"When Death Comes Barking" by Daniel Blomberg

When I first saw the handwriting I immediately knew that the person writing was distressed. The heavy hand, the thick letters, the presentation on the page signaled to me that I was dealing with a disturbed individual. Then as I read his cry for help, it became clearer as to why he was in such a mental and emotional state. His wife had recently died. His parents also were dead, he was in jail, scared and feeling alone. The cumulative effect of grieving his losses, his incarceration and legal troubles, had resulted in his being placed in a segregation cell, locked down 24/7, on the brink of insanity.


As a jail chaplain, I am daily confronted with desperate cries for help like those of the man mentioned above.  Often, the simple act of listening, accompanied by prayer, does wonders to alleviate the anguish and suffering being experienced.  However, those dealing with grief present a problem that isn't easily addressed.


Last week, we experienced our own encounter with grief.  It all began when I got a phone call from my wife, Marilee.  As we were talking, Marilee heard a knock on the door.  As I am listening, I hear her say “Who is it?”  Then I hear her say, “Hi Dovi!”  Then I hear muffled voices followed by Marilee saying, “Oh no! Help Jesus, Jesus!”


Instantly, I knew something was terribly wrong.  Then Marilee was back on the phone saying that a dog had gotten our pet rabbit Houdini, and that he was dead.  I immediately jumped in my car and headed for home.  When I arrived 5 minutes later, I was met with a horrific sight, our beautiful rabbit Houdini was lying in the front yard, bloodied and broken, and Marilee crying in the front yard.


It was a scene of utter chaos.  Our neighbor Dovi had stayed with Marilee and was holding the dog on a leash and was talking with the police on the phone.  Another lady had stopped her car when she saw the dog attack Houdini.  She had corralled the dog and put a leash on him.
As I am surveying the situation, I see two young kids approaching coming up the street, looking concerned and frightened.  As it turns out, their dog Fergus had got out of the fenced back yard when some workmen had left the gate ajar.  Having found Fergus missing, they had gone looking for him.  


These were really sweet kids, a 5 year old girl and an 8 year old boy.  When they saw what was happening, they began to cry.  At that point, I told Marilee to go into the house.  I then had to explain to the kids that Fergus had killed Houdini and that the police had instructed us to keep the dog until the police arrived.  I tried to assure them that Fergus was going to be OK but I could tell from their tears that they were not convinced.


After about 45 minutes, their mother arrived and I had to explain to her what had happened and how the police had insisted that  we keep their dog until the police arrived. Immediately she broke down and began to cry.  She explained to me that she was a teacher in Thurston and that it had been one of her students who had been killed the day before when a pickup truck ran through a red light, killing 3 children.  She said, “It’s really been a tough week!”


For the next two and a half hours, we stood in the front yard under a tree, trying to get some protection from the gentle rain that was falling.  I invited them to come inside but they chose to stay outside, thinking the police would be coming at any time. During that time the father arrived after getting off work.  
It was an awkward situation but it was amazing how through this tragic event, God somehow knit our hearts together and we bonded with each other.


When Marilee brought some cheese and crackers out to feed us, many tears were shed.  One of the most touching moments was when the little boy told Marilee he was so sorry about the bunny.  Marilee hugged him back, thanking him and assuring him that Fergus would be alright.
After 3 hours, everyone was wet and cold and the police were nowhere in sight, so I told them to just take Fergus and go home.  But then their truck wouldn't start so they had to call a tow truck. That is when the police finally were able to respond.


After interviewing the witnesses and taking our statements, the police had to take Fergus into custody for observation.  The police officer assured us that based upon our good report and his observations, Fergus would be released in the morning.


As I watched, the police officer placed Fergus in the back of his squad car, and the kids went up to him to say good night.  It was a bittersweet moment. I felt for the kids as I returned home to place Houdini’s broken body in a box for safe keeping, until I could bury him in our rose garden in the morning. 


When I did go inside, the house seemed so empty.  I immediately sensed Houdini’s spirit was gone.  All that remained was his cage, his food dish, and his two stuffed bunny playmates.  With heavy hearts, we embraced each other and went to bed, saddened by our loss, grieving for our Houdini.


Before going to bed, I mentioned our loss on my Facebook page, where I posted a picture of Houdini in Marilee’s arms.  The next morning, we awoke to scores of people expressing their condolences on my Facebook page. But what happened next is what really blew my mind.
When I was about to get the newspaper, I was greeted by a knock at the door.  When I opened the door, I was face to face with a dear old friend and former classmate named Janetta. On the porch beside her, was a beautiful bouquet of fragrant white tiger lilies, left by Marilee’s brother Bob. 


Surprised to see her, I invited her inside, noticing that she was carrying something under her arm, wrapped in paper.  Janetta had been staying with us previously while her husband Don was undergoing chemo at the hospital.   Janetta explained that when she read about Houdini’s death, she just had to come see us, because she knew how much we loved him.  It was then, when she presented me with a beautifully framed painting of Houdini that she had done 3 weeks before.  It had been intended as a thank you gift for our hospitality.  But when she heard of Houdini’s death, she jumped in her car and drove 39 miles to deliver the painting in person.
Needless to say, I was moved to tears.  I thanked Janetta and then she had to go because her husband Don was waiting in the car.  I immediately hung the picture of Houdini in a place of honor on our living room wall.


