Do you find yourself making assumptions about people, places, situations, and circumstances?

"Judging a book by its cover" or drawing conclusions on little (if any) factual information is dangerous stuff.

I'm so glad that Jesus didn't draw an assumption about me (or you) and acted upon it. Instead, Jesus sees all of the facts and lives in reality and hope - not the fear that comes from uncertainty or making a judgment based on a sliver of information.

• While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).
• God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5).
  
• Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:10).

Here are three ways we... or, I can get beyond personal assumptions and love people like Jesus loves me.

1. Give people the benefit of the doubt by offering a generous amount of grace. Out of God's fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given (John 1:16). This doesn't mean we become doormats or bury truth under the blanket of cheap grace. It means that we are "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:19-20) because that's what Jesus does for us on the cross - and it cost Him His life.
2. When I don't have all of the facts... instead of judging the person, situation, or circumstance - pray for it. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48). Afterall, it's really hard to judge somebody that I'm praying for!
   
3. Choose peace over war. That might sound odd.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?". In a very personal and intimate way, when we make assumptions and judge others based on a limited number of facts, we declare war in our mind between fact and fiction. The Arbinger Institute's book Leadership and Self-Deception explains, when we begin to assume things about people, we place them in a box. We can think of the box as a kind of mental warfare similar to solitary confinement. We single them out, characterize them in a way that only we think they are, and define them based on only what we conclude - not who God says they are. Remember, the other person doesn't know they're in the box you've placed them in within your mind. So, who is the real prisoner of war? More often than not, our minds prefer fiction over facts. As I consider Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" - I much prefer not fighting the mental battle that comes as a result of making assumptions.
   

Ultimately, Jesus leads us beyond our assumptions. He is not only the model - He is the only One who can judge... and He was judged... for us!

The only One in the entire universe who could make an assumption about us chose instead of making an assumption based on half-truths and partial facts, chose to love us unconditionally.

Here's the point: whether it's giving people the benefit of the doubt, praying for others instead of judging them, or choosing peace over war - Jesus' Spirit is the source of our power when it comes to living this out.

How has Jesus taught you to go beyond making assumptions like He did for you? Drop me an email and let me know.

​Love you!

The leaves are turning. School is starting. Traffic is increasing. The Fair is swinging. Football games on my TV are streaming.

Fall is here.

It might be autumn outside, but what season is it in your soul?

I want to share four seasons your soul might be in - and Jesus’ promise for you in the midst of it.

Anxiety
Martin Luther once said, “I spent more than a week in death and hell. My entire body was in pain, and I still tremble. Completely abandoned by Christ, I labored under the vacillations and the storms of desperation and blasphemy against God.”

That might be the season your soul is in right now. Pain. Fearful. Shaking. Feeling abandoned by people and God. Desperate and Depressed.

Here’s some great news for those in the season of anxiety: Jesus is with you!

• Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

• Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) 
  

Distress
The brokenness of our world and our lives weighs heavy on our souls. God’s Spirit who lives in us knows that this world is temporary… and that God’s world is eternal. 

Could that be one of the reasons we experience seasons of heartbreak, anguish, and suffering? 

We see people who are innocent, hurt. People who are oppressed, abused. People who try their hardest to do the right thing, punished.

Injustice, suffering, and oppression weighs heavy on us. And if you’re in a season where your soul is just heavy, Jesus is here to encourage you.

• We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
  

• The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Restoration
There are seasons when our soul is working hard to restore that which has been lost. Whether it’s a relationship that seems to be on the mend, something you have felt God has been calling you toward gaining traction, or you simply feel like your relationship with God is on a growth curve - you’re in the process of being restored.

This is an exciting season! My encouragement is to remember the words of Simon Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

And, trust whatever God is restoring in and through you is God’s work for His glory and He wants you to use it to love and bless the people around you.

• May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Joy
Need I say more? Sometimes, we find ourselves in times when our soul is content and happy.

• I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1)

​

• You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. (Psalm 30:11)

This is God’s work, too. . . His work of giving you a new heart and spirit.

• I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

It doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. However, it does mean that God is growing you up.

• Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4)

For sure, there are more… What other seasons of the soul have you experienced? Drop me an email at [email protected] and let me know.

Let’s end with some hope: in every season of the soul, God is with us and wants to grow us up. Through every season of our lives and souls, we are being stretched, strengthened, and sustained by Jesus.

So, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Indeed, walking with Jesus through every season of life and faith with others is worth it - wherever you are!

