What the...?

Advent Sermon Series, based on Luke 1 & 2

It's the chance of a lifetime... no, literally, it was the one time in his life that Zechariah would be given the great privilege of entering the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense inside the Holy of Holies. It was a profoundly important duty shared only by the priests of Israel - that is, descendants of the tribe of Levi. In Zechariah's day, there were about 20,000 Jewish preists in Israel, so being chosen as the one man to offer incense in the morning or evening was like winning God's ceremonial lottery. And ding-ding, we have a winner... this was Zechariah's day!

But while he was in the Holy of Holies, Zechariah got another incredible surprise. Turning around to fulfill his religious duty, he saw Gabriel, one of God's mighty archangels standing beside him, to the right of the Altar of Incense. Naturally, Zechariah was surprised... actually, he was terrified beyond belief at the sight of this powerful angelic being. I wonder... How do you think you and I would respond in that same situation? Usually, the first thing an angel says to people is "do not be afraid". So I think we can safely assume that their very presence is enormously intimidating.

After calming him down though... Gabriel gave Zechariah the news he's waited so long to hear. "Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John." But there was only one problem... Zechariah wasn't breathing that prayer anymore. That request had expired sometime in the last couple of decades. Slowly but surely, Zechariah watched as his wife go from a beautiful young woman of God to a beautiful (but barren) old woman of God. And c'mon, let's face it... she was way too old to have a baby now! So even though Zechariah used to pray that prayer over and over again... he had long ago resigned to the idea that God's answer was no. No child. No legacy. No joy. God is good, but sometimes we are forced to accept that His answer to our requests is a simple... yet painful "no".

But hold the phone... now, after all these years, Gabriel the angel was standing next to Zechariah at the Altar of Incense making this utterly impossible claim that that God's answer was "yes" after all this time. Yes... Elizabeth would conceive a child in her advanced age. Yes, their priestly family line would continue... and yes, this child's presence would bring untold joy and gladness into Zechariah and Elizabeth's home. Wow... what an awesome turn of events!

But what did Zechariah do in the face of this incredible news? Well, he did what any logical person would do. He doubted. Pure and simple. And what did he say to God's heavenly messenger? He asked how he was supposed to believe in something so preposterous! Quite obviously, his wife was too old to conceive, so how could he be sure it could happen? (Translation: What have you been smoking, Gabriel?)

Wrong answer, dude! God isn't limited by Elizabeth's biological clock... nor is He deaf to the prayers of His people. He is the One who created all things with His mere voice. He is the One who knit us together in our mothers' womb. He is not limited in His ability to bring life to any situation. God is utterly powerful and utterly free to do what He chooses, when He chooses, how He chooses, and through whom He chooses! All we gotta do is get on board the God train!

And do you know what?

God is still in the business of answering the cries of His people. Even if and/or when they stop believing that He will answer them. He knows our struggles, and hates it when His kids are hurting. He may not step in and take away the pain right away... but don't mistake His timing for a lack of holy concern. His ways are not our ways... but believe me, our sense of compassion stems directly from His divine compassion. Humanity is special in the eyes of God... we are His monumental creation, and He LOVES it when we learn the art of trusting Him even when it seems like everything is falling down around us. Even when it seems like the time/date stamp has expired on our requests. Even when it seems like we've been forgotten by our Daddy. Even when we just plain give up on happiness.

So here's what I propose... Let's let Zechariah's example teach us this one simple truth: God hears our prayers and is motivated to shake the foundations of heaven and earth in response. We just need to keep the faith and not give up like Zechariah did.

What are you praying for these days? Let me ask that question another way... What did you used to pray for that  you no longer bring up to God? Perhaps you have ceased to believe it would be done on your behalf? 

Perhaps... just perhaps God hasn't forgotten you after all. Perhaps He's just waiting until the right time to answer your request... and see if you're still willing to believe in His provision. Perhaps He wants to surprise us with His mercy and overflowing generosity this Advent Season. Perhaps He just wants us to fall in love with Him all over again. I'm ready to lean into that awesome future... are you?

May the Spirit of answered prayers and the overwhelming love of Jesus Christ invade your hearts and minds during this season of faith, hope, joy and renewal. May you discover... or re-discover the beauty of trusting in God's promises for you and those you love as we anticipate and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior these next few weeks.

Merry Christmas, Child of God... God's favor is upon you!

Gotta Have Faith

Text we'll be looking at this Sunday morning at The River: Hebrews 11-12.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  - 1 Corinthians 13:13

So, what is faith, anyway? It must be a pretty big thing if Paul lists it as one of the three things that will last forever...

Is faith the same thing as "belief"? Or is there more to it?

Is it trust? Is it vision? How is it different than "hope"?

And what exactly does it mean to have faith? Does it come from us, or from God? I mean, is faith a gift... or does it originate in humanity?

And while we're at it, what exactly is it that we are to have faith in? Faith in God? Yes. But how much more than believing God exists requires that thing called "faith"?

What about the faith we put in each other as human beings? Or ourselves?

Is that the same kind of faith necessary to become a Christian disciple?

Do you have "faith" in how much God loves you? Enough "faith" to reciprocate that love? How would that look in your life?

Do people of other religions have what we would call faith? How about atheists? Do they have faith in anything? I mean... many of them believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. And yet, it is a theory - something by which it's very definition requires a level of faith to believe in... right?

