How can we pray for students right now?

Hi there, my name is Frances - I’m a Midway Jr. High Small Group Leader at River Valley & Special Education Assistant w/ Life Skills at North Middle School. As someone who spends a ton of time with students - I would love to share a few reasons why they need our prayers now more than ever.

1. The things that they love to do and their whole normalcy has been turn upside down. They are having to stay home and do school from home, without the in person help of their teachers and educators. 

2. Some students rely on our school systems for many things. For some kids, the only love, friendship, and affection they receive is from their teacher at school. For others, school is where they get all of their dietary needs met. For most, the routine of school and every day life is the one thing that keeps them going.

3. High School Seniors are trying to stay calm about potential crushed dreams for their senior years. Their sports seasons. Prom. Graduation. Will they have these events? Will they get these special senior year moments? They’ve been thinking about their future and how hard they have worked to get to the point where they are at now. There is an unknown lingering in the air for them.

4. Kids in our ministries have to miss out on the fellowship of Tuesday & Wednesday nights - a time where they were able to discuss/read the Word and worship together. I am so thankful for our ministry workers working hard right now to bring the Word and encouragement to kids every day via media & virtually. But the feeling of being together to worship, hear his word and then getting to discuss things after is looking very different now for these kids - and for many of them - it’s really hard to not have that in-person connection.

Let’s be praying for our kids. They are just like all of us - walking through uncharted territory. But they are also younger than we are. They need extra help and support. We might be having difficulties with work..having our schedules messed up, etc .. but so have theirs. Their minds are still growing; they are still learning who they are. For a lot of them, they do this kind of learning at school, at youth group, and/or with friends (which looks different right now).

Our kids are our future. Right now a lot of them don’t know what that holds for them. And a lot of them are just trying to survive this pandemic just like us. And of lot of them are trying to survive through feelings of fear, hunger, loneliness and isolation.

Here’s a few ways to pray -

-Pray that they most importantly cling to the hope of Jesus in this dark time.  

-Pray that our students in youth group can feel the warmth of community somehow in this time, whether it be with their small group or small group leaders (virtually). 

-Pray that they choose gratefulness.

-Pray protection for our ones who don’t have life easy or safe home lives.

-Pray that this pandemic doesn’t diminish their hope in Christ, but brings them closer to Him.

-Pray for them to be reminded of God’s goodness. 

-Fran Widdison (Midway Jr. High Small Group Leader & Special Education Assistant at North Middle School)

Silence and Solitude Practices

Tools Needed:  Bible, journal, pen and a humble heart.

Intimacy with God is the key to fruitfulness in every area of our lives.  As we become more aware of His presence in us and around us, we understand and experience the security that we have in belonging to the Lord.  By taking time in the secret place with God, we learn to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, which can permeate every area of our lives. We can experience that peace that surpasses understanding, no matter what is going on in our circumstances.

There are as many ways to practice devotional times as there are the people that practice them, but here are some tips to get you started as you develop your own daily communion with God.

Position yourself through prayer:

Find a private place and position where you can be both comfortable and attentive to God.

Practice just sitting before Him quietly, maybe on your knees with lifted hands, or stand before Him with outstretched arms.  Sometimes, no words are needed. Use your body to communicate and offer yourself to Him.

Take time to quiet yourself before Him and then let the emotions and thoughts surface.  Move to a more comfortable position and ask Him to reveal what is going on in the deeper parts of your soul.  Are you afraid? Of what? Bring that to Him, ask Him to increase your faith in His power and goodness. Are you tired?  Ask Him to renew and restore. Do you have realistic concerns? Unrealistic concerns? Bring those to Him. Don’t be afraid of who you are.  God can handle it.

Once you have addressed the stuff swirling around in your soul, quiet yourself again and just listen to hear what the Spirit is speaking to you.  What Scriptures come to mind? Any pictures, memories, feelings, impressions or songs? Do you see things from a different perspective? Is compassion and forgiveness rising instead of anger?  Faith instead of fear? Remember that God never condemns, He only corrects. He will build you up, not tear you down. If the thoughts coming to you are good and right and true according to the Bible, trust that God is speaking them to you.  If they are negative and condemning, rebuke the lies and ask God to teach you more about His goodness.

Practice different ways of praying; out-loud, journaling, walking, all praise, lament, intercession, petition…in all of them practice complete honesty, with yourself and God.  He already knows the truth of where and who you are right now, don’t deceive yourself.

Studying God through His Word:

Remember that of all the things in this world we need, we need God the most.  Just like our bodies cannot live without proper amounts of food and water, our souls can not be healthy without the Spirit filling, quenching, teaching, guiding and correcting us.  

As we pray and read our Bibles, remember that our purpose is always to get to know God’s heart, character, desires and plans better.  We don’t read and study our Bibles just for more information, we study so that we can have a better relationship with our Father and King.  We also learn His desires for us, for who He created us to be through reading our Bibles.

Try reading a different translation of the Bible than you normally do (CSB, NLT or the Message) or reading a different passage than you normally turn to.  The minor prophet books (Short ones at the end of the Old Testament in the index of your Bible) could be interesting right now. People throughout time have gone through so much, we may relate more to them at this moment in time.  

Don’t feel pressured to read a certain amount or a certain Scriptue.  Ask God to reveal His Truth to you as you read and just read something.  If you don’t understand it or find it weird, ask God to teach you and feel free to go to a different part of the Bible. There is no right or wrong way to spend time with God.  Have a reading adventure with Him. If you still struggle after trying to read different parts of the Bible, ask a friend who loves to read their Bible for guidance.  

There are also apps that allow you to listen to the Bible (even pick an accent) if you hate reading and would rather listen.  The YouVersion Bible app is good! There are reading plans on there as well, set up around all sorts of different things that can be interesting and fun.

Biblegateway.com allows you to do a search of any word.  I.E. If you want to do a study on “peace” just plug that into the search bar and you will get to see every verse in the Bible that has that word in it!  You can print out the ones you love and meditate on them.  

Ask a couple friends to do an on-line Bible study with you.  Read the same chapter each day and discuss it later in the day.  Be creative.  

With all of the concern for our physical health right now, don’t forget the most important part of you - your eternal soul.

Go with God.

-Tawny

Leading Through Crisis

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership recently. It’s funny and ironic how in normal times, we resent authority. We dislike President Trump or Governor Brown (probably depending on which jersey we’re wearing). We resent administrators, coaches, bosses, or parents for trying to control our lives. This includes our skepticism of “experts” (see Tom Nicoles, Death of Expertise). Why should we trust experts or authority figures when we have Wikipedia? I’m my own boss, with Google as my co-pilot. 

But then something like this hits. And unless you’re an idiot partying in Florida, pretty much everyone else is looking up to totem pole for guidance and direction. We’re all anxious and constantly looking towards the authority figures in our lives right now, for what the Bible would call Wisdom, or even Law. For work, we’re looking towards our boss, who is looking towards his boss, who is looking towards her boss. Kids are looking to their parents. Most of us in Oregon are looking at Governor Brown (she’s upset with all ya’ll at Table Rock this last weekend). 

But we’re asking authority figures and experts: “What should I do or not do? What are my marching orders? Should we meet or not meet, how many people, how many feet apart? Can we continue operating? If so, how so?” We rightly recognize that these decisions are often above our expertise and paygrade.     

Authority, hierarchy, leadership, rules, boundaries. These are normally swear words to an American, profanity. Now, we’re anxiously checking and refreshing for what the newest executive orders are (no wonder the Libertarians are nervous). 

Not only do we look to authority figures right now, we realize we ARE authority figures. Almost everyone reading this is a leader is some capacity, you have authority and influence over someone. You’re a spouse, a parent, an older sibling, you’re someone with influence, maybe you have a twitter account with five followers. You’re a supervisor at work, you’re a manager at Winco, you’re a babysitter, you run a small business. Or maybe you’re just trying to talk your grandpa out of going to Costco. We’re all influencing right now. 

Remember that John Maxwell quote? “If you think you’re leading, but no one is following, you’re just taking a walk.” Lol. Well, most of us aren’t just talking a walk. We have many people following us, and they may or may not be practicing social distancing.

So I have nine encouragements for the leaders today.

1) Thank You So Much. I’m so impressed by so many of you, leading well during this time. God has given you an area of influence and expertise. And whether we were ready or not (we weren’t), you are now forced to make very difficult, tough decisions. You have people underneath your care, people you are responsible for providing for and paying, your responsible for your business and customers, responsible for your kids and family members. You are leading well, and we’re so proud of so many of you. I’m thankful to know you, to watch you work from a safe social distance. We see your struggle, we’re all in this together. Thank you, leaders, for leading well! 

In particular, and of course I’m sure I’ll leave people out. But I’m really

Proud of church leaders.

Proud of school administrators.

Proud of grocery store managers.

Proud of those who coordinate truck driving routes.

Proud of parents who never wanted to homeschool (lol).

Yes, even proud of government (begrudgingly).

Thank someone who is leading well during this time.

2) Foster Creativity

When things are fine, we do things the same way we’ve always done them. But when something like this happens, the paradigm changes, the playbook goes out the window. We MUST adapt, we HAVE to get innovative. If we do not change, we will not thrive. We will not survive (metaphorically) as a family, group, organization, or business if we don’t think of new ways of doing what we do.  As a leader, creativity is your responsibility. We CANNOT control that which happens outside of us or around us. But we can control our response to the crisis.

I love the Jordan Peterson quote, a new rule in his upcoming book: “Notice that opportunity lurks where responsibility has been abrogated.”  We could and should think long and hard about this. There are opportunities in the midst of massive upheaval, particularly where responsibility has been pushed to the side.  Obstacles create opportunities

3) Tell the Truth, or at Least Don’t Lie. 

I think there’s a temptation as leaders to lie to help people feel better: 

“Things will be better by May,” 

“No, we won’t have any layoffs,” 

“No, you won’t get sick.”  

“The economy will be fine.”

We don’t know any of these things, no one really knows what’s going on. As leaders, we have the responsibility to tell the truth, or to at least not lie. It may not be possible or advantageous to tell the entirety of the truth, as not everyone is entitled to that information. Heck, you probably don’t have that information. Do your best to lead people in truth.    

4) Be a Non-Anxious Presence

More than the words we use, does our posture and tone and demeaner communicate a non-anxious presence? If you’re anxious, your kids or employees or congregants will be anxious. If you’re communicating and resembling a posture of peace, joy, and contentment, your people will pick that up.   

5) Stay Healthy. 

