Who is Our Rock? | Stand Firm

Mollie Havens December 6, 2024

When I was little, I learned a song in Bible School about the wise man that built his house upon the rock and when the rains came down, the house on the rock stood firm. However, the foolish man built his house upon the sand and when the floods came his house went SPLAT! Growing up, that truth stuck with me. I learned how if I put my hope and trust in the LORD, when the storms of life come I can stand firm because Christ is my foundation and my fortress. He draws me out of deep waters and sets my feet on higher ground.

He is true to His promises, which shows that we can trust in Him and He will never fail us. These are just a few of His promises:

Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Isaiah 26:3 He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him.
Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

There are times when I put my trust in myself, or in money, or in another person, and I am always let down. The things of this earth can not hold up to the troubles that come. What are you finding your security in besides God? How can you take that faith and place it on the one who always stands the test of time?

In Psalm 125, it says that “Those who trust in and rely on the Lord [with confident expectation] Are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” So when we trust in the LORD, he makes us like his Son. We cannot be shaken because he is always faithful and trustworthy and always comes through for his children. His plans always prevail and never fail.

About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Who is Our Rock? | Jesus: A Rock to Build On or Stumble Over?

Aaron Friesen November 15, 2024

Where do I find stability in life? How do I build a secure and prosperous future for myself and my family? When everything around me seems shaky and uncertain, how can I find something trustworthy and reliable to guide my decisions? These are primal questions to which we all seek answers, and the conclusions we come to about these questions have a snowball effect in our lives. Not having answers to these questions can be a source of great anxiety and fear. Answers that seem unrealistic or unattainable can bring depression, hopelessness and despair.

For a Christian, the obvious answer to these questions is Jesus. Jesus is our rock and our firm foundation. He is the one upon which we build a secure future. How many songs that we sing at church declare this truth?

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand…

Jesus, you’re my firm foundation,
I know I can stand secure…

Christ is my firm foundation,
The Rock on which I stand…

But, what does this mean that Jesus is my Rock? For most of my life, when I’ve sung these kinds of songs at church, I’ve tended to think of this “Rock” and the “Firm Foundation” as referring to a confession of faith in Christ. My profession of faith in Christ makes my present and future life secure in Him. While I believe that is a true statement, I have come to realize that it only captures one part of what is a dynamic, lengthy and scary process of building and rebuilding to find stability on the Rock of Jesus Christ.

While a confession of faith is a critically important starting point, it is just that: a starting point. And this important starting point cannot be separated from the actions that naturally flow out of a sincere confession. The confession of Jesus as Messiah is the firmest foundation upon which I can start to build, but it is the actions that naturally flow out of that confession that will make my life strong and durable over the long haul.

Jesus was very clear about this. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, Jesus told a short parable about two kinds of builders in life. One was wise, and the other was foolish. The difference between the wise and foolish builders was not that one listened to Jesus and the other did not. They both listened, but it was the wise builder who listened and put into practice what Jesus taught. Strength, security and stability in life comes to those who do their best to put into practice the things that Jesus says to do. Stability is found in the doing, not the hearing or the thinking or even the speaking.

This distinction between words and actions wouldn’t be much of an issue for me except that so many of Jesus’s teachings counter ways in which I tend to think that I will build a secure future for myself.

The disciple, Peter, is a perfect illustration of this struggle. In Matthew 16, Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon, which means “listen” or “hearing,” to Peter, which means “rock.” It is Peter’s confession of faith in Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16)” that leads Jesus to change Peter’s name. Upon changing his name, Jesus uses a play on words to make a prophetic statement about Peter’s future: “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Peter’s confession is the rock. His confession of Jesus as Messiah and Lord is a starting point upon which Jesus can build a strong church. But, it is only a starting point. Peter immediately struggles to follow through on his confession. In the very next exchange, Jesus tells his disciples about how he must go to Jerusalem and suffer and die, and Peter responds by rebuking Jesus: “No way! May it never be!” Peter can’t understand how suffering and death could possibly be the will of God for the Messiah. Peter’s rebuke leads Jesus to call him another kind of rock: a stumbling block! One minute Peter is the strong rock upon which the church is built. The next he is a rock that is aligned with Satan and getting in the way of Jesus’s mission and calling. Can you relate to this? I sure can!

The importance of actions that align with words is profoundly illustrated in the exchange between Peter and Jesus. A confession of faith in Christ only produces stability in our lives over the long haul as we do our best to adjust and make changes to align our lives to Jesus, even when His way seems odd or strange or unsettling to us. This is the true cost of discipleship – learning to submit our usual ways of seeking security and stability for ourselves (through things like hoarding possessions, military power, social position, and economic independence) to God’s ways (vulnerability, peacekeeping, servanthood, and generosity). It is through a willingness and commitment to take simple, daily actions consistent with those principles that Jesus taught and lived, even when they might seem like utter foolishness and ”a stumbling block” on the path of wise living (1 Cor 1:20-25), that makes Jesus a firm foundation in the inevitable storms of our lives.

About the Author

Aaron is a passionate seeker of God and truth, and he enjoys encouraging others in their own pursuits of the same. He especially likes to think about how God is at work in the most ordinary and mundane aspects of our existence. He loves going on adventures to new places with his wife, Heather, and four kids and his perfect day would involve an excellent cup of coffee (or two!), a hike to somewhere beautiful and serene, and some good conversation over a pint at a warm pub. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland Seminary and co-leads the CitySalt Kids’ Ministry along with his wife, Heather.

Who is Our Rock? | God Rocks!

Terry Sheldon October 25, 2024

God is our rock!

What a big, bold and beautiful symbol that is. We've heard it repeatedly over the years. Jesus referenced it with his house-on-the-rock comparison and it's certainly something for us to hold on to when things get shaky. Yes God is a rock.

But our lives are rocky.

He built the cosmos, so large and complex that even our math equations can't translate it from mere ideas to what we can perhaps begin to fathom. God is big, and his ways, even bigger. But the seemingly endless void of space and our earthly world can be violent. As we've recently seen, concrete isn't a sure thing in a hurricane. At times like this the comfort of rock-solid hope can break down.

God certainly does save us from harm. But there are times when he doesn't, right? And in that suffering, the drama of our collective humanity plays out. Our biggest fears are exposed, and the suffering will test us. We are forced to choose between hope and despair. Then what we hope for now shifts to whom.

His promise is to always show up.

A few weeks ago Colby and I were in Zion National Park, a place with the most beautiful pastel sandstone cliffs and slot canyons in the world. We were descending into a steep and deep canyon, then hiking up many miles through a stream to an iconic spot - The Subway. Unfortunately we miscalculated the distance and effort needed, and ended up hiking the last two miles back downstream in the dark - exhausted, out of water and with only one working headlamp.

It was one of the hardest days I can remember.

The darkness had now removed all our precious landmarks on the canyon rim above, and we were not sure exactly where the trail was, up and out of our canyon. I was worried and needed to calm down, so we sat down by the stream. I told her there was a chance we would have to spend the night down here, and wait for help in the morning. Her pretty face held a quiet resolve and she wasn't ready to give up. But we needed help.

