"Visualize With Me!"

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

I have a dream. It’s a dream I’ve had for 35 years. It is not a dream about buildings or reaching a certain number of people, but rather it is a dream about the quality of our church. 35 years ago, when God gave me the dream of starting and building Washington Cathedral―a church that would become a pacesetting, great caring network; I could see a fantastic Thanksgiving Eve service. The Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful time to celebrate all the blessings God has brought into our lives.

Join me as I visualize this year- - - the front of our sanctuary filled with grocery sacks of food for the less fortunate- - - food that will be given to needy families in our community. Now, visualize with me a beautiful candlelight service with the magnificent Spirit Falls waterfall in the background.

After the service I visualize every family getting together with friends, family and/or a family they hardly know- - - new friends- - - and enjoying dessert or a snack in one of their homes followed by games and fun. This can be an evening that will pull our children and families together- - - to be the church-family that we dream of.

Won’t you help make these visions and dreams come true for your family and for our church? Come and celebrate with your church family and be a part of the Candlelight Thanksgiving Eve Service―Wednesday, November 24th at 7pm in Spirit Falls Sanctuary. Bring sacks of groceries and bring your family and friends- - - and- - - prepare to make friendships that will last a lifetime!!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

“Miracles Still Happen Today!”

Hello Pastor Tim,

I need to tell you this story- - -

Almost 10 years ago, when I was living in WA, I did attend WA Cathedral regularly. We were also part of a TLC and joined a couple’s seminar. I then became really ill and it didn't look good for me at all. I was treated at UW for Pemphigus Vulgaris - a blistering auto-immune disease. At UW, they did allow me to disconnect from my IV medications and attend service. My husband picked me up at the hospital and we drove to Redmond for church. I even remember one time I felt so weak that I was lying on the pew.

There was one service that I attended during this time and you preached on, “Miracles Still Happen Today!” You were telling us that Jesus didn’t just perform miracles in the bible, but that he still performs miracles today. In our handout was a small card which read, “It would be a miracle if/when_____.” We were asked to complete the sentence. I wrote, “It would be a miracle if I would become healthy again and would be able to have a child.” (Most of the medications that I had been taking would not allow me to get pregnant, or would reduce the chances of ever getting pregnant). We put all the small cards on the wall at the back of the church and gather there to pray over these cards for the next four weeks.

Well… I stopped taking medications in 2004 and I have not had a single blister since. On Thanksgiving Day of 2008 Markus was born and we are enjoying our days together. I moved back to Germany after I separated from my husband (otherwise I would stop by to tell you this story in person.) Feel free to tell this story as often as you like - I share it here in Germany. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

Have a wonderful day,

Carolin

"If I don't bless you - - - it makes God sad!"

Ephesians Chapter 4, which happened to be the Cathedral Small Group Study passage, is so practical it- - - actually hurts or helps!

Speaking of the church, so in other words our Washington Cathedral family- - - Eph 4:16 plainly tells us our job is to build each other up in love.

"And if we don't or won't- - -
encourage each other
it makes God sad!"

The Bible plainly says it makes God sad! The exact scriptural wording is, "It grieves the Holy Spirit!" (See Eph 4:30) Wow!! That sounds severe- - - obviously it is a very serious matter, but the answer is simple and extremely wonderful- - - "It's our job to bless and encourage each other."

Please note this is not something we are to step aside and let God do, but this is clearly something that God wants to do through us, "Builds itself up in love." (Eph 4:15)

It's like God gets big tears in His eyes if we miss a chance to encourage each other!

It's a serious, wonderful thing- - - who will God assign to you this week to bless and encourage??? And if you do it! God will smile on you!!- - - And that's good!- - - In fact that's very good!!!

Pastor Dale Caleb White

Hipster Faith!

In September there was an article in Christianity Today entitled “Hipster Faith, When Cool Meets Christ.” Listen to this dialogue.