Let's face it, all humans live by faith in all sorts of things. Have you ever seen a germ for yourself? No? Assuming you believe that germs are real, then your "belief" is strictly by faith in what others have told you. Have you actually seen germs through a microscope? Great... then you have "faith" that the microscope is actually magnifying what you believe it to be magnifying... and you are looking at something purely by faith.

Practically everything we assume about life as educated, modern people is a result of faith. 

Do you have "faith" in the President to run this country well? Or perhaps his challenger (and his party platform) is more worthy of your faith?

Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon to see it for yourself? Or do you just have faith that it exists - faith strengthened by photos, and the testimony of others who have been there? What about the Great Wall of China? Or the Egyptian pyramids? Really...? How about the resurrection of Jesus?

As my buddy George would say (actually, he did say back in the 80s), "You gotta have faith"! Amen... sing it, Brother!

George Michael - Faith (US Version)

See you Sunday... I know this, 'cause I've got faith!  :-)

Oxymoron of the Week: Vision and Patience

As per usual... this blog somewhat pertains to the text and/or subject matter that will be discussed at The River this Sunday morning at 10am.

BTW, a big thank you to Paul Goebel for his excellent, hard-hitting message last week!

______________________________

Jesus: "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Moses: "For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Even now, while I am still alive and am here with you, you have rebelled against the LORD." 

I really feel for Moses. He discovered the Old Testament Theory of Relativity: Thirsty people = stubborn sheep (or the mathematical version, Tp=Sc2).

People are thirsty, aren't they? You know, thirsty for life... thirsty for justice... thirsty for truth. As Cain learns in the opening chapters of Genesis, life outside the Garden is dangerous, often lonely and very dry. Good water - that is, water for the soul is really hard to come by. Life in a broken world is truly a desert experience, and deep down we all know it. So we yearn for something cold and satisfying to drink... something that will quench our dry and parched existence. Something that will help put the pieces back together again.

As a devoted (yet flawed) follower of Jesus the Nazarene, I have tasted deep fellowship with God through His Spirit, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the LORD is good - more than good, powerful... utterly awesome! - and following Him is worth pursuing in this lifetime no matter what it takes. In fact, if I could somehow arrange it, I would just stand over a fire-hose of living water and let it blast into my face for eternity.  :-)

As a pastor, I have endeavored (struggled) to lead lost and thirsty sheep to the eternal well of living water - that is, to the fountain of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - with seriously mixed results. Some lambs just seem to scamper toward the water and dive in as soon as they become aware of the healing properties therein. However, the majority are more careful than that. Most sheep step oh-so hesitantly closer and closer toward green pastures and still waters for a season...  But then, however, like cockroaches scatter when the lights come on...  Something takes their eyes off of Christ and they run back to the darkness... back to what they find more palatable... more comfortable... more safe. You know, more of what they're used to, even if "it" is dangerously polluted and devoid of life.

I try so hard to offer them a deeper knowledge of God... fellowship with the Holy Spirit... Living water that comes through letting go of our old life and embracing an all-out dependent relationship with the God of the universe...  But so many instead choose to go back to their old ways - back to the toilet water that marks their old, "safe" life of religiosity and/or godlessness. Keeping Jesus on the surface of who we are (or hidden in our pocket) is a much easier path than embracing the indwelling, radical Jesus who commands us to let Him reign supreme as Lord. (In my best southern preacher-voice): Can I get an amen?

Am I an expert in these matters? Hardly. Do I ever make mistakes with the sheep of my flock? Yes... often. Is God working on my life even as I labor to lead stubborn yet thirsty sheep to the well of refreshing springs? Absolutely. Occasionally, I even try to talk God out of my calling as a shepherd. But apparently, He just doesn't agree with my sentiments. He's more stubborn than I am!

Then I remember that the Bible is full of stories about less-than-ideal servants who were used to accomplish God's purposes. I know it seems crazy, perhaps even short-sighted on God's part... but He really doesn't seem too terribly interested in using perfect people to build His kingdom. In my case, He tapped me on the shoulder a few years ago and said:

"Jeff, I'm sending you back to the place you spent your childhood to plant a church. But not just another church where believers go through the motions. No, a new kind of church (but actually an old kind... an ancient kind). A thoroughly re-imagined church body... a Spirit-led community of Jesus followers that really loves Me, really worships Me, really listens' to Me, and really serves Me. This church will be marked by authentic love for one another, involvement in the surrounding community, a diverse, multi-faceted congregation, and by its willingness to serve those individuals and organizations that need a helping hand. This church will be a house of prayer, a beacon of worship... a place of divine love... and a clearing house of missional activity.

Okay... that's not really a quote from Yahweh... but I promise that it is a decent paraphrase! And since that day we arrived five years ago, I have endeavored to do my part to build a community of faith that was so clearly commissioned by God. But to say it hasn't been easy would be the understatement of the year.

This may come as a shock... but The River has not become an overnight success in this town. What some people may see as a fresh, godly vision for church... others see as arrogance, pure and simple. Lots of folks have come to the church over the years, and even jumped in to help make that vision become a reality... at least for a time. But for one reason or another, like sheep that go astray, many have left The River with disappointments... talking my heart with them. Whether disappointed over lack of support for their cause, or the perception that their efforts were not appreciated... or some sheep just came to believe that the pastor was not what or who he claimed to be. 