Side note: Colby has collected big and small heart-shaped rocks for years. Earlier in the day I found a large one, about the size of a basketball. I took a picture of it and we moved on. Now after our rest stop, as we were sloshing across the creek to the other side, hoping to catch our trail out of the canyon, she suddenly squealed.

“I found the heart rock!”

This was big! We now knew where we were, and we knew about how much farther to walk. We soon found our trail and climbed up, then back to our car. It was 11:30 pm. Our 6 hour walk had become 14 and a half.

I don't have very many of life's tough answers figured out. But I am certain of these things: suffering chisels us into resilient people. And two, this struggle moved me closer to the absolute best person I share adventures with. I admire her so much!

Best of all? God showed up on his time, in his classic and perfect way.

And he rocked the heart rock metaphor!

About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Who is Our Rock? | Christ, the Solid Rock

John Rice October 9, 2024

The chorus of the well-known hymn begins with the lyrics: “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” This is the topic the City Salt Blog Team wants to explore in the coming weeks. And what a timely topic this is, given the unrest in the world and in our own country. Where do we place our ultimate trust? Where do we stand? Where do we build our house, on shifting sands or solid rock? As Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it crashed with a great crash.”

Jesus says we are to both hear his words and put them into practice in order to have a firm foundation. But what were these words Jesus was referring to? Well, there were a lot! Starting in Matthew 5, Jesus begins his most famous Sermon on the Mount by turning the world on its head and revealing who is blessed (and by contrast, who is not.) Then he mentions many other topics:

Salt and light, the fulfillment of the law, murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, an eye for an eye, love for our enemies, giving to the needy, how to pray, how to fast, where our treasures are, do not worry, judging others, asking/seeking/knocking, the narrow and wide gates, true and false prophets, true and false disciples….and THEN he mentions the wise and foolish builders. Apparently there are a lot of words Jesus wants us to hear!

But in another Scripture passage, Jesus simplifies all this for us by responding to a teacher of the law who asked Jesus what the most important commandment was. In Mark 12:28-31, we read:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this. ‘Hear o Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

If you look back at all those words Jesus spoke during or after the Sermon on the Mount, you can see that all these topics would be finer details stemming from the greatest commandments!

The point of all this is that if we want to build our house on a firm foundation (metaphorically speaking), we need to start by loving God, following him with all we’ve got, loving our neighbors (which means e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. (Look at the Good Samaritan story in Luke 10:25-37) and, last but not least, loving ourselves in a good and healthy way.

In many places right now, the world is on fire. We in the USA are not immune from the dangers of fire. In fact, we have our own version ablaze in politics, culture wars, religious beliefs, racism and all the other “-isms.”

Surely, we have to decide where we stand in these areas in accordance with our beliefs and convictions. But do we place all our confidence and energies in these outcomes? With American politics as an example, is the next elected president (whoever that may be) our true Savior? Will the world come to an end if So-and-So is elected? Or will that person solve all our problems and be our deep peace that is beyond all understanding, as the Bible says? No! To be good citizens involved in our democratic system, we should do our research, weigh the options and vote. But if that is our only hope, that’s like building our house on sand. God alone is the solid rock and our firm foundation. We can be “in the world” by participating in it, as Jesus indicated when he told the Pharisees to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). But we aren’t “of the world” in the sense that our home is truly with God and in his kingdom. That’s our deepest home!

This brings us back to the second half of Jesus’ admonition: putting his words into practice. In the political example mentioned above, this might mean showing respect for those who vote differently from you, no matter how strongly you disagree. How hard it is to follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbors, even more so our enemies! But if we believe him, he will make it possible and we will experience our home standing firm when the storms come.

About the Author

John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!

Living in Our Moments | Shepherding the Mistiness of Life

Aaron Friesen September 27, 2024

In June, my son and I got to go on a backpacking adventure along the coastline of northern California. On the drive down to our starting point, we got to stop in an old growth Redwood grove outside of Crescent City for lunch. A posted sign told us that the oldest tree in the grove was well over 2,000 years old! Standing next to something that big that has been alive on this earth for that long had a way of putting my small human life into perspective. I found the experience of my smallness and the tree’s largeness strangely grounding. It was both awe inspiring and comforting to experience the cool shade and woody smells that originated from a seed that germinated and took root in this spot in the dirt even before Jesus Christ walked the earth. It calmed my restless spirit to know that it had been growing ever since. Through all the wars, explorations, colonizing, empires, fires, earthquakes, and technological advances of the last two millennia, this tree had found enough water, sunlight, nutrients, oxygen and space to keep living and keep growing.

As we packed up our lunch stuff and left the grove that afternoon, I wondered to myself why something that made me feel so small could also make me feel so secure and at peace within myself. I think it is because the tree put me in my place; the place God intended for me all along as a human being. Touching the bark layers of a 2,000-year-old organism dissolved some of the unspoken (and unnatural) desires and expectations for grandiosity, transcendence and influence that I cling to for dear life, burdens which God never intended for me or anybody else to carry. Somehow, that simple encounter with the tree helped to redirect my attention from all the things I was not doing by being gone on this trip, to being truly present with my son and God’s wild creation for the remainder of our time together.

The wisdom that this tree bark spoke to me that afternoon echoes the wisdom spoken by the writer of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 in the NIV translation says this:

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

The word that the NIV translates as “meaningless” is the Hebrew word hebel. It literally means “mist” or “vapor.” It is like foggy breath on a cold day that disappears in just a few seconds. This is a very important word in the Book of Ecclesiastes, and translating the word as “meaningless” makes many of the passages in Ecclesiastes take on a very different meaning than what I think was likely intended by the author. The writer was not intending to convey the idea that life is pointless and without meaning, but that life is short and fleeting. The writer is trying to put human beings in their place (their God-given place!), by confronting them with the reality of the shortness of life “under the sun” and the fact that there is much about life (including the number of our years, our legacy, and our wealth) that we cannot control, and so it’s best to receive it all as a gracious gift from God.

In reminding the wise reader of the fleetingness and shortness of human life, the writer is not intending to be a downer, but a reality check that encourages one to bask in and savor the simple pleasures of life – things like a hard day’s work, a loving spouse, friendship, laughter, yummy food and drink, and a good night’s sleep.

In his book, How to Inhabit Time, James K. A. Smith summarizes the wisdom that the author of Ecclesiastes gives us in the face of our not so human desires to want to transcend or control history and bend it to our will:

“This is not a counsel of despair or resignation but rather an invitation to reframe expectations so that I can ‘enjoy’ what’s before me, who is with me, fleeting as their presence might be. The question isn’t whether we can escape this condition but how we will receive our mortality, how we will shepherd what’s fleeting yet given.”(1)

That’s what that old Redwood tree was helping me to remember- to consider my mortality in a good way so that I would shepherd the misty moments right in front of me as a wonderful and precious gift from our Creator.

(1) James K. A. Smith, How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2022), 103.

About the Author

Living in Our Moments | Be Awake, Be Awake, Be Awake!

