Living in Our Moments | Going Slow

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.

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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.

Truth in Love | Exposure to the Light

Being a part of the Christian subculture, the term Truth in Love is nothing new. I think my knee-jerk assumption is that it’s a free pass to tell people things they don’t want to hear, but in a nice way. But what if there is a broader way that the Church, God’s people, brings truth to our community? Truth - honest reflections of where evil, brokenness, and selfishness ravish God’s good creation - are spoken not in judgment and shame inducing “other-izing,” but with invitational love.

I was caught up in a rabbit trail this morning (as I often am), learning about the 1919 Elaine Massacre. I had never heard of this mass destruction of black bodies in rural Arkansas that took place over 100 years ago. A post on social media shared at the right time of day was all I needed to send me into investigation mode to learn what they were talking about. One thing led to another …you know the drill. I invite you to explore that Wikipedia rabbit trail on your own time.

With Truth in Love on my mind, I was very interested to learn about the memorial for this tragic event that was actually built pretty recently. The website of the Elaine Massacre Memorial leads with a quote from author James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” Now regardless of your familiarity with or opinions about James Baldwin, this quote took me right back to scripture’s usage of light and dark. The way of bringing the gross, dark, shame-filled things to the light and exposing that which was hidden, brings the opportunity for healing.

In Ephesians 5, Paul is talking about “walking in love,” rather than how we used to walk, and “walking as children of light,” rather than in the darkness we once walked. He then builds the case for how to walk in this new way in verse 13: “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”

Exposure to the light! The light of truth exposes these horrible sins and only then do we have a chance to mourn, repent, reconcile, and heal. The way of love leads us to the light.

I know my gut reaction to my embarrassing behavior is to hide it. I saw it in my children when they were toddlers because it is what’s natural to us. I know I do it now in my 30s. When I trip, I look around to make sure no one sees it. When I fail, I hope no one will know it was me. On a larger scale, we as a nation attempt to bury our hate-filled histories like that of the Elaine Massacre and The Red Summer of 1919…not to mention the hate-filled racial history here in Eugene, from the burning crosses on Skinner’s Butte to the segregated Ferry Street Community across the Willamette. (Consider a walking tour of Eugene’s black history https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/take-a-walking-tour-of-eugenes-black-history/)

It wasn’t until 2019 that the 1919 tragedy was formally memorialized. Before the concrete memorial was built, a willow tree was planted on site, which only months later was cut down and the memorial tag stolen. People kept trying to keep this story hidden. But this hiding is not the way of Jesus, not the way of truth in love, and not the way of healing and wholeness.

When the truth is exposed to the light we can see it, address it, and repent from it. This is why Auschwitz and other internment camps are available for tours to this day. And this exposure of evil to the light was the invitation from the prophets to Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations. This is the invitation to healing today. Without bringing these histories to the light there can be no healing.

The light is God’s light. If it were not, then the light would be dangerous. But this light is the light that can handle the truth with love.

Pray with me:

Psalm 139
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

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About the Author

Mike is CitySalt's Lead Pastor. Mike is married to Britni and together they have two awesome elementary school-aged 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.

Letter from Pastor Mike | Sunday Services - July 17th and 24th

July 7, 2022

Hello Church,

The WORLD is coming to Eugene. Have you heard this expression lately? It’s beginning to sink in. And when the world comes to Eugene they will be at Hayward Field about 9 blocks away from where we gather on Sunday Evenings for worship.

The staff and I have been digesting the realities of this global event. While thrilled our beloved city is showcased in this way, and humbled to have so many visitors, the campus area is simply going to be unpredictable and full. 25,000 attendees per day, 2,700 athletes (plus their coaching teams), 300+ news outlets from every corner of the globe with an anticipated 1 billion viewers. Roads will be closed around the campus, shuttles will be transporting people, and the buzz will be palatable.

This extrovert is pretty excited about it all and looks forward to diving in and absorbing the event. AND The Box will be shared by the OneHope Network to host “An evening of Inspiration and Empowerment with Olympic High Jump Silver Medalist Nicola McDermott” leading up the the Worlds. I hope you can make it to the worship event. Mark your calendar for 6:30pm on Thursday, July 14th. I know many of you have met Nicola when she visited CS in May!

