New Life's Eve

Take a look at many of today’s headlines: “Top 10 Scandals of 2009”, “The Years Dumbest Criminals”, “Most Influential Woman of 2009”, “Best Songs of 2009”, “Top 10 Best Athletes of 2009” and most other articles take a reflective and evaluative look at the past 365 days. 2009 was a challenging year with world economic depression, wars, terrorism and instability. Yet, New Year’s Eve is celebrated by most of the world with a sense of hope and optimism through spectacular fireworks, events, and parties. On this day we experience both a reflective realism of the past and a pre-emptive celebration of hope for our future.

This is an interesting dynamic of our consciousness. If we live in the negative realism of our past we succumb to debilitating pessimism. If we only soar in the heights of what may be, we fail to grasp the work of supporting hope. A healthy balance of realism and dreams, reflection and vision, past and future are necessary and reflect both a time of mourning and birth.

I think we have a personal New Year’s Eve on the moment before we invited Christ into our lives. The Holy Spirit brings us to a point of crisis where we reflect upon the realism of our past (sin and separation from God), and leads us to the hope of our future in Christ’s redeeming power. Let’s call it our New Life’s Eve. On our New Life’s Day (that moment we accepted Jesus Christ into our lives and received his gift of love and forgiveness) we experience the 1st day of our New Life. A few examples are when Jesus teaches Nicodemus about being born again, not of flesh, but of the spirit. The Prophet Ezekiel refers to having a new heart and new spirit, and the Apostle Paul states in his letters to the churches of being dead to sin, alive in Christ, a new creation, a new man and having a new life.

Today on Dec. 31st, I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon your New Life’s Day. If all you have is the headlines of your past “Top 10 Disasters of the Year”, without the living hope of Christ in your future, you are missing out on the most important day of celebration, victory, peace and joy we can ever experience.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, - 1 Peter 1:3

Suspended Moments

Little eyes are filled with expectation, curiosity and hopeful visions of what might be inside the meticulously wrapped boxes. Melodic Christmas tunes jingle merriness all the way, and as I devour sugar and butter baked treats, they quickly overfill my daily caloric intake…but I don’t care. Christmas Eve day with our family sitting around the tree hugging cushions on the couch, sharing stories, laughing, shaking presents…those are memories that stick. This is a rare moment suspending spelling lessons, paying bills, washing dishes, sitting at a desk, and worrying about daily stuff. For me it is in those times and on Christmas day with family and friends that make this a special time of the year.

Actually I dread, the day after Christmas. It is a reminder that “real life” is still waiting like the IRS on April 15th. Life is often messy, hard, complicated, frustrating and disappointing, and that’s just in the morning trying to open a new box of Cherrios. What if we could suspend “real life” each day? What if we had a daily moment to let the worries and challenges of that day dissipate into the fog of our consciousness? What would replace it? One of the gifts God offers us is His presence, the Holy Spirit, for daily communion. We call it prayer.

Prayer can be this suspension of worries, frustrations and pain when we open our hearts and thoughts to God’s love, direction, hope, peace, comfort and counsel. We may quiet our spirits in reflection and meditation, take a refreshing prayer walk, read inspirational thoughts on scripture, listen to worshipful songs, or even let God speak directly to you through his living and active Word. I long for those moments. After such times, my “real life” feels lighter, full of hope, filled with peace and confidence. I know my God walks with me.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

The Courage of Linus

Yes, I admit it, when it comes to the Christmas animated shows I am glued to the TV. The Grinch that Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman are classics and beloved even by an old 40+ guy like me. Most were created in the late sixties or early seventies which put me as a first generation child captivated by the state of the art animation and heart warming stories.

However, my favorite Christmas animated classic is The Charlie Brown Christmas. Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown and the entire gang attempt to put together a Christmas production centered around a weak, little, gangly tree. As the character’s frustrations rise Linus courageously stops the commotion, gets everyone’s attention and shares a simple yet heartfelt summary of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. The story moves from chaos, self-centeredness, and frustration to unity, gratitude and worship. All of that in a kid’s animated show. Charles Schulz has given us a timeless animated classic with a focus on true joy and peace found in Christ alone.

I am proud of Linus. He is not an upfront, grab the limelight, attention seeking guy, but rather quiet and unassuming with his security blanket held tight. Yet, when needed, it is Linus who steps forward, takes a risk, and leads with truth, wisdom and direction. We all need a Linus in our daily lives at work, school, home, and community. Sometimes we sit across a table from a Linus as we share our frustrations over hot vanilla latte’, or talking on the phone, sharing lunch at work, hangin’ out after class, and even posting some thoughtful message on Facebook. Maybe you are a Linus.

Maybe there’s a little bit of Linus in all of us. When we have opportunities to share truth, wisdom and direction we can act courageously, step forward and lead. We then become God’s vessel for his message of hope, peace, love and joy to others. I think Charles Schulz had a little Linus in him as well, for when he presented The Charlie Brown Christmas to the network executives, he had to courageously stand firm to include Linus’s speech and the worshipful hymn at the conclusion. I am glad he did.

The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.
Proverbs 10:21

The Christmas Party

Eggnog, carols, tinsel, white elephant gifts, and sugar cookies are staples to one of the enjoyable aspects of this season, the Christmas Party. Whether it is a family get-together, a church event, dinner with friends, or even a work party the “Christmas party” is a time to put aside daily responsibilities, share stories, divulge in a few extra calories, and laugh at our silliness playing Christmas themed games. Trying to draw reindeer on our heads, or filling in the mystery carol by clever clues, and opening a surprise gift that leaves you speechless create shared memories that define the Christmas party. As I reflect upon some of the silliness, the surprise gifts and the festive foods, it is the treasured friendships that were a little more vulnerable and open during the Christmas party than during the daily routine of work and family responsibilities.

For Christians the heart and soul of Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth and His generous gift of love offered to us. As we all enjoy a good Christmas party with friends, I am reminded that there will be a day of great celebration, a feast that with each bite would make an Iron Chef silently pondering its complexity and exquisiteness, an overwhelming feeling of pure joy and excitement, in a party for believers of all nations, and all generations. John in his vision of Heaven in Revelations 19 describes the celebration feast between the Lamb and his bride, the church.

(7) For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready…(9) Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb will be the pinnacle of any feast, festival, celebration or party that has ever been. It will be a long anticipated union between man and God, and a fulfillment of God’s plan for an eternal relationship with His beloved and sought after children. A party with Christ, the Lamb as the center will be the ultimate Christmas party, now that’s a party to look forward to, and that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Christmas Myth or Christmas Truth

I recently read an article about highly trained Santa’s who sport real white beards, rosy cheeks and $2,000 Santa Suites. They are assigned to the largest malls throughout the nation, as they sit an average of 6,000 kids on their knees through 4-6 weeks of service. They witness the innocence and joy of children, as well as, the frustration, impatience of parents waiting in long lines. I can imagine that being a professional Mall Santa would be an interesting and exhausting stint, yet as I read this captivating article, I felt the hopes and dreams of Christmas with love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and family were misplaced with many children and adults in the character of Santa Claus. In the end, Santa Claus is our modern myth of innocence, goodwill, giving, and family.

As Christians we understand that Christmas is more than believing in a myth, it is believing in the Truth, with a capital “T”. This Truth is substantial, real, powerful, loving, giving, sacrificing, enduring, and timeless. Jesus Christ is the Truth. He is the Word of God, The Way, The Truth and The Life, The Good Shepherd, The Messiah, The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, our Savior, and we celebrate the gift of Truth each Christmas in His miraculous birth 2,000 years ago.

So, as we enter into December let’s put into proper balance the Christmas Myth and the Christmas Truth. When you have opportunity share the Truth with your children, grandchildren and family this season that they will put their hopes and dreams of Christmas with love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and family placed firmly on the Truth of Christmas.

No Limits

"I am thankful for..." is the phrase that is on the foremost of our thoughts as we approach the aptly named, Thanksgiving Day. How do you finish that sentence? We usually begin with family and loved ones, God's provision, mercy and grace, and the physical blessings we have in our lives. The statements can be a prayer of gratitude for God's divine hand of blessing on our lives. What if you started each day with this sentence with the challenge of not repeating yourself. How many days could you go until you simply couldn't add one more prayer of gratitude for God's blessing upon your life? Would it be a week, a month, years or to our last breath?