John Rice September 13, 2024

As I was sitting in my chiropractor’s office waiting for my appointment to begin, I noticed a poster hanging behind the receptionist’s desk which read, “There are only two days of the year which you can do nothing about.” Can you guess which two days the author of the quote was talking about? To give you a little time, I’ll put the answer at the end of this blog entry :). A hint, though, is to quote Jesus saying in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Have you noticed how much time we spend ruminating over and over again about things we did or said in the past, or over things that happened to us or were said to us in the past? I, for one, have wasted so much time, energy and happiness going over and over things I wish I’d done differently. It’s like living in an ocean of regret, because for some reason I more clearly remember those negative things than I do the positive things. Why in the world is that the case? Maybe one reason, as illogical as it is, is that I hope by compulsively thinking about past mistakes, I can somehow fix them or change them or reword them or rationalize them…to make myself feel better. But, does that work? Not for me it doesn’t! All it does is waste the time I could be happily living in the present moment!

The opening lyrics to one of my favorite songs are “Every table is an altar, every breath is a gift from you, every moment is a treasure, every day is a kiss from you. So let our hearts be awake, be awake, be awake!” How can we be awake to the amazing gift of life that God is giving us this very moment when we are compulsively worrying about yesterday?

And the same is true for worrying about tomorrow. Surely we want to have plans and goals for the future, but if we focus all our attention there, it will cause us to be anxious, unsettled and possibly even fearful about things that haven’t even happened!

What has helped me tremendously to quit ruminating about the past or future is sitting quietly in the Lord’s presence, drawing attention only to the reality that I am in him and he is in me. This is not always easy for a professional ruminator like me, but its benefits are noticeable over time, kind of like gaining strength after consistent exercise.

Of course there may be traumatic things in our lives, particularly from our childhoods when we were extremely open and vulnerable to being hurt, that would benefit from visiting with a counselor or therapist so that we can understand where our compulsive thoughts and feelings come from. Understanding is good and helpful, but it may not be enough to set us free. The way we live today and the healthy practices we build into our lives, are hugely responsible for “rebooting” our nervous systems and allowing us to experience the beauty and wonder of being alive in this amazing world God has created.

So have you guessed what are the two days which we can do nothing about?

Yesterday and tomorrow!

About the Author

Living in Our Moments | Mindful Self-Care

Mollie Havens August 30, 2024

At times, I find it quite difficult to live in the moment. My mind wanders on to other priorities and I can’t focus on the present. In these times when I want to be present, it is helpful to perform some mindfulness exercises. This centers me and enables me to be in the moment.

Mindfulness is a practice of deliberately focusing one’s attention on the moment. It is also known as grounding. When your mind is swirling it enables one to be present and still. By becoming more self aware, one can become attuned to their thought life, emotions, and sensations. In this time, it is important to not assign a negative or positive belief to what one is thinking or feeling, but simply name it and experience it. I like to imagine myself floating in an ocean and my anxieties or intrusive thoughts just floating away from me. I simply acknowledge that they are there but do not let them weigh me down. I imagine placing them in God’s hands and trust and know that He is big enough to handle them.

Another way I practice mindfulness when my mind is going a million miles a minute is by taking a deep breath, holding it and then slowly letting it out. I then at times try and think of a song or a verse that has brought me comfort. This enables me to slow down my mind and refocus on something positive.

Practices like these are so important when it comes to self care. As a nurse I need to practice self care daily to prevent burn out. Whether it’s taking a bath, tuning out in front of the TV, spending time with family and friends, meditating on scripture, or doing a piece of artwork, self care keeps me in tune with myself and the world around me. Jesus took time for self care too. He would seclude himself, and go away and commune with His Father, or just spend time with his disciples. Examples of when Jesus would go away by himself are Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46-47, John 6:15, and Luke 6:12. Obviously Jesus found it important to make time for just him and God and his friends. So I challenge you to take some time to practice mindfulness or self care. Observe how it makes you feel and see if you want to make time for it more often.

About the Author

Living in Our Moments | Going Slow

Mike D'Eliso August 16, 2024

I often forget to take pictures. I have my phone on me at all times with an amazing camera. I have cloud storage so I can save all the pictures I could ever want. But I just get caught up in ‘whatever’ and often forget to take it out of my pocket and capture the “Kodak Moment”. Sometimes I get to enjoy being in the moment.

Also, the reality of having my phone on me at all times comes with some cons. With an endless connection to seemingly all human knowledge within the global internet, I can get lost in endless scrolling of fail videos, cat videos, and weird history. I can get stuck reading about the local news from Cincinnati, reviews of books I’ll buy but never read, or the Wikipedia history of 90’s alternative rock bands. In all of this, I’ll completely MISS moments!

Sometimes I miss moments because I’m too busy thinking about the next moment coming up. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Enneagram, just know that I relate to the personality type often associated with the deadly sin of gluttony. “This is good, but you know what would make it better?” is a common thought running through my head. Always ready to add more. My kids as snuggly babies were sweet, but what about when they start talking? My kids are fun as toddlers, but what about when they are ready for school? This camping trip is fun, but you know where I’d really like to go next is . . .

Regrettably, if I’m not careful-I miss the now, too excited about what the next will be.

I’m not sure about the biblical characters’ Enneagram types, but David must have been aware of this human tendency to miss moments. I’m certain he did not have Instagram reels or Google News available to him. But perhaps, he too, had the propensity to miss the moment. I’m well aware that Psalm 23 likely comes from a time of great stress and uncertainty for David. That said, it sure does seem like the the opening lines of this infamous psalm apply to our current conversation as well:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.

I’m so glad David caught this.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. But, when you are my shepherd you slow me down.

On my own, I have lots of wants. But, my shepherd helps me lay down. My shepherd knows where to find the good green grass and the cool clean waters. And when I do slow down, when I am in the moment, my shepherd knows this will restore my soul.

Going outdoors to fields and streams is restorative . . . for some. But that may not be your jam. Please don’t take from this that you need the same thing as livestock. And maybe finding the time to get outside is unrealistic in this season. That’s fine. Slowing down to be in the moment will look like different things to us in different seasons.

Yet, please do slow down. Let the Lord be your shepherd. And in slowing down to be present in the moment, He will restore your soul.

About the Author

Mike is CitySalt's Lead Pastor. Mike is married to Britni and together they have two awesome children. He loves working in his garden and connecting with people over coffee. One of his greatest joys in pastoring is helping others discover the fullness that God has for them through His Scriptures and His Spirit.

Living in Our Moments | Loving in the Moment

Terry Sheldon July 19, 2024

Living in a world that is ruled by time, appointments and deadlines, it is difficult but so very necessary to pause and notice a single moment. While God orchestrates beautiful testimonies over our lifetime, he also is faithful to meet us in fleeting or prolonged moments. Join us in practicing the pause and tuning into the here and now, as we pay attention to how God moves moment to moment.

We've all heard the catchphrase "live in the moment," right? It's currently an over used pop culture reference and at times, it seems a bit cliche. Typically it refers to seeking adventure and therefore "living your best life".

But I'm convinced that our very best life is simply learning to love well, and be loved well! That means the essential and relational triad of ourselves, our Creator and those around us.

Time is a constant, ticking metronome - unchanging and sometimes unforgiving. It measures our work schedules and our days and nights. It reveals our wrinkles and aching bodies. We are "on the clock" in near constant motion, with the stress of trying to keep our heads above water in our frantically busy routines. Mostly, time seems like an adversary.

We're busy bees trying to learn what to be.