A huge part of being a non-anxious presence is being a healthy presence. Yes, this means not getting the coronavirus if possible, but it’s so much more than that. Staying physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally healthy. Our routines are routed, our good habits hindered. The gyms are closing (as they probably should). Fresh produce is a little harder to come by. The house got a little louder, I’m on my phone and facebook way more than normal.  But as leader, it’s our responsibilities to stay holistically healthy. To find ways to exercise (youtube ABS), eat right, get sufficient sleep, pray, read scripture, read in general. Facetime with friends. Get some sun. Listening to the birds. For me, it’s really important to put my phone on airplane mode when I go to sleep, and not to turn it back on until after I wake up and have spent 30-60 with God. If you’re not healthy, those who follow you might not be either.  

6) Love Those You Lead.

When we check in with people, when we really care about them and love them, it’s amazing how our own anxiety somewhat dissipates. Making those texts, Facetimes, and phone calls brings us socially closer when we’re physically isolated. And these are acts of love because they’re selfless. They’re outward focused instead of fearful inward focused. I’m working hard every time to pray the famous Jesus Creed: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.”   

“Love those we lead” means we’re going to operate with a generosity mindset, not a scarcity mindset. In other words, I’m not going to hoard my time, talents, money, energy, or toilet paper, I’m going to bless others with it (in wisdom with a small group of people, not indiscriminately). I must look out for my neighbor. And in this, I’ll find more peace and joy.   

7) Serve and Speak on YOUR Area of Expertise (not someone else’s). 

I know little to nothing about medicine or healthcare. I know nothing about parenting. I’m bad at math and I’m not a good cook (although I’m trying to learn and I grill mean carne asada). For me, I’m somewhat familiar with the Bible, prayer, and spiritual direction. So these are the areas I need to serve in and bless others with. I don’t need to weigh in on government policy, on the statistics of the spread, or how to keep shelves stocked.  I think there’s a temptation to try and weigh in on things we have no real knowledge about (I know I’ve done it too), to communicate expertise about things the smartest people in the world are grappling with right now. Sure let’s talk about these things, but we shouldn’t LEAD in them.  

God has given YOU something you’re good at, any area of influence and expertise. Use THAT, stay in your lane, and bless others in that place.   

8) Network with Others in your Sphere of Influence to Share Frustrations, Ideas, and Encouragements. 

Referencing #7, there are lots of people who are facing the exact same challenges you are, whether it be parenting crazy kids, making things, running an empty school, managing a closed business, doing real estate, working at the hospital. And like 10,000 other things. Talk to those people, call them up, commiserate together and then create ideas together. We are not alone. This pandemic could create lots of networking and relationships that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.  

9) God Has You in this Role for a Reason

In his plan and sovereign control, God has placed you where you are for a reason. Not only for the skills you do have, but for the abilities you don’t have. Your insecurities and INabilities. How can these things be assets? Because they require us to depend on him more, to trust him. Yes to pursue creativity, but to do it prayerfully. And maybe you don’t know God right now, or you’ve drifted away from him, you’ve felt distant from him. Maybe God has you in this place of leadership so that the weight of the role might bring you back to him.  

Leaders: What kinds of things have you learned in leading this crisis?  Thank you for all that you are doing!!

-Tyler   

The Anecdote to Anxiety

The world’s most famous quote on anxiety was penned by a man under quarantine. 

Basically. The apostle Paul is under house arrest. He can’t leave, he can’t go to church or the store or restaurants. He doesn’t have social media, so maybe he has it better than us. But maybe not. He battles debilitating anxiety at times.

And so do we. Anxiety is in the air. I just went for a short walk, somewhat unsettled myself. I heard a dad yelling at his kids. We’re all on edge.

But thousands of years prior, Paul instructs us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7

Side note here, as Paul’s plans are dashed and frustrated by frequent arrests, he has space and time to write his letters (the New Testament), read, cherished and memorized by billions today. In his lowest point, he had his greatest accomplishment. God ruined Paul’s plans to give him even better ones. 

But back to anxiety. There are lots of little hacks we can implement. We should get outside, find ways to exercise (I’ve been working those youtube ab workouts), get enough sleep, try and eat right, and set social media and news media limits. Connect relationally with others.   

But for Paul, the real anecdote to anxiety is prayer and thanksgiving. Jesus calls this: “seeking God’s kingdom.” As many of us know, as Paul and Jesus knew, this anecdote isn’t not a one-time vaccine. It’s a repeated action, a learned habit, a daily practice and a life-long process. Paul knows something about working through pain, fear, uncertainty, and anxiety:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” -2 Corinthians 11:23-28 

And obviously so much could be said about the anxieties that Jesus carried (for us!). So away with quick fixes, something I hope this short post doesn’t promote. This will take work, but you’ll be so much better for it. And so much closer to God through it.  

When Paul talks about prayer and petition, I think this refers to a few things. 

1) Cast Your Cares on God

What if you and I turned all our complaining, all our pent-up anxieties, all our facebook-venting and twitter-ranting into psalm-like praying? The biblical word for this is lament. And you know what, there IS a lot to lament about right now: little kids miss their friends, high school seniors miss their sports team, millions are worried about work, fearful for our families. I’m unsure about our upcoming wedding. As a church, we lament our inability to gather together, to hug and have potlucks and communion.

We’re not wrong to anxiously lament. This is what we’re encouraged and commended to do:

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. . .” Psalm 55:22a

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:7-8

How do I do this? 

Fight anxiety by verbalizing or write out your fears, and pray: “God, I give this to you.” 

I also think this very effective when we communicate and pray with others. Because as we talk and pray, the fears sometimes lose some of their power as they get out of our own head. 

2) “With Thanksgiving.”  Paul reminds us to fight for gratitude. We can lament for a while, but at some point, we need to end our psalm with an expression of confidence, like “But you are good, and you’ve always taken care of me. You are my rock and my refuge in times of turbulence.” Thanksgiving alters our perspective, reminding us of what we DO HAVE, instead of being overly consumed with what don’t have. Gratitude is a contented fullness, worry a chaotic emptiness.  

Fight anxiety today by making a list and thanking God for ten things you’re thankful for. 

3) Seek First God’s Kingdom: Serve Others

Jesus’ own words on worry strike me as always relevant: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [Or where can I find toilet paper??] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” -Matthew 6:31-34

So much here. But I think “seek his kingdom” means a concern for more than just my interests, but also the interests of others, and the interests of God. And there’s something about a focus on other people that is going to not leave a lot of room for fear. Fear can be very selfish, self-motivation, other-excluding. A scarcity mindset. But when we extend God’s love and peace to others, we’re going to experience more of it for ourselves. Kingdom Giving: the more you give, the more you get. I take care of my neighbor, and God takes care of my tomorrow.

Fight anxiety today by serving someone else, calling or checking in on them.

What has God been teaching YOU about fear, worry, and anxiety during this last week?

-Tyler

Paying Attention

I saw somewhere that 99% of people are aware and tuned in to the Coronavirus. In any poll of any contemporary issue, this is the highest awareness of anything they’ve ever surveyed people on. Which makes me wonder, who are the lucky 1% of folks off the grid with literally NO IDEA what is happening? If this goes on for a while, some people are going to come off the mountains for Memorial Day Boatnik, and be sorely disappointed.   

Mostly everyone is paying attention. Our senses are heightened, we respond with fight, flight, freeze, or fill. . .a cart. As I mentioned before, it’s good to be relatively informed and to follow directions, but I think we should be paying particular attention to something (someone) else.    

Someone recently recommended Eugene Peterson’s Working The Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity. Peterson is particularly addressing pastors in this book, but as I thought about it, his message is timely for all of us Christ-followers in this turbulent time.  

He offers us three pastoral acts, comparing them to angles on a triangle. I also got B’s in math class, but I do know that the less obvious angles of the triangle set the direction of the more obvious lines of the triangle. In the same way, these three basic and quiet practices will set the trajectory of the other areas of my life. 

The three acts are 1) Prayer, 2) Reading Scripture, and 3) Spiritual Direction. Super simple, isn’t it? You were probably hoping for something more profound. 

Peterson calls these: “acts of attention to God.” 

1) Prayer is paying attention to God’s work “in me.” What is God up to inside of me? “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me. . .”  -Psalm 139:23-24

2) Scripture is paying attention to God in word and in history. Instead of first asking how this passage applies to my life, we should ask: “What is God like based on what I see in scripture?” 

3) Spiritual direction is paying attention to God in those around me. What is God up to in YOU? And how can I help you realize it and draw it out of you by asking good questions?

In our fast-paced world, these three areas of attention are crowded out by the immediate, the tyranny of the urgent. This could be deadlines, the distraction of my phone, the ding or buzz or ring or stun of the Iphone, today’s to-do list, the constant “needs” or expectations of those around me. Whatever gives me a dopamine hit, or whatever that brain chemical is. 

And yet, in this moment, we can re-train ourselves here to pay attention to WHAT’S IMPORTANT, over what’s IMMEDIATE. When we put these three areas of attention together, myself, God, and that other person, we’re going to have a way better perspective as to what is going on around us right now. What is God up to in this pandemic? What does he want to do in me, in my house, in our church, city, and world? 

Can I encourage you, friends, to spend 30 intentional minutes paying attention to God today in these three areas? And get in a new, daily routine? I’m encouraging at least 10 minutes on each of the three areas. Many of you used to do this. And you loved it. And then life got busy. Let’s bring it back! Turn this obstacle into an opportunity. 

1) Find a quiet place in your house, or step outside, or go for a walk. 

2) Turn your phone to DO NOT DISTURB, or airplane mode, or better yet, leave it in a drawer. You can go 20 minutes without your phone, you really can. Turn the news off.

3) Spend 10+ minutes quieting your heart, paying attention to your anxieties, emotions, fears, and asking God to help you process these things. “Holy Spirit, what do you want to do inside of me right now? How can I be more like Jesus in my attitudes and actions?” I find this much easier to do with a pen and paper, or even talking to myself out-load. Bring Bluetooth headphones so people don’t think you’re crazy and call CDC on you. 

4) Spend 10+ minutes reading through a Bible passage, maybe a story, a psalm. Finding a Bible reading plan is the best way to make this a positive routine.

5) After your heart is in a much better place paying attention to God, now you’re ready to pay attention to God’s work in someone else.  Go have a discussion with your kids or family members. Call someone up, check in on some older people in your life who might need some toilet paper.  

