"A Better Way to Live!"

Unless you have been in outer Siberia this past year, you have been told through a variety of media most of the following: education standards are falling, the economy is in shambles, crime is rising, our food is dangerous, predators are on the prowl in neighborhoods, our bodies are under assault from saturated fats, and we can’t trust our bankers, accountants, or politicians. There are religious fanatics on the loose and weapons of mass destruction waiting to get us.
Gas prices are rising, work seems hard to get, and on top of it all, the poisoned environment isgearing up to offer a big time payback.

Sheesch! It’s enough to make you want to pitch a tent in Siberia and wait for the freeze!

However, in our “Life Handbook” (the Bible) I read that beautiful passage about how our Father cares so wonderfully for the flowers of the field. Then, it goes on to conclude, reasonably enough that “He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:31-33 (New Life Bible)

Later on, in Philippians 4, we are urged by Paul (writing from prison, no less!) “Don’t worry about anything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (New Life Bible)

Sounds like a lot better way to live than being a hermit in Siberia to me!

P.S. You did notice the little underlined “if,” didn’t you?

Pastor Sally Jo Holmes

"All Things Work Together!"

Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. Acts 9:6

At the beginning of the Apostle Paul’s conversion he is told to respond obediently to God without being given the whole picture. This must have been a tough call for this man who had an equivalent of a modern day PhD at one of the worlds top educational organizations. Paul had been so controlling that he was leading thepersecution of Christians which included the death penalty for young people caught spreading this uncontrollable religion. These are the first seeds to his understanding that, “All things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose,” which he would write many years later in his theological treatise in the letter to the Romans. What he was learning was that just about the time we think we know it all – “we don’t know nothing yet.” We learn to trust (that when we can’t understand what is going on), God knows and works for someone who loves him.

It reminds me of a story about a missionary in Romania. He was visiting the people in his neighborhood when he spotted a tiny kitten in a tree. The kitten was terribly afraid and since he was a man of God he felt it his duty to help the kitten. So after much thought he tied a rope into a lasso and roped the branch above the kitten. He tied the other end to his car and drove forward slowly so that he pulled the branch with the kitten down. He got out of the car to set the kitten free when the rope broke creating an incredible catapult and the poor kitten just disappeared. He looked all over and felt terrible but he could find no trace of it.

The next week he was shopping at the neighborhood market and he noticed a woman from his church (who he knew lacked enthusiasm for pets). What surprised him was that she had cat food in her basket. When he asked her about it, she told him that last week her daughter had begged her for a pet. So she thought she would get out of the situation by telling her that she could not have a pet unless God gave her one! Satisfied with that answer her daughter ran out into the backyard, plopped down on the ground and began to pray, “God please give me a pet!” She opened her eyes and do you know what she saw? A little kitten, with pawsoutstretched, flying through the air! It landed right in front of her and has been a part of their family ever since.

The minister didn’t even try to explain it because he knew that God works in strange ways. Sometimes stranger than others.

Your friend for the rest of our lives,

Pastor Tim White

"Soaring, Healthy Living in 2010!"

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

I am so excited about my first sermon series of 2010! I am writing a book on building the greatest caring network that the world has ever seen. The first chapter asks the question “Why is it so hard for people to work together?” This was inspired by one of my favorite authors, Jim Collins. Jim taught at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, but he is most famous as a business consultant. I had the privilege of meeting him as he consulted with a small group of pastors after his book Good To Great became a best seller. He spoke about “level 5 leadership” as someone who embodied a paradoxical mix of personalhumility and professional will. I admire Jim as a researcher because he dares to challenge his own conclusions. His personal humility is not just something he writes about but he lives it out. After writing his best selling book he found that the principles of corporate America were causing a reverse consequence in non-profit organizations; so he wrote a monograph Good to Great in the Social Sector, correcting his earlier thoughts. It wasn’t that the ideas were wrong – he was admitting to his scientific findings that his research did not work in the same way in the non-profit sector. I remember when he spoke on this subject at the Willow Creek Summit and I remember thinking that scientists bring a lot of credibility to the scene when they humbly admit the limits of their research. Now that I think of it he was demonstrating level 5 leadership.

