A Pastor in The Northwest

Do I want ________ badly enough to suffer to achieve it? I read an article today on the reality that bothered me - in a good way. The article was about the things that we want in life and what we are willing to struggle to get those things. In short, many of us want a successful life - like healthy life-long relationships, financial security, a meaningful career, physical and mental health, and on and on, but, ALL of these take sacrifices. Great accomplishments usually require great costs. Think about musicians and athletes and entrepreneurs - the thousands of hours of training, practices, rehearsals, risks, and a good dose of failures. Achieving things in life requires cost and struggle. What am I willing to struggle for? What is worth the cost to achieve? The article ends with this statement: " This is the most simple and basic component of life: our struggles determine our successes. So, my friend, choose your struggles wisely." Pondering... F or the full article, check i

Today I was reflecting on a prayer devotional that I listened to on my walk to our church building Sunday morning. Here's that full prayer: "In the silence of this moment, I remember the Church gathering today all around the world, asking that the House of God would increasingly become a home for every nation: Father, thank You for Your beautiful, multicultural, intergenerational family, gathering today in so many countries. Forgive us our many failings, heal our deep divisions, and make us one. Let strangers be welcomed in Your house today. May sinners sense amazing grace. Let preachers and worship leaders step out of the limelight into the twilight to fix the spotlight on their words entirely upon You." Jesus' church is a beautiful reality we get to be part of on Sundays and every day. In keeping His command to love on another, may we add a few more prayer lines: "Lord, would you please give me opportunities this week to show true hospitality to others and

In my prayer time this morning, I was reminded of the story when a tax collector guy named Zaccheus met Jesus recorded in Luke 19. Do you remember that story? If not, here's the general rundown: Jesus entered the town of Jericho and was planning on a quick pass through, however, His presence stirred up the rumor mill in town, and crowds gathered! All the onlookers made it difficult for a small, curious, AND RICH tax guy to see the famous Jesus, so, naturally, he gets higher by climbing a sycamore tree (why are we told the kind of tree? ok, rabbit trail...). Safely in the tree, he can see Jesus who, for some reason, looked up and saw him, called him by name, and invited Himself to stay at Zacchaeus's house. Whoa. Unexpected, right? Zaccaeus just wanted a good viewpoint but now a host for the most famous Rabbi in Israel? It's a great story but don't miss a bit of reflection. What if Jesus showed up unannounced and said He's staying at your house today? My house? Woul

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to walk through the famous Sistine Chapel as part of a visit to Rome and the Vatican City. Though painted above my head on the ceiling, the famous 'creation of Adam' sequence made me pause. This depicts God straining to reach the languid, outstretched hand of Adam. Their fingers are almost touching - but not quite. It's powerful and mysterious in its message. What would it have been like to paint such a scene and then step back and look. Wow. What would it be like to be that creative? Japanese-American artist Makoto Fujimura says that 'to be human is to be creative'. Maybe we are naturally meant to be creative because we're created by THE creator? In some small way, we can create something beautiful even if it is not a world-famous painting! Fun fact - Michelangelo was actually part of the Franciscan Order. Later in his life, he wrote, "Neither painting nor sculpture will be able any longer to calm my soul, now turn