I am not aware of anyone taking this challenge to the fullest extent, but what is the limit of God's provision, protection, guidance and love extended to His children? As I think about it, it seems the limit is in our perception and understanding. Limitless blessings...wow, that's a powerful concept. We can dream of and visualize limitless funds in our checking account (that's why millions of Americans play state lotteries), or limitless shopping, travel, or entertainment, but in all those things I would suggest there is a limit to its level of security, fulfillment, happiness, or excitement. God's nature, love, protection, and provision is beyond our perceived limited boundaries with an eternal fulfillment.

But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children.
Psalm 103:17

I think the only limit to our daily gratitude and thanksgiving is confined to our perception and ability of description. Tomorrow as you pause, pray, meditate or verbalize "thanks", remember our perception is but a grain of sand on the beach of God's blessing extended to us.

Have a wonderful time with family and friends this Thanksgiving.

Turn Back, Give Thanks

A group of men, sat on rocks, in small clusters, some were telling stories of their families others, looked longingly out across the hills of Jerusalem to a city they could not enter. Unclean, the title that shattered their lives, separating them from their families, work, homes, and Temple worship. One of the men looked at the open sores on his hands, knowing that in time, the leprosy would take his fingers, as well as, infect other parts of his body. With little to no hope the men exist from day to day by the support of family and mercy of others.

One of the men spotted a small group traveling, and as they approached he recognized this rabbi, the teacher who healed the sick. Getting the attention of the other men, they stood and called out “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”. He stopped, turned and his companions quieted as he gazed upon the pain, loss of dignity, and hopelessness expressed across their faces. With his hopeful command “Go, show yourselves to the priests”, the words prompted all ten men to walk, some faster than others, to the city.

As they traveled, their steps quickened, their backs straightened, their strength returned, and their skin was renewed. No sores, no pain, no disease, means a life restored with family, work, dignity, and they are men once again. Rejoicing some quicken their pace, others stop to show their restored skin to one another, but one man turns back and leaves the group.

He sees the Rabbi in the distance, and emotion springs forth and he shouts praises to God. The lone leper, a Samaritan, falls at Jesus’ feet and thanks him, tears flow from a life fully restored. Jesus looks into the hearts and thoughts of his traveling companions and asks, “Were not all ten cleansed?” Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Turning back to the man he softly commends, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Paraphrased from Luke 17:11-19

Charles L Brown, asks the question Why did only one cleansed leper return to thank Jesus? He gave a list of nine suggested reasons why the nine did not return:

One waited to see if the cure was real.
One waited to see if it would last.
One said he would see Jesus later.
One decided that he had never had leprosy.
One said he would have gotten well anyway.
One gave the glory to the priests.
One said, “O, well, Jesus didn’t really do anything.”
One said, “Any rabbi could have done it.”
One said, “I was already much improved.”

In our season of Thanksgiving, we celebrate the joy of family, the comfort of material blessings, health and enjoyment of life, but let’s not forget the lesson of the lone, Samaritan who fell at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Turn back, pause, in your celebrations this week, fall at Jesus’ feet and in everything give thanks to God.

What is Beauty?

What is beauty? Why do we attribute something or someone as beautiful? Is beauty a subjective evaluation, or is it a timeless ideal? A few questions I’ve allowed my thoughts to linger over the past few days, and a surprising insight surfaced.

Beauty is “the combination of qualities that make something pleasing and impressive to look at, listen to, touch, smell, or taste”, Encarta Dictionary. We generally use this descriptive word with the personal physical attractiveness of a woman, but we also use it to describe music, visual arts, performance arts, architecture, food and drink, aromas, and natural features: fields of tulips, cascading waterfalls, and golden sunsets. Beauty captures and holds our attention through one or more of our senses.

Is beauty a timeless ideal, or a subjective description? Not all beauty falls in the same category. Polyester leisure suits, 80’s techno pop, and 60’s VW art, may not be as timeless as Michelangelo’s Statue of David, or Handel’s Messiah, and man’s creations seem insignificant compared to majestic mountains, vast oceans, and any one of this earth’s scenic wonders. Standing on the rocky edge of the Grand Canyon with its depth, expanse, and vibrant colors will overwhelm our senses, and we feel small in our humanity.

One verse that caught my attention is Psalms 27: 4.

”One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in
the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the
beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.”

“To gaze upon the beauty of the LORD”, is the phrase to long for, to see the beauty of the Lord, in his immeasurable power, his depth of love and compassion, and his creative glory and majesty. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon will be insignificant compared to standing at the feet of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son, and in the presence of the awesome wonder of God our Father. That moment, an overwhelming of all our senses, will burn a lasting impression on our lives for eternity. When we will gaze upon the pure, holy, eternal, majestic glory of the Lord, we will then see true beauty.

As for us, created in the image of God, we have an intrinsic beauty that begins to surface the closer our lives reflect the nature and character of God. We can also reveal His beauty by the creative work of our hands in sensory art forms, to be pleasing and honoring to the Lord. Today, worship God with your all your heart, mind, soul and strength and let your creativity blossom in the beauty of the Lord.

Sticky Fingers

Can you think of something that is sticky? Glue, tape, honey, syrup, gum, half eaten candy and other substances can create a sticky mess. If you have ever worked or raised younger children you know those sticky substances can wreck havoc on clothes, walls, carpet, and even hair. Most parents have, at least once, had to clip gum chunks out of their child’s hair and try to create a modern hair style. I am one of those people that do not like to have my hands and fingers sticky. Even when I eat hot wings, I hold them as if I was at High Tea with the Queen.

Queen: “Would you like some Crumpets and Earl Grey?”

Me: “No, but I would like a dozen of the Dragon’s Breath Buffalo Hot Wings…and some milk, thanks.”

Although I am cautious with sticky stuff on my fingers, when it comes to our friendships we want them to stick. We desire those close relationships to hold fast through good times and bad, through life changes, through separation, and through the years. The sticky stuff that holds those relationships together are acceptance, understanding, forgiveness, joy, laughter, shared experiences, time, gentleness, patience, kindness and many others, but all fall under the greatest of these, love.

In our Wednesday Kid’s Bible Max class we explored Proverbs 18:24b, “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Coming from a home with four younger brothers, I can appreciate how close brothers can be with growing up together, fighting, playing, sharing, pranking and all the rest. I love my brothers and we will be close throughout our lives. We may have a friend, outside of family, come into our lives that fulfills that proverb, but we all have an invitation to a lifelong, and eternal friendship in Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us his friends in John 15:14-17, Jesus says “You are my friends…”, “…I have called you friends”, “…I have chosen you”. To be the friend of Jesus, the Son of God, The Lord of Lords, The King of Kings, is an awesome invitation of friendship.

It is out of Christ’s love displayed for each one of us that makes this relationship “stick”. His love, his compassion, sacrifice, gentleness, peace, hope, joy, patience, kindness, and goodness is the glue that makes Him the friend that sticks closer than a brother. I don’t mind that stickiness.

The one thing about getting a little sticky is that when you come into contact with others, they get sticky as well. With our friendships in Christ we can develop “sticky” relationships that hold, and we may even like it.

Victory is Sweet!

One of my favorite NFL moments was in SuperBowl XXIII in 1989, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a tight, and even played game with the Bengals up by 3 points with only a couple of minutes left on the clock. Joe Montana, Cool Joe, led the Niners with a historic last minute drive to steal a victory away from the Bengals with a touch down pass to John Taylor with only 34 seconds to go. As an avid 49er fan in the 80’s living in the Bay area, I distinctly remember that last drive, the hits, the catches, the anxiousness I felt as time was slipping away, and the elation with the final TD catch. What a great victory!

But that’s just a game. In life we face many challenges, obstacles, and opposition that threaten our security, relationships, and work. We desire success, we hope for victory, but often we feel that the odds are against us and the circumstances are mounting up with a sense of hopelessness. In our series on faithfulness, we have taken a journey that has led us to a deeper understanding of God’s faithfulness offered to us, ingrained in his character, as well as, our steps of obedience, trust and worship through each day. The final principle in our journey of faithfulness, is the destination has been secured, and the destination is Victory!