Love you!

We've received input from both a group of members, Backpack 4 Kids volunteers, Board of Directors, and staff - and our Board of Directors and Ministry Team have had an opportunity to see this exact information and share their input, too.

Psalm 107:9 says that God’s heart beats to satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things.

I believe that God wants to fill every hungry soul and belly. In fact, if you’re like me, sometimes you don’t have the ability to fill your soul without filling your belly, first. That’s just a human reality… the way God made us.

Now, I don’t know how that will literally happen. But, I know that God chooses you and me to be part of it.

Here in Central Pierce County, it looks like echoing God’s truth and promises face to face and through the internet waves. It also means that we get to be a big part of the solution of eliminating food insecurity in the Franklin Pierce School District by helping families gain access to healthy food.

Currently, we provide 300 weekly food bags to school district families. This project would over double our capacity. And, we know that there is a massive need beyond even that...

Today, I’m thrilled to share that we have been presented with the opportunity to expand West Campus to both over-double the weekly impact of our Backpacks 4 Kids program and provide incredible space for people to experience the unconditional love and timeless truth of Jesus.

This project would accomplish:

• Creating a fresh, fun, safe, and flexible space for people of all ages to experience God’s presence through informal and formal conversations, shared experiences, and local impact focused on hands-on service, personal and group discovery, and significant leadership development.
• Expanding capacity to live generously lives on mission by packing 500+ weekly B4K bags
• Enhancing dry good storage for B4K food
• Doubling food storage capacity (cuts food purchase costs)
• Creating space for groups 25+ to comfortably pack food bags
• Enhancing alternative community and ministry space that fosters a culture of belonging​

So here it is... the initial "reveal" of a potential space where people's souls and bellies can be filled with good things!

I've also linked a Project Summary Update to the end of this post which points out some massive highlights!

Will you pray for this potential project, everyday with me? Lord, give us wisdom to know how best to love and serve him and others with this potential opportunity.

Let me know what you think of the concept. Send a note to [email protected].
​
Join me at our Town Hall Meeting on August 17 at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall to learn more about the project. No registration is necessary. The meeting will also be online at oslc.com/townhall.

God’s heart beats here… and I’m so excited that we get to experience it all together!

​Love you!

Fun is a part of how God has made us “to be”.

Through fun and play, we renew friendships, care for our minds and souls, and experience a side of our Creator God who laughs and enjoys what He has given to us… life, creation, and people.

Here are three ways you can experience God’s presence by having fun this summer without spending a penny.

Find Your Inner Child
Kids experience the world and learn through play. So, grab some toys, play make believe, or go out and run through the sprinkler.

As we “grow up”, childish fiction becomes somewhat immature. We become realists, jaded, and scarred by being bullied, fighting our own skeletons when it comes to what other people think about us, and being told that some things are “just for kids”. Through these hurts, we build walls of protection around our heart, mind, and soul. 

That’s not “growing up” - it’s insecurity.

But, Jesus talks about how even our faith must become childlike (Matthew 18:2-4). Simple. Secure not in ourselves, but in what God has done for us in Jesus.

When we become secure in that God made us to be childlike when it comes to experiencing His never-ending love for us, we can relax. The bullies are silenced by Jesus’ promises. The skeletons are buried in Jesus’ grave. And other people’s opinions are unarmed with the words, “I have called you by name. You are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). 

It may sound juvenile, but finding your inner child by finding some toys around the house, imagining life happening in a fantasy world, or just giggling in your front yard might just be what you need to re-engage your inner playful side that God created and you might have stuffed it down and away.

Best of all - it probably won’t cost you anything!

Take an Unproductive Walk
We say, “God made me”. We don’t always live like we believe it.

If God made our bodies (which He does), then God gives us the responsibility to care for them (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

So, go take a walk… wherever you want! Around the block. Explore the city. To the grocery store (instead of driving!). You don’t need an agenda. You don’t need anything to talk about. Just be together… and walk. You might end up laughing because it’s so un-American to be together without a plan, agenda, or reason. I mean, it’s so “unproductive”. And yet, God does His best work out of nothing (Genesis 1, Psalm 139).

Even if you walk in familiar places, you may notice new or different things when you're taking an unproductive walk.

Better yet - find somebody to go join you on the walk!

The only thing a walk might cost you is the lemonade or iced tea you’ll enjoy when you get home.

Oh... and leave your phone at home.

