Hey everyone.  Thanks for your prayers.  Still sick, (have I said I hate being sick?)  The good news is God gave me a message for the weekend.  I am 'believing' I will be OK for services. 

I got a call from Kelly Adams at the Columbian yesterday.  She reports for the religious section.  She was super nice and loved what God was doing with the whole Rose Garden thing.   Also, we got some coverage in Christian News Northwest.  Both articles came out today, are front page news and are here and you can download them if you want to. All I can say is ONLY GOD.  I wanted to share these articles with you.  I just read them a little while ago.  Let me state the obvious that God gets all the glory for the news coverage, and let me tell you that Satan isn't all that happy.  He hates anything good about Jesus or the Church.   The devil wants to rip churches apart and wants to see the cause of Christ stomped out.  The enemy hates us.  Somehow I think at some point he will lay off.    I have to keep reminding myself the battle is very real and the battle is not against flesh and blood.  See the battle for what it is and for what it is about.  Don't let Satan get a foothold in your life or in any relationship. 

I am praying for the weekend and all that God wants to do in your lives.  Please keep praying.  Keep being kind.  Keep being about the rescue you are apart of.  Keep believing God for the people around you.  Keep loving your family.  Don't let stupid petty things distract you or discourage you.  Don't wait to say you are sorry. WE ONLY HAVE TODAY.  Live with no regrets.  Please don't even for a second buy into Satan's petty traps. 

See God, and His unquestionable love for you.  See yourself as His precious son or daughter.  See your family and those around you through the eyes of Jesus and treat them better than yourself. 

Remember, in the end, Satan loses, I just hope we can help him get there sooner.  Don't lose heart, don't give up.  We win.   Imagine all that God will do in the Rose Garden.  Keep dreaming big for God.

"You, dear children, are from God...because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."  1 John 4:4 NIV

Until tomorrow.

John

Download rosegardenarticle.pdf

Download easter_christiannews_small.pdf

Hey there.

I have been a bit under the weather.  I so hate being sick.  I don't do it well.   Thanks for your prayers.  They matter to me so much.  I am hoping to be better for the weekend. 

10 days to go.   Are we still excited?  The buzz around the church is unlike any time I can remember.  They have been printing booklets for kids for two days, 5000 booklets.  Maria and the production team, how do you do it?  Our video team is working frantically to get everything done for the weekend and next week at the Garden.  Crazy.  So much to go over, please don't miss this weekend.  We are planning on having buses at most of the campus locations and have other 'announcements' to share with you. 

So many are doing so much for this to happen.   Volunteers.  Thank you to all the volunteers who have been at the church all week.  You are the best. 

Michelle and I just got done watching Rocky Balboa.  It is, I think the 6th installment of the show I first watched in High School.  As cheesy as Rocky can seem to be, I love them.  I so love his heart.  Maybe you remember,  I did a message exactly a year ago (during our unthinkable you series) about Rocky and how sometimes we aren't fighting, but rather are in the corner resting.   For those who remember, I was dealing with the cancer thing.  I said you have to fight for me.  You have to invite your friends.  I will do what I can.  I will simply never forget your response to that message.  It was so weird to be diagnosed with malignant skin cancer (melanoma).  The crazy thing was your prayers and your response to the vision to reach our county for Jesus.  We had over 7400 people last year and unfortunately had to turn away hundreds of people from five different campuses with 10 services. 

Here we are one year later.  Have you seen the last Rocky?  Be nice.  It is the same theme, and that is what I love.  I love his heart to fight.  His will to keep going no matter how much he wanted to quit.   He said it isn't how hard you get hit, but when you get hit how many times you get up and how you keep going.  Bad paraphrase but you get the point.  It is always about the heart.   In the end Living Hope it is your heart that God looks at.    

Today, I talked to a reporter from the Columbian.  She asked, "how many people would you like to see  in the Rose Garden?"  I said,  filled up would be good.  That is what we want to see. 

You are quite the amazing church and I love that we get to do this together for God.   You are history makers. 

DON'T FORGET THE MEETING FRIDAY AT 7:00 PM AT THE BRUSH PRAIRIE CAMPUS FOR THE PORTLAND CAMPUS.   The week after Easter we will be in the Convention Center at 11:00 AM each week.  I will be teaching live and would love to have some of you guys join us. 

So many things to blog about.  Don't miss the Portland campus meeting.  Come meet Pastor Will and his wife Lori.   We really need volunteers for Hockinson, Sunday evening service at BP and Portland campuses. 

10 days.  Almost 9

john

ps
thanks for your prayers.  They matter.