God, in his faithfulness, has secured our victory in the past (through Christ victory over sin and death on the Cross and in his resurrection), in the future (with Christ’s imminent return and our eternal life in God’s Kingdom), and in our present (with the daily challenges of life). Victory is sweet, but while you are in the game and there is time on the clock, the game is full of hits, disappointments, TDs, missed opportunities, yards gained, yards lost, and at times the outcome feels uncertain, if not hopeless. One thing is certain…as long as we are faithful, we will have victory. It may not come as we expect, it may not be easy, and it may even be a last second score, but the outcome has been determined by the Creator of time, our world, the vast expanse of space, and humanity out of his love and faithfulness to us.

Listen to our Heavenly Coach:

“God, who called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

No Compromise

In this week’s devotions, “No Compromise” faithfulness, this is where the rubber meets the road. It is the test of faithfulness, the action of our devotion, the lived out commitment to worship, serve and obey God our Father through Christ his son. This path of no compromise faithfulness is filled with many obstacles, distractions, and opposition, and it can be a difficult path to follow.

No Compromise in Worship. We express our worship in many forms both as a community and individually, but worship begins with the fundamental 1st of the 10 Commandments, to put God first in our lives. Everything else flows from this principle that we consider as worship: singing, prayer, Bible reading and study, church attendance, and including our daily roles, actions, words and attitudes. When we find ourselves straying from expressions of worship, it is a call back to the fundamental commandment to “not have any gods before me” and to put God first without compromise.

No Compromise in Service. When I think of loving, dedicated service to another human being, I think of family care-givers to the elderly, or to individuals with disease or injury requiring 24 hour care. Family members, who lovingly change soiled sheets, patiently listen to and care for any needs, dutifully feed and provide any physical assistance, and resolutely serve another without compromise. Many family care-givers have temporarily suspended their time, hopes, dreams, careers, and hobbies to put their loved ones needs first. Through their daily acts of service to another, they express faithfulness to God.

No Compromise in Obedience. We all have roles that by default place us on a path of obedience to Christ and God’s Word. We may be husbands, wives, parents, children, single adults, grandparents, students, employees, employers, and students, etc. We also have a call to obedience as an individual child of God with specific responsibilities, challenges and aspirations. No Compromise faithfulness within my roles is to be the husband, father, friend, pastor and co-worker that God has outlined in his Word and specifically directed by his Holy Spirit.

To daily walk in worship, service and obedience is the proof to the pudding of our love and devotion to God our Father. When our lives stay focused and true to our path God has led us on, we can take each step on this journey with confidence, integrity, love, hope, God’s blessings, and walk in victory of faithfulness with no compromise.

And  walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2

When God Speaks

When God speaks, I immediately visualize Moses at the burning bush with an audible James Earl Jones voice in direct conversation with Moses. However, we know that God chooses to speak to us through many forms: through His Word, through the preaching and teaching from pastors and teachers, through other believers and through His Holy Spirit. In fact the common denominator of each form is the Holy Spirit who is our constant companion, counselor, teacher and our comforter. We understand that as believers the Holy Spirit lives within each one of us and who is our guide on this daily journey.

There are times when I began to fidget and feel uncomfortable, and it’s not because I just drank a Big Gulp. I feel restless and unsettled as if there is something undone or that needs attention. I become anxious and my thoughts are excited and chaotic like kids in a packed Scooby-Doo Bounce House. I cannot concentrate, I am easily distracted, and it even affects my sleep. God is speaking. I am feeling conviction. Sometimes I immediately recognize his voice, listen and obey. Other times, it takes me awhile and I wrestle with the message God wants me to attend to. That’s about as comfortable as sitting on a tack through one of my sermons.

When God speaks to me in this way, I have responded in many natural ways: to ignore it and hope it goes away, to become defensive, to justify myself, to attack others (mostly in my own thoughts), or go to my Nothing Box (ask a TNTer). But when I quiet my spirit in humility and listen…God speaks. My thoughts settle and focus and I find peace, direction, forgiveness, love and encouragement. The power of God who spoke into existence all living things, our world, and the vast expanse of space is the same God speaking directly to me. Wow! No wonder it makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

God is speaking to you. I am not the only one God speaks to in this way, and I know God is calling out to you, trying to get your attention with a specific message for you. God is speaking and it’s uncomfortable. If this is you today, I invite you to simply let your guard down, listen and respond. When God speaks it is loving and powerful, and if we respond appropriately it will keep our hearts, minds, spirit and daily activity on the right path for our journey.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26,27

Faithfulness

My heart is heavy this morning as I am thinking of a friend who is lying to rest his beloved wife this very moment as I am writing this blog. Although he is 2,000+ miles away, my prayers of comfort and peace are lifted before our Heavenly Father for a faithful man and his little daughter. As we have engaged in this series on faithfulness, there have been life moments when God’s Word comes alive with this topic. This is one of them for me.

In today’s devotion, Week 3 – Day 5, Faithfulness, the passage is Revelation 2:10 which states: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life”, and Luke 9:23 Jesus makes a striking statement, “Take up your cross and follow me.” These are sobering words that our life journey may be very difficult, including tragedy, death, even as a martyr. I think of my grieving friend.

My friend is a faithful man. He has served as a worship pastor in four different churches in four different states, and has made a significant and lasting impression on each church family. He has served when life was good. I remember pure joy beaming from his face at the birth of his daughter after years of struggling with infertility, and his fulfillment in leading and teaching with excellence within the church. He has served when life threw him curveballs…sickness, disappointment, moving, and now his most difficult challenge, the unexpected death of his wife. Even at this moment his grieving words are filled with hope, trust and strength that God will supply his every need today, tomorrow, next month and the years following. Now that’s faith.

These are the type of life experiences that define us as faithful. It is easy to be faithful in our worship, obedience and service to God when all is good. Just as it is easy to show love to someone who loves you as much or more. The test of faithfulness is faith and trust during the difficult days. Do you worship God when you don’t feel like it? Do you serve others when it is inconvenient? Do you act in obedience to God’s Word when it’s easier to do your own thing? Do you hold onto hope and faith when tragedy strikes?

When Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”, it wasn’t a call to jump on the Jesus bandwagon, but to pickup the burden, the call, the work, the sacrifice, and the pain of the cross. But in the cross we find divine joy, forgiveness, peace, comfort, strength, wisdom and a Crown of Life. To my faithful friend attending his wife’s funeral, your testimony is brighter at this very moment than anytime before, and you have touched hundreds throughout this nation by your courageous faithfulness. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His faithful and loving embrace.

In loving memory of Kristy McClure (Nov. 3, 1966 – Oct. 2, 2009) http://memorial.yourtribute.com/kristinakmcclure/video.aspx?mode=view&videoType=videotribute&videoId=28178

Never Give Up!

Persistence in our faithfulness to God, in our service to others, in our prayers and worship is a key attribute in living a blessed and victorious life. When we persist we stand in confidence, trust and obedience to what God has called us to do, even in the midst of attack, negative circumstances and even those who chastise to quit and give up. We have many Biblical examples of those who did not give up: Noah building the ark, Joseph in prison, Moses in the wilderness, David in exile, Nehemiah building the walls of Jerusalem, Apostle Paul in prison, and Jesus Christ on the cross.

Students understand this principle of persistence in their classes. You persist in attendance, persist in listening, reading & participating, persist in completing assignments. Regardless of your interests in the subject or ability you will find success if you persist…I am living proof of that by completing the 3rd grade and years later earning a Master’s degree. Parents understand persistence in caring for an infant with constantly changing diapers, and filling bottles. Adults understand persistence with keeping a job, paying bills, mowing the lawn, dishes, and daily keeping connected in Facebook. Persistence is a key to our successful living, to keep on keeping on.

In our journey in Christ, we will find difficult trails to navigate, obstacles to climb, temptations to ignore, injuries that slow us down, and others that may say “stop, quit, give up”, but will we continue in faith? Will we persist in confidence, trusting in the Lord for each step of the journey, in joy, prayer and thanksgiving? Persistence is an act of faith in God despite the circumstances surrounding us, and when we persist we will be called Faithful.

Be joyful always;  pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Ultimate Promise Keeper

Have you ever made a promise that you did not keep? Sure, we all have. Sometimes it is an insignificant oversight that no one remembers, at other times it is very significant with life altering consequences. We make statements (promises) to pick-up Twinkies at the store on the way home, to mow the lawn, pay the bills…to love till death do us part. It is in our nature to think primarily of ourselves, to forget, to dismiss, to simply not fulfill a stated or unstated promise in an act or role we have. The message we often hear from the world is that it’s okay to break your promises, i.e. “promises were made to be broken”, if you are not fulfilled, happy, busy, stressed, etc. We then use those reasons to justify our actions.