Draw a Picture and Share It
I think the older we get the more self-conscious we are about what we produce. Whether it’s a project at work, a meal that we cook, or the words that we choose to use in our conversations - our minds often overthink everything. Anxiety increases which leaves us drained and exhausted.

So, let’s try reversing our self-conscious thoughts!

Find a friend or someone else in your family and share a bible verse together. “Jesus wept” is totally fine. Then, grab some paper and markers, pencils, crayons… whatever you can find - and draw a picture of whatever the passage makes you think about using your non-dominant hand. Then, exchange the picture and guess what each other drew.

You’re engaging God’s Word (one of the places God promises to be present!) and if you’re so-not-a-Picasso, like me, you’ll share some good laughs!

Do you have a favorite way to experience God’s presence through fun and play without spending a penny? Drop me an email and let me know!

After 244 years, many of us continue the traditions of celebrating with food, friends, and fireworks to acknowledge the signing of the Declaration of Independence signaling our country’s freedom from King George III and British rule. I know that my family will be celebrating the 4th of July weekend with a cookout, hanging out with friends, and enjoying all of the colorful fireworks around us.

It is good and honorable to celebrate our nation's freedom. Our country (and every country) is a place and system that God is present in and works through. Indeed, we are citizens of our world, today.

As Christians, we value freedom and are able to express it in many ways. There aren't that many ways we can go wrong with celebrating freedom. And that’s a really great thing! Indeed, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).

However, national freedom (while important) is distinct from our spiritual freedom.

Let me explain (in brevity... this is not a complete explanation and I know there is so much more to this than a paragraph in a blog post. I'd love to talk more, if you'd like!).

National freedom is partially (perhaps, mostly) rooted in a love for a specific civic system. Typically, it’s because the system either benefits us or it seems to advance an agenda that we share with others. As a nation, the two seemingly most prominent (but not only) civic systems have historically been democracy and capitalism - though this ebbs and flows from time to time. Most conflicts that we experience on a wide social scale (and we certainly have them) can probably be linked to one of these two “loves”. Just study the events that have happened throughout US History and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Spiritual freedom is the freedom that the Apostle Paul is talking about in Galatians 5:1, is altogether different. It’s not rooted in a love for a specific civic system, rather, spiritual freedom is centered on a love of a specific person: Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One who sets us free from all which eternally holds us back from being the people God has created us to be. Our past sin can be forgiven (even while we don’t forget it). There is grace in our guilt and shame. There is respite from our grief. Ultimately, it’s because of the freedom that Jesus gives to the world and more specifically, to all people, we have “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” (Great is Thy Faithfulness, Verse 1).

As a naturalized citizen of the United States myself, both national freedom and spiritual freedom are very important to me. I believe they can coexist - but that doesn't mean that they are equal.

National freedom is not bad or inherently sinful in and of itself. It's just different than spiritual freedom.

The challenge for us as Christians is to distinguish between them. From Jesus being wrapped in American flags to prominent voices echoing that America is the “City on a Hill” (Matthew 5:14) throughout our media waves - it’s easy to understand and reasonable that Christians today are challenged in distinguishing between national and spiritual freedom. For sure, they are separate and distinct from each other. And, they are certainly not equal.

Here are two key distinctions:

National freedom tends to lead us toward greater individual autonomy. We are our own people with individual freedoms and rights - which I believe is to be true... and spiritually dangerous. It's not bad. . . just different than spiritual freedom.
Spiritual freedom invites deeper dependence on God. 

National freedom often wins by fighting for or against ideals, issues, platforms, and systems. While important, what we tend to become emboldened for and passionate about are more or less ideas and models than real people. It's not bad. . . just different than spiritual freedom.
Spiritual freedom wins by fighting for people’s relationship with God, others, and the world around them.

This is what Jesus followers believe that has already done for us on the cross… Jesus fought the war for our hearts against our greatest enemies - the judgement of our sin, the threat of eternal death and punishment, and the root and author of all deception - the devil. And, Jesus won.

You are God’s treasure. You are so valuable that while we didn’t even know we were slaves to ourselves, our judgement, and others - Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).

Earlier I said that national and spiritual freedom are not equal. The Bible points us to Jesus, not any one particular nation or civic system. And while it may be difficult to separate the two - especially in a climate where church and country seems so intertwined, we must remember this one thing:

Jesus followers love God more than their country. Compared to God, there is no equal. Indeed, the Apostle Paul says that all things are garbage (literally, poop) compared to Jesus and the freedom we have in and through Him (Philippians 3:8).