(Sigh)... whether I like it or not - calling people to read their Bibles, confess their sins, come together in prayer, serve the body of Christ with their unique spiritual gift, wrestle together to interpret what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in a complex world, spend time in fellowship with (and learning to love) people they may not even like, worship God consistently, give generously... and somehow carve out valuable time to serve others who need assistance - is not a popular idea in our time and place in history. Many people are way too busy to re-form their life in this radical kind of way. Some will give a little of what they have (time, money, energy, love, etc.)... and some others will give significantly more of themselves... but very few are willing to make wholesale changes to their value system to become sold-out, passionate, justice-seeking kingdom-of-God ambassadors. (In all honesty, I constantly have to ask myself whether I myself am willing... and sometimes the answer is no. In the words of Mater from the movie, Cars, "Dang!").
   
I ain't perfect... I'm just a Moses-like shepherd - (loving, frustrated... and yet deeply thankful to be a servant of God in this place) - armed with not much more than a strong vision to set His people free, and a lot of faith in my Lord, Jesus Christ to do the impossible. My life here is part of a comedy-drama story that is still being written (with an ending that God only knows!). Pray for me and my family... and The River church, won't you? We could always use it.

And by the way... I don't know what kind of sheep you are, but I do hope you are a thirsty one. And one that channels his or her stubbornness to seek out, find, and drink deeply at the well of living water... rather than running from the source of abundant life.  How could anything else ever satisfy once we've tasted eternity, and know that it is good?

Absence of Conflict

Okay... summer's over. Time to dust off the blog and start typing out some ideas and conversation starters in regard to this week's sermon at The River! 

Text we might look at this Sunday morning at 10:00 am:  Leviticus 26:1-13

And of course... the series we're about to conclude (next week) is based on Galatians 5:22-23...

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Peace.

Hmmmm... What does it mean to bear the fruit of peace? God's peace?

Does it mean that when we love God we no longer have any enemies? No... that didn't work out so well in the case of Jesus, right? He definitely had the peace of God in him... and yet, his teachings and actions in the world incited angry (religious) people to hate him... even snuff out his life.

Does it mean we are no longer to fight for any cause - regardless of the circumstances? No... I don't think so. Regardless of what we come to learn about God and His plans to destroy all traces of evil once and for all... and even though we're called to pray for our enemies... and even though we're to turn the other cheek, etc...  Still, the NT describes disciples of Jesus Christ as peaceful warriors who are called to fight the powers of darkness... to stand in the gap and "fight the good fight" for the cause of Christ.

But how is engagement in battle a peaceful way of life? How does the Holy Spirit's gift of peace make any sense when we're called to forcefully (and violently) advance the kingdom of God, no matter the cost to us personally? How can a warrior be peaceful? It's an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp, or abundant poverty, or perfect idiot, or rap artist... Simply put, it just don't compute!

“I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land. In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword."  - Leviticus 26:6-8

So... apparently, the peace of God does not mean that you will no longer have enemies. Nor does it mean that you are to lie down and allow evil to overtake this world. In the passage above, God tells His chosen people that they will chase down their enemies and slaughter them with their swords! Wow, that's unexpected!

But who is our enemy? What dark force of evil are we called to fight against?

Well, let me ask it this way... which is the more powerful enemy that fights against a peaceful way of life for all people... the external ones that distract us from fellowship with God (the world)? Or the internal ones that rebel against God's will for humanity (the self)?

In the end... it doesn't really matter whether we struggle with the external or internal enemies more... they are both powerful foes. I believe the main point is that we as God's people are to "chase down our enemies and slaughter them with our swords." Perhaps not literally... but learning to say no to those things which lead us away from God and yes to the gospel of Jesus Christ is a mighty good start. That is not something we are equipped to do on our own... we need the weapons of spiritual warfare that Paul describes in the book of Ephesians:

¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

 Here's my question(s): In a busy, busy, busy world... a world where silence and solitude are nearly nonexistent... and a world where debts are high and jobs are stressful... and a world where no one ever sits still for very long... and a world that is defined by go, go, go... How in the world are we supposed to hear the soft, still voice of God who wants to breathe peace into our hearts?

In a culture in which we have everything we need... and an insatiable appetite for more of what we want (even demand)... how can we possibly know what it means to rely on God? How can such independent people understand dependence upon their creator?

How do we bear this mysterious, yet beautiful-sounding spiritual fruit called the peace of God? I really wanna know the answer to that question... don't you?

Perfect Aim

This week, we'll reach the halfway point in the 8 week series, "The Best News You'll Ever Hear".

This Sunday: Part 4, "Something Has Gone Wrong"

Text related to the sermon/discussion: Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

God is an archer.

We are arrows in His quiver.

Satan is an airborne parasite.

God aims.

He shoots.

We are sent on a trajectory toward eternity... toward holiness.

But along the way... we are tempted...

(Don't go the way He wants you to... let me "help" you).

Stupidly, we agree.

Stupidly, we give in.

And one little addition of this or that changes everything.

Our flight pattern is changed by the weight of misplaced trust.

And we fall short of the target God intended.

Not just some of us.

ALL of us fall short... all of us are stupid.

Billions of arrows... none of them hitting the target.

Except one.

And here's the strange part.

That one arrow hits the bulls eye.