I would love to hear some of the things God, from your perspective, as you pay attention to what he’s doing in you, what you’re learning from scripture and good books, and what you’re seeing in other people. Instead of paying excessive attention to the problem, would you join me in paying a lot more attention the one who’s Sovereign over the problem.

Grace and peace,

Tyler 

Three Encouragements During This Pandemic

Hey everyone! I just wanted to encourage you with three thoughts I’ve had since last Thursday as this coronavirus has skyrocketed to national attention. There’s obviously a lot of fear, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of volatility right now. We don’t know how long this is going to last, we don’t know how much worse it’s going to get. The uneasiness and anxiety is in the air, airborne like the coronavirus itself. But like Jesus says, my father is always at work, and I too am working” (John 5:15). So in light of that, here are three encouragements for us in this moment of limbo.    

1) Take Advantage of the Time 

In the Old Testament, Jews had built in breaks. Actually, the entire ancient world did. With no artificial light, you go to bed when the sun goes down and you wake up when it doesn’t. 

The Jewish people went a step further. They had a day of rest, a Sabbath day, a practice Jews and some Christians still follow. A day to BE. To rest, recover, and relate with others. They also had extended seasons and holidays, involving family vacations, bbqs and beer (Deut 14. Jewish society and a number of built in breaks, structured space and margin.   

But then we get electricity, the car, the computer, the Iphone, amazing technologies with some negative side effects. Far from cutting down on our busyness, they intensify it. We’re always working, never not on the clock. Our sleep and health and relationships suffer, leading to unsatisfied and anxious lives.

And then something like this hits. And I’m not saying this is a good thing, it’s not, but notice what can come out of it. Soccer practice gets canceled. And school might get canceled. Work wants you to stay home. Airplanes are empty. The West Coast somewhat sputters to a stop. And all of a sudden, I have space. Time. Margin. More time with family members, and friends. An opportunity.  

It’s unfortunate that it takes events like 9/11, like a pandemic to stop us in our tracks. And hopefully we can reevaluate our hectic lives. But right now, let’s enjoy this moment we’ve been given. To be present with those around us, to remember what’s really important. The people we love. The God we love. The important things in life.     

2) Stay Informed, but not too Informed. 

I’ve been off social media and politics podcasts for Lent, but I jumped back in to be somewhat familiar with what’s happening. And I think it’s good to be aware. But with all this extra time you’ve been given, especially those of you who are more or less self-quarantined in your house, the temptation is going to be to keep the news on all day. To spend all day in front of a screen, your phone, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook. It’s amazing how many coronavirus experts there are on Facebook. Who would have known? 

But the news will do whatever it takes to get more of your attention during this time. Not only will this waste this incredible opportunity you’ve been given, a cleared schedule, but it’ll also make you anxious (or arrogant). Do something else. Read a book, write a little bit, think, pray. Call a friend.   

3) Lean into the Lord

Our God is trustworthy. Nothing catches him off guard. He loves us. He’s at work in and through this. Psalm 46 famously says: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. . .Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46: 1-3, 8-11

 It’s in the lows and the loses that we grow closer to Christ. Again, there’s so much opportunity in the midst of the chaos for something really cool to come out of this. Stay safe, wise, informed, and healthy, and remember, as a recent song puts it: “Even when I don’t see it, You’re working. Even when I don’t feel it You’re working. You never stop, You never stop working!”

-Tyler

Knowing Our Place

“Jesus said to her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Yes, Lord, she said, “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters’ table.” Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith!” -Matthew 15:26-27

Can you imagine what would have happened to Jesus’ public ministry if he would have spoken these words to the Canaanite woman in our day and age? Why, the media would have crucified him. What was it about the woman’s response that blessed the Lord? She mysteriously knew her standing before God and the people of God. She accepted it and submitted to it. She came to Jesus as one who was undeserving and she asked for mercy. Jesus recognized this as great faith and healed her daughter.

Jesus had also said of the centurion, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” The centurion had said, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.” Matt.8:5-13.

These two cases reveal a wonderful connection between humility and faith. Humility allowed them to have a proper view of themselves before a holy God enabling them to understand that they live by grace. The Canaanite and the centurion both exhibited great faith because of their humility. “Pride renders faith impossible.” Andrew Murray. Faith is the means by which we perceive the heavenly world and its blessings. And they were both blessed. How can we develop a faith that blesses the Lord? Humble ourselves before God. Take the lowest place before men and gladly accept whatever humbles us before God and men.

-Pastor Doug

Tyler's Favorite Books in 2019

Tyler’s Favorite Books in 2019: Seven Categories and Runner Ups

Hey everyone! Here are some of the books that I most enjoyed this year. This year, I did my favorite categories of books. Here are seven of them:  

1) Favorite Fiction Book: 

Bruce Longenecker, The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from The New Testament World

This book of historical fiction is fantastic. It’s a story based on two characters we meet in the Bible, Luke and Antipas (Rev 2:13). The ambiguity of Antipas’ history allows New Testament scholar Bruce Longenecker to write an imaginative yet realistic story. How does a person named after Herod Antipas become not only a Christian, but a martyr? Through a series of letters with the legendary Luke and his Jesus, Antipas will never be the same.  

Runner up: Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur

2) Favorite Marriage Book:

Dave and Ann Wilson, Vertical Marriage: The One Secret That Will Change Your Marriage

I read six marriage/relationship books this year, but I think Vertical Marriage has been my favorite (ignore the annoying, clickbait-y title). Many of us have heard the basic premise elsewhere, that the most successful marriages go vertical (to God), and don’t just stay at the horizontal, person to person level. “The couple that prayers together, stays together.” What the book lacks in theological depth it makes up for in story, humor, extreme vulnerability, and practicality. Recommended for anyone married, preparing for marriage, or interested in being married one day.      

Runner up: John Gottman, Julie Schwartz Gottman, Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

3) Favorite Productivity/How-To Book:

Tim Pollard, The Compelling Communicator: Mastering the Art and Science of Exceptional Presentation Design

Calling all communicators (preachers, speakers, presenters, or argumentative Gen-Zers): read this book! So much communication isn’t very good. Or to say it more accurately, it’s not very memorable. Pollard works with everyone from CEOs to pastors to help craft more audience-centric, well-argued, intentional, organized, memorable presentations. I constantly am asking myself: What is the one thing I want people to remember from this talk? And how do I get there? Or more importantly, what do I need to cut out so that people get what they really need to hear. As my friend Jody Bormoth often says: “Eliminate and concentrate!” Pollard will help you do this!

Runner up: Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success In A Distracted World

4) Favorite Historical Book:

Tom Holland, Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World

This behemoth is not for the faint of heart (624 pages). But historian Tom Holland compellingly traces so many values that we all share back to Christianity. The value of the individual, the dignity of women, the evils of slavery, the necessity of consent for sex, the separation of church and state, the scientific method, even atheism, secularism, and humanism all have roots in Christianity. “Humanism is a kind of godless Protestantism. . .” says Holland. You don’t have to be a Christian to recognize how deeply Christianity has impacted the way you view and value the world.   

If you don’t have time for the book, see a few of the links below. One of my favorite podcast episodes of all time is a discussion with Tom Holland and the late Larry Hurtado: Why I Changed My Mind On Christian History - listen to it here.

And there’s the more recent Unbelievable? debate between atheist philosopher AC Grayling and Tom Holland: watch it here.

Runner up: Larry W. Hurtado, Destroyer Of The Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness In the Roman World

5) Favorite Kicking Secularism Book (i.e. good reminders that there’s more than just the physical world around us):

Mike Cosper, Recapturing The Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World

While setting out to write a book on spiritual disciplines, like reading the Bible and prayer, Cosper came up against a familiar foe threatening to derail the whole project: Doubt, the kind of deep doubt that approaches every supernatural claim with skepticism. But Cosper wants us to be skeptical of our skepticism. It comes from somewhere. There a reason we are more skeptical, cynical, and doubt-filled than our ancestors, and it’s more cultural than rational. This book really opened my eyes to the kind of disenchanting story of modernity, and our capacity for a different story that accounts for the transcendent. Spiritual disciplines actually come back into the project, not to be a good Christian, but to recapture the wonder of life with God. 

Runner up: Scot McKnight, The Hum of Angels: Listening for the Messengers of God Around Us

6) Favorite Devotional Work:

Minister’s Prayer Book: An Order of Prayers and Readings, Edited by John W. Doberstein

I don’t know about you guys, but my devotional life needs structure, or it will flounder. When I wake up in my pre-caffeinated coma, I want to do whatever I can to eliminate choice for what to read that morning (no Bible-roulette!) This book, designated originally for Lutheran pastors, found its way to my non-denominational desk (thanks to college pastor Travis Osborne). And I’ve really enjoyed it. It includes a 1. Daily Order of Prayer (with written confessions, creeds, scripture passages, and prayers), 2. A Two-Year Lectionary (Bible Reading Plan), 3) Meditations for Ministers, (short devotions on the pastoral ministry by pastors), and 4. Some great appendixes as well, like Martin Luther’s A Simple Way to Pray. Recommended for pastors or people who want a more structured devotional life. 

Incidentally, they are coming out with an updated Minister’s Prayer Book in February, with some additional prayers from women, people of color, and non-western Christians. Should be interesting!  

Runner up: Tim and Kathy Keller, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

7) Favorite Socio-Political Book:

Tim Alberta, American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump

Against my better judgment, I’m including a political book in my list. Keep scrolling if you’re burned out. But American Carnage is a fascinating page-turner, with some great analysis on the context and conditions leading to Trump’s presidency. This book neither glorifies Trump nor demonizes him, but does help explain him, his allies, and his adversaries. No matter your political leanings, I think this book helps all of us better understand our political moment. And you’ll hopefully laugh a little bit as real life seems so satirical.

Runner up: Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions And Bad Ideas Are Setting Up A Generation For Failure

Thanks for reading! You can see my additional book list below. A read does not equal and endorsement (Keep your friends close and your enemies closer). 

What books did you most enjoy in 2019?

