LIFT-OFF is in the process of getting airborne!
We are less than a day from attending our first ever REACH OUT CELEBRATION (ROC)
at City Hill Fellowship Church in Eden Prairie, MN. They are spotlighting our minstry. And what does this picture of me at a U2 concert have to do with this... yep, some of you have seen this already... but if you look down to the left from Bono and see a guy with a hat on with his hands raised! That's me. (from the show at the Target Center on September 23, 2005...Big ups to Dave "Huggie Bear" Hugare for the picture.) Well, Bono is one of my heroes and his band U2 help remind me of why we are doing LIFT-OFF... to get AIRBORNE! To launch out into the unknown.
Well, one of the ways to get airborne is to link up with others who can carry the load... speaking of links... that is one of the new updates on the site... I finally figured out how to do those. You will see U2 on there, my friends Waylan & Laurie Bram, and Greg Kneprath of MASI...and more.
Check em out. Also, you can finally ALL post comments on the site... I had to change a setting.
So now that works as well... Well, I thank you all for your love and prayers for us.
Peace-Mark

NERD NIGHT! at the Clear Waters Life Center in Clearbrook, MN. I DJ-ed this outreach party with lots of games. We gave away a ton of prizes and capped the night with the famed Napoleon Dynamite Dance-Off won by Luke Dorman. Nice job everyone! Darian, Jim & Laura, thanks for having me up there. I really enjoy working with you. The night ended with a worship time reminiscent of the old dance party days back in Morris with the IVCF crew. On Sunday night I stayed for Country Faith Church Youth Group and played a promo video for this year's SEND ME Retreat. The kids loved it and are excited about coming in April. This week I will begin contacting other groups to spread the word about this years retreat. Keep this in prayer. Bless you- Mark

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!
born: 2/13/02
4 years old. Wow!
You make your mom & dad so proud!
Life would not be the same without you.
Today I reflected on my favorite things about Ellie.
* She is so full of life and excitement.
* She is Miss Social and loves meeting new people.
* She is incredibly smart and says the funniest things.
* She loves Jesus and likes to share him with others.
Feel free to post comments here to wish her a happy birthday. Today she is having a special party with 5 of her best friends. It is going to have a princess/Cinderella theme. Should be lots of fun.
We love you Ellie Charis!

WHAT'S NEW with LIFT-OFF?

Well, believe it or not... there is alot going on.

Thanks to your prayers a couple weeks back, I was able to finish my CASE STATEMENT paper for my Hamline Class. It turned out to be about 12 pages. I am actually revising it right now to get it ready for One-on-One supporter meetings as well as the REACH OUT CELEBRATION event coming up March 1-5 at City Hill Fellowship in Eden Prairie, MN. We are working on a display and DVD presentation for that as well. Pray for that process.

* SUPPORT RAISING - Right now, we want to link arms with people who have a vision to volunteer and give their heart and energy to this vision. As we share this vision with people we are believing God to triple our support base from 30 (currently) to 90 by the end of 2006. This is a key step in our strategic plan for 2006.

* SEND ME RETREAT - Praise God that we have been re-united with one of the best behind the scenes event planners I have ever met, Sara Heutinck. She is helping us SEND ME's 2006 event at Camp Lebanon held on April 21-23rd. Pray for our meeting next Tuesday (Valentines Day) as we continue to pull the event together with the Lord's help.

* CZECH REPUBLIC - We are setting a deadline of March 1st to solidify our team. Currently we have 6 people committed. We may have up to 10 people. Pray that God would divinely direct us to those who are supposed to come. We are feeling God shifting things around from our original plan and itinerary. Pray that we'd be flexible and open to change.

Bless you all- Mark

And the winner of the best SUPER BOWL 40

commercial was HANDS DOWN the Ameriquest Mortgage

Company's ad in the operating room. The themed

"Don't Judge Too Quickly. We Won't" ad made

Anna and I laugh so hard. I have to say I would look into them after seeing that ad.

Way to go Steelers!