Anything and anyone that has equality with God becomes a covert idol that captures your heart and is relentless in requiring your loyalty to pay it back with everything you have.

God doesn't require or demand repayment or your loyalty at all. You're free! And if Jesus set you free, you are free, indeed! (John 8:36).

And what happens when we prioritize and celebrate God’s freedom over any one nation's freedom?

• Belonging is rich and diverse. (Isaiah 43:1)
• All skills are valued and necessary to our community and world. (Romans 12:6-8)
• Everyone gets an invitation to play and celebrate. (Ephesians 2:10)
• There is equality and equity. (Galatians 3:28)
• There is justice and peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
• There is truth and grace. (John 1:14)
• There’s a whole lot more Jesus-like stuff… and a whole less of everything else. (Philippians 2:1-11)
• There are endless opportunities for all people to make the world a better place by loving others and living like Jesus where we live, work, and play. (Isaiah 43:19, Revelation 21:5)

​
I’m taking a few weeks away from the blog to rest and plan the next season.

​My next blog will be July 23.

June 19th is officially a federal holiday.

Yesterday, The New York Times reported, “Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery and is also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day and Juneteenth Independence Day. Its name stems from June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, issued General Order No. 3, which announced that in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.” Months later, the 13th Amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery in the final four border states that had not been subjected to President Abraham Lincoln’s order" (17 June 2021)

This week, I wanted to share three key thoughts about what this new holiday means for Jesus people like us living in America, today.

1. We have an incredible opportunity to empathize and connect with our neighbors.
While some of us might not feel the hurt of past sins, we are called to empathize and share the pain that our black neighbors and friends have and continue to experience.

Empathy is part of Jesus’ way (Hebrews 4:15).

Want to learn more about empathy? Click here to check out Brene Brown’s video. Sharing this video does not endorse or imply agreement in all things.

2. We have a chance to love people and not an opinion or social issue.
People are people - not a collection of opinions or social issues. God made each of us with intrinsic value (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:14). So, to pride ourselves on an opinion or social issue as if it is gospel truth is not loving people - it’s actually loving oneself. 

Jesus chooses humility (Philippians 2:1-5). He empties his opinion (Philippians 2:6) in order to love all people (John 3:16), not to judge or condemn them (John 3:17).

One way to love people this Juneteenth is to listen and learn from somebody in the black community. Invite them to share how you can honor their freedom and join Jesus in His mission of reconciliation.

3. Juneteenth brings another opportunity for people to experience grace in a different way.
Jesus’ spirit is alive and well in every time, culture, and place. That means through something seemingly secular as a federal holiday, God is at work.

The Emancipation Proclamation echoes the words of the Apostle Paul: you are free (Romans 6:18). This is grace! Freedom was originally theirs. It was taken from them by somebody else. And now freedom was restored.

This is their story. This is God’s story. This is our story.

When we connect the dots, we can come together and experience God’s grace in a shared and different way than the earned grace the world can offer us.

Let me know what you think about this week’s blog by sending me a note at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you.

I love you and I’m cheering you on as we live life on mission, together! -pt

1. You Feel Isolated from Others and Know You Need to Get Connected
Whether it’s ZOOM calls, Team Meetings, or simply just not getting together with people as often or in the same way, life today just feels different than our pre-COVID days. So, let’s name it: pandemic isolation. And it’s real. And it’s OK to feel it.

When we feel isolated (whether from the pandemic or any other reason), we have a choice. We always have a choice.

Choice 1: Remain isolated and disconnected
Choice 2: Reconnect with somebody

Faith in Action Saturdays is a great way to reconnect with somebody. Call up a friend and spend a few hours together pulling weeds for your neighbor or help make some VBS decorations at church. And if you’re an introvert - it’s only 3 hours… you can go home and enjoy some quiet time over lunch afterwards.

Remember - when you feel isolated, you always have a choice to get reconnected… and serving together is a great place to start.

2. You Want to Help Others and Don’t Know Where to Start
I believe that God has made every human being with a natural desire to help other people. When we study Genesis 1 and 2, it’s how I believe God created us to be and to live. 

The problem is that there are so many ways we can help others or we see such an overwhelming number of needs that sometimes we don’t know where to start. 

Faith in Action pairs real community needs with simple hands-on projects while focusing everything we do toward giving our time and skills to real people. Sometimes we help people through our community partner organizations who extend the hands and feet of Jesus beyond our capacity as a church. Other times, we help people that we already know within our church family. At the end of the day, it’s still all about people.

