Tuesday, May 26, 2009

“Join us as we learn the conversation of hope!”

They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 
Exodus 14:11-12    

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” 
Exodus 14:15-16   

When I read the Bible again I am so impressed at all the pressure put on those who are called to be leaders. The Israelites are constantly complaining. They are led miraculously out of slavery and then they complain that they wish they were back in slavery. They complain because their life still requires faith. And poor Moses, God shows him no pity. He has only one solution – in tough times turn to God!!!   

Recently there is a series of scientific studies on faith being discussed on National Public Radio. Last week’s was led by Barbara Bradley Hagerty and it is called “The God Chemical.”  She notes a study out of the University of Pennsylvania which studies people of various religions including Christians who pray at least two hours a day. They are referred to as “spiritual virtuosos.”  Not only does each of their brains show a distinct pattern of increased activity in the cerebral cortex (good prayer takes amazing concentration) but a darkening of activity in the parietal lobe (the area of the brain that is related to sensory information). A demonstration of decreased anxiety, a sense of purpose of the events taking place and as well as other interesting psychological and biological responses. One response was an increase in the immune system especially against flu virus. Dr. McDermott reported on NPR, “I think we are wired for the supernatural!” The neuroscientists pointed out that our brain placidity held forth the promise that ordinary people could learn to sculpt the brain through such prayer practices.   

Oh that more of us could be like Moses taking all our troubles to God and listening to him. He might tell us to hold out our staff and tell the people to move forward in faith as the waters parted. That is a wonderful picture of spiritual leadership and how it could relate to our lives, families, church, nation, and world today! I pray that Washington Cathedral becomes drawn to prayer as we read the dramatic words of scripture in the 90 days through the Bible.   

“Lord, how encouraging it is as I hear that someone is joining Washington Cathedral as we read all the way through the Bible. I thank you and praise you for that! Amen.”   

Your friend for the rest of my life, 
Pastor Tim White  

Monday, May 18, 2009

"Love One Another!"

Many will say that they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?
Proverbs 20:6
Jackie and I were leaving town last Friday and I stopped by the Evergreen hospice to say goodbye to Nick Collins. He woke up and Nick, Marilyn, Holly and I laughed and remembered some wonderful stories. When it was time to go, instead of saying goodbye I said, “I love you Nick.” He replied with a smile, “Tell Jackie that we love you guys too.”

Twenty-three years ago, the Collins family was going through a challenging time and they decided to go to church. They looked in the phonebook for a church and we were not listed, but as they drove by Lake Washington High School they decided to give Washington Cathedral a try. It was not very long before each of them had given their heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and we had become life-long friends. They held a Tiny Little Church at their house and Jackie was the leader (so that makes me an official ex-member). Who knows how many potluck dinners weenjoyed together or how many laughs we shared when someone would visit the TLC for the first time and sit on their couch and when it broke they’d let out a swear-word and everyone laughed so hard that they couldn't stand up. Only God counted the times that Nick and Marilyn were the last to leave the church after helping us clean-up lateon a Sunday afternoon.

We raised our kids together and Becca called Marilyn's mom grandma. We sat in the stands together to watch Holly become one of the best soccer players ever to come out of this area. Melody excelled at everything she did and our whole church was very proud of her. For years Nick took care of the animals for Christmas in his yard. They would wake up on Christmas to the sounds of donkeys, cattle, horses and sheep all in residential Redmond. They taught Sunday school for years and years and I can’t tell you how many children grew up in our church and found their faith through their ministry. I attended one of their children’s TLC groups and they had me sit in as a leader of a small group. The discussion question was: What do you like about kid’s TLCs? One girl shared, “Well, my mom left me with a step-dad when I was born. My step-dad has left me with some of his family members. They really don’t like me and I don’t fit in at all so TLC is my family.” I don’t know how many Kids Camps Jackie and Nick and Marilyn weathered together and came back just completely exhausted. I am sure there were many times that they had theopportunity to just drift away when someone left the church that they were attached to or when we were going through a rough time. But I never, in all my life, heard any criticism from Nick and Marilyn.

When Nick went through his liver transplant, many years ago, I waited for hours with the family praying for Nick.I was so touched watching him kiss his family as he headed in for the surgery. Marilyn kept telling me I could go, but I couldn’t leave because I knew my heart would be there praying anyway. Recently, before Nick died, he toldeveryone thank you and how much he loved them. His eyes twinkled with joy and sincerity.

