No in-person worship this Sunday

Dear Church family,

We were informed this afternoon that a visitor to our church from this past Sunday (November 1) just tested positive for COVID. This visitor was not symptomatic when they joined our worship gathering and they were only present in our main worship center, not our downstairs video room. They did adhere to our COVID precautions while on site.

However, in light of this knowledge, our leadership team felt it best to not gather in-person this coming Sunday, November 8.  We encourage you to join us online instead and we plan to offer in-person worship again on November 15.

If you are experiencing any COVID like symptoms we’d encourage you to get tested right away.

We are grateful for the safety measures and precautions so many of you have followed in this season and will continue to do our best to be both wise and stay connected.

By His Grace,

Sunset Community Church Leadership Team

You can find links to our online worship by clicking/tapping here.  

Food Collection

For the month of November we’ll be collecting food for the REACH Center of Hope which houses homeless families in our neighborhood.

Items can be dropped off at the church office during the week or during our worship gathering on Sunday mornings.

God does care about your...

If you have been with us in our series on the book of Philippians then you know that one of the key themes is unity.

We’ve seen:

• It’s a challenge to stay unified when you’re facing outside pressure.

• It’s a challenge to stay unified when you’re facing inside tensions.

Whenever I preach I always pray and ask God that his truth would penetrate our hearts and that anything that is just Andrew, would quickly be forgotten. After my sermon last Sunday I was reflecting on one line that I spoke where I was giving examples of things that we sometimes hold onto in a way that can be prideful and divisive. I said, He [Jesus] doesn’t care about the quality of the car you drive or the way you dress. He doesn’t give a rip about your country of origin or the political party you vote for.

I remember a segment on Sesame Street from when I was a kid called ‘One of these things is not like the other.’ They would often show four things and one clearly didn’t belong. In this case, I wish I wouldn’t have included country of origin in my list of examples.

My point in that statement was to get us to think about things that divide us and just as Christ did, to humbly lay aside anything we might cling to that would keep us from serving one another. But let me be clear, Jesus does care about your country of origin. He cares about it so much that he includes it in the image of what heaven will be like.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
- Revelation 7:9

This is one of my favorite images of heavenly worship. It’s also why I love our church family so much, because we have people from multiple countries and language groups. That means that every Sunday when we worship, we get a little taste of heaven.

So yes, your country of origin should never be held up in a prideful way or as an excuse to not love someone else. But yes, Jesus does care about it! Who you are and where you were born matter to him. He knows your language, loves your food, and something of God is imprinted into the culture you were born into.

I’m so grateful for the diverse church family we have and I’m grateful for you. So thank you! Whether you’re from Washington, Kenya, Texas, or Vietnam, thank you for bringing with you something beautiful and beneficial for our entire family And thank you for being gracious when your pastor says something that is out of place.

By His Grace,

Pastor Andrew

Prayer Points for our Nation

As we spend the next month in prayer and fasting here are six areas that you can be praying for.

1. Pray for elected and appointed officials (1 Tim 2:2). We talk and complain a lot about politicians, but do we pray as often as we should, as often as we are compelled to pray by scripture? We should pray, not only that our leaders would be use their power well on behalf of the people (Rom 13), but also for the well-being of their families. My suggestion is that pray for all leaders, not just the ones with whom you agree.

2. Pray for candidates running for office (1 Tim 2:2). Regardless of your feelings about the candidates running for local, state and federal offices, you have to admire anyone who is willing to risk public criticism and humiliation in stepping forward. Running for office takes a toll on candidates’ families, opens them up to unprecedented scrutiny and enacts a physical and mental toll.

3. Pray for public servants and first responders. Around the country, at this very moment, millions of men and women wear a uniform and have pledged to protect us from harm. Police officers, fire-fighters, paramedics, search and rescue teams and others put their lives on the line every day in an oft-thankless task. Pray for wisdom and discernment, pray they would use their power well, pray for the wives and husbands and children who kiss them goodbye, not knowing if their loved ones will return.