I can't believe 10 days until we are at the Rose Garden.  I also can't believe I am so sick.  I stayed home today, to rest but honestly I don't do sick all that well.  Rest isn't my best gift.   

I want to thank everyone who is praying.

In the end, God wins.

verse.

I am keeping my promise.

Is it OK to brag about my wife on a blog entry?  I hope so, because she is worth bragging about.  I am amazed at how God works in her life every single day.   

We had house church at our home tonight (as every Wednesday) and so we generally go out together.  With friends, or just the two of us.   Tonight, I was (am) so proud of Michelle.  After dinner, she graciously gave a large tip to the server.  Invited her and the whole crew to Easter at the Rose Garden.  Then, as we are leaving, she decides to pay for the 8 or so people around us, leaving a bunch more purple cards.   Typical Michelle, she says, please let them know after we have left.   The coolest thing is this isn't just an 'Easter' thing, it is Michelle always. 

The thing about salt is it is visible until it touches what it is affecting, then it becomes invisible.  Salt always, always changes things, always permeates and yet never speaks.  I have just never heard salt talk.   I love the purple salt thing.  We have helped over 15 churches with cards specific to their churches for their Easter services.  I had someone tell me a story about a pastor that gave the best sermon about purple salt and their church, and it was awesome.  The best part it wasn't me.    I have heard so many stories about the purple cards and being intentional about being kind.   Purposeful about being remarkable.  Sacrificial about reaching people.

I will say it again, kindness changes everything.  Let me add, always.

OK, there it is.  A 'daily' blog. 

PLEASE don't miss this weekend.  Dave and Shawn Lewis wrote a song called ONLY GOD.  It is amazing.  They are going to teach it to us this weekend. 

Invite who you can.  Be bold, risk everything and watch what God will do.

You are all amazing.  The buzz around the church, the activity, the tiredness, the intentional faith, the love is all evidence of a really big God.

11 days (in 30 minutes it will be 10.)

John

PS
Pray for me if you can.  I am getting a cold.  I hate being sick.  Pray for our staff, and pray for the Rose Garden to be filled up.   Have I said 11 days?

Go change your world.

I promise to blog every day from now through Easter. 

I loved this last weekend.   Let me say again thanks to everyone who helped make this weekend what it was.  Thanks to Teresa and Nathan and our whole video team for helping so much. 

There is so much going on behind the scenes around Living Hope as we make our way to the Rose Garden.   There is so much to still do, but I want to remind us of the two most important things. 
First of all pray. This is the obvious thing that we forget so much (I do at least).  Satan isn't excited about what God is about to do and he will do whatever he can to prevent it.  I believe there will be hundreds of people who will be saved and baptized.  I believe it and in my heart know that the enemy hates it.  PRAY.  Pray purposely, pray passionately, pray without ceasing.  Pray together.  We will have times of corporate prayer at our Brush Prairie campus weekdays (until Easter) at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM every day.  Also, you can go to our website and sign up to ensure for these last days we have 24 hour prayer coverage.  PRAY. Thank you Pastor John Leasure and our prayer team for leading this effort.

Second thing is invite people to the Rose Garden on Easter.  For some of you it will be a risk, but it will be worth it.  Remember this weekend, it is all about the rescue.  Reality is millions of people don't go to church each week, but close to 75% of them would go if they were invited.  Being salt is about influencing and through the power of influence you can invite them.  Be creative and be intentional.  Be salt, get visible for God.  Rent buses, do whatever you can do to get people there.  Then let God do what only He can do.

   I love this little invitation.  When we first announced Easter in the Rose Garden, we didn't have the invitations printed yet, so a little 12 year old girl decided to do her own.   That is passion.

This is priceless.  Thank you Megan.

I want to say thanks to our campus pastors.  You are all doing such a great job.  Thanks Seth (glad to have you back), Dean (thanks for praying with me Saturday), Bruce (you are doing good Bruce, I am praying for the church in Portland), Will (glad to have you on board), Mark (hold on), Erik (still launching Saturday night?), Jon Anderson (Thanks for the insight to Fire Chief Steve and Hockinson FD), and George (love having you around all weekend with me).  You are all such amazing pastors.  I am excited for what God is doing through you and for all the changes.  Keep reaching people.  The rest is all details.

So many campus announcements, changes and excitement.   

That is a different blog.

12 days to the Garden   

John

I am so tired.  Being a fireman isn't an easy job, let me tell you.   As "the rookie" I spent the better part of yesterday (Wednesday) with the fire fighters at Hockinson Fire Department.  Thank you Fire Chief Steve, Shawn, Tony, Donovan, Michelle, and Charlie for your gracious help in allowing me to see what happens in your lives.  It has given me an increased awareness of what you do every day to ensure the safety and protection of so many thousands of people.  Your kindness and helpfulness was awesome.