Dead on.

And it's enough.

Enough for everyone.

Everyone who recognizes the pain of the parasite.

And longs for the joy of hitting the target.

In Christ... God cheats.

He picks us up... out of the dirt.

And places us inside the arrow that hit the target.

It's not fair.

We don't deserve it.

We screwed up.

We fell short.

We gave in.

We didn't trust the Righteous One.

And we slammed into the ground.

But God doesn't care.

He knows His aim was true.

He knows we screwed up.

And He knows we long to hit the bulls eye.

So he brushes us off.

And He rids us of the parasite.

And He deems us reconciled to Him.

Something went wrong.

Terribly wrong.

But thanks to the trajectory of Jesus...

That wrong was made right again.

That is... if we tire of sitting in the dirt...

Scraped up by the rocks, dusty and grass stained.

If and when we ever get sick of falling short.

And when we cry out to Him.

He is there... waiting for us.

Wanting to welcome us home.

Desiring to throw a party.

And put us back on the course He intended for us in the first place.

Back in His house.

Back in His arms.

Back in the bliss of eternity with Him.

Aren't you glad He has such good aim?

Water, Blood & Spirit

⁶ And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. ⁷ So we have these three witnesses— ⁸ the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. ⁹ Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. ¹⁰ All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
¹¹ And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.   -1 John 5:6-12

That's some interesting phrasing in the book of 1 John.  "Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by his baptism in water..." That's one thing baptism seems to accomplish in us too, right? To reveal us as sons and daughters of God. Oh, we may not be THE "Son" of God... but nevertheless, the Bible does clearly indicate that when we acknowledge Jesus Christ as crucified and resurrected Lord, God does declare us as His adopted children.

But how do we declare our sonship (or daughtership) to God? Again... I believe it is through the mysterious and beautiful sacrament of baptism. It is through the Cross (i.e., the blood) that we are saved from destruction into eternal life. Furthermore, it is through submission to the act of baptism (i.e., the water) that we are revealed as children of God. More than proclaiming to the world that we believe Jesus is Lord... baptism is actually a spiritual revelation that proclaims God's power and grace in the spiritual realm! All of heaven may erupt in praise when a lost child comes home... but I believe the heavenly beings also dance with pure joy when we willingly submit ourselves to the sacrament of baptism.

It's like the circle of the Trinity is completed in the life of a believer when they get baptized... at least in a symbolic sense. 

1. The Son shed His blood at the Cross which opens the Way to salvation;

2. The Spirit of God descends upon us when we acknowledge and accept the reign of God in our lives, and;

3. The Father cleanses and purifies our hearts and minds as we are immersed down... and come back up out of the water in baptism. 

I don't know if that's precisely true or not... all I do know is that baptism truly does reveal something about would-be disciples of Jesus Christ: It's voluntary yet strongly suggested (even assumed) place in Scripture serves to "reveal" those who are willing to submit to God's desires for our lives (regardless of their own desires), verses those who are simply not willing. If it isn't commanded, they don't feel they have to obey.

But look through the Bible and answer me these questions: Is reading the Bible every day commanded? Is church attendance commanded? Is daily prayer commanded? Is tithing commanded (in the New Testament)? Is fasting commanded? Is participating in Communion commanded? Is giving to the poor commanded? Is forgiving your brother (or sister) commanded?  Okay... it's true that lack of forgiveness leads to lots of difficulties with God, but I'm not sure forgiveness is ever commanded straight-out.

But here's my point: Once we decide to worship Christ as our risen Lord, it's not merely about following His commands... it's about listening to His heart... it's about observing His life on earth... it's about sitting at His feet, and humbly doing what He did... caring about what He cares about... serving as He served.

Jesus constantly went to the temple and synagogue to read the scrolls... He always spent time worshiping the Father, He spend great amounts of time in prayer, He fasted, He instituted Communion, He was deeply concerned for the poor, He has forgiven you... and me... and everyone who's ever lived (if we choose to accept His forgiveness)... and one more thing: Jesus was baptized.

Do you love Him? Do you acknowledge Him as Lord?

Well then... have you been baptized?

No? Why the heck not?  :-)  Do it for goodness sake! 

There's still time to get dunked this Sunday at the river... no really, the RIVER, as in the Yakima River!! Bring your swim trunks!

9-10 am at The River (church) - Meet for coffee & snacks

10:15-10:30 am - We'll caravan out to Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park

10:30-11 - Worship at the park

11-11:15 Walk to baptism area

11:15-11:45 - BAPTISM

11:45-12:00 - Walk back to picnic area

12:00-Whenever - Potluck Party in the Park!

Walking by Faith

Friends of The River,

Well, these past two weeks have been an exciting, yet very uncertain time in the life of this fledgling little church-plant in Ellensburg. For the past 18 months, in the midst of a seriously difficult time for the American, not to mention worldwide economy (can I get an amen?)... The River Church of the Nazarene has been learning how to stand on its own purely as a self-supporting, self-sustaining, self-funded, self-aware Christian ministry. And like a wobbling newborn calf struggling to stand up, it has not always been pretty, but I do believe we are beginning to gain some strength in our spiritual legs.