4. Pray for racial justice. It is clear that there is still much work to be done in our country to heal from our racial wounds and to see more racial progress. We should pray for more unity in our communities and in our country and for leaders who unite, rather than divide. Pray for minority populations who continue to experience prejudice and injustice. Pray for just laws to address racial disparities. Pray that the church will lead the way, showing by its steps toward racial reconciliation, a glimpse of the kingdom, where God will gather every nation, tribe, and tongue.

5. Pray for the recognition of human dignity. Everywhere we look, we see violations of human dignity, from abortion on demand, to the horrific rhetoric some leaders are using to talk about immigrants and refugees, to the violence erupting in the tough neighborhoods in our cities. Pray for laws that see value and worth in every human life, from conception to natural death.

6. Pray for the church. The most powerful institution on earth is the church of Jesus Christ, made up of people from every nation, tribe and tongue. Pray for God’s people to unite together around the good news of the gospel and to commit to living on mission for him in each community. Pray the church would embody the kind of other-worldly values of the Kingdom and point people to the hope found only in Christ. Pray for pastors to boldly preach and teach the word of God and to courageously call their people to Christlikeness.

*Do you have other suggestions? Add them to the comment section below.

**Thanks to Daniel Darling and the ERLC for these prayer points.

Prayer and Fasting

As we get nearer to the election, the divide in our country is not just concerning but alarming. As a church it’s never been more important to be agents of peace to those around us (and online) and to be praying for our country.

With this in mind, starting October 6 and ending on Election Day November 3, we want to invite you to join with others in our church family for a weekly time of prayer and fasting on Tuesday’s. During this time we’ll have resources and prayer points to help you engage in prayer, as well as a lunch Zoom call for you to join in on if you’re able.

Why Fast?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that we see throughout the scriptures. In the New Testament it is almost always connected with prayer (Lk. 2:37, Acts 13:2) and sometimes in conjunction with a time of seeking God’s will or in preparation for a new season of life or ministry (Acts 14:23). Fasting is typically done by not eating food for a period of time, often 24 hours. Whether it’s one meal or one week, how you fast isn’t as important as why.

We hope you’ll consider joining us in prayer and fasting on Tuesday’s for the month of October as we pray for our nation. If you’re able to join us for lunchtime prayer please email us here for the Zoom link.

What to expect this Sunday?

This Sunday we'll be gathering together to worship across the street from our building on the lawn.
Here are a few things you need to know to be ready. 

Seating
Please bring your own chair or blanket. We’ve got plenty of space to spread out.

Masks?
Yes. As a public gathering we are all required to wear masks. We'll have extra if you forget yours. 

Kids
At this time we aren’t offering any separate programming for kids but we always think it’s great when they join us for the whole service anyways.

Drive-Up
For those that are still not wanting to be around groups we do have a limited number of drive-up spots. Simply pull in, roll down your windows, and participate in worship from your vehicle. Please RSVP for drive up spots by email.

Other info...
- Bathrooms will be open and available across the street in the lower level of the building. 

- We won't have any sort of projection setup but you can access the song lyrics here: https://sunsetcommunity.church/songs or print copies will also be available

- Giving will continue to be online or by mail. 

Still have questions: Email us by clicking/tapping HERE!

See you this Sunday at 10:30 AM!



Online Church Only this Sunday

Due to increasingly hazardous air conditions we have made the decision not to hold outside services this coming Sunday, September 13th.

We invite you to participate with us online and worship in your home. You can tune in at 10:30 AM Sunday on Facebook Live or Youtube.

We plan to resume our outside worship next Sunday the 20th. Meanwhile the leadership team is hard at work to prepare for safe inside worship gatherings once the weather changes.

July 12th Regathering!

It’s hard to believe but the last time we met in person was on March 8th. As the curve has flattened and we’re now in Phase 2, we are excited to have the opportunity to meet in-person again starting July 12th!

What’s the plan?
Under Phase 2 guidelines we’re only able to meet with up to 68 people inside but up to 100 outside. So as a leadership team we’ve decided that both from a safety standpoint (outside means less exposure) and the ability to meet with more people, outside makes the most sense for now.