Moments, on the other hand, are different and so very fascinating. They are carried by time, but are not bound by it, for they can begin and end at will. They occupy our "soft" side and when we are truly being present, or focused on them, they become a great friend and teacher. A well-realized moment is a God-given gift of focused consciousness, which can encourage stronger self-esteem, relationships, and quality of life.

A real catalyst of dynamic change.

A good thing to remember: Our past can unfortunately carry our guilt, and the future can bring us anxiety of the unknown. The past is history and the future brings few guarantees. Neither deserves our main focus.

The only thing that remains is this unique moment in time, positive or challenging, right here in front of us. Moments are not just what we do with our time, but they are how we choose to live in time. But God help us, we need to master our moments!

First up: the Quick Pause.

Sometimes we have to adjust on the fly because things are happening fast - a kind of “contemplation on wheels”. I try to focus on this moment now in front of me, especially if it seems significant in the positive or negative. Then I put things on pause long enough to consider my emotions about it and how my body is reacting.

Does something seem wrong? I want to open up to the Holy Spirit about it. It's tapping into our on-board sensitivity while things are happening in the moment and not detached from it. When we allow ourselves to feel something, identify stressors, and learn some truth about the negativity, then we can be informed about ourselves and others, and start to heal.

Or does the situation catch my attention as positive? On the right track? I want to thank the Lord for it with gratitude and give myself and anyone else involved some credit too! Maybe both sides of this practice is what the Apostle Paul meant by "pray without ceasing." It’s simply relating to our Heavenly Father and Teacher in real time!

I am discovering that this check in does wonders. And if I am too busy, or in fight or flight mode and can't seem to deal with the emotional fallout of something (or I don't want to hurt someone more), I will at least acknowledge it and set it aside. Then the Lord will bring it back around later for me to give it more attention - in a more purposeful and quiet moment.

Other times, it's the Big Stop!

Usually brought on by an emotional crash of some kind, either solitary feelings of sadness or grief, or a "forced stop" - after an argument or clash with someone in my relational circle. It can also be a voluntary time of contemplation, alone with my thoughts and feelings.

In Richard Rohr’s book: “The Naked Now”, he writes that "... we tend to be nervous about slowing down and giving ourselves permission to peer into ourselves, and what we might possibly discover. Being present can be a threat to our own personal status-quo". (I highly recommend this book)!

But we are assured that our Holy Spirit is a dove, not a hawk. He will take great care with us, as we talk and listen, without any condemnation. And positive results will follow.

Whatever leads to it, times of stoppage and contemplation are essential, and a personal priority of self-care. And in terms of our to-do list efficiency, a healthy inner life greatly calms and benefits our outer life, which improves our productivity. It's a win/win!

A great lesson from scripture on pausing or stopping is when Mary and Martha are entertaining Jesus in their home. Martha is serving the others and getting irritated, then she's self-righteous towards Mary, who is sitting intently at Jesus' feet. Mary is realizing the moment, and Jesus compliments her on it!

Lastly, we need not be rigid about how we stop and smell the roses. We can use other catalysts for contemplation that suit us, like the glory of nature or grand babies, or coffee with a trusted friend. Whatever calms us and leads us to tune in to our senses, our bodies, and our emotions...then on to quality time with our Abba, the only one who truly understands all our complex issues.

Let's discover the gift of love in our moments and throw all of our enthusiasm and creativity into them!

About the Author

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Inspiration and Revelation | Biblical Inspiration through Artistic Realism: Henry Ossawa Tanner

Aaron Friesen July 5, 2024

I recently discovered the art of Henry Ossawa Tanner, and I’ve found his paintings of biblical scenes to be spiritually inspiring and deeply moving. Tanner is known as the first African-American artist to gain international acclaim and fame. He was born in 1859. His father was a seminary educated bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and his mother was born into slavery and sent north to Pittsburgh by her mother in the Underground Railroad. Tanner discovered a love for art at an early age, and he enrolled as the only black student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1879. Eventually, he moved to Paris and studied under well-known artists at the famous Académie Julian. Unlike in the United States, he found no racial barriers to people recognizing and appreciating his artistic skills in Paris, so he made it his home for the rest of his life. In the 1890s, Tanner began painting biblical and religious scenes. Two of these, Daniel in the Lion’s Den (1896) and The Resurrection of Lazarus (1897), won numerous awards and accolades by prestigious voices in the Parisian art community.

Tanner painted most of his religious and biblical scenes in the artistic genre known as Realism. It is the realistic expressions, depictions, and subtle details that Tanner incorporates in his paintings of biblical scenes that have captivated me. His paintings draw me into the emotions, drama and feelings that accompany stories that have become all too familiar. As I’m drawn into these realistic aspects of the story, I find intersections with my own story and the stories in the Bible come alive to me in new ways. Through these story connections, the Holy Spirit reveals truths to me that I think would be hard for me to know otherwise.

Below are a couple paintings from Tanner that I’ve found inspiring. I encourage you to look through the library of his paintings when you have the time and see what stands out to you (https://www.wikiart.org/en/henry-ossawa-tanner/all-works).

“Christ Learning to Read” (1914)

This painting is very similar to a painting Tanner did in 1910 that he titled “Christ and His Mother Studying the Scriptures.” Tanner used his own caucasian wife and his biracial son as models for Mary and Jesus in the painting. The title makes it clear that Tanner wanted to humanize Jesus by focusing on his need to be taught by his mother. Jesus helps me to read the scriptures, but at one point in time he needed help from his own mom to learn how to read. As I reflect on this painting, I am reminded that Jesus was well acquainted with the human struggle to learn certain things, and he knows firsthand the common need we all have for patient teachers to guide us in the process of learning.

“Jesus and Nicodemus” (1899)

Tanner took numerous trips to the Holy Land in order to study the places, the culture and the people described in the biblical stories. This detail comes through in the rooftop landscape background of the painting. The facial expressions are particularly captivating to me. The status of Jesus as a young, controversial rabbi comes through as well as the humility required of Nicodemus as a sagely Pharisee to come to Jesus at night with his questions. As I reflect on this painting, I am inspired to learn from Jesus as my rabbi, but I’m also reminded that many things that a rabbi shares with his students, even the most learned and wise, they will not easily understand.

About the Author

Inspiration & Revelation | Thin Place

Mollie Havens June 7, 2024

Each morning, before heading into work, I arrive five to ten minutes early and just dwell in my car. Often I listen to meditations on different scriptures to center my mind and heart on the word of God. However, one morning, I felt drawn to one song and made it my prayer. It starts off recognizing that Christ has torn the veil and enabled any place to be a thin place. A place where we can commune with Him. I pleaded with God that throughout the day He would make my work environment a thin place. That He would be very present in the clinic rooms, nurses station, break room, offices, etc. He did indeed make that place a sacred space that day. After work, I was given that opportunity to share my testimony with one of my coworkers and ask if she needed prayer. I prayed with her and was reminded that the Holy Spirit was interceding on our behalf.

After that day, He has emphasized that any place can be holy ground as He abides in me and I can meet with Him anywhere. He is never far away. In Psalms 84, He reminds us that His dwelling places are lovely and that we should long and greatly desire to be in His courts. In His presence we find strength for the day and hope for tomorrow. He makes our hearts highways to Zion. We are blessed and greatly favored when we trust in Him, rely on Him, commit our ways to Him, and have confident hope and expectation in Him.

