scared.
Also let's pray for summer safety for all the kids
Isn't it great to be able to bring kids before God in prayer!
Annmarie asked that we pray for The EDGE as we take the lead on the children's program at the summer meetings of Converge Worldwide. We want our volunteers to be good role models to all the kids and teens attending/volunteering at the CWW conference. Praise God with us that all of these kids & adults would be willing to step forward in faith and serve. It is such a blessing!
Brenna - Director of Nursery and Early Childhood for the CWWC
Christine - Asst. in Nursery and Early Childhood for the CWWC
Ashley, Tommy, Kyle, Emmy, Lynnsey, Ryan, Joel, Alex, and Grace
Thank you for praying,
Mark
Friday, May 28, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Twelve
Day Twelve
In light of the fact that this is the beginning of the Memorial Day Weekend, I will keep this short.
Today, I simply want to remind you that as we pray, there are times when the situation takes a turn for the worse, but even in this, God is always answering our prayers.
As a quick illustration of this, take John the Baptist.
Matthew 11: 1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
___________
Here we see John in prison, wondering when he will be released? Jesus had proclaimed he had come to set the prisoners free. So here is John IN PRISON wondering, "Are you the one, or is there someone else?"
What do you suppose the prayers of John the Baptist were? While the Bible does not record any prayers, I will give you one guess what he was praying..."Get me out of here!!"
Jesus sends back an answer..."Tell John what you hear and see." In other words. Go tell John that the Kingdom of God is arriving, people are changing, and I am bringing life to dead people.
In Matthew, chapter 14, we get the story of how Herod has John beheaded as a gift to his daughter. Wow! John's longing for release is never satisfied. But that is not the full story on John the Baptist. Turn back to chapter 11, verse 11. LIsten to Jesus, " I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist..." Woah! That is quite a title that John is given by Jesus.
All this to say, we cannot keep score here on earth. You look at John's life and see that he died in prison, and you might say, "He is a failure." But Jesus says, "He is the greatest."
Let us pray that those that walk the halls of The EDGE Colorado would not listen to the voices of men, but that they would hear the voice of Jesus saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Thanks for Praying,
Mark
P.S. 2 huge answers to prayer today
1) Grant's $1,000 car repair was fixed with a $7 bottle of antifreeze.
2) Last month we had a 4,000 shortfall on our P and L statement. This month we are already $500 over our expected monthly income with one more Sunday to go. That is a $4,500 turn around.
Your prayers are making a difference!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for the EDGE Colorado, Day Eleven
Dear Prayer Partner,
I have tried to keep these very short, but I have a lot on my mind right now.
I have just seen so clearly how confused and hungry our world is for answers to the "God Question."
If you have time there are links here for you to dig deeper into tv show and movies I talk about.
Otherwise, just jump to the end, and pray that our culture would keep looking for answers, until it finds the truth.
Our world is very religious. Everyone has ideas about heaven and hell and God and church.
It is very difficult to sort the lies from the truth and the half truths. Three things in this last week have pointed to the searching that is going on in our culture.
First - the last episode of LOST. Not sure if you watched it our not, but it was full of good vs. evil, and even depicted an after-death/heaven/purgatory scene. The answers it presented were not theologically accurate, but it showed that our culture is hungry for answers. Here is a link to a three minute summary of the final season.
Second - I was in Evergreen this evening and watched the ends of two shows with my parents as we sat around after dinner.
We saw the end of the movie, The Big Kahuna, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189584/
(Spoiler alert) Here is the plot summary:
_______
"On the last evening of a convention two seen-it-all industrial lubricant salesmen and a youngster from the research department gather in the hotel's hospitality suite to host a delegates party. The main aim is to get the business of one particular big fish. When it becomes apparent that it is the lad who has developed a direct line to the guy, his strong religious beliefs bring him into sharp conflict with his older and more cynical colleagues."
_______
I first was exposed to this Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito film by some of my post-modern, emergent pastor friends. They said it represented what they found most frustrating about Evangelical Christianity. The young man in the movie is a zealous Christian, who goes to a party and talks to the "big fish" business client about Jesus instead of presenting the sales pitch.
