About Mrs. Edwards...

I remember those first days of every new school year when I was a little guy: With excitement I put on my new clothes mom had bought for me (I had laid them out on the floor the night before, complete with my socks tucked into the bottom of my pants and going into my shoes), made my lunch (I was too lazy to make much more than a yogurt and an apple; I could mooch junk food from the girls), loaded up my backpack (having made sure it was well-equipped with razor-sharpened pencils and action figures) and walked to my school. But on the way I remember being filled with a mixture of excitement and fear at what was going to happen…how would the year go? Would I fit in?

All of that changed the moment I walked into my first grade class and met my teacher, Mrs. Edwards. In my mind I can’t remember at all what she looked like, but I remember liking her very much. She was warm, friendly and welcoming. Though I had good friends with whom to play “Six Million Dollar Man” and tease the girls, what really made First Grade special was Mrs. Edwards.

Though I’m not usually that worked up about this stuff anymore, I still feel that way to some degree whenever I enter into an unfamiliar new community. Perhaps you know what I’m talking about? It’s natural for us to want to make a good impression, to be thought of as someone who has something useful to bring to the table. In short, we want to fit in; we want to be liked.

In the community of Garland Church we’re constantly being visited by new people. Though I hope none of them intends to mooch a Twinkie or a Ho-Ho from your lunch, they are asking these very kinds of questions: What do I think about these people? How well will I fit in? Are they genuine? Do these people really live out what they so glowingly say matters to them? Do they notice me?

I want to remind you that our Christian faith is centered on Jesus Christ, one who put behind the comforts of his loving interrelationship with the Father and the Spirit to focus on the other...you and I. Of course he didn’t actually leave those Trinitarian relationships, but because of his love, he held hands with us through his Incarnation.

As you wander about on a Sunday morning or any other time we gather and wherever that may be, remember the example of Christ and reach out to the newcomer. Seek to welcome them to yourself and our community with the hospitality of an open heart. In short,

Be a Mrs. Edwards…

Lookin’ Up, Pastarod

Halftime...

Today I post an excellent word about Garland's One Year Bible Reading Journey from one of our church elders, Lynn Weitz:

Well we're at the half way point of our "read through of the Bible" journey. As most journeys go, there are challenges, detours, discoveries, surprises and memories. Through daily reading of His Word we have an encounter with Him. I hope you will take some time soon and reflect on some of the things you have learned while on this journey, maybe even what you've learned about the journey itself.

I'll tell you one thing I've learned is that each day of the journey takes planning and effort. There's a reason that delays and detours so easily hamper our progress. Its because this journey is no trivial one. It is a most sacred journey. It is one that our enemy does not want us to take. This journey brings us to an encounter with the very God of the universe. But remember, we are not on this journey alone. He walks it with us.

If you think about it, it's very strange that He should be the One that steers us to the Word where we can have such an encounter with Him. Why can't we just have that encounter with Him all along the way?

I'm glad you asked! That is the goal! But for whatever reason, it just doesn't happen without "touchpoints" like reading His Word or prayer (or any number of other spiritual disciplines). We were made to be both physical and spiritual beings. As such, our point of contact with our heavenly Father is born out of spiritual and physical activity. Faith without works is dead. Our faith really only becomes faith when it is "worked out" physically through the bending of the knee in prayer, or the opening of His Word and digesting the truth within. Even obedience to the very truths we encounter in His Word necessitates physical action. But when we persist in these "touchpoints", we become increasingly able to continue encountering our God beyond the "Amen" or the closing of His Word.

Interestingly enough, when we "walk" with God in this manner we become hungrier and hungrier for these touchpoints, which in turn plunges us deeper and deeper into the richness of our experience with Him throughout the journey. The flip side of that is also true. If we don't feed on His Word when we are hungry, we become anemic. (Seven days without His Word makes one weak.) We become less able to hear His voice or see His goodness. And He has to work harder at bringing us to His Word.

But God is persistent. He pursues us until we find Him. Recently we read in 2 Chronicles 15:2 "...the LORD is with you when you are with Him And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you."

So by faith be diligent to read the Word and God will reward you. He will let you find Him.

Good Riding...

Hey Garland Gang,

I want you to know how psyched I was to see how many of you rode your bicycles to worship this past Sunday! It seemed there must have been twenty five bikes or more stored in the back of the chapel and I loved seeing many of you in your shorts and bike gear. And though I rode as well, no...I don't own spandex pants, so you were spared having to see me up front in that garb!

