I hope everyone is preparing for a great 4th of July celebration. Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays - not because we burn hundreds of dollars in fireworks, but because of what it represents.
As I think back over last weekend I am really excited for the days ahead for our church. I have very exciting news that I will hopefully be able to share next week.
Last week we talked about having Dangerous Faith as related to the way we see money. We talked about how all of us are rich, and how God owns it all. We talked about the system that God put into place to make sure all the needs were taken care of in church. We read that Jesus told the rich young ruler He would love him no matter what he chose to do.
Dangerous Faith is not giving God leftovers, it’s putting God first. This is so clear all through the Bible. This weekend I noticed lots of people finding joy in giving. Hundreds of people took the 90 Day Challenge in which we will test God for 90 days to see if He won’t open up the gates of heaven and bless our lives.
Many of you did this in an economy when we have less money than other seasons. And truthfully, the time to involve God is when we need Him the most. The fact is that God does not need our money but we do need His blessings.
If you weren’t able to see the message please watch the recap below
Check out what some people are saying about the challenge:
We joined the challenge! I was one of the "end of month" tithers, giving only what was left over. How selfish! At first glance, the 10% can seem like a big number, but if my 10% can help to bring one person home to God, then I will give my 10% 100 times over again and again and again . . . (Jennifer)
I am taking the lifetime challenge. I started attending LH regularly in November last year. My income was ZERO . . . ZIP . . . NOTHING. I was too sick to work and staying on our family farm. I wanted to tithe so badly I began giving away 10% of the food God was blessing us with. Within WEEKS I received the first child support payment I had seen in over 2 years, and this last week I was blessed with the opportunity to open a retail store in Spokane with my brother (PRAYING). I can't think of ANYTHING better to do with the gifts I am given. I am very richly blessed. (Karen)
It is not too late for anyone who would like to do the 90 day challenge, and I encourage you to do so. We have cards available at all campuses. You can also give safely online here.
Let's be a church of Dangerous Faith. A church that will risk everything we have to reach the next person. Since we have been in the mall, hundreds of people have found their way home to the God who loves them so much. So exciting!
There are lots of opportunities for connection this summer, so take advantage of those and please don't miss one installment of this series. We can become a church filled with people who have dangerous faith.
Congratulations on your incredible achievement! We stand here so proud of your accomplishments, excited for your future and prayerful for you as you pursue your dreams.
As your Pastor and friend, we want to pause to congratulate you as you finish and encourage you as you begin. You are now on a journey of leading a legacy. A definition of legacy is "someone’s lasting contribution to the world." Your legacy is a result of what you have focused on in your life, and is the expression, through action, of your primary message. Check out this verse:
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
I love this verse because it gives us a pattern to live by and I think a legacy that you can pursue. My prayer for you is that as you finish this part of your education, no matter where your future takes you, that you begin the lifelong process of leading a legacy that will change your generation.
It seems that the more choices get made in our lives, the more complexity sets in and then the tendency is for my faith to either slip or get complex. If we had one piece of advice for you, it would be don't add Jesus to your life. Don't do what so many do. Don't make Him one "piece" of your life. He is all that matters.
It is complexity that brings apathy. When you keep things just about Jesus – you keep things simple. Instead of asking what would Jesus do, can I just say…do what He did! He always put people first. He always risked everything for God's Kingdom. He began a revolution that you have been chosen to be part of. You are marked by God to be used by God to change the world for God. Please don't be led away from your simple and pure devotion to Jesus.
We’re praying for you, we’re standing with you and we are believing in you, as you pursue God’s dream for your life.
John & Michelle Bishop
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Last week we began a new series that became a defining moment for hundreds of people.
We looked at Hebrews 11 to define faith, and we illustrated faith with Luke 5:11,12. In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Here is my simple definition of faith: believing who God is and trusting that He can. When the day is over, whatever God does is the right thing whether we like it or not. The fact is that misguided or misunderstood faith can lead to disappointment and hurt. In order for our faith to be effective, and to be dangerous, it must be founded in truth and centered on Jesus. My challenge to everyone this week is to read Hebrews 11. We will be using this passage of scripture as the platform for this series about Dangerous Faith, which is essentially: a faith that gets noticed.
This week I want to talk about the times when faith has to fight. Throughout the Bible there are multiple times when God asked people to step into a place and fight. In fact, most of those times were when things didn’t make sense; when there was no human answer or solution. That’s when God had to show up. I guess you could call that Only God Faith. Don’t miss the weekend.
When I think of faith I am so blessed to be part of the lives of so many campus pastors and leaders and volunteers. Every campus is experiencing growth, unity, and blessing. If you haven’t yet, check out the different campus Facebook pages, and please remember to pray for our campuses.
