Mark-ing Time Until Easter 

Our fearless leader is following Mark's example, "sandwich"ing the rest of Mark's Gospel into just two Sundays.  We'll have to listen fast!

So, how are your improved relationships with others going this week?  Boy -- you teach a lesson and watch out!  One would think the teacher is exempt from the test.  Remember the importance of the word "yet"?  I'm not there yet.  Because I have not "yet" arrived, I'll continue the journey, as did Jesus' disciples.

This week our journey takes us to Jerusalem.  Expectations are great as Jesus enters the city. The disciples have their expectations and the large crowd has it own expectations.  Three times Jesus described the process he must endure to his disciples, but they still didn't get it!

How many times do you find yourself explaining the same thing to your teens?  After the third time, you're probably wondering if they will ever get it!

I wonder if we are more like Jesus' disciples than we know.  Are there things in our lives that Jesus has patiently explained to us for many years?  Aren't we appreciative for his patience?

Our lesson this week covers Mark 10:46 - 13:37. 

I hope to see you this Sunday as we discuss . . .

with Great Expectations,

Don

Pizza Pizza !!

The SPOTclass won't be going to Little Caesars, but we will be doubling up on pizza over the next two Sundays.

After second hour this week, CSM Leadership will be conducting a 40-hour Famine organizational meeting.  If your teenager is participating in the Famine this year, you and your teen need to be there.  And since talking about fasting works up an appetite, the meeting will wrap up with pizza for everyone -- teenagers and parents alike.

SPOTlunch at CiCi's will be delayed one week as a consequence.  On March 28, we'll mark the end of Don's enlightening series on Mark's Gospel at the south county CiCi's Pizza location across from Dave Sinclair's  Ford & Lincoln Mercury dealerships. 

Brooks will try not to make a wrong turn when he gets there.    

Paintball SPOTS

Tore, an Xtreme Paintball Park www.xtremepaintballpark.com near Jefferson Barracks, has offered Concord members a great package price for a half-day of paintball.

Here are the details -- Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  A $25 fee covers entry, air, gun rental, face mask, and your first 500 paintballs.   There is no additional cost to play longer or later. If less than 10 were still playing, then we'd join open play and lose our private ref. That's all. No additional costs unless you need more paint.

SPOTclass ex-patriot Bob Hohmeier is coordinating the activity.  He offers a treatese on the subject for the uninitiated on the SPOTblog -- TMI for SPOTmail -- but it sounds like he's  the last person you'll see on the course before your goggles turn some opaque shade of red and you hear an evil laugh.  One hint:  if you see him, aim low!

 If you're interested in decorating your body in paint SPOTs at a discount price, contact Bob at  314-541-7429 or via email at Jubes56@gmail.com.  He needs a head count by April 3.

EGGSperienced Volunteers Wanted

The SPOTclass will be helping with this years' Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 27 from 8:30 (that's in the morning) until noon. 

We will be manning the Knock It Over event -- running the game, handing out the prizes, and interacting with the kids who play.  We will need a few volunteers to help, and it's important that you play well with others. 

You can volunteer for a single shift or for the entire day.  If you can help, email spotspot@gmx.com or scribble your name on the sign-up sheet in the SPOTfolder on Sunday.

SPOTfun Polling

SPOTclass continues its survey of class members to determine your idea of fun social activities for the class. 

Do you want to watch the ponies at Fairmont, see the Grizzlies or the Rascals play minor league baseball, or vent your frustrations on the tenpins at the local bowling establishment?

Watch the SPOTfolder Sunday for an informal poll on what our next social event should be!  You can help make the call by jotting your ideas on the poll this Sunday!

Snacks

• 3/21 -- Linda Conrad
• 3/28 -- Kevin & Susan Hurt

Prayer Requests

• Rusty Phillips has an employee at work (Mike) nearing retirement and now thinks he has dementia or Alzheimer's. 
• Ed Martin requests prayer for his sister's continuing cancer treatments.  She is struggling with new chemo.
• Ed Martin's brother-in-law had a defibrillator installed on Monday.
• Kevin's sister continues to be hospitalized for complications of asthma.
• A "Gay and Christian" organization is presenting and debating at Southwest Baptist University.  Some of our youth attend there.
• Lori's dad is doing better, but more investigation is to come.  Continue to pray for God's healing.

