Mark Victor Warner

I help believers grow in the "absolutely unconditional, unlimited and unimaginably extravagant love of God."

[C. S. Lewis @CSLewisDaily]

“God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being he had ever created.” - C.S. Lewis

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀
Dear Friends,

Dianne and I are moving to The Netherlands where I will serve as Lead Pastor at Crossroads International Church/ kerk of The Hague. A year ago, we never would have dreamed that something like this would be possible for us, but the day is nearly upon us. We leave next Tuesday, February 24th, sorry to say goodbye to family and friends, but eagerly anticipating all that God has in store for us in this next season of our lives.

Before we go, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to the many folks who've loved us, prayed for us, supported us, and walked with us these last twenty-six years at Vineyard Community Church in Kansas City. It has been a delight to do life with you. You are and will always be dear to us. You are 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱!

If you'd like to support us in prayer as we share the love of Jesus in The Netherlands, please drop me a line via Messenger or at 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿@𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗻.𝗺𝗲.
And now, until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you, may he make his face to shine upon you, may he turn his countenance toward you, and give you peace.

[Rich Villodas @richvillodas]

I often wonder, what’s the Christ-child doing
at this time in ancient Israel?
Nursing at his mother’s breast
Staring into the eyes of his father
He naps, and needs to be changed.
God is in no rush.

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗿
Ignatius of Loyola would often encourage his followers to live with one foot in the air. The phrase, one foot in the air, encapsulated the core Jesuit values of readiness, mobility, and availability for mission, able to pivot at a moment’s notice. It’s a powerful symbol of being fully engaged in the present mission while remaining radically open and ready for the future call of God. It’s about living a responsive, interruptible life.
My wife, Dianne, and I will be moving to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 this spring to lead Crossroads International Church. Twelve months ago, I knew very little about The Hague. I had never been there, nor had I entertained the idea of ever pastoring an international church. But God’s invitations are often unexpected.
Is there room in your heart for the in-breaking of God — young or old, regardless of your circumstances? Will you abandon yourself to God’s plan or cling to your own path, the known, the comfortable? Are you living with one foot in the air?

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱
The Lewis quote below reminds me of something Leonard Sweet wrote in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦. He wrote,
“Author Marc Freedman coined the term ‘encore years’ to describe this new, exciting phase of life. Maybe I’m just getting older, but I like that way better than ‘twilight years.’ 'What if?’ is the question that comes to mind. What if your twilight years suddenly became your encore years? What if, instead of repairing to a hobby or some other pursuit, you joined God in repairing the world? What if you invested the remains of your life, sowing into the lives of others? We’re vibrant, we’re active, we’re engaged, and we’re still too young to be old!" ~ Leonard Sweet

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁
My wife and I are moving to The Netherlands, grateful for the opportunity to lead an international church. It's a busy, busy season. Our prayer, of late, is that all our "doing" wouldn't rob our ability to simply "be" with Jesus, to attend to his ever-presence in the midst of change. Gratefully, I was prompted to re-read Renovation of the Heart in this season. Dallas includes this gem from Thomas à Kempis on page 73. As we literally sell everything we own, I feel freer and lighter. As we move "across the pond," I pray we may serve our new congregation from a place of deeper and deeper humility. And as to the will of God, all I can say is, "As you know and as you will, Father, always and forever."

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

https://t.co/YrNgn0MmFn

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱
Is there room in your heart for the in-breaking of God — young or old, regardless of your circumstances? Will you abandon yourself to God’s plan or cling to your own path, the known, the comfortable? In the words of Bilbo Baggins, “It’s a dangerous business,” my friends, “going out your door.” Living this responsive life. “You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” I pray for just such a life, for each of you.

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

https://t.co/5oohMkofvH

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

Another World
Braving I-70, on my way to my boyhood home in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, I listened alongside my wife to Tish Oxenreider's travel memoir, At Home in the World. I recommend it. If you love travel, as I do, and family and curiosity and discovery and Jesus, I think you'll be blessed. Oxenreider frequently draws on C.S. Lewis's wisdom in her writing, weaving his insights into her life experiences. Though I'd heard it before, one quote stood out to me. I've included it below. It reminds me that though I'm on the way, I'm not home, not yet. I was made for another world and nothing in this world can satisfy.

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗚𝗼𝗱'𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲
I often pray, "Dear Father, I entrust this day, come what may, into your tender care. As you know and as you will, have mercy."

