Saturday was a good day. Each of us went to two different seminars and then we went to The Grotto (http://www.thegrotto.org/). We spent two and a half hours of by ourselves trying to reflect on what God is doing in and around us. I could blog about this but it would take me a few days to complete it.
I was struck by the upper level. I noticed a theme of sorrow and joy. I think we here in America don't like to even acknowledge sorrow as a part of life. We could be having the worst day in the history of days when someone comes up and asks, "How's it going?" Without batting an eye we respond, "I good," or, "I'm fine." I understand that life is not all gloom and doom, but seriously there are plenty of times when sorrow is more a part of our life than we would even consider letting out of the bag. I think the movie Princess Bride summed it up best, "Life is pain, princess!"
But I believe in a God that doesn't leave us there. He has offered us joy. This is not happiness nor is it an emotional band aid. Joy allows us to mourn the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job or the loss of a dream. Joy tells us that God is sovereign, that He is in control no matter the circumstances.
When God is in control (which we need to give over that control) I am able to focus on today and the moment that is at hand. For this is the only guarantee we have in this physical world, the next moment is not a for sure thing. And without joy, I can worry myself about everything around me and it won't change anything. When I can focus on this day, this moment I can listen and watch what God is doing around me.
Maybe he has placed a single mom who is struggling to stay on her feet in this moment, maybe it's a strange teenager who has no one to turn to who is placed into this moment, maybe it's a need of my wife that is placed into this moment or maybe it's my kids who need an encouraging word from their earthly father that is placed into this moment. If we don't have joy, we can so easily miss these moments.
When I surrender my control and let joy reign the moments become real, they become holy. Yes, God can show up at work, in our homes and our relationships.
Sorrow and joy are part of a godly life. They are real life, they are who we are. They are mysterious in the fulfilling of our lives. Let's embrace the mystery and offer our control so that joy can reign in our lives and into this world.
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
I'm just a man seeking God's face...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
DYC...What every mother wants their kids to learn at a retreat
Here is a short clip to help you understand what type of man is teaching your kids. Remember to pause the music player to the right before playing the clip.
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
DYC...
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Would you like to follow what we are doing at DYC? Check out the blog and live stream of our sessions at http://www.pnwdyc.com . By the way, I think I just had the easiest night getting the guys to sleep...I guesss it helps staying up till 1am.
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
DYC...
I'm at DYC (District Youth Conference) for Sr. High'ers. This is an event with about 800 teens from around the northwest. It's a great event with so much going on. I will do my best to report on how the weekend is going.
So far we have had great worship with Logan Martin and his band and have been challenged by a good speaker, Paul Gunther Jr.. He made a very strong statement tonight that did challenged us, "I don't want to be a christian anymore...I want to be a Christ follower, TODAY!"
We can get into the mechanics of Christianity...meaning go to church, go to a mid-week group, read my Bible and we can still miss what Jesus was all about. Going through the motions is what many of us do in our christian walk, but to follow Jesus daily would and could radically change the world.
Let's stop going through the motions and live for Christ TODAY!
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
So far we have had great worship with Logan Martin and his band and have been challenged by a good speaker, Paul Gunther Jr.. He made a very strong statement tonight that did challenged us, "I don't want to be a christian anymore...I want to be a Christ follower, TODAY!"
We can get into the mechanics of Christianity...meaning go to church, go to a mid-week group, read my Bible and we can still miss what Jesus was all about. Going through the motions is what many of us do in our christian walk, but to follow Jesus daily would and could radically change the world.
Let's stop going through the motions and live for Christ TODAY!
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Critical but Stable...
