Weekly Words from Randoon

Weekly Words From Randoon...8/10/2008

2008-08-10T22:05:00.001-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 72 Offering: $7,000 Kids: 4

Congratulations to the Thrams’ upon their recent marriage.

Wednesday 8/20 – Barbecue at Shilshole’s Golden Gardens Park 6:00pm

Sunday August 24^th, 7pm @ Mohrlang’s home: OUTREACH COMMITTEE MEETING. Contact smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org for more.

PRAYER –

Lord, we pray for Sanctuary as we move into the Autumn Season that you will grant us growth in outreach and attendance as we love you, one another and our Greenwood community.

Christ, we pray for our families on vacation that you would grant safety and refreshment.

God, we lift up our teachers as they prepare to go back to school. Fill them with love, energy, imagination and wisdom as they shape our future leaders in every level of school.

Spirit, be our guide as each of us prepares to practice active citizenship this November in local and national elections.

Jesus, we thank you for your goodness to all our expectant and new mothers, for healthy twins who were born way too early and for the way you have blessed us with a community in which to raise our babies as a family together.

REFLECTIONS on – Proverbs 15 “Speaking of Tongues”

I know you all like getting the “Words”..but now I have a “more excellent way” as St. Paul says…a podcast or website audio of my sermons with my actual “Randy L. Rowland” voice inherited from birth-mother tonality…It’s called a podcast or MP# file…and it’s yours to listen to weekly. While you make get weekly words updates, you will be constantly referred to the web for the actual sermon. The rest of my brilliant, young staff and their preaching will be on there as well. So, here are the places you can go…

1. Web site audio: www.sanctuarycrc.org

2. Or, PODCAST from I-Tunes which you can sign up for free and listen to at your LEISURE on your computer or IPOD as easy as pie: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=216465614. That will get you to ItUNES so you can subscribe. ITUNES is available to those who do not have IPODS to listen just on their computers…so, don’t be cowed by not having and IPOD or MP3 device.

Much Love,

Randy

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

Pastor

Sanctuary CRC

Cell: (206) 953-0909

312 North 85th Street #101
Seattle, WA 98103

(worship Sundays at 10am @ Taproot Theater)

www.sanctuarycrc.org www.greenbeancoffee.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 8/3/08

2008-08-05T21:29:00.001-07:00

HELLO, ALL!!

Perhaps you have noticed that the Weekly Words From Randoon has been missing this summer. Well, fact is, I have been out of town a lot

And not preaching much until just the 21^st of July. I know you all like getting the “Words”..but now I have a “more excellent way” as St. Paul says…a podcast or website audio of my sermons with my actual “Randy L. Rowland” voice inherited from birth-mother tonality…It’s called a podcast or MP# file…and it’s yours to listen to weekly. While you make get weekly words updates, you will be constantly referred to the web for the actual sermon. The rest of my brilliant, young staff and their preaching will be on there as well. So, here are the places you can go…

1. Web site audio: www.sanctuarycrc.org

I will keep in touch. Please pray this week for my kidneys as I get more clarification on my chronic kidney disease this fall, for Sanctuary’s growth in outreach, for the potential of a magnificently gifted church planter that may come to Edmonds, WA and for Sanctuary as we struggle to stay self-sustaining as a church and as the Green Bean Coffee House.

Blessings to one and all.

Much Love,

Randy

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

Pastor

Sanctuary CRC

Cell: (206) 953-0909

312 North 85th Street #101
Seattle, WA 98103

(worship Sundays at 10am @ Taproot Theater)

www.sanctuarycrc.org www.greenbeancoffee.org

Weekly Words From Randoon.....6/1/2008

2008-06-01T17:16:00.001-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Hospitality is an important part of the Life of Sanctuary. We want everyone from weekly attenders to those who have never been with us before to feel welcome, loved and included in the Body of Christ. Our hospitality team works hard to make that happen. AND WE NEED more folks on board. Come meet with us NEXT SUNDAY JUNE 8^th after worship. For information, contact Kate Reynolds kreynolds@sanctuarycrc.org.

Looking to be in a small group: contact Summer Mohrlang smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org.

We are looking for Green Bean Volunteers. Torrey Edwards can help connect you. tedwards@sanctuarycrc.org

PRAYERS –

God, we pray your healing hand on Patty Morgan Smith as she recovers from blood clots in her lungs at Swedish Hospital.

Holy Spirit, bless Jeremy and Reba Jacobs on their Hawaiian honeymoon.

Jesus, we continue to pray for victims of natural disasters in China and Myanmar, that you would bring healing, hope and consolation.

Lord, be with all the couples expecting babies among us. We pray for deep joy and great health as due dates approach.

God, thank you too, for our church plants. Please give growth and strength to The House, Awake, Dust and Word of Truth churches as they reach unchurched people in our city.

REFLECTIONS – on Acts 17:10-15 “Bein’ Berean”

Here is some background for our text today. The spread of Gospel to Gentiles is blowing up rapidly. As the Jesus movement grows, there are concerns about what the true message of Jesus is. In Acts 15, we see the early leaders of the Christian Church from all over gather to sort things out and get on the same page We call this the JERUSALEM COUNCIL. The essence of the Jerusalem Council was to arrive “what are we ALL ABOUT ALL THE TIME AND IN EVERY PLACE” (the belief of the broad representation of those who are God’s family).

After the Council, a letter of affirmation and core beliefs was sent to the far edges of where Christianity was spreading. The letter, sent by the council, to new believers and new churches by all of the highest leaders of the church (The Apostles) was delivered by Paul and a new man we meet today, named Silas. The Apostles wrote a document, but wanted to personalize it and give it impact by sending emissaries to read it, discuss it and practice it with the new Christians throughout the Roman Empire. You know about Paul. As for Silas, he was “a leading man among the brothers” (Acts 15). He winds up teaming with Paul and others and is known to have risked his life for the sake of Jesus many times and is eventually martyred.