What will this look like?

• Social distancing and masks are still required. If you don’t have a mask we’ll have extra available onsite.

• Please bring your own chair or blanket. This also helps minimize exposure and ensures the ability to easily social distance

• Kids? There won’t be any kids programming yet so worship will be family style, which we think is great anyways.

Still not sure if you want to come?
We totally understand. There are two options for you if you’re not sure about crowds yet, even with social distancing.

• We will have designated drive-in spots. This means you can still participate but you don’t have to get out of your car.

• We will still continue online services. You’ll get the same message that will be preached live.

Questions?
Email us by clicking/tapping here.

Reopening Plan

Our reopening plan is not “set in stone” since the status of the Coronavirus pandemic remains fluid and changing.  Our primary concern in our reopening plan is the health and well-being of our church family and surrounding community.

Our reopening plan has been prayerfully discussed with our church leadership and thus represents our shared conviction about resuming worship gatherings.

 We realize that there is diverse opinion about when and how to reopen.  Gatherings, social distancing, wearing masks, etc., have now become divisive and political issues.  Our church leadership respects both those who are ready now for reengagement and those who want a more gradual approach.  We call for patience and kindness extended to all in this process.

Washington’s Phased Approach now allows for outdoor services of up to 100 individuals while in Phase 1, provided certain requirements are met.  Phase 2 counties may have indoor gatherings of 50 or up to 25% of capacity, whichever is less, also contingent upon meeting certain requirements. (Governor updated 5/29/20).  Washington State has had a significant impact and nation-wide there are reports of spiritual gatherings becoming COVID-19 “super-spreader” events.   Sunset Community Church leadership has decided to wait until Phase 2 is declared in King County before reengaging face-to-face with our congregation.   

Regarding a reopening date, we are working towards having our first in-person, indoor worship gathering approximately 2 weeks after Phase 2 is in effect in King County if we have been able to meet the CDC’s recommendations by that point.  We are already working on those recommendations. 

For specific guidelines and considerations you can download our reopening plan by clicking/tapping here.

For our government required policy click/tap here.

COVID-19 Update

Dear Church Family,

After considering the expertise of public health experts and through much prayer and discussion, our leadership team has decided to suspend all of our upcoming gatherings and events through March 22. We are not making this decision based on fear but on the love of our neighbors and our community. As Christians we want to join the efforts that many in our community are taking to stop the spread of this virus and save lives.

 I realize that isolation has a way of further magnifying the fear and anxiety which is already gripping much of our world. While we may not be meeting over these next two weeks this is not a time to withdraw relationally. Here are two ways that you can stay connected to the larger church family over the next two weeks.

Sunday Worship
This Sunday at our normally scheduled worship time of 10:30 AM we’ll have a livestream available on our Facebook page and our church website. Much like a Sunday worship gathering this will include music, a message, and community interaction.

Prayer Meetings
Monday at Noon and Wednesday at 7 PM we’ll be hosting prayer meetings via conference call. You can use your phone or computer to connect from work or home and join with others as we seek God together. Please email me at andrew@sunsetcommunity.church for more information on how to connect to these.

Would you prayerfully and wisely consider how to stay actively connected with people during this time? This could be a phone call, continuing to meet with your community group or Bible study, or blessing someone who is being financially affected. The Bible is full of examples of how times that seem evil or overwhelming end up actually being used for good. I think this is one of those times! We have an opportunity to reflect the peace and hope we have in Jesus and I’m confident each of you will take advantage of it in your homes, workplaces and neighborhoods.

Lastly, if you or anyone you know is in need during this time please let me or someone on our leadership team know.

Peace and Grace,

 Pastor Andrew

SCC COVID-19 Precautions

Church Family, 

As you know King County has become a ground-zero of sorts for the COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus. As a leadership team we’ve been learning and discussing how to respond and so we wanted to update you on our current measures being taken, as it relates to our gatherings, as well as direct you to some helpful information to keep you informed. 