The reason I bring this movie up is the religious content in the movie. Our culture is hungry for answers. If you ever see the film, I would love to talk to you about it.
Finally, we saw the end of Religulous, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/
Plot Summary:
_________________
With quotes from major figureheads like Thomas Jefferson, George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden, Bill Maher, with a Jewish-Catholic background, sets out to prove that having faith and seeking directions from God is basically ridiculous and may be due to a neurotic disorder. Interviewing Christians, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, scientists, gays, and atheists, he cites that the number of non-believers is increasing in North America. He attempts to prove his point by citing inconsistencies in the Bible, the controversial birth of Lord Jesus, the inability of religious heads to account for His absence for over 18 years, as well as the absence of any concrete evidence that disproves the theory of evolution.
__________________
The thing that strikes me as I think about these three works is this: this is my mission field. These are the people I walk and talk with every day. The people who wrote these stories might as well be my neighbors. Particularly when it comes to the cynicism.
The only way to make progress in a society that is this jaded by the power of prayer! We need God to break through hard hearts and skeptical minds. We need to continue to preach the gospel to a world that does not understand what we are saying.
Paul said it this way in the book of Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Action items
1) Pray that we would find ways to talk to our neighbors about their own doubts and questions
2) Pray that we would "preach the gospel" well by living it in front of a cynical society
Thanks for reading this "longer than normal" prayer request.
You may want to discuss this one further. Please feel free to comment on my facebook page or just email me.
Peace,
mark
Mark Kraakevik
The EDGE Colorado - live the message
720-308-4051
We all have demons, don't face your alone***
"Faith is our relationship to and with God. And it is given life and meaning in our relationship to and with each other."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day 10
Day 10
Hello prayer team.
We are a third of the way through this prayer adventure.
Today I want us to turn our attention to two passages from the gospels.
John 3:17
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”-
and
Luke 4:17-19
17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
This is the gospel -- that Jesus came to rescue us. To save us. To bring freedom, and sight.
Will you pray with me that our neighbors hear this good news? We want to bring the freedom of the gospel.
The freedom that God brings allows us to live lives of purpose and meaning.
That allows us to have true intimacy with God
That removes the barriers between us, and results in real relationships.
Action items
1) Pray that we would be beacons of hope in our community
2) Pray that our message would be clear.
Thanks,Mark
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Nine.
Day Eight
I do not take it lightly that you are still reading this prayer update and praying for The EDGE. You are following through on a commitment, and I am extremely grateful. Prayer as a "spiritual discipline" is tough. I often find it so much easier to put my hands to a task, to sit through to a meeting, to make a phone call or write an email than to pray to God. But to stop within our activity long enough to acknowledge God, moment by moment, that is difficult and that is what God wants from us.
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
I find most days that I am well into the daily grind before something slows me down long enough to pray. It is one thing I want to better the second half of my life than I have done the first half. I want to learn to be still. Check out this verse from my reading today in the One Year Bible:
2 Samuel 7:1 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
It is not until David has sat down on his throne for a bit that he realizes that he has built himself a very nice little palace, while the place where God was worshiped remained a tent. It is like David one day wakes up and says, "Woah, this is all about me, and not about God. My house/palace rocks, and God's house is a dusty tent outside of town."
Today, join me in asking God to make us less selfish.
If The EDGE is to become the church God want's it to be, we will need to take the focus off of ourselves.
It is totally the opposite of our world, where the focus of it all is on me, me, me.
Do you hunger for a stronger connection with God? We must fight against pride and selfishness. I was struck today by this quote: "Real intimacy, which by its nature takes time to develop, is obliterated in quick hits of self-centered fantasy." Interestingly, I found that quote in this article about pornography by Nicholas Black: http://harvestusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=427:how-and-why-pornography-hurts-a-marriage-&catid=48:questions-you-ask&Itemid=57 Selfishness takes many forms, and all must be fought with a conscious effort to make God our #1 priority.
Action items:
1) Be still (no seriously, right now - just stop for a minute).
2) Worship God.
3) Ask that those who attend The EDGE would make God first in their lives, that our worship times would grow deep and rich.
Thanks, Mark
Monday, May 24, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day Eight
Day Eight
I am sure your schedule is as crazy as ours has been this month. It is often easy to grow very tired in the midst of non-stop activity.