Remember, this "Bike to Worship" thing was an add-on to our Spokane "Bike to Work" community effort, and I'm proud of you for participating.

Let's do it again next year!

Lookin' Up, Pastarod

Wow...unbelievable!

Wow...unbelievable! These were the thoughts that zipped through my mind the moment I saw our parking lot as I approached the church building on Monday. I also thought, “When the contractor said they’d be putting up their fence and breaking ground this week, he meant it!” All week long the staff has been hearing strange rumbles, squeaks, scrapes, bangs and more...several times the ground has actually shaken! Each of these are confirmations that yes, we are finally building our new Worship Center...

If you were not at worship last Sunday, you missed a wonderful morning. To bring you up to speed, after our normal worship gathering we met in the “old” Worship Center (read: “gym”) where we shared everything we knew about the project. Among other things, we reported that the financials for the project are looking very good. Because of the amount already in-hand plus the faithful, ongoing giving of the church to the Capital Campaign, we expect to be able to completely cover the general contractor portion of the project when they finish in November. Additionally, we expect that we’ll be able to do a significant enough portion of the remaining items so that we can move in and occupy the space when the contractor is complete. This is all very good news!

Then, we went out to the parking lot to dedicate the project to the Lord. It was cold and blustery from one of those springtime snows, but our hearts were warmed as we joined in a huge circle and committed the effort to the Lord in prayer. We thanked God for his provision, asked for safety and blessing for the workers and marked the land for God’s use. After this time, still others stayed behind to offer additional prayers of dedication and protection for the effort. In all, it was an excellent morning.

But until the work is completed, there will be a lot of hassles. Access to the facility has changed and it’s important that you understand where you can park. During this time of construction, the primary entry is now the eastside glass doors to what we call the “Garland narrows.” This access door is also handicapped-accessible. Key holders, also please note that we added another alarm keypad just inside this door. For handicap access to the main Worship Center floor, please use the access at the SE corner of the gym. Both locations will have designated parking along the street. We encourage all other participants to park on the streets and in the Post Office and Rosauers Corporate Headquarters lots, leaving up-close space for seniors and visitors.

Thanks in advance for your support and understanding as we deal with these changes.

And Lord, thank you for providing this improved facility for your church!

Lookin’ Up, Pastarod

On Cities of Refuge...

This week the Garland Church staff was gathered for our usual Wednesday meeting and, as is our custom, we read the Reading-O-Day from Numbers 35 and then discussed it for awhile. It was quite an interaction as we considered God’s directions to the Hebrews regarding murder: What it is, how to deal with those who have murdered and the like. We also noticed that the text made a clear distinction from murderers as to how to handle those who have killed someone unintentionally (manslaughter) and how these unintended killers should be handled. These people, God said, are to flee to the “City of Refuge,” and they are to stay there until “the death of the high priest.”

It sounds like a bummer to be stuck in the City of Refuge for who-knows-how-long. I mean what if the high priest happened to be rather young when all this happened, and so the individual would be looking at a long stay in this city? That sure seems like poor timing! And remember, these people couldn’t leave the city without risking themselves to being killed by family members of the deceased who would be on the look-out to “avenge” the killer. They would be welcome to leave the city’s protective walls, but it would be at the risk of their lives.

On this matter of unintentional killing, a City of Refuge seems like our modern prison. Isn’t our prison a place that we can put offenders not only to remove them from society, but also in many cases, to protect those unintentional killers from someone out to avenge the death of their friend or family? We’ve seen in the history of our own nation that when people get really angry with what they perceive to be a criminal, who knows what actions they might take. Before “society” caught up with our land, “vigilante justice” was very common. It was you, them, and your revolver.

But interestingly, God had a much more civil plan. If you have accidentally killed someone and you need protection, flee to the City of Refuge. There, you are protected from “frontier justice,” at least as long as you were patient enough to live in the protection behind its walls.

Has it ever occurred to you that our relationship with Jesus Christ is much the same? You and I have committed all kinds of terrible sins against God and society, many of them completely unintended. For these violations, we deserve punishments ranging from death to paying remuneration, to simply offering apology and asking forgiveness. But for those who walk the journey with Christ, we have been placed under his protection. Christ himself is our City of Refuge, and those who choose to stay within his Fortress are safe. On the other hand, those who choose to venture out on their own to take their chances place themselves at great risk. Interesting, eh?