You can find links to all the Living Hope Campus pages here LIVING HOPE
Quick Updates
Brush Prairie
Our Brush Prairie campus reopened last weekend with an 11am service. We are working on technology that will allow that campus to have a direct live feed from the mall campus. Check this out: attendance at 11:00am at the mall was almost 1200 people (about 90% capacity). There were over 400 at the 11:00am at Brush Prairie. The simple reality is that as a church we stepped out in faith, and are now reaching double the amount of people at 11:00am that we were just several months ago.
I say it over and over, but I love being part of a church that will risk to reach people. When the day is over that is what it is all about.
Open House at the Mall
Please note the times have changed from 6:00pm – 9:00pm, every day this week. Staff will be there every day with movies, games, bands, guitar hero etc, so make sure you come by and check it out.
On a final note I ask you to please pray. I have knee surgery scheduled for tomorrow. I have put it off multiple times and really need to get it done. I have been dealing with a torn meniscus for over two years and now is the time to get it fixed.
Thinking about the surgery got me thinking about faith, and fear, and how real fear is. There are over 500 documented phobias and countless fears that people have. Mine just happens to be things like surgery, and needles etc. My wife has no problem with it, but it’s just not my favorite thing to do, even though I know it will ultimately be a good thing. I ask for your prayers for the surgery and for a quick recovery so I can speak this weekend.
I am excited for what I know God is going to do.
See you this weekend.
JOHN
Contagious Purity
First of all I am excited about my daughter's ministry that she has specifically directed towards high school girls and purity. She has an awesome night planned for them this Friday night at our mall campus at 7pm, $7 at the door. Don’t miss it!
Brush Prairie Campus
The Brush Prairie campus is launching a service on Sunday June 6th at 11am. It will be a live stream feed from the mall to Brush Prairie. Pastor Rick, Pastor Dave, Michelle, and other leaders will be at that campus, and beyond the weekend service we are hoping that the Brush Prairie campus can focus on training, and equipping. We are having lots of conversations, so please be in prayer. Open House at the Mall
This week begins the quest to have the mall campus open all hours that the mall is open. The goal is to make it a church for people. A place where we can serve the community, and a safe place where people who have questions or need prayer can go. I spoke with the Columbian this week, and told them our goal is to bless the community, and we will do all we can to make that happen.
Please stop by during the Open House Monday June 7th – Friday June 11th, 10am – 9pm. You can meet the church staff, get information on different ministries, and find out about upcoming events.
Living Free
There are many ways to connect at Living Hope and one of the best ways is our midweek service called Living Free. Right now they are in a series called “Where’s God?” If you haven’t checked it out yet, please do so. Great food, great studies, great friendship and connection. For more info please email Pastor Rick at rickb@livinghopechurch.com Student Ministries
Our Wednesday night High School service has outgrown its current venue and is moving to Brush Prairie beginning June 2nd! This service will have a stronger focus on Bible teaching, great worship, and small group interaction with leaders.
We are also excited to announce a new Student Outreach service on Thursday nights at the Mall campus beginning July 1st. This service will cater to both middle school and high school students and will be open to the public, so will provide an awesome opportunity for us to connect with some of the many students hanging out at the mall.
I want to thank Daniel and our student ministry team. I love the direction of our student ministry being about reaching and reflecting Christ. It’s just awesome. Be praying about how you can be part of serving this ministry. Summer Calendar
Ministry leaders met this week and are formulating a really exciting summer calendar with stuff for all ages. Look forward to seeing that in the next few weeks.
Vow Renewal
I want to say thanks to all the single adults who have been so gracious during a series that is mostly focused on marriage. I know that most of our church is single, but I believe that so many of the principles we have learned together really work in any relationship.
THIS WEEKEND: The vow renewal is only part of the service. I am working on a message called the four realities of marriage, which will apply to everyone whether you’re a student, engaged, or married. Understanding these realities and how to respond in each case will help all of us, so please don’t miss the last installment of this series, and if you can, invite a friend.
Our creative team met yesterday to brainstorm, and I’m excited about the new series coming up which I’ll talk about this weekend.
That’s all for now, may you have ONLY GOD blessed day.
1. Just finished an article about the mall for Christian News Northwest. Pretty cool.
2. I am officially within 2 chapters of having the book, DANGEROUS CHURCH, done. It's the story of Living Hope and our ONLY GOD stories. I am so glad to be done (almost) and so thankful to both Carly and Teresa who have worked with me and have both done so much. I guess you could say that it takes a village to write a book.