Recently I was inspired to read his book How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In. In this book headmits that companies he once held up as success models, no longer exist after the crash of the recession. In the beginning of this very fascinating book he says that at first he did not have any answers, but what he did have were relevant questions.This inspired the first chapter of my book. It is the question that every pastor secretly ponders in their deepest moments ofdiscouragement. It is the pivotal question that every business in decline must work out before they break out of the cycle ofdecline- - - Why is it so hard for people to work together? In an age where companies, countries, families and churches break up, the words of Jesus “Where two or three gather together as followers, I am there among them” are even more needed. The setting of this passage is that Jesus was dealing with sin in the church and doing it with dignity and graciousness.

This whole issue of being in agreement with God is the first of the Ten Commandments in Exodus Chapter 20. It is the first element to being filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. If we want to soar in the health that God has planned for us socially,relationally, cognitively, emotionally, physically, and spiritually we need to come into agreement with God. When someone is out of agreement with God they are dripping with pride. They just don’t care any more - they are so tired and hurt that they don’t want to hear about humility, repentance or agreement with God. Respect for imperfect people in imperfect situations is impossible without God! But how else are we going to get from here to there unless we climb onto God’s chariot of respect and dignity headed to new levels of victory?

It is time! We have a new ReCreation Center. What new levels of healthy living will we be able to move to as we come into agreement with God? It has to be a breakthrough again in 2010!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"The Presence of God!"

Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Heb 9:3-4

My Professor, Dr. Dallas Willard, who was the former chairman of the department of Philosophy at USC, lost his mom when he was a young child. He tells the story of a little boy whose mom had passed on to heaven and was so lonely at night that he would not sleep unless he could sleep with his dad. When he lay in bed with his dad in the dark – he wanted to make sure that his dad’s face was towards him. So he would say, “Daddy is your face towards me?” To which his dad would say, “Yes son.” This would give him the comfort to sleep. In our lives we want to have the face of God towards us. Life is sometimes lonely and challenging. We need to know that our heavenly Father is close.

In my life if there is even a little distance between my heart and the heart of God – my spirit knows it. As a result I desperately want to grow closer to him.

The Old Testament set up a system of recognizing the presence of God. It was a tabernacle that they would set up showing the compartments of life in a nation’s relationship with God. This design was later used in the temple, but both illustrate how our lives can be full of the wonderful presence of God in a holistic way.

As Dr. John Ortberg says, “Spiritual growth, in a sense, is simply increasing our capacity to experience the presence of God.”

So in the tabernacle they had memories, special rooms such as the holiest of holies and the court of thegentiles. In our lives, we can surround ourselves with furnishings that point to God. Just as in your home you have pictures of beloved family members and memories so we need items which testify to our faith in God. You have a room for guests, a room for conversations and even arguments, a room for play, a room for grooming, etc. In our walk with God we have a courtyard of conversations with those who are outside of our faith. We take our faith with us to the office party or volunteering at the boys and girls club. We develop close friendships for walks and soul searching conversations. We decorate our lives with memorized scriptures and routines of prayer. When we worship, we go as if we are getting ready to play golf—with anticipation, shared excitement and internal preparation.

Brother Lawrence, a Catholic monk whose only job was to wash dishes said, “The most holy and necessary practice in our spiritual life is the presence of God. That means finding constant pleasure in his divine company, speaking humbly and lovingly with him in all seasons, at every moment, without limiting the conversation in any way.”

What can you do this week to decorate your living quarters with more of God’s presence?

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"Love & Trust!"

