God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
I was watching a program on the History Channel about the current phenomenon of “preppers.” I had never heard of them before. They are people who are convinced that our nation is going to collapse so they are investing thousands of dollars and all their spare time getting their kids ready for it. I love to talk about politics and economics (as well as many other subjects) I am amazed at all the conservatives that are pessimistic about the future, and the liberals are just as pessimistic. No wonder they cannot agree on a budget and a long-term plan to face the challenges that face our nation. I have talked to professors of macro economics and they share that the United States is on the slide and is a “has been.” I ask about all the restarts- renewals and revivals our economy has already experienced and how they know that we are not going to experience another one and they don’t have a good answer for me except pessimism. We have seen harder times. The burning of the White House during the war of 1812, the Civil War, times when we had to challenge issues such as slavery, racial prejudice or economic and political change or we were not going to make it. Incidentally each time the change was preceded by a great spiritual awakening. I believe that July the 3rd is one of the most important weeks of the year for you to go to church. If you love our country and have hopes for the future than we need to demonstrate for freedom. We need to remember how blessed we are and fortify ourselves for the challenge ahead by a spiritual renewal in our church that I pray will spread throughout our nation.
In recent history, everyone was saying we were on the way out and that we were going to lose the cold war. What happened then? What about when our economy was stagnate and a bunch of young people created billion dollar companies which carried our nation to a new level of prosperity and blessing for the whole world. This weekend, we will have the presentation of the colors by a Marine Color Guard (thank you Colonel Erskine Austin). We will sing the Star Spangled Banner. The amazingly talented Carly Delucia will sing God Bless America. An actor will recite the 7-minute Gettysburg address with slides and musical background that will stir the soul. The choir will honor those in our church who have served in the military by singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I am joining the choir this week along with a bunch of staff members. Travis is singing a song he wrote for a friend who left for Iraq. And I think I will have one of the best messages I have ever delivered in my 56 years. I am fired up about this one. Then Vietnam War veteran, Pastor David Gerzsenye will sing God Bless The USA accompanied by the children’s choir.
Right after the 11am service we will have a short dynamic picnic. Pastor Benjamin Smokovich is preparing a flag football game. Dave Irish will be in concert. Some of us will dance with our children or grandchildren. There will be a children’s carnival and a wonderful old-fashioned hamburger and hotdog meal put on by the men of the church. Of course there will be family swimming and just hanging out as we watch the blockbuster movie “Independence Day.” It will all be too good to miss. So make being at Washington Cathedral a priority to publicly demonstrate for freedom and spend time with some very good lifelong friends.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
"Being Fruitful!"
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:7-9 (TNIV)
I love it when fruit starts to ripen in the Pacific Northwest- - - it’s an amazing miracle! First come the fruit trees blossoming with indescribable beauty. Next, we see the little green beginnings of delicious fruit begin to grow- - - apples, peaches, apricots, cherries (not in this order), watermelon and cantaloupe (not from trees, but from the vines on the ground), loganberries, blueberries and most amazing of all (the most pesky weed in the Pacific Northwest) the blackberry bush dazzles us all as we stop fighting them and start enjoying their fruit. I remember one Sunday I was preaching and I happened to mention that the world’s best watermelon was grown in Hermiston. Little did I know that there was a farmer from Hermiston in the crowd visiting his daughter and the next week he had a fresh Hermiston watermelon delivered to each staff member.
All through the Bible we are encouraged to produce fruit. In John 15:1-2 Jesus says, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” There is the fruitfulness comparison. It seems that something placed deep inside our human DNA is the desire to be fruitful- - - we want our lives to count for something good and honorable. We want to bear fruit that is self-perpetuating or replicating of the very cause of our lives.
Why do some people bear fruit in their life and others lives are built on sand that wash away at the first sign of a storm? Perhaps our worst enemy is not our circumstances, but ourselves- - - our own attitude of closeness to God. “But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) There lies the ability to weather the storms of conflict, criticism, unfaithful friends, and spiteful enemies; and keep a heart of gold so pure that it can invest completely in the Kingdom of God. I pray that each of us is fruitful in every part of our lives and I pray that the fruitfulness of our church increases.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White
I love it when fruit starts to ripen in the Pacific Northwest- - - it’s an amazing miracle! First come the fruit trees blossoming with indescribable beauty. Next, we see the little green beginnings of delicious fruit begin to grow- - - apples, peaches, apricots, cherries (not in this order), watermelon and cantaloupe (not from trees, but from the vines on the ground), loganberries, blueberries and most amazing of all (the most pesky weed in the Pacific Northwest) the blackberry bush dazzles us all as we stop fighting them and start enjoying their fruit. I remember one Sunday I was preaching and I happened to mention that the world’s best watermelon was grown in Hermiston. Little did I know that there was a farmer from Hermiston in the crowd visiting his daughter and the next week he had a fresh Hermiston watermelon delivered to each staff member.