What gets delivered to the churches in what is now Greece, goes first to Thessalonica, then to Berea and beyond. It is a pure and clear and universally acceptable message about Jesus is authorized and sent. It is an unencumbered message. Jesus suffered, died and rose again. Jesus is Messiah (for Jews) and Lord (of all). This is an unencumbered message: JESUS. Not Jewish rituals + Jesus. Not politics + Jesus. Not social stands + Jesus. Not rules and regulations of religiosity + Jesus. Jesus + Jesus + More Jesus + call to live like, with and for Jesus.

Paul and Silas take the message way far into the frontier of where the Good News of Jesus is being told. They arrive in Thessalonica, which is located in what we know as modern day Greece. (you can read about this in Acts 17:1-10). They go to the Jewish synagogue and Preach the story of Jesus. In Thessalonica, some very prominent and well regarded men and WOMEN respond to the Jesus message. As the Gospel moves north, we see an incredible rise in the number of times women are mentioned. Women become key leaders and sponsors of the precious message of Jesus.

The history book of the New Testament refutes doctrines of policies prohibiting women in leadership, prominence in the community, and key leadership roles IN THE CHURCH. I truly believe that movements today that empower “male leadership only” and “protection of women” lack Biblical Understanding of the EGALITARIAN nature of Leadership in the world as demonstrated by the CREATION STORY in Genesis, and many New Testament texts, including this one today. Clearly, women responding to the Gospel and leading was a hindrance to some established groups, such as the Jews, who practiced a very patriarchal form of societal structure, which even placed women and children in separate areas of buildings for the worship of God. NOT SO with the JESUS MOVEMENT…then or TODAY.

Some Jews who either reject Jesus altogether, or accept Jesus, but want all believers to follow Jewish rituals and laws get jealous and angry. They capture Paul and Silas. They incite a riot to rally people against the apostles and their teaching. They accuse Paul and Silas of heresy. They accuse them as “these men who have turned the world upside down” (WOULDN’T YOU LOVE TO BE ACCUSED OF THIS!!). They try to get the authorities on their side by saying Paul and Silas are DISSING on the Emperor Claudius…and the Roman Empire.

Luckily, Paul and Silas are allowed to escape Thessalonica with their lives after a fellow named Jason, pays a bribe to have them released.

They now move deeper into the frontier of of the Christian movement in Greece, to a city named BEREA, which is 50-60 miles Southwest of Thessalonica on the way to Athens. This is a long, hurried trip. We read now about the journey to and arrival in Berea.

¹⁰The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ¹²Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. ¹³But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. ¹⁵Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

A few Thoughts about our Text. Notice where Paul and Silas Go…They go to the Jewish synagogue, just like Thessalonica. Christianity is a JESUS MOVEMENT born out of Judaism and the apostle’s always start the message in a Jewish religious location if there is one. So in spite of bad results in Thessalonica, they are on to another synagogue. You have to love the courage and the consistency. Just like in Thessalonica, many people hear the Jesus Message and say yes to God and begin the Christian Journey. Among the key converts: Leading men and WOMEN.

But, the biggest encouragement is that there is no backlash in Berea from the establishment folks. IN FACT, the Berean people were said to be of: NOBLE MINDS “eugenesteros”. This Greek word means to be high minded. It breaks down like this as a Greek Word: EU – good, GENE – birth – STEROS – solid composition. This word is used repeatedly in Greek to describe a character trait of being OPEN MINDED.

Open minded doesn’t mean being EMPTY HEADED, nor does it mean BEING WISHY WASHY or COMPROMISING or ACCOMODATING. It means to be able to LISTEN WELL, STUDY AND REFLECT HAR and Respond AUTHENTICALLY.

HERE is what the Berean’s did:

The Bereans received the word with all eagerness,

Our deep need to examine the world views of the day. Our deep need to think through what is taught in this and other churches…About the uniqueness of Jesus. The authority of scripture. Key issues like the roles of men and women, sexuality, racism and other social issues.

The Bereans were found examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Our deep need to study Scirpture seriously and GET BIBLICAL LITERATE AND BIBLICALLY INFORMED. WE CAN GET ON THE MAT AND WRESTLE WIT THE BIBLE>>>BUT WE HAVE TO GET INTO IT.

There Bereans response was that Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

Those who responded did so genuinely and did so in FAITH. To live in FAITH is to place the very weight of one’s life on what they believe…to think, act and totally live out what we arrive at as THE TRUTH. And if we read on in our text, we see that many BEREAN Christians join in leading the JESUS MOVEMENT. Paul and some new leaders go to Athens. Timothy and Silas stay and build leaders in and around Berea. Other leaders spread out to share the LOVE AND GRACE OF GOD that comes to us in JESUS throughout the Roman Empire.

That’s what we are about here….gathering as a community of BEREANS…Hearing about what GOD IS DOING … In Greenwood, In Seattle, in INDIVIDUAL LIVES…what God’s Spirit is doing all around the world…and WE ARE THOSE WHO SEARCH AND KNOW THE SCRIPTURES TO BALANCE EXPERIENCE Of GOD’s SPIRIT WITH THE AUTHORITYAND CLARITY OF HIS WORD AND THEN GO EVERYWHERE TO SPREAD THE NEWS THAT GOD IS WITH US IN JESUS CHRIST.

So…Go out in the Power of the Spirit and make it a GREAT WEEK!!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 5/11/2008

2008-05-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

PRAYERS –

Lord, we ask that you would bring your healing to those who are battling cancer and other life threatening diseases. Bring hope and courage to sufferers and families alike.

Jesus, we pray that you would bring peace to this troubled world.