Thin Place

This is a thin place
This is where You meet with us
This is sacred space
This is where You meet with us
Holy ground
We are standing on
Holy ground
Just by being here with You
You are never far away
Mountain high or darkest day

Deep in doubt or filled with faith
You walk with us along the way
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
We love being here with You
We love being here with You

This is a photo of a piece of artwork I created after listening to this song and being inspired by the Holy Spirit.

About the Author

Inspiration & Revelation | The Power of Music and Poetry

John Rice May 24, 2024

As a student in high school and college, I hated poetry. I liked things to be simple and concrete, easy to understand, the nutshell/Cliff notes version of everything. I apparently didn’t have time for all those similes and metaphors and veiled references to ideas that could easily be expressed in street language! This started to change, though, when I heard some mysterious and intriguing lyrics set to music. Something about the power of music to emotionally engage me helped the actual words of the song move me too.

Now, at this later date in life, I can honestly say that I appreciate poetry and music more than ever (well, at least some of it). And when music and poetry touch on the deeper things in life like spirituality and the human condition, I genuinely appreciate it. Listening to it resonates with something deep in the core of my being…kind of like the Bible does. Reading the Psalms, which was meant to be lyrics set to music, must be why so many people love them so much.

I wanted to share two songs that are very moving to me, and for two very different reasons. The first one is called “Every Table is an Altar” written by Jason Upton. It is a contemplative song from a man deeply devoted to Jesus. The other is called “Hallelujah” written by Leonard Cohen, a man who knows the Bible well, but who isn’t sure that God really exists. His faith has lots of unanswered questions, yet in this song he relates the biblical story of David and Bathsheba to his own complicated relationship with a woman on earth. It is a man wrestling for answers, aware of his lack of understanding.

I share these lyrics and songs with huge curiosity about what you think of them. How do they make you feel? What’s happening in the video that strikes you? Do you really like one and hate the other? Does something make you mad or happy when thinking about them? If you’d ever like to discuss these things, I’d love to discuss them with you! But I’m predicting one thing to be true, no matter what…that you hear the hearts of the artists and the power of lyrics and music. God is the ultimate Creator and, in his image, he has made us creators too! And just like in the Psalms, God doesn’t insist on us being happy and worshipful all the time. He wants us to express our deepest heart with honesty. He is after all the God of Truth! And he loves us, warts and all!

“Every Table is an Altar”

Every table is an altar
Every breath is a gift from you
Every moment is a treasure
Every day is a gift from you

So let our hearts be awake, be awake
Let our heart be awake, be awake
So let our hearts be awake, be awake
Let our heart be awake, be awake

Every stranger has a story
Every story is being told by you
We're all children on a journey
Jesus only you can lead us through

So let our hearts be awake, be awake
So let our hearts be awake, be awake
Let our hearts be awake, be awake
Let our hearts be awake, be awake

Break the bread, pour the wine
Let our hearts come alive
In your presence, in your presence
Let our fear fall away
Let our faith rise today
In your presence, in your presence

We will shout your name, King of Glory
We will stand and sing, You are holy
We will pour out praise, You are worthy
Of our lives, now and forever
We will shout Your name, King of Glory
We will stand and sing, You are holy
We will pour out praise, You are worthy
Of our lives, now and forever

Let our hearts
Be awake
Be awake
Let our hearts
Be awake
Be awake
Let our hearts
Be awake
Be awake
Let our hearts
Be awake
Be awake

Here we wait on you
Here we wait on you

“Hallelujah”

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you dont really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor falls, the major lifts
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Well people I've been here before
I know this room and I've walked this floor
You see I used to live alone before I knew ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
But listen love, love is not some kind of victory march, no
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Well, maybe there's a God above
As for me all I've ever learned from love
Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
But it's not a crime that you're here tonight
It's not some pilgrim who claims to have seen the Light
No, it's a cold and it's a very broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

(The following verses not included in the video)

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And I remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove she was moving too
And every single breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Now I've done my best, I know it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come here to London just to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand right here before the Lord of song
With nothing, nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

About the Author

Inspiration & Revelation | God in Nature

Terry Sheldon April 26, 2024

The inspiration of the Holy Spirit and revelations of the nature and will of God and the depths of His love are all around us. In nature, in art, in music, in the person sitting next to you. He is always talking to us.

Join the blog team over the next couple of months as they share with you stories of their own experiences of meeting God in the natural and creative spaces of their lives.

For those who don't know me well, this topic is not only near and dear to my heart, but at times in my life, it reaches a (mostly healthy) obsession level. I'm talking about wanderlust, that drive to discover and be in beautiful, wild spaces. For me the progression goes something like this:

I manage an ever-expanding bucket list and dream of where to go next.
I go there and don't want to leave.
No matter how tired a trip makes me, upon return I quickly yearn to be out again.

I've been like this since a very young age, when I was wishing so bad that I was old enough to climb mountains with my Dad, like he did in the Rockies of Colorado, and then here in the Cascades of Oregon. And as a sensitive young man, I was found to be chasing waterfalls and crying at the spectacular hues of yellow-orange-purple sunsets.

Sounds a bit crazy, right? There's more.

I also developed a (mostly unhealthy) adrenalin rush habit. My poor parents and friends, and then my wife were forced to wince and look the other way as I tried my latest stunt, like backflipping off rocks into bubbly creeks, or peering down over towering cliffs just to see how far down that really was. I know, I know.

By God's grace I'm still here to live another day, but beyond my thrills there has always been a deep and abiding sense of not just looking at nature, but being an integral part of it, if that makes sense. I guess I could say that his creation is part of a kind of personal emotional trinity - God, nature and me.

Nature's beauty and grandeur is highlighted in the mind-bending size and complexity of our ever-expanding universe. It's home to the very origins of matter, forces beyond our understanding, as well as the creation and development of humanity itself, with our consciousness and ability to love. In this glorious creation we know and have experienced much. And yet we see through the glass so dimly and sometimes it seems we know so little.

God's everlasting love is every bit as vast!

For the last few years, I've taken up star photography. Even though it's technical and difficult, especially on crispy cold nights, it has been so good for me. Some say they feel small and alone staring at the starry heavens. I feel the opposite - so inspired and aligned with God, and the expanse feels like a billion possibilities. Endless opportunity in my life, just like the stars.

The love of nature is a sensory gift, and also a great teacher. It inspires art and aesthetics, motivates us to seek necessary change, and orients our minds and hearts towards something and someone bigger than ourselves. It directly echoes and reflects the ways of God - his creativity, his spirit of adventure, and hints at his grand plan for all of us.

In my wanderings these days - around here or out there, the God of our creation keeps showing up. He is slowly and thoughtfully becoming brighter to me, as he opens me up - sharing his knowledge and wisdom as I develop. Instead of my rough edges being harder to understand, these days they are becoming easier. Of course I still need to do the work, but I can't adequately express how great this feels.

Let's all get out and tune into the beauty around us. Let's soak up the science and marvel in the mysterious. And let's dream as we all anticipate our ultimate big adventure!