It is also easy to loose sight of the most important stuff when the urgent stuff piles up on the desk.
Will you join me in a prayer for focus. I love this passage from Hebrews:
Hebrews 12
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Action items:
1) Pray that the leadership of the EDGE would run the race, and not become tangled in sin.
2) Pray that we all might fix our eyes on Jesus, who endured to the end. Let us follow his example.
3) Pray that we find in our meditation of Jesus, the power to overcome weariness and downcast hearts.
4) There were lots of prayer requests from Sunday. I do not feel at liberty to share all of them, but as you might have guessed we have people wrestling with stress, and anxiety, and loss, and home foreclosure, and the end of the school year.
5) Please consider forwarding this to people in your prayer circles that might be willing to join us.
Again, thank you for praying, and may your day be filled with joy,
Mark
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for the EDGE Colorado, Day 7
Day Seven
Unbelievable - all I can say. I am so thankful to have a group of prayer warriors bring our church before the throne of Heaven.
So many miracles, God is so good -
Its not about the numbers, but...
Our attendance numbers are up
Our offering numbers were up
And most importantly, God spirit showed up
Today was a big at the EDGE.
Grant did a great job preaching Jonah 4.
Jerry helped us honor our grads today (Rachel, Joel, Ian, Carly, Bryan, Joel) - each with their with a great future laying ahead of them.
On behalf of our church, I would like to thank you for your prayers.
I have often wished that Sunday church would feel like a "missions trip," full of anticipation, and hope and joy. Today it did.
It almost felt like the day Peter and John went to the temple
Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar
Acts 3
1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Action steps
1) Let us work on developing a sense of wonder and amazement - God is working miracles around us every day.
2) Let us bring a sense of expectation to the many challenges and prayer requests.
3) Pray though this list of specific requests for the EDGE:
Grant's car is broke and needs $1,000
My mom will be getting a new hip next month.
Those without work, or without enough work to pay all the bills.
Those fighting cancer.
Those who are sick.
Those whose marriages are in crisis
Those who are fighting with our military around the world, and their families who wait at home for their return.
Thanks for praying,
Mark
Saturday, May 22, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for the EDGE, Day 6
Day Six
Our evening service is currently going on. Would you join me in praying for Grant as he preaches. He is talking about Jonah 4.
We have 14 people tonight. I know that God has brought each person (including 3 brand new people from the neighborhood).
Our mission field is not an easy one.
This weekend is Pentecost Sunday.
Acts 2
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.Will you pray with me that God would send his spirit on the EDGE.
Thanks for praying,
Mark
Friday, May 21, 2010
30 Days of Prayer for the EDGE, Day 5
Day Five
Today I want to relay to you the prayer team some things that have come to me in the last few days.
A) Unanswered Prayers
From Matt Daniels As the 30 Days of Prayer continues, I was reminded today: "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers. Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs that just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care. Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered prayers."
We recognize that God may not allow us to stay in our current building, and that may be the greatest gift he could give us.
B) God's Rosebud
Then this one talks about how things happen in God's timing.
Begin forwarded message:
Mark, Thought you might appreciate this little article just now, what with the building situation....take care,Love you,Aunt JudyGod's Rosebud
==============A new minister
was walking with an older,
more seasoned minister
in the garden one day.Feeling a bit insecure
about what God
had for him to do,
he was asking the older preacher
for some advice.The older preacher
walked up to a rosebush
and handed the young preacher
a rosebud and told him
to open it
without tearing off any petals.The young preacher
looked in disbelief
at the older preacher
and was trying to figure out
what a rosebud
could possibly have to do
with his wanting to know
the will of God
for his life and ministry.But because of his great respect
for the older preacher,
he proceeded to try to unfold the rose,
while keeping every petal intact.It wasn't long
before he realized
how impossible
this was to do.Noticing the younger preacher's
inability to unfold the rosebud
without tearing it,
the older preacher began
to recite the following poem...
"It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.""The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die.""If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?""So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way.""The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose."
~Charlie Gilchrist~
C) Hezekiah's Illness
Finally Amy Merwin showed me this passage earlier this week. It shows the King weeping before the Lord and God answering the King's prayer.