Holy Spirit, will you comfort the people of Myanmar who have suffered great loss in the recent typhoon. Allow for relief from the West, and grant healing to that land.

Thank you Lord for new babies in our midst; for safe deliveries for Emily and Nick, Emily and Ben, Leigh Troy. We also lift up to you all expectant couples and ask for strength, health and protection.

Lord, we pray for the process of hiring a new manager for the Green Bean Coffee House, that you would make your will clear to those on the search committee as they continue in their search for just the right person.

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 79 Kids: 5 Offering: $8,395.

Parents Meeting for Children’s Ministry, Next Sunday 5/18 immediate following worship. Tammie Haulter will fill you in on what we are planning for our wonderful children. Please join us.

New Members – those who weren’t able to make all three of our new members class meetings, the Sanctuary staff is doing personal make up times. If you need time to finish the class, contact Summer Mohrlang at smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org.

Looking for small group or service opportunities? Get in touch with us: info@sanctuarycrc.org.

REFLECTIONS – on Acts 12:6-19 “God Delivers Firestarters”

You may have varying views about how visible “religion” should be in public life, but make no mistake about it, when government, media and other powerbrokers start paying attention to the Christian Movement, it is because a difference is being made.

In recent political campaigning, active church members in Indiana and North Carolina were determined to be the central voting block in the primaries. In cities like Washington D.C., Baltimore, Chicago and New York, the church is looked at as a major source for social good in terms of housing, care of the marginalized, educational advancement and gang abatement. In New York last week, I saw entire city blocks of property owned and operated for the common good by Abyssinian Baptist Church. In Manhattan Redeemer Church has caused a huge return of Wall Street magnates, artists and writers to return to faith in Christ and participation in the mission of the church.

Now, while all of this may be true, where the Christian Movement gains momentum there is also resistance. Here in Seattle, our County Executive tried to pass a law that would limit churches to 30,000 square feet of space. That’s room for a church building to hold about 400 people maximum. And, people that have take faith stands in many places over the years, like in Nazi Germany during Hitler’s reign of terror – a times like these – Christ Follower’s faith has gotten them tossed in jail and much, much worse.

So, today we look at a passage of Scripture that gives us hope and courage for times of difficulty during our struggle to be authentic, spirit-filled Christians in the midst of a culture that can sometimes turn hostile.

The Apostle Peter and others, including Paul, Barnabus, Agabus, and some leading women, following Christ and telling his story and doing his work in Antioch catch the attention of the government … and harsh reprisals have been occurring. One of Jesus’ twelve Apostle’s, James, the brother of John, is killed by the swords of king Herod’s army. The Jewish king, given consent of power by the Roman Empire is cracking down on this new, massive and fast-spreading band of people who have just recently been called “CHRISTIANS”. The occasion of today’s text is the Jewish holiday known as Passover. The Apostle Peter has been arrested for refusing to stop talking about Jesus and living as a Christ Follower.

King Herod plans to bring him out of prison and toss him to an angry mob of Jewish pilgrims for sport during the Passover. Nearby the prison, a nervous early church, which gathered in a local home, prayed and hoped that Peter would be spared. This looks like the end of the line for Peter…but, funny thing, God has a way of taking care of those who START AND TEND THE FIRES OF THE CHRISTIAN WAVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT IS RENEWING OUR WORLD…

Acts 12:6:-19

⁶Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” ¹²When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. ¹⁸Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

This is one of those “have to see it to believe it” sort of stories that reminds us that the God we love and serve has, can and will do BIG STUFF … God’s reality interrupts our realities in a way that seem like it must be a dream. Peter is awakened by an angel and told to follow the heavenly character out of the jail. Who wouldn’t thank this was dream. Peter is in manacles. He is behind bars. He is guarded by two layers of soldiers. He is locked in prison and out of the city by an iron gate.

His hope in the midst of all this is to believe the angel…follow in obedience…and his only human devices of escape are a good pair of shoes and a cloak with which he might cover his head and face to avoid detection. This is not a whole lot of help for Peter. Either God is in this or Peter ceases to exist.

Well, the angel does his work well, and so does Peter. They walk away from the prison and to the city gate which “opens of its own accord for them”. To me this is a great symbol. We all struggle. We all wonder if God could possibly get us through our tough spots and move us forward in life. Man, when I heard I had diabetes in 1990, I thought I was a dead man. But, I am in better health now than I was then and “ iron gates have opened on their own accord” for me many times since then. Think of the places you have been imprisoned….I don’t want to overstretch this text…but, where have you need “uncuffing”, getting past the guardian voices that say “stay where you are” in your life?

If we carry in our text at verse 11 – Peter realizes what has taken place and that God has a larger plan for him. A key part of our learning and growth as followers of Jesus comes in a capacity to recognize that GOD IS AT WORK IN US at all times and at all places to SHAPE US, DIRECT US, CONNECT US TO OTHERS AND UTILIZE US IN HIS REDEEMING WORK IN THE WORLD. So, what does Peter do next?

Verse 12 says, “he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” Isn’t that exactly what the praying folks were expecting, for a divinely delivered Peter to show up for the end of the prayer meeting? Not really…

¹³And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵They said to her, “You are out of your mind.”

It’s okay to get your mind blowing either before or after being a skeptic, or a practical minded soul.But, fact is, God is serious about you and me and his purpose in us. When the people in the house praying finally do come to the gate, they see Peter and are astounded, but deeply buoyed in their faith. And, the powers that be who thought they had this whole “JESUS THING” under control, were greatly destabilized by the presence of faith in the living God…

¹⁸Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death.

