WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT? (as if I really know :~)

"The greatest cause of atheism in the world today, is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. This, is what an unbelieving world, simply finds, unbelievable."
~Brennan Manning

author of "The Ragamuffin Gospel"

This blog is linked from my main site: www.marklewisphoto.com

Well...I feel that my call for this season in life is to be available to "Stir in the Hearts of others a Passion for Christ." Like Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesians 1:16-20(ish), my prayer is that I may play a part in people "getting it". "It" being, (a) their future/hope to which He has called them, (b) that they/YOU are PRECIOUS to Jesus***He awaits YOU as His GLORIOUS inheritance...HIS! You get it?!...Christ is waiting...looking forward to enjoying YOU forever!...and, (c)He has empowered us to do the works he has prepared for us...for our good, the blessing of others and for His glory.
Oh, how we would live...how many lives would be changed, if by His grace, the Bride of Christ would "get it"...
So...I pray that the Holy Spirit "stir" you!

The plan for this blog is to create a place where I will regularly post new images
and information from any "compassion" related projects or trips.
My desire is that this site will gradually be filled with images, stories and eventually video that I capture as I go abroad on missions trips and/or serve locally with churches and other organizations in helping those in need.
There will also be links to people abroad who have dedicated their lives to serving "the least of these" in our world.
Additionally, this blog will be a "gateway" to various other images that have yet to be posted to my official photography site. So aside from the primary focus on "compassion", you'll find a variety of other images...both "snapshot-like" and fine art/landscape.
God has been exceedingly gracious in his support through the people he has surrounded me with...
I look forward to what else He has in store as I learn trust His leading.
While living in a culture in which we desperately strive to keep the world revolving around our needs and desires, I pray that the images, stories and links shared here will awaken a compassion your heart to step out of your comfort-zone and be a light to someone in need...to be the servant-hand and feet of Jesus.
There really is One who's love for you is more profound than anything you can fathom...

Strength in Christ,
~Mark

Some links of interest:
www.ourbeautifulday.org GET INVOLVED in LOCAL COMPASSION OUTREACH
www.compassion.com Sponsor a Child through Compassion International
(also see: Compassion International's Church2Church initiative with Willow Creek)

SOME GREAT PODCASTS:
www.thevillagechurch.net (Matt Chandler, Speaker)
05/16/10 - "IDENTITY" (This is a great intro to Matt's teaching)
05/23/10 - "IF YOU ARE RAISE WITH CHRIST"
05/03/09 - "The Great Cause" Pt. 04
10/12/08 - "After the Heart"
www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/media_player.html...Great talk from Francis Chan dated 01/22/2006: "Why Giving Up Cannot Be An Option"(ya gotta scroll down to get to it)
www.marshillchurch.org/media/sermons. See Mark Driscoll's series titled, "Religion Saves (and 9 Other Misconceptions)" GREAT stuff that will mess with your presuppositions about God.
www.desiringgod.org John Piper (all I can say is: He's the Yoda of Christianity:~)
www.newspring.cc Perry Noble
Some of many great Bay Area Churches:
www.southbaychurch.org
www.westgatechurch.org
www.epicsf.com
www.thebridgesanjose.org
www.highway.org
Church Planting Networks:
www.vision360.org
www.acts29network.org