But Jesus calls us to do more than stand, right? At some point, almost every infant that was ever born grows bigger and stronger to become a toddler – learning how to walk, even run to where they desire to go. During our worship service last Sunday, my good friend Jim Carlson came to talk to us all about dreaming big dreams, overcoming the American religious disease of consumerism, carefully analyzing our priorities as kingdom citizens, and learning what it means to honor the Sabbath Day as cross-bearing, modern-day Christ-followers. Then a representative group our church board presented some factual, yet troubling and eye-opening numbers with everyone present. Certainly not your typical worship service!

Essentially, we as the pastor and his family have come to the conclusion – with God’s help – that we can no longer underwrite such a significant portion of the church’s ministry.  Either by faith or by ignorance (or both), we have managed to dig a financial hole that threatens to bury us if we continue down that path – which is definitely not the path of good stewardship or good citizenship. Trust me though… we certainly recognize the amazing generosity of some people that call The River their home. If it weren’t for a few deeply loyal families investing sacrificially and keeping this church financially afloat, our church would definitely not have been able to stay here as long as it has. But as a church body, The River has never been what would be generally considered an overly giving church… at least, not so far. But (hopefully anyway) our story together is not yet finished being written. Not even close.

In the next few days, “members” of The River (actually we have no formal membership at this point) will receive a letter explaining our need for “pledge cards” to be filled out and turned back in to the board by Sunday June 17. If you are a frequent visitor, and have any love for the church that is The River, then I implore you to read the letter very carefully, pray unceasingly, talk with your significant other (when applicable), and fill out the pledge card as an act of faith, knowing that the future of our crazy, mixed up, often dysfunctional… and yet wonderfully awesome church body is directly tied to the larger group’s financial commitment from this point forward.

We have big dreams, goals and vision for this little corner of the world. We want to be a vessel for God to bring revival and brilliant light to a lost and wounded… and dark place. But before we can fly on wings like eagles… first, we’re going to have to learn how to walk and not be faint. A significant breakthrough is right there for the taking. I know it is. It’s in our grasp, and most of us can feel it in our bones. 

But let's be honest - it will take a seriously giant act of faith on our part. Aren’t you glad we serve a God who does miracles? A God who provides? A God who know our heart… and loves us anyway? A God who calls His people, empowers them to share the kingdom message, and destroys the enemy who roams the earth seeking to steal and kill and destroy? Let’s not let the enemy win. Let’s keep this adventure going. Let’s be like Peter, who, upon seeing Jesus walking on Lake Galilee said, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” And he did! Okay, it’s true… he only took a few steps before he began to sink like a lead balloon… but think about it… Peter WALKED ON WATER!!! Wouldn’t you like to do that just once in your life? Wouldn’t you like to defy logic, and the law of gravity, and all doubt, and confound the senses… by reaching out in faith and following Jesus?

You can. I believe we’re at THE pivotal time in the life of our church. We can either step out of the boat and walk, like Peter. Or we can stay in the boat like the other disciples, and never know what it’s like to really live in that moment. God doesn’t call us to be safe… He calls us to live dangerously. The question is… do we have what it takes to obey?

Also, if you consider yourself to be a friend of The River, and would like to help ensure that we can meet our financial mandates by “pledging” an ongoing monthly amount with us, or through a one-time gift to our church – please let me know and I’ll be sure to contact you... with glee. Again, our all-important deadline is less than two weeks away, June 17.

Thank you everyone, for giving my family the high privilege of serving these past five years as the pastoral family of The River. Regardless of what happens from here… may the seeds that have been planted through this experience continue to spread, take root, and grow to become mighty oaks of righteousness in this place… and spread to the outer parts of the world!

Amen… may it be so!

Weekend-Free Church

Text relating to the Vision Conversation at The River this Sunday: 

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

This coming month is a special one to me and my family. It marks the five-year anniversary of our leaving Kansas City and moving to Ellensburg to start The River Community Church of the Nazarene. Wow... five years. In some ways it seems like only yesterday. But in most ways it seems like it has been 20 years... at least I think I've aged 20 years (and gained 20 pounds!)  :-)  It's like Ellensburg is caught in a time-warp continuum that slows down actual time. I'll have to consult my Star Trek handbook... but maybe that means the earth revolves around the sun slower here in the Pacific Northwest? Hmmmm... anyway, next month we celebrate five years since stepping foot in the little town both Jill and I once called home. For me, it was my hometown from birth till I turned 25ish. For Jill, it is the place she attended high school... nothing more. She stubbornly refuses to claim the Burg has her hometown!  :-)

Anyway... It's been a wonderful, awesome experience. And yet, it's been the biggest challenge we've ever faced before... ever... either as individuals and as a married couple. Who wouda thunk...? We've somehow made it this long in the ministry! Obviously, the folks at this church haven't figured out how nuts we  are... I guess love really is blind!

Nevertheless, in celebration of our five-year mark... we at The River are looking to stir up the status-quo once again. We've seen some amazing things over the years... we've made some great friends, and accomplished some fun projects, and experienced some powerful manifestations of God's Spirit in our midst. We've lost a few people along the way (who would've ever guessed not everyone would appreciate our unique style?)... and ultimately we've grown and evolved into a tight-knit group of Jesus followers, who love God and love one another. All in all, we love our church body... and hope and pray we can continue to do ministry here for a very long time to come.