God, however, is God, and it is His nature, and His character to be faithful. To always fulfill His promises, His statements, His covenants with us. God is perfect. Not 75% or even 99.9%, but 100% faithful…even though we may not understand current circumstances or see His work at hand. God is the ultimate promise keeper.

This Sunday, September 20th, we will begin a new sermon series, Rock Solid – A Journey of Faithfulness. A six week sermon series and daily devotional that will challenge us to let God's faithfulness become the essence of who we are. My hope is that you will invest your time and Bible study through attending each Sunday from Sept. 20th through Oct., 25th, completing the daily devotional guide, “Faithfulness”, and attend the adult discussion on Sundays at 9:30 AM. If you invest your time and study at each level, I am certain God will speak to you, challenge you, encourage you, and counsel you on this topic, faithfulness.

As you take steps of obedience to his word, you may find strength and blessings of letting God’s faithfulness become the essence of who you are. We can then rejoice as Psalm 95:1 proclaims, “Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.”

Growth Steps

As our kids have grown, I have been an intimate observer of this amazing growth process. Just when we get comfortable with a certain age they are in, they change. As preschoolers we had a routine of naps, discipline techniques, play time, and family activities. Today, BluesClues is no longer a family show we watch together, sending the boys to the naughty chair in the corner no longer works, and the only family member who needs a nap is me. The Journey Church is in season of growth as well, and this Fall we will see an increase in ministry. 2 Corinthians 9:10 states the source and promise of increase.

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

God has blessed our church family with new seeds with the addition of Erica, Pastor Jerry and Nancy. With their service and love for the church family we will see growth in our Sunday Celebration Worship service, our Wednesday Family Night and in our Connection Small Groups.

Sunday Celebration Worship Service: We are blessed to have Pastor Steve and his team, with the addition of Erica, lead us into the throne room of grace with praise and worship. This service is the highlight, the capstone, the peak of our worship, teaching and fellowship as a church family each week.

Wednesday Night Family Service: Growth Steps beginning Sept. 9th – After our 6:00 family dinner we will all come together in the sancturary (7:00 PM) for Praise and Worship by our Kids and Youth Praise Teams. At 7:25 – 8:20 PM we will disperse into age-level small groups: Journey Kids (K-6 with Pastor Tim and Amy), Journey Students (Pastor Steve, Kelly and Erica), and Adults “Apply-2-Life” (Pastor Jerry).

Connection Small Groups: The TNT Couples Connection group will now meet twice a month (1st and 3rd Sunday, @ 6:00 PM) and begin a new series “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage”. Pastor Jerry and Nancy will introduce The 50 Yard Line Connection group (1st and 3rd Sunday, @ 6:00 PM) with the kickoff on September 20th.

Leadership Council: This week we will begin the process of appointment of Deacons to the growth of our Leadership Council.

As I write this I am filled with anticipation of a harvest, and am thankful of God’s generosity and hand of blessing in the growth of our church family.

11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

Caveman Pop-Ups

Distractions - We all have them at they usually pop up at the most inopportune time. When online the most annoying of distractions are those pop-up internet ads. There is nothing more irritating than researching the NFL.com for my fantasy player’s stats and right in the middle of my search for WR, yards after the catch, a pop-up ad appears and a caveman dances around enticing me for a free insurance quote. Come on…I’ve got serious internet research here. We can all relate to something that interferes with our concentration on a very important task. We might have distractions at work (the talkative co-worker who NEEDS to tell you about their cat’s indigestion problems), or at home (watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island) that keep us from an important task or relationship at hand. We can even allow distractions to take our attention and focus away from God and the fellowship of one another.

As the 2009 NFL seasons is about to begin, many of us can’t wait for Sept. 10th (the first game) and cheer the Broncos toward their next SuperBowl season. Professional athletes understand the value of focus if they want to personally be their best and win. Bret Favre, the ageless QB now wearing purple and gold, said “This is the best place for guys to come and focus on nothing but football,”. He’s right, there’s not much to distract you in Minnesota. Focus, concentration, and effort are key elements to finding success, and even the Apostle Paul used sports to illustrate this point in Philippians 3:14,

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

In our relationship with our Heavenly Father through his son, Jesus Christ, we can allow distractions, anything really, to take away our times of communication (prayer), devotion (Bible study), and worship (personal and corporate). We then find ourselves spiritually malnourished. We can also allow distractions to keep us from coming together with other believers on Sundays, Wednesdays or small groups. We then find ourselves isolated, discouraged and easily influenced by the world.

Do we really see the value of focus, concentration, and dedication in our daily journey with Christ? Do we allow distractions of work, entertainment, kid’s sports, chores, Facebook, fantasy football and even family take our focus off of God and his will for our lives? Distractions are not evil or bad in themselves, but when they interfere with your focus at the most important task at hand, then they can even become an idol – anything that takes the rightful place of God in our hearts and lives.

If you find yourself distracted by specific “pop-ups”, close the window, and install a blocker. You may find yourself re-prioritizing, spending less time with, or even eliminating those irritating, yet enticing distractions. The daily and eternal prize is worth it.

About the Journey Church this Sunday, “This is the best place for guys to come and focus on nothing but God.” – Pastor Tim (never played in the NFL)

Two...No Three is Better

The sun was bright and with the blinding glare of its rays bouncing off the metal roof, the heat drained my strength with an unquenchable thirst, and yet the job needed to be done. Climbing up and down a 30 foot ladder to paint the church’s metal roof added to the tediousness and strain of the job. By myself the task would have taken over a week, and I would have been thoroughly exhausted, not just by the work, but by the slow progress of up the ladder, paint, down, move it 3 feet and repeat. The good news I wasn’t alone, we had a hard working team tackling different areas of the church, and specifically I had a partner right beside me the entire time.

Clyde Fuller my Father-in-Law, never left the base of the ladder as he pointed out areas I had missed, which normally would not be an encouragement as I am working…”Hey, Tim you missed a spot”, but in this case his extra set of eyes was crucial. He also moved the ladder each time I stepped off. That might not seem like a big deal, but just consider the cumulative time in putting down the sprayer, moving the ladder, repositioning the sprayer, then climbing back up. He saved me not minutes, not hours, but days of work. And as a nice topping to the job, it was great to have someone share the work, share the time, share the fulfillment of job completion. Two are truly better than one.

Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. Eccl. 4:9 (NCV)

This past Sunday we welcomed the newest members of our Pastoral Team, my parents, Rev. Jerry and Nancy Koetitz. It is a tremendous blessing to have the two of them live, work, serve, and minister beside us in Damascus. They have 30 years of ministry experience with a genuine love for the church family and solid Biblical teaching. They will primarily focus on the 50 Yard Line Ministry for those 50+, but will also be integrated into the entire ministry of the church. Two are better than one, but three now that’s an unbreakable bond. King Solomon goes on in verse 12, “…Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” We are blessed with Pastor Steve as well.

We now have a strong Pastoral Team that is not easily broken. The vision, ministry, and work is shared between three. The joy, hope, expectation, and fulfillment is shared as well, and the Lord of the Harvest has called three uniquely gifted, experienced pastors to the Journey Church for the harvest is ready and the workers are being assembled. We have a great mission… a God mission, and now is the time to bring in the harvest.

Thanks Clyde for your example in a Biblical principle and the fulfillment of a job well done, and for Pastor Steve and Pastor Jerry, the work of the ministry is now at hand to prepare, equip, teach, lead and serve. Church family, the Lord of the Harvest is calling you…are you ready?

Soap Suds & Patience

One chore I don’t mind doing during the summer is to wash my car. Okay, some of you need to stop laughing, as you recall the caked on road slime streaking down the length of my van. However, when I have a couple of hours free on a hot summer day, I enjoy filling up a bucket of hot, soapy water, grabbing a big sponge, and giving my Mazda and Kia a nice, long overdue scrub down. Sometimes it takes two or three passes to remove the hardened bug goo and tar, but when it’s done, the vehicles sparkle like Mr. Clean’s head. It’s one of those chores, that allows me the opportunity to clear my head, sweat a little, and when completed I have a tangible accomplishment…it’s fulfilling and relaxing.