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲-𝘀𝗼𝘄𝗻? What Jesus offers us is the most radical diagnosis of the human condition and the most revolutionary prescription for change in human history. If people really want to make America great again or build back better, if they really want a change they can believe in, they can do no better than Jesus. No great thinker or politician has ever said what Jesus said in John 3:3 - "Truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." He’s saying, “Sorry, Mr. Rousseau, we need more than a change in society. Sorry, Mr. Marx, the redistribution of wealth will not get it done. Sorry, Mr. Freud, digging up your past and talking endlessly about what your parents have done to you simply will not change your life. You must become a new creation. Your old self needs to die. You need to be born from above, plowed up and re-sown.”

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
After twenty-six wonderful years, Dianne and I will be leaving Vineyard Community Church for a new adventure in 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. I’ve accepted the position of Senior Pastor at Crossroads International Church and we’ll be transitioning there this spring.
Though we’re sad to leave family and so many friends, Dianne and I never want to stop saying “yes” to Jesus’ invitations, listening for his voice and following his lead. This next chapter, as improbable as it might have been a year ago, is an opportunity that draws on our life experience, gifting and calling, while bringing together so many of the threads God has lovingly woven into our lives.
𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀? A move of this kind is full of unknowns and seemingly endless details. Your prayers for us in this season would mean so much. In fact, we'd love to build a prayer team of friends who would agree to faithfully pray for our transition and ministry in Europe. If you’d like to join the team and receive regular updates, drop me a line at [email protected]. Bless you all!

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹
Adele Calhoun wrote, “Self-examination is a process whereby the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to what is true about us.”
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 : 𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱
https://t.co/Df5Ud9ixRC

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹
What direction are you moving? So many of the followers of Jesus have dropped anchor or are simply drifting through life, unwilling to set sail. They’re protecting, preserving and guarding instead of advancing. This is what is often hanging in the balance? Will we, as the followers of Jesus, circle the wagons, maintain the status quo, go on the defensive or passively lie at anchor fretting over the state of things around us OR will we, in the face of growing animosity towards Christ in the culture, weigh anchor, turn our faces into the wind and set sail — passing on the faith to our children and grandchildren, never knowing if this generation or the next might be the generation that lights the fire of revival?

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Commenting on John 16:24 in his book, "Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer," Lewis writes,
“These lavish promises of Jesus regarding answered prayer are the worst possible place to begin Christian instruction in dealing with a child or pagan. You remember what happened when the widow started Huck Finn off with the idea that he could get whatever he wanted by praying for it. He tried the experiment and when it failed he, not unnaturally, never gave Christianity a second thought. We must never speak of these promises, that we read in places like John 16:24, as being elementary or easy. If a passage contains a truth, it is a truth for very advanced pupils indeed. I don’t think these promises are for juveniles.” — C.S. Lewis

I couldn't agree more. Like Huck Finn, I have often stumbled on these promises, my frustration growing and my faith waning when I didn't get an immediate response or the result I was hoping for, when God didn't give me what I wanted. Over time, I came to understand that If you remain in him, abide in him, aligning your desires with his desires, trusting in his goodness, you can ask God for anything. You may not have perfect faith. You may not, in a given circumstance, know the mind of God. It’s not about guessing what God wants to do and asking for that. It’s about resting in his love, about being in relationship with him. It’s no sin to come to God and say, “I need a miracle, Lord. Help me in my unbelief.” It’s no sin to acknowledge to God that you’re struggling. It’s no sin to say, “I don’t know how or whether you’re going to do this, but you’ve told me to ask, so I’m asking.” Believing that God is good, that he has our best interests at heart, that he’ll listen to our prayers and take them into account; to believe he’s listening at all — this is where we all start in prayer! Can you imagine such a life, a life rooted in God's perfect love?

[Mark Victor Warner @MarkVWarner]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱
Author Leonard Sweet talked about the benefits of living in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘈𝘨𝘦 (60 and older). He wrote, "In a world where people think of Jesus’ Way, Truth and Life as unfollowable, unknowable, and unlivable, people 60 and older have the opportunity to reveal Jesus as followable, knowable and livable. We have the opportunity to showcase, in our everyday lives, the rewards for choosing the truth about Jesus."
Growing older has opened my eyes to "the infinite possibilities born of faith." I've come to think of it as 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥. The clip below is from something I shared earlier this year at Vineyard Community Church. The question at the end rings in my ears. To my fellow Third Agers, "Are you done or are you just getting started?"