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18

Faith isn't possible except in a loving situation. It has been our evangelistic strategy that a person who is a cynic, an unbeliever, an atheist or doubter does not need more faith - they need more love. There is a deep emotional connection between faith, hope and love. One that I do not have time to develop in this devotion. But let me tell you that Faith growsalmost spontaneously in an atmosphere of God's love. When other people believe in you it's very hard not to believe in yourself. Sometimes I feel that I cannot help but be a goodpastor with such a tremendous church that stands behind me constantly supporting andbelieving in me.

Trust is only possible when love leads your emotions!

What would happen if the families of our church made a commitment to be a place of trust and love for every member of that family? What kind of faith would grow there?

What if each family took in a person as a love and trust project! Someone that you just know would develop faith if they just had an environment of love to let it grow.

What would be the impact of a church that had such love and trust that the people who worshiped there left convinced that they could conquer the impossible?

Here is how to develop that kind of love...

*Pray daily for it!

*Pray for the person asking Jesus to help you feel about them the way that he does!

*Act like Jesus would even when you don't feel it!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"My Thinking!"

“Bring every thought into the captivity of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Being a positive-thinking father, I had a very special assignment when my children were small. Every night I would read or tell them a bedtime story, sing them a song and have a prayer . . . then I would help direct their thoughts before they fell asleep. Often they would ask me, “What should I think about tonight while I am falling asleep?” And I would always try to give them some beautiful, funny, positive thoughts to think about. As a child, I hope you learned the same creative art. If not, I’d like to make somesuggestions now.

How many times have you gone to bed at night and replayed tapes in your mind of doing somethingembarrassing, saying something inappropriate or simply not performing up to some unreachablestandard? Then, after you have replayed that tape, do you shock your body with self-condemning thoughts with a subsequent release of internal bodily reactions that make you feel terrible? Do you find your muscles tightening to an uncomfortable point, your stomach wrapping into a knot, your heart pounding and your face grimacing? If that is the case, I have a wonderfully positive idea from thescriptures- - - don’t do that!

The Bible tells us to keep all thoughts captive of Jesus Christ. What kind of thoughts would he like us to experience at night before we go to sleep? Try using the following test based on Colossians 3:1-17:

First: Does the thought stimulate my faith?
Second: Does the thought generate hope and make me optimistic?
Third: Does the thought receive grace from God and provoke love to my fellow man?

If the thought coming to you filters through this test and the answers are yes, yes, yes. . . then that thought must be of Christ! He is giving you a creative idea, an inspiring guideline, a peace-generating thought, or a challenging dream! Any other thoughts must be rejected and pushed away to make room for the next exciting thought waiting in line behind it!

As we begin a new year, let me encourage you to make this part of your bedtime ritual as you tuckyourself in each night.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

"The Glory of Christmas!"

Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel of the Lord said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the yes of the Lord.” Luke 1:12-15

“Put yourself at risk – every day. If you are not willing to risk your being – every day – then you are not committed to change that flies in the face of the establishment.” Tom Peters

A rector of a church took his vacation to Israel. As he stood out in the fields next to Bethlehem he was underwhelmed by how unimpressive this little Palestinian village was that had once seemed soimpressive. The pastor was inspired. He wrote a poem called “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The drama of the unimpressive place highlighted the drama of God’s risk to pick this spot to changehistory once and for all. Here is my Christmas season message for you. The unimpressive sore spots of your life are the opportunity for God to risk and use your hurts to shine the glory of Christmas in your life. Are you a living, walking, talking testimony of Christmas? If so, invite your friends to come to the Glory of Christmas drama this year. It is new and the best we have ever produced as a church family.

We need your help. There are so many things to do. Parking cars, running shuttles, being a part of the cast, ushers, etc. etc. etc. God is forming an army of people who just can’t wait to risk and share their testimony of Christmas.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

“The Glory of Christmas”
Monday, December 21st @ 7pm (Mountainside Sanctuary)

Tuesday, December 22nd @ 7pm (Mountainside Sanctuary)
Wednesday, December 23rd @ 7pm (Mountainside Sanctuary)

“Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion”
December 24th @ 6pm (Mountainside Sanctuary)
December 24th @ 11pm (Spirit Falls Sanctuary