As my kids have grown, when they saw me pull out the garden hose on a sunny day, they connected water and sun equals fun, and they would ask, “Can I help?” I would pause briefly as their hopeful faces peered upward, and I reluctantly gave in with a begrudging “okay”. With sponges in hand we began washing each vehicle. Kids were scrubbing all over the vehicle, not keeping with my meticulous plan of rinse, wash, rinse over each section from top to bottom, hood then trunk, drivers side then passenger. It’s a method that works, but for the kids it was more about soap suds, getting each other wet and drawing dirt smiley faces on the side of the white van.

Half way through my once enjoyable chore, I was feeling anything but fulfilled or relaxed as I snapped at the kids “don’t wash the car after you drop the sponge in the dirt…stop squirting me with hose…no, you don’t wash the inside of the van”. Then at the point of complete frustration I stop their summer fun, order them to put down their sponges, and go in the house. Now upset, I have ruined my afternoon, the kid’s afternoon, and Charlene is quizzically starring at me in the doorway with that “what’s your problem” look.

Patience is a virtue. Whoever said that must have been single, living in a monastery on remote Himalayan mountain peak. Within all relationships we find that others irritate, frustrate, move too fast, move too slow, get it too quick, too slow or not at all. These relationships are in the home, at work, at church and community (highways, standing in line at the grocery store). Anyone who is a parent of a toddler, child, or teen certainly understands the elusive character trait of patience.

However, God does encourage us that God-given patience (restraint in the face of opposition or oppression) is a distinction of Love. I Corinthians 13, “Love is patient, love is kind”, and as a Fruit of the Spirit working within us, “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.” Gal. 5:22 We are called to express patience as brothers/sisters in Christ, Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Eph. 4:2-3. Regardless of how others make me feel or what others may do, I am compelled to take a deep breath, slow my pulse and trust in God…to be patient. When I express patience toward another, it is divine love working within me and surprisingly I feel a lot better about the situation, the other person and even myself.

Now, as I prepare to wash the cars and one of the kids ask if they can help or wash it themselves, I say "great", and we enthusiastically wash the car. In the end the car still has streaks of dirt down the side, missed areas, and at times scratches, but my enjoyable chore is shared with my child and the vehicle is nearly 82% clean and I feel fulfilled, relaxed and loved.

Cheeseburger Pizza

Love. It’s a beautiful word isn’t it? We all hope for it, we desire it, we seek it. We need love in our lives. Unfortunately we have used that word in so many different contexts that its meaning has been diffused and the implications have been misunderstood. We use it to describe things or activities we like…I love cheeseburger pizza, or I love watching Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star. We express love and devotion to our pets, to our friends, family, our children, grandchildren and spouses…and we tell God that we love Him as well.

So, is love just an expression of what we like and identify with in our lives? I like pizza, movies, Fido, my kids and God. Obviously its deeper than that, yet at times we can treat those we love with an unhealthy attitude of “Are you fulfilling my expectation and need for love?” If this attitude defines our understanding of love it will lead to unfulfilled relationships in the home between parent and child, and spouses. If allowed to grow it will eventually lead to frustration, entitlement, resentment and can even lead to separation, divorce and fractured family relationships.

If we look at God’s definition of love for us, Agape, it is self-less, unmerited, and unconditional, steadfast, and enduring. Much can be said of God’s love, and I think we can only grasp a thread of the depth of God’s love for us. If we begin to understand God’s definition of love it helps us redefine love and redirect our thoughts and actions toward those we say we love. God fulfills our need for love, and we can be an expression of His love toward others.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Jubilant Water War

It was war! Water balloons were catapulted into the air with devastating effect, buckets of water annihilated any dry spot on its enemy, Supersoakers took aim with pin point accuracy, and the water hose was the epicenter of No Man’s Land. The toll of war was a high price to pay, the casualties piled up in the melee of battle, even the innocent bystander was an unfortunate victim in the overflow. No one left unscathed…yet we loved it. On the hottest day of the year, in the middle of a record breaking heat wave, the all out water war, was the most refreshing fun I’ve had all summer.

It was a dangerously hot day at 106-110 degrees in some areas, and for us Oregonians who feel most comfortable at about 68 degrees this heat was nearly unbearable. I can’t sleep at night, I feel anxious, always tired, irritable, scattered and am generally as unproductive as a slug. However, as we came together for our Wednesday Family Night, without A/C, in an epic water war between kids, students and adults it changed the day from misery to jubilation. As the battle was nearing its end, soaked from head to toe, I paused and realized I felt completely refreshed, cooled down and full of energy. Water is a beautiful thing.

Scripture uses the metaphor of water to describe the spiritual refreshing and life-giving affect upon our emotional, social, mental and physical well being. In the 23 Psalm the Good shepherd “leads me beside sill waters”, and we have all experienced those dry, hot, desperate times in our lives where we can relate to the poetic Psalm.

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (42:1-2)

Christ gives the appeal for us to come to him and drink of the refreshing, life-giving Holy Spirit.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38

Just as we are in the middle of a record breaking heat wave, at times we have all felt the pressure, stress, irritation, hopelessness, drain of breaking heat in our lives. Family and marital relationships that are strained, finances that are stretched, health, work pressures, unfulfilled hopes, expectations and dreams, and uncertainty and anxiety of our future can make us feel depressed, tired, irritable, hopeless, drained, lethargic, and myopic. The good news is that in God’s goodness, he has given us his refreshing spirit for life, hope, joy, discernment, strength, energy with living water flowing from within us. We then become a source of God’s refreshing Spirit.

When those record breaking heat waves hit me from time to time, I will be armed and ready with water balloon in hand, a mischievous glint in my eye, and the confidence to know that a refreshing victory is at hand.

Pests in the Garden

One of the joys of life is picking a ripe vegetable from you garden, brushing off the dirt and taking the first bite. The fullness of flavor excites our taste buds as we bite into the juicy beefsteak tomato or the crisp carrot. As colorful and enticing the vegetables look at the supermarket you can’t top the flavor and enjoyment of your own harvest of vegetables. In part I think it is due to our personal investment with our garden. John Maxwell, Winning with People, states the “Gardening Principle – all relationships need cultivation to grow”, as an illustration of our time and effort in developing relationships. In gardening there are pests that can destroy your crops, there are also pests that can damage and destroy your relationships as well.

From slugs, caterpillars to aphids, there are a number of pests that eat, damage and destroy your once healthy, vibrant plant. One of the most sickening moments you can have is to take a big bite of a tomato or fruit and find a half a worm. Just the thought makes me gag. Within our relationships at home, church or workplace we find there are pests that eat, damage and even destroy the friendships that were once thriving. Broken relationships generally don’t happen over one event or day, but over time with neglect and a pest is usually present.

One pest that destroys relationships is self-centeredness. When our lives each day are consumed by our needs, our desires, our goals, our wishes then others simply become either stepping stones or obstacles. In the end they will never fulfill our need. You will find this pest in the professional in their time and energy exerted in the workplace - striving, earning, achieving. You will find this pest within the home, when a loved one does not meet your expectations. You will find this pest within your friendships, when it’s one-sided.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we naturally have this pest of self-centeredness “For everyone looks out for his own interest, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:21). Yet, we are also challenged, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:4-5).

The pesticide for the pest of self-centeredness is love, to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. That is a powerful example and command. When we begin to eradicate this pest from our relationships we will enjoy the sweet and life giving harvest of our garden.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Gardening Principle

Gardening is a hobby we admire when it is done skillfully and artfully producing a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables. I’ve tried and I am only modestly successful at producing some tomatoes and hardy peas. It takes a lot of skill, knowledge and upkeep from the beginning of Spring through late Fall. John Maxwell in Winning with People, illustrates this idea in developing relationships, The Gardening Principle – all relationships need cultivation to grow.

It takes a lot of attention and work to maintain a healthy, vibrant garden: weeding, preparing, watering, weeding, seeding, planting, weeding, feeding, weeding, harvesting. Some plants require more skill and attention than other hardy, “leave them alone” varieties. It takes attention and skill to nurture healthy, vibrant friendships, but not all friendships are equal.

Some friendships are for very short and specific reasons: acquaintances, visits to the doctor, your hair stylist, etc. Some people come into our lives for a season, for a period of a few weeks to a few years: our kid’s teachers and coaches, coworkers, business associates, and most friends. Then there are those who come into our lives for a lifetime with ongoing and permanent relationships: family members, your spouse, and close friends.