You see, there are POWERS, and we see them all over the world … powers of government like where a dis-elected leader, Robert Mugabe, of Zimbabwe is now killing opposition party members who simply want him to step down because he lost the election. Powers of the press who can paint a pretty picture or taint anyone’s image based upon the whims of the writer that day. Powers of culture that spawn distraction and amusement amidst death and life struggles of real people. Powers that tend to isolate and us break down community.

THEN in opposition to POWERS, there is THE POWER OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT which trumps them all and leaves all other powers in a state of confusion like we see in the end of our text.

Now, the challenges in our text today…

Are you willing to go deep enough and public enough with your faith in Jesus Christ that if following Jesus were to become costly or dangerous, you would be in harm’s way?

Are you willing to believe that God can, has, does and will deliver your from the prisons you encounter in life?

Are you willing to come to the community of believers called the church, thank them for their prayers for you and then dive back into the mission of God at all costs?

THIS…is the type of faith that FIRE STARTERS carry. And, it’s your faith if you want it.

Go out and MAKE it a great week!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 4/27/2008

2008-04-27T14:35:00.001-07:00

REFLECTIONS – on Acts 10: “Making Space for God in a BIG, BIG way.”

Who Are YOU? And who do YOU want to BECOME? How far would you go to FOLLOW God if he called you to something?

How far will you go today??….because he is calling you and me to live our lives INTO THE STORY I am about to read in ACTS..

Two cases of God-Inspired Preparation. We who hold to a Reformed Theological Perspective have one core belief that drives all of our other beliefs: that belief is that everything that was, is and will be starts and ends with God. God is the prime mover. We are going to look now at two stories of God’s sovereignty as two different men and their communities are drawn together for God’s purpose, by God’s action and to God’s great joy and the expansion of the kingdom of God.

First Let’s meet Cornelius at the beginning of Acts 10 and see what he’s all about and what God is doing in and around him.

¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, ²a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. ³About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. ⁵And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius lives in a town in Northern Palestine about 70 miles from Jerusalem on the Mediterranean Coast. Not only was it a sea port, but it had once been the Roman Capital of occupied Palestine and it was the beginning of a long roadway that stretched all the way south to Egypt. He was a member of the Italian Cohort, sometimes called the “Italian Band”. Nothing to do with Tony Soprano or his ancestors. The Italian cohort was an elite group of private soldiers employed as bodyguards to the Roman Procurator of Palestine. He would have been a respected person like someone in the Secret Service.

The Scripture describes Cornelius as a devout man who believed in God, gave alms to the poor and prayed to God. Throughout world history there have been many people like this. He was a model “good person” with a belief in God, but no direct religious affiliation….at least, not yet. ON THE OCCASION of our text today, Cornelius is thrust into to a stage of spiritual PREPARATION that will lead to his becoming a FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST. An angel appears to him and affirms that his faith in God has been real and that his prayers have been heard. God hears the prayers of people who believe regardless of their exact affiliation with the Christian Faith…but FAITHFUL PRAYERS lead the ones who pray to JESUS CHRIST … and this is about to happen for Cornelius.

MEANWHILE, as Cornelius is being prepared to receive CHRIST, a LEADING CHRIST FOLLOWER, named Peter, is being PREPARED to move CHRISTIANITY from being a JEWISH SECT that believed in JESUS as the JEWISH MESSIAH to a COSMIC CHRIST WHO IS LORD AND SAVIOR OF ALL … let’s read on as PREPARATION CONTINUES…

⁹The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. ¹⁷Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate ¹⁸and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” ²¹And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²²And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” ²³So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter has been roving about the nation of Israel, south of Caesarea, and is in a port city south and west of Jerusalem, called Joppa. It’s near where the modern day sea port of Tel Aviv is located. He is tired and hungry, and one of the early Christians in Joppa offers him rest on a rooftop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea while a meal is prepared for Peter. Instead of a nap, Peter falls into what scripture calls a trance. The Greek word in the original text for trance is “ekstasis” from which we get ecstasy or ecstatic – in other words, it was a spell-binding captivating experience…

“…the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

Imagine this: you are a hungry, tired JEW who has for all his life observed the food and ceremonial and purity laws prescribed by your faith – and NOW A BUFFET OF UNCOOKED, BLOOD FILLED FOOD CONSISTING OF ANIMALS NOT ALLOWED FOR CONSUMPTION BY JEWS IS DROPPED BEFORE YOU. It comes down out of heaven in a ship’s sail. Peter is a fisherman, so are many of the folks in Joppa. He must think he is having a joke played on him, except for the voice of his LORD JESUS addressing him by name and telling him KILL AND EAT. Now, for those of you who attend Sanctuary regularly, you know that we just finished a series of messages in the Jesus story as told by Mark. And, that means you know how OFF PETER can be at times. So in good PETRINE form, he forbids God from offering him unclean and forbidden food. God responds: What God has made clean, do not call common. God only had to repeat this three times to Peter before he got it. Any slow learners in the room? Me too. It’s okay.

No sooner does Peter recover from his trance and the strange message from God, than three men from Caesarea and Cornelius’ group arrive –

the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” ²¹And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²²And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

Peter immediately says yes … and in doing so, begins the world wide expansion of Christianity as he and several of the men from Joppa journey north toward Caesarea to meet Cornelius, the non-Jew. Peter has undergone a Holy-Spirit extreme-makeover in his view of God and of Jesus and of the Spirit and of all the people of the world in his time of PREPARATION…

What I love about Peter is he can start with his nose out of joint toward God and non-Jews. He can operate like you and I like to do: “God I will do absolutely anything you want me to do and anything you want me to be as long as I don’t have to change.” And….then, he can heard the voice of God and REPENT…which simply means turn around in thinking and posture…and literally walk two days up the road to preach the Gospel to a ROMAN ENEMY.