After breakfast, as I was leaving for work, I again opened the front door only to discover another lovely potted pansy and a beautiful sympathy card from our neighbors across the street, signed by all of them.  But that wasn't all that was there.  There was another card decorated by a child with a beautiful drawing of a rabbit and signed by a little girl we didn't know named Jane.  Along with it was a little ceramic rabbit with real hair growing out of the top of its head.  These expressions of sympathy really comforted us and our hearts welled up full of gratitude and thanksgiving.


But that wasn't the end of it.  When I came home from work at the jail, there was another expensive bouquet of flowers in an exquisite glass vase, with a note from Fergus’s family.  In it, they expressed their thanks for our understanding, our kindness towards them and their sympathy for our loss of Houdini.  They reported that Fergus had been released from the animal shelter and was happily at home.  


Through this shared sorrow, we have been comforted by those who have reached out to us, through cards, flowers, and tons of internet postings.  God is healing our hearts and slowly restoring our joy.


Do you know someone who is grieving a loss?  If so, you might consider a kind word, a card, or even flowers.  Who knows, it might be you who God uses to be His agent of healing and comfort. I know a family in Springfield who could really use your words of comfort, having lost their three children.

 

“Blessed be God, even the Father or our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
2 Corinthians 1, 3-5

"It's a Wonder-Filled Life" by Joseph Scheyer

I have to admit, I was intrigued by CitySalt’s recent series entitled Wonder.  The miracle of life on this planet in all its forms and facets has always been a source of amazement to me. It has also been a vital affirmation for my faith.  

When I was in undergrad at the U of O in the 70’s, seeking a science degree, I was at a crossroads with my faith. To say that I ran into skepticism in the University Science community is very much an understatement.  Animosity and ridicule were the order of the day for those that professed a relationship with Jesus Christ in that arena. It was indeed a challenge for anyone choosing to navigate through that environment and still stay true to faith in the living God. 

The turning point for me came after Geology class during my junior year where the professor was expounding on the attributes of a miraculous substance composed of Hydrogen and Oxygen that we call water. The professor explained how water molecules orient themselves upon freezing so that they expand. This is remarkable because virtually every other molecular compound does the opposite.  If water behaved like every other substance and contracted upon freezing… Ice would sink to the bottom of the oceans which would cause the oceans to fill up with that ice… and life on this planet could not exist as we know it. As the class ended, I approached the professor and asked him why.  “Why is water the only compound to behave this way?”  His answer: “We don’t know.” 

Could it be a coincidence that this miraculous substance is absolutely vital for our existence?  Is it just happenstance that approximately 70% of the earth’s surface and our own bodies are made up of water?  I think not.  To me this was confirmation that the divine hand of our creator brought all of this about. God’s miracles of creation are truly without end; how this earth is positioned in the solar system, the miraculous ways that our bodies develop and function, the incredible diversity of life around us. I could go on and on but it is suffice to say that as my understanding of the intricacies of nature grows, the more I realize that this creation simply could not have happened by random chance. 

The other part of this wonder equation is how our divine creator loves us and seeks an intimate relationship with us. How wonderful and amazing it is that the creator of the universe values us enough to make this life possible and also allows us an opportunity to know Him.  In our culture it is very much a challenge not to get bogged down by all the minutia and details of our daily lives.  We need to make a living… need to take care of our families and our homes… to nurture the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual components of our lives.  But to be born again, means to learn to look at the world around us with that child like sense of wonder and feel that awe at the miracle of creation.  I pray that I never lose that sense of miraculous wonder for the astonishing and beautiful gift we have been given to experience a life filled with the miracles of God’s Love.

 

John 3:1-5
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

"The Two Me's" by Terry Sheldon

Note: Dusty's message on our work was great, and timely. I've been thinking lately about my two selves. Yes, I split roughly down the middle, it seems. Is it a split personality disorder? Hmmm, I have to channel the "right me" before I answer. You see, I jokingly call them my evil twins - Expectations-Me and Comfortable-Me. I have them both operating full time, but then again so do we all, I am guessing. They fight like cats and dogs, and it's a constant struggle to see who wins out.

Expectations-Me is the tough guy, and is not just born out of a professional work environment and the closest of relationships - family, spouses and our kids. It also comes at us from impersonal sources too - our youth and gender based society and the massive media/mass marketing machine. We want to, need to, HAVE TO please, so we perform. We compare ourselves with others and take our cues from them (and commercials). We put on a happy face, smile, shake hands, and above all else, "don't let 'em see you sweat.”