All that said, when it comes to Sunday Worship Services the scale of this event will undoubtedly make it a logistical challenge for our members to gather in worship.

We have made the decision to “lean into our strengths as a small church” and nimbly move our gathering out to the country. Specifically to Pastor John’s property, in Pleasant Hill. Which has affectionately served as a living room for CitySalt over many many years.

If you are one of the newer faces in the congregation since the pandemic you may not have been to Pastor John’s property yet. While I prefer to not publish his address on such a public platform, I’d love to share it personally and make sure you make it! My cell phone number is 541-505-6770. Text me!

I am genuinely excited for these two special Sundays that we are calling “Backporch Church.” I really look forward to worshiping under the oaks on a beautiful summer evening with you all.

Sincerely,
Pastor Mike

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The Details:

• Two impacted Sundays, July 17th and July 24th

• Bring your own picnic dinner from 4:30-5:30pm

• Special intimate service will be from 5:30-6:30pm

• Service will be live streamed via Facebook Live

• Families will be together

• Worship will be acoustic

• Prayers for the world

• Sharing will come from multiple voices

Rhema | A Word Spoken in Real-Time

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The bible is a funny thing sometimes. There is nothing like it on our bookshelves. What else do you have in your home that is a collection of volumes written over a span of thousands of years by scores of authors in different geographic regions and languages? I’m assuming not much. So it’s safe to say that maybe we can’t simply approach it in the same way as our news apps and paperbacks.

I know I’ve said this repeatedly before. I don’t do so to intimidate anyone from reading scripture, but to hold it more appropriately when reading it. This blog series on “Rhema” is a great example of this.

This blog digs into the usage of this foreign (to us) word. By looking at how it was used originally by the authors in the past, I think we can unpack the deeper root of what they were getting at when telling the story of Jesus. My hope is that as we, 7,000 miles away and 2,000 years later, hear the message of Jesus we also can hear the word of Jesus!

Going back to those couple of verses referenced above, the word “word” used in both Hebrews 4 and Matthew 4 both lose something in their translation. The original word in the first passage is λόγος “Logos” and in the 2nd is ῥήματι “Rhemati” (a form, think tense, of the word Rhema that we are discussing). Don’t be mistaken, I am no Greek scholar. I have just a rudimentary understanding of the value of this in biblical study, and I use a couple of online tools like www.biblehub.com and www.biblegateway.com.

Logos and rhema, both mean “word” and that is why translators being more knowledgeable than I translate these to our word “word” when building English bibles for us to use. But in the way “world” and “earth” are different or how an Oregonian knows the difference between showers on Monday versus rain on Tuesday, the words “logos” and “rhema” have different nuances. Nuances that have value.

Check out these examples:

“In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God” John 1:1

The word logos here is the everlasting word, never fading word, the thought and essence of God, from which all things were, are, or will ever be. Powerful, beautiful stuff.

But Rhema is a word spoken. In the spiritual sense, the word of God speaking and moving in real-time. Moving with the authors when they were writing, as well as with us now as we are living. The rhema of God speaks today. When we share encouragement or blessing inspired by the Holy Spirit the rhema of God is in action.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Rhema that comes from the mouth of God.” is used in Matthew 4 when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.

Peter responded to Jesus after many others left in John 6:68 - “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Rhema of eternal life”

Take a minute to re-read Acts 11. This is when Peter recounts to the Christians in Jerusalem his experience of the gentiles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit just as they had. A pivotal moment in the church affirming that the salvation in Jesus is for the whole world!

First, they hear that the gentiles receive the word ‘logos’ of God. Then Peter explains how the Holy Spirit opened up the opportunity for him to go to their home (the house of Cornelius). Then ‘rhema’ comes in. “Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message ‘rhema’ by which you will be saved”.

What are we up to today? What is the word (or rhema) by which we are saved? How do we live not on bread alone, but by every rhema from the mouth of God? This stuff isn’t just for history books. The Spirit of the Living God dwells within you! You have access to hear the active rhema words of God. You have rhema words to speak.

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About the Author

Mike is CitySalt's Lead Pastor. Mike is married to Britni and together they have two awesome elementary school-aged 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.