When I was 17 years old and God gave me the dream to build a great church for unchurched people that would be a great caring network. I asked for a sign. I felt like God told me that he would raise up “knights in shining armor” to stand by my side and fight alongside me until the death. I am never surprised by the flighty nature of most human beings, but I have been utterly amazed at those rare people like Nick and Marilyn Collins who would not give up on me and the dream. I would have given up a long time ago if it had not been for people like them. It is awkward today for one man to say to another a simple – I love you. But for so many of us who have staked our lives on the dream of Washington Cathedral (to build the greatest caring network the world has ever seen) there is nothing else that can be said. The Bible predicted it when it said, “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” 1 John 3:11. And how Nick loved his family and his church. And in return we could not help but love him.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White

Monday, May 11, 2009

"When Times Are Tough- - - Innovate!!!"

During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. Genesis 14:15-16

As we read through the Bible we see some very strange stories, but there are always gems of inspiration—even when we don’t fully understand the story. Abram’s nephew, Lot, wascaptured by an army which was made up of the combined armies of four kings. Now Abram, was more of a wandering businessman (who was in the shepherding business)than a warrior. But his family was in dire straits , so he put together all his workers and household and had a total of only 318 men. Abram was thinking “outside the box” and used his faith and courage. He took his untrained forces, split them into two groups and attacked from the flanks at night with a surprise attack. The enemy had no way of knowing who they were up against and how many there were. Before anyone knew it, they got all thekidnapped relatives back safe and secure.

The other day I picked up the Kirkland paper to see an article written by a member of our church who sells real estate for a living. She was proposing a creative solution—collaborative pricing. I talked to people in our church who have experienced this firsthand and had sold for less than they thought they could get, but bought for less than they thought they should pay. And they were just beaming with joy and contentment. As I read the article, my heart was filled with encouragement at someone who's faith and courage is shining in a tough real estate time. Customers and the economy are both being blessed.Instead of moping she is innovating! Sounds like Genesis. Sounds like faith. Why don’t you and I try it this week!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Tim White

Monday, May 4, 2009

"The Bible in 90 Days!"

Three basic questions may be asked of any text in the scriptures:
(1) What does it say? (2) What does it mean? (3) How does this impact me?

Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obeyyour instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the pathof your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Psalm 119:33-35

90 Days to read all the way through the Bible. Twelve pages a day. Three months of sermons from the pulpit inall of Washington Cathedral’s 14 worship services - moving from a mountain-peak of scripture to a mountain-peak ofunprecedented spiritual growth. Saturday evenings from 5:30-6pm enjoy free-flowing conversation (no questions barred) with “The Bible Answer Dudes”, Dr. Dale White and Dr. Doug Wheeler. There will be a one day through the Bible survey by Dr. Marty Folsom and a study through the Bible deeper (Adult Sunday School Seminar) offered in two parts by some of the finest Bible teachers in the church. Hundreds of small groups will study through the Bible together as well as Sunday School Classes, Youth Group, Positive Christian Singles, etc. I expect there might be families in the church that will take a moment to read an inspirational verse just before they pray and eat their meal together. I just talked with a dad who is reading through the Bible with his son in the family Bible; and while driving his truck, he also listens to Eugene Peterson’s Message Bible on CD. Don’t miss out on the adventure of a lifetime at WashingtonCathedral. The whole church committed to reading all the way through the Bible in 90 days! It has to be a source of unity and blessing to the community and the whole world. I have this deep expectation that God is getting ready to do something really exciting in the life of each family that takes this challenge.

I received my life-verse from theologian and famous scholar, Dr. Carl F. H. Henry. He has had an immenseimpact on my life. This is what he said about the Bible. “The Bible remains the most extensively printed, widelytranslated, and frequently read book in the world. Its words have been treasured in the hearts of multitudes like none other. All who have received its gifts of wisdom and promises of new life and power were at first strangers to itsredemptive message, and many were hostile to its teaching and spiritual demands. In every generation its power to challenge persons of all races and lands has been demonstrated. Those who cherish the Book because it sustains future hope, brings meaning and power to the present, and correlates a misused past with God’s forgiving grace, would not long experience such inner rewards if Scripture were not known to them as authoritative, divinely revealed truth.”

Yes, you will encounter more questions than you ever thought possible! Yes, you will find nuggets of gold in verses that will become a part of your character and will help forge your future. And yes, the most valuable keepsake that you leave behind may be that marked up Bible that you spent 90 days in the adventure of a lifetime with. Mark it with your pen, your highlighter, your tears, your questions and your inspiration; and know that for over a hundred years, those who love and admire you will treasure it as a reminder of the adventure you are about to embark on.Recently, the President of the United State, Barak Obama, chose to lay his hand on the Bible of Abraham Lincoln when he took the oath of office to lead the most powerful nation in the world at one of the most pivotal moments in history. No one knows how your Bible will be used as an inspiration for generations to come.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White