Lookin’ Up, Pastarod

A Bloody Exchange...

This morning during my devotions I found myself growing tired of all the strange regulations God imposed upon the Hebrew people in the Old Testament books of Numbers and Leviticus. I'm in this section today because it's where Garland Church is in our All-Church-Bible-Read-Through, and I must confess some of this lately had seemed far away and irrelevant. And to top it off, a lot of animals have been losing their lives in macabre scenes as a result of the sacrifices God required of the people. There has been blood spattered everywhere...

I've found myself thinking, "Why all the blood and mess? Isn't there some other way God could have chosen to maintain the relationship between he and his people?" I imagine many of you have wondered some of the same things.

Thankfully, today's reading had several embedded jewels that God placed in the system to make it clear what was behind all of this. I'd like to point out Leviticus 1:4 as a representative:

"Lay your hand on the animal's head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him."

So according to this verse, the whole reason all this was done was so that both parties - the individual and God - would know that this animal was dying in the place of (literally, "in atonement for") the person bringing the sacrifice. It was a bloody exchange...

Apparently, sin is a very serious thing to God. It caused harm to their relationship with him; it fractured their relationships with each other. God's holy nature is not content to allow sin to live on unaddressed. Maybe that bothers us, but you and I aren't perfect - God is, and he merits the right to demand such a response to such waywardness. So, instead of their own death which should have been the outcome, God in his mercy allowed another to die in their place. They placed their hands on the animal's head to be sure they understood this, and somehow I imagine the point was very clear.

The animal lover in me fires up in anger over the whole system; it just seems crazy. Why should an innocent animal have to die? I've never enjoyed seeing animals die innocently or appropriately. Sometimes life requires this, but it's never been enjoyable for me.

Still, if the system operated the same today, I'd bring the animal and lay my hands on its head and watch it's slaughter and subsequent burning. I'd be sickened for the animal, but I'd be alive and thankful before God...

Those who know the whole story are well aware that Jesus Christ, God's Son, died a similar death on our behalf. In faith, we lay our hands on Christ's head and he dies in our place. His bloody death is counted sufficient, making us right with him. I'm sickened for Christ, but I'm alive and thankful before God...

Thank you, Lord God, for accepting your Son's death for me. He did not deserve it; I do not deserve to receive your mercy because of His sacrifice. Thank you that I am alive before You...

Lookin' Up, Pastarod

Conversation: A One-Year Bible Read Thru...

Hello! Many of you in my Garland Church community have embarked this year on what is a totally cool endeavor: To read through the whole Bible in 2009, and to do it together. I'm very proud of so many of you who have made this commitment to focus on interacting with God through His Word on a daily basis. Sometimes it will be challenging to keep on course with this, but it will be worth it!

Over the course of this year, I want to keep the conversation going about this effort in our community through using this blog. Feel free to subscribe to the feed and post anything on this trail or a new trail if you'd like to enter the conversation. Let's encourage each other on the journey!

To start, let me copy in an email one of our church staffmembers wrote as an encouragement on this:

"Stop reading! You are already too far behind. It's no use!"

Have you thought that, or heard that suggestion coming from the shadows of your mind Maybe it's only me who hears such things! Anyway, I want to encourage you to not give up, and don't be anxious when you do fall behind. We are not machines, and while we do need to discipline ourselves, we should not feel enslaved to this wonderful reading plan. Do what you can and carve out the time needed to connect with God through reading His scripture, and be satisfied with the best effort you can give it. I'm convinced that the Lord welcomes each heart felt effort on our part to read, reflect and respond to His inspired words.

Personally, I'm way behind on the daily plan, and catch-up sessions don't work well for me - I become frustrated and grumbly when I attempt to catch up, because I end up emphasizing quantity of reading over quality of reading. I've learned that a slower pace of reading with a smaller chunk of scripture allows better reflection and absorption. I often need to chew on a single verse, or phrase - ruminating as they say, over and over. A quick once-over leaves me feeling dissatisfied - it seems like a hurried "Hi, how are you?"

with no time to really engage.

So, I'm plodding along. At times I put down the Bible and pick up a commentary to see what the scholars have to say about particularly difficult verses. Then I can return to ruminating on the scripture with confidence that I have an acceptable interpretation of what the passage meant to the original hearers. Then I am able to more readily 'surrender' to the passage so that Christ can be formed within me.