Are you overwhelmed by so many ways to serve or the incredible amount of need that you see?

Let’s begin with Faith in Action Saturdays. It will help you help others with real needs - simple.

3. You’re Tired of Negativity and Want to Remind People of Hope
I don’t know about you, but it seems like Debbie Downer is everywhere.

On the radio. On my news feed. At work and school. Even in my own mind and heart.

In a world broken and shattered with the shrapnel of hopelessness, through serving, we can be reminded that there is hope.

In ancient times, lights reminded people that the safety of a city and the resources of others were available when they were in need. All they needed to do was to follow the light.

In a world filled with dark moments, Jesus continues to be the light that reminds all people that there is hope. And who is that tangible, human light today?

It’s you and me. Jesus said, you are the light of the world (John 8:12). You are Jesus’ hands, feet, and voice of hope. 

Are you tired of negativity in your life and in the world around you? Bring the hope of Jesus that is alive in you alive through a Faith in Action Saturday. Trust me - you will leave filled with more sunshine than rain clouds.

Our Annual Voters’ Assembly (Church Business Meeting) is scheduled for Sunday, June 27 - and to tell you the truth, I’m really looking forward to it.

Over the years, I’ve learned that many who have given up on the “business of the church” have not necessarily given up on their relationship with Jesus. In fact, many of them still regularly attend worship, are engaged with other people in a group, and may even serve donuts or serve on a ministry team.

They have simply said, “no” to being a Board member, elder, or part of an Annual Business Meeting for a variety of reasons including not having the time to commit to evening meetings, sour past experiences, too many meetings, that they have no desire to "see how the sausage is made", or they simply find church business to be boring - especially when they know that other people will step up and do it.

All those reasons are reasonable, understandable, and fair. 

At the same time, the truth is, while church business is not everybody’s cup of tea, I believe that each person has a part to play in the “business” of the church.

Here are three reasons I believe being engaged in church business is important… dare I say, even mission critical.

Church Business Gives You a Wider Perspective of God’s Work
When you attend worship, it’s easy to consume the “spiritual goods and experience”. A mentor of mine once told me, “no money, no ministry”. And while God can use anything and anybody to do His work, I believe God explicitly brings together people to be His church to do His work. 

When we see the dollars and cents and together say “yes, let’s use these resources to make a Jesus-like difference in the lives of other people”, God is showing us that His work begins long before we walk up to a table to grab donuts and coffee, gather for your Life Group or Bible Study, or pack a backpack full of food for a hungry local family. 

God’s work begins when His Spirit invades the hearts of people and inspires them to faithfully and generously give away what God has already given to them. Why? So that more people can experience God’s love through ordinary people and participate in Jesus’ mission of loving God, loving people, and living like Jesus.

Now, I don't know about you, but that gets my "let's join Jesus on His mission" blood flowing!

Church Business Connects You With New People in Your Church Family
Let’s be honest. We tend to stay in our individual circles. It's not bad. It's human.

And, in a larger churches, it's a fact that it is difficult to know a whole lot of people unless you totally immerse yourself into it - which takes time, and a degree of God-given extroversion. Side plug: this is why Connecting in a Life Group and Joining a Ministry Team is so important here at Our Savior.

Gathering at an Annual Meeting gives us an opportunity to meet people who may attend different services than you do. And, now with both our Tacoma and Online Campuses, there’s a good possibility that you really don’t know other people until you spend time in a shared experience with them.

During an Annual Meeting, you’ll hear members of the Board of Directors and perhaps some of our elders, too. It’s a time for you to get to hear from and get to know these people you may never have met before. And yet, even though you’ve never met, you share an incredible commonality with them: your love for Jesus and your desire to see more people love Him back with you.

God Can Use Church Business Meetings to Change Your Heart
While I know plenty of people who get excited for baptisms, worship, serving our neighbors, mission trips, and opportunities to grow in God’s Word, I think I’ve only heard one person who has told me “I’m really excited for this year’s annual meeting”.

Heart change takes time and we usually don’t experience it or even notice it as a result of a single experience.

The transformation of our hearts by the Holy Spirit happens when we share multiple experiences with multiple people over multiple times around multiple topics of conversation. Each interaction is like a mini lego. And if C.S. Lewis would take that image, we could say that while we may think God is building a house with those legos, the truth is, God is building a mansion with them - a mansion with His throne in the center of it.