This Sunday
As is always the case during cold and flu season, if you are sick please stay home. There is no reason to ‘power thru’ any illness you are experiencing as it will just expose others. We are still planning to meet this Sunday but we’ll be making a few small changes and taking some extra precautions.

·  We are doing a deep clean of all surfaces in advance of our gathering this Sunday

·      We won’t be serving any food but warm drinks will still be available.

·      Offering plates won’t be passed but will still be available for giving and connection cards

·      Hand sanitizer and extra disinfectant wipes will be available

·      We are working to setup a Livestream for those who aren’t able to gather

For Your Personal Information
The following comes from the King County Covid-19 Response.

1. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first.

2. Stay home when sick.

3. Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including hand washing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.

4. Stay away from people who are ill, especially if you are 60 and older or have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a weakened immune system.

5. Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Check and subscribe to Public Health’s website (www.kingcounty.gov/COVID) or blog (www.publichealthinsider.com).

Lastly, be wise but don’t be afraid!
Times like these expose character and beliefs. I wrote briefly on this earlier this week (click here) but want to remind us all to filter our actions with much prayer. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” We should pray and act with wisdom but let’s also be aware of opportunities we may have to display the ways of Jesus in a time of fear and uncertainty.

For those of you that are able to come, I’ll look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday! For those that aren’t, we are planning to have a livestream available on Facebook and our website.

Peace and Grace,
Pastor Andrew

Christians and the Coronavirus

By Pastor Andrew

The alarm of a possible Coronavirus pandemic is increasing and in a sense we find ourselves at the epicenter in our country (the true epicenter is in Wuhan China) now with the only six deaths in America happening in Washington, five being King County. So, whether you’re stocking up on food and staying home or just treating it like any other seasonal flu, we’re all being impacted by its effects, as schools are closing, the stock market is tanking, and surgical face masks are flying off of the shelf.  The fear is real and it’s affecting us, whether we are buying into it or not. Fear also has a way of exposing what we believe and what we place our hope in. 

So, I have to ask you the question; How does your Christian faith affect how you respond to something like a possible pandemic?

How we respond to most things in life is a combination of emotional reaction (you could call it instinct) and what has been modeled for us in the past. For example, when a grease fire happens in the pan on the kitchen stove our initial reaction is to panic, but if you happened to remember your Mom calmly putting a lid on the pan you’ll know that’s far more effective than trying to douse it with water. So, as followers of Jesus, sometimes it’s helpful to look at how Christians from the past have responded to similar circumstances of tragic pandemics. 

The Cyprian plague in the third century was one of the most devastating plagues to hit the Roman world. At its height it’s believed to have killed 5,000 people a day in Rome. This wasn’t the first plague to hit the Roman empire though. The Antonine plague of the second century had been equally devastating and would impact nearly every corner of the empire. What was often noted in these plagues was the response of this still fairly new religious group known as Christians. While many Roman citizens were deserting the sick and dying, the Christians we’re tending to them and even helping with their burial.

Many historians credit the plagues as contributing to the downfall of the Roman empire and at the same time while enduring the same plagues and increasing persecution, Christianity began to spread. The pagan emperor Julian was recorded as saying: “[They] support not only their poor, but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us.” For Christians their faith was causing them to act different in the face of uncontrollable tragedy and this action was rooted in their beliefs.

 We can also look at a more recent example in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. One aid worker, Stephen Rowden, volunteering with Doctors without Borders was tasked with the terrible job of collecting 10-25 Ebola stricken bodies a day in Liberia. When asked by NPR host Robert Siegel if his Christian faith was tested during this tragic assignment he said: “No. No, I got great strength from my faith and the support of my family.”

The strength that Rowden drew from his faith is based on the belief that there is something greater than this life and someone greater that has made a way to it. Jesus is our peace in this life because he promises us peace in the next one. Fear is powerless when it’s up against this kind of faith.