-Pastor Tyler

Additional Books 2019

“Dead-Guy” Books

King James Translators: Translators to the Reader: Preface to the King James Version of 1611

Plato, Apology

John Owen, Gospel Grounds of Assurance (Vintage Puritan)

Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses

Early Evangelicalism: A Reader- Edited Jonathan M. Yeager

George Mueller, The Life of Trust: The Autobiography of George Mueller

Papias, Fragments of Papias of Hierapolis, Roberts-Donaldson English Translation

Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel In A Pluralist Society

The Epistle of Barnabas, Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson

The Shepherd of Hermes, Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson

The Code of Hammurabi, Translated by L. W. King

Exodus, Septuagint Edition(Greek)

Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Edited by Arthur G. Bennett

E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer

E.M. Bounds, Prayer and Praying Men

Fiction/Biography Books

Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Rich Roll, Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself

Joe Hilley, The Deposition

Bruce Olson, Bruchko: The Astonishing true story of a 19 year-old American-his capture by the Motiline Indians and his adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age tribe

Robert Siegel, Alpha Centauri

Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle In Time

Madeleine L’Engle, A Wind In The Door

Madeleine L’Engle, A Swiftly Tilting Planet

George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin

Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur

Tim Tigner, The Price of Time

David Wilkerson, The Cross and the Switchblade

Eva Schloss, with Evelyn Julia Kent, Eva’s Story: A Holocaust Survivor’s Tale by the Step Sister of Anne Frank

Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future

Marriage Books

Francis and Lisa Chan, You and Me Forever: Marriage In Light of Eternity

John Piper, This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence

Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?

Paul David Tripp, What Did You Expect: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

John Townsend, Henry Cloud, Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

Commentaries

Rob Bell, Blood, Guts, and Fire: The Gospel According to Leviticus, Part III

Rob Bell, Blood, Guts, and Fire: The Gospel According to Leviticus, Part IV

R. Alan Cole, Exodus: An Introduction and Commentary

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible: Exodus

Peter Enns, Exodus, The NIV Application Commentary: From Biblical Text…to Contemporary Life

Brevard Childs, The Book of Exodus: A Critical, Theological Commentary

Scot McKnight, Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel in Search of Peace in the Midst of the Empire

Contemporary Books

John Dunlop, MD, Wellness for the Glory of God: Living Well After 40 With Joy And Contentment in All of Life

Bob Goff, Love Does: Discover A Secretly Incredible Life In An Ordinary World

Scott Sauls, From Weakness To Strength: 8 Vulnerabilities that Can Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership

Chip Heath and Dan Heath, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Bessel Van der Kolk MD, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ

John C. Maxwell, Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective Relationships

Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Church: A Strategy for Discipleship that Actually Changes Lives

Edward Barnhart, Ancient Civilizations of North America

Alan Noble, Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age

Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor, Edited by Collin Hansen

Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

Doug Pollock, God Space: Where Spiritual Conversations Happen Naturally.

C.R. Wiley, Man of the House: A Handbook For Building a Shelter That Will Last In A World That Is Falling Apart

James K.A. Smith, How (Not) To Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor

Martin Dugard, To Be A Runner: How Racing Up Mountains, Running With The Bulls,

Or Just Taking On A 5-K Makes You A Better Person (And The World A Better Place)

Larry W. Hurtado, Destroyer Of The Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness In the Roman World

A Parent’s Guide to Snapchat (Axis Parent’s Guide)

John C. Maxwell, Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership

Jennifer Alison, Self-Discipline: Develop Good Habits Achieve Your Goals

Walter Brueggemann, Sabbath As Resistance: Saying NO To The Culture OF NOW

Michael Malice, The New Right: A Journey To The Fringe of American Politics

Dale Maharidge, The Dead Drink First

Sam Chan, Preaching the Word of God: Answering an Old Question with Speech-Act Theory

Tom Nichols, The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters

Joel R. Beeke, Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People

Paul David Tripp, Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry

Michael S. Sorenson, I Hear You, The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships

Ari Meisel, The Art of Less Doing: One Entrepreneur’s Formula For a Beautiful Life

Malcolm Gladwell, Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About People We Don’t Know

Ravi Zacharias, Recapture The Wonder

Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace Revisited, New Chapters on Marriage, Singles, Kids and Families

Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next-Door: Understanding Faith Stages As Keys To Sharing Your Faith

James K.A. Smith, On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts

Timothy Ferris: The 4-Hour Workweek, Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, And Join The New Rich

Daniel R. Williamson, Trusting Both God and Science: Reconciling the Bible and Science Concerning Creation

Rich Birch, Effective Announcements: Leveraging 5 Minutes in Every Church Service to Move People to Action

Marie Kondo, The Life Changing Magic of Tiding: A Simple, Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever

Less Is More: Six Things I Want Less Of In 2020

Six Things I Want Less of in 2020

Who remembers the tragic death of Jennifer Strange? She’s the lady that died from drinking too much water. Yeah. A radio program called the Morning Rave hosted a game called: Hold your Wee for a Wii. During the game, Jennifer drinks nearly two gallons of water, without peeing, and dies of water intoxication shortly thereafter.

Too much of a good thing, including WATER, can become a bad thing.  For 2020, I want to cut back on excessive good things.  My New Year’s Resolution is the simple phrase: LESS IS MORE. Have you heard this oxymoronic cliché before? 

My friend Michael Bahn uses this concept often in leading musical worship. If every musician on the stage is always playing, ceaselessly shredding and soloing, the music will be distracting. If everyone knows when to play, and most importantly, when not to play, the music is far more enjoyable. There’s space; there’s margin. And it’s within that space that individual instrumentalists or vocalists can operate beautifully.  

So LESS instrumentation = MORE quality music. LESS smoking = MORE lung capacity. LESS eating out = MORE money.  You get the idea. And in our super busy lives, cutting back on the quantity of things may improve the quality of them, and increase our gratitude for them. 

Here are a few things I want less of in 2020.

1) Less Clutter

If I haven’t used it or worn it in a year, do I really need it? Should I really keep something out of obligation? I don’t think so. I’ve personally found value in the “Japanese minimalist” craze. It’s amazing how decluttering your physical spaces transfers value into your non-physical spaces (mind, emotions, spirit, relationships).  

2) Less Politics

This 2020 election is going to be crazy. Like many of you, I find our political climate to be both fascinating and frustrating.  But without intentional boundaries, we will be sucked into the vortex that is Trump vs Whoever. What kind of wall (pun intended) will you put up to prevent the political climate from coopting your mind and heart? For me, I’m planning on taking LENT (40ish days) away from politics podcasts, and probably Twitter as well (I don’t watch the news). After Easter, I’ll reevaluate. 

3) Less Social Media/Screen Time 

I probably don’t need to say much about this, there’s so much research indicating that those spend more time on social media are usually unhappier and less productive than those who aren’t. I’ve been trying to set 3-5 minute scrolling limits on my Twitter/Instagram habit. I turning off almost all notifications, my phone is almost always on Do Not Disturb, and I only check emails 1-2x a day. Because of this, I feel far more present with people face-to-face and far more productive in tasks. I’m hoping to press into this a little more in 2020.

4) Less Reading

Controversial! No, not really. I read a lot of books this year, but I don’t think I read them as slowly and carefully and I should have. I also felt obligated to finish the books I started. But I’m reevaluating this. When I push through a book I’m not enjoying, that’s time I could be reading something else! And if I read a book I enjoy more carefully, with a pen in hand, I think I will get more out of it.     

5) Less Trivial Checklists

Instead of starting the day with the easy, non-urgent tasks, I want to spend the bulk and best parts of the day doing the hardest, most demanding, and most fulfilling tasks. For me, that’s usually writing my sermon. The dishes, the laundry, and lawn, emails, even texts, exercise, for me, these things can wait until the afternoon. For those of us with more flexibility in your scheduling, I encourage you to do the hardest, more important things first.    

6) Less Saying “Yes” 

One of the greatest skills we can learn is the ability to say “no.”  There are TONS of great opportunities, options, and needs. But if I say “yes” to everything, I’ll be saying “no” to the main things. Again, as QUANTITY goes up, usually QUALITY goes down. We should carefully and ruthlessly evaluate what our main priorities are.  If I’m doing something out of obligation, and not joy or love, this is a major red flag.   

All this LESS is for the greater MORE. Here are Things I want MORE of in 2020:

1) More Conversation

Conversation with God: I don’t consider myself particularly good or conversant with God, and I’m a pastor! I would like to be more intentional in morning, midday, and evening prayer this next year, as well as spontaneous prayer throughout the day. My hope is that less noise and activity will result in more, quality times of prayer.      

Conversations with others: The less distracted I am, the more present I can be in conversations with others. I hope to grow in asking questions, being a good listener, and helping the person I’m with feel like they’re the more important person in that moment. 

2) More Contemplation

With constant activity comes a dulling of creativity. Creativity grows best from the soil of space, even boredom. Today, when we’re bored, we usually reach for our phone, and the problem is cured.  But we miss the opportunities that can arise out of boredom. I’ve worked out writers’ block, problems, and prayers by leaving my phone in office and going for a twenty-minute walk. And sometimes, we just need to let our mind wander without feeling the need to accomplish anything. I get a little worried that some of our Generation Z, “digital natives,” constantly stimulated by technology, have never actually experienced meditative state or a wandering mind. 

What would you like to experience less of in 2020? What would you like to grow in this next calendar year?

-Tyler

Who Are You Inviting Over For The Holidays?

What I find so exciting and fascinating is the fact that Jesus reconstitutes the definition of family in his ministry - he says real family is spiritual, not biological. On a few different occasions, we find Jesus telling his disciples that the truest sense of family are those who do the will of His Father (Matthew 12:46-50,  19:27-29). We also read in Psalm 68:6 “God sets the lonely in families”. The Bible promises that those who follow him will be given family.  

These passages are amazing for two reasons. 

1) Christ promises an abundance of spiritual family for his followers

2) Christ USES/EXPECTS us to help fulfill this promise to each other 

Now isn’t that incredible!? God gives us a promise and expects us to take part in fulfilling this promise to the Body of Christ. God has such a special place for ALL of his children to enjoy the family life that the gospel provides. Nature may have given us a few family members- however the gospel provides FAR more. 

In light of this Holiday Season,  let’s think of our church community. There are many in our church without biological family this season. Perhaps they are single, widowed, fostered, maybe for whatever reason, their family is out of town this year. My question for those with families is this - how are we providing community to those without family this season? How are we fulfilling Christ’s promise that “those who do the will of His Father” will receive family? 

Let’s  fulfill Christ’s promise to our fellow believers and adopt people into our homes this holiday season. Let’s share our living rooms, meals, family traditions, game/movie nights, and gatherings. Let’s be proactive in seeking out and inviting. 

Who are you inviting over for the Holidays?

-Natalie Goens

8 Things I Do On Sabbath

Do me a favor. Read the below verse with two stipulations:

1) that the ten commandments are just as they sound, “commandments,” and..

2) forget all your opinions and biases regarding scripture. In other words, read the below passage with an open mind and think about what it means to you.  