If someone is upset with us, or if we THINK they are, we shift into overdrive to step up our game. This constant set of lofty expectations and pressure bears down on us like an oncoming freight train. That motivation isn't necessarily a bad thing because it promotes productivity, but it can also produce a sense of disconnect with who we really are. But who we want people to see and who they likely see anyway can be two different things. Most of us get pretty skilled at being inauthentic - hiding the real person inside.

On the other side is E-Me's more genteel version. Comfortable-Me shows up more when the pressure is off. He loves to make gentle conversation, laugh, and float on life's lake in a kayak, basking in the warm day's gentle breeze. Certainly there is that sense of "this is the way every day should be" - little stress and pressure, the freedom of being yourself and producing good works without being constantly analyzed and evaluated.

Now I know what you're thinking. If we could all be retired right now with a healthy pension and a kayak, we could all be happy Comfortable-Me every day. Yep, already there. It doesn't cost anything but time to daydream, but then POW, that pesky train rudely awakens. I remember noticing how much my father changed after he retired. He smiled more, laughed more. But the value of retirement is not my point here.

What I am suggesting is we learn to straddle the two personalities because they both have value. Going through life's meat-grinder while practicing the act of returning to our real source of calm and security - our Lord's quiet presence is the absolute, don't-miss-it KEY to effective living. What emerges is not only grace under fire, patience, and all other fruits of the spirit, but our true identity, that sense of "real me" we crave.

Doing Expectations-Me without abiding in God's presence tends to drive us to excess, make us shallow personalities, alienate our loved ones, and produce a grotesque fear and success-based caricature.

Equally sad, avoiding pressure by only wearing Comfortable-Me can produce a kind of fantasy-based wimp - untouched, unchallenged, a shallow person bereft of deep Godly character. 

Let's all practice abiding! Seeking his face in quiet moments. We have to be proactive and purposeful about this. In our society, it does take practice.

"Fasting Considerations"

This past Sunday we began a short DEVOTION series called “Celebrating Simplicity.” It includes practical expressions of our faith and devotion to God that are critical to spiritual maturity and personal growth. And with this Wednesday being the beginning of Lent, it is a good time to talk about focusing on some of our spiritual fundamentals. Here are a few notes from this past Sunday's message on Attachments and Fasting.

Considerations:
•    Why are you fasting?
•    What are you fasting from?
•    What is the period of the fast?
•    What will you do instead?
•    Who can you tell to help hold you accountable?

The following is a look at nine biblical fasts from the book, Fasting For Spiritual Break Through: A Guide To Nine Biblical Fasts By Elmer L. Towns

  1. The Disciples Fast - Fasting for the freedom from addiction. If we fast, we can break the besetting sins that limit a life of freedom in Christ. Matthew 17:20-21
  2. The Ezra Fast - Fasting to solve specific problems. If we fast for a specific purpose, we may solve a debilitating problem. Ezra 8:21-23 
  3. The Samuel Fast - Fasting to win people to Christ. If we fast and pray for revival, God will pour Himself on His people. 1 Samuel 7:1-8
  4. The Elijah Fast - Fasting to break crippling fears and other mental problems. Through fasting, God will show us how to overcome negative emotional and personal habits. 1 Kings 19:2-18 
  5. The Widows Fast - Fasting to provide for the needy. When we sacrifice our own physical needs, God enables us to focus on and provide for the needs of others. 1 Kings 17:12 
  6. The Saint Paul Fast - Fasting for insight and decision-making. If we fast to subject our will to God’s, He will reveal His will to us. Acts 9:9-19
  7. The Daniel Fast - Fasting for health and physical healing. When we fast for physical well-being, God will touch our bodies and enrich our souls. Daniel 1:12-20 
  8. The John The Baptist Fast - Fasting for an influential testimony. If we fast for the influence of our testimonies, God will use us. Matthew 3:4 
  9. The Ester Fast - Fasting for protection from the evil one. If we fast for protection and deliverance from Satan, God will deliver us from evil. Esther 4:16

"Ballast" by Betty Fletcher

On Sunday Dusty talked about faith being an inner ballast. Because I’m from Brookings, I resonate with anything that has to do with the sea.  With the right amount of ballast, ships can weather incredibly rough water. Without it, they roll and can’t recover. 

Last winter I spent a few weeks with my brother, who lives in Cambodia. We took a side trip to Bangkok to see a beautiful temple complex. Some of the buildings were covered in gold, and some were covered in intricate tile mosaics. When I asked my brother about the mosaics, he said they were made from broken china used as ballast in empty rice ships returning from China in the 1800s. The frugal Thais weren’t about to waste such an untapped source of building material. And so china that had become chipped and broken continued life, much to its own surprise I’m sure, first as ballast to keep a ship afloat and ultimately as beautiful building decoration at the hands of Thai artisans.

I wonder if faith isn’t a bit like that. Our faith gets used on a daily basis. Sometimes it gets a little chipped, and we wonder if maybe that’s the end of the story. But God is an enterprising artisan. He has a plan for our lives. Ballast time isn’t wasted time. It’s transit time.