 As we read the headlines today it’s good to be reminded that we are part of a long line of Jesus followers who know that sickness and death doesn’t have the final world over our lives. And so, as the world is gripped by fear, we have an opportunity, like those who have gone before us, to be people of peace and compassion in the face of uncertainty. Yes, we should pray for and be wise in uncertain times but as followers of Jesus we don’t let fear determine our steps. Just as the message of Jesus spread in times of persecution and plague, you and I have an opportunity to demonstrate that same message of peace and love here in King County.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)

What was Jesus lacking?

Our passage from Colossians this last Sunday opened with this interesting line from the Apostle Paul. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,” (Colossians 1:24)

I don’t know about you but when I read this my first thought was, ‘Is Paul saying that the suffering of Jesus fell short in some way?’ Whenever we come across a statement in scripture that seems odd or maybe even contradictory it should make us pause. Then we have to ask two questions.

1.     How does this fit with the context of the immediate passage?
2.     How does this fit with the theology of all of scripture?

To answer question one #1, we know that Paul is suffering. He’s writing this from prison and he has been persecuted for his faith. We also know that he views his suffering as necessary result of following Jesus. And to him it’s all worth it because he loves the church and wants as many people to hear the Gospel of Jesus as possible.

For question #2 we have to zoom out a bit. There is no doubt that the suffering of Jesus on the cross was enough (Rom. 3:21-26, Heb. 10:10-14) and that it is only through HIS death and resurrection that we are saved. So, what is lacking then? The idea here is more about continuation than completion. What Jesus did on the cross was a complete work but in order for all people everywhere to know the Gospel His people (like Paul) will also endure suffering as they bring the message to an unbelieving world (2 Tim. 3:11, 1 Peter 3:13-14; 5:9, Heb. 10:32).

So, in this way when Paul and other followers of Christ suffer for the sake of the Gospel we are participating in the sufferings of Jesus. Not only that but Jesus is also participating with us. Remember when Paul himself was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus Jesus said, “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus is with us in our sufferings and in our suffering we are continuing the hard work of making Him known.

The Hardest Year

By Andrew Fouché

Without a doubt one of the most brutal years of my life was 2015. When it started everything was great though. With the adoption of our youngest the year prior we were now a family of six and the church I was pastoring was growing. I had no idea that 2015 would end with me resigning from the church I loved (due to a few that wanted me out) and that just days after my resignation my youngest son would almost die due to complications from a heart surgery. As 2015 came to a close I was unemployed, and my son was still fighting for his life after nearly three months in the hospital.

It was sometime in March when Jessica and I were sitting on the couch after the kids had gone to sleep and we both agreed, “We’re Ok.”Our kids were alive and our marriage had survived the most difficult circumstances to date.

Difficult times aren’t bound by a calendar. Maybe 2019 was hard for you…maybe the last 10 years have been. If we’re honest, every year we live has its hardship and challenges, joys and peace. And while all of us would prefer to live a pain-free, peace-filled life, sometimes we learn things in those tough seasons that aren’t possible to learn when everything is going smoothly. If you are currently in a difficult season here are three questions that I have found helpful to ask in challenging times.

Is God surprised by my circumstances?

What do you think, is He?
One of the best words we can use to describe the nature of God is that he’s all-knowing (omniscient). Psalm 147:4-5 says, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” So, the answer to the question, is a resounding, “No.” As difficult as they may be, God is not ever surprised by your circumstances. With that being true, then there’s another question to ask.

Where have I moved outside of God’s design?

Sometimes our hardships are caused because of our actions. If you tell a child not to touch a hot stove and they do it anyway, they’ll get burned. God as the designer of life has given us so much to enjoy and through His Word he’s shown us the best way to live. But sometimes we ignore His ways and try to go outside of His design. The result is always brokenness and hardship. As an example, God gave us food to enjoy, but He warns against excess (Prov 23:20-21). I will confess this is a struggle for me. I’m blessed with a high metabolism so it may not be as visible but there are times when I overindulge and surprise, its not good for me. I have no excuse because I know God’s word and His design is to enjoy food but not eat more than I need. Another example, that is actually closely related, is sex. God designed it to be wonderful and enjoyable and exclusively in the context of marriage. When it’s not saved for marriage the fall-out is catastrophic on us as individuals and society. Look no further than the millions of abortions, children without fathers, and countless scars on the souls of those who have had many sexual partners outside of marriage.