2 Kings 20
Hezekiah's Illness
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' "
7 Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.
8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?"
9 Isaiah answered, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?"
10 "It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps."
11 Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
Lessons from this passage:
We can learn something from the intensity with which Hezekiah prayed.
Hezekiah did not need to ask for the sign, and he should have just trusted God to be true to his word.
Nevertheless, God did the miraculous, and made the Sundial go backwards - that is the God we are praying to. One who can change the rotation of the earth!!
Let us pray bold prayers.
Mark
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for The EDGE Colorado, Day 4
Day Four
What a great week of prayer we have had so far.
Thank you so much for continuing to lift up The EDGE.
Three prayers for today.
1) We need to offer up some praise.
God has been answering our prayers.
Kim Kopp has had a remarkable week, and the treatment has been going really well.
You can read about it here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kimberlykopp/journal
2) We need to pray for provision.
I am sure you have seen the news, but today the stock market too a dive.
Perhaps you called your broker, or went online to see how much you lost.
Last night at our the EDGE Executive Board Mtg., we looked at our financial health as a church.
Briefly, we are spending about $4,000 more per month than we are bringing in.
That is not a fun number. But the good news is we have a big God.
Yesterday I was reminded that worry is not only irrelevant and a waste of time, it is also disobedience to God.
3) Will you join me in praying for this next weekend.
We want God to be glorified. We want people to see Jesus, and to know him better.
We are studying Jonah 4, and it is a great reminder of how God loves our city.
Jonah 4:2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home?
That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God,
slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
Actions steps:
1) Thank God for answered prayer
2) Pray for God's provision, and specifically for those in our church who are unemployed.
3) Read Jonah 4. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%204&version=NIV
Pray that we would grow in our love and concern for our city.
4) Consider forwarding this email to someone you think might be interested in praying for us.
Thanks for praying,
Mark
Mark Kraakevik
The EDGE Colorado - live the message
720-308-4051
We all have demons, don't face your alone***
"Faith is our relationship to and with God. And it is given life and meaning in our relationship to and with each other."
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thirty Days of Prayer for the EDGE, Day Three
Day Three
Couple of God moments from this week:a) Last night Tara Borman shared with the youth group all that happened in Africa, during her 6 month missions trip.In particular she made a big deal out of the idea that prayer is not the last thing you do, its the first.Don't wait until times are desperate, turn to Him in all situations.b) On Monday, Jerry Ogden and I got to spend time hanging out with drug dealers outside the state capital on Colfax.We were there with Bex, a woman who has made the homeless kids of Denver her personal mission field.Jerry and I were inspired by the concern she has for them, and we agreed we would be back.c) Amy Merwin stopped by church and talked about how meaningful it has been for her to have a leather prayer bracelet on her arm this week.She said it has been her spiritual umbilical cord, and she thanked us for offering them on Sunday as a reminder to pray.Please forward any stories you may have.Our prayer team is strong, and there is a real sense of excitement among the members.One final note: Britta woke up with nightmares last night, and said when she trying to pray, her words got all mixed up. It sound remarkably like spiritual warfare in Brazil.Just one more reminder that we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.__________________________________The church executive board is meeting in 10 minutes. We will be discussing among other things, what our plans for July will be. Currently we will be developing two plans - one for if we stay and one for if we leave our current building. Would you join us in praying for wisdom.Today, lets pray that as a church, we wouldfind satisfaction in the goodness of God rather than the things of man.Pray that we would hold the things we have been given lightly, as we trust God to provide.Throughout the rest of this day would you consciously choose to take refuge in Him and draw on His strength.Actions steps:1) Continue to pray for Nina Sloan's cousin is in ICU with a very serious case of pneumonia and for Kim Kopp as she battles her cancer.2) Pray that the EDGE would become even more dependent on God.3) Pray that our plans would be clear and complete.4) Consider forwarding this email to someone you think might be interested in praying for us.Peace,Mark
Coming home from planning ConvergeWW/BGC biannual meeting
Topics included: military chaplains, youth programs, child care, transportation, prayer times, hospitality, and Bethel
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
30 Days of Prayer, Day two
------Original Message------
From: Mark Kraakevik
Subject: 30 Days of Prayer, Day two