Here at Sanctuary we describe our vision as MAKING SPACE FOR GOD…We want to participate in claiming every square inch of our lives and all Creation for God. We talk about making space for God in Our hearts, Our relationships, Our world.

So far, this is a classic BIBLICAL PASSAGE ON MAKING SPACE FOR GOD IN OUR HEARTS. Two human being in two very different places spiritually encounter God and make space for God in new ways in their hearts. And, we quickly see that INCREASED SPACE FOR GOD IN OUR HEARTS CHANGES OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR WORLD…Cornelius’ preparation and Peter’s combine to result in the PROCLAMATION OF THE TRUE MESSAGE OF GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL WHO RECONCILES ALL THINGS AND ALL PERSONS TO HIMSELF IN JESUS CHRIST BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT …

²⁴And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” ²⁷And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. ²⁸And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. ²⁹So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” ³⁰And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ ³³So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Peter and Cornelius meet in a divine appointment set by the Holy Spirit. They establish that there is only one God and that neither of them is God…and they TALKED. They shared their stories. Peter confessed his sin of ethnocentrism and exclusivism with regard to the message of Jesus. Cornelius confessed his ignorance of the Christ story.

Now are text becomes a classic Biblical example of MAKING SPACE FOR GOD in our RELATIONSHIPS. Two very unique and very different people gather. They gather around JESUS. They transform each other’s lives and will transform the world. THIS TWO-PERSON SMALL GROUP relationship becomes an OPEN GROUP that is inclusive of many seekers, and suddenly PETER finds himself called upon to share his faith..

³⁴So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, ⁴¹not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴²And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

⁴⁴While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

One highly regarded Bible commentator, C. K. Barrett, said at the end of his study of this passage:

Divine participation and control are made clear in the elaborate construction of the story with its complementary visions carefully fitted together, angelic messengers, and finally the spontaneous gift of the Spirit. The importance of the story for Luke and for Luke’s book is thus unmistakable. It marks the final critical stage in the extension of the Gospel and the expansion of the church.^{^[1]}

So, there you have it the PROCLAMATION OF THE PURE GOSPEL, THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS THAT IS FOR ALL PEOPLE…then…and now.. You and I are modern day Cornelius’s, Cornelia’s, Peter’s and Paula’s…This message not only belongs to us in form, but it belongs in our deepest essence… in our hearts…Jesus came, lived, died, rose again…and reigns as our Lord and fills us with the Resurrection Power and Love of the Holy Spirit…and a passion to share HIS STORY.

Many of us get tired in our faith…or distracted…or just want things our way…and if that’s me or you…look out…GOD WANTS TO LIGHT US UP WITH THE SPIRIT…Whether we are exclusivist PETER’s or Clueless CORNELIUS’s. On May 24, 1738, a man named John Wesley, reluctantly attended a small meeting in London where someone was reading aloud from Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. “About a quarter before nine,” Wesley wrote in his journal, “while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed, I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

John Wesley went on from MAKING SPACE FOR GOD in his HEART to forming quite a band of CHRIST FOLLOWERS called the Clapham Sect. This London based group MADE SPACE FOR GOD IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS and shared their lives and their hardships with one another. They led millions to faith in JESUS CHRIST, effect the end of slavery in the British Empire, They Established Child Labor Laws. They laid the groundwork of much of the social justice and relief work you see done today by both church and governments that are models today for what we want out of a good society and what we believe all authentic Christian Churches should be pursuing on behalf of their cities and their world.

Sanctuary is nearing 4 years old. We are endeavoring to MAKE SPACE FOR GOD in our hearts, in our relationships and in our world. Let me ask you this: DO YOU TAKE SCRIPTURE SERIOUSLY? Do the STORIES OF THE BIBLE CONNECT DEEP IN YOUR SOUL AND MOVE YOU? Are THESE THE VERY WORDS OF GOD TO YOU?

If you say, no…that’s okay and honest…let’s keep talking.

If you say, yes Randy, these are the very words of God…then you will see to it that you do three things this week:

#1 Deepen, lengthen and intensify your time of prayer, meditation and Bible Study…and I am going to ask all of us to READ ACTS 10 daily at least once if not more for a week. Ask yourself: Where am I and who am I in this story?

#2 GET in a SMALL GROUP – tell your story, hear the story of others and together ask the Holy Spirit to fall upon you and send you out into your world in a meaningful way.

#3 GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT JESUS IS ALiVE AND WELL TO THE WORLD: Young Life, Taproot Theatre, The Green Bean, Awake, Dust, or some other ministry that stamps on hatred and injustice.

And….if you cannot do all three of these things this week….then your answer to my original question of ARE THESE THE VERY WORDS OF GOD TO YOU is actually NO….and that’s okay…but call me or one of the staff here because we need to keep talking.

PRAYERS –

Lord, be with Lisa and Andy as they approach their wedding date this coming Saturday. We also pray for all those who are newly married and those, like Jeremy and Reba who are planning weddings later this Spring and Summer.

God, grant peace to those who struggle with anxiety, anger and compulsiveness…and we pray for the gift of hope for those who are depressed.

Jesus, we pray that you will guide the leaders of the world toward peace.

Holy Spirit, empower us to take your word seriously and make space for you in our lives and in our world.

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 64 Kids: 6 Offering: $438 (a new low record, but thank you Lord, we had a good month of April anyway).

New Members: will be introduce in worship next Sunday 5/4 .

All Church Brunch every communion Sunday – that’s next Sunday right after worship at Romio’s.

Now, my dear people, go out there and make it a GREAT WEEK!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 4/13/2008

2008-04-13T18:34:00.001-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 86 kids: 4 Offering: $3,800

New Members class meet today with about 16 people plus staff and elders. We have another 6-12 who are planning to join in along the way. The class runs two more weeks, 4/20 and 4/27 with a new members introduction and all church brunch at Romio’s Pizza on the first Sunday in May. If you cannot make each of the three classes, your friendly and lunch/coffee-oriented staff members would be delighted to do catch up sessions with you for any of the weeks.

