I have been friend with Marko for... ten years I think...... something like that. Mark was president of Youth Specialties for many years. But Marko was in the area speaking at a youth conference and he drove into Santa Cruz and we got to hang out tonight. I showed him our church campus and then went out to the Red Room in town which is normally a more mellow quiet jazz feel but it happened to be DJ loud hip hop and top 40 night with laser lights. Lady Gaga was blasting while we were chatting, so it created an interesting mood to try and talk in.
Marko has been a good friend and someone God has used tremendously in my life in times of when I thought I was going insane in terms of how I viewed church. We need people in our life to talk about things when we think we are going nutty. And Marko has been someone like that in my life over the years. There are times when you may feel like you are crazy for thinking different thoughts about church and ministry and need someone to process that with. Never be afraid to wonder why your church may do things like they do or ask difficult questions.... So I am always so replenished and thankful when we get to hang out. He is heading to Haiti next week with an organization to do some reporting and help in what is happening there. He is a great thinker and author and now focusing on helping churches and youth ministry. Here is his web site and if you are interested in youth ministry and the church at large, he is voice very worth listening to and following. Thank you Marko......