The truth is, there can be a lot of different opinions and perspectives shared at church business meetings. And while division like this in the “kingdom of the world” suggests non-compliance and signals a need to win an augment - in God’s kingdom, this is the kind of diversity that augments our unity in Jesus’ work in us. 

While we may have a wide variety of opinions when it comes to candidates, votes, financial and ministry plans; God’s Spirit continually changes our hearts to remind us that ministry is not about me or us - it’s about Him and what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do forever.


For me, I often leave church meetings more passionate about Jesus’ work, more encouraged that Jesus’ mission is alive and well in and through us, and inspired to see what God has already prepared for us to do in the next year and beyond.

And, that’s my prayer for you, too. . . that if you’ve never been a part of a church business meeting, that you would consider giving our Annual Voters’ Assembly on June 27 a try. You can learn more and register at oslc.com/annualmeeting.

If you’ve been part of church business meetings in the past, your continued presence encourages and inspires your church family to “keep going”. 

And, if you’ve been jaded by church business in the past, send me an email because I'd love to walk with you through that jadedness into a new place filled with God's healing of your past and His forgiveness of the wrongs as His Spirit does "heart surgery" on you.

When I think about it... that’s the kind of work God has been up to since the beginning of time and will continue to do forever... even through church business meetings.

If you consider our current news cycles, you know that our world needs better stories than what we are currently seeing, hearing, and reading.

The truth is that you have a better story than the world could ever report.

I do, too. 

We all have a story about how someone in another generation influenced or helped us understand our relationship with Jesus. And each of us probably has a story about how we are influencing or helping somebody else understand their relationship with Jesus, too.

Can I be honest with you? Sometimes I get so busy and distracted that I don’t take time to share those inspirational, life-changing moments with anybody. I bet you can relate.

So how do we begin sharing more of these kinds of stories?

I see 2 barriers that hold us back and 3 bridges that will help us get started sharing powerful stories of what God is doing in and through every generation of people.

Barrier #1: We intuitively believe that we need to sell Jesus.

In a culture that thrives on marketing, appearances, and sales being the primary indicator of success, it’s no surprise that we translate that into our spiritual lives, too.

I remember from an early age hearing about how we need to make sure we advertise church events, worship services, and put on a good face and show for Jesus.

Why? Because I believed that Jesus was sending me off for him.

Intuitively, I think that to a degree, we all feel this pressure to "perform for Jesus" (as if Jesus needs us).

Have you ever felt that pressure?

Barrier #2: We fear being rejected, judged, and condemned.

Deep down inside all of us is a desire to be connected to a greater purpose and to other people. It’s how God made us. . . to be connected to and love Him and love and care for His creation.

So, when it comes to sharing stories of Jesus’ life change either in our lives or other people’s lives, there is a part of us that fears rejection. 

Simply put, we never want to be a loner (or weird!).

Have you ever been afraid of being a loner (or a weird-o) because of your faith?

Bridge #1: Point out where Jesus is alive… everywhere and in everybody!

What I missed was that Jesus wasn’t sending me off for him… Jesus is sending me off with him. 

Big difference.

We were never told and we are not meant to sell Jesus to people. Jesus is not a product to be bartered, sold, traded, or given away. Jesus always gave everything of his away - his life - to us and to the world.

What a relief! Let’s let Jesus do Jesus work. 

We are sent with Jesus not to sell his forgiveness, life, and salvation - but to point out where His freedom in forgiveness, life identity, and forever hope is making a difference in an increasingly dark and broken world.

Where do you see freedom, secure identity, and hope in the lives of people (or in yourself!)?

Those are the stories that we want to share!

Bridge #2: Ask yourself, what good can I celebrate in people and the world?

This is more than having a “glass half full” mindset. Jesus said that the fields are ripe for harvest (John 4:35). That means that Jesus’ good work is already done. It’s time to gather it, give it away, and enjoy what God has done for us!

Sometimes I think we fall into the trap of needing to produce something good in somebody else. We need to invest in our kids. We need to teach our grandchildren. We need to show others the Jesus way. And while there is some truth to the fact that God uses people as His hands, feet, and voice - God’s Spirit is already at work for good.

When we share stories of the good that we see in people and the world, we’re really pointing out where God has worked. Every good gift comes from God. So, let’s share it!

What good do you see in people and the world today?

Bridge #3: When in doubt, share how you feel loved by God and others.

Sometimes we need to experience what we want to share.

Who has made you feel loved and accepted?

Share the story of how and why you feel that way.