Seeking: full-time manager for the Green Bean coffee house. A non-profit Christian endeavor connected to Sanctuary. Candidates should have management, food service, preferably coffee shop, experience and a desire to devote themselves to the cause of Christ through community building, food service and ministry in the Greenwood neighborhood. Interested candidates should send cover letter, resume and list of professional references to info@sanctuarycrc.org.

PRAYERS –

God, we thank you for the wonderful ministry of Young Life as it reaches out to unchurched youth in Seattle and around the world. Guide the YL leaders and may they see a great increase in commitments to Jesus Christ through their work on Christ’s behalf.

Spirit, comfort those who are hurt, lost and lonely. We pray you would be with our many Greenwood friends who struggle deeply with issues.

Lord, have mercy on all of us sinners. Grant us grace to seek you for cleansing from our sins and make us quick to forgive, restore and love others who have sinned against us.

Jesus, we pray for peace in the world.

Father, we pray for stability of the world’s economies and for access to the benefits those economies can bring to one and all. Let your goodness, provision and justice flow down on and toward all.

REFELCTIONS – on Acts 3

Today, I had the wonderful privilege of sitting in the congregation where I serve and hearing Summer Mohrlang’s first sermon at Sanctuary. What a blessing it was!

Her opening story about wanting to be a world changer in the Air Force while be assigned to projects that were dead ends was painfully funny and reminded me how much all do want to make a difference and how much we struggle when we don’t get the chance to do meaningful things.

Summer then spoke about Peter and John in Acts 3, walking up the hill to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray, when they met a paralytic man who sought money from them.

In response to the begging, you all know that Peter answers, “Silver and gold have we none, but such as I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk.”

And, of course Dr. Luke, tells us in the text of Acts that Peter reached out to the man who rose to his feet, walked…then leaped and then went to praising God in a very loud and demonstrative way. Everyone who knew him to be the crippled beggar by the side of the road was stunned and God got lots of glory.

Summer’s point was that it doesn’t take money, position, power, or even a fully buffed body to RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT POWER of GOD and change the world. Ordinary people have appropriated the power and acted at the move of the Holy Spirit for over 2000 years and so many, many great things have been done in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.

I was deeply moved by a tiny spiritual exercise Summer threw into the meditation time this morning. She asked to pause, picture ourselves in this story and identify with it. she asked us to locate ourselves. Who am I? Peter? Silent John? The Cripple? Witnesses to the event? Among the stunned crowd who saw this man after his healing? Who am I? Who and where are you?

I have been thinking about that all afternoon. Really. And, I think I place myself in the role of the paralytic man. Crippled, broken, down and truly not too empowered at all. And, the thing that challenged me was this: “Randy, when you are knocked down and incapacitated are you open to seeing God move in a way that changes you and the world around you?” no sooner than I had heard this challenge come to me, I saw the hander of the Apostle Peter reaching toward me to pull me up and freaked out. I thought, “What if I grab this hand…and I just go tumbling butt over tea kettle because I didn’t understand what was happening, or didn’t get healed, or would lose the power of my powerlessness and hopelessness?”

Yikes. I realized that I have been that man many teams and have failed to recognize the hand of God reaching out to me through the Peters and Johns of the world.

Summer’s challenge from the Word of God, was to realize all that we cannot do…and all that GOD CAN DO in us and through us. As we move into this next week individually, as Sanctuary, as the Green Bean Coffee House, I am anxious to see where we can reach out and either convey the life changing power of the Holy Spirit, or reach out our hands and receive the power to become and do what God has for each of us right now.

God bless your week.

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 4/6/08

2008-04-06T15:44:00.001-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 105 Kids: 5 Romio’s Brunch: 75 People, 19 Pizaa’s and 2 Gigantic Salads and 24 pitchers of Soda.

Coming Up: Women’s group events galore. Go to our website www.sanctuarycrc.org or get in touch with Summer Mohrlang for information at smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org

NEXT SUNDAY 4/13: New Members Class at Sanctuary Office (312 N. 85^th St.) immediately following worship.

REFLECTIONS – on “Clustering” Acts 2:38-47

We’re studying the book of the Acts of The Apostles – the book of the Holy spirit moving through the lives of ordinary people like you and me to bring transformation to the world. I talked last week about the idea of starting and sustaining fires. The need for aeration (wind) and energy (flame) and fuel (wood) must be met for any fire to take and sustain. The fuel, the logs, must be clustered tight and burn off one another’s energy or else they go cold faster than you might think possible.

We likened this to the coming of the wind and fire we read about in ACTS on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit invades the hearts and lives of believers giving constant energy, power, imagination and love – the PERSONALITY OF JESUS radiated through us so that we may do and be what he does and is in this world. Of Course, you and I are the fuel…the logs of this fire. And, our clustering together and sharing life and ministry together is what creates the fire…

I have mentioned many times before that I was raised outside the church. I had no religious knowledge whatsoever. I did not know anything about Jesus until I was well over 17 years old. I have also told stories that I was a pretty typical child of the 60’s and early 70’s – with a somewhat wild and experimental bent to me. I chose my colleges hoping for a prolonged party atmosphere and 60’s experience. WSU sounded like the place to go. But, in the months before shipping off for my freshman year, I had this amazing, PENTECOST, HOLY SPIRIT, encounter with JESUS that changed my life and made me a total follower of his. Needless to say, following Jesus and being at college that was a real-life version of Animal House, was an interesting and challenging juxtapositioning of values and lifestyles for me. I did okay, but after one semester, I had had it.