Peter identifies a specific relationship and gardening principle in 1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

As believers and those obedient to the Truth (Jesus Christ), we are joined in a new relationship with other believers, and the gardening principle is love. In this passage in Greek, Philadelphia, is the love of those united in Christian Brotherhood, or brotherly love. The relationships we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ, are set apart and special from all others, and with it we enjoy unique blessings and hold specific responsibilities.

To cultivate friendships with this gardening principle of Brotherly Love is one that will compel me to garden with sincerity, and deep love from the heart. It will compel me to move beyond my comfort zone of relationships with people that the only thing I have in common is our bond in Christ. I will cultivate relationships with more compassion, with gentleness, joy, peace, hope, perseverance, patience, kindness and many other Christ like tools.

Nurturing healthy, thriving relationships is not easy, and yet if we purposefully garden with Brotherly Love, we will reap a bountiful harvest of lasting, lifelong friendships that will continue through eternity.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Moonwalk, OxiClean and Angel's

June was not a good month for celebrities. The world has said goodbye to Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, David Carradine, and Fred Travelena. As we live in a media, entertainment saturated world each of these celebrities connect me to my own life experiences.

I remember sitting, crossed-legged, on my grandparent’s living room floor watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the supportive laugh of Ed McMahon. As a pre-teen, Farrah Fawcett was THE Charlie’s Angel, and secretly Tim’s Angel. I practiced high kicks and karate punches in my living room after each episode of Kung Fu, and was intrigued by Caine’s calm confidence and cool quotes, “If a man hurts me and I punish him, perhaps he will not hurt another”. In the early 80’s, I was the market teen for the birth of MTV and Michael Jackson’s videos were the rocket fuel of the music video stratospheric lift-off. The Man of a Thousand Faces, the comedian Fred Travalena, took us back to our love of our favorite Looney Toons characters. Most recently with the reality series PitchMen, Billy Mays was the poster child of the American dream, from Atlantic City Boardwalk salesman to millionaire and household name. What would we do without OxiClean, Orange Glo and Mighty Putty?

It’s interesting how the vast majority of us have never had any personal contact with any one of these individuals, and yet in the news of their death, we were saddened and felt a sense of loss. Why is that? We don’t really know them. Were they persons of integrity, good character, faithfulness, loving and moral? Were we connected with them in a personal relationship? Still, for me it is the reality of passing of time. They were the central figures of the treasured times of my past, in events that cannot be repeated. I am mournful of my own passing of time.

King Solomon, late in life and in his reign, wrote Ecclesiastes as his expression of mourning his life. He reflected on the vanities of the pursuit of knowledge, wealth, pleasure, materialism through the passing of his days. One of his summations is to live in the present.

“Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.” Eccl 11:9

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…” Eccl. 9:7-9

I will never be seven again, or sit with my grandparents, be a carefree teen, have a first crush, or practice karate and the moonwalk in my living room…at least while anybody’s watching, and who knows what tomorrow may bring. It is today that I give thanks to my God for the joy, the peace, the time, the memories, my loved ones, friends and even work. It is today, this moment, that I will enjoy God’s abundant blessings upon my life.

What is Your Life?

James asks the rhetorical question “What is your life?”. He then states the brevity of life, “you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14) King Solomon in Ecclesiastes states that everything is “Meaningless, utterly meaningless”. (Eccl. 1:2) He then lists the vanity of life pursuits of knowledge, pleasures, work, riches, advancement, etc. as “grasping for the wind”.

So, what is your life? Is it an existential philosophical view with a sense of disorientation and confusion within an apparent meaningless and absurd world? Is it a humanist view that we are “it”, and make up the rules (laws and moral code) of humanity. Is it a diests view that there is a supreme, supernatural being (god), but that he does not interfere with human affairs and that all religions point to this universal god, using different names. Most Americans who say they believe in God believe and live as deists. What is your life?

As a devoted follower of Christ you have an answer. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, you are an adopted child in the kingdom of God…for eternity. Your life has great value, a specific purpose, an intimacy with God (Holy Spirit dwells within you), a depth of relationships with one another, and an eternal plan and eternal life in the full presence of God our Father. The world offers a lot of temporary pleasures/pursuits and philosophical views of life, but God’s view of my life is the one that inspires me.

The following question is then, how do you live your life? Take an honest look at your priorities and weekly schedules and you will find the answer. You may profess to be a Christian, but do you live out your life as an existentialist, humanist or deist? That’s a tough question because when the rubber meets the road, belief is only as sincere and meaningful, as it’s lived out in our lives. What IS your life?

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Front Porch

Dear Friends,

As I remember growing up in the hot, dry heat of a mid-west small town, about the same population of Damascus, one of my memorable July activities as a boy was riding my bike through the neighborhoods. The red Schwinn Stingray with the white sparkling banana seat and the flared handlebars was my prized possession. In the early evening, a breeze would clear away the stifling heat of the day, and the young and old would emerge from their cars and homes and settle on their front porch. Built without central air, the 40’s era homes included a full front porch with most having an insect screen.

Some evenings I would cruise with my friends and other times, I would lazily peddle through the town by myself. Elderly couples would sit on their porch with an iced drink and wave, smaller boys would race beside me to the end of the block, dads would grill, families eat, and children play all on or near their front porch, engaging, interacting with one another. With each ride I felt a growing sense of connectedness, familiarity and security. To this day I love and long for that feeling of community.

Living in Damascus with a family of my own, I seek the joy and security of community. With many homes isolated on acreage, and a few scattered neighborhoods, most families have moved from the community of the front porch to the privacy of the backyard. Without the front porch where do we find the opportunity to know our neighbor? To be connected with others within our community, to share our lives with one another, to assist and help in times of need? A 3,000 year old proverb states, Don’t forget your friend or your parent’s friend. Don’t always go to your family for help when trouble comes. A neighbor close by is better than a family far away. Proverbs 27:10.

The front porch may not have its place today, but I have observed community within Damascus to take place in our local businesses, churches, and community events. Specifically within The Journey Church, we have an opportunity to create supportive, lifelong, encouraging friendships across age, economic and family boundaries. Our Wed. night dinners, celebration worship services, small groups, connection groups, events and activities are those times to build community and deepen friendships.

Our church can be a lighthouse of hope and guidance to Damascus and Boring with the joy of fellowship and the strength of community, as long as, we value the openness of the front porch.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Grasping for Wind

Dear Friends,

A few signs that you need a vacation:

You sleep more at work than at home.
You hand out productivity chore charts/graphs to your kids and spouse.
You daydream of how relaxing it would be if you were in jail right now.
You leave for a party and instinctively take your ID badge.
Your Blackberry/I-Phone is now officially your brain.
You read forwarded email as serious and urgent news.

King Solomon, later in his reign, gave a rather pessimistic look into the meaning of life recorded in Ecclesiastes. In many life issues he states, that certain pursuits are “all vanity” and like “grasping the wind”. Solomon states an observation question in Eccl. 2:22 “For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?” We understand the value and necessity of work for provision and care for our family and home, and yet there are seasons when we lose our balance and priorities. The warning sign is when work becomes all consuming of our time, thoughts, identity and purpose. If our lives, month after month, year after year, become consumed by work, earning more, working more, climbing the corporate ladder, etc. then in the end we will look back and see the terrible cost of consuming work.

With an unbalanced, unhealthy, all consuming work ethic and identity we sacrifice time and attention to our spouse, we miss valuable opportunities as a parent, we only have “work” friendships, church services and events become another “to do” item on the list, quiet time in prayer and devotion disappear, and our physical, mental and emotional health slowly slip into a dark pit. All for what? Generally not for need, but for more…more stuff, more accomplishment, more titles, more ego strokes…like grasping the wind.

The balance of time and attention to work is found in both Proverbs to work hard and not be lazy, slothful or a sluggard, as well as, in Ecclesiastes the vanity of all consuming work. Summer is an obvious time to carefully and prayerfully reflect on this balance between work (at home or marketplace) and relationships. Seek and listen to the Holy Spirit’s counsel and guidance for a healthy Biblical perspective. Maybe you might be in need of a vacation.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Refreshing Friendships

Dear Friends,

Summer has arrived. The past few weeks have been wonderful with the sunshine, warmer weather, blossoms, blooms and flowers. One of the joys and opportunities we have with summer is our times of renewing and deepening friendships. We all have friends at work, school and community, and yet our relationships with our church family can be a special bond, a deeper friendship, by our unity in Christ. As brothers and sisters in Christ we enjoy the encouragement, the laughter, and the fellowship with one another across generations. Psalm 133 illustrates the blessing of unity, harmony and peace among God’s children.