 8“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

I was struck by the simplicity of this commandment and would argue that it applies just as much today as it did back when 2 million Israelites were wandering the desert. Think how fast the Earth took a leap forward in the last 2700 years when it comes to hurry?

In the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, Brooks Hatlen was finally released from Prison after being incarcerated from 1905 to 1955. He couldn’t believe how busy Americans had become in the 50 years since he’d been arrested. He said, “The world got itself in a big dang hurry.” He walked up and down the busy streets packed with automobiles as he looked for work. He had only seen one car when he was a kid, and now they were “everywhere.” 

Think of the average Israelite 2500 years ago. They probably lived miles away from their neighbors, with no phones, computers, or televisions. Even a busy day would be spent mostly outside, with plenty of time to talk with those they are working with. Life required hard work, but it was much simpler. Think of how slow watching sheep full time would be? Now look at us today…

I have put together an 8 point list of some rules that I follow on my sabbath. A few disclaimers:

1. This are just recommendations; they won’t work for everybody, and they aren’t scripture.

2. I am not a master of rest by any means; I made this list because of how ugly of a person I become when I don’t have a rest day.

Here is the list of 8 points to try on your sabbath. I travel for work one weekend a month, and I definitely don’t do this every Saturday (some of you readers may have kids in sports, so you will have to be creative in how you apply these), but I try and have one day a week where I do the following: 

1. Pray. Spend time just talking with God. After a busy week, slow down and restore your relationship. Focus on prayers of thanks and worship. This day should be peaceful and relaxing. Jews would even avoid prayers of struggle on the sabbath, which is okay to do! Sometimes even prayers stress me out (such as an upcoming event that you’re worried about). I set those aside on the sabbath – you can worry and pray about it later.

2. No work. Give yourself a break. This is a free pass from God, and science supports the increase in productivity you will gain from this rest. Leave the dishes in the sink and chill! Remember that the settlers on the Oregon Trail that took a day of rest ended up reaching the coast sooner, on average.

3. No screens. The effects of the constant buzz and typing in our phone, and the bombardment of ads and Hollywood, I think is more harmful than we know. Turn off your phone, close your computer, and then you’ll use that time to read something wholesome, or just sit in your living room and talk to your family.

4. Read supplemental material. Nothing beats the Bible, but if you take a day off, I recommend reading other Christian books that help your walk with Christ. Fell free to leave a comment below if you need some recommendations. My favorite is Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer.

5. Exercise. This does something more than the physical. I know when I go for a run, it really clears my head, reinforces discipline, and gets me outside. Studies also show it can do what anti-depressant drugs do, just without the harmful side effects.

6. Go somewhere. Being outside in creation helps you connect with God, and for those of us that sit in a cubical, it’s a nice change of scenery. We live in a beautiful area, and there are so many good hikes and bodies of water not far from here. Take the family out in some fresh air, and have your kids leave their phones in the car (just don’t get lost).

7. Reflection. This one is less tangible, but I think it’s healthy to have a day where you think about your standing with God. Are there any areas I’ve been slipping this week? How’s my relationship with my spouse? Ask Jesus if there are any blind spots in your life that The LORD wants to rid you of? If you have any addictions from your past, do you see any signs that you’re backsliding? Sabbath is a perfect time to let Jesus do an examination of you and your previous week.

8. Podcasts: Smart phones do have some benefits, like the abundant content on podcasts. You can pull up people from all over the world speaking on a variety of topics. I would do this in my apartment in Portland when I’d clean the kitchen. Check out John Mark Comer from Bridgetown church.

-Cody Goens

Five Blessings of a Boring Testimony

Growing up as a pastor’s kid in church, I heard lots of people share their stories, or testimonies. Most the stories that I heard, or at least the ones I remembered, were really intense, involving drugs, sex, or getting shot. I still remember one church service many years ago, during an open-mic sharing time, when a drunk guy steps up and shares more than we’d bargained for. We’ve since stopped doing open-mic sharing time. 

But at least the drunk guy had a cool story! Because of this, I grew up thinking I didn’t have a good testimony. I never did drugs, never drank until twenty-one, never had premarital sex, and never got shot, (unless you count paintball). I didn’t even have any cool sports injuries. So I thought I didn’t have a story to share.  

I’ve since thought through a number of ways that I’m personally thankful for the story that God has given me.  This post is meant to encourage those with stories like mine. If you have a dramatic testimony, I’m so thankful for what God has done in your life, and I’m not knocking that at all. This is just me trying to think through and help those who are like me, with a “boring testimony.”  By “boring,” I mean that our conversion processes were slow, gradual, and non-dramatic.

So here are my “Five Blessings of a Boring Testimony:”

1) A boring story speaks to lots of other Christians without dramatic conversions. 

Lots of people couldn’t tell you the date or time of their conversion to Christ. I don’t think anyone is born a Christians (God has no “grandkids”). Every person is responsible to receive Jesus individually and believe in him and thus gets adopted into his family. Theologically speaking, everyone has a conversion/adaption date (the technical word is Justification). Many of us just don’t know when that was, although we probably have some theories. And I think that’s totally OKAY! 

I’ll often share my story to students about growing up in a Christian home, and I’ve found that many of them resonate with my testimony, as their own stories are similar. Our trust is not in the date, time, or remembrance of a “conversion experience,” but instead in the Converter! We don’t necessarily need to know when we were saved, but more importantly, that we ARE saved.

2) A boring testimony highlights God sovereign protection of you, preventing you from some pains and certain sin-patterns.  

In college, I once heard a Christian say that he wished he didn’t grow up in the church. Without knowing his backstory, I think that’s nonsense. A boring testimony shows that God sometimes choses to preserve and protect some of his children from certain sins. This isn’t because he loves them more or because they’re better people, not at all. We really don’t know why God protects some people from some things and lets others go their own way for awhile. But both examples, both kinds of people, make God look good by his work in their lives.  

3) A boring testimony shows the goodness of God, that his plan really is best. 

Like the blessing mentioned above, a boring story shows people that we don’t need to touch the stove to know that it’s hot. Some people will still need to touch the stove, and we’ll be there afterwards to help bandage their charred palm. But not everyone needs to get burned; not everyone needs to experiment with the things the culture says are must-haves.  We need both those who’ve been burned and those who haven’t to testify that God direction is best for us. 

4) A boring testimony exposes the so-called “church sins” that are particularly prominent in religious people.

Yes, we’re sinners too, just as bad as those of you with dramatic conversion stories. We may not have used lots of profanity, pornography, or pre-marital sex, but we do peddle in godless pride.  There are sins that are far subtler, sins of the Pharisees or the older brother in the prodigal son story (see Luke 15).  Secret church-sins often include arrogance, entitlement, selfishness, superiority, self-righteousness, judgmental, jerk-like, critical outlooks, and legalism.  Kids in Christian homes need to be saved too.   

5) A boring story shows us that much of Christian transformation is slow, steady, and gradual. 

Our culture wants instant results! Think Amazon Prime, one-click ordering, two-day shipping. A boring testimony helpfully cuts against our “microwave culture” that wants instant results. Most of the Christian life is boring, mundane, and ordinary.  Sometimes progress is two steps forward, one step back.  While God might have given an alcoholic instant deliverance from alcohol, most of us struggle intensely, day by day with the Holy Spirit, to undo old habits and practices.  Most of the time, it’s a lot of work. And like Jesus’ garden metaphors, most things grow slowly.  Our character and Christian-growth is no exception.

Thanks for reading? How have you been encouraged by the story God has given you? What are some other advantages that you see to a “boring testimony?”

-Tyler 

Listening In The Silence

Psalm 19:1-4

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

 The skies display his craftsmanship.

2 Day after day they continue to speak;

    night after night they make him known.

3 They speak without a sound or word;

    their voice is never heard.

4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

    and their words to all the world.

Today and tonight go outside and stare up at the sky, the mountains, the clouds, the stars. Take a moment to take it all in. God is trumpeting, announcing, declaring His creative presence all around you.

Can you hear it? Can you see it?

Even in the silence, especially in the silence, God is trying to get your attention.

Know that you are never out of God's reach or never too far away to hear His voice. He made you to know Him, and He made the world to reveal Himself and His power to you. 

Look for Him today, and listen for Him in the silence.

-Beth Plymale

Jesus Vs. The Proverbs: A Contradiction?

At River Valley Church, we just came out of a really great series called God Space, based on the book by Doug Pollock. The book encourages us to have natural, spiritual conversations with those outside of the church through love, noticing, serving, listening, wondering, and sharing. As Jesus demonstrates, we should not be afraid to have conversations and friendships with those far from God. Jesus is so good at this that he picks up some derogatory titles: “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’“ -Matthew 11:19 

Right as this series finishes, we go into a psalm series and start Psalm 1. And immediately, we are confronted with an apparent contradiction. Or at least some tension. Why? Psalm 1:1 says: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. . .” According to the Psalmist, our associations are important. And yet Jesus isn’t that interested in associations? Or is he? Let’s make the problem more complicated. 

Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm, meaning it’s a part of the larger wisdom literature tradition, the most popular of which is Proverbs. Proverbs has a lot more to stay about who we hang with: 

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” 

-Proverbs 13:20

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” 

-Proverbs 12:26

 Even Paul the missionary has some concerns about our associations, quoting a Greek poet: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” -1 Corinthians 15:33 

There are a number of other kinds of wisdom literature warnings that we could note, but we get the idea. And yet, Jesus appears to not heed these warnings. Does the wisdom literature teach us something different than Jesus? Is Psalm 1 a problem for Jesus, friend of sinners?

This is something I love about the Bible, because when we wrestle with these kinds of questions and potential contradictions, this shows that we are meditating on God’s instruction and coming to the most precise picture of what God intends for us.  These kinds of questions show that delight in and meditate on the Torah (instruction) of God day and night.

1) Jesus himself affirms the wisdom tradition in Matthew 11:18-19: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

In other words, Jesus says: “You guys are claiming that John was crazy, and that I am compromised, but in reality, we are vindicated from your claims by our lifestyles and ministries. We are demonstrating wisdom by our conduct, our life, our good fruit.  

2) Psalm 1 describes joining in with evil people in their sin. 

In Psalm 1, notice the progression, the downward slide. First, the person simply walks with the wicked, then he stands with them, then he sits down. This isn’t a friendly, God Space conversation. This is backroom planning and plotting, an active participation in that which is opposite to the God’s Law (instruction). Jesus is a friend of sinners, but not an accomplice to sinners. We should be the same. 