I Transferred to PLU where I knew some Young Life folks. Moved to campus and got immediately involved with a youth ministry many of you know…and made friends and colleagues in Young Life that I have known for going on 40 years. It was at PLU an in YOUNG LIFE that I discovered the idea of MISSION and CLUSTER. MISSION – my life is to be Jesus’ witness in all possible ways and places – close to home and across the world. CLUSTER – Mission comes out of a cluster of people, burning hot with the fire and strength of the Holy Spirit.

During my first month at PLU, I was still slowly reading the Bible for the First time. I had stumbled through the Old Testament and was reading the New Testament for the first time ever and was somewhere in the Gospel of John when I attended a Young Life leadership training gathering for Tacoma Leaders and heard my friend Dudley Miller do a study on today’s text. It later became the topic of my doctoral dissertation…don’t sweat it…my dissertation was only about 275 pages long…and I will read quickly..(kidding)

Acts 2:38:47 ( shared today in 3 different segments)

We begin today a the end of the first Christian Sermon recorded. The Apostle Peter has held court before thousands and delivered a monstrously relevant appeal for one and all to come to faith in Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness for sins and a new direction for life. Peter concludes his sermon…and we see the earliest church’s response in today’s text:

³⁸Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

I love this portion of ACTS 2, because I am a preacher. What the Spirit leads Peter to in this first message is very important. Peter is relevant. He’s willing to begin with the issue of “Hey, are you guys ripped or something?” – and explain the phenomenon of the Spirit that is absolutely fresh and new to him with boldness and clarity.

As the Spirit moves in Peter, He links what is happening by the Power of the Spirit to Scripture and to Jesus. HE knows this is the Spirit of Jesus … and he knows to tell the story of the ONE with whom he has lived and worked the past several years. Peter knows he has a story. And it needs to be told. We all have God stories, Jesus stories, and they need to be told. I believe the Church is supposed to live in the power and signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit. If the church is not Pentecostal or Charismatic, it is not the church. I also believe strongly that whatever the Spirit is doing or leading, can and must be confirmed by integrating it with the whole of Scripture…and, the Spirit’s perceived work must hold Jesus Christ and his Resurrection and Lordship high.

If you go back and read Peter’s sermon from the beginning in Acts 2:14, you will see that Peter is linking everything that has happened and is happening to a historic faith that is faithfully recounted in Scripture. As Peter integrates “Experience” with God’s revelation of Scripture and of Jesus, a large group of people is convinced to gather as the First Christian Church of Jerusalem and to stimulate spiritual passion among themselves and the watching world. I honestly believe that this kind of faith, combined with a loving and inclusive community of people is what our WORLD IS DYING TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE. Romans 8 – “the world groans and travails like a woman in childbirth waiting to see the people of God revealed” -- and to be invited into that family of God.

CLUSTERING TOGETHER AND FANNING THE FIRE OF FAITH IN JESUS LEADS US TO: Spiritual Passion reflected in Essential Spirituality, or spiritual practices.

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

I did my doctoral dissertation on Peter’s sermon and these few verses. I think they show the way to increased Spiritual Passion. You can break down spirituality and spiritual direction all you want, but all spiritual exercises and disciplines come back to the elements mentioned in these verses. Spirituality is all about CONNECTING. Connecting with God, Connecting with ourselves, Connecting with others, Connecting with a world that is dying to be reborn in the Spirit of God. Here are the essential forms for connecting at these three levels.

#1 – Apostle’s Teaching

Revealed truth found in Scripture. Know and live the book (Peter is a great example – dumb and obstinate fisherman, but avid reader of the book). Life and teachings of Jesus Christ – predominant tools of interpretation for all of Scripture and faith and life. Not What Would Jesus Do? But…What DID Jesus do? And What’s he doing NOW??? Here? Today? His way of love. His commands: Go and make disciples, Be my witnesses in the power of the Spirit – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Uttermost Parts of World. The early church’s understanding of the mandate to go and tell and live the Good News of Jesus Christ in service to the world.

The spiritual practice of being devoted to the Apostle’s teaching leads to the development of a thought base or world view that is distinctly Christian. It shapes what we think, what we see and what we value. It also leads to a bias toward action to go out and live what we are learning.

In an INFORMATION AGE of disjointed and jumbled data, we need a foundation for integrating life. The Apostle’s teaching offers a grounding in integrated being, thinking and doing that is a positive countermeasure to the chaos of the information age. The Apostle’s Teaching keeps us CHRIST CENTERED and OUTWARDLY FOCUSED. Alive in HIM, dead to religiosity.

#2 – Fellowship

Being together intentionally in Christ. Time together. Sharing stories. Vulnerability. Prayer. Study. Fun. SERVICE. Life Together is what we call this…and there’s a great little book on this subject bearing the title, LIFE TOGETHER, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that I would highly recommend that everyone read. Together can be groups of 2 to groups of 30 or more. It can include mission/service projects. It can include interests like – book clubbing, knitting, running, movie viewing, skiing, running, you name it!

But……In an AGE OF ALIENATION, the spiritual discipline of forming community, healing our deep loneliness and learning to live together and discern the Holy Spirit’s voice together speaks to our need for connecting. Without intentional life together in worship, grouping, socializing and WORK, we cannot stay burning hot. We find it hard to bring in others to the faith. We can isolated and lost and discouraged. We are made for one another…to be family and partners. IF you are not in intentional community with other believers pursuing your faith, please talk to one of us here…About fears…Time constraints…Issues of past hurts…Lack of understanding…Lack of desire or need or interest. You are SAFE to talk with us and we won’t shoe horn or cajole you into anything.

#3 – Breaking of Bread

Worship, Word & Sacraments. Emphatic connection with God. Worship – being aware of God’s presence. Theologian Helmut Thieleke said of worship that is it Rehearsal for the week and forever. Worship is also public witness (you will be my witnesses, says Jesus) to the Risen Jesus Christ.

