Online Giving

We appreciate the generosity of our members and contributors who support the mission and ministry of CitySalt. As a charter member of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, we are a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit, which means your donations are tax deductible. Unless otherwise specified, contributions will be applied to our General Fund. Here are several specialized funds you may want to consider:

General Fund - This fund supports our general operations which includes expenses like rent, insurance, personnel,  programs and administrative needs and includes a 10% tithe to the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

Missions/Outreach - This fund supports general missions and outreach by extending the gospel both locally and around the globe. If intended to support a specific outreach or missionary, please include the specific outreach or missionary name when giving to this account.

Benevolence - This fund is intended for helping people when special needs arise.

Vision Fund - This fund is designated for helping us move ahead with expenses associated with new meeting locations or building projects.

To help serve your desire to give, we have multiple methods for you to consider…

You Can Write A Check… Checks should be written to CitySalt Church and include any specific instructions on the memo line. This method allows 100% of your donation to go directly to CitySalt without any bank or processing fees. Checks can be mailed to our PO Box mailing address or can be given during Sunday services. 

You Can Set up Auto-Pay with Your Bank… Take the hassle out of writing checks and let your banking institution do it for you. Most banks and credit unions have an auto-pay system that allows you to schedule one-time or recurring contributions at no cost to you. If you used this method, please be sure to send checks to 

CitySalt Church
PO Box 5830
Eugene, OR 97405

You Can Use a Debit/Credit Card… For those looking for ease and flexibility, you can make electronic contributions from your smart phone, tablet or computer anytime of the day or night. Just visit www.citysalt.org/give/ and click on the 'Give Today' button. You will then be able to choose from multiple funds and take advantage of the re-occurring feature that will automate giving with the parameters you set up. Also, electronic contributors get an automatic receipt each time a gift is given. This method will deduct 2.3%+ $.30 for every transaction as part of the merchant processing fee. 

Should you have any questions, please contact us at
info@citysalt.org or 541-632-4182. 

***
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 
Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there
will not be room enough to store it."
Malachi 3:10

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38
 

"Expectations" by Dusty Johnson

Like me, some people have a love-hate relationship with their expectations.   I love it when mine are met, and hate it when they are not. The upside to high expectations is the privilege to dream and contend for extraordinary outcomes.  The downside is the disappointment when the preferred future does not materialize.  After a few years of these experiences, some continue to dream big and deal with the downside later, while others dream small to avoid the risk of disappointment altogether.
 
The strength in an expectation is absolutely dependent upon the reliability of the person or circumstances in which we trust.  As you consider areas where you are feeling discouraged, I want to encourage you to put your hope and future in the hands of Jesus Christ--the author and perfecter of our faith, who takes great pleasure in you (Hebrews 12:1-3).  When Christ is given the role of Lord and Master, we can surely trust him to bring his preferred future to pass, and to care for us when we feel the loss and disappointment of an unfavorable outcome.      
 
Though imprisoned and facing many setbacks, the apostle Paul understood disappointments, yet trusted God’s love and plan for his life.  No matter where you are on your journey with disappointments, may you be encourage by Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20 as you aim high and keep trusting Him “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”   
 
Unto Him,
 
Pastor Dusty
 
 
Ephesians 3:12, 16-21
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 
 
 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

"Laughter, Song and Dance Connection" by Joseph Scheyer

2 Samuel 6:14  And David danced before the Lord with all his might.
 
I can still recall the feeling of standing at the side of the gym at the Jr. High School dance … fifty years ago... afraid to approach any of the girls.  I wasn’t much of a dancer but something more held me back from getting out on that floor and having fun. I was not alone, the gym wall was lined with boys just like me… afraid of looking awkward and worried about what others would think … or worse yet, afraid that someone might reject or even laugh at us. I was not alone but it felt awfully alone. Where did that fear come from? Why did/do I find it so difficult to take a risk?  Why was/is it so important what other people think?  I really wanted to fit in but found that when I made myself vulnerable, I ran the risk being ridiculed and the mere thought of that shame was unbearable. So, I found it easier to escape into a shell of appearing cool and in control holding up the gym wall. Certainly, Jr. High is a tough time for everyone. I’ve made progress in living authentically and taking risks since those difficult years but still find this fear of vulnerability and worry about what others might think creeps into my daily life far too often.
 
What I didn’t realize then is that fitting in is not the same as “belonging.” We all have a need to belong and that’s the beauty of God’s Kingdom: God doesn’t care if we appear cool and in control.  God Loves our goofy, awkward, imperfect and authentic selves just the way we are. There is something beautiful about finding the courage to be true to your heart instead of worrying about what others might think.
 
Psalm 100:1-2   Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
 
God gave us the gift of music for singing and dancing to express emotions both joyous and sorrowful. The gift of healthy laughter is laughing with each other, not at each other and not that nervous laugh that we sometimes hide behind.  Writer Ann Lamott describes this laughter as a “bubbly, effervescent form of holiness”. Life without these gifts seems unimaginable because they enable our spirits not only to connect with Gods presence but to share the context of our inner spirit with one another. Laughing, singing and dancing are good for the soul. I believe it is vital for our “Soul Care” to nurture these modes of spiritual connection even if you do most of your singing in the car and dancing in the kitchen like me.
 
“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
― Mark Twain
 
God’s plan for each of us is that we engage in our lives from a place of worthiness.  It’s about finding the courage, compassion and connection to wake up each day and understand that no matter what happens, I am enough… no matter what… I am worthy of love and belonging this day. Knowing that, I say that we may as well take some time each day to enjoy the connection to those precious gifts of laughter, song and dance

"Rebuilding" by Betty Fletcher

I like to make tables. Not fancy tables. Just ordinary tables. Sometimes my tables break, which is why the bedside table I once made is now a footstool.