This is a post from my wife's blog pertaining to her dad. We would still covet your prayers for her parents:
My dad nearly lost his life on Wednesday 1/28/09. He pulled through after emergency surgery and spent the last couple days in ICU at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Dad was moved to a new room yesterday and is resting as much as possible. He is very week and is back to square one with the doctors and what the future might hold. Luke and I traveled down from Orcas Island Thursday afternoon and made our way to the ICU with mom. Dad had pressed his little morphine button a few extra times in anticipation of some news he needed to share with us. Mom was on his left side and I on his right, each holding a hand and doing our best to comfort my very distraught papa. Dad took a deep breath and his eyes filled with tears as he barely uttered the words "It's going to be - Amputation." It was one of the hardest moments of my life, but so filled with grace and strength from above. Mom and I had total composure and where able to console him and let him know how thankful we where that he was still with us. Loosing a leg verses loosing your life suddenly was put in a new profound perspective. We visited for a while and hugged as best we could between all the cords, wires and bed rails. Dad was extremely exhausted and fatigued so we made our visit fairly short. He didn't didn't want us to go right away because he thought we where going to fall apart as soon as we left his sight. Yes- we have had our tears but it is a confusing mixture of sadness for what dad is going through and also tears of gratefulness that he is still with us. The last few days have been spent trying to get the run down directly from the doctors. We were apprehensive to fully except dads statement about amputation because of his state of vulnerability and pain killers. At this moment the doctors are collaborating as to what is the next best step. As of today the plan is for dad to rest and hopefully regain some strength over the next week or so. They are aggressively trying to rid dads body of the current infection that is reeking havoc on his body. There is talk of a collaborative effort of several specialists to once again open dad up and assess the current condition. We have gone from thinking amputation to a slight hope of saving his leg. It is touch and go and the doctors are working hard to communicate and get a plan together. Our prayer is that the surgeons will have a collaborative agreed plan for that which would be best for dad, his leg and for the rest of his life. May we all continue to lift my dad in our thoughts and prayers as we are hope and ask for Gods Best for him. May peace reign in his an all of our hearts, no matter the outcome. My heart is pounding out of my chest as I type this. Every morning I open my eyes and realise this nightmare is real. I am pretty worthless today and have taken time to jump off the roller coaster. Naps are so good for just disappearing for a while and writing everything out is not just a means of keeping friends and family posted but is also wonderful therapy for me. I will be in Seattle for a bit longer than I will head back to the island to meet with all the fire investigators/detectives scheduled to descend on the farm on Tuesday, February 3rd. One thing I will leave you with...my dad shared with me yesterday that he had a little talk with God last Wednesday night (Thinking he was dieing) and all he could come up with was Pure Thankfulness!
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
My dad nearly lost his life on Wednesday 1/28/09. He pulled through after emergency surgery and spent the last couple days in ICU at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Dad was moved to a new room yesterday and is resting as much as possible. He is very week and is back to square one with the doctors and what the future might hold. Luke and I traveled down from Orcas Island Thursday afternoon and made our way to the ICU with mom. Dad had pressed his little morphine button a few extra times in anticipation of some news he needed to share with us. Mom was on his left side and I on his right, each holding a hand and doing our best to comfort my very distraught papa. Dad took a deep breath and his eyes filled with tears as he barely uttered the words "It's going to be - Amputation." It was one of the hardest moments of my life, but so filled with grace and strength from above. Mom and I had total composure and where able to console him and let him know how thankful we where that he was still with us. Loosing a leg verses loosing your life suddenly was put in a new profound perspective. We visited for a while and hugged as best we could between all the cords, wires and bed rails. Dad was extremely exhausted and fatigued so we made our visit fairly short. He didn't didn't want us to go right away because he thought we where going to fall apart as soon as we left his sight. Yes- we have had our tears but it is a confusing mixture of sadness for what dad is going through and also tears of gratefulness that he is still with us. The last few days have been spent trying to get the run down directly from the doctors. We were apprehensive to fully except dads statement about amputation because of his state of vulnerability and pain killers. At this moment the doctors are collaborating as to what is the next best step. As of today the plan is for dad to rest and hopefully regain some strength over the next week or so. They are aggressively trying to rid dads body of the current infection that is reeking havoc on his body. There is talk of a collaborative effort of several specialists to once again open dad up and assess the current condition. We have gone from thinking amputation to a slight hope of saving his leg. It is touch and go and the doctors are working hard to communicate and get a plan together. Our prayer is that the surgeons will have a collaborative agreed plan for that which would be best for dad, his leg and for the rest of his life. May we all continue to lift my dad in our thoughts and prayers as we are hope and ask for Gods Best for him. May peace reign in his an all of our hearts, no matter the outcome. My heart is pounding out of my chest as I type this. Every morning I open my eyes and realise this nightmare is real. I am pretty worthless today and have taken time to jump off the roller coaster. Naps are so good for just disappearing for a while and writing everything out is not just a means of keeping friends and family posted but is also wonderful therapy for me. I will be in Seattle for a bit longer than I will head back to the island to meet with all the fire investigators/detectives scheduled to descend on the farm on Tuesday, February 3rd. One thing I will leave you with...my dad shared with me yesterday that he had a little talk with God last Wednesday night (Thinking he was dieing) and all he could come up with was Pure Thankfulness!
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
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