Dave Ramsey on Money and Marriage   (from Focus on the Family)

It has been established that men and women have different financial and communication styles. Add to that the fact that opposites attract. Now we have room for conflict everywhere.
One spouse is usually more creative and spontaneous than the other, what I call a Free Spirit. That mate tends to see budgeting as a form of torture or control. The other mate likely has a bent toward numbers and tends to shoulder responsibility for the budget. Deep inside him or her is a Nerd with the capacity to create a 17-page budget and present it like a gloating dictator. The Free Spirit will smile — then spend money however he or she wants. And the budget wars are on.   Click the link below to read more (about yourself).
www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/money_and_finances/pursuing_financial_unity/working_with_your_differences.aspx

Paintball!!!

 Bob Hohmeier asked that this activity be posted here.  Sounds like fun!

Tore, at Xtreme Paintball Park ( http://www.xtremepaintballpark.com ) has offered us a great package price for any and all of us that would like to join in a half day of paintball. The details are as follows;

Saturday, April 10th, 2010 @ 10 AM until about 2 PM. (or longer if you’re so motivated)

$25 covers entry, air, gun rental, face mask and your first 500 paintball. Additional paint is $15 a bag of 500 or $55 a case of 2000. The rental guns are semi automatic and hold 200 rounds. You can be trigger happy and go through 200 plus rounds a game or wait until you have a “can’t miss” shot and use a lot less. I usually use less than 300 rounds a day, but I am especially conservative and play with a single shot pump gun. (if you wanted the challenge of pump play, I have several extra guns)

If you have your own equipment, you are welcome to bring it to use instead of the field gear. Be reminded, though, as a private group, we need to use field paint only. If you use your own gun, it needs to be tested and adjusted (chronoed) to shoot 280 feet per second or less. Be reminded, it is semi only. One trigger pull, one ball. No 3 or 6 shot bursts or full auto. The field guns are already set. For those that wonder, a hit to bare skin usually feels like a bee sting or being on the receiving end of a snapped towel. On occasions, it can draw blood. But that is rare.

What you need/should to bring;

Loose fitting, heavy bodied clothes that can get dirty. Long sleeves and pants are suggested. The paint is considered washable, but may stain. Loose fitting tends to cushion the “hit” of the paintball. Actual paintball jerseys and pants are borrowed from motocross clothing. I do have some extra jerseys and some old camo pants and shirts that I can lend.

Old camo is good, but will usually not give you much of its intended value of concealment, as there is not yet much green vegetation. You should also consider dressing 20 degrees warmer than actual temperature, as you hike, duck and move and adrenaline pumps, you’ll get hot! Layers are best. Above 50, I usually wear a short sleeve T-shirt under a jersey and that’s generally plenty.

An old ball cap to be worn backwards to protect the neck and help position the face mask. Maybe even mechanics gloves or ones that you still get a good “feel” with. If you think you’ll sweat heavily, tucking a sanitary pad inside the front band of your ball cap tends to keep it out of your eyes and helps prevent fogging of the goggles. (I won’t tell, as I do it frequently). Some guys wear knee pads, too. I don’t wear a cup, and getting hit there is a possibility, but rare. Not worth the discomfort to me.

We have had lots of rain and snow and the ground is often a little or a lot muddy. There are lots of small hills, so if you have any non metal spikes, it would be good. Smooth soled shoes are not recommended.

There is really no where to change other than a Johnny, so a covering for your vehicle seat and maybe grocery bags for your shoes is suggested. If you’re limber enough to still change in your car, you are truly blessed!

They sell micro wavesandwiches, soda and water at the park. You are welcome to bring your own food and non alcoholic beverages, though. Dominos Pizza delivers there also. They have picnic tables to set up on. They also have a large grille if someone wants to bring charcoal and meat to cook.