For these last few months, I have felt like my broken bedside table. A massive life-change struck me, unbidden and unwelcome. Fortunately, I’ve seen many of you go through similarly hard life changes with grace—yes, I’ve been watching—and that has helped steady me.
But back to the table…I had options. I could have done nothing with my broken table. The table top would have still been a table top. The three good legs would have still been legs. The only problem is, the table would have been unstable and unusable and stored out of sight in my garage. 

Or I could have thrown the table out. A lot of people would have. But the table top (let’s say my work) and the three legs (let’s say my relationships) still have value to me. 
Even though I preferred my bedside table the way it was, I had to repurpose it or lose it completely. In the same way, I’ve had to give, and keep on giving, the broken pieces of my life to God for repair and repurposing. He values them more than I do. I believe he can help me to forgive, learn new skills, understand, grow, and even someday flourish again. I will let him reshape me—painfully now, possibly joyfully later. I will renew relationships where that’s possible, and put energy and wholeheartedness into the new direction life has taken.  

The footstool now sits in my living room. I use it every day. I rest my feet on it. I put drinks on it. It’s the perfect size for an h’orderve tray. It holds my Bible and journal. If I have people over, it doubles a seat. It will never be what it was. But it’s taken on a life I never imagined for it. And that is what I am believing for me. And possibly for you too.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:1-6 NIV).

Make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,  knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,  godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).

"Open Your Gates" by Dusty Johnson

If you are anything like me, painful memories can cause us to wince when similar scenarios threaten to be repeated.  Often the fear of such situations can cause me to close doors or build walls in attempt to keep me from ever experiencing that same pain ever again.    

Unfortunately, the doors, walls or layers we build can often be a barrier to the redemptive work of God, who has our best interest at heart.  Though pain, suffering and evil may cause us to retreat to lower forms of self-preservation, we were made to be in a secure and intimate relationship with God.  

While reading Psalm 24 this past week, I was moved by the psalmists who calls us to remember the glory and majesty of our Creator-God. As I consider this passage, I can't help but think of all the times our heads drop, our focus goes inward and our eyes begin looking at lower things.  It is so easy to drift into an empty existence where the noise of issues and stresses are allowed to dominate our perspective without the proper context of God's loving and redemptive pursuit.  

If you find yourself hiding in seclusion behind fortified walls of self-preservation, may you receive this call to open up your gates and let the King of Glory come in. May you find the strength to trust the Lord as you provider, protector and hope of salvation.  May He lead you in paths of righteousness and heavenly purposes today.  

Psalm 24:7-10
7 Open up, ancient gates! 
      Open up, ancient doors, 
      and let the King of glory enter. 
 8 Who is the King of glory? 
      The LORD, strong and mighty; 
      the LORD, invincible in battle. 
 9 Open up, ancient gates! 
      Open up, ancient doors, 
      and let the King of glory enter. 
 10 Who is the King of glory? 
      The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— 
      he is the King of glory.

Community Prayer Guide | February

Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.

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One Church - One Day Community Prayer                                     February 2016

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, 
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.”  Psalm 67:1-2

Church
Pray for all the missions programs & missionaries connected to local churches
to be empowered and fully funded.
Pray for Senior Pastors to be protected, encouraged, and for them to have good friends.
Pray for church/ministry leadership teams to be united in vision and one in spirit and purpose.
Pray for Jesus-followers to become like Him in tangible ways in each sphere of our community.
Pray for Dove Medical:  that God would draw women with unexpected pregnancies to them and for every woman to decide to keep her baby.

Education
Pray for safe and positive learning environments in all levels of education.
Pray for teachers and administrators to be sensitive and aware of hurting students, and for wisdom to help.
Pray for God’s wisdom & power in the team building of a Youth Homelessness Awareness/Prevention network.
Pray for Christ-followers at the U of O to serve together in advancing the Gospel on campus.
Pray for youth in alternative schools to have peace, motivation and encouragement in their lives & learning; & 
       that administrators & teachers would have wisdom to care for them.

Family
Pray for Christ-followers to care for children at risk and to support families who care for those children.
Pray for God to direct the creation of a community-wide church collaboration with our foster care system.
Like individuals, every marriage has a level of brokenness.  Pray that our churches cultivate communities
where we can share our brokenness and be healed.
Pray that young couples will see the value, depth and power of their marriage covenant with God.  
Pray for our community’s abortion rate to decrease and for the adoption rate to increase.

Government
Pray for the 2016 local elections: that God would raise-up mayors, city, county & state officials.
Pray for humble, respectful and more fruitful collaboration, communication and coordination among all of the various government agencies and jurisdictions in our community.
Pray for our elected leaders to have God’s wisdom and discernment for projects, policies and future plans.
Pray for clear communication and harmony between the government, non-profit and business sectors.
Pray for community leaders to provide awareness & solutions to shepherd those struggling with mental illness.

Business
Pray for all local companies to have integrity, honesty and good business practices.
Pray for entrepreneurs to collaborate with, connect resources for and mentor younger business leaders.
Pray for the downtown core: Light, peace, safety and to become more business and professional friendly. 
Pray for more higher wage jobs to be created, so that highly trained people remain in our community.
Pray for the creation of 500+ “above average median” jobs in our community & an increase in the living wage.

Arts
Pray that God restores the “economy of art” in our community; for people to invest in art, create a greater
demand for art, and for the business of art to be an economic blessing for our community.
Pray for friendships & collaboration between Christian artists & artists in general; that they would know each     
other, celebrate each other, and work together in humility for the good of art in our community.
Pray for God’s direction for the former Jacob’s Gallery at the Hult Center & for the space to be God-honoring.
Pray for Christ-following artists to receive vision, favor and financial provision.
Pray for the Eugene Symphony, Chorale and Ballet: for uplifting shows & increased public support of uplifting shows.