From glory to glory…

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrew 11:1)

"Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6,7)

 

"Power in Weakness" by Ally Mittleider

I grew up as an athlete and experienced so many different types of coaching styles. I had coaches that thought the world of me and so I wanted to perform well for them so they would continue to like me. Then I had coaches that based their decisions on how well I played, so I HAD to perform well for them in order to get any playing time. Throughout my experiences as an athlete, though, one thing always remained the same, and that was that I couldn’t show weakness. “Suck it up. There’s no crying in sports. Rub some dirt in it” were all phrases I had heard endlessly. This was when my tainted idea of weakness began.


I had this longing to be strong that continued as I graduated high school and entered college and still lingers even after college and into graduate school and my vocational life. I never wanted anyone to see me stress and my breakdowns always happened in private. If I showed even a bit of imperfection, embarrassment and the feeling of weakness quickly took over. Ultimately, I was hiding behind this mask of invincibility and refused to accept the fact that perfection is impossible. 


As I continued to make perfectionism a lifestyle, it also seeped into my life as a Christian. How many of you have fallen into this crazy theory that Christians must always have it altogether? You can’t let anyone see you crumble or mess up or you’re no longer considered a good Christian. One of the most important lessons for me to learn was to allow myself to be broken in Christ. 


2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." There’s my answer:  Boast all the more gladly of my weakness so that he power of Christ will rest upon me. As I reflect on this verse and what it means in my life, it is apparent that grace has been such a blessing in my life but something that was always so hard for me to accept. Not only could I not accept it from the Lord, but I couldn't accept it from people around me either.


God says it plain and simple, though, “My grace is sufficient for you.” He will never run out of grace for me and the mistakes I have made and will make in the future. “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Do I want to be responsible for keeping His power from being made perfect? I don’t think so. Weakness is no longer something to hide and striving for perfectionism is rejecting God’s grace. How dare I reject such a wonderful gift from our Lord? This is still a work in progress in my life. Accepting other’s grace for me and my mistakes has been an important first step and has led me to continue to accept God’s grace in my life as well. I no longer avoid that feeling of weakness, but have changed my way of thinking and realized that when I am weak, God‘s power is being made perfect in my life. That’s pretty exciting!

"Good In, Good Out" by Jennelle Schnabel

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there isanything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Philipians 4:8

Recently this verse popped in my head and it made me wonder, “Does this verse apply to what I watch on TV listen to on the radio?”

Is it okay to be entertained by things not on this list when looking to escape for a little while, or just veg out?

My favorite shows on Netflix are British crime dramas. And I know plenty of Christians who love a good mystery like Miss Marple.

So where does a Christian draw the line? How do we know whether or not we are living in direct contradiction to the principles and morals we claim to believe in?

This can be complicated, but I am inclined to think it is between God and his child.

I don’t think you can draw a hard fast line on this one.

It’s a matter of checking in with your spirit, to listen to what God is saying specifically to you.

That said, I do think that it is wisdom to ask these questions. 

I often think of the old adage, “garbage in – garbage out.”

If we follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul to I the Philippians, then we could assume the logical result would be good out!

Why not try a simple fast? Take a week, or even a couple of days, to break from those familiar diversions. Maybe keep a journal of the condition of your mind. Are you feeling more encouraged, more positive? Is there clarity where there used to be confusion? Are you feeling better about yourself? About your relationship with God?

Go in love & think good thoughts!

"His Mercies are New Every Morning" by Darla Beardsley

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning
New every morning.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
(The Steadfast Love Of The Lord by Robert Davidson)
 
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
 
New King James puts verse 22 this way “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”
 
Mercy. The Lord has so much for me, yet I find myself struggling to have it for others. In the past couple of weeks, the phrase, “His mercy is new every morning,” has been running through my thoughts, popping up again and again.
 
Sunday morning, Randi shared a perspective on communion that was new and eye-opening for me. She identified the relational side of communion. In communion we share in the life, hope, vision and purpose of Christ. We drink in the plans and purposes of God in our lives. We drink in the nourishment of the Holy Spirit. We take Him into ourselves, His essence and presence.
 
John 6:56 (NKJV)
He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
 
John 15:5 tells us that Jesus is the Vine and we, the branches. In him we bear fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. In John 17:21-23, Jesus prays for us that we be one as He and the Father are one. “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” He then says, “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
 
“I in them, and You in Me…for without Me you can do nothing.” These scriptures have been burrowing into my life, thoughts and spirit for several years. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I would even say that they have penetrated my soul. God never intended that we go through life alone. It is not about us performing to win our place as his children. It's not about us trying harder to be like Him. It is about us returning to the purpose and relationship at creation. We are meant to have a relationship in which He dwells in us. We are a part, an extension of Him.
 