3. The mall really likes us. Praise God, Living Hope. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE SINGLE COMPLAINT. Isn't that a God thing? One of the goals we hoped for was that we would authentically bless the vendors and people at the mall. That has happened! I am just so grateful to be part of a movement of God that gets the words of Jesus "you are the salt of the earth..." Thanks for being who you are!!!!!
4. BRUSH PRAIRIE (and campuses). We had great discussion this week with key leaders about doing services (again) at Brush Prairie on Sundays. Probably at 9:00 and 11:00 AM. Please pray. The issue is mostly about resources - equipment, volunteers, etc. What we know is many people miss being at Brush Prairie. I totally get how difficult change and transitions can be. The cool thing was the mall campus was up in attendance by 1000 people in just two weeks, BUT the other campuses experienced growth as well. That to me is so amazing. To be in a smaller venue, where you can know others and be known by others is so good. The mall is simply a great way to reach massive amounts of people, but at the campus you will grow and learn and develop friendships that will in many cases last a lifetime. There is no date set for when we will begin services at Brush Prairie, but the decision is made that we will have Sunday services there. Please be in prayer for this. More details will follow. If you are able to help in this, call or email our church office.
5. The series. MR and MRS is off to a great start. Michelle and I will be teaching together this weekend. How can we stop fighting against each other, learn to communicate and begin to fight FOR each other? There are a few simple things we can do. Last week we talked about how expectations can kill a relationship. The series will be very helpful for all ages and all relationships. I hope to see you this weekend. Pray, because Michelle is good at speaking but I never know what she "may" say..... :) See you this weekend. Bring a friend.
6. REMEMBER, the 1:00 PM service is back. Praise God. Awesome group. One guy came and said, "I was told to come to this service because it is where the rowdy people go...." I just smiled....
7. GIVING. Please continue to be faithful in giving. The financial demands have increased as we are now serving hundreds more people. There are so many needs and I am so grateful to be part of a church that gets what Jesus meant when he said "go". You are going, God is being glorified and we are having fun.
See you this weekend.
John
PS - I'm so proud of Katie as she launches a new ministry for high school girls, Contagious Purity. Their first event, Don't Dress to Impress, is tonight at the mall at 6 PM. If you can't make it to this one, mark your calendar for May 21 for their next event.
Not sure how to really understand all that God (ONLY GOD) is doing.
Being at the mall has been a blessing in more ways than I can name.
I know lots of people miss Brush Prairie and that is completely fair. As the dust settles for the mall, our intentions are to begin a new campus at Brush Prairie that will most likely be a video venue with some live teaching. I have no other details, except to say we not only want to do this, it seems we will need to do this.
There have been literally hundreds and hundreds of new guests that have come since we opened the campus on Easter.
Because the venue is so large and can seat close to 1700, we dropped the 1:00 PM service the week after Easter. But because the 11:00 AM service had over 1700 people (the week after Easter), we had to add back the 1:00 PM service this last weekend, and with no signs or advertising, only word of mouth and an email, we had over 600 people at 1:00 PM last weekend.
Kidsworld rocks! Finally we have space to really serve our children. Thanks to the team, you are doing so amazing. The face painting artist was a good last minute addition for the kids last weekend. At one point there was a line that was over an hour.
The word is incremental changes. Each week we want to begin to add some things, change some things and serve the community better. IT IS A PROCESS. The magnitude of the project is so overwhelming. Please pray for the teams as we serve the people that God is bringing to our newest campus.
We will have some staff move offices to the mall this and next week. The goal is to have the doors open every hour the mall is open. AND, to have people there to talk with, greet, pray with and answer any questions. If you want to volunteer to be part of this team, email dondit@livinghopechurch.com.
Youth leadership is discussing right now options for both High School, Middle School and College services (locations, days, etc.)
LOTS to think about. Here is our reality. Please hear my heart. Living Hope exists to passionately, authentically and simply help people know and follow Jesus. There could be no better opportunity than where we are at in the epicenter of Clark County. To love and serve this community is what we are about. To help people know Jesus is all that matters. Hundreds of new people are coming, and many are finding their way back to the arms of God. It is so cool. Our attendance at the mall in 2 weeks (not counting Easter) has increased by over 1000 people. We are where we need to be. Please understand there are many campuses you can connect to if the mall isn't working for you personally, but please realize our focus is not and cannot be about primarily our comfort or convenience. We cannot drift in our mission. We have to be about reaching people. We will be about reaching people. God will be glorified. God has opened a tremendous door. We need everyone to help. Come and serve if you can.