Don’t just think bank robbery here, think of a conversation on break with coworkers that quickly turns into bash-whoever-isn’t-here-gossip-slander-session.  (Whenever this happens, I wonder what they say about me when I’m not there?) There’s a huge difference here between friend and accomplice.    

3) Psalm 1 describes finding your identity in the (evil) group, following their Torah (instruction) instead of God’s Torah.

There are two paths outlined in Psalm 1. Two directions, two kinds of people, two identities. It’s very black and white. (Postmodernism and wisdom literature aren’t good friends. But don’t feel bad, post-modernists, the scriptural narrative will often fit your love for ambiguity.) One character finds his identity in the Law of the Lord, the other, finds his identity in the group’s activity: in the tribe, in the political party or platform or person, in the denomination. Identifying with a group over Torah will always lead to a tumble-weed-like existence (Psalm 1:4). 

4) Wisdom literature points to the danger of a group’s influence towards evil. 

We are not islands, but are all connected to countless groups that influence us both positively and negatively. We have to be very sensitive to the implicit ways our groups influence us. This includes our Christian groups as well. We can think of horrific examples in the past where many Christian communities justified slavery or segregation. But on a smaller, more subtle level, what about the sins of pride, selfishness, self-righteousness, judgmental superiority, an “us vs them” mentality, and legalism that can inhabit Christian groups? The “bad company” that Proverbs and Paul referring to isn’t just our secular, liberal friends, but also could include some of our conservative and religious friends. We might never see a secular person all week and still be a “companion of fools.” All this to say, our Christian communities need to be vetted as well. Scary, Psalm 1:1 can and often does refer to our conservative “Christian” friends. Yikes. 

On the other hand, when we engage with the irreligious, the wisdom literature (and Jesus!) gives us some helpful principles.  When we are pressured to compromise morally, when we are pressured to sin, that’s a place to draw the line.  We must retain our distinction.

Some obvious examples: A recovering alcoholic probably can’t spend time with friends that drink a lot. There are some great ministries to dancers in strip clubs, but it’s probably not okay for me to go minister on the inside. In my humble opinion, that’s not a good way to get men involved in outreach. It’s probably better for women to do that ministry.  

There are times when friends put on a movie, and after a little Google search, I will need to respectfully leave. I don’t need to make a scene and start going all Ezekiel on the heathens. But I know that that particular movie will be morally harmful to me personally. The wisdom tradition teaches us that certain places, certain people, and certain situations might be off limits for you.  I personally can’t watch Game of Thrones, as much as I would like to be familiar with the story to be conversant with my neighbors about it. But the compromise isn’t worth it to me.      

5) The Wisdom Literature (and Jesus!) Stress Distinction

God Space requires distinction (holiness). And Jesus demonstrates that holiness can be compelling, sinful women and men liked being with Jesus, even as he lovingly challenged them. 

Jesus draws people to himself not JUST because of his love, but because he’s compellingly different from everyone else. If we’re not different from the world in how we use money, and time, words, social media, we won’t have good God Space moments, nor will we be joyful, righteous people. It’s that difference that makes our love, service, and sharing all the more compelling and counter-cultural.    

So, blessed is the person who remains faithful to the law of God, which teaches us to love God and ALL our neighbors. And in this, we reflect the Sinless Savior, who befriends all of us sinners and invites us into his home.

-Pastor Tyler

I Am the Door: Reflections on the Gospel of John

There are so many things I could comment on about John’s gospel that it’s hard to know where to start! I’ve long been intrigued by the way it opens, not with a narrative account of Jesus’ birth like Matthew and Luke; and not without preamble as in Mark’s gospel. John instead takes the time to introduce his readers to Jesus by directing them back to Genesis chapter 1… “in the beginning…”.  He states that Jesus (the Word) is God, which Jesus Himself also claimed throughout His ministry. These statements, as revealed in the gospels and in John in particular, are often lost on modern-day, non-Jewish readers, but to the readers and hearers in that day the intent and meaning behind Jesus’ claims would have been both crystal clear and shocking. His use of the phrase “I Am” was directly and deliberately correlated to God’s name for Himself as revealed in His conversation with Moses (Exodus 3:14), which the Jews would have immediately recognized. It’s pertinent to note that Jesus didn’t merely make these statements verbally, but He also communicated these truths by His actions. For instance, He stated, “I am the bread of life”, and also miraculously fed thousands of people. He claimed to be “the light of the world”, and healed a blind man, literally illuminating that man’s world!  

   I think one of the things I notice more now than I used to is the depth and character of Jesus’ personality. He’s not the dry, boring, humorless man that is so often depicted in movies and paintings; and even by many Christians I’ve encountered over the years, including myself at times. He overturned the status quo (and continues to do so), in much the same way he overturned tables in the temple. He cared very little about what was culturally and socially acceptable. He spoke to women and children, slaves and foreigners. He didn’t approach His conversations with people in a scripted fashion. Every encounter He had was uniquely tailored to that individual.  He asked lots of questions, not because He needed the information but because the other person needed to be drawn out or challenged in some way, yet always with the other person’s best interest in mind. One of my favorite passages is in chapter 8 where the Pharisees brought a woman to Him caught in the act of adultery (btw…How did they know when and where to find her?… Where was the man who was also committing adultery?… This “testing” of Jesus reeks of calculated, arrogant antagonism toward Jesus and indifference toward the woman.).  Jesus’ handling of the situation is brilliant, in that He upholds the validity of Old Testament law while at the same time demonstrating the New Testament mercy that He alone can provide.

Another passage that stands out is Jesus’ encounter with Mary following the death of her brother, Lazarus (chapter 11).  I think people often believe that they’re not allowed to express to God when they are angry or upset about something, but here in this account, in verse 32, Mary blurts it out… “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  She’s angry and confused, questioning Him for His apparent failure to arrive on time. She knows who He is and believes in both His goodness and His power, but in that gut-wrenching moment her faith is in conflict with her experience.  He of course responds with compassion. He weeps, I think, partly in loving empathy toward her in that moment in time, and partly for the brokenness of our fallen world that brought death, in all its forms, that we were never intended to experience. I appreciate the reminder that we can and should be genuine in our relationship with Him. That we can cry and doubt and ask Him questions and even express hurt or anger, and He responds with grace and mercy.  He also reminds us, as He did Mary, that “if you believe, you will see the glory of God” (v 40). This doesn’t mean that things will always get better immediately. They often don’t. But it does mean that we can trust Him completely, even in our waiting. Ultimately, Jesus responded by going to the cross on our behalf and offering permanent restoration and resurrection to us all.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25, NASB

-Michelle

Read more of Michelle’s blogs on her site here - https://michellehaywoodsmith.com/

The Significance of the Season: Wondering about Fall

I love this time of year. We can wear flannel, soccer is in full-swing, and the temperature drops. And of course, there’s the leaves. The familiar greens transform to all sorts of stunning yellows, oranges, reds, and purples.    

Why is this? I remember hearing about an ancient Native American legend, where the tribal spirits would secretly paint the leaves every fall. But they couldn’t paint the evergreens, the pine needles kept poking them. Even as a young church kid who believed in God, I scoffed at the story. “That’s stupid. I don’t see any paintbrushes.”   

My response reflected something about our culture, namely that it’s disenchanted. Fairies, goblins, ghosts, angels, demons: done for, products of superstitious, primitive, unenlightened minds. We’re taught to be skeptical of the supernatural.  “No spirits are painting leaves, this is simply a scientific process.” Materialism (that we are just matter in motion) proclaims that everything has a scientific explanation. Disease comes from bacteria, bad dreams come from our brains, leaves change color because they lose their chlorophyll. The natural world functions, well, naturally, without outside influences.  

This means that meaning “is what you make it”, because there really isn’t any. You should search for your own significance, because there’s nothing transcendent or eternal about the world around us. Reflecting back on the fall season, there’s really nothing special about leaf pigments producing different colors.  Any kind of appreciation of the colors is simply an evolutionary response hard-wired within us to notice changes in our environment. Plus color often equals food, necessary for survival. Scientific materialism, for all its advantages (medicine!), has drained all meaning from our lives.

This fall season, as I sip a cup of coffee at Rogue Rosters, I’m reminded of the flaws of BOTH philosophies (the Native American legend AND the modern American legend). 

I reject that someone is actually painting the leaves, but I also reject that no one is. 

I reject that there is no intention or artistry or design to the brilliant and beautiful colors. 

Science can tell me why the leaves change color, but science can’t tell me why fall is my favorite season. Science can explain a sunset, but can’t tell me why I find it beautiful. 

Science can’t help us with morality. It can give us an atomic bomb, but cannot tell us whether or not to use it. Science, by definition, is not equipped to handle transcendence. Science is a great gift, but a drab deity.      

Modernity has helped us immensely in understanding HOW our world works. But it has left us thoroughly unable to understand WHY our world works.  For example: suicide seems to go up in wealthier countries. Extra free time + more time searching for significance = amplified anxiety. 

I firmly believe this fall that the Christian tradition has the resources for us in this time of searching. One songwriter sees reality in this way: "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy." -Psalm 8:1,3-4

And another: 

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” -Psalm 24:1

The greatness and the magnitude of the world around us points to a Creator, who lovingly owns  us all. And he wants us to enjoy him in every season. We are not alone on a lonely planet. We do not need to shoulder our own search for significance. We can find it in the God who paints the leaves, inviting us to enjoy them, even when we have to rake them in the rain.  

-Tyler

*Side note: I do wonder if the Native American legend is meant to be an absolute truth claim. In our modern arrogance, we project primitivity back on our ancestors. But maybe they’re not stupid. Maybe they’re not operating on the fact-falsehood paradigm. Maybe instead of believing the legend literally, they simply used stories to explain the significance of the season, to encapsulate meaning into reproducible traditions and tales. Stories and songs stick with us far longer than speeches. Maybe this will doom scientific materialism: the story sucks.

Tools for Noticing

In 2012, on a Tuesday evening, 23 year-old Chen Jung-yu walks into an internet café in New Taipei City, Taiwan. It’s about 10pm. He is a frequent customer at the café, spending long hours playing World of Warcraft.  He likes the corner seat in the first row, sitting in his familiar sofa chair, and starts playing. Today, he pays for 23 hours of gaming.  But he only gets 10 hours in. Why? You see, after around 10 hours of straight gaming, Chen’s head droops slightly, and he dies.  