In this way only can we be like Him. Only as He dwells in me can my mercy be new every morning. Only as He is in me can I give another person a clean slate everyday and not hold yesterday’s trespass against them. Only as He is in me can I accomplish anything He has asked me to do. So I want to invite Him in again and again and again, give Him time and space in my life to move in. Every day He gives me a new chance and I want to extend that opportunity to others. In John 17:23, Jesus tells us that there is an added bonus to this indwelling...“that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

"What is God up to?" by Sarah Moorhead

Dusty's sermon on January 4th was inspiring. He talked about the need to be “born again” on a regular basis in order to be more aware of what God is up to and how we can be a part of it. He presented 4 components to this kind of life style:
1.    Honesty with ourselves
2.    Humility toward God
3.    Receptivity to change
4.    Yielding to the Holy Spirit


    Dusty also made a bold statement. He said, “God’s territory is beyond our logic.” Another way to say this is that God’s territory usually doesn't make sense to us.  As humans, we like things to make sense. Things that don't make sense can be frightening. How many of us would have gotten out of the boat with Peter? I would like to think that I would have, but I'm not sure. Reality can be very persuasive.


    On November 20th last year, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn posted an encouraging word on Facebook about Hebrews 11:1-3. He said, “Don't be bound by the reality of the situation, live by faith, believe before seeing, overcome the world.” He continued, “God is not realistic. If Abraham was a realist, he wouldn't have believed God. If Moses were a realist, he wouldn't have left Egypt. If David were a realist, he would never have slain Goliath. If Peter were a realist, he never would have walked on water. Don't go by reality, go by God...believe what you do not see. Treat that which is not as if it were”


    Now, while I'm not advocating wholesale delusion, I am suggesting that we embrace a faith like Peter's and get out of the boat. So, is there something that the Lord is nudging you about? Is He asking you to do something that doesn't make sense? Remember, the Lord knows how your mind works – He created you. Just ask Him, “Lord if this is you would you send confirmation?”  Be honest with yourself about the possible limitations you've put on God. Humble yourself and confess your unbelief to God. Be willing to change what you believe and yield control of your life and your thoughts to the Holy Spirit.


    Start small and begin to exercise the muscle of faith. And someday you may find yourself walking on water.


Hebrews 11:1-3  NLT
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

"Born Again" by Kayla Erickson

Birth is something truly unique in this life.  It’s amazing how it draws people in.  For about the last 2 weeks, every time I venture out in public, everyone has something to say to me about how hugely pregnant I am. “How much longer?” is the most common quip.  Well, my due date is January 23rd, but I already seem to have entered the “My goodness, how can you STILL be pregnant?” stage.  Jokes aside, there are a few experiences in this life that are always visceral, always powerful, undeniably REAL, and birth is one of those.  Most people who talk to me don’t know me, but suddenly they see and acknowledge that they are in community with someone carrying a new life, and that the emergence of that life matters to them.  What is it about birth that strikes everyone, even those otherwise unconnected to my life, people who would never give me a second glance, much less stop me outside the grocery store to offer their kindest wishes for health?  I think Dusty hit it on the head on Sunday when he mentioned the “God space”- that place beyond our resources and understanding and creativity.  Seeing a newborn baby is one of those gifts from God- experiences that reminds us of our interconnectedness, and the powerful intrinsic value of life itself, and the goodness of all the possibility in the world.  It seems we cannot help but be filled with wonder.  

In studying wonder these past few weeks, we have been coming back across another word a lot: cynicism. Here are some of its fun synonyms: distrust, skepticism, doubt, suspicion, disbelief, sarcasm, bitterness. Now birth is certainly something that logically we could be cynical about- a totally vulnerable being entering a world full of pain, disease and suffering.  But in the God space, illogical things happen, and instead we get a moment of wonder, eyes opened, seeing a reflection of those heavenly truths that cynicism so often hides from us.  “We come alive to the invisible.”

Psalm 139:14-15
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are you works; 
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

"Blind Spots" by Kim Phelps

I have been thinking about “blind spots” because I literally have them and was reading in I John 2 about being spiritually blind and wondered (silly girl!) if there was a message in there for me.

I was diagnosed about 20 years ago with 'bilateral anterior idiopathic ischemic optic neuropathy,' which means that I have a blind spot in each eye that effects my lower peripheral vision. If I look straight ahead I can't see my feet.

Now the doctor at the Casey Eye Clinic explained to me that the brain will not accept a 'hole' in our vision but will fill in what it believes should be there from the surrounding information. So I will think I see something, because my brain is giving me information it believes should be there and I have no idea that I am really not 'seeing' it. It's just conjured up in my brain—amazing!

But that is the way that blind spots work. If I know about it, it's not a blind spot. That being the case, how do I know if I have a blind spot? And what do I do about it?

In I John 10 – 11 it says:
“Whoever loves his brother [believer] abides (lives) in the Light, and in It or in him there is no occasion for stumbling or cause for error or sin.
But he who hates (detests, despises) his brother [in Christ] is in darkness and walking (living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (AMP)

What I understand this to mean is that I need each and every one of my Christian brothers and sisters. As we live under the umbrella of love, rather than law, my actions are guided by that love as described in I Cor.13:9-11. Hate (loving less) reveals our blind spots to each other and hopefully causes a change in the course of our behavior.