And do not grieve the Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:27

"Imagine, if you can, a Christian movement mostly designed by believers under age 40. They are concerned that their parent’s faith is too fundamentalist, culturally backward, anti-intellectual, and obsessed with dispensational end-times theology. The fundamentalists may have decent theology in many areas, say these Christians, but seem unconcerned about the poor and other social injustices; and mobilize politically on only one or two moral issues. If only we demonstrated Christ's love more, we would not only find more people drawn to Jesus, Christianity would also be much more culturally acceptable. That, more or less defines the neo-evangelical movement of Carl F.H. Henry, Richard Halvorson, Ken Taylor, Billy Graham, and Harold Ockenga in the late 1940's. Today's "Hipster Christianity" may be less a rejection of the evangelical movement than an echo of Henry's, “The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism." September Issue of Christianity Today (pg13)

Last Sunday night I preached at the Rooted Congregation. It was awesome. The music was cool, the testimony by a young male leader was… well, it knocked my socks off! The fellowship was hip. The only thing not cool at this service was me. I once lost my cool when my daughter Elise was a newborn and my football buddies caught me wearing a burp cloth, but I preached wearing a cool hat. Man that hat really did a great job that night of delivering the sermon.

I love every young person at that service. I pray for them weekly. They are really good people. Every so often a not so young person comes, but everyone is so cool – it’s just cool! I guess if I asked someone from the service they would not like me describing it as cool, but the article in Christianity Today reminded me of them. It defined the “Hipsters” as different from: The Jesus People, The Emergent Church, the Proto-Indie Folkies, and the Christian Surf Punk Scene. Brett McCracken’s “Hipster Faith” draws a line from the Jesus movement of the 60s and 70s through countercultural streets to the “Hipster Faith.” I for one am glad that the Rooted Congregation that started in the summer of 2010 is flourishing. When I pray for them I have great hopes. They are a new generation. Like any new service the attendance goes up and down but the spirit is always up. Sometimes that service’s offering is bigger than any other. Most times their jokes are the right up there with any congregation in the church. Their communion is sweet and it feels like they are going to change the world.

Do the whole world a favor and pray for the youth ministries, the Rooted Congregation and for those that are stepping out as leaders that God will mightily bless their lives.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"Please Hold Me Tight!"

A 3 Week Seminar

Cross-centered therapy towards greatness in marriage!

Suppose that we start at the beginning and assume that "God is Love" and He waits to teach us how we can be fully human and fully alive in a dynamic, sacred relationship we call marriage!
If it was God who invented sex, butterflies, sunshine and snicker bars; perhaps His plan for marriage is a continual healing celebration that works from the inside out!

What if it can only happen when we dare to be spiritual children, constantly open to "changing and becoming" as he taught us?

Pastors, Dr. Tim white will kick off this series on Wednesday nights at 7pm at "The Source". Pastor, Dr. Dale White, with some specially invited guests, will continue this "Building Great Marriage" seminar for the next 3 Wednesday nights at 7pm (October 27th, November 3rd & 10th).

This extremely joyful, extremely practical, extremely frank seminar, Pastor Dale calls "Please Hold Me Tight!"

Dr. Dale White will be quoting extensively from Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and his shockingly wonderful book "Kosher Sex." Expect extensive quotes from Dr. Sue Johnson's amazing book "Hold Me Tight" and Dr. John Gottman's "Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work."

Dr. Dale Caleb White

"New Babies Come to AFE"

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17

They toddle in and wait in line for a hug and a kiss from Jessy, the directora. The come with snotty noses and carrying bags of coca cola, which is quickly snatched away and a bottle of milk put in its place. These are the babies of AFE, who play quietly and sweetly, until snacks emerge; then searching eyes and outstretched hands wait patiently. Rarely is a tear shed, never a fuss made, they are content in their brightly painted room, with their brothers and sisters, and the kind women who take care of their every need. They are the future students of AFE.
If they were not here, in the comfortable cribs of AFE’s nursery, they would be stored in cardboard boxes in the garbage dumps or cared for by nine-year olds in garbage-strewn shacks.

