"A Changed Life!"

There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up. When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." Exodus 3:2-4

It all started when the boy was ten years old. And yes, it started at church camp exactly 43 years ago. It was up the Cascade Mountains. And that boy, who never really understood what it meant to have personal relationship with God or to be a follower of Jesus Christ, sat on a log during a fireside talk. There were some very sharp teenagers there, ones you could look up to, ones whose values would standout later in life. Young people with a fire in their eyes and a passion to live for. They were good students with amazing potential. You just knew you were around exceptional human beings - playing softball with them or hiking in the mountains. They boldly shared about their fears. They shared about their dreams and you could not help but pull for them. There were cabin raids, squirt-gun fights, camp skits, and laughter late at night that made the kids all fall on the ground. And then there was campfire time. The speaker said he wanted to give anyone a chance to pray and ask to be a follower of Jesus Christ. No one dared to walk up in front of the whole group to become a Christian. I could not resist. So at the very last moment I took the walk that changed my life. I’ve thought of that moment many times in the last 43 years. I never tried drugs, even in the 60’s, never really had a wild spell. I think the difference was the walk I took that summer. God had a lot of work to do in me and he still does. But I’ve often wondered where I would be without that campfire time in 1965. I was thinking about that this last year as I visited long-time friends in the hospital. They have quietly provided scholarships every summer since the church began for kids who could not afford to go to camp. I wonder how many of those kids had their lives changed while at camp on those scholarships. For 24 years they have each provided more than one scholarship. That’s quite a few miracles!

This year I have asked the kids to raise money for the completion of the ReCreation center. It will be one of the finest Youth and Sunday School Centers in the country. Many of the classrooms will be used by young people five days a week between 3 and 5 pm. The room looking over the pool with a view of woods is unparalleled for a youth or Sunday school room. I promised the Sunday School Teachers and Youth Leaders that there will be some business people in the church who will step up and provide scholarships for the kids that need it to go to camp. I wonder who God will choose to carry on this legacy since two of our former leaders in this area are not be able to do it anymore. I know it will be someone who will do it quietly, with a very glad heart, knowing that God is using their success to change lives.

June 27th - 29th High School (Camp Berachah) “Rejected”

June 27th - 29th Junior High (Archeology Camp) “Indiana Jones”

July 18th - 20th Grades 4-6 (Iron Sharpens Iron) “Iron Man Camp”

July 14th - 17th 3yrs-3rd Grd (Vacation Bible School) “Commotion in the Ocean”

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Tim White

"A Prepared Mind!"

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. Acts 10:44

"In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.” Pasteur’s dictum

To Louis Pasteur, who not only discovered germs but also the process of vaccination and pasteurization, we owe many innovative insights. It was his dictum that framed many subsequent scientific discoveries and technological innovations. And it is important for us to see the importance of a “prepared” mind and listen forbreakthroughs from God.

Almost every time Jackie and I are heading to a “Tiny Little Church” service, we wonder, “How we can keep up with the busyness of our lives?” And then, on our way home, we say, “What were we thinking?” Because that time spent, knowing that God was there is so valuable to our marriage, our faith, our children, our career, and our dreams. What were we thinking? - That we did not have time for worship or fellowship. Worship prepares the heart, fellowship prepares the mind. And God leads us into the breakthrough.

This summer there are going to be a million wonderful things that will distract you from your family. Many of them will be very good, but I challenge you to consistently take time to prepare your heart and mind for the incredible breakthroughs that God has for you.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"A Light on the Hilltop!"

Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:15b-16 (The Message)

It is not even finished and our building is already a “light” to our community. A lady by the name of Carroll Whipple, who has been a swim and water aerobics instructor in this area for years, saw our building and Pastor David recently took her on a tour. She was so impressed with what we are doing she sent the enclosed note and a wonderful gift to our fund for our new pool. Carroll graciously gave us permission to share her note with all of our church family.

Dear Pastor David,
We so appreciated the tour of your new building project and taking time from your busy schedule! It is really impressive and we know it will be well used and a blessing to many. We’ve enclosed a check that might be added to your pool fund. We are looking forward to meeting you again and watching the progress of the building.
Very Sincerely,

Carroll Whipple

I had the joy of personally speaking to Carroll on the phone. She is so passionate about the benefits of swimming and exercising in water that it just exudes from her. Many years ago as a young mom, carrying her children on her hip, she says her back began to hurt and she decided to begin swimming to rehabilitate. That was 40 years ago. Today at 89 years young and a great grandma, she is still working with children and adults on exercising and swimming to gain mobility. She is a Certified Water Safety Instructor and Instructor Trainer through the Red Cross. Carroll is so excited about our pool because as she said the pools that she has been using are all closing down. She told me that she would love to help anyway she can. She’d volunteer her time, she’d train instructors, in what ever way we could use her she’d love to help. She said that she loves to tell people about the benefits of working in the water. I’m sure when we have our grand opening this fall, Carroll will be there to help us initiate the pool.

We can only begin to imagine what will happen when the building opens, the lights are turned on and the pool is filled with water. Thank you, Lord, for people like Carroll who see the “light on the hilltop” and are prompted to help out in any way they can to make the dream of the ReCreation Center a reality.

Pastor Linda Skinner

"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