Sent: May 18, 2010 3:52 PM Day Two Thank you to all of you who have joined our team. We currently have 30 people praying. Today, lets pray that God would open doors to the community. Our current location places us right in the heart of a busy neighborhood. (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7870+south+garrison.+littleton+co) The road outside my office window has cars passing all day long. I often wonder what those car think of this church building, or if they even see it? When people ask, I tell them our church is... "one block east of Kipling on Ken Caryl, turn south at the Conoco gas station, at the top of the hill is a car wash, come down the hill, over two speed bumps and we are on the left." Two speed bumps. Is that all people know about us? Oh, the church by the speed bumps. Let us pray that our reputation in the neighborhood would be really strong. Listen to Luke describe the church in Jerusalem Acts 2:46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Listen to what Paul says about the Roman church. Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. Lets pray that the EDGE would enjoy the favor of all the people around us and that the world would know us as a church famous for it's faith. Imagine this. When we say we go to The EDGE Colorado, that people would say, "Oh, you are that church that really trusts God." Actions steps: 1) Would you say a special prayer today for Nina Sloan, her cousin is in ICU with a very serious case of pneumonia. And for Kim Kopp, who begins chemo and radiation today for her cancer. 2) Pray that the reputation of the EDGE in the neighborhood would be strengthened. 3) Pray that we make the most of every opportunity to live out our faith in the neighborhood. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: Mark Kraakevik
Subject: 30 Days of Prayer, Day two
Sent: May 18, 2010 3:52 PM Day Two Thank you to all of you who have joined our team. We currently have 30 people praying. Today, lets pray that God would open doors to the community. Our current location places us right in the heart of a busy neighborhood. (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7870+south+garrison.+littleton+co) The road outside my office window has cars passing all day long. I often wonder what those car think of this church building, or if they even see it? When people ask, I tell them our church is... "one block east of Kipling on Ken Caryl, turn south at the Conoco gas station, at the top of the hill is a car wash, come down the hill, over two speed bumps and we are on the left." Two speed bumps. Is that all people know about us? Oh, the church by the speed bumps. Let us pray that our reputation in the neighborhood would be really strong. Listen to Luke describe the church in Jerusalem Acts 2:46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Listen to what Paul says about the Roman church. Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. Lets pray that the EDGE would enjoy the favor of all the people around us and that the world would know us as a church famous for it's faith. Imagine this. When we say we go to The EDGE Colorado, that people would say, "Oh, you are that church that really trusts God." Actions steps: 1) Would you say a special prayer today for Nina Sloan, her cousin is in ICU with a very serious case of pneumonia. And for Kim Kopp, who begins chemo and radiation today for her cancer. 2) Pray that the reputation of the EDGE in the neighborhood would be strengthened. 3) Pray that we make the most of every opportunity to live out our faith in the neighborhood. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Will you pray with us?
We have started something at the EDGE that I think you may want to join. It is a 30 day prayer emphasis. We are praying for God's blessing for our church and our neighborhood. What led us to pray? We have a specific request. Over the last six months, we have been in conversation with The Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLBA.org), the denomination that we have been renting our building from. What we have discovered is that the title for the building was not properly transferred before the local congregation, Messiah Lutheran Church, disbanded. As a result, in order for the CBLA to take possession of the title (which is a commercial title) they must foreclose on the property. This means that on June 16th the building we are renting with go to public auction. We are hopeful that the CBLA will be able to buy the building at the auction. However if a large offer comes from some other party, the CBLA might decided that having their money is better than having a rental property. All of this to say, we are praying that God would do something miraculous in the midst of this situation. We believe He has big things in store for our city. If you want to join us in these thirty days of prayer, simply reply to this email/twitter/FB, and I will add you to our list. Peace, Mark
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Saturday, May 15, 2010
What if someone walked around your city saying "40 days and **Denver** will be destroyed.". Can you guess what bible story I am preaching tonight?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Picking dandelions
My front yard is a veritable dandelion farm, and today is harvest day. Mowed the lawn earlier, and now I am on my knees picking weeds. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Great Mothers Day concert by the Colorado Childrens Chorale today
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Prayer time at Converge Rocky Mountain starts now
We get together once a year to pray together. It is very powerful, as pastors turn to God for healing in their own souls. Would you join in praying with us now. Pray for those men and women who have given their lives the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Monday, May 03, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Here is a quick rundown on the changes to Facebook
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1tD1um/www.techi.com/2010/04/the-chages-at-facebook-the-good-and-the-bad-and-the-very-ugly//r:t
1) Hopefully there will be enough backlash that they will rebuild some of the privacy walls.
