I think my all time favorite weekends are baptism weekends. The public declaration of a decision to follow Jesus Christ.   There are close to 100 people signed up to be baptized at one of the six weekend services, at our Brush Prairie campus.  If you are planning to be baptized, let me encourage you.   It is one of the most significant spiritual decisions of your life.  The temptation will be to avoid it or at least minimize its importance.  Invite people to celebrate with you.   If you have questions, call and talk to someone at church, or ask the question here.  Baptism is about telling the story of Jesus.  It is about living the story.  I would encourage everyone to come and support those who will be baptized. 

This weekend we end our I-Pray series.  It has been a great time of learning and growing in our faith.  I hope prayer is always something that marks us.  It will make the difference in your walk with God. 

I am taking some of our video team and driving two hours to interview a lady named Sharen, who has been on my heart.  Her faith is so contagious because it is so courageous.  I hope her story will encourage you as much as it has me.  I can't wait to share with you.

Stay blessable.

John

PS

Have you tried the 2:00 PM BBQ yet at our Brush Prairie campus on Saturdays? 

I hope everyone had a great fathers day.  I just want to encourage dads to never give up.  I think so much of the journey is about moving forward.  Faith is just that way.  Discouragement, doubt, depression are emotions we contend with but don't have to give in to.  I watched at every service men (I am assuming fathers) got up, I think once they realized what day it was and left.   Giving up is always the easy way out.  We have to be continually encouraged.  The word for encourage comes from two different words en and Theos.  It means to stay "in God."  That happens by living and breathing God.  Staying in God happens with reading Scripture. I hope everyone this week reads the book of Philippians.  Find one verse every day to think about.  Staying in God happens when I pray instead of worry. Staying in God happens when we serve others.  Staying in God happens when we let love always win.  Staying in God happens when we are quick to forgive.  Staying in God happens in community. Stay connected. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

I hope we can always encourage and strengthen each other.  So the last thing I did on Father's day was open a present from Katie.  She gave me the nicest letter and pictures of the two of us.  Then she gave me one of the coolest gifts ever.  I gave her a stuffed raccoon when she was born.  She loves that little stuffed animal.  The cool thing was she has no money and Michelle and I have agreed not to give our kids money for presents on Mother's and Father's day.  So she gave me something that was special to her, she gave me back that stuffed animal.  Cool huh?   So as I laid my head on my pillow, at the end of a great day I felt honored by three of the best kids in the world.  I felt loved by this little local church named Living Hope and I felt blessed to be called God's son.   There are moments of joy and I think we have to choose to live in them.

Michelle is doing way better, thanks for your prayers.  In fact she is doing so good she wants to go shopping.  Maybe I will get a headache?  I feel one coming on......

Stay in Jesus

John

Hey there everyone.

Let me begin this blog with an explanation.  I wish I could explain why I haven't blogged for almost two months.  The truth is, I must have sat down 20 times to write something and after staring at a blinking cursor for 10 or 15 minutes I basically closed the top of my laptop and moved on.  OK, so what's the issue?  Basically I just think I had nothing to say that remotely compared to the journey we were on with cancer and prayers and stuff.  So, in a nutshell I am excited to be where we are and ready to re-engage with life.  Thanks for your patience. 

Today I was walking around the auditorium at our Brush Prairie Campus and I read a few of the letters people wrote.  Oh my.  There are so many wounds, and interestingly mostly are in relationship to fathers.  I really have come to realize most of my issues have been related to dad stuff.  I really am excited to see "FREEDOM" written across some of the letters.  Forgiveness is a process, it is a messy and complicated process.  Like I said this weekend, forgiveness is the first step in emotional healing.  It isn't easy, but SO necessary to spiritual health. 

I love seeing what God is doing at Living Hope.

You are all amazing.  Thanks again for your grace.  Pray for me.  Michelle has another Migraine, and we are being attacked by people saying things about me/us/Living Hope.  I know in my heart to let stuff go, but in the midst of stuff words can be right, but still not be easy.

Peace

John