Health Care
Pray for our local health care system to value and honor the sanctity of life.
Pray for good relationships & clear communication between hospital management and health care providers.
Pray for the church to be a place of health and to have wisdom & power to bring health into the community. 
Pray for the Lord to guide our health care community into effective ways to treat the mentally ill.
Pray for Christian doctors:  with the stress of poor outcomes, complications, mistakes, and complex patients –
    that they will seek and find comfort and guidance from the Lord.

Police and Fire Departments
Pray for wisdom and direction for the “Mental Health Liaison” program that is currently being created.
Pray for the 12 police vacancies at the Eugene Police Department to be filled.
Pray for all 911 workers: strength, peace & wisdom; pray for the urgent need of more 911 workers to be hired.
Pray for the emotional well-being of the families of police and fire department servants.
Pray for community support to increase staffing in the police and sheriff departments. 
Pray for the personal safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
                                                
Media
Pray for encouragement, strength and peace for those in media. 
Pray for the Lord to bring the right person to be the next publisher at the Register Guard.
Pray that the local media would be used to promote “good happenings” around our community. 
Pray for clear and truthful reporting in all sectors of local media:  TV, paper, radio, internet, and advertising.

Sports
Pray for Kid Sports and YMCA to be fully funded and have virtuous volunteers and coaches.
Pray for safety, protection and peace over all public sporting events.
Pray for God to guide the plans and preparations for the 2021 World Track & Field Championships (in Eugene). 
Pray for role model athletes to be strengthened and to have great influence on other athletes.  
Pray for athletes who are new in Christ to have a hunger to grow in the Lord

"The Greatest Quarterback" by Darla Beardsley

I am not a diehard football fan. There are two kinds of football games I care about; Duck football and any game my nephew is playing in. This past Duck football season was a tough one, after the kind of seasons we had gotten used to in previous years with our Heisman quarterback. It’s not that we didn’t have a decent quarterback, but an injury got things off to a bad start and in the end an injury precipitated the loss of our final game. The last game, the Alamo bowl, was painful to watch. That game got me thinking.

For those of you who didn’t watch or hear about it, we had a great first half and it appeared to be an easy win with 31 to nothing at the end of the first half. Then our quarterback and center got injured and it was all down hill from there and ended in a devastating loss. I wondered how the loss of a quarterback could have that much impact on a game. How many other guys are on that team? Fifty? More? Football players are always getting injured, isn’t that why they have so many other players to step in when they are needed? Can one or two guys really influence a whole team and change the outcome of a game or an entire season? Apparently so.

I started thinking about Jesus and His “hands-on” God approach. He is in the game with us all the time. He is not content to “coach” us from the sidelines. He became man to show us that He is in the game. He took the hits, the jeers and the injuries, injuries unto death. He had pain, insults and disappointments. He also shared in joys, friendships, hard work and victories. He attended weddings, births and family gatherings. Through it all, He became someone whose judgment, instinct and insight, His disciples, family and friends came to rely on and trust. They looked to Him for leadership, wisdom, compassion and comfort. He gave them confidence to push beyond what they had been, to be more. And then He died.

For those three days, His team lost their confidence. They were discouraged, even frightened. His closest companions withdrew and hid. This one guy was out of play and no one stepped up to try and fill His shoes. How many had known Him and come to believe in Him? Hundreds? Thousands? No one could take His place. Then on the third day He rose again!

He conquered death, but He also showed us He is still in the game, calling the plays, right here with us. He is leading us to the ultimate victory. There does seem to be something about a smart and talented quarterback that can inspire his team to confidence and victory. He is one guy that has a lot of impact on his team and the outcome of the game.

This last weekend, Julie and Calvin Tadema reminded us of John 17:20-26. Not only is Jesus in the game with us, He wants us to be one with Him. In verse 21, He says, “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 continues in verses 22 and 23 “that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one,” We were never intended to do this life alone. We are literally ‘inspired’ by the Holy Spirit of God living in us. In the last chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples that He will be with them always. 

So be confident, be of good cheer! Jesus is in the game with us, and is leading us to the greatest of all victories!

John 17:20-26
 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 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.
 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
 

John 14:15-18
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
 

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

"Jesus Loves Me" by Dusty Johnson

“Jesus loves me this I know.  For the Bible tells me so…” 

Yes, according to the Bible, God is absolutely in love with us!  And we learn from 1 John 4:16-18, that God is love and His love toward us is perfect and able to settle our insecurities and minimize our fears.  This is some very good news.  

If God is love and calls us to a life of love, then He is calling me to know Him and extend His love with others.  If God is love and love is patient (according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7), then God must also be patient and we can rest assured that…

His love remains solid, even when love from others may seem unstable
His love remains committed, even when all others seems conditional
His love remains persistent, even when experiencing fatigue
His love remains composed, even when life feels out of control

When we open ourselves to God (who embodies the very definition of love), then we are opening ourselves to a perfect and abundant supply of grace, mercy and acceptance.  When we allow ourselves to be perfectly loved by our Heavenly Father, we are better able to love others, because His love that is not measured, rationed or in short supply is flowing in and through us.  And when we allow ourselves to be perfectly loved by our Heavenly Father, His perfect love melts away the panic, inadequacies and vulnerabilities that keep us stuck and less disappointed by substitutes that are less than perfect and in short supply from those around me.  

To be settled in God’s perfect love affords us the freedom to trust and live a life motivated by “what-can-love-do” possibilities rather than “oh-no-I-might-get hurt” limitations.  Gods’ love is perfect, patient and able to melt my fear and enable me to rest in Him.