So to each and every one of you who are my friends or acquaintances, I am grateful for you and I need you, so thank you as I strive towards learning more about love and walking in the light.

I John 2:9 - 11
The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


I Corinthians 13:4 - 7
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account
a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

"That's my Daddy!" by Randi Nelson

At a local children’s Christmas program this week a group of young children took their positions in front of the audience and began to sing their song and make the hand motions that went along with it. Suddenly, a little girl in the front of the group pointed into the audience and squealed, “That’s my daddy!” She began to wiggle, dance around and laugh with joy repeating, “My daddy’s here!” The other children, as their song continued, would sneak peeks of puzzlement at her. She remained unfazed. In the sea of faces she’d seen her daddy; he’d shown up and her pleasure was unfettered. Everything else was momentarily eclipsed by the wonder of seeing her daddy.


In the book of Job, the protagonist, Job, was suffering. Not only was he suffering loss of livelihood, loss of loved ones and then extreme physical affliction, but he was suffering the well-intentioned, yet very foolish advice of his friends as they tried to “fix” his situation. And then, in chapter 38, Job becomes aware of God’s presence. Suddenly, nothing else matters. Job is filled with awe beyond all comprehension; he says, “…but now my eye sees you”! (Job 42:5)


Sometimes life is more like a bowl of pits instead of cherries. I cannot fathom the extreme stress of Christians living in Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and other places where nothing and nowhere is safe. Friends all around are suffering illness, pain or loss. I cannot presume to know anything at all about their experiences.


But I can pray. I can pray for wisdom to know when it is appropriate to rejoice and when it is appropriate to weep with my friends.  I can pray for our Heavenly Father to reveal himself in the midst of these most difficult circumstances. I can pray for moments of unfettered joy that call out, “That’s my daddy! My daddy’s here!” Because the wonder of Christmas is that he came; He’s here! 

 

Deuteronomy 4:7 (NRSV)
 7For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him?


Psalm 139:7-12 (NRSV)
7 Where can I go from your spirit?
    Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
    if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light around me become night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is as bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

"The Wonderfulness of Wonder" by John Rice

Last night at our Sonship group, Dan Rothwell started us off by looking at the names for Jesus that appear in the Book of John, Chapter 1. We then discussed what it meant that Jesus was called both the Son of God and the Son of Man. We determined that in some ways it seems easier to picture Jesus as the Son of God, since Son of Man refers to His “humanness.” This raises questions about what He must have been like as a baby, a child, an adolescent. Did He throw fits and tantrums like we all did? Was He inclined to be selfish? Did His sinless nature mean that He was a sweet, loving thing from day one? How did He learn His heavenly Father’s ways? How old was He when He “only did as the Father instructed Him?” So many questions and so few Biblical references. We do know the story of Jesus staying behind at the Temple in Jerusalem when He was 12 years old to ask questions and discuss matters of spiritual concern with religious leaders. But that’s about all we read about His childhood.

So we were speculating. Some thought He might never have done a wrong thing. Others thought maybe he was just like a normal child until He reached the age of accountability which, at least in today’s Jewish world, would mean around 13 when boys and girls participate in their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah and are considered adults, responsible for their own actions after that ceremony. Others just weren't sure what Jesus was like. It was fun to speculate, but of course, no one knows these answers for sure, so no one can claim to have a full understanding of this.

This whole thing made me think of how much the Bible tells us...and how much it doesn't. How privileged we are to have a written document, inspired by the Spirit of God, handed down over the centuries, validated over and over by hundreds of manuscripts and by archaeology. The Almighty God and Creator of the Universe has chosen to reveal Himself to us by the written Word. How incredible is that!! But at the same time, we are left to wonder about those things left out. Why did God leave us to wonder? Why did He leave mystery surrounding so many things? The saying, “God works in mysterious ways” is certainly an understatement when we think of all the unknown and unanswered questions.

I’d like to suggest that wonder is a wonderful thing. When we wonder we become like children. We recognize our smallness in this big universe. We recognize that we have, and need to depend upon: a Father who is bigger and wiser than we are ourselves. If everything were answered for us in the Bible or elsewhere, we wouldn't need to communicate with God. As it is, we have somewhere to go with our questions, our needs and our pain, and He has a relationship with His children, which is what He has wanted all along.

Romans 8:3 "For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering."

Philippians 2:5-8 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!"

Luke 2:4-7 "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

"Call Upon the Comforter" by Daniel Blomberg

Early on in my ministry as a Chaplain, I learned that I could not do the work apart from the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  In John 14:16, we read about our Helper, the Holy Spirit, as the Comforter: “One called alongside,” parakletos. 

The Amplified Bible best describes the work of the Comforter:
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-”

The Holy Spirit as Comforter, is available to every Christian that calls upon Him for help, strength, and counsel; and He is quick to intercede for those who cry out to Him in their time of need.