Cycles | Friendships

Some friends are for a season, some for a reason, and others for a lifetime.

I’m not sure where I picked this up. I want to say a teacher along the line. It’s seemed to hold water throughout my experience of friendships, and it undoubtedly stuck in my head. The concept was helpful for reconciling my disconnection with friends who have been particularly close in other “seasons” that seem so distant today.

My natural instinct has been to say between reason, season, and lifetime, that lifetime must be the ideal, right? With a dear friend, who would want that season to end? But seasons in my life like high school or college, you know, the “good ol’ days,” were special. And that team at work who tackled that serious challenge or the small group who truly cared for each other in a sweet Christ-like way. Those friend groups have been paramount in my life. I am who I am today because of those different seasons. Although I hardly see those friends anymore, we do have the joy of picking up right where we left off when we do get to catch up.

What about reasons? When you look back over the friendships that have shaped your life, do you also have those people who, for better or worse, taught you something? From the mentor who imparted wisdom and the coach who imparted courage, to the neighbor who taught you sharing or the difficult person who taught you long-suffering, we’ve had people in and out of our lives that seem to encapsulate a particular lesson.

Finally, there are those relationships that last a lifetime. The soul-connected friendship of a close friend like that described in John 15:13. The committed covenant relationship vowed in marriage. The unwavering love of a parent that doesn’t wane, no matter the age of their kids.

However, while relationships can add meaning to our lives, they can also be a source of heartache.

Perhaps one thing that can be so painful is the end of some relationships— especially when they don’t match the intended purpose. In particular, the relationships that are fundamentally intended to be life-long. The early death of a partner or parent. Divorce. Siblings cutting off from family. For those assumed longterm relationships, when incongruent or cut short, the pain is substantially deeper. Albeit from either conflict, brokenness or disaster.

This brings me to Jesus. Jesus’s abiding spirit is not seasonal. And while we have lessons we learn; His love, commitment and connection is forever. The book of Matthew ends with Jesus’s final words before ascending, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20)

Any other relationship will have an end. Jesus’s commitment to us is that he’ll never leave. That he’ll never give up on us. That nothing can ever separate us from His love. And this is good news.

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About the Author

Mike is currently serving as CitySalt's Transition Pastor during this unique season of our church. Mike is married to Britni D'Eliso and together they have two awesome elementary school-aged 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.

Hybrid Approach to CitySalt Sunday Services | March 7, 2021

CitySalt Church,

We are coming upon the one-year anniversary of our first live-streamed service! Can you believe it was March 15th, 2020 that John, Dusty, and Mike sat at bistro tables in front of Dusty’s iPhone attempting our first Facebook live video? We have learned a ton since then, maybe more than we ever wanted to know about Zoom, live streams, and handwashing.

We would like to take this opportunity to update you on our current “when” and “how” plans for what we are calling a “hybrid” approach to CitySalt Sunday Services in the weeks ahead.

There have been many ups and downs this last year regarding churches, that include questions about the legality of limiting worship gatherings and the safety of meeting indoors. CitySalt has continued to opt to engage virtually for our Sunday services, knowing that our community is strong and that gathering in a common space, while wonderful and beautiful, is not the only means to worship Jesus.

That said, we do dream of the day we get to all worship together in the same space! We want to walk in-step with the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) recommendations for gatherings, sanitization, masks, and physical distance, as well as their analysis of positive COVID cases in our area. After all, we as the church can be the “experts” on loving God, loving our neighbors, studying scripture, and prayer; and we can let the epidemiologists study the spread of infectious disease and give guidance to mitigating any unnecessary risks associated with public gatherings.

As Lane County has regularly landed in the most extreme risk category for positive COVID cases per 100,000, we have all lived with restrictions on our regular routines. As of last week, we have moved out of this “Extreme Risk” category (>200 cases per 100,000) to the next category, “High Risk” (100-200 cases per 100,000). We started seeing restaurants begin to open for indoor dining, gyms increase their capacity, and even schools making arrangements to welcome students.

So what does that mean for CitySalt?