Join me as today as we look for God’s patient love to heals our hearts and give us hope in times of our greatest need.  May we not respond to others out of an imperfect and limited supply of love, but may we learn to receive and extend your perfect love with grace and generosity.  May we be more like you.

Gratefully yours,

Pastor Dusty

"Covenant Marriage" by John Rice

Calvin and Julie Tadema spoke this last Sunday at church on marriage. They put forth the idea that our “marriage” to God holds the key to a good and healthy relationship with our spouse. How very thought-provoking that is, and challenging, since God is perfect in every way, while we are not.

But the emphasis in the Tadema’s teaching wasn’t on the perfection of our relationships, but rather on the nature of it. To show this, they contrasted “contract” with “covenant.” They asserted that many of our earthly marriages are entered into like a contract, which has the purpose of guaranteeing maximum benefits and minimum liabilities for ourselves. In such a contract, if I feel one day that the liabilities are too large and the benefits too small, I have reason to nullify the contract. The other person is not fulfilling their end of the bargain, so I am justified in getting out of the bond. And vice versa.

God doesn’t sign contracts with us. He gave His only Son to be born of a woman, live a righteous life, but then be killed by unrighteous people so that we, by believing in Him and His resurrection, might be able to live with Him in His kingdom forever, forgiven and redeemed. He gave His all, 100%. He didn’t state any conditions or requirements other than humbling ourselves, turning to Him and accepting His free gift. This is not the stuff of contract. This is covenant. He promised to never leave us and never to give up on us. His offer of love and acceptance is forever.

How different our earthly marriages would be if we lived by covenant. What if our guiding principle was not: “I’m going to give 50% and will expect 50% in return,”  but instead was: “I’m going all in and giving 100%. I’m not going to keep track of how much she gives me so that I can keep score and see who’s doing more. I will love her as best I can and I want her to love me as best she can. We won’t do this perfectly and sometimes one of us will give more than the other. God help us love like you do!” The first principle is based on law and the second on love.

We humans often treat our relationship with God as a contract as well. We seek maximum benefits and minimum liability and get discouraged or even despairing if we don’t get from God what we expect and feel we deserve. At that point our relationship can go cold or we can give up. But God’s promise of unconditional love has no end; it only appears different at times from what we want it to look like. This is where trust and patience comes in, just like it would in a covenantal earthly marriage.

I think this is what Jesus meant when He crystallized all the commandments into “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” This is covenant!

I look forward to more teaching of the Tademas as they meet with us later in the month. And I look forward to happier, healthier, stronger covenantal marriages at CitySalt!

John 15:12   My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

"Preparing for the Test" by Randi Nelson

There is a big test coming up in March. I’ve had warning, so I can prepare. Preparation consists of going over beginning, basic material and tightening up sloppy timing and positioning. It means paying closer attention to terminology that hasn’t been so important to my current level, but is very important to the next level of experience/expertise that I hope to achieve. Yes, I’m talking about Armizare, the 600-year old western martial art that I practice with two-handed sword, dagger and basic wrestling moves. I’m a little worried; injury, travel and holiday activities have eaten into my skill set.

So I’m thrilled to be systematically reviewing basic principles and positions with my instructor because when the test comes, he won’t be able to coach me. This afternoon I was part of a demonstration on how important form can be. We showed that resistance to attack using poor form is futile. Then, demonstrating proper form, I was able to hold up against the full weight of my 6’1” instructor. Yet, even though I’ve developed an instinctively proper form, during our demonstration today, I recognized a slight alignment modification, a subtle nuance that enabled me to be even stronger with far less stress on my shoulders!

We’ve talked a lot at CitySalt church about keeping current with basic spiritual disciplines. A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Dusty spoke on forgiveness. It is so basic I almost checked out. But something he said made me groan. By so many standards, I can say that my “forgiveness form” is very good. Yet I had to acknowledge that over the holidays I was experiencing weakness. There’s a relationship in my life that requires constant practice not only of the basics, but also attention to more advanced nuances. My form is in need of adjustment in order to stay strong under the weight of something very hurtful. 

Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near…”. I’ve come to understand this doesn’t mean that God plays a cruel game of Hide and Seek, but rather that he wants to be coaching me through the basics, preparing me for “the tests” that life brings, especially the ones that are not announced in advance. If I have the basics practiced to the point of reflex, then I can work on the nuances that make me even more resistant to the enemy. John the Baptist admonished the people to “bear fruits in keeping with repentance”. Right now that means to me that I have to repent of some misaligned boundaries. And he said, “do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘we have Abraham as our father’. He’s telling me that while I may have cultivated some strong basic skills, my endurance can use some polishing.

Luke 3:4, 8 – Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight … Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, “we have Abraham as our father”.

Ephesians 6:17-18 - … and take … the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Isaiah 57:1b-2 – For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace …”

Community Prayer Guide | January 2016

Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.

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One Church - One Day Community Prayer | January 2016

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ 
Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”  Revelation 21:5

Church
Pray for every pastor and ministry leader to be renewed, refreshed, and refocused in the Lord.
Pray for church/ministry leadership teams to be united in vision and one in spirit and purpose.
Pray for Jesus-followers to become like Him in real ways in each sphere of our community.
Pray pastors and leaders to equip the church to do the work of Jesus.
Pray for Love INC to be gain more church partnerships for greater community outreach.

Education
Pray for teachers and administrators to be sensitive and aware of hurting students, and for wisdom to help.
Pray for safe and positive learning environments in all levels of education.
Pray for educators in the classroom to highlight biblical truth. 
Pray for principals & school board members in your area by name, for the Lord’s wisdom & Spirit upon them.
Pray for Christ-followers at the LCC campus to connect, pray, fellowship and extend the Gospel there.
Pray for youth in alternative schools to have peace, motivation and encouragement in their lives & learning; that administrators & teachers would have wisdom to create effective learning environments for them.

