"I Love the Dawn!"

How far does a star shine?

Try 93 million miles for our closest star - - - the sun. Actually we would be in perpetual night without it! And I do love the dawn- - - with energy streaming 93 million miles to push back the darkness.

Oh I love the dawn!

He was an agnostic college kid - not sure he believed in God and definitely mad at Him if there was one! The religion he had been exposed to totally turned him off; that is, until one day his mother found an old torn photograph of a two year old boy. Sharing it with him he asked, “Why is it torn?” And she began to tell him a story. It was a story that would change his life and impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people!

“I accidentally tore the picture that was taped to the iron lung when I took it off just after your father died. You were just two years old and your father was stricken with the polio that paralyzed him. The iron lung was an antique, monstrous, medical machine that kept him alive for an extra year. He asked me to tape it there so he could pray for you.”

That agnostic and angry college student suddenly felt his heart open like he had no control of it. He soon invited God into his life, deciding to follow Jesus. Oh yes - - - his name is Philip Yancey, who just happens to be one of the most prolific and powerful authors of this century. Without question he has influenced millions to consider Christ and dare to follow Him.

I had the privilege of meeting Philip Yancey one time and found him to be humble, gentle and extremely intelligent. Most of all I remember him to be a person whose life is full of joy.

Dads, don’t give up praying for your children. The God who created the stars will use your prayers to make their lives shine.

Caleb

"WOW!"

The New Building Is.....

“Like a Fist of Faith in the Face of Fear”

Wow!

Eleven churches- - - Many, many “Tiny Little Churches” (Small Groups)
Each of the eleven “country churches” has a dedicated, trained and committed pastor- - - singles, Spanish, etc.

We’re not a mega church (God bless them) we are a Meta Church! Meta means out of the box with many little country churches, each worshiping differently- - old hymns- - - loud music- - robes- - no robes- - who knows what? Yet all are part of a great family that is and will feed hungry children- - bless our community and give great honor to our Lord.

Wow, Wow!

It’s impossible because we are so close to the “miracle” to grasp what an absolutely amazing thing God has already accomplished in building this Meta Church. Already, God working “in us and through us” (Philippians 2:13) has provided sacrificial gifts great and small. And I tell you, having visited churches all over the world, this building is the most functional construction I have ever seen!

Wow, Wow, Wow!

We are very, very close to unleashing a powerful weapon that’s desperately and wonderfully needed in this hurting world. Now here’s the good news - In the final phase craftsmanship and sweat will allow you to put your verypersonal imprint on this great project.

Contact Pastor David Gerzsenye if there is a real possibility you can invest in this eternal adventure - painters, window cleaners, experienced carpenters, upholsters, etc. A good example is Merle & Robin Whitaker, with an awesome gift of prep and millwork on the panels, will be remembered “forever and then some.”

Call Pastor David 206-498-5762 to examine your own possibilities!

Pastor Dale Caleb

"EW!"

Following Jesus is foolishness. It goes against every grain in my body. It goes against most of society. It's laughable and difficult. It is the last thing I wanted to do with my life. Yet Jesus draws me. My heart has been captivated. Now it beats for Him. Now it beats for His mission. His kingdom has turned my world upside down. Now I can’t imagine a life without Him. Maybe I am a fool. Maybe I am wasting my life. Maybe I am victim of a large hoax. What seems like foolishness to most, I call love.

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

– Jim Elliot

Sometimes being a hero backfires! Today Elise freaked out when she saw what she thought was a tarantula on our back patio. She claimed it was dead - but... could I trust her? Courageously, I walked out back to see for myself. What I saw cannot be described in words! What happened next happened very fast. I said, “What the heck is this?” Suddenly, Elise screamed and ran away. The scream set off the baby who started crying too. Then she closed the back door, thereby locking me outside (with the enormous spider)!! In all the commotion I put the creature in a dustpan - but it tipped over throwing the creature closer to me. I tried to get away but Elise had locked me out! I was banging on the door begging Elise to let me in, but she wouldn’t because she thought it was still alive; now that I was scared. I felt like I was in one of those Alien movies where one poor guy is locked inside of the hatch where there is still a live alien. He pounds and pounds on the door but his ‘friends’ keep the door closed while the alien eats him alive.

I love being married.

Pastor Rey Diaz

Project Transformation

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

"This Dream Runs Deep!"

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

In September of 1984 we began Washington Cathedral with the dream of building the “Greatest Caring Network the World Has Ever Seen.” For us, that describes the church in Acts. We do not feel that Washington Cathedral is “the” church as if we are the only church, instead we are “a” church. Meaning - we see ourselves as a piece of the puzzle, which is a wonderful mosaic of Christian churches and movements worldwide that are working to become great caring networks. That’s what the body of Christ should be. Our friends have a degree of patience with us because they know that in our family tradition, this dream runs three generations deep. We do everything we can to be all that we can be in loving people - not to give any individual the credit but to give Jesus the credit. We believe in our cause! That is why Jackie and I (along with the rest of the staff pastors) work so hard. It is why my mom and dad dove into this project with all their might.

This dream runs deep in our family! That’s why my nephew, Kyle, who plays college football and is going to medical school, spends his summers working at the Buntain Hospital in Calcutta, India. It’s why my nephew, Joey, (who played on our church basketball team when he was going to college) called the other day from the White House where he’s working as an intern for J.C. Watts before starting law school next fall. It is why our daughter, Becca, who is an honor student at Seattle Pacific University and works as a waitress, a barista also volunteers her time as an intern-pastor. Our entire family is just radical about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ by loving and caring for people! Sometimes we feel like a lot of people just don't understand us. But, Erskine and Melinda Austin seem to. Their son Eric is on his third tour of Iraq. Their family has been committed to defending the freedom of our Nation for three generations and you have to believe that at least one of their grandchildren (that they love to brag about) will end up spending some time in the Marines.

Some of you may have read the blogs of Pastors Rey and Elise, two of our staff members who serve Jesus by living and working with the people in the Tegucigalpa city dump. Two weeks ago, Pastor Rey witnessed a robbery and shooting. Several days later a riot took place outside their house and they went without water for three days. Elise recently blogged about what it was like when she was robbed by a man with a machete just outside their home. When she called right, after the incident, we prayed and thanked God that she and Elijah were safe. Some may think the ReCreation Center seems like a radical; maybe even an impossible dream. To them I say, “Please be patient with us. We really do believe with all our hearts in what we are doing.” We believe that the love of Jesus is the only real hope for peace in this world. Despite feeling stress and anxiety, like anyone else, we are filled with the joy of this lifetime adventure. God is doing amazing things and know this-- we believe in what we are doing.

“So please be patient with us - God is not finished with us yet!!!”

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Tim White