On May 21, 1998 our neighboring community, Springfield, Oregon, experienced the worst tragedy in that city’s history when a troubled 15-year-old boy brutally killed his mother and father and proceeded to carry out a mass-slaughter at his high school, killing 2 fellow students and wounding 24 of his classmates.

Teresa Miltonberger, the daughter of a correction officer at the jail, was shot in the head and wasn’t expected to live.

I quickly rushed to the local hospital to see if I could be of some assistance.  The scene was one of utter chaos.  Grieving students, parents and friends were weeping hysterically, holding one another, stunned and saddened by the unimaginable horror that had befallen our community.

Among them was the extended family of Teresa, gathered together in an adjoining room.  As I looked at their crest-fallen faces, I felt totally inadequate for the task.  “How do I minister to them?” I thought.

It was then that the Holy Spirit spoke to me, saying, “Go in there and pray for them!”  Trembling in my spirit, I obeyed.  Not knowing what I was going to say, I introduced myself and asked them if I could pray for them.  It was then that the Comforter came alongside of me, strengthening me, giving me the words of hope and healing I needed as I cried out to God; asking Him for His help, invoking the name of Jesus Christ, while inviting His peace to invade the situation.  I boldly prayed, petitioning God to spare Teresa’s life and to heal the wounded.  

Immediately, the atmosphere changed.  The Comforter had come! Later, after I prayed for Teresa, God miraculously healed her, even though the doctor said she had .5% chance of surviving through the night. 

Experiencing trouble?  Cry out! Call upon the Comforter!

"Acceptance in the Here and Now" by Joseph Scheyer

We are accepted.  One of the wonderful things about being a Christian is that we know God accepts us for who we are.  Yes, God loves us right now… just the way we are.  God doesn’t fret about what we might have done in the past (nor does God keep score) and God does not worry about how we might stray in the future. Right now, right where we are… God finds us completely and absolutely acceptable.  So much so, in fact, that God sent Jesus here to die for our sins.   

While it’s good to learn from the past, we do not have to be held down by our history.  Similarly, while it is wise to plan for the future, attaining goals is not the key to happiness and fulfillment. God does not operate in the past or future… access to God can only occur in the present moment. Our eternal God is an abiding presence.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

All too often I realize I am mentally beating myself up over some careless, selfish, wasteful or just plain stupid action from my checkered past. We’ve all done things we regret and while it’s important to learn from those mistakes, while we ruminate and revisit that past, we are prevented from experiencing God’s presence. The slate has been wiped clean through the blood of Jesus so that we can be free to abide in Gods presence.

“Honor and majesty are in His presence; strength and joy are in His sanctuary.”
 1 Chronicles 16: 27

I’ve also spent most of my life operating under the impression that once I achieve that goal on the horizon, I will find happiness and fulfillment. From acquiring the degree or finding my soul mate or landing that job or that promotion or getting that house/car/boat (or that winning lottery ticket) or whatever it might be that is out there that seems like it will make my life better. My mind tells me that I need time to find, achieve, acquire, become or understand something before I can be free or complete. But really, I can only be free and complete right here and right now.  There is nothing I can ever do or attain that will get me closer to salvation than I am right now 

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”
 Psalm 139: 7

Salvation is not a concept for the future or the past.  Salvation can only occur now. God’s acceptance of who I am right now means that I am saved.  There is no condition necessary for salvation… Jesus took care of that on the cross.  The only way I can access that salvation is to accept myself… who I am and where I am right now. God see’s me as a beautiful, loveable human being… worthy of Love and acceptance. Only when I am present in the moment can I begin to see myself as God sees me. 

“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33: 14

Learning to live in the moment is the trick. And only in the present moment can we gain the deep understanding that we have everything we need to find happiness and fulfillment right now. Only then can we simply move forward as each moment presents itself and do the next right thing; listen deeply… experience God in each other… be fully engaged and know that the miracle of the Kingdom of God is right here and right now and we are privileged to be able to participate in it.

"Letting God Celebrate" by Ally Mittleider

If someone were to ask me right now how my relationship with God is, I could say wholeheartedly that I feel closer to Him now, more than I have in a long time. Good for me, right? Wrong.


When I thought about why I feel so close to Him now and not all the time, I realized it was because there was some struggles going on in my life and I ran to Him as my comfort. I also quickly noticed that I wasn't reading my Bible, I wasn't listening to the right music, and I wasn't devoting enough of my time to Jesus. So naturally I thought to myself, this HAD to be the reason for the hard times I was experiencing. Logical, right? I can’t be the only one that, when life gets tough, switches my radio station to positive, encouraging, K-LOVE or makes sure that every song on my iPod and the songs I get stuck in my head are worship songs. Ever notice how your Bible somehow gets used every day, if not twice a day when those types of trials come your way? Don’t even get me started on the drastic change in my prayer life! You’d think I would feel great about the improvements in my spiritual life, but I couldn't help but feel guilty.