Family
Pray that young couples will see the value, depth and power of their marriage covenant with God.  
Pray that couples facing difficulty have the courage, stamina and support to contend for a healthy marriage.
Pray that families in our community sense God’s powerful love for them, and let Him lead them.
Pray for our community’s abortion rate to decrease and for the adoption rate to increase.
Pray for Christ-followers to care for children at risk and to support families who care for those children.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to highlight God’s design for sex & empower men & women to live sexually pure lives.

Government
Pray for the 2016 local elections that God would raise-up mayors, city, county & state officials.
Pray for humble, respectful and more fruitful collaboration, communication and coordination among all of the various government agencies and jurisdictions in our community.
Pray for our elected leaders to have God’s wisdom and discernment for projects, policies and future plans.
Pray for clear communication and harmony between the government, non-profit and business sectors.
As a part of “Operation 365,” pray for 65 more homeless veterans to find & stay in homes, healing, jobs and well-being. (As of December 1st, 300 have been housed since the start of Operation 365 on January 1st.)
Pray for community leaders to provide awareness & solutions to shepherd those struggling with mental illness.

Business
Pray for a strong and skilled work force to increase, as many employers are now looking to hire.
Pray for entrepreneurs to collaborate with, connect resources for and mentor younger business leaders.
Pray for the downtown core: Light, peace, safety and to become more business and professional friendly. 
Pray for Christ-following business leaders to lead with Christ-like integrity & honor the Lord in their businesses.
Pray for the creation of 500+ “above average median” jobs in our community & an increase in the living wage.
Pray for the government & business relationship to be respectful and productive for a strong local economy.

Arts
Pray for God’s direction and next steps for the Jacob’s Gallery at the Hult Center.
Pray for performing and visual artists and musicians to have a desire and see their need for the Lord.
Pray for Christ-following artists to step out into their gifting as artists and to impact our community.
Pray for the Lord to provide new vision, finances and favor to Jesus-honoring artists.

Health Care
Pray for the church to be a place of health and to have wisdom & power to bring health into the community. 
Pray for 30 new Primary Health Care physicians and 30 new nurses to be established in our community.
Pray for the Lord to guide our health care community into effective ways to treat the mentally ill.
Pray for health care providers to have joy and peace in their heavy work load, and to provide their best care.
Pray for Christian doctors:  with the stress of poor outcomes, complications, mistakes, and complex patients –
    that they will seek and find comfort and guidance from the Lord.

Police and Fire Departments
Pray for God to give wisdom, strategy and solutions to create a Mental Health Resource for our community.
Pray for all 911 workers: strength, peace & wisdom, pray for the urgent need of more 911 workers to be hired.
Pray for the emotional well-being of the families of police and fire department servants.
Pray for God to expose evil intent, defuse murderous intent and violent acts, replacing them with peace.
Pray for community support to increase staffing in the police and sheriff departments. 
Pray for the personal safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
                                                
Media
Pray for encouragement, strength and peace for those in media. 
Pray that the local media would be used to promote “good happenings” around our community. 
Pray for media organizations to discern how to handle new demands of a changing industry.
Pray for the Christ-followers to be employed and engaged in local media: newspaper, T.V., radio, etc.
Pray for clear and truthful reporting in all sectors of local media:  TV, paper, radio, internet, and advertising.

Sports
Pray for safety, protection and peace over all public sporting events.
Pray for God to guide the plans and preparations for the 2021 World Track & Field Championships (in Eugene). 
Pray for role model athletes to be strengthened and to have great influence on other athletes.  
Pray for all types of coaches: Kid Sports, YMCA, Middle School, High School, and College: for God’s hand to empower them to teach, encourage and to positively develop character in athletes.
Pray for athletes who are new in Christ to have a hunger to grow in the Lord.

"New Year's Eve" by Ally Mittleider

It's New Year's Eve and in just a few hours we will be counting down the minutes to celebrate the end of 2015 and the start of a completely new year. A lot of times this calls for New Year Resolutions - promises to change or be better during the next year. Resolutions to lose a certain amount of weight, eat healthier, read more, watch less television, so on and so forth. Being at the gym you can tell those whose resolution was to start working out more. After the first of the year the gym is packed full of new faces. They last for a few weeks, the best ones are there for a few months, but ultimately they fade away before six months is up and the gym is back to its normal capacity.

I go back and forth about New Year's resolutions. I can see how they bring hope to those who may have ended the year on a hopeless note. I understand that writing down or verbalizing those goals legitimizes them in our mind. Discussing New Year's resolutions also makes for a great conversation! At the same time- I don't think it takes such a big event to realize that change needs to happen. I think the types of change that people are trying to make with their resolutions are ones that need to happen within the heart first. They are the type that take a lot of reflection and time - not one that can be made on a "in-the-moment" whim or feeling. That is why the gym empties out by April.

I'm not one that quotes scripture as well as I probably could, but I do know that in many instances in the Bible, the Lord works directly through the heart. I also know that in my own life, the Lord works directly through my heart. Throughout the past few months I have felt him working in my life and, as Pastor Dusty puts it, sticking his finger in areas of my life that make me say, "Ouch!" I've always been my biggest critic, the one that is the hardest on myself, but with the help of God and a few important people in my life, I've realized that there are areas in my life that need some tweaking. It's as ifthe radio station isn't quite on the right channel and there is a slight static keeping it from coming in clear. My life has been dulled with this static that kept me from hearing God's voice and focusing on the important things.