I hear a lot of people blame God for the hardship in their lives when they were the ones that decided to touch the hot stove. God is not surprised by your circumstances but if you have moved outside of His design then it’s time to repent and take steps toward His will for your life.

But what if my hardship has nothing to do with my decisions?

At the end of 2015 with no job and my son fighting for his life I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could have done differently but there was nothing I could do in that moment that would change my circumstances. Sometimes you search yourself, you spend time in prayer and there just doesn’t seem to be a clear reason for why things are happening to you the way they are. It’s in these moments that our faith is tested.

Do I really trust God in times of hardship? If nothing in my circumstance changes will I keep walking faithfully with Jesus? Sometimes God teaches us something about himself and his will in the middle of our storm, that will become a sword for a later fight or a healing balm for a person in our lives who will need it in the future. God is not surprised by your circumstances and he’s also not leaving you to deal with them alone. For Jessica and I a key verse in our season of hardship was Hebrews 6:19. Speaking of Jesus it says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” In that difficult season we experienced this like we never had before. God was near to us and He showed us His love through the people He surrounded us with who loved on us and supported us in amazing ways.

As a final thought, sometimes we aren’t able to fully process these questions ourselves. If you are currently in a season of hardship find someone who loves Jesus and will be brutally honest with you, and walk through these questions together. God’s design is the best, His presence is with us, and out of your hardship He can still do something wonderful.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Family Dinner Recap

On December 8 we a had our end of the year family dinner meeting where we celebrated what God has done this last year and looked forward to 2020. Watch the video below for a brief recap.

The Purpose of Rest

By Jessica Fouché

I found I had said too many yeses. The calendar was daunting with each square filled in, more things to do than time to do any of them well and cutting corners at home where I would rather have been giving my very best yeses. Can you relate? They seem to multiply by themselves in some seasons until you start feeling the weight of them, the sum total just too much. I felt God speak to me about all those yeses and the absence of margin and rest in my life. Very clearly in my heart I knew he was asking me to choose a season of rest and so I began to contemplate which of those yeses I could eliminate and even decided on a date on the calendar that I would choose to stop saying yes to anything for a few months. The date came and I quickly realized this season of rest would be something I would have to keep choosing, even fight for, because the pressures of life don’t stop even if we try to step back from it all a bit.

The first book I picked up to read and catch up on that first day of my season of rest immediately grabbed my attention. In her book Fervent, Priscilla Shirer wrote, “The primary purpose of Sabbath margins- of saying no, when appropriate- is to diminish our devotion to all other suitors and crystallize our allegiance to God. The enemy wants other things and other people to replace God’s preeminence in our schedule, in our mind, in our heart, in our home. He wants our loyalties lured away from our Creator and dispersed among a dozen others, without our even thinking about it.” There it was on the page hitting me so completely- this call to rest comes with a purpose beyond refueling for the next busy season, it’s a position of heart before God that puts him first, looks to Him first, recognizes my heart won’t be satisfied getting all the things done if it’s not centered on the one who breathes the very life into me.

When we’re tired and overwhelmed it becomes harder to see our own motivation for why we do what we do, and it can be harder to hear God’s voice.

Our value is in who God says we are- his children- not in what we do, but it’s so easy to find value in how much we can accomplish, how many things we can say yes to and check off our list, losing sight of the why behind what we’re doing. I’m a doer, so it’s easy for me to fall into this trap. I have a hard time sitting still when there’s something that could be done, and in our busy home there’s always something to do. Yet, when I step back, I realize I tend to over value productivity because it makes me feel good in a shallow way and under value time spent creating, playing, and dreaming because my values have gotten out of order. Yet our creator God made us in His image, made us to be more that our to do lists, more than what we accomplished last year. He made us for relationship and to be fully alive in Him. If anything- including saying yes to too much and living under the pressure of a life without built in rest- comes before God, then we won’t ever feel quite right in our heart.