1 How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.

As a church we have scheduled many opportunities for us to simply enjoy the refreshing fellowship of one another. Wednesday night dinners are a valuable time to connect with one another, as well as, our Adult “Apply-2-Life” class with a special focus on deepening relationships. Our Journey Students have a number of summer events and activities planned. We have scheduled monthly Sunday BBQ’s/Picnics directly following the morning service.

As individuals and families I encourage you to take the initiative and spend time with another outside of church services/events. Invite someone over for dinner, go out for dinner after service, get a cup of coffee, play racquetball, go fishing, take another family hiking, biking or camping…and enjoy whatever shared activity it is.

Friendships found within the church family can be the most refreshing, encouraging, lasting and blessed relationships you will find, but it does take initiative and time on your part. My prayer for you this summer is this Irish blessing.

"May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."- Irish Blessing

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Whitewashed?

Dear Friends,

As we are nearing the end of our 30 Day Proverbs Challenge, I hope that you have found treasures of practical Truth that encourage, guide, and instruct you in your daily journey. As I look back on my journal notes, it is interesting to see how the Holy Spirit directed me to certain verses or passages within that day’s chapter, and how the Truth revealed was just what I needed to receive that day.

Today’s verse, Proverbs 28:13 states, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (NIV), and The Message Bible restates it this way, “You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.”

The Warning: If we conceal (whitewash, cover, hide, ignore, justify, or give excuses to) our sins, then we are walking blindly down a dangerous path and it is only a matter of time till we will fall into the pits, the potholes, the consequences of our sin.

The Wisdom: If we confess (acknowledge, admit, share, state, illuminate) and renounce (leave, turn from, repent, forsake) our sins, then we will find mercy.

All of us can think of our own experiences and say “How true.” Yet, as we nod our head in agreement, it is lesson we continually relearn. Initially we learn this lesson through obvious sins: lying, stealing, cheating, rebellion, and destructive habits, then later we relearn it through issues of pride, self-righteousness, apathy, gossip, slander, ignorance, etc.

A prayer of wisdom “Lord, today may I listen to your Holy Spirit to uncover those sins that I have concealed, and give me the courage to admit and confess my sin to you, then turn from them and leave them at your feet.” I stand upon the unchanging promises of God for mercy in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Parenting Jewels

Dear Friends,

Parenting encompasses life’s greatest joys and blessings, as well as, frustrations, challenges and heartbreak. It doesn’t take a parent very long to sympathize with these quotes:

Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom, has instilled within each of us a powerful biological instinct to reproduce; this is her way of assuring that the human race, come what may, will never have any disposable income. ~Dave Barry

When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out. ~Erma Bombeck

In my devotional time in Proverbs, chapter 22, two verses give jewels of wisdom for parents in instruction and discipline within the home. Verse 6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NKJV) and Verse 15, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.” (NKJV) Two quick parenting observations from these verses:

1. Train - to teach, give instruction, pass on skills, give practical experience, prepare, repetition, make plans, shape, aim at something, make something better, coach, and guide. You, the parent, are God’s primary Trainer for your child. Are you proactively, systematically and lovingly training your children, even adult children in the wisdom of God’s truth?

2. Rod of correction – removal of error, modification, punishment, alteration, improvement, adjustment, tweak, accountability, and redirection all lead to discipline within the context of love and security in the home.

Training and discipline are Biblical jewels of wisdom that can provide a foundation for effective parenting. Parents begin day one in providing training with the knowledge and fear of God with telling animated Bible stories, using finger puppets or playdough, and prayer and continue training through the years with ever increasing prayer.

Bill Cosby identifies the challenge of discipline. “In spite of the seven thousand books of expert advice, the right way to discipline a child is still a mystery to most fathers and... mothers. Only your grandmother and Ghengis Khan know how to do it.” The “rod of correction” does not give license to parents to beat their kids with rods, sticks or inflict any other form of physical abuse, it does however strongly state that discipline is necessary in parenting. Much can be said of this topic, but simply discipline begins when parents say “No” to something important with consistency, follow through and consequences. Parenting isn’t easy, we need both the toughness of Ghengis Khan and the gentleness and wisdom of grandmothers.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

The Strong Ox

Dear Friends,

In today’s chapter in Proverbs, one verse caught my attention. Verse 4 (NKJV). Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it takes me awhile to visualize, digest, and chew on some of these proverbs to try to discern what principle or truth is being stated. It can be helpful to compare this verse in another translation. The Message Bible states it this way, No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow. For me this passage speaks about productivity. Where do we desire productivity: In the workplace with our businesses, jobs, and careers, in our homes with healthy marriages and families, in our service and ministry to others in the church and community, in our personal hopes and dreams? We all desire a rich and bountiful harvest in these areas in our lives...to be successful, to be prosperous, to be productive. The wisdom truth found in this proverb is in the ox. No oxen - no investment of food, diligent work, or care is needed for the trough is empty. However, with a strong ox (singular) for the plow (hard work) there will be a bountiful harvest.

Two issues of wisdom for success and productivity arise from this statement defined by the strong ox.

1. The strong ox represents a wise investment. The farmer must be able to identify a strong, sturdy, healthy, vibrant animal for the success of the difficult task ahead, and then nurture, feed, and care for it. The strong ox is well fed, well cared for, and more than ready to work and be productive.

2. The strong ox represents focus and hard work. With the focus, diligence, and hard work of the ox then excellence, productivity, and success will be a real possibility. It is this sustained and completed work till the field is fully plowed (which takes place months before the harvest), that the bountiful harvest is realized.

Where do you want or need to be productive in your life: business, work, investments, relationships, spiritual maturity, education, careers, finances, hopes and dreams, ministry, physical health? Then identify what would be your strong ox? It might be your financial investments, your investment and development of skills, knowledge and education, your investments of time and love in relationships, your investments in seeking and finding wisdom from God’s Word?

So, the difficult question for each of us to answer is how strong is your ox, and did your ox plow the field preparing it for the harvest? If not then you are not ready for the harvest.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Thanks Mom!

Dear Friends,

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, Sunday, May 10th. Mother’s Day is a time to honor and celebrate, or fondly remember, our mothers and their sacrificial service and love offered freely to us. We may have special memories of our mother’s care and attention, but there will be countless more acts of service in love that go unnoticed: the hundreds of changed diapers, washed bottles, sleepless nights, washed clothes, prepared meals, worked hours, chauffeured miles, and numerous words of correction, encouragement, comfort and wisdom.

Many Mother’s worry they were not the ideal or perfect mother presently or in raising their children. One mother aptly said it this way, "I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."- Unknown Mother’s Day is not about perfection, never making a mistake, or being “Mrs. Cleaver”. Mothers make a difference by their unselfishness, fight to the death commitment and protection over their children, their unwavering love and support, and their tireless service.

If we have found wisdom, success, and blessings in life we owe in large part to our mother’s influence upon us as the following individuals have stated.

“I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."- Abraham Lincoln

"My mother never gave up on me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back."- Denzel Washington

"My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier you'll be a general; if you become a monk you'll end up as the pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."- Pablo Picasso

You may not be President of the United States, a famous actor or artist, but your character, health, education, and spiritual maturity is due to how much you listened to the wisdom of your mother. Proverbs 1:8 sums it up well “…do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” We can all say “Thanks Mom!”

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Bitter Fruit

Dear Friends,

Today is May 1st, the first day of our 30 Day Proverbs Challenge (yes, I am aware of chapter 31 and it will have a special emphasis to come). I invite you each day, to read a chapter from Proverbs, to reflect upon one verse, sentence or thought within that chapter, and write down (journal) your thoughts. This daily study of wisdom may take you 15-30 minutes of your day, yet it will yield an abundance of good fruit. When you purposefully, submit your time, your thoughts, and your spirit to the Word of God, then the Holy Spirit will illuminate, instruct, encourage, counsel and guide us in all things.