About the Author

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Like a Child | God as Father

Mike Wilday April 12, 2024

It’s no accident that all four of the gospels begin with the revelation of God as a loving father to all of humanity. The exploration of the incarnate God, the journey of discovering Jesus, begins with the revelation of God as a father doting on his son.

The father child relationship is so important in my own personal life journey. The relationship I had with my father had a tremendous impact on my life. His emotional absence and the lack in our relationship has been a source of grief and great pain staining my belief about myself, and creating trauma that impacts the way I approach relationships with others. It interferes with the way I father, and opposes the way I even care for myself.

I know I’m not alone in this, so many people have been impacted by their relationships with their fathers, and yet that is the way God chose to reveal himself to humanity, and each gospel accounts this revealing of Jesus, his son. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all describe the event of Jesus’ baptism. The first words we hear God speak in the New Testament are those of a doting father, who delights in his son. Imagine with me this moment: it’s been 400 years since God has spoken through the prophets, or revealed himself to his people. Suddenly, a prophet is revealed: some crazy man named John who wears camel skin and wanders the desert. He’s warning everyone to repent of their sins and turn to God.(Matt 3:2; Mark 3:4; Luke 3:7).

God, in all his power, and all that holiness, and all that expectation, reveals himself during Jesus’ baptism as a loving father; one who is well pleased with his son. This is so vastly different than the voice booming on the mountain side, accompanied with thunder and lightning and fire and smoke.(Exodus 19:16-18).

I love the juxtaposition of these realities as expressed in John 1:17: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” Jesus, he explains in John 1:12, gives us the right to become children of God. This really sets apart the work of Jesus as he brings another revelation of the heart of the father. God, as is even portrayed in the Old Testament, is full of mercy, generous, kind, and loving. He can be trusted, depended on. He is one who heals, who speaks kindly, who loves to show mercy, who is patient, and long suffering. He is one who waits expectantly with a ring and a robe to welcome us home. He is one who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one astray. He is a father, who is avidly pursuing our hearts. He deeply longs to be in a relationship with us, his children. He is a good father who loves us. Take a moment to listen to this YouTube playlist of songs while considering these truths. I pray these songs bless you and minister to your heart as you consider how much the Lord loves you today. You are his dearly loved child. Rest in that today.

About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Like a Child | Bright Eyed Wonder

Mollie Havens March 29, 2024

“May we never lose our wonder
Wide eyed and mystified
May we be just like a child
Staring at the beauty of our King.”
-Wonder, by Bethel

Children look at the world in a different way than adults do. They are filled with curiosity. They have an innocence to them. They are not jaded nor judgemental. They take people at their word and trust them. This is how we should approach our relationship with Christ. We are to expect miracles from him, not question his capabilities. It is easy to ask little things of God. But, what about the big things? Think about a child before Christmas they have big expectations. They don’t ask for socks. They ask for bicycles. In the same way we should ask big things of God and believe Him for the impossible. As a child trusts their loving parents to give good gifts, so should we entrust our hopes to Him who delights in fulfilling the desires of our hearts.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not writing about a prosperity gospel where God is a vending machine or a genie. It is not an ask and you shall receive relationship. Instead, it is a hopeful, trusting dynamic, where we place our faith in the one who knows the desires of our hearts and knows what is best for us and delights in giving good gifts to His children. Thinking back on my own journey of my expansion of faith, I remember asking God to nurture and grow friendships in Eugene when I first moved to town. Little did I know that he would build a strong support system around me and establish for me a new and rewarding life here. He blessed me with a community at CitySalt that is now like that of a family. I was given the joy of sharing a duplex with one of my now best friends, Jessy. Even when I did not know what to expect or seek out, God was faithful in answering my prayers beyond my wildest dreams.

As I think about my own outlook on God, I question if He wants to care for me, and if He has my best in mind. I do this at times, because I know what I have in mind for my well being and I wonder why God does not answer me the way I want him to. Why does he not fulfill my greatest imaginations for me and bring all I want to pass? I may never have the answer to these questions, but I have learned that God is always faithful. Our finite minds cannot comprehend all that God has in store for us. He may reveal it just one step at a time, like walking through a fog. Or he might welcome us into the vast expanse of an open field and open our eyes to his fresh beginnings. Other times there may be a veil that covers us as a hedge of protection and the truth may not be uncovered until we reach Heaven.

As a wise father or mother, Christ knows what is best for me even when I do not. And He will always look out for me and have the best intentions. He is in control and cares for each one of His children uniquely and equally. We are adopted into His family and made new in his image. He has great plans for us. All we are to do is listen to him, trust him and know him. As we walk in His ways and are obedient to him, He will care for us and guide us in ways everlasting.

In Mark 10:13-16 Jesus proclaims, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Children have a vast imagination. If they were asked to believe Christ about heaven they likely would. They are able to imagine and share Christ’s vision for eternity. They have a bright eyed wonder about the future. They are optimistic. And so should we be.

About the Author

Like a Child | Through a Child's Eyes

Terry Sheldon March 22, 2024

I was gazing at our one-year-old first grandson the other day, and I just couldn't avert my eyes. Why should I? His deep baby-blues are just like his lovely mother Michaela's. Later I took an international poll and he was voted the world's cutest baby. Okay, I exaggerate. Just a little.

He's a brand-new human, fresh and lively, and there is something so captivating about a child's innocent face and his constant discoveries. I have to say that noticing a subtle resemblance to my son and me is a transcendent feeling.

As any new baby, he's outfitted with an open heart and mind. In between circling back to the security and warmth of his mother's embrace, he charges ahead - eyes, mouth and hands-first, exploring anything and everything. He looks at me with the same curiosity, and I am able to coax a toothy smile as he remembers my face and remembers that he trusts me.

I am so humbled by this.

With our own kids, fatherhood was of course all new and frankly, terrifying. How could Colby and I not feel the weight of this great responsibility? Our babies came without an instruction manual or even a warranty. Over time we adapted and learned, but in the process, we certainly made our share of mistakes.

People always say that grandparenting is all fun with none of the work. Yes, this is mostly true and I've never been a big dirty diaper fan, but there is more. As with any new season in our life, it's teaching time. As Beckham explores, I am doing the same. His first year in my life has been splendid and euphoric, but also deeply spiritual.

Maybe even a bit of do-over?

Don't get me wrong, I loved being a Dad, and I still do. But over the years the pressures of life took a toll, and I paid it. Thankfully grace abounds in our family, and if we humbly circle around and hang in there, Abba Father will continue His good work. With our grandson, in this heart of mine, it suddenly seems fresh and new.

Now I've found another little boy again, and it's me.

I watch my son Taylor as he works so patiently with Beckham, with a simple joy while staying deep in their moment. They both are trusting, tender, kind and funny - just like our own Heavenly Father. I am amazed and so pleased. And I'm taking notes.

How strange, it seems like role-reversal. They both are modeling fruits of the spirit in their new relationship, and it's affecting me in such a good way. Jesus was so right about letting the little children come to Him.

Mathew 19:14, 15
“Let the children alone", he said. "Don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.”

Who knew a one-year old boy could teach this old guy so much?

About the Author

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Like a Child | Childlike Wonder

Jessie Carter March 15, 2024

Jesus obviously valued the attitude, humility, and perspective of children, shown when He said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” But why?