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To the question of WHEN:

Our goal has been to begin Hybrid Sunday Evening Services when Lane County moves from “Extreme Risk” to “High Risk” categories according to the OHA metrics as listed above. Now that we have met this benchmark we will begin these services! Last Sunday (February 28th) we explored with the “walk through communion service” in our space, and this coming weekend (March 7th) our regular 5:30 Sunday Service will be in the “Hybrid” format. This is short notice. Our heart is to maintain our commitment to quality online services while welcoming folks to join in person at The Box.

These first “Phase 1” services will look different from the last time we worshiped together in person. And future phases of reopening will look different from this first phase. As we are a community together, we ask for your grace as we explore this new territory.

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To the question of HOW:

Here is what to expect with our Hybrid Service Reopening Plan:

• Service starts at 5:30, doors open at 5:15

• Those in attendance will be documented, for the intent of contact tracing

• Masks will be required at all times

• Live-stream cameras will be on the stage area and around the room (you may be seen on the live-streamed broadcast)

• Chairs will be arranged to accommodate household groups at least 6 feet apart

• No Kids Ministry or Childcare will be provided during these services

  • If your child is interested in participating in the “adult” service and can remain seated with their mask on they are welcome to attend

  • If not, consider partners coming on alternate weeks so that the kids can stay home

  • CitySalt Kids Ministry will continue monthly zoom parties and other projects

• No food or drinks will be provided

• A cleaning team will sanitize with The Box with EPA recommended cleaners prior to the doors opening

• Music -- Will still be a part of our services

  • Depending on who is leading worship, we may have teams live in The Box or live-streamed from home projected on the overhead screens

  • Worship leaders who are live in The Box will maintain a 20-foot distance from front row seats and may remove their masks while singing

  • The congregation is encouraged to sing while keeping a mask over the mouth and nose

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Final Remarks:

We hope this outline helps you know “what” we have been watching for to initiate this new phase, and “how” you can expect the in-person portion of a worship service to look. It will be strange, it will be different, but there is no other church body we’d rather be taking on this challenge with than with all of you. Being the church, and worship itself, is a community endeavor. We are in this together no matter what room(s) we are in.

While some of us will be gathering at The Box, we will continue to prioritize our online participation. For those at home, please, continue to engage with Facebook comments, Big Table Sunday Zoom Fellowships, Kids Ministry Zoom Parties, and virtual small groups. You are absolutely a crucial part of our CitySalt body!

As the country makes its way back to normal and we get closer to the day we can safely gather in person, indoors, singing our hearts out without masks, and embracing each other with holy hugs. We are on a timeline that we don’t get to control, and we’ll phase back one step at a time--with grace, generous assumptions, and love for one another.

Grace and Peace,
CitySalt Church Leadership Team

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Further Helpful Information from the Oregon Health Authority:

Miracles Welcome | Miracles Give Me Hope

I find MIRACLES to be a daunting topic to write about. Not sure what images come to your mind, but I see Jesus calming the storm after being asleep on the boat, dividing a little boy’s lunch into enough to feed thousands of people, or comforting a grieving mother and raising her child from the dead. I think of the disciples spilling into the streets after experiencing the Holy Spirit or Paul reviving the guy who fell out of the window when he was preaching. I think of today watching video testimonies of men and women with restored sight or marginalized people reaching success despite overwhelming odds and hardships.

I’m not sure that every follower of Jesus sees one of those “biggie” miracles in their lifetime. Not that they aren’t happening today and not that I don’t ask for them. I would just propose that there may be something the Lord teaches in the example of those who came before us. When the Hebrew people were freed from slavery in Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, the Lord taught them to annually remember and celebrate the Passover. When they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, they were instructed to collect 12 large stones from the river bed to construct an altar on the other side as a remembrance. Jesus did the same thing at the last supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Those big moments were important and powerful for those who witnessed them as miraculous, and the stories have since been passed down from generation to generation. When people found themselves in the middle of a hardship, they were comforted with the reminders of hope that God did it before and could do it again. You see, Miracles Give Us Hope! This hope for the things unseen.

I often challenge myself to read a Psalm a day. The psalms are full of these “hope in the hardship” remembrance reflections. Psalm 77 struck me recently with this. It starts low:

1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

And then in the second half the author begins to reflect on God’s previous miracles and feels the hope begin to well up:

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that I didn’t think most Jesus followers necessarily experience the “biggie” miracles. And though that may be true, I do get to reflect back on my own simple, beautiful life. The valleys that God walked through with me remind me of my Healer, the recognition of my failures reminds me of my Savior, and the order in which these events were strung together points me to my Creator.