2) Soon we true will have no more secrets - not sure if that is good or bad? An honorable life has nothing to hide, but a life without discretion seems to lack mystery.
3) Who gets to define what all this info means? If I like a certain movie, what does that tell you about me. Maybe I like it because of the scenery and I hate the plot - life loses all nuance.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
National Junior Honor Society - Way to go Annika!
DSCN0014.JPG
Mark Kraakevik
The EDGE Colorado - Live The Message
mkraakevik@aol.com
720-308-4051 www.theedgecolorado.org
http://www.google.com/profiles/Kraakerjack
To live is Christ, to die is gain.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Monday, April 05, 2010
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Random thoughts on a Thursday before Easter
Sin It is weird how so often I feel like I am missing it. like i have veered off the road and I can't find my way back. The effects of sin are very heavy. And on Maundy Thursday, it feels particularly heavy. And the promise of God's light and easy burden seems to go unanswered. How on earth am I to believe that this is a light and easy burden. That is a weird verse when you think about it. Take my yoke upon you. Just the word yoke is synonyms with a burden. Burden Just being alive is a burden. The mistakes we make in life are so troubling. Shame and guilt weigh us down. Even if we aren't the one struggling, walking along side people who are hurt and lonely and discouraged gets overwhelming at times. It starts to feel like one is drowning in sorrow and misery. And as the saying goes, hurt people hurt people! And the cycle continues. I need to read my Bible more. Surely there must be answers that I have not yet found for why there is so much suffering in the world. Why does it have to be like this? Miracles Oh, but the miracles. There are so many miracles. Where would one begin to list the miracles? This last week I have thought a lot about the miracles God has done in my life. He has protected me even when my own bad decisions put me in harms way. He has given me courage to fight when running seemed like a better option. He has allowed me to have so many moments in my life that were just crazy cool. I am so thankful that God has worked in me, and through me to bring hope and healing to broken lives. Community We have people with big hearts who love our faith community. People willing to put their time and effort into making the EDGE a place of grace and truth. We have greeters and kitchen workers. We have teachers that come every week and care for our kids. It is fun. Our church is full of life. And the people - the caliber of leaders we have. Men and women who have my back, and pray for me. And I pray for them. Such great sacrificial leadership. Courageous and honorable. Space The building we get to be in. It has heat, and lights, and desks, and bookshelves and meeting rooms...and a kitchen. Even though the money is a bit of an issue right now and that makes it hard. People are doing the best they can, even if it means doing more with less. Success I want to give the gift of success to my church. I want them to taste what its like to work really hard at something, and to see it happen. The victory is going to be so sweet. The championship is just around the corner. The crown of righteousness. This will be the reward for us if we do not give up. Some of us are close to giving up. I can not say that I blame them. It is not easy. But I do hope they will stay just a while longer so they can see the great harvest that is coming. Legacy My friend, Pastor John Fuller baptized 45 people last weekend at his church in Cedar Falls, IA. 45 people. Can you imagine. The line of people waiting for their turn to get into the water and to show by their actions the inner reality that has taken place in their life. I wish I could have seen it. I know that the same God that moved in their lives is moving at the EDGE. God is providing for us every week in miraculous ways. Years from now, I wonder what stories will be told of the EDGE. Will people think of these days as the gold era. Will they tell their grandkids, "If only you could have seen us making those pancakes for over 200 neighbors that day. If only you could have seen us as we cleaned off tables so others could sit down. Oh and our Egg hunt. You should have seen us hiding 1,000 eggs. Each kid went home with a basket full. That was a good Easter." I hope people come this Sunday. Its gonna be good. We are going to have a party. Jesus rose from the dead. The grave is EMPTY.
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