Aside from the Sunday-School-answer of us needing to humbly acknowledge our childlike dependency on His saving grace in order to be forgiven and made pure, I think there is more. In order to appreciate Heaven (and not just the after-death aspect of it, but also being part of the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth), I think we need to see the world with child-like wonder.

Think about the first time you saw something that blew your mind when you were a kid. For me, that was probably Smith Rock State Park. I went to it with my family as a tween, and my jaw dropped at the grandeur. Over the course of my life, I’ve been lucky and privileged enough to see some amazing sights, including one of the actual Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá. At times I’ve gotten to a point of being desensitized to them. Oh, look, another pretty mountain. Ho, hum. I’ve seen it happen in others, too. Several years ago, I drove my friend’s kids to their home in Montana after visiting their grandparents here in Oregon, and we took the scenic route. We hiked through the Painted Hills and stopped to see the Wallowa Mountains. But the kids weren’t impressed. They knew they had bigger, more epic scenes at home in Montana. They’d lost some of their childlike wonder. Note: I can’t blame them too much. After getting them home, my friend took us all to Glacier National Park there in Montana. It has been my favorite national park ever since then, and no scenery has topped it for me.

Currently, I’m blessed with the opportunity to show my family wonders they’ve never seen. Chris had seen many amazing sights around the USA when he was young, but for some reason missed most of them in and around Oregon. The kids had only seen a few neat places on day trips with aunts and uncles that have since moved out of the state. So I get to play tour guide, experiencing the wonder of places I’ve been before with fresh eyes while I see them light up as they take in the beauty and scale of a scene or landmark. And I remember what it means to enjoy a place as they run around and play. Why stand there and look at a redwood when you can climb around on its giant trunk and roots?

When I was younger, I lived for giant mountains, cascading waterfalls, or rocky landscapes smelling of sagebrush. I was disappointed if a vista or landmark didn’t meet my expectations. As I’ve traveled more and more, I have become more intentional about finding the beauty in everything. On my last big road trip, I drove through several states visiting friends and relatives. This included Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Southwestern states. After leaving Denver, I expected to be bored and sad that the mountains were behind me. Instead, I gazed at the wide horizon as I drove through endless green cornfields in Kansas, interrupted by the “Cathedral of the Plains” (a beautiful church in the middle of nowhere). I then reveled in century-old art deco architecture in Tulsa, Oklahoma before my friend there took me kayaking on a reservoir surrounded by every color of green tree. Texas had fascinating finds, too, but I’m running out of room to write. I haven’t even begun to discuss how interesting people are all over the world. But I think you get my point.

The beautiful world of scenery and humanity is only the beginning. Someday, we will soak in the grandeur of Heaven and God Himself. Until then, let’s practice seeing the world we’re in now with childlike wonder.

About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Like a Child | In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…

Ruth Vettrus March 8, 2024

When asked to write a guest blog on the topic of being like a child, I have to say I got excited. Like really excited…like a child excited, which, if you know me, is kind of the norm. I love children and have long since identified with them in many ways. Height, humor, childlike voice, spontaneity, adoration of Narnia and hobbits, and even the size of my hands have been identified as “child” sized. Also having spent so many years with children in the classroom, I can safely say being with the kids is my favorite place to be, but bear with me for a second. A moment if you will… children have the advantage over us adults in so many ways, and it makes me so excited (as I said before) that Jesus loves the children. I mean REALLY loves the children. Which means the Father loves the children, and the Father has told us, his children, that in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven, we must change and be like children (Matthew 18:3). I’m super excited about entering (coming into) that space and place of heaven and his kingdom, so a command to change and be like a child? Check. What comes next?

Let’s lean in and “listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will be changed- in a moment (a flash-NIV), in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.” In the 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 passage, the apostle Paul is talking about the resurrection body, and uses the term “twinkling of an eye” or at least it was translated to mean that. What I want to focus on is the moment in which something happens. The definition of moment is “a comparatively brief period of time”. I love definitions and could spend all day unpacking all of the meanings of the word “moment” but I will stay on the one that means-instant. A fraction of a second. An amount of time that is considered minute. That's “Mine-oot” phonetically speaking. Soooo small. It means that Jesus says we will be changed that quickly, instantly.

Do you think you could see that quickly? Do you believe that you could see when that moment or instant happened and everything changed? A large part of my faith journey has been to try to isolate that moment in the bible. I love trying to figure out the instant things changed for the disciples when they were with Jesus. Let’s look at a couple stories and give it a try.

John 6:5-13
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. (what a funny guy, giving tests to his disciples!) 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (yes, the children have what we need! haha) 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Well, did you see it? Could you tell the moment things changed?? The actual instant the 2 fish became 5 thousand fish? The moment or flash of time that made 5 barley loaves, hundreds of baskets full of barley loaves?? Wow, ok me neither. Ok kids, let’s try another one…

John 2:5-9
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Well?? How about now?? Water/Wine/Water/Wine? Slight of the hand? I don't think so. I’m not trying to insinuate that Jesus is using some type of cheap magic trick. What I would like to propose is that he is the truth and the truth is that we will be changed in an instant, and that the twinkling of an eye could be his eye when he looks at us with love. That love changes everything, even us whether or not we can spot it, watch it, feel it, or even understand it. I used to tell my foster son that he is the twinkle in God’s eye and mine too. Can we allow that twinkle or flash of light invade our worlds, knowing he loves us? Can we be like a child and in an instant allow Jesus to change things in our worlds today, tomorrow, soon? Will we allow the Kingdom of Heaven to be with us now? Could we be excited for the things we cannot comprehend, but be excited for the one who DID change everything in an instant?

About the Author

Ruth is a teacher who loves her family, friends, bending any ear about Jesus and spending time flying by the seat of her pants to far off places, and hopefully more soon!

Like a Child | In Awe of God Playing Hide and Seek

John Rice March 1, 2024

“And Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God.’” Matthew 18:3

When I think of what makes a child a child, a lot of different and sometimes very contradictory things come to mind. For example, a child can be incredibly sweet and endearing, but they can also be very selfish and mean. They can show great love and give you undivided attention, but then they can turn around, totally ignore you and act as if you don’t matter at all. They can be playful and light-hearted and then, in the flash of a second, can turn and be moody and depressive.

So what was Jesus talking about when he said that to enter the kingdom of God, we must be like a child? Does he want us to be impetuous, unpredictable and lacking in self-control as children so often are? Or could it be simpler than that? Could it have less to do with our childlike personalities and more to do with his desire simply to be in a close, loving relationship with us, like a Father or a Mother? Maybe he wants to be for us like a good, good father who we recognize as our creator, our sustainer, our strength, our wisdom-giver… the one who loves us unconditionally? Does he simply want us to be dependent on him, like a little child is toward their good father or mother? I’m thinking this might be closer to the mark of what God is looking for.

Children generally love to play games, and an all-time favorite is Hide and Seek. It seems like sometimes God plays this game with us, his children. At times he seems to hide from us and other times he seeks us out. It seems we also try to hide from him at times and then at other times we seek him out.

Even as adults we are invited in the same way to look for God and to find him in sometimes the most unusual circumstances of our lives. Here are three examples, two that happened to two friends of mine and one that just recently happened to me.