This season of rest is also teaching me that I need to learn to build in more rest regularly so that I can continue to stay focused on the most important yeses I’m called to, no matter how busy things get.  I’ve read that you can tell what people really value by looking at their calendar and what they spend their money on. Does our calendar reflect a life with the right values in place? Is there time for rest? Is there time and ways for our relationship with God to grow among the squares of those days that make up a month that make up a year that make up a life? Is there time for family? For relationships to grow? Dallas Willard puts it this way: “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life… Hurry is the great enemy of souls in our day. It’s being so preoccupied with myself and what myself has to do that I am no longer able to be fully present with God and others. There is no way a soul can thrive when it is hurried. And nobody will come along and un-hurry your soul for you.”

The new year is a good time to re-evaluate if there’s enough rest built into the rhythm of your life to have your heart set first on God and to grow in your relationships, to say yes to the right things and the courage to say no when it would detract from your main purpose.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1

Questions from Jonah

We finished our series on Jonah a few couple of weeks ago but there were a few questions that we’re never fully addressed during the Sunday morning sermons. For the most part it’s because they weren’t critical to the main point of the text but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be discussed. So, here we go.

What was that big fish?

Did you grow up hearing the story of Jonah and the whale? I did and the accompanying pictures in most of my Sunday school lessons and children’s Bibles used an image of a whale. So is that accurate?

In most English Bibles the phrase is “great fish” which is pretty close to the original Hebrew, gadowl dag. In the Greek it’s rendered këtos, which means sea creature. Without having a more defined description it’s very possible that Jonah was swallowed by a whale or a large shark. It’s also possible that it was a sea creature that has since gone extinct. Either way the Bible is full of the supernatural works of God and clearly a man being swallowed and surviving three days was a supernatural event.

 It took Jonah three days to walk the city? How big was Nineveh?

The ancient city of Nineveh has been found just outside of modern-day Mosul and as ancient cities go it was a massive one, about two miles in diameter. But if you’ve ever walked two miles you know it would only take about an hour or so. So why three days?

Like a lot of modern day cities the surrounding villages would have been considered as, in a sense, part of the greater Nineveh metro. Unfortunately with no rapid transit and no way to broadcast his message it would have taken Jonah quite a bit to weave through the area with his message. And so the likelihood of it taking three days makes more sense.

 If Jonah built a hut for shade then why did he even need the plant?

This one is a bit puzzling at first glance. Since he was East of the city in a desert like environment chances are the hut he built for shade was made out of whatever dried branches and sticks he could find. Since most likely there was no plywood or roofing materials lying around that would mean whatever shade he was getting, the sun was still coming through. Many commentators believe the type of plant that God provided was a castor-bean plant which grows rapidly in hot climates and has large leaves. This would have provided much better shade. See the last message in our series for what point God was trying to make with this whole thing.

Sermon Leftovers - John 20:23

In the message this last Sunday from John 20:19-29 we didn’t unpack one of the more interesting and misunderstood statements that Jesus makes. Take a look at verses 21-23 below.

 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

 That last line might cause you to pause a minute and ask a couple of questions.
- Is Jesus saying WE have the power to forgive people of their sins?
- Is Jesus saying WE have the power to not forgive people?

 There are two things at play here.
First, we need to remember the context. Those who believe in Jesus are commissioned to spread God’s message on the Earth (v.21). This message is that Jesus is God, who came and died for our sins so that we could be forgiven and free. This connects with what Jesus says earlier in John’s Gospel, I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins (John 8:23).”

Second, Jesus has made it clear that he is now going to be with us through the Holy Spirit . This mean His presence is with us and empowering us to share this very message.

 So in light of this context it’s not that we or the church are forgiving or not forgiving sins it’s that we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, are to be messengers of Jesus forgiveness of sin, and in delivering the message we will recognize when people have accepted that message and are forgiven or they have rejected it and are not. This is actually pretty amazing! It means that we get to partner with Jesus in proclaiming the good news. Our response to this should be to ask and pray.