The initial police investigation found that he might have died of a cardiac arrest triggered by low temperatures. Add to this the cigarette-smoke-filled café, cramped quarters detrimental to circulation, not taking care of basic needs, and thus Taiwan sees these kinds of deaths far too often.

I think the worst part of this story is this. No one noticed Chen’s death or motionless body for over 10 hours. The article says: “about 10 other players were in the café, but said they only knew something had happened after the police started cordoning off the area for forensic sweeps, but to the police officers’ surprise, most either stayed in front of their computer and kept on gaming or took little interest.”   

Gamers continued as if nothing even happen, shrugging their shoulders or not even aware at all. What a sad story! Disturbing, really. The gamers in the internet café did not notice matters of life and death, too absorbed in their own world. 

Our church is going through an outreach series called God-Space: Where Spiritual Conversations Happen Naturally. This week, we looked at the theme of noticing.  There is so much happening around us and inside of us, and we’re often missing out. Here are the cliff notes of my sermon this last week.      

I. Intentionality of Noticing: What am I Looking for? 

1) Things that AREN’T RIGHT 

-Pain, Difficult Situations

“ When [Jesus] he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” -Matthew 9:36 

Jesus saw individuals in pain AND societies in pain. 

-Facial Expressions 

Doug Pollock tells a powerful story in the God Space book (P. 39-40) about someone noticing lunch-lady Dottie. Dottie has a cold and looks concerned, and so someone asks her about it. Come to find out, Dottie has cancer and is terrified. The person brings her a book, gives her words of encouragement, and ends up raising $1000 through her church to help Dottie with medical bills. Whoever this person is, they noticed REALLY well and cared enough to follow up.  

-Someone’s Absence

-People’s Space (Overgrown weeds, a messy desk, a chaotic car)

-The Three “Nots: 

Andy Stanley identifies the three “nots” that we should have on our radar to notice people in conversation. 

Things are NOT going well- : “my job, my marriage, my parenting, my health is NOT going well.”

I was NOT prepared for this: “This graduation, this bill, my daughter’s new boyfriend, this death in the family, I just was NOT prepared for it.” 

I’m NOT from here. “I’m new to the area.” What a great opportunity here to notice, and maybe share some hope. 

We should notice anything that’s not right, paying close attention to people and problems around us.

But next, we should notice

2) Things that ARE Right.

In Acts 14, Paul sees something really good in someone. “8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.” -Acts 14:8-10

I’m not exactly sure what this looks like (don’t think “faith healers” on tv), but whatever is happening here, it’s obvious that Paul is tuned in enough to the Holy Spirit and to this man that he notices something profound, something that’s not always easy to see.  The man is ready to receive from God.

When we see good things in people’s lives, Christian or not, things like hard work, self-sacrifice and good service, incredible creativity, we should call it out and commend it! 

For example, after a contentious meeting, you might say something to a coworker: “Hey, the way you diffused the tension in that meeting was amazing.” And you might feel like adding: “As a Christian, peacemaking is so important to me, and I believe to God as well, and I really admired how you did that.”  

Finally, we should notice: 

3) Things that COULD BE RIGHT

There are lots of things that are good, but misguided, misdirected, overvalued. The Christian word for this is idolatry. Taking good things and making them god things. 

“ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. . . 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.” Acts 17:16, 22-23

In Athens, Paul notices the things that Athenians worship, the things they love and value and cherish as a culture. And on the one hand, this bothers him. But on the other hand, he points out Athenian, and even seems to commend them for their devotion. But, then he tries to redirect their passion and devotion towards the true Creator.   

One of the best ways to do this is to notice and ask people about their tattoos. There’s also an interesting story and deep significance to what people put on themselves.  

II. Impediments of Noticing- What’s Holding Us Up?

1) Hurry

If you’re doing 70 MPH, it’s hard to read “yard sale” or “lost cat” signs. When we rush from place to place, meeting to meeting, practice to practice, there’s probably a lot I’m going to miss. I won’t notice well.

2) Distraction

Have you ever noticed how much more you notice when you’re in the passenger’s seat, instead of the driver’s seat? You see a lot more, vegetation, trees, animals, businesses, signs. The distraction of focusing on the road (which is a good thing to do) prevents seeing other things.

Our phone and headphones have to be the greatest distractions we face. These are massive impediments to noticing our neighbors. By definition an iphone and ear buds help us TUNE OUT things around us. Sometimes this is good when we’re trying to get stuff done, but it’s not so good when we’re trying to notice like Jesus.  

3) Inconvenience, Self-absorption 

A lot of this simply comes down to valuing me, myself, my time, my energy, my projects, my kingdom, over God’s kingdom. In some ways, noticing = love. And not noticing = sin/selfishness.      

III. Increase of Noticing- How Do I Notice More This Week?

-A Prayer to Pray every morning:  “Lord Jesus, as I interact with others today, help me to see them as you do.”

-A Plan to Implement: When possible, putting away distractions, putting some space in the schedule. Maybe add in another 15 minutes to get some place to place.

-A Place to People-Watch: Where is noticing & God Space most likely to happen? But still be prepared to be surprised (1 Peter 3:15)

-A Practice to Practice: Practice noticing more! And not just people, but notice nature; notice scripture. Practice paying attention to details, writing down questions, and moving a little more slowly through life.

What are some ways you’ve noticed more recently?

-Tyler 

Jordan Peterson On the “Hook-up” Culture

While listening to a recent Jordan Peterson lecture, entitled Be precise in your speech (Season 2, Episode 25 on his podcast), someone asked Peterson during a Q&A about the “hook-up” culture. For you older folks, the hook-up culture refers to sexual promiscuity, no-strings attached sexual encounters. Peterson’s answer was really profound and I think helpful. 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Jordan Peterson, he’s a Canadian psychologist and public intellectual.  He’s not a Christian theologian, but he has a lot of respect for Judeo-Christian tradition and the Bible. I pray that Christian thinkers and pastors can emulate Peterson in his deep reflection on these areas of significance. 

Question: “What are your thoughts on the hookup culture created by modern dating apps?”

Answer: “Well, I can tell you some facts. People in stable, monogamous relationships report the highest levels of sexual satisfaction. So that’s the first thing to know. The second thing to know. . . the fact of. . .comparably reliable birth control has really permanently changed the relationships between men and women and our attitudes towards sexuality in general. It’ll take God only knows how long until we adapt to that. In the immediate aftermath of the birth control bill, there was the idea that sex could now be decontextualized. . .[it could occur] in the absence of permanent relationship, let’s say, and that that would be an okay thing, and that it’s also something that could be done casually, for recreation, and without guilt (long pause). 

I don’t think any of those things are true. 

I don’t think there’s any evidence that they’re true. I think they’re dangerous delusions, actually. I think, (heavy sigh), hook up culture is predicated on the idea that you can detach sexuality from everything else, [like] emotions, responsibility, consideration even, and that basically, you can reduce what sexuality is to casual pleasure. And I don’t think you can do that. I don’t think you can reduce casual sexuality to casual pleasure without reducing the person that you’re having sex with, to nothing but the provider of casual pleasure. And I think that whatever you do to someone else, you do to yourself inevitably, because when you’re engaging with someone else, you’re engaging with a human being, and you’re a human being. And so, the manner in which you treat another human being expands to encompass your relationship to yourself. Now, it is isn’t obvious to me that, the most compelling and meaningful and truthful story about what a person is, is a source of casual, sexual pleasure. And I think that if you engage in a string of relationships like that, that you inevitably come to see people like that. Because how could you not? 

One of the truths that psychologists have uncovered, there aren’t that many of them, but this is one of them. . .you tend to justify what you do. And that’s something to be very wary of, because perhaps have your ethical qualms about doing something, but you do it two or three dozen times, and you can be certain that as a consequence of doing them that many times, that you will now formulate a story that you tell yourself and other and will also come to believe about why doing that is not only okay, but good. 

So let’s say you have fifteen casual sexual partners. I don’t know if there’s. . .anything deeper or more profound that you could do with someone else, than engage in sex with them. And so, if you’re willing to take that most profound act and transform it into that most dispensable entity, then that’s what you’ve done to yourself and other people. And I don’t think that’s a very good idea. . .I think that people are a lot better off, not necessarily happier, but I don’t think “happy” is the right hallmark of evaluation anyways. I think that people have deeper and more meaningful lives if they commit to a monogamous relationship. It’s much better for people to commit to something. It deepens their lives and enriches their lives, and it means that you’ve taken on the responsibility of another person as if they’re as much as part of you as YOU are. And that’s actually good for you. It’s hard, but it’s good for you.” 

-Jordan Peterson

Reading & Prayer: A Compelling Combo

In today’s faced-paced culture, I’ve noticed that two things in particular really suffer:

1) reading retention 

2) prayer

I still read (and listen) to a lot, from books to podcasts to articles, but it’s easy to forget the content an hour later. My mind is challenged, but the material goes “in one ear, out the other.” Worse still, my heart and spiritual life can remain unchanged.  

It’s not that we’re not reading, in some ways we are reading more than ever before, from timelines to twitter feeds to advertisements. But we are definitely scanning and filtering (and we have to or we’d go crazy).  All this makes it difficult to really internalize the important. In fact, our minds are often consumed with the UNimportant: the score of the game, that funny cat video, Trump’s latest tweet.   

Perhaps there’s a solution: What if we combined reading and prayer? Could the two work together? Could this make reading and listening less about information and more about transformation (the person I want to become)? What if this makes reading not just an intellectual exercise but also a relational one?  

This will require us to slow down in our intake. We may need to hit pause to pray. It will take us longer to get through a book, longer to get through our devotions.  But I think the tradeoff will be worth it.   

So Why Should I Read And Pray At The Same Time?

1) You’ll REMEMBER more of what you read.  When you internalize, meditate, and talk with God about what you’ve read, ironically, this will make you smarter because you’ll remember more of it. More books and more content often equals LESS wisdom because it doesn’t always get digested.  

2) You’ll grow closer (relationally) with God as you talk with him more.  

3) The content will probably seep more into the heart, and not just stay in our heads.   

4) You’ll reevaluate the kind of content you’re consuming. If I’m having a hard time praying while I’m reading or listening to something, maybe the book or podcast isn’t that valuable.   

How Should I Do This?

1) Read with a pen in your hand. If you don’t like to write or underline in your books/Bible, then have a journal or notebook nearby to jot down quotes, thoughts, questions, and inspiration. 