These changes I want to make aren't the New Year's resolution-type changes. These are the deep, heart and soul type changes. The ones that are pretty hard to make. The process isn't easy and I might take some tumbles along the way but I know that with the help of those who love me and the strength that only comes from God, I can do it. I can refocus on the amazing things that are coming up in 2016! I can find that channel that is coming in clear and hear God's plans for my life clearly. This New Year's Eve, I am more excited than usual and it is a great feeling! So make those New Year's Resolutions - but make sure your "in-the-moment" decision to change a certain area of your life has also happened within your heart. 

"The Fruit Cake" by Daniel Blomberg

As I entered the house this morning, I was greeted with the beautiful sound of my wife, Marilee, playing the piano and singing Christmas carols.  It is the day before Christmas, and in a few hours, we will be having 30 people here for a sit down dinner.  The house is all decked out in our Christmas decorations, the smell of the Christmas tree fills the air, and the 3 tables are set, awaiting our guests. Much preparation has gone into making things ready for tonight’s big event. The rugs have been vacuumed, the floors swept, Christmas lights hung, Christmas presents have been purchased and wrapped, and food cooked and prepared for our guests. Christmas cards have been opened and displayed, announcing the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the real reason for the season we celebrate at Christmas. One card stands out from all the rest.  It was from a former prisoner that I ministered to 20 years ago when he was a prisoner at our local County Jail.

I came to know Paul quite well while he was incarcerated on a minor charge, awaiting trial. Paul was very depressed and experiencing a mental health crisis.  As it turned out, he was bi-polar or manic-depressive.  For several weeks, I visited with him and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Eventually, once he was on the proper medication, he settled down and began to respond to the gospel message.  He requested weekly counseling sessions and prayer times, and attended our weekly Bible Studies and Sunday Services. One day, I got to pray with Paul to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  Wow!  What an amazing transformation.  Now he was filled with Peace and Joy.  Later he attended our annual Christmas Program that we use to have at the jail, before security concerns forced it to be cancelled.  At the program he was given a gift bag decorated by local school children, and accompanied with a letter from a child, wishing him a Merry Christmas!  Also, he was able to enjoy two plates loaded down with fresh baked cookies, cakes, and candies supplied by the local community. But that wasn’t all. 

In addition to the food and gifts, caroling groups had come to serenade the prisoners, all the while, singing beautiful carols like, Joy to the World, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, and Silent Night. When Paul was release from jail, he wrote us several letters expressing his thanks for ministering to him at that most critical time when he was suffering separation from family and friends, while enduring a mental health crisis.  All of this was compounded by it being Christmas when you so want to be with family and friends.  Some prisoners may write and stay in contact for a few months, but it is rare that a former inmate would stay in touch the way Paul has done.

When Christmas was approaching the following year, we got a letter from Paul, with a check for $400.00 to help buy cookies and candies for our jail’s annual Christmas program.  That is a big donation and we were blown away by his generosity and grateful heart. Thus began an annual tradition that has continued now for some 20 years.  One Christmas I will never forget, when Paul and his wife drove over the mountain passes in a blinding snow storm, to deliver dozens of cookies they had baked for the prisoners.  Now that is dedication!
Now every Christmas, Paul and his wife, Sidney, send us a quirky Christmas card with pictures of them wearing some kind of Christmas stocking hat, or crazy sweater.  Always the card contains a sizable check earmarked for the Christmas Program, and a beautiful fruit cake. Just the other day, the Fed Ex truck pulled up to our house and delivered, you guessed it, another fruit cake. 

When the mailman came, there was also another card from Paul are Sidney with their annual Christmas picture and a check for $1,000.00 to be used where needed! 
As you sit around opening presents Christmas morning, remember what it is all about.  Jesus is God’s gift to us, purchased with his blood that He shed on the cross of Calvary for us. So the next time you are given a fruitcake, remember Paul and Sidney, and their example of thankfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ. What’s that sound?  I hear the bells ringing … “Joy to the World, the Lord has come!”

"Resilience" by Joseph Scheyer

A few weeks ago I got a call from my supervisor at work who summarily informed me that my job of fifteen plus years was being eliminated.  It was a punch in the gut. Boom… find out on Tuesday that your last day is Friday. Ouch. I really enjoyed that job. I worked hard at it and did good work. I got to help others, learn new technical concepts and interact with a wide variety of people all over the world. I have a lot of friends at the office and I could work from home if I needed to. I belonged. I must admit to some feelings of hopelessness, anger and despair and probably dwelled on some of those feelings longer than was healthy.

“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.”
 ~ Greg Kincaid

Once the shock wore off and I began to take stock of my situation, I realized that it’s easy to hitch our self worth wagon to our jobs. However, our jobs do not define us. Jobs and careers are a way to pay the bills and put food on the table but there is more to life than working and taking care of practical matters. I now understand that this is an opportunity to lean on God in ways that I have not had to do for awhile. At my stage of life the task of finding employment can be a bit daunting but I am not ready to fade slowly into retirement and if I am to overcome this setback, I must practice resilience.

In my way of thinking, resilience means operating with hope and the key to resilience is spirituality. I am not talking about religion here… to me, spirituality is an inner understanding that we are all interconnected by a power much greater than ourselves. Our connection to that power, and to each other, can only be realized through love and compassion. When we practice spirituality, we bring meaning and purpose to our lives. When we practice spirituality, we are able to let go of who we think we are supposed to be and embrace who we really are; imperfect and lovable beings. We know that we are loved by a God that understands completely who we are and where we are on the road to salvation. Practicing spirituality means hope.  Hope is not a feeling but a way of thinking that we attain when we set goals, understand how we can achieve those goals and believe in ourselves. 