I got to hang out, eat with, clean up, and do simulated training exercises.  I even got to RIDE IN A FIRE TRUCK (Fire Engine...).   What a great experience, Teresa and our video team  helped to make the day memorable.

This weekend, at all our campuses we are going to honor Fire Fighters.  It is something that has been on my heart for a long time and we will do it this weekend. 

Please don't miss the weekend.  So many great stories to share... promise...

16 days to the Garden!

John

I didn't forget to blog.  There has been so much going on, and it seemed like everyday I sat down to update, share stories, I would type, retype, erase, and end up closing the computer.  So here goes my lame attempt to just share a bit what is going on.

18 days to the Garden.  Rose Garden plans are moving forward I hope we can all stay prayerful for all that God will do, and for all that needs to be done.  Also, I hope we stay hopeful for those who will come to Christ and get baptized.    I hope you will share your purple salt stories.  I am hearing so many stories, and I still believe Kindness changes everything.   Go here to the Easter page, and share your story.

We need so many volunteers for Easter, and will have another meeting at our Brush Prairie campus this Sunday following the 1:00 PM service.  If you can, don't miss it. 

I hope to share some cool updates about new campus possibilities, specifically in and around Portland. 

My week is going well.  I am excited to spend part of my day with Fire Fighters in Hockinson.  OK, so I have always admired Fire Fighters.  I have always been encouraged by those who will risk everything for the sake of others.  I get to go hang out at the Hockinson Fire Department all day Wednesday.  So excited.   

Thanks to the Fire Chief and others who will help me peak inside the lives of those who everyday are willing to risk for the safety and rescue of so many.

I will let you know how it goes.

18 days left

John

I wanted to share an email I received this week from one of the "homeless" that sat in front of our church last week end.  As I read his experience, I cried over the response he received, positive and negative, as he sat, cold and wet, at the door to our Brush Prairie Campus on Sunday night. 

John:

Afternoon John!  Hope this email finds you rested after another long weekend and getting ready for another weekend ahead.  I wanted to let you know that Sunday night I volunteered to wear the clothes and sit outside the front of the Church with my "Anything Helps" sign, to help the Church with the weekend's message.  Little did I realize how powerful of an experience this time would be!

I was excited to help...to dress up and sit there...allowing people to walk by.  Once I sat down and bowed my head...with the scarf draped over my head to keep the rain away from my bald head...I felt a stillness come over me.  I purposely kept my face hidden...so that people would not associate me with the experience.  As I sat there...getting colder & wetter...I began to lose myself and see what was around me.  I watched as people ran inside, almost stepping on me...without missing a beat.  I felt the stares from people as they would go out of their way to walk around me.  I could hear the whispers of people say "...I thought they weren't supposed to be up this close to the church...."  Even though I could sense and feel this energy...I saw the power of God's grace and mercy through the eyes of the children.  Some of the kids stopped & tried to look up under the scarf...to see who I was.  I heard another daughter...caught up in an excited voice, "...can we give him something?"  Her dad was extremely supportive and said yes we can.  The power of a child to care was overwhelming.  I had another boy offer his umbrella.  There were others who offered me the warmth and comfort inside with something hot to eat and drink.  Someone went so far as to bring me a plate of pizza & lemonade to drink.  As I continued to sit there...to eat my wet piece of pizza...I realized how seldom we sit down and actually notice our surroundings.  How fast our society has become...and how quick we are to ignore those around us.
 
I started to weep...thinking about how God loves us so very much...that it could have been him sitting there...cold, wet, hungry & alone.  I have always thought those on the street put themselves in that type of a position...and they could get themselves out of they wanted.  I forgot about the part were we are not to judge...but to love unconditionally. The same we are loved unconditionally by our children.
 
I want to thank you...and George...and Living Hope Church for being so authentic.  I am thankful to share a moment with God like I did...and know that without you all, God would not be able to use this experience to strengthen my faith and trust in him.  Only God!
 
Just felt like I should share with you...how such a small gesture on my part...taught me quite a bit.

Love & Friendship,
 Mahoney

Are we too busy to see our surroundings?  Are there needs around us that go unmet because we are too inward focused to notice?  Are you thinking now about who you will invite to Easter at the Rose Garden?  Who can you be Jesus to today? I hope I never forget what God has shown me about being Jesus to those I come in contact with each day.  I hope we never forget to be Jesus to everyone we meet.