2) When you read (hear) something that stirs your heart, pause and pray what you’re feeling.  Is it thanksgiving? Confession? Concern?  For example, last night I read from Paul Tripp’s Dangerous Calling: “It is that familiarity with the things of God that will cause you to lose your awe.” That really struck a chord with me, and I briefly paused my reading to help me regain a sense of awe for him.  I’m still thinking about it today (rare for me). 

3) Write your prayers down too. If you’re anything like me, prayer is difficult, and I frequently lose concentration and start thinking about soccer practice (‘tis the season). But when I write my prayers down, it’s much easier to stay focused on them (and they’re interesting to look back on months or years later). If you’re driving, keep at least one hand on the wheel, please. But what you can do, when driving, is to pause the podcast and process or pray out loud. Yes, talking to yourself is okay. We all do it.   

Well, what are you waiting for? Read and pray, and let me know how it’s goes!

-Tyler 

Shabbot Shalom: Some Thoughts on Sabbath

At the Redwood Campus where I pastor, we just finished a two-week series on Sabbath. I’ve condensed the two teachings into a medium-length blog post for those of you that weren’t there or if you’re interested in further studying this. I’ve tried to answer three(ish) questions:

1. What is Sabbath and is it for Christians? (yes I know that’s two questions) 

2. Why is Sabbath important? and 

3) And how do I do it?

So first,

I. What Is Sabbath And Is It For Christians?

The Hebrew words for Sabbath is Shabbot, which refers to the Jewish seventh day of the week (Saturday), but more fundamentally means something like Stop, or Ceasing (from work). The Jewish people are commanded, by God, to take Saturday off from work. After their liberation from slavery, they are to continue practicing their liberation through Sabbath. 

But Is this weekly Sabbath something we as Christians should do? There’s a lot of controversy over this, and btw, it’s always been that way (read Romans 14). And it is complicated, because there’s a lot that we don’t do anymore from the Old Testament, like the dietary laws (no bacon, SAD).

Something that has helped me think through this is seeing two different kinds of “Sabbaths” spoken of in scripture (shout out to the legendary Dr. Lyons at Simpson U for helping me see this). These two Sabbaths overlap in some ways, but are not exactly the same. 

1) Covenantal Sabbath: “For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” Exodus 31:15-17

This Sabbath was a special sign for Israel, to make them a distinct people group. For thousands of years: circumcision, Sabbath, and the dietary laws really set the Jews apart from other people groups, helping them retain their identity, even in horrible persecutions, wars, and exile. Jewish leader Ahad Ha'am famously said: “More than Jews have kept Shabbat,Shabbat has kept 

the Jews.” 

Gentiles, on the other hand (non-Jewish Christians) are never commanded to treat Saturday like the Jews. We can learn a lot from this practice, but the specific rules and guidelines are not for us today.  

But there is another Sabbath, in my opinion. It’s called THE WEEKEND. Can I get an amen? More theologically, I’m calling it a creational sabbath.

2) Creational Sabbath

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” -Genesis 2:2-3

Before there was the law, before there was an Abraham or Israel, God embedded a particular pattern into creation: six days of work, one day of rest. The day itself isn’t necessarily that important, it’s more that humans are not meant to work seven days a week. They are meant to work six. This isn’t just a religious statement, it’s scientifically and historically defensible too. Just look at the disaster of the French Revolution’s 10 Day Week Experiment. :ook at the life expectancy of Seventh Day Adventists and Mormon communities (10-14 years longer than most Americans), and you’ll see some correlation between a kind of Sabbath day and longer life (yes I recognize that diet and social structures matter a lot here too).

II. Why Is Sabbath Important?

Sabbath is both rest, and reps. It brings us restoration, as well as resistance training. First,

1) Sabbath as Restoration

-Restores Our Body. One of my favorite parts of Sabbath is not setting an alarm, and getting to take guilt-free naps. “For [God] grants sleep to those he loves.” Psalm 127:2b. There’s lots of research on the restoration that rest brings to our body.

-Restores Our Mind. This is a day to mentally let go of work or school problems. You can write them down or set a reminder; I promise they’ll be there the next day. In ministry, and probably in most of people-centered jobs, the work is never complete. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” -Isaiah 26:3

-Restores Our Relationships: In a busy work week, there is no way to fully spend enough time with the people we love. So, if for no other reason, take a day a week to value people over production. There is a lot not to like about “blue laws” (laws prohibiting activity on Sunday), but I wonder if our society was more at peace because of it? 

And of course, there’s such value in dedicating a portion of this day to spending unhurried time with God.

Sabbath doesn’t only bring restoration, it helps us resist the world, our sinful nature, and Satan.

 2) Sabbath as Resistance 

Resists Idolatry

Idolatry is when we take good things, and make them ultimate things; when we take good things and make them god-things. Sabbath resists these idols, like 

Idol #1: “I am what I do.” Worshipping work. My value, my significance, my worth as a person, comes from how much I produce, achieve, accomplish. Mary Bell once put it: “Achievement is the alcohol of our time.” If two people meet for the first time, what is often the first question that usually gets asked: “What do you do? For work?” Non-western cultures might ask about your family, progressive culture might ask about your feelings, but most Americans will ask you about your profession.

Batman himself once echoed this ideology, with a mouth-full of marbles: “It’s not who you are underneath. It’s what you do that defines you.” -Batman

One of our biggest fears is not being able to take care of ourselves. Being dependent on others, losing our job, or drivers’ license, growing old, or becoming disabled. The productivity idol is BARBARIC, because if it’s not being served BY you, it has no further use FOR you. The temptation is to end life early.      

But the Sabbath Word says: “I am NOT what I do.”  I am a human being, not a human doing. My worth doesn’t come from my work. I am NOT defined by my job, or my productivity or lack thereof around the house, or my to-do list or my grades or my performance. Sabbath becomes a day to literally practice this truth, and resist the work-idol.  

Idol #2: I am in control. Sometimes, when things are running well, when I’m killing it at home or work or school, I care falsely think I’m running the show. Like a touch screen or a thermostat, that I can manipulate the world around me and make things happen. But when we really think about it, so much is OUT of our control, the passing of time, the people around us, the weather, accidents, aging. As we cease for Sabbath, we release the illusion of control and embrace the joy of limitations. Although I’m not in control, I can have peace knowing there is a God, and I’m not him.  

Idol #3: I am always needed.  This ties into the idea of people-pleasing: “I need to be available, I can’t say ‘no’ to this invitation or that request because they might be upset with me.” The advent of smart phones takes this to a whole other level, with the pressure to be instantly available to everyone always. 

Sabbath is a day to resist this idol, by turning off the phone for a few hours or more, just to recognize that I’m not that big of a deal, and I don’t need to to say “Yes” to everyone. Other than for immediate family or real emergencies, I’m almost never needed instantly.

There’s another side of this idol, the “I am needed idol.” Some people have this warped view, that they are needed by God. That God needs workers 24/7 for his mission. We’ll say things like: “well, the devil never takes a day off!”  Now, I’m a young pastor, I’ve not been at this for very long, but I have a question. Since when was our model. . . THE DEVIL? I thought the model is Jesus? The man who practiced the Sabbath every Friday night? The man who took naps on stormy seas?

Yes, our enemy never sleeps, and yes, we need to be constantly vigilant. But we don’t copy his tactics. My whole argument here is that one of the best ways to fight sin and Satan is through Sabbath. Sometimes, we fight by stopping.

So Sabbath becomes a powerful way to resist the grip of idolatry on us by practicing worshipping only God, and not the ideologies that we inhale every other day.

Also, Sabbath Resists Ingratitude.

The Tenth Commandment says: “Thou Shalt Not Covet.” We resist coveting and ingratitude on the Sabbath, so that we can cultivate thanksgiving, practice gratitude, and meditate on what we already have, not on what we don’t have.

A few Sabbaths ago, my dad and I were browsing some Brookings beach houses online. Not seriously, but just out of curiosity to see what some of these homes were going for. In looking at a few, I almost made him a proposition right there: “Alright dad, let’s do this, let’s go in together. I’m thinking something 90-10, maybe 95-5. We’ll make a good team. I’ll be the brains, you can be the bucks.”         

The practice of browsing beach houses on a day off isn’t really that big of a deal, but what does it subtly start to do inside of us? Does it produce thankfulness? Not really, it produces desire, longing, discontentment, covetousness, greed. When I instead take the day for thanksgiving, this powerfully cuts against covetousness.     

Theologian Walter Brueggemann says this: 

“It occurs to me that Sabbath is a school for our desire, an expose and critique of the false desires that focus on idolatry and greed that have immense power for us. When we do not pause for Sabbath, these false desires take power over us. But Sabbath is the change for embracing our true identity.”    

At high school we learned about math and writing and science, but Sabbath is a kind of school for our desires, wants, and loves. These things can be trained as well.   

Practically, on whatever day you try and take for Sabbath, I recommend not buying or browsing anything, including Amazon’s 1 click ordering.  Other than a dinner date. But there’s something profound about not consuming, not buying, not looking or seeking for one day a week, to just reflect on the amazing abundance God has already given us. 

III. How Do I Start?

1) Pick A Day Ending in Y & Protect the Time

Look at your calendar, and see which day has the least commitments. If there are none, pick one and slowly beginning clearing that day. It may take weeks of saying “no” to certain commitments going forward. And sometimes the day varies, I usually take Friday, but during soccer season, I take Saturday (very few Saturday games in our league). It may move around depending on your work schedule. But schedule Sabbath in your calendar and do you best to protect that time.    

2) Preparation Day

Take a day to prepare for Sabbath. This could involve stocking the fridge with groceries, cleaning the house, replying to all your messages, and planning the things you’d like to do on the Sabbath (no rushing!)  

3) Pursue-Living Giving Activities

Many of us confuse relaxation with restoration. What’s the difference? Relaxation might be watching tv, binging on Netflix, scrolling through your phone, or playing a mindless game. Nothing wrong with these things in moderation, but they don’t actually bring restoration. Who has ever felt good and rested after watching 7 Netflix shows? Probably no one ever.   

We’re all are wired a little differently. Some of us recharge while fishing, some of us in the garden. Some of us enjoy exercise on our day of rest, others of us think that’s an oxymoron. For me, I recharge in a Barcalounger with a cup of coffee, reading fiction. For my finance, it’s Starbucks with a friend and shopping afterward. After hearing this, I realized I DO believe in purgatory (Just kidding, babe). I encourage us to pursue the things that will enrich our lives and relationships. 

Thanks for reading! What are some practical steps you’d like to take in this direction? Or what are some things you’ve found some success in when it comes to Sabbath?