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

If the God of the universe believes in us and loves us, we must be able to believe in ourselves and love ourselves.  Sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is to understand that we are sufficient just the way we are. 

 Job 1:21-22 and exclaimed: “I left my mother’s womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed.”

"Grace" by Betty Fletcher

What do think of when you think of the word grace? Do you think of the effortless way a skater moves across the ice or a dancer across the floor? Or do you think of the prayer before dinner? Or do you imagine forgiveness—a friend overlooking an ill-timed word or a spouse not commenting on your morning breath...Isn’t grace wonderful?

Wouldn’t you like to live in a world that has more beauty and warmth and, yes, grace in it? In this Christmas season that can seem so frantic and so opposite of what we hope it will be. We long to experience moments of grace.

And here’s the good news: At its very core, Christmas is all about grace. Grace for all who will come, of course. But grace for you in particular. Listen to what the apostle John has to say…

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth…And of His fullness have we all received, and grace for grace.

Grace is unmerited favor. Grace warms the heart. Grace is what God gives to us in welcoming us into his family. He throws open the door, opens his arms wide, and invites to share his life with his Son. And he does this at his own expense. God’s character, his very being, is entirely, lavishly gracious. You may feel that you’ve been pushed to the limit or that you’ve pushed God to the limit. But God is merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. He is gracious because he is love. And he loves you.

In this is love, not that we loved him, but that he loved us, and gave himself a sacrifice for us.

God so loved the world [and that includes you] that he gave his son.

Most of us start our Christian lives with this simple understanding of God’s love, but we can lose it along the way. We can become tired and numb and often just go through religious motions because we don’t know any other way to live. We have to find a way to rediscover the joy of being eternally accepted and loved.

So I’d like to offer one thing I’ve been doing that could make a difference in your Christmas season. Every day from now until Christmas, find a minute, 60 seconds, where you stop.  For heaven’s sake, just stop, and let God love you. God doesn’t want to wait until you’ve got everything fixed or everything finished this Christmas. He is the gift of grace for you in your loneliness, in your busyness, in your fear of not having enough or being enough.
So for a minute, let it be enough to just be with him. Shhhh…Don’t talk too much. Don’t fill up the seconds with your words because you’re uncomfortable. Just stop and let God love you for those few seconds.

Now if you do this, I can promise something new will happen in your life. I don’t know what. It might be something different for each of you.  But there will be something—some stirring in your soul—that will be your Christmas gift from above.

Imagine the Father’s joy as you receive his gracious gift of love with simplicity and gratefulness this advent season.

Faith, Hope, and Love - Indonesia Report by Dusty Johnson

Recently I returned from a trip to Indonesia with the organization Compassion First. After ten flights, and over 35 hours of air time, I am happy to report that I am safe, healthy, and recovering from my first significant bout with jet lag.

The primary reason for this trip was to facilitate a SoulCare and Personality workshop for the Compassion First staff based in Indonesia, and to get better acquainted with their outreach ministry. I traveled with a small group from the US and we spent two days traveling, 7 days on three different islands in Indonesia, and the last 24 hours getting a little rest and relaxation on the island of Bali before departing home.
 
The first city we visited was Surabaya. This is predominantly a Muslim city of over 2.7 million people, just south of the equator. The Muslim faith was very apparent as I awoke each morning to the sound of amplified calls to prayer across the city. One morning I woke early and took a walk at daybreak to take it all in. I am amazed by this devoted expression of their faith.

We spent three days in Surabaya assisting the CF outreach to the prostitutes and their children who live in and around the Yellow Flower Cemetery. This is acres and acres of concrete and marble headstones, and narrow streets that transform into a brothel by night for those seeking sex acts for as little as 75 cents. This is survival for many women and their families. CF recently acquired a day center that serves as a ray of light, bringing hope and dignity to the women and children caught in this unfortunate economy of prostitution. Our team helped their local staff by painting the exterior of the day center and playing with children. We also helped host a thanksgiving-style celebration for 100+ kids and parents who were shuttled across town to a golf course banquet hall where we served them dinner and enjoyed an evening of balloon animals, face painting, performances and encouraging word to all present.
 
We then spent several days in a much smaller city north of the equator on the island of North Sulawesi. This area has a significant Christian influence and one could say that it is characterized by a 153’ statue called Christ Blessings, erected by a Christian developer in this city. We got a chance to visit the site and referred to it as “Flying Jesus.” It was both cool and a bit eerie at the same time. :)
 
The CF aftercare shelter is a secure facility in a city (left unnamed to protect the nature of their outreach) and is a place where local police work in partnership with the CF staff to bring girls rescued from child sex trafficking into a safe home.  In this home they receive all of the long term care they need, protection, counseling and of course--tons of love. Here we prepared a thanksgiving dinner for the staff, volunteers, and girls as a prelude to the staff retreat where I was the guest presenter. The next day was dedicated to me teaching and facilitating a Soul Care focused workshop that revolved around the Enneagram Personality Test. The group of 35 was made up of the girls, staff and volunteers that serve as program directors, pastors, cooks, therapists, administration and security. My workshop materials were translated and prepared by local staff, and a young lady named Primy was my interpreter. Though I had some concerns about the content getting “lost in translation,” I was pleasantly surprised that the material was relevant and timely for the team. I was very encouraged with how things went, and enjoyed time playing guitars and singing with the girls. I was also able to put my handyman skills to work on a couple small repair projects before we left.

Finally, our last 24 hours was spent in the Tanjung Benoa peninsula, south of the equator, on the island of Bali before returning home. Bali is predominantly Hindu, easily observed by the daily displays of Puja (pu-chey), a form of ceremonial worship by placing fresh flower trays on the ground in front of businesses and shops. Bali is a popular holiday destination for many Australians, and was a nice stop for rest, relaxation and some familiar food (yeah pizza!) before the long journey home to the US. While in Bali I enjoyed some time on the beach, a swim in the Indian Ocean, and a thrilling tour of the peninsula on a motor scooter.