All through the Bible we are encouraged to produce fruit. In John 15:1-2 Jesus says, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” There is the fruitfulness comparison. It seems that something placed deep inside our human DNA is the desire to be fruitful- - - we want our lives to count for something good and honorable. We want to bear fruit that is self-perpetuating or replicating of the very cause of our lives.
Why do some people bear fruit in their life and others lives are built on sand that wash away at the first sign of a storm? Perhaps our worst enemy is not our circumstances, but ourselves- - - our own attitude of closeness to God. “But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) There lies the ability to weather the storms of conflict, criticism, unfaithful friends, and spiteful enemies; and keep a heart of gold so pure that it can invest completely in the Kingdom of God. I pray that each of us is fruitful in every part of our lives and I pray that the fruitfulness of our church increases.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
"A Tribute!"
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
One of the first Christmas’ at Washington Cathedral we received a call from Swedish Hospital that a young lady there was facing death. Our family loaded up our Christmas party and we joined her in her room. For the first (and last) time our family formed a choir and our five-year-old daughter, Elise, played her portable keyboard while we sang Christmas hymns, exchanged presents, and felt the Christmas Spirit in a very precious way. Wendy Moesch was a brilliant straight “A” student who was challenged with a life of chronic illness. She was a member of many different TLC’s (Tiny Little Churches) in our church. I don’t know how many people visited her in the hospital, gave her rides to doctor visits, brought meals, gave gifts, picked her up for church, and rode the rollercoaster of her life along with her dear family.
I think she faced a total of about 26 years of chronic illness. Who wouldn't need all the support and caring they could get to go through the prime of their life filled with pain and illness? It seemed like somehow every year I ended up as Wendy’s Santa through the Santa Conspiracy. She would say, “Pastor Tim how do you always find me at Christmas?” And I would say, “Honestly, I don't know!”
I write this article as a tribute to Wendy Moesch who loved God in spite of her difficult life. I also write it in tribute to her parents and family who hung in there through all the years. A week ago Pastor Linda and Pastor David led her beautiful memorial service in our Spirit Falls Sanctuary. I also write this as a tribute to all the members of Washington Cathedral who are trying to build a great caring network and who were part of trying to encourage an amazing young lady who fought some of the toughest challenges of life with as much faith as she could muster. Wendy made sure all our buildings were special needs accessible; she inspired us when her faith showed through her hardship. Her life was not easy, but she was a great inspiration to many of us.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White
One of the first Christmas’ at Washington Cathedral we received a call from Swedish Hospital that a young lady there was facing death. Our family loaded up our Christmas party and we joined her in her room. For the first (and last) time our family formed a choir and our five-year-old daughter, Elise, played her portable keyboard while we sang Christmas hymns, exchanged presents, and felt the Christmas Spirit in a very precious way. Wendy Moesch was a brilliant straight “A” student who was challenged with a life of chronic illness. She was a member of many different TLC’s (Tiny Little Churches) in our church. I don’t know how many people visited her in the hospital, gave her rides to doctor visits, brought meals, gave gifts, picked her up for church, and rode the rollercoaster of her life along with her dear family.
I think she faced a total of about 26 years of chronic illness. Who wouldn't need all the support and caring they could get to go through the prime of their life filled with pain and illness? It seemed like somehow every year I ended up as Wendy’s Santa through the Santa Conspiracy. She would say, “Pastor Tim how do you always find me at Christmas?” And I would say, “Honestly, I don't know!”
I write this article as a tribute to Wendy Moesch who loved God in spite of her difficult life. I also write it in tribute to her parents and family who hung in there through all the years. A week ago Pastor Linda and Pastor David led her beautiful memorial service in our Spirit Falls Sanctuary. I also write this as a tribute to all the members of Washington Cathedral who are trying to build a great caring network and who were part of trying to encourage an amazing young lady who fought some of the toughest challenges of life with as much faith as she could muster. Wendy made sure all our buildings were special needs accessible; she inspired us when her faith showed through her hardship. Her life was not easy, but she was a great inspiration to many of us.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White
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