I pray as we begin a new series called "Mr and Mrs" that we can each week take one principle and begin to apply it to our lives. This week we talked about moving our marriages from ME to WE. I believe WE is less about two and more about three. Ephesians 5:21 provides the necessary foundation for ALL relationsips: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Work this week on focusing on meeting the needs of each other. It will change everything.
Next week we will talk about learning to fight fair, learning to communicate and to talk in a way that brings the connection and intimacy we all want. I love this series. I love that students can come and learn about relationships. I love that singles can gain perspective as they begin to allow God to lead their future. I love that God's word is timeless truth.
Looking forward to seeing everyone. If you have time to help, we are moving offices this week.
God is so good to us and when I share, especially numbers, they are only for you to have a picture of what God is doing. Please know that in my heart and the heart of our leaders and staff, we all will labor knowing that God is the ONLY ONE who gets the glory.
He is doing a new thing Living Hope. Let's walk together in it.
John
PS
We really are having to replace lots of equipment with the mall location and if you can donate specifically toward that please do so.
ALSO, this next weekend Starfield will be leading worship at the mall. And there will be a concert at Brush Prairie. Awesome days.
Today is significant. Today I’m reflecting and thinking about all God did last weekend. To see almost 10,000 people come to the mall with virtually no advertising, just three weeks of planning, and nine days of set up is just simply ONLY GOD. Hundreds found Christ, hundreds were baptized, Heaven rejoiced, and we have a new home,which by the way is in the center of Clark County.
If you haven’t heard, for the time being we will have services at Saturday 5pm & 7pm and Sunday 9am & 11am, ALL at our Vancouver mall campus.
Living free will remain at Brush Prairie on Tuesday nights for now. We are in the middle of conversations about moving our student campus, but for now until further notice, our High School ministry Awaken will stay on Wednesdays at our student campus (Orchards), Middle School will take a break for the next couple of weeks while we work out a plan to accommodate students at the mall campus. Thank you for your understanding!
I don’t know why I am always blown away when I see God move so powerfully. It should be almost expected, but the way everyone rallied, donated financially, the way God showed up, and people were saved is really an incredible miracle. If you haven’t seen the memory wall please take time to have a look, it's unbelievable. Add your stories if you can, they are an all important testimony to the life-changing power of God.
I hope to see everyone this weekend – there is room now to invite friends. Once these 4 services fill up, the plan is to add a 1pm service in the future.
Yesterday is significant because 4 years ago to the day, I was processing some of the most frightening words of my life: malignant cancer.
On April 6, 2006, I was told by doctors I had malignant cancer, stage 3 melanoma with a fifty percent chance of making it beyond 5 years. I look back 4 years and am reminded of the words that God gave me at the time. Cancer Clarity. Cancer has an unstoppable way of causing us to see what matters, and allows us to look ahead with greater focus and clarity. It caused me to look differently at my family, my faith, and my future.
When I think about what matters, I realize most of the things we stress about won't matter in eternity.
When those words are said to you (and I pray you don't ever have to hear them), they have a way of bringing incredible focus, and "clarity". Eternity is all that matters, people are all that matter, and Jesus is all that matters.
Tomorrow is important for lots of reasons, but as I think back to 4 years ago I am reminded that today is all I have.
James 4:14 says it best: “What is your life but a mist that appears for a short time and then vanishes”
No matter what we think we have, or what we plan for tomorrow, today is really all we do have.
Maybe today you could take the time and think about your family, your faith, and your future. Maybe today God would give you eternal clarity. Today is all we have. Let's make the most of it.
I’ll see everyone this weekend. Please Facebook if you can, let everyone know all 4 services are at our mall campus: Saturday 5pm & 7pm and Sunday 9am & 11am. As we know more details, we will of course share them.
I want to give a big shout out again to all the people who made this happen. Never stop believing in God, and knowing He believes in you.
You may know that I have been asked by Zondervan to write a book about our church and our journey. It will be called DANGEROUS CHURCH. The deadline for the finished manuscript is next month, so I have carved out this week to work hard on getting it finished.
It’s interesting how God always shows me a picture of something to help me understand. It's even more interesting that usually those pictures come at exactly the moment I need them.
Yesterday I was sitting, writing, and almost daydreaming watching a little girl in pink goggles swimming in a pool. She would swim and poke her head up and look, and swim, poke her head up and look. In her frantic search, she wasn’t really enjoying the swim. I watched her do this for what must have been 5 minutes. The last time she came out of the water she saw who she was trying to find: her daddy. I’m so grateful I was sitting close enough to hear her conversation, because it spoke so much to my heart.