That's been my experience, so far, with this plan. It's good, very good, that so many at Garland are walking along the same path - the same reading plan. I encourage you to enjoy the freedom we each have to progress as the Holy Spirit directs. We are free to be all that God desires us to be, in community, at Garland Church. Keep reading, reflecting and responding!

One person who received this message responded as follows:

Thank you for this encouraging word. I like what you shared
about what does work for you. I'm one of those "machines" who has kept up
with the daily readings. But they are BIG, and I was feeling like I was giving it
quantity vs quality time. All last week I was going through the motions and
wanting to be finished with Job, knowing that this was not the intent of the
exercise. Then on Sunday during the service, suddenly I "got" a whole lot out of
the previous week's readings, which leads me to two conclusions: however we do it, it is not wasted effort; it is very helpful to have the Sunday message or worship experience relate to what we're doing during the week.

What do YOU think? How's it been to meet with God through this effort so far? Let's keep the conversation going...

Lookin' Up...Pastarod

On Fimpulu, Zambia...

It's been awhile since I've posted but I finally get a chance to sit down and tell a bit about my trip to Zambia back in November.

Wow, what a fabulous experience! We saw a beautiful land of trees, open savannah, the "bush" and very strange and interesting critters. My favorite was this very cool chameleon. I named him "George" and I put him in one of the trees near the place where I was staying so I could visit him regularly. So cool...

But the best thing of all were the interactions with the wonderful people, particularly the children. We were so touched by the smiles of the kids...





Our interactions with the churches in the community were also fabulous. We saw in them a deep and fervent love for God that was so encouraging to us.



By God's grace and enabling we hope to visit them again next year.

Thanks to the generous people of Garland Church as well as many individuals who invested to send our team to Zambia so that we can see if and how we might be of service to them.

May the Lord allow us to continue to serve!

Lookin' Up, Pastarod

Hello, I am still here...

My daughter Brielle wanted me to post something so here I am posting something. She says, "my daddy is not dead; he is just very busy. But, we don't want people to think that he is not here, so...he is posting something."

Merry Christmas.

The end.

Lookin' Up, Pastarod

Who's In Charge?

I watched the election returns on Tuesday evening with great interest, curious about who was going to be serving our nation in our various local, state and national leadership roles. With a mix of frustration and relief I saw the many issues or candidates either go the way I had voted...or not. Like I imagine you feel, I have those mixed feelings about what all of this means. Allow me for a few moments to encourage you:

God tells us He is sovereign over these matters. “By chance” (no kidding) I read Psalm 75:6-7 on Wednesday morning following the election and was struck with the following encouraging words:

“For no one on earth - from east or west, or even from the wilderness - can raise a person up.
It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.”

Words like this are designed to give us hope. At a very minimum, God allows some leaders to rise to authority and he allows others to fall. Though we don’t always understand what he is doing, we must take solace that God is providential over all these matters, whether in our own lives or in the lives of others. It’s therefore not right to respond either in prideful arrogance or despondent anger about the outcomes from the election. Whether you think it all turned out grand or you are disgusted with the whole affair, God has allowed it - be at peace.

Whether or not you are the type that really “gets into politics” or not, I also want to encourage you not to put too much hope in government. Again, I watched with interest as supporters of candidates near and far clearly showed their passion and commitment to their candidate, presumably so glad or sad they were being elected...or not. It struck me as odd, but I think it’s because of my own passion for the Lord. As a Christian, I serve a higher authority - the highest authority at that - and the government can only accomplish so much for me. It does not, for example, have the power to change the human heart, and it cannot force me to believe or think anything. That’s the internal world that submits to the Lord...or not...and it’s that super-power zone in which only God and I can operate. No government can ever touch it.

Finally, I challenge you to support and pray for these leaders, whether you agree with them or not. They deeply need the Lord’s wisdom and the right response for the Christ follower is to support them in appropriate actions and in prayer. This past Tuesday night, when the results were rather clear, my wife and I prayed for President-Elect Obama, Governor Gregoire and Congresswoman McMorris-Rogers from the State of Washington (among others), that they would seek the Lord and lead with integrity. We asked God to give them the passion to do right, a heart for the poor and the desire to surround themselves with others of good character. Will you join me in praying for these men and women who serve and carry great weight for us? For Christ...

Lookin’ Up, Pastarod