But after such a long time back in my 'hood' preaching the Word and hoping people will repent and believe in Jesus as Lord and Master of their lives... and after keenly observing a direct relationship between the weather outside and butts in the seats of our Sunday morning services inside... I have come to a startling realization: People want to worship God together... the disciples of Jesus really do want to gather together and sing, pray, wrestle with Scripture, give, partake of Communion, baptize, laugh, cry, serve... and they really do want to experience God in the community of other believers. However, many of them don't want to do so if it cuts in to their other lifestyle priorities. What other priorities you ask...? Well, anything good and some even not so good... things like family gatherings and visits, baseball games, camping trips, water-skiing, hiking, shopping, snow-shoeing, swimming, basketball games, track and field events, football games, tournaments, visiting friends, marathons, 5ks, shooting, hunting, out-of-town vacations, boating, fishing... do you get the picture? We live in an area of the world where you can experience an almost endless variety of outdoor experiences... and let's face it, weekends are a premium in calendars jam-packed with work, household chores, kids' activities... so the idea of attending a 1-2 hour Sunday morning worship service - even if the basic desire is there - can all too easily get kicked to the curb when competing with so many other important activities. How do we deal with such powerful competition?

One day a couple of years ago... a guy rode into town on his big ole Harley, and stepped up to the coffee bar at The River (which used to be open during the week), and asked, "I'm looking for Jeff Harmon. Is he here?"


"Yes," I said... a bit hesitantly (hey, he's a big guy!), "that's me."


Geez... as it turned out, we talked all stinkin' day about ministry stuff. Something like three hours later... after taking this mystery man in leathers to Rossow's to experience the essence of Ellensburg fine-dining... Jim Carlson got back on his Harley and continued his ride back to Spokane. But the things he planted in my head that day have never gone away. He raised the crazy notion that people have so many other priorities on a typical Sunday... maybe a progressive church like The River should consider offering a mid-week worship service and see where it goes? Think about it... how many students leave for home on the weekends? How many people work on Sundays? How many of our own people take off for the lake (or the city, or the hills, or the...) for the weekend, and would appreciate a mid-week service, so they could enjoy their weekend without the associated guilt of missing "church"? How many people are allergic to Sundays, but may consider a mid-week worship service? Hmmm... good questions. What if we stopped doing what everyone else does (just because)... and paid careful attention to how the culture functions in this little corner of the world? What if we stopped doing the "religious" thing... and, like Paul, "Become all things to all people so that by all possible means I (we) might save some." 

Oh... but is it right to move the high and holy event of worshiping God to a mere weeknight, just to accommodate the busy (and sometimes slightly off-center priorities) of people who seek (in theory) to be sold-out disciples of Jesus Christ? Is it okay to mess with the "Sabbath" rest of Sunday morning worship? Would people really come to a full-blown worship service on a Thursday night in this town? What would that do to Sunday morning gatherings? Would we abandon Sunday morning altogether... or have two services? If we had two services, wouldn't that mean we have two churches meeting under the same roof? How would that work out? Holy cow (pardon the pun... but sometimes we have to look at our sacred cows and be ready to slaughter them)! This is confusing, huh? Is it right? Is it acceptable to God? Would it be successful? (Just what defines "successful" in the church, anyway?) Is a mid-week service worth the effort? Is it worth the risk? What would other churches say ? Would they be offended? Would they steal our thunder? How the heck do we know whether this is a good or bad thing for us?

My answer: Let's ask Jim. He'll be our special guest this Sunday... and I for one would love to hear his take on how we could go about reaching more people for Christ in this town. Personally, I love the idea of letting people do their family thing... or their sports thing... or their camping thing... or whatever, without the typical response of heavy-duty pastoral guilt (and fear of what it would mean if people actually had options for worship). But IF we give it a shot... then the real questions would begin. You know, questions like HOW? How do we stretch our already limited resources? How do we promote it to the community? How do we know how to measure the results of our trial? How long do we conduct this grand experiment? And the list goes on... and on... and on.

Got some of your own questions to ask him? Great... git yer butt to Sunday service this week... (ya, I know it's June and the lake is calling... but make the sacrifice, ok?)... and be ready to stretch your thinking in terms of what it means to be a Christ-centered community that is willing to become all things to all people for the sake of the gospel. And one more thing: Bring your best Mexican dish... 'cause after the service, we're having an all-important church meeting... and a Mexican-themed potluck for the ages! PLEASE don't miss this service if at all possible, okay? Don't worry... there are plenty of other Sunday services you can bail on this summer... especially as the weather gets nicer!  :-)

See ya'll then! 

The Value of a Brick

Text relating to the sermon at The River this Sunday is Exodus 5:4-14

 ⁴ But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!” ⁵ Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”

 ⁶ That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: ⁷ “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. ⁸ But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Make the work harder for them so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

 ¹⁰ Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw. ¹¹ Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’” ¹² So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. ¹³ The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” ¹⁴ And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?” 

So... it seems that bricks were of more value to Pharaoh than people. How sad. I once worked for a person like that... very briefly thank goodness. People meant nothing to him, that is except they were a means to an end. His own end of course - which was the same end as Pharaoh's - to build wealth and influence for himself. Yuk... so glad I'm out of Egypt. Slavery sucks!