 Ask for more opportunities to share the life changing message and pray that those who hear it will respond and receive the forgiveness of Jesus.

Easter Continues

By Pastor Andrew

He said it again.
I mentioned in my Easter message how my youngest son asked if he could have a Birthday more than once a year. Well, after a fantastic Easter day gathering with our church family in the morning and friends and family in the afternoon, my son asked the same question. “Papa, can we have Easter again tomorrow?” This time my answer was different though, I said, ‘Yes!’ Easter is different than a Birthday. Sure we celebrate it once a year but the promises that came with Jesus resurrection began on that day but they continue to this day.

Have you ever thought that real and lasting fulfillment (happiness, contentment) is waiting on the backside of some sort of accomplishment but once you got there it wasn’t? I’m raising my hand here. I’ve thought this hundreds of times about a job, relationship, or personal accomplishment. As we talked about on Easter Sunday, the world offers lots of promises of fulfillment but they all fail.

Jesus resurrection was both a finished work and an everlasting one. When he took our sin on himself and died, it lost all of its power over our lives. It could no longer separate us from God. It was finished. Now there is a new way for all of humanity, made possible by Jesus forgiveness of our sin. When Jesus rose from the dead he made this way known in the most dramatic way possible and on the backside of the resurrection is the promise of a fulfilled life. This promise is true and it lasts forever!

So celebrate Easter again today, and tomorrow. When you wrestle with sin, celebrate Easter because sin no longer has power of your eternity. When you look for fulfillment apart from Jesus and are let down once again, come back and celebrate Easter and be reminded of Jesus finished work. Easter is every day!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

Like A Father

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
- Psalm 68:5

No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
- John 16:27-28

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
- 1 John 3:1

God has the heart of a father.
It’s unavoidable.

The verses above are just three of the many passages that specifically reference God’s father heart. From the beginning of time, God’s father heart is displayed. Like a good dad, he gave Eve in marriage to Adam. Like a loving father, he adopted a people (Israel) as his own and changed the name of Abram to Abraham as a sign of his new relationship/covenant with him. Time and again, we see God’s heart on display. We rebel, he forgives. We forget, he remembers.

Eventually God has enough of this horribly broken, impossibly dysfunctional relationship, so he sends his son. Jesus – God in the flesh – lives, dies, and rises again so that we can all be adopted into God’s family. Through faith in Jesus we can be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ – his children.  

God is our Father.
But this can be a problem.

Since we all have a father, we can’t help but transpose our relationship with our dads onto God. It’s almost impossible not to.
Was your dad distant? That’s probably how God feels.
Did you only get love from your dad when you did the right things? That must be how God is.
Did you only see your dad on the weekends or holidays? God’s really only present at church on Sunday.
Did you even know your Dad? God can’t really be known.

This is the problem we all face. If God is like a father, we naturally assume he’s like our own dad - for better or worse. Satan knows this, too. So he tells us things like, “God doesn’t really love you” or “You’re not doing enough for God to love you.” And we believe it, because it feels true.

But it’s not true. Not even close.

The father’s love that God displays is found in how Jesus acts and what the Bible says about his character. His is a perfect love, present in an imperfect world.

The truth is that “God demonstrates his own love for us – this way – while were still sinners Jesus died for us. “ (Romans 5:8) And God “…gives generously without finding fault.” (James 1:5) It’s never God who withdraws from us when we sin. We’re the ones that run from him. He’s not Santa Claus checking his list to see if you’ve been naughty or nice. He went looking for Adam and Eve in the garden and he was the loving father welcoming the prodigal home. And someday he’ll be the one that welcomes us into his amazing presence.

In order to fully walk out in the plans, purposes, and mission that God has for us, we have to know his heart. God has a perfect father’s heart that loves us unconditionally. It changes our identity and causes us to live like we are a part of his family. This kind of love causes us to run toward God, not away.

Further reflection:

How has your picture of the father heart of God informed your faith and impacted your relationship with him? What passage of scripture has illustrated this for you?