Our friend, Betsy, lost her teenage son to a motorcycle accident. Wracked with grief, she held fast to the Lord but struggled with depression and a sense of hopelessness. After her son’s funeral she took home the flowers that had been displayed at the Memorial Service. One was a kind of lily that usually only blooms in the Spring. But exactly on her son’ birthday in the Fall, the lily bloomed with one large, beautiful flower. And then, after that flower had faded away, the plant did not blossom again until exactly Easter morning and this time it had three beautiful flowers. Both of these bloomings held great symbolic meaning for Betsy, who received them as a message from God that she was loved, her grief was seen and that her son was safe now and with his Heavenly Father.

I have another friend who lost his wife about three years ago. In deep grief, he went about his days doing what he needed to do with work and with others in his family, but he missed his wife terribly. One day while walking downtown with his head lowered, he noticed a dime on the sidewalk. Without thinking much about it, he leaned down and picked it up. The next day he was walking again in another part of town and, looking down, saw another dime on the sidewalk! This was interesting. It was not a penny, a nickel or a quarter, but a dime. The next day the same thing happened…and this continued to happen daily for weeks. When he was telling me about this, he was absolutely convinced that these daily dimes were secret little messages from God, saying, “I see you. I love you. You’re going to be ok. Your wife is here with me and doing well” and expressing other sentiments like this. This was a grown, middle-aged, intelligent man with a successful business who was convinced that God was spreading dimes out for him to find across the city! To me this sounds like a childlike faith in a game of “God’s Hide and Seek”.

My story is a little bit similar. This last Thanksgiving, I realized I was heading down into a funk that happens often during the winter holidays. I know it was in large part due to missing my wife, but it had also been a seasonal occurrence for many years, even before I was married. I had a wonderful holiday with my kids and grandkids, but this funk was simmering in the depths of my soul. One day when I was feeling especially discouraged, I glanced at the clock and it read 1:11. I thought nothing of it. Later that day I glanced at the clock and it read 5:55.

The next day I looked up to find 3:33. Sometime the next day I saw 4:44. I went to bed early and woke up to see 11:11. The next day I thought I’d check my email and the phone opened to show me it was 2:22. This went on till after the New Year and it actually is still happening from time to time now.

I absolutely know how crazy this might seem to people, especially non-believers, but I was convinced after the third or fourth occurrence that God was shooting me a quick little reminder that he was with me, that things would get better and be ok, that my wife was with him and doing well. So every time I see the clock show a time like that, I just smile and say “Thank you, Lord!”

Just like a little child.

About the Author

Like a Child | God Wants Kids Who Shout

Aaron Friesen February 23, 2024

Children are a picture of hope, joy, optimism and faith. Jesus invites us to reconnect with the child inside of us as we prepare to approach him, in a posture of trust and complete dependence. Join the CitySalt blog team as we consider how to take on the attributes of a child and rediscover these inner parts of ourselves.

As a parent of four, I often crave quiet. I sometimes get tired of all the noise that inevitably accompanies a house full of children. But God isn’t always on my side when it comes to noise. Sure, God is sometimes the God of silence and a still small voice, but at other times it seems God wants some shouting and yelling, even when the adults want quiet.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that when Jesus finally arrived in Jerusalem and entered the temple, the kids started shouting, and the teachers who were there got very angry about what they were yelling.

Matthew 21:12-17 (NIV)
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Jesus’ presence in the temple that day was a serious disruption of the normal worship rituals as he turned over tables full of money, knocked over benches full of birds, and cured the blind and lame. Can you imagine the sounds: crashing furniture, coins hitting the stone floor, birds flapping and squawking, and the joyous yells of people being healed from lifelong ailments? Added to this cacophony were the shouts of children saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” It must have been quite the commotion!

The religious leaders in the temple didn’t like the children shouting in this way, and they expected Jesus to do something about it. Whether in the temple of Jesus’ day or in the church of our day, children are often told to be quiet in religious spaces. But not Jesus. Instead of telling the children to be quiet, Jesus silenced the religious leaders. He told them that it is the children who have it right. Far from inappropriate, their shouts of praises are what this moment demanded.

The religious leaders and the children are both witnessing the same thing. Jesus is doing “wonderful things (v.15).” Yet it is only the children who know how to respond appropriately. They are the ones in the story who know better. How can that be? I have a few ideas…

Children are ready to celebrate good things.
You don’t have to teach a child to celebrate or shout. You don’t have to teach a child to sing or dance. You have to teach them not to. Adults help children learn cultural rules about when and how it is appropriate to celebrate, but when cultural rules are getting in the way of real authentic celebrations, it is often the kids who are the first to challenge the rules. This is what was happening in the temple. Jesus was healing people who needed healing. He was also exposing systems that were taking advantage of people. The children could recognize that this was a moment to celebrate, and regardless of what the adults were doing they were ready to shout “Hosanna” in the temple at the top of their lungs.
Children are sensitive to unfair power structures.
Children often seem distracted or unaware of what is going on around them. As a dad, I’ve done my share of telling my kids to listen up and pay attention. The truth, however, is that children are quite aware and attentive to many things, just not the things that I want. One thing that children seem to be hyper aware of are systems or situations that are unjust or unfair. Children are aware of their dependence on adults for the things that they need, and because of that they are also very aware of how systems of power are working or not working for themselves and others. Children are especially good at exposing rules that aren’t really working the way they were intended. When power structures hurt or neglect other people or treat some people unfairly, it is often children who will be quick to notice and to want to do something about it. I wonder if that is one of the reasons the children shouted in the temple. Perhaps they were sensitive to those who were not being taken care of in the current system, and they were hopeful that Jesus was going to do something about it. They were right!
Children ask lots of questions.
Children, by nature, are extremely open and flexible in how they process the world around them. That is how they learn so much so fast. They are full of questions and curiosity about the things that they don’t understand, and they are constantly assimilating new information. I can distinctly remember all four of my kids going through a phase where they asked “Why?” all the time about everything. As annoying as that might have been at times, it is one of the great gifts that children give adults: a moment to stop and ask why about our unquestioned habits. Through their questions, children often reveal underlying goals and hidden motives, inconsistencies, and hypocrisy. I wonder if this natural proclivity to ask questions and to seek out better answers helped the children in the temple to be excited about the new things that Jesus was bringing in a way that the religious authorities were not.

If God’s kingdom is about letting God’s light shine in the dark places of our lives to help us see things that need to change; if God’s kingdom is about being open to the new things that God wants to do in us and through us to make the world better; if God’s kingdom is about stopping to celebrate goodness wherever it is found; if God’s kingdom is about all these things, then is it any wonder that Jesus placed a child in their midst and said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3, NIV)

About the Author

The inspiration of the Holy Spirit and revelations of the nature and will of God and the depths of His love are all around us. In nature, in art, in music, in the person sitting next to you. He is always talking to us.

Join the blog team over the next couple of months as they share with you stories of their own experiences of meeting God in the natural and creative spaces of their lives.

“May we never lose our wonderWide eyed and mystifiedMay we be just like a childStaring at the beauty of our King.”-Wonder, by Bethel

CitySalt Church

Celebrate Goodness

“May we never lose our wonder
Wide eyed and mystified
May we be just like a child
Staring at the beauty of our King.”
-Wonder, by Bethel