But back to my original point :-)  To this Egyptian king in the days of Moses, the Israelite people living in his country had no real value... except that together they made a very populous and efficient brick-making machine that required very little investment or overhead. That is, nothing more than some vicious slave drivers, lots of straw, huts in which to house the slaves, and enough food to keep them alive. What a deal for Pharaoh! He could build a lot of magnificent structures with that otherwise worthless group of people. As a bonus, toward the end he even made them collect their own straw with the same quotas!

But God said otherwise. His chosen people had value... not because they deserved it, and not due to their brick-making ability... but purely and simply because He said so. So, through Moses, God told Pharaoh to let His people go. And, after a well-documented bit of difficulty, Pharaoh finally caved in to God's demands and set God's people free.

Free. No longer slaves. Cared for. Watched over. Protected. Nurtured... Loved.

The Israelites had no idea what freedom looked like. They had been nothing more than a 20+ hours per day, seven days per week brick-making machine for over four hundred years!

But God didn't make people to be machines... He made people to reflect His glory. Yes, He made people to be productive... that is, to be fruitful and multiply. But more than that, He made people to exercise their freedom to regularly stop their work in order to remember their reason for living... that is, first and foremost, humans were made to relate to their God. 

How can we do that if all we ever do is make bricks?

It's tough for some of us to stop working... stop producing... stop trying to earn our way into the good graces of other people, or other gods. But from the seventh day of creation... God has made it clear that resting from our everyday kind of work is what He wants... what He commands... what He absolutely expects from us.

Somewhere in our frantic, busy lives, God expects us to rest... makes it clear that we are to prioritize a rhythm of rest from our labor. 

The biblical term for this spiritual discipline is Sabbath.

God worked six days when He created the universe and rested on the seventh day. Why? Was He tired? Was He out of breath? Was He a union member? Or was He providing a pattern for living that He wants us to follow? Hmmmmm... perhaps He actually meant us to follow a rhythm of hard work, followed by intentional rest. Perhaps when we obey His teachings, we can actually live a more joy-filled life... a more peaceful life... a more full life? A more complete life?

Well, anyway... it's something to think about. And something to discuss... this Sunday... on the (Christian) day of Sabbath... at The River (or some other place of Christ-centered worship). That is, unless you're unable to put down the mud and straw long enough to celebrate His work of redeeming us from slavery! :-)

I gotta rest now. All this blogging makes me tired!

Lectio Divina

Text relating to the sermon/discussion at The River this Sunday: John 8:1-11 TNIV

• A woman caught in adultery.
• Guilty woman... possibly set up to fail.
• Bloodthirsty Pharisees... trying to set yet another trap.
• Jesus... always an astonishing answer.
• A case of legal imperative, or deep introspection?
• She made a mistake... but received forgiveness.
• The religious leaders just walked away... frustrated.
• Jesus confounded the wise, and set her free... using less than 30 words.
• What Satan meant to use for harm, God made beautiful.
• What character do you most identify with?

Each week, I give you a link to the biblical text, assuming you'll click on it and read it for yourself. But today, I'm going to give you the full text... and encourage you to soak it in for awhile. Let it speak to you.

This Sunday, we're going to employ an ancient method of interacting with Scripture that involves far more than your intellect. It is called Lectio Divina, and if you're willing to quiet yourself and listen to what He's saying... God will reveal Truth into your heart in fresh new ways through this approach.

Are you ready? Good... then first is LECTIO (reading). Read through the text slowly, carefully repetitively. Pay attention to details that you normally miss when you skim over a text. Don't rush. Pray over the text and ask God to show you new details you've never noticed before.

¹ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
   ² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
   ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
   ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

   “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Have you read it a few times through? Did you pay careful attention to details such as who, what, where and when?  Good, the next phase is MEDITATIO (meditation). Read the text through once again, but this time seek to listen with your heart as well as your mind. Know that through this text, Jesus wants to reveal Himself more fully to you. So consciously open yourself to the Lord. Are you the woman who is guilty (and in need of pardon)? Or a member of the religious council, unwilling to forgive a dirty "sinner"? Perhaps you can relate to both characters? What does God want to say to you through this story?

The third phase is ORATIO (prayer). Okay, God has spoken to you. He has revealed something to you... encouragement that comforts you, or a warning that rattles you a bit. Say a prayer to God, thanking Him for shining His light into your heart, and speaking to you, His child.  Let Him know you're listening, and you desire to walk in alignment with His will. For a few moments, just abandon yourself to soaking in God's holy presence, and admiring His grace.

The fourth and final phase of Lectio Divina is CONTEMPLATIO (contemplation). This is God's response to us. After praying to Him, simply wait on the Holy Spirit to breathe resurrection life into your soul.  Believe and expect that God wants to whisper in your ear as you open your heart to His all-knowing gaze. It may be something you can wrap your head around, and then again, you may just walk away having encountered a deep, intimate moment with the Savior. Either way, know that God has used your willingness to read, meditate, pray and contemplate His words for His glory and for your benefit. He wants to shape you into the image of His Son, and this ancient spiritual discipline is an excellent way to learn how to surrender your will to His.

Okay, now let's see how we can encounter Him in an entirely new way as we practice Lectio Divina together this coming Sunday!

I Have Been With You...

Okay, so we're a bit late to start the Easter season at The River... but Hey, better late than never, right? Over the next five weeks, we'll hone in on the implications of Resurrection Sunday... this week's focus is on God as a personal being.

Here is the text relating to the sermon/discussion this Sunday: 2 Samuel 7:1-17

 Is God personal? I mean, you hear it all the time, right...