She said, “Oh daddy, there you are. What are you doing?" I looked at this dad with camo hat on, probably mid 40’s, kind of perched on a rock next to the pool, just watching his daughter. As she was so frantically looking, he was so calm. She was confused and he was in control. He replied to her, “I am just here watching you”.
It gave me such a cool picture of God, that this little story will be in a chapter where I talk about Elijah, who ran panicked and confused to the point he didn’t want to carry on. The entire time Elijah ran God was there, watching, loving, protecting, and even feeding him.
I think so many of us are like that little girl. We spend so much time looking for God that we miss out on simply enjoying life and really living the abundant life.
The little girl got out of the pool, kissed her dad on the cheek and jumped back in the water. Only this time she was totally enjoying the swim. She now had confidence and freedom knowing that her dad was watching her.
I think we can live life that way, with a God awareness. The verse that God brought to me heart as I watched this scene unfold is in Hebrews 13:5. It says, “never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Using the word never twice is a double emphatic. In our language it would read “never, ever, ever, ever, will I leave you!"
Maybe today as we go through life, we can have this God awareness, that He is just there for us, with us, and nothing will make Him love us less.
I hope all of us can live knowing our Father in heaven is watching, smiling, and wanting us to enjoy this life.
I just got a package in the mail that has exposed so many emotions. Unexpected and totally appreciated. My cousin sent me some “things” to remember my dad.
My dad died when I was just 4 years old in 1967. To be exact, 2 days after my birthday. For so many years I have wondered and dreamed what it would be like to know him, to talk to him, to hear his voice. Weirdly, I have wondered what he liked to do, places he would have wanted to visit. He was so young. I have almost made up stories in my mind about fishing trips and Christmas memories. I have heard so much, wondered so much and hoped so much.
My dad died young. He was the age of my son David, who actually bears his name. In the wake of the divorce of my parents and death of my father, I grew up with my grandma and grandpa. I was so blessed. Everyone loved “mom” and “pop”. I remember so many times that we would talk about my dad. I remember hearing stories and seeing pictures.
Today, moments ago, I received this package that captured my attention and assaulted my emotions. Stuff that made me think of my dad. His name was David Lee Bishop. I received a picture I had almost forgotten about. It is now framed and in my living room. I also have a funeral bulletin and a Bible.
As I opened the Bible and as tears ran down my face, I was stunned at the moment I saw his handwriting. He signed his name in 1956. He was 14 years old.
Someone, somewhere, gave my dad a Bible.
It is torn, it is old, it is from the Gideons and it bears the name of my daddy. Maybe he went to church? Maybe he met Jesus? Maybe he will be there when I get there? Ugh. So many emotions. So many questions…..
When the day is over, I saw a picture that I had almost forgotten about and found hope that I had never thought about. I know it is a Bible. A worn, ragged, torn up Bible. It may mean nothing, but to me in this moment…it means everything. Because with tear-filled eyes I have a hope-filled heart. My dad may have met our Savior. My dad may be there right now in Heaven. Waiting for his son. The hug I have never felt and the voice I can’t remember is a possibility.
Life is so short my friends. Love people while you can. Listen more than you talk. Like people you don’t want to be around, and in your family leave a legacy. In fact more than leave, make a decision to LEAD a legacy. Your kids need you. You matter to so many people. Take pictures, give hugs and make your one and your only life count.
Good day for me. Just wanted to share. John LEE Bishop
I heard the series started awesome and that Carly’s story really affected a lot of people. As with the story of Hosea and Gomer, and with Carly, our heart gets stolen so often because of lies. I think it’s been a great place to start, and I hope everyone will continue on this journey to expose how our heart gets stolen away from God.
This week I spoke at a youth conference to a group of young adults, and was able to speak at 3 different churches. Tonight I am getting ready to go have dinner with some pastor friends from Hillsong Church, and tomorrow I'll be speaking at the college ministry of C3 church called "Change". Thursday I fly to Adelaide to spend some time with my friend JD. I’ll speak to the pastors of that city on Friday morning, and we are doing a city-wide gathering on Friday night. On Saturday I’ll fly to Perth and speak at Riverview church on the weekend, and begin the journey back home Monday morning, arriving Monday night in Portland.
I love being in Australia for so many reasons.:
First, God speaks to me so much when I’m here, differently from when I am home.
Second, I get to be in a serving capacity rather than leading, and I love that.
Third, I get to meet and spend time with very close friends in a country that I feel very connected to.
Fourth, it allows so many opportunities for people back home (like Carly and Michelle) to speak at Living Hope Church.
Although I love being away at different times, my first responsibility and calling is to be home, and I look forward to getting back. Continue to allow God to speak to your heart, and allow him to expose what steals your heart from Him. Love pirates is real.