The field is less than 15 minutes from the JB Bridge. We could meet at Steak and Shake at Lindbergh and Lemay Ferry for breakfast at 8:30 and leave there at 9:15 to caravan or car pool to the field. You could also just meet at the field. It usually takes a half hour or so to set up and get familiarized with the gear.

I need a count, so let me know at least a week in advance if possible. The field needs to know so they can supply the proper amount of equipment and referees. Bob Hohmeier @ 314-541-7429 or Jubes56@gmail.com

Correction!!!

The SPOTlunch will be held at Ce Ce's pizza on March 28th due to pizza being served at the meeting this Sunday for the 30 hour famine.  So mark your calendars for a week from Sunday!  In addition, we have a buy one get-one free coupon for most folks attending!

Cardboard Village and 30 Hour Famine Info

 This email just came out from Sarah.  I thought I would post it here for reference, or in case you didn't get the email!

Hey Parents!!

Just want to remind you that the Cardboard Village is THIS Saturday! Students should meet at the church at 3pm and bring $15 along with sleeping bags, cardboard boxes, duct tape (if you have it), stuff to get ready for church the next morning (no showers!), and their Bible.

Also, don’t forget about the pizza party/info meeting THIS Sunday after church in the Rafters!! In case your kids didn’t tell ya- you are invited to this. :) We will be going over all the info for the 30 Hour Famine coming up April 23-24, and handing out their packets so they can start raising money. If your child is interested in participating in the Famine, please have them attend the info meeting. If this is their first one, if you have questions about the event, or if you’d just like some free pizza please join them at the info meeting too.

Please pray that God uses this event to open the eyes of our students’, our leadership team, your families’, and our church’s to His desire for us to meet the needs of the poor and hungry all over the world. One of us can’t make much of a difference, but together we can change the world in the name of Jesus!

Sunday Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Today we continued in the series "Marks of Discipleship".  We focused on Mark 8:34-10:31.  The lesson was designed to help us get along better with others.  Our points we considered were in chapter 9:

Verses 33-37: Show Others You Care-Jesus gave advice that the first amongst his followers would be last.  This will help us get along with others because when you are more concerned about the welfare of others than yourself it helps us see others in a different light!

Verses 38-41: See Others as Co-Workers-The disciples were upset that an unnamed person was doing miracles in the name of Jesus who was not an "insider".  Jesus commented that since the works were done in his name, all was well.  We need to have this attitude towards other Christians, so that we can come together for His glory!

Verses 42-48: Sacrifice For The Sake Of Others- This passage tells us that we need to get rid of the things in our lives that cause us to sin, or not walk with Him.  It is better to do without, than to go against God.  Sin is not tolererated.

Verses 49-50: Season Others Lives!-Here Jesus talks about salt.  What do we use salt for?  How can we use those characteristics to enhance our relationships?

What truths from this lesson can we apply to our relationships?

SPOT Lunch

 

 Next week, after class, is once again SPOTlunch.  Today CiCi's Pizza was the place drawn!  So be ready for a pizza buffet, and cinnamon rolls!  YUM!

Easter EGGSstravaganza

As mentioned previously on the blog, the SPOT class will be manning the "Knock it Over" game on March the 27th at church.  The hours will be 8:30-noon.  If you would like to help send us off an email to spotspot@gmx.com....or sign up on the sign up sheet in the SPOT folder on Sunday!

Social Activity Poll

The poll for our next social activity was in the folder on Sunday.  There were a few votes for bowling and the Muny.  There were also a couple of write-ins for the City Museum and a bonfire (we would need a location for that one!).  The poll will make one more round in the folder next Sunday.  Vote often and early!

Prayer Requests

-Rusty has an employee at work (Mike) nearing retirement and now thinks he has dementia or Alzheimer's. 

-Ed requested prayer for his sister's continuing cancer treatments.  She is struggling with new chemo.

-Ed's brother-in-law is having a defibrillator installed today (3/15).

-Kevin's sister continues to be hospitalized for complications of asthma.     

-A "Gay and christian" organization is presenting and debating at Southwest Baptist University.  Some of our youth attend there.

-Lori's dad is doing better, but more investigation is to come.  Continue to pray for God's healing.