"I don't have a religion... I have a personal relationship with God."

But what does that mean, exactly? This morning at our bi-weekly men's breakfast, affectionately known as "Nude Pagan Society"(actually it's New Canaan Society), the question came up this very morning... Just exactly what does it mean to have a personal relationship with God? Can He be seen? (Not by anyone I know.) Can He be heard? (Only in subtle ways that could be construed as subjective.) Is He my friend? (Uh... perhaps in a sense, but then again, how can mere humanity and an eternal, self-existing, unfathomable being of sheer power become buddies?) Are we equals? (Oh, heck no!) Does He love us wacky humaniod creatures... even in our sinful, self-destructive, and utterly stubborn fickle-ness? (Yes... according to the Bible, He loves shamelessly, sacrificially, emphatically, and relentlessly!)

So how does the jumbled chex-mix of descriptions and questions above answer our initial question... is God personal? If so, how? What exactly has to take place in order for us to "get personal" with the Creator of the universe? Is it something we do as humans? Does it have to come from God? Where do God and people have to intersect in order to establish some form of relationship with one another?


I have a definite answer... at least it's my answer. Are you ready? Here it is...


I don't know.


Really. I don't know. Its' a deep mystery beyond my ability to understand, much less articulate. I guess the biblical answer is grace... that is, unmerited favor.


God, in His mercy, somehow determined to love us... all of us... for reasons that boggle the human mind. As such, He reaches out to us, and offers to forgive our sins, and restore us to our pre-Adamic righteous standing before Him. Though we are born into this life completely lost, wandering, bound up, and dying in our sins... nevertheless, He unilaterally comes to us and offers to free us from the prison of flesh. He offers life... He offers freedom... He offers salvation... He offers all of Himself to those who will listen. There is only one catch beyond the willingness to accept the gift. Just one, simple, relatively small requirement in order to fulfill our part of the covenant: Walk by faith... that is, trust Him with all of who you are, obey His commands, and release your life - all of your life - to Him, in order to be molded shaped into His image... by His Spirit.


That's what David did. David was a man after God's own heart.


Was David perfect in everything he said and did? Heavens no.


But was David "perfect" in his passionate love of (and passionate willingness to align himself with) God's ways? Oh yes... most definitely! David had a "personal relationship" with God. David had amazing faith in the goodness and trustworthiness of the Lord of Hosts. In all he knew how to express it, David went all out for God every moment of every day. And God loved David's heart!


David was a violent, murderous, cheating sinner of a man who deserved death... just like the rest of us. But instead, God gave him a full life... real life... eternal life. That's just what friends do!


Is God your friend? Does your heart beat with the Lord's? Does He love your passion for the kingdom? Does His favor (unmerited favor) rest upon you as it did so powerfully on David? 


If so... then good for you!


If not... why not? Is there something God needs to do first...? Or do you need to look deep within your own heart, and ask what is interfering with your "personal relationship" with Him? He wants to speak to you, you know. He wants to reveal Himself to you in profound new ways. He wants to bless you beyond your ability to imagine. But He won't force Himself. Instead, he patiently waits for you to return, and seek His face. He's in no hurry... In fact, He's got all the time in the world.  :-)

Redeemed

This week's blog posting is - and the sermon will be - by Paul Goebel. Thanks to him, I am able to take a week off at The River. Thanks, Paul!

Text: Colossians 1:13-14

Broken, a mess, dead in sin, a sinner, lukewarm, rascal, empty, unrighteous, distant from our Father…the list goes on. These are all terms I’ve heard used by pastors and others referring to us as Christians in our walks of faith. While much of it might be true at a certain level, I believe that we often can use these definitions as a means of justifying the behaviors that would be consistent with these terms. “If I’m broken, then sin can’t help but overcome me”. As broken people, sin, and distance from our Father, Savior, and Spirit, becomes justified actions when we consider ourselves as sinners. 

Ruth, Leviticus, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, and numerous (really numerous) references in Paul’s writings essentially tell us what Paul says in Colossians: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption…”

So, we are no longer broken, we are no longer dead in sin, we are no longer unrighteous if we truly believe in Jesus. We are REDEEMED now, not tomorrow, not when we die, not at some point when we truly grow up. Jesus did not die “halfway” to save us from death, he was “all in” and died completely to save us. Therefore, we are not partially redeemed, we are not lukewarm, we are no longer broken, if we truly believe in Jesus, we are 100% and completely WHOLE. Not redeemed some of the time and not redeemed others, not redeemed when we come to church, not redeemed just when we pray. Every breath, every moment, every day, we are redeemed in Him.

It is time to start thinking and acting like whole followers of Jesus. It is time to take the strength and consistency of redemption into every day, every moment, every relationship. It isn’t time to think of ourselves as broken, the urgency of redemption and salvation tell us to live as redeemed followers of Christ, this day, this moment.

When I think of myself as broken, I am broken and so tempted by sin. When I consider myself redeemed, my decisions and actions change completely. The strength that comes to me when I decide that I am redeemed is truly amazing, truly life changing. It changes the way I look at life, the “filter” is completely different. It makes me realize that, even though my body is broken, sick, dying, diseased, and finite, my spirit is fully and wholly ALIVE in a risen Savior. What a truly simple and beautiful realization that is.