As I reflect on this experience, my personal takeaways can be summarized in the words of the Apostle Paul, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I observed these three Kingdom resources being expressed generously through the work of Compassion First…

● Power of Faith - I am coming away with a deeper understanding and compassion for the complexities of human brokenness and the need for God. We all share a sense of shame when we know we are settling for less than the best of our God-given potential. I saw faith being expressed by a belief that God is somewhere near, and somehow involved in the worst of situations.

● Durability of Hope - I witnessed a tenacity for survival. Despite pain, suffering, and injustice, we all share a desire for things to be better. Like plants that need water and sunshine, we simply need to be reminded and encouraged often that there is “more” and “better,” just around the corner. I saw hope being expressed by people serving practical needs and contending that God’s redemptive plan would eventually win out.

● Capacity for Love - I have been renewed in my faith as to the relevance of the gospel of Christ for all humans. We all share a desire to be put right with our Creator and restored in our significance and belonging. Jesus demonstrates a seeking and sacrificial love that extends mercy to the offender and grace to the undeserving. I witnessed love being expressed in practical, relevant, and intentional ways without judgment. This was powerful.

I am grateful to my friends and family who helped sponsor this trip ;by giving me as a gift to Compassion First. To find out more about Compassion First, you can visit them online atwww.compassionfirst.org.
But for right now, until that completeness,
we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:
Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does.
Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you.
1 Corinthians 13:13-14:1 MSG      

"Getting to Know God" by Terry Sheldon

I am titling this Getting to Know God with purpose, not just because it fits, but because I want to bounce off the cliché essence of the phrase, in our Christian circles. Yes, we serve a relational God, and in my experience, that's what it's all about.

As my long suffering wife knows, I am not so much a "rule follower" by nature. Not that I don't try to adhere to essential edicts that keep me (and us) safe and smart with what God has given us to steward, but let's just say I tend to be, ahem, "creative" at finding ways to apply them. "Whatever Terry,” I hear Colby saying somewhere behind me.

For me, I have a hard time buying into a rigid religious system. A REALLY hard time. Typically, it has produced cynicism, frustration, loneliness, and a separation from the heart of God. I can honestly say it's only been the last several years that I've finally come to realize, in my heart of hearts, that God truly LOVES me. Not in the biblical "Christian Code of Conduct" sense, but one on one, father to son, friend to friend.

Why did it take me so long to open up to him? I'm not sure. Yes we all have on blinders, at many, many points along our spiritual journeys. But for someone who has grown up on this road of faith, I would have thought I'd arrive here many years ago. Sometimes I am a bit ashamed, quite frankly, that it's taken me so long.

About 6 years ago I found myself trying to enter in during a worship time at CitySalt. I just couldn't. No words, no melody, just quiet tears. This scenario lasted for months. I remembered back to so many instances before that when I viewed worship as kind of emotional fluff. Ya ya, let's move on and get to the real MEAT of the service. Pastor, give me something good here. My attempts at worship seemed forced. The emotional gap between me and God seemed vast, and in retrospect, emotional closeness to God through worship was painful. Thinking holy thoughts about God through theology was easy. We gravitate towards easy, don't we?

A portion of all this (yes too much) was tied to my circumstances, and of course, that whole is-sue is a double-edged sword. I heard that God, as any father would, wanted to bless me in my personal need. But I also knew I didn't want to base my relationship to God on whether or not I achieved some sort of comfort, position, or security. That felt inauthentic, like a distant relative fighting over a deceased patriarch's will. I craved the real thing, a connection to the heart of God, regardless of my circumstances.

Getting to know God is like getting to know your spouse, or anyone in your life you deeply care about. It takes time. It takes effort. But at its core, it's about true connection. We can't know God without really KNOWING him. "Knowledge about" isn't the end game. It's knowledge plus shared acts of kindness plus forgiveness received plus history together and lessons learned. The result = getting to know the REAL God. And getting to know our true selves in the process.

"Head to Toe Prayer" by Pastor Dusty

Listen along to this "head to toe" prayer by Pastor Dusty as part or our worship service on 11-29-15

Praise & Worship 11-22-15

Listen Lisa Brown and Madison Kettwig as they lead our church in praise and worship on Sunday, November 22nd. 

"Love is Key" by Darla Beardsley

Love. What a powerful word. It makes sense that it would be, because 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is love. Last Sunday in service Boby Jubberread 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 inserting God in place of the word love. It was very thought provoking concerning the nature of God. God is Love.

This morning in prayer I was wrestling with what I am doing with my and how I am spending my time. Am I doing everything God wants me to do? Should I get involv3ed with this? Should I do more of that? Am I spending too much time on this project? Another “love” scripture popped into my head, so I turned to Revelations, the second chapter and read the following:

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have preserved and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.”

So God, what you’re saying is that it is possible to be busy trying to do all the right things and still miss my mark? Love is more important. This got me thinking about my motivations for doing the things that I do. Am I trying to impress God or other people with my performance or in my actions? Do I love the Lord and the people He puts in my life? Am I worried about looking worthy or is it love that drives me? Most likely, I’s a little of both.

I believe that I am only scratching the surface of what God has to teach me in all this, but I think getting to the heart of the love issue is key. What motivates me? If love is not in the answer to that question then chances are I will miss the mark. So how do I become motivated by love? By pressing into, spending time with, and receiving from He who is Love.

I love what Dusty always says, “When in doubt, default to love.

(1 Corinthians 13)