The only reason I was worshiping Him daily, getting into the Word and praying consistently throughout the day was because I wanted the hard times to be fixed ASAP! Every prayer was asking God to intervene and fix the things that need fixing. I read with expectations, hoping that something would pop out and apply to my current situation. I worshiped hoping that God would see my good deeds and come fix my life. It made me realize how inconsistent my relationship with God can be. When everything is good, I don’t think I need Him to come and help me. “I got this, God! You can take a break on this one.” I am confident and I am going throughout my day with my head held just a little bit higher, but not thanking God for any of it. 
I was reading through Ecclesiastes when I came across this verse: “Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life.” If that wasn't a slap in the face, I don’t know what is. God doesn't ask us to be faithful to Him just when times are tough. He does promise us that He will take care of us throughout those trials and tribulations, but also that those trials and tribulations come from Him to help us grow into stronger people. 


Instead, He wants to celebrate with us in the good times as well as help us through the bad. I’m not a mother, but I know that my parents love being able to celebrate my siblings and my accomplishments with us just as much as they want to be there through the hard times in our lives. My parents made it to every award ceremony and major celebration in my life, but are still just a phone call away when things are tough. I believe our God is the same way. He wants us to feel comfortable coming to Him for strength and encouragement, but he also wants us to come to Him excited about the goodness in our life. I picture God wanting us to run to him in excitement with our arms stretched towards Him just as a child runs to his mom or dad after hitting a home run in his first little league baseball game, leaping into their arms. God is proud of us when we do good and wants to lift us up in His arms and embrace us just as much as when we come on our knees, crying out for strength just to make it through the day. Both are equally important to Him. I feel challenged to include God in my celebrations just as much as I include Him in my worries.

THE CITYSALT STORY...

CitySalt Church (formerly SouthHills Church) is part of the Foursquare family churches and was established in September of 2004.

The church was started by Pastor Shannon Kearney following her 13-year service as an associate pastor and counselor at Eugene Faith Center. With a heart drawn to the South Eugene area, she and a group of 60 people began a prayerful search for a meeting location. The group settled on the 70-acre campus of Oak Hill School--where a team of faithful volunteers transform the secular school's gymnasium into a sacred gathering space for fellowship, prayer, worship and biblical teaching.

In time, the vision and characteristics of the church began to emerge. Staff people, ministries and programs were established as God stirred up passion and vision for various needs within the fellowship. In 2009, Dusty and Julie Johnson joined the staff to help the growing needs of the church. As a friend and colleague of Pastor Shannon, Dusty served as a part-time associate pastor until assuming the role of Senior Pastor in January of 2010. Shannon continued her service to the church as an associate pastor role until she and Mike retired and moved to Nashville, TN in the Fall of 2012.

In the Fall of 2013, church leadership began to feel a stirring of fresh vision for the future. In the months to follow the church made purposeful steps to contend for a new home for the church. Early on the leaders felt the search for a new location should not be limited to the Hills of South Eugene. As part of the preparation for a new location the church was invited to a series of meetings to determine a new name not location specific would have a prophetic calling for the future.

After months of brainstorming, discussion, and a number of lengthy meetings, the church arrived at CitySalt Church as a new name.  In the Fall of 2014, as per Foursquare Bylaws the church membership voted to approved the name CitySalt Church and on November 9, 2014 the church gathered to celebrate the church’s 10 year anniversary in addition to launching the next chapter in the journey a congregation as CitySalt Church. 

WHY SALT?

Jesus said, "you are the salt of the earth," and what he meant is both simple, yet profound. It speaks to the potential and intended role we have been given as carriers of love in the world around us. Just as natural science bears witness to the vitality and essence of salt, it makes for a rich and compelling challenge for the followers of Jesus to be carriers of his love toward every man, woman and child.

Here are few interesting things we can appreciate about salt...

  • Salt is pure
  • Salt is common, yet vital (well known, yet is the essence of all living things)
  • Salt is an organic building block
  • Salt is valuable, yet abundant (was traded as a commodity “worth your salt”)
  • Salt is a regulating sustainer. (in appropriate quantities will keeps things healthy and in balance - PH)
  • Salt is change agent. It melts ice and can lower the freezing point of water.
  • Salt is a health promoter (fights infection and promotes healing)
  • Salt is an absorption accelerator. It serves as delivery vehicle for heavier elements (A sustainable and convenient vehicle for distributing other essential elements when deficiencies are present (ie. iodine to the body through salt)
  • Salt is a preserving helper (keeps things from getting rotten and going bad)
  • Salt is a flavor enhancer (the five flavors: bitter, sweet, sour, savory and salty)
    • It doesn't simply make things salty.
    • Suppresses bitter dominance and makes way for sweet, sour and savory.
    • Influences aroma and sensitivity.
    • Adds substance. (makes things like soup more substantial)
  • Salt is a neutralizing change agent (de-escalator; It can make a toxic acid or base safe to the touch or even drink)
  • Salt is an infection fighter
  • Salt is a potential killer (If overused, inappropriate or in excess it can cause death; ex. - plant life, slugs, people)

I find it interesting that Jesus would express the heart of the Father/Creator by telling his followers that they are the salt of the earth.