Recently, three new charges joined the ranks in the Guaderia, making the total number of babies cared for at AFE nine. Jose Dario, Dulce Maria, and Iris are younger siblings of a kindergartener at AFE, and only God knows their ages. Their mother, who works in the garbage dump all day, every day, gave birth to her children in her home. As soon as it was physically possible, she had another baby. And then another. She couldn’t care for them. A nine-year old, who looks like a six-year old, babysat all three. They would lie on a bed together instead of learning to crawl because the child couldn’t hold all three.

Since these children were not born in a hospital, there is no record of their birth. Neither is there a record of their mother’s birth. The world does not know about them, but God does. And God created them for a purpose. Now that the three babies are at AFE receiving milk and nutritious, age-appropriate foods, they have a chance at a normal life. And AFE accepted them with the stipulation that the mother would need to take precautions to avoid giving birth to more children than she can handle. Jose Dario, Iris and Dulce Maria are being immunized and receiving proper sleep and care. Who knows what these children will become or how God will use them! Perhaps, they will become influencers and leaders in Honduran society, righting many of the wrongs we see today.

Dr. Rey & Elise Diaz
Lead Pastor & Chief Cultural Architect & President of Together for Transformation

"A Gentle Conversation"

But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

He didn’t think I saw the tears, but I did just for an instant; then they were gone as he pawed clumsily at his lock of red hair. When you’re a 19 year old boy, crying in front of an adult is the ultimate in humiliation. “I think everyone I used to know hates me because I decided to stop trying to pretend I was a Christian.” The words flew at me like stinger bees. I felt each one hit their mark. Emotionally, I was devastated. This was a kid I had grown to love over the years. He had grown up in a church (not Washington Cathedral) and had spent several years serving in a variety of capacities. He’d been through that denomination’s youth program designed to bring kids to a point of acceptance of Jesus. He’d actually done that, accepted Jesus, and, in his own words: “Jesus was about my only friend all through high school. I talked with Him regularly, told Him all my struggles, but I never really heard back from Him.”

Then, it seems he started asking questions and that’s when the trouble began. “My few friends drifted away from me because they didn’t like the questions I was asking. My Pastors couldn’t explain anything that made any sense to me. My parents were no help. And now, the people I thought I could count on, my aunts, uncles, cousins, all of them Christians, don’t want anything to do with me.” At that point, he stopped the futile wiping of his eyes because the tears were coming too fast. All I could do was hug him and assure him that others, like me, loved him and would never reject him because of his questions. We had a very long conversation that evening and I went to bed feeling more powerless and sad than I had in a long time.

Here was a struggling young man on the cusp of adulthood, wanting some answers and sincerely seeking the Truth and yet his closest circle gave him nothing but a sense of rejection and, in his words “hate.”

Dear God! When are we, as Christians, going to stop withdrawing, judging and refusing to help those who ask the difficult questions? When are we going to reach out in love and, with the grace that we have so generously received, welcome the earnest seeker? What are we afraid of? Don’t we have a testimony? Didn’t Christ set us free? Can’t we share our story? Scripture urges us to “be prepared…..” Are we? If not, let’s get prepared. Let’s make sure our testimony is less than 24 hours old. Let’s re-read Psalms 103 and reclaim “all our benefits.” Let’s have a serious conversation with our Holy Spirit and ask Him for opportunities to share what we know as Truth with others. People are dying spiritually out there. Let’s be ready to offer true sustenance.

One way to do that is to get involved in one of the many opportunities to dig more deeply into God’s word through a TLC, WOW, Men’s Ministries or Wednesday night’s “The Source.” Your own personal searching will also yield a rich reward. We have the Holy Spirit as our ultimate Teacher, after all.

Let’s try to not let one person who comes onto our campus feel rejection because we haven’t engaged them in conversation and probed some of the deeper questions of our faith with them.

Pastor Sally Jo Holmes