In my own study of Proverbs 1 this morning, introduces Proverbs with a warning on the cost of ignoring wisdom’s call and the consequences that follow, verse 31 caught my attention. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancy. (NKJV) What is most likely to happen when we ignore, shun, or scorn God’s direction and best path for us? At some point we stumble and fall, and possibly fall very hard. We have all experienced it at some level, and they are painful experiences and depending on the level they may have life-changing consequences. Our character and integrity may be compromised and destroyed, our relationships strained and fractured, our financial security ill-gotten or bankrupt, and even our physical, mental and emotional health might be diseased. It is a bitter and rotten fruit when we suffer the consequences of our foolish choices and behavior. Together let’s be attentive, listen to, and apply God’s Word to our lives and begin this journey of Wisdom living.

This Sunday, May 3rd we have our Connection Groups for Young Adults (singles 18-30) and for married couples in their Twenties and Thirties. Connection groups are monthly opportunities to create friendships, apply God’s Truths to our lives, share, grow, and laugh.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Wise or Otherwise

Dear Friends,

This morning I am reflecting upon the past few days at the Oregon Ministry Network Summit (Oregon Pastors Conference), and I am so encouraged by the leading of the Holy Spirit in the direction, vision, goals and implementation of our Network leadership. Pastor Bill (Superintendent) is a wonderful encourager and leader to the Pastors of this state and he has taken bold leadership steps to create a healthy, vibrant team and vision for our Assemblies Network Family. I am proud to be a member of this family. Thank you for your prayers over Pastor Steve and I, and it was a special treat to have my Dad join us on Wednesday as well.

This Sunday I will begin a new teaching series entitled "Wise or Otherwise? - Wisdom from Proverbs". For me, and I am sure for many of you, I have found the Book of Proverbs to be both intriguing and pointed in its appeal to the human issues we all face. Although this compilation of pithy statements by King Solomon was written over 3,000 years ago, the Truth of God hits home in our lives today. The root meaning of the word proverb is "to compare, to be similar" - Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, and it is in the form of short sayings containing a nugget of truth, as a comparison illustration, or an example (wise or otherwise). I am looking forward to this study of God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to encourage, equip, counsel, give warning, and even redirect through God's Wisdom in Proverbs.

I was encouraged by your participation at our Team Ministry Celebration Dinner. You and others are truly living the value "To Serve" within our church family. Each of you fulfill a very important part of the ministry and service of our church family to one another and to our community.

This Sunday Night at 6:00 PM we have an opportunity for you and your family to slow your pace of life, to quiet your spirit, and to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to you. In this meditative, reflective and prayerful time you will experience a special time in God's presence. Prayer Chapel - Sunday, April 26th, 6:00-7:00PM.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Quick Note

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note this Friday evening as the Sun is sliding behind the trees. I am was so encouraged by our Easter Services last Sunday. What a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! We had around 85 in attendance, which left less than 20 open seats scattered around. I am thankful for everyone that served in all the activities and services Easter Morning: Charlene & Kathy with a delightful brunch, Amy & Melody with a fun and soggy Easter Egg Hunt (I am still eating the candy from Aliya's basket), Pastor Steve and the worship/sound/media teams, Ushers/Greeters, Coffee & Refreshments, etc. You are a blessing.

I am thankful for all the gifting and service that many freely give to our church family, and we have a special dinner to celebrate what God is doing in our church. This Sunday we have our Team Ministry Celebration Dinner after service. If you are active in ministry within our church with worship/sound/media, kids, youth, teaching, food, coffee, cleaning, meetings, ushers/greeters, etc., then YOU are invited to this dinner.

This Sunday, lets come ready to worship, connect and serve! The Holy Spirit is working within each one of us, calling us to a deeper fellowship with Him. Let's continue to worship Him in spirit and in truth and in the unity and love found within our church family. I can picture each time we come together as the body of Christ, our Heavenly Father has His welcoming arms to embrace us within the joy, peace and hope we find in Him alone.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

"Easter Celebration"

Dear Friends,

As I look out my window at the freshness and beauty of the budding flowers, I am reminded of the new life we have in Jesus Christ our Lord. Easter is that day when the Body of Christ around this world gather in Mega churches to coffee shop churches, from extravagant Passion Plays to a simple gathering in a basement sharing communion under the threat of government persecution to remember Christ's death and resurrection. Yet, what each and every one of us celebrate and worship is the great debt we have in the sacrifice of love offered to us in Christ's death and resurrection. As the beautiful hymn states:

He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay.
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And now I sing a brand new song:“Amazing Grace.” All day long.
Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.

The Apostle Paul reveals the truth of God's character, His plan of salvation and our future, and His everpresent unmeritted favor as a gift to us.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Eph 2:4-8

This Sunday, I am looking forward to our Easter Celebration Worship Service with you, as we proclaim our love and devotion to our Risen Lord and Savior!

Thank you - to our two teams that went out Wednesday night on our invitation/prayerwalk. We blessed the homes then left an Easter invitation doorhanger.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

Dear Friends,

We had a wonderful Sunday Morning Service last Sunday, with Pastor Steve and the Worship Team leading us with inspirational and beautifully crafted songs both contemporary and old. Pastor Steve is a gift to our church family, and as I raise my hands in worship to God, I give thanks for the talents and gifting God has given to us through our Praise and Worship Team. I am also very excited about my parents joining our Pastoral Team this summer. As my Dad shared Sunday morning, he will be leading The 50 Yard Line ministry to those 50+ in age. With their 30+ years in ministry and giftings as grounded Biblical Teachers and Pastoral Care, they will have an immediate impact on our church family.

As I write this e-note, I can't help but get excited about the plans God has for us as a church family. As Christ shared with his disciples in Matthew 9:37-38, "The harevest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few." The greater Damascus community desperately needs the hope, love and forgiveness that can only come from Jesus Christ, and there is a shortage of laborers for this monumental task. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." The Lord has called our Pastoral Team, Ministry Team Leaders, and each one of us to be the "sent" laborers into His harvest field. I can feel God's calling, blessing and equiping upon us as a church family, and I can see His divine hand at work in establishing skilled, highly qualified, and mature Pastors and leadership within our body. The harvest is at hand...are you ready?

Easter is one of our opportunities as a church, to invite, share, and celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is a graphic reminder to each one of us the depth of Christ's love and sacrifice, and His divine power over sin and death. We serve a risen Christ. If God has placed a family member, friends, or co-worker on your heart that needs Christ's hope in their life, then simply invite them to our Easter Services. You never know, a simple invitation may lead them to Christ and a new life for eternity.

You are my joy! Looking forward to seeing each of you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

Dear Friends, March 27th, 2009

In my personal times of devotions (prayer and Bible reading), I usually begin with a passage in Psalms. Sometimes, it is a whole chapter that illustrates a truth of God's character, or a song of praise and proclamation, or worship statements of thanksgiving. The psalmists call for constant verbal expressions of heartfelt gratitude to God for all His benefits and gifts to man. A few examples are:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 118:1

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! 105:1

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. 100:4

We are reminded to give thanks to God:
* firsts of all, for who He is.
* for all that He has given you.
* for His lovingkindness and mercy
* for His protection
* for His guidance
* for all His mighty acts
* that His purposes will prevail.

When we have a right attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving, His Holy Spirit encourages our faith, gives us a right perspective on life's circumstances, and we see and acknowledge God at work in our lives. We are a people of faith and a people of hope not because of what we know or do, but simply because we put our faith and trust in who He is and what He is doing in our lives and world.

When we have those moments or seasons of doubt, lack of energy, feeling the burdens of life, stress and anxiety, frustration and anger...we turn to God and give thanks. In this worshipful act of praise we soon embrace the words of the psalmist "give thanks to the Lord for He is good", and we in turn are renewed by His Spirit.

As adults and students we have started a new study into the book of Psalms in our Sunday Morning, 9:30 AM "Spiritual Discovery" and "Deeper" classes.

Family Fun Night: Its Popcorn Theology Night for the entire family with the inspirational movie "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Don't miss out on good food, laughter and great friends.

Easter Services: Now is the time to prayerfully invite your family and friends to our Easter services beginning with the Youth - Good Friday Worship Night, 7:00 PM, Easter Sunday: 9:30 Brunch, 10:00 Easter Egg Hunt, and 10:30 Celebration Worship Service.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim