"God is Still God!"

“Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness. I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven inJesus’ name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.” I John 2:10-14 (The Message)

It’s Thursday morning and I just visited briefly with Debi Raines as she was leaving with her adorable kids after teaching Holy Yoga. She asked, “How are the wedding plans coming along?” I said, “Now that the youth group’s winter camp is over, it’s time for me to kick into high gear and get some things done!” When she asked me how camp went, I was immediately full of emotion because of the way God had worked at the winter camp.

The week before camp, adversity was everywhere. The church bus broke down, but two days later Godprovided a kind man to fix it at no charge. We were low on male leaders for camp and last minuteregistrations were coming in quickly. Two days before camp, God provided an extra leader who was not part of our youth staff, but did such a great job and- - - ended up rededicating his life to the Lord!

If I listed everyone who had dynamic, practical, biblical messages, this would go on for some time. If I told you of the incredibly moving testimonies that were shared by leaders and one student, you would be blown away! We had no time limitations on our worship-time… kids felt free to be hyper, dance, be quiet while worshipping - whatever fit their personality type. It was great to see them enjoying their worship. Everyone had a blast tubing and playing hilarious games; some even hiked to the top of a mountain and got back at 2am.

The greatest thing though was to see God’s Spirit moving in these kids - I could see it building through the weekend. By the time we had the invitation to either ask Jesus to be the Lord of their lives, or perhaps they had made a commitment earlier and felt a need to recommit, hands shot up everywhere. Leaders met, talked with and prayed with those individuals - their questions and hearts were so open and honest. It was such an honor to witness God doing something so powerful and real in the lives of both kids and leaders.

Even in tough times, when we see adversity all around us, God is still God and He’s definitely in the midst of our youth ministry. He’s at work all around us. The dream God gave Tim and I is alive and well.

Pastor Jackie White
(The person who at age 17 shared in the dream that God gave Tim White, of attempting to build the world’s greatest caring network.)

"God's Assignment!"

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

There are many things in life that I love to observe - birds being one of them. I could sit and listen to the birds sing at dawn and waste the better part of an hour. The image of birdwatchers has not always been the most macho of images, but I plead guilty- - - I like birds.I also love to observe insects. When I was a boy I would spend a whole day just watchinginsects and then would read everything I could about a species of ants or bees.

I have been accused of being like a “mother” bragging about people in our church. I am amazed at the entrepreneurs in our church that have started from scratch and built something that financially benefits their employees and our economy. I am amazed at the scientists in our church and the joy I see on their faces when they speak about their chosen area of study.I am amazed at the craftsmen in our church that rebuild cars as a pastime or maintainsailboats. I am amazed at computer programmers, mathematicians, musicians, poets, and stay at home moms. I admire people in service organizations that are the backbone of all their organization’s accomplishments. I love to talk to teachers, mechanics and electricians.I enjoy people because the Bible teaches that they are fearfully and wonderfully made—we are all created in the image of God.

I see flashes of God’s image in the dry sense of humor of a homeless man, or an act of caring by a tired nurse. I see brilliance and genius in the craft projects that children bring homeafter Sunday school or in the questions of a critic. We are all made in the image of God.

Look in the mirror and see your features and remember – you are made in the image of God!

Your “God’s image assignment” this week is to take a moment to observe people and lookfor God’s footprints. Ask someone who loves you to discuss with you the footprints of God’s image in your life.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Cathedral Commits to Two-Year Program

“The Source”
Wednesday Evenings at the Cathedral
(Dinner 6 to 7pm ~ The Source 7 to 8pm)
Beginning Wednesday, February 17th

It’s difficult for all of us to realize the peak we reached as a Cathedral family last week! Perhaps only in the far future, as we look back, will we understand the significance of a 25 year impossible dream! Plus, now the complete selling/investment of our awesome bond program actually completed! Against all odds!!! It’s more than amazing!!!

And Now- - - We’re Ready!
Acts II- - - Becoming & Being

The vision God gave to our Senior and Founding Pastor is now ready for its second25 years! Sometimes we’re almost in shock as we realize what a beautiful, totallyfunctional and totally unique campus God has empowered us to build. Indeed it seems that each week we ramp up the use of our amazing complex/campus.

A church that actually thinks it can change the world is ready! Senior Pastor, Dr. Tim White has been invited to be the speaker at a national church leadership conference this week (perhaps indicating that the church world is more than fascinated with the vision of the meta church). He will return to lead the kickoff for what we are calling “Washington Cathedral Acts II!” Enter- - - Step One- - - “The Source!”

“The Source”

Key to taking the Cathedral 50 year vision to the next level will be the installation of “The Source!” A powerful evening intentionally designed to be the spiritual, teaching hub of the new meta church. It is unapologetically designed for “new Christians,” soon to be new Christians- - - emerging leaders and anyone seeking delicious, scholarlybible-study. Expect hungry, growing people from all of our meta congregations!

Just a Wonderful Wednesday Evening
6:00pm Light, Nutritious Dinner Available
7:00pm The Source
7:45pm Optional “Ask the teacher!”
8:00pm Lights Out- - - “Head for home & have a great week!”

“The Cat Peed on My Camera!”

(True words spoken by a 14 year old at 6:45am.)

I know you really want to hear about the cat – and I will get to that in a moment – but first let me tell you how God appears in this situation.

Being a mom is the most challenging adventure God has set before me and I knew this from the very beginning. In fact, my firstborn child was only hours old when I realized I couldn’t do this on my own and I finally decided to make a real commitment tofollowing Jesus. This commitment has filled the past 15 years of motherhood with so much joy and laughter that even when there have been tears - there has also been peace.

So here I am now – officially in the teen age years of motherhood – and I have spiritually matured into a prayer-warrior for my kids! I say I have spiritually matured because I have learned the hard lesson of receiving a ‘no’ from God to a lot of my prayers concerning my kids. Most of my prayers ask God to ‘fix’ problems or keep my children out of tough situations. God often reminds me that there is no way for them to learn to stand on their own two feet if He doesn’t give them the opportunity to do so.

Please hang in there a few more moments – we’re almost to the cat story! My oldest son (who will be 15 years old in a few weeks) is learning to stand on his own two feet in his academic career. Looking back now, I realize I did not give him thisopportunity before he entered junior high school because I acted as his personal assistant in the area of homework. After three years of not receiving those cute weekly newsletters from his teachers (FYI for you young moms - they do not do that in junior high) math summer school was becoming a strong possibility for my child. My motherly prayers were now starting to sound like strong warnings to God that my peace was fading and if He wanted me to continue on a path of biblical parenting then He needed to step in! Well demands like that will always get you a ‘no’ from God. However, God did gently take the parenting reins for a day which changed everything.

Two weeks after my son received a camera for Christmas, that he desperately needed for his photography class, he camestorming down the hallway at 6:45 in the morning notifying me that overnight the cat peed on his favorite sweatshirt and hiscamera was in the pocket. The camera would not power up and photos for his end-of-the-semester project were on it. Oh, how the lecture on being more responsible flew that morning! We were only a month away from the end of the semester and now even more challenges were facing my child in pulling passing grades. Thankfully God showed me it was time for a ‘stand on your own two feet’ lesson – not a lecture.

After a long one-on-one discussion with my son I challenged him to come up with a plan and some goals to help him developbetter study habits. One of those goals was to start attending the MSG (math study group) at the church. I was thrilled by his goals! However, I had no idea at the time that God was setting in motion a miracle for my child. Two weeks after attending the MSG my son received his first A on a math test since entering junior high. His “I’m just hopeless in math” attitude was replaced with confidence and accomplishment. This new attitude that God pulled from deep down inside him filtered into success in all of his classes. Seeing your child stand on their own two feet might just be the greatest joy of parenting - even when it means some of my motherly prayers have to be answered as a ‘no.’

I am so grateful for the ‘yes’ that was answered by BJ Eliason when God set before him an adventure of helping teens in our church with their math challenges. I believe it wasn’t just BJ’s knowledge of math that helped my child succeed; I believe it was God working through BJ to encourage my child to reach for his best. I am grateful for all the Student Ministries leaders who help my child every week to reach for his best. With God’s guidance and the support of Washington Cathedral I believe I will be able to keep my peace through the rest of the teenage years!

A glimpse of motherhood from a grateful mom.