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About the Author

Mike has been serving as an Assistant Pastor at CitySalt Church for over three years, while working as a part time stay-at-home dad to his two awesome children. He loves connecting with people over coffee to hear their story and helping people discover the fullness that God has for them through His Scriptures and His Spirit.

Love Purified | Love is a Choice

Driving down River Road today toward the downtown area, I passed a familiar fence. Perhaps those who live in the area know the one I’m talking about. The rainbow one. It’s full of bright pastel-colored fence posts set back just a bit behind the row of those classic northwest Douglas Firs.

If you’re now picturing the fence I’m talking about, then you likely know what is written on it. In huge 5 ft, stylistic letters, the fence reads “Love is a Choice.”

I’ve always appreciated that sentiment. Love is a Choice.

When it comes to romantic love, the idea of “Falling in Love” seems like a dangerous Hollywood exploitation of love. Surely, if I could fall into love then I could fall out of love. And what does that say about love? That this beautiful, yet elusive cosmic force is something that I just have to hope and wait for? And that if it does come, I’d be helpless in avoiding its power to suck me in as I “fall” into it?

What about God’s love? Does God “fall in love” with me?

I don’t know about you, but that seems contradictory to the scripture’s description of God’s love and doesn’t really line up with my experience of God’s love either. But, love as a Choice? Now that’s a different story. When I was far from God, God saw me and decided to love me. Decided to pursue me. Even when I first embraced God and then later turned my back on Him, God still chose to love me.

You tell me. Does this sound like a choice?

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.

Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

As God models this love, a love that He created and gifted us with, and then shows us that the better way is to choose love, then let us choose to love one another.

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About the Author

Mike has been serving as an Assistant Pastor at CitySalt Church for the last three years, while working as a part time stay-at-home dad to his two awesome children. He loves connecting with people over coffee to hear their story and helping people discover the fullness that God has for them through His Scriptures and His Spirit.

"The Art of Neighboring" by Mike D'Eliso

Shortly after 9:00 PM, I finally settle into our couch to catch up on my instagram friends after rocking to sleep a baby that didn’t want to give in. My son asleep. My wife jumping into her evening shower. DING DONG. Why on earth is my doorbell ringing?!

Feeling a little confused and a little jumpy I was honestly relieved to see that it was my neighbor John from next door. But then I was hit with the next thought. Why are you here? Turns out John needed help. His minivan was up in their front lawn after he had to swerve to miss a small animal scurry in front of him. He and his wife were now stuck.

It didn’t take a second thought to throw on my boots and coat to come help. After all, these were the neighbors who let me run an extension cord from their garage to my fridge when we lost power for a week in December’s ice storm, who we house sit for during their annual summer family camping trip, and who let me use the extra space in their yard debris bin when I over prune.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors. Well, first, he calls us to love God with everything that we are and then to love our neighbors as ourselves. When challenged with the question, “who then is my neighbor?” Jesus gives an example of an unexpected hero who acts in selfless love and thus is the true neighbor in the story. I’m talking about the parable of the good samaritan which can be found in Luke 10:25-37. If Jesus highlights that even a despised Samaritan can be a neighbor, then should I not also look up and down my own street and know that I am surely called to love these neighbors?!

How do we as a church, the people of CitySalt, live out our salty faith, in authentic ways within the places we already spend the most time?

What would our personal little worlds look like if we initiated genuine expressions of tangible love to those around us where we live, worship, work and play?

What if we neighbored well?

My hope is that if people know how much we care, they would begin to care about what we know. Crucial conversations would present themselves and we will have earned the right to share the hope that is within us. No bait and switch. No bible thumping.

I hope this call to love generously encourages you. Not that we would create large “outreach” events to check an “evangelism” box on our christian to-do list. Rather, that we would all be little light houses in our communities guiding friends to safe harbors. At this point, I don’t know exactly where each of my next door neighbors are with God or how they worship. But I do know me. And I know that Jesus calls me to love my neighbors the way I would want to be loved.