“Please be patient . . . God’s not finished with me yet!”

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6)

I love to remind people about this statement - Please be patient . . . God’s not finished with me yet! In fact, it almost makes me laugh to think of it. All these people think they have you and I figured out. They have their list of criticisms and disappointments, and behind our backs they share with delight our failings and mistakes. Then God goes and works a miracle in our lives and we grow!

Isn’t that just like God? Just when everyone thinks they have the picture figured out, he changes the picture. After they memorize the facts for the test―God changes the test. And some people think that God doesn’t laugh!

I plan to change a lot this spring, not to mention this year, and don’t even try and figure out what I will be like in the next five years. My friends, my kids, my church, my community are all going to be shocked at how God works through my life; and I will be laughing and thinking, “God is just so cool!”

If you feel like your boss, teacher, coach, parent, child, or spouse is frustrated with some of your humanness- - - leave them a note saying, “Please be patient - God’s not finished with me yet!” Then, let God change you. Delight in astounding people with the grace of Jesus Christ working powerfully in your life!

What is it that you have to do to change and grow that would make people just say, “No way!!!” Quit smoking? Lose weight? Be on time? Develop study habits? Become more outgoing? Try harder? Worry less? Apologize? Listen to advice? Smile more? Go ahead! Crack a smile and knock all your critics on their rear-ends to the glory of God! (Well, don’t physically knock them on their rear-ends, it’s just a metaphor for the shock they will feel.) You know what I mean- - - go out and let God shock people through your growth!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"11: Indispensible Relationships You Can’t Be Without!"

“To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim.” Mark Nep, The Exquisite Risk

Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:13-14)

I have been reading a great book by Dr. Leonard Sweet. Dr. Sweet is a brilliant person, author and professor who has a one-of-a-kind character. He lives in the San Juan Islands at an amazing place that is well suited to the imagination of awell known author. If you see someone up there who looks like Colonel Custer than that is probably Leonard Sweet. His book is entitled, 11: Indispensible Relationships You Can’t Be Without. Mark Batterson said of this book, “This book will not only help you cross the finish line strong, it will also help you bring others with you.” The book looks at Biblicalrelationships that are needed to help a person to be healthy in their faith and it has inspired my series to look at healthy Christianity by looking at the friendships that Jesus chose. I can’t wait to dive into this series with you. I believe we will be a much stronger church because of it. Here is an outline of Dr. Sweet’s book (which will be different from my sermon series), but you can get the excitement of the study of scripture by his summary statements.

Who’s Your Nathan?: You Need an Editor
Who’s Your Jonathan?: You need a True Friend
Who’s Your Jethro?: You Need a Butt-Kicker
Who’s Your Timothy?: You Need a Protégé
Who’s Your Barnabas?: You Need an Encourager
Who’s Your Peter/Paul?: You Need a Yoda
Who’s Your Deborah?: You Need a Back-Coverer
Who’s Your Zacchaeus?: You Need a Reject
Who’s Your Rhoda?: You Need a “Little One”
Who Are Your VIPs?: You Need a Lydia and Lazarus, Rich and Poor
Where’s Your Jerusalem?: You Need a Place
The Invisible 12th: You Need the Paraclete

I think you can see how this would cause sparks in a fresh study of the friendships of Christ! If we improve in this area not only will we experience a greater sense of peace and wholeness in our lives, but we will put down roots that our families and friends with enjoy also. Read the book if you like, it will be different from the series, but together – let’s get ready for a great ride the next few weeks!

You need others to get where you are going and the ride is a lot more fun when you are not alone. . .

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

What does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

At first reading, that seems reasonable enough, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want to act in a just way? But, wait! What does that mean exactly? Am I acting justly when I speak out with passion on a cause I embrace as a “just” cause? What about those who oppose my point-of-view? Even though I may disagree with them, is their cause less just?

Who wouldn’t love mercy? But, wait! What is mercy exactly? Does it mean a lot of “second chances” for others? What does it mean in terms of my own personal boundaries? Is itmerciful to walk on by a panhandler with the notion that to provide him or her with money will only support an addictive habit, therefore, out of mercy, I withhold the dollars? I’m not sure.

Walk humbly with your God? Of course! That’s the dream of every Christian – “me and God, walking side by side.” But, wait! What is this “humbly” stuff? Doesn’t that have something to do with “courage under pressure?” Or does it mean that I always put myself last in the lineup? Or…what does it mean really?

If you aren’t part of a TLC (small group) where some of these issues can be addressed and maybe even clarified and put to rest, you are missing out! God wants us to grapple with His word and come to terms with it. He speaks to us in a variety of ways and a supportive, loving and caring small group is one of those ways.

Don’t struggle alone! There’s the perfect match for you meeting on a day and timeconvenient to your schedule. Talk to Pastor Dale, he’s the TLC coordinator and would love to put you in touch with a group that can vitalize your spiritual life in a way that nothing else can! Call the church office at 425-869-5433 and ask to speak with him. You’ll be glad you did!

Pastor Sally Jo Holmes

"Lift Your Sails!"

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100)

Rey jokes with me that after a couple years of worshipping in Honduras, I will be ready to run a marathon. Every Sunday morning I walk the dusty roads to church, Elijah in hand, because I know that I need to worship. Most Sundays it becomesunbearably hot in our one-room church, full of bodies in motion in the middle of a scorching day. We spend the majority of the two hours on our feet, in high-heals, clapping to the music or simply standing for prayer. I shift my weight trying to focus on understanding what is being said in a foreign language and feel the sweat pour down. Sometimes Sunday morning worship feels like a test of endurance, other times I sense the Spirit falling mightily on me, either way, I am glad I came.

Last night, I only got fifteen minutes of corporate worship before Elijah had a meltdown and I had to leave. But in those fifteen minutes, I saw again that the Lord is holy, holy, holy, (Santo, Santo, Santo) and all powerful to change any circumstance, any situation. I felt the stress melt off my shoulders and was able once again to see.

Someone once likened spiritual disciplines to lifting your sails on a boat. you never know when the wind is going to blow, but when it does, you are ready. When it comes softly, your only clue of the wind’s arrival is the slight movement of your boat, if your sails are up. My prayer for you this week is that you would lift your sails, do the things you did at first, so that if the Holy Spirit does happen to blow, you will be ready to receive Him.

Pastor Elise White-Diaz
Tegucigalpa, Honduras