Sacraments – connecting deeply with the presence of God and God’s YES, YOU BELONG that are spoken to us at the Lord’s Supper and in Baptism. Sacraments as a MEANS OF GRACE. When we break bread…GRACE IS PROFOUNDLY PRESENT and there for each of us. When we baptize – we are all swept up in grace and experience the very Grace of God and re-experience our own inclusion in God’s Family.

In an AGE OF BROKENESS, worship, word and sacraments, open us to the healing power of the Holy Spirit.

#4 – Prayer

Prayer is most simply the act of communication with God…or Communion with God. Prayer is LIKE BREATHING – Our bodies work of life. It has to go on continuously. But, it is largely effortless. It is controllable and breathing exercises not only help us at the moment we do them, but they shape our overall breathing and oxygenation. PRAYER – is a reciprocal in/out act of receiving and purging…and it becomes natural and more powerful with practice.

PRAYER OFFERS US DEEP Roots in an AGE OF ROOTLESSNESS. Discovering who we really are and who God is to us. Seeking the power to live with Courage, boldness and love. Staying sane, centered, energized.

NOTICE THAT THESE FOUR KEY SPIRITUAL PRACTICES ARE THE RUDIMENTS OF ALL CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY AND ALL OF THEM ARE LINKED TO COMMUNITY – THEY ARE NOT SOLOIST OR SEPARATIST ACTS….

WE STUDY THE APOSTLE’S TEACHING AND PUT IT INTO ACTION GOING INTO OUR WORLD TOGETHER. LEARNING AND DOING ARE INTRINSICALLY LINKED.

WE LIVE A SHARED LIFE TOGETHER THAT IS DEEPLY SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL…THIS IS THE NATURE OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP.

WE WORSHIP AND COME TOGETHER AROUND SACRAMENTS TO GLORIFY GOD AND ANNOUNCE THE REIGN OF THE KING OF KINGS AND THE INBREAKING OF THE TRUE AND RENEWED ORDER OF ALL THINGS.

WE PRAY TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY…AND EVEN IN SOLITUDE WHEN WE PRAY…WE DO NOT PRAY ALONE JUST US AND GOD, FOR ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN JOIN IN AND AROUND THE WORLD, BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE WILL NOT MEET BEFORE WE MEET IN HEAVEN ARE PRAYING WITH US WHILE WE PRAY…AND WE ARE PRAYING FOR THEM.

Authentic Christian Community – happens when ordinary people open themselves to the power of the Holy Spirit through these four basic Spiritual disciplines…listen to what happens to those gathered in the early church

⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This sense of community cannot be held inside the “church” or organized life of the community. It naturally overflows. Gladness and gratitude prevail, even in the face of difficulties. The Authentic Christian community BRINGS AND INCLUDES. People like what they see and want to be a part. There is growth in numbers and growth in love for God and love for others. WHO WOULDN’T WANT THIS??

Make it a GREAT WEEK!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 3/30/2008

2008-03-30T16:38:00.001-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 91 Kids: 6

Next Sunday 4/6: Communion Sunday and All Church brunch following at Romio’s Pizza.

Beginning Sunday 4/13 and running 3 weeks after service: Sanctuary New Members Class

Looking for small groups? Look no further. Contact Summer Mohrlang smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org.

Want to make Greenwood an even more loving and hospitable place? Volunteer at the Green Bean. We can train you and work around your schedule. Contact Hayden Smith hsmith@sanctuarycrc.org.

REFLECTIONS – on Acts 1 “Why Do you Stand and Look Into Heaven?”

The Acts of the Apostles is the lone history book in New Testament. Written by a doctor, Luke. Very precise and clear narratives that include who, what, where, when, why and how…almost a journalistic flavor. I find the text quite convincing because if one reads it carefully, it aligns well with the New Testament documents attributed to Peter and Paul. I also find the text very compelling because of HOW REAL IT IS. No attempt is made to gloss over warts and freckles. There are issues with leadership, authority, power, spirituality, money, sex, idolatry, flawed people…and EVEN the heroes of the book engage in interpersonal battles that are HUGE and need resolution (Acts 15).

In our 13 week series entitled FIRESTARTERS that begins today, we are going to examine and hopefully experience and wrestle with what it means to be LIT UP and LED FORWARD by the HOLY SPIRIT. We will get to see how spectacularly GOD can INTERRUPT and REDIRECT people just like you and me in communities just like GREENWOOD and GREATER SEATTLE. We will see how ordinary people…just like us…become FIRESTARTERS.

I learned the most about being a FIRESTARTER when in the summer after 5^th grade when I attended Boy Scout camp for two weeks at Camp Hahobas near Hood Canal. Excited about being on a camping trip. Wanted merit badges in canoeing, rowing, camping, archery, swimming, mile swim, marksmanship and a couple of other things. I excelled in Aquatics at that age…I could just flat out swim like a fish…and pretty fast.

I was then, like I am today, not a detailed guy. One day while getting set to start marksmanship classes at the rifle range, I made a big goof. Picked up my rifle w/o permission, when Army Sergeant yelled at me, I turned to face him…thus pointing the loaded gun a him. I was kicked off the rifle range and out of the running for a merit badge for the remainder of the two weeks. I cried my eyes out in agony as I left the rifle range. BACK at Troop 94’s campsite, I was devastated.

My scoutmaster, Jack Gallagher, came out of his tent to comfort me. He also told me I would now earn a merit badge in campfires instead…and he put me in charge of our fire over which we cooked two meals per day.

During that two week period, I learned some pretty big stuff about fires: To make a fire go – you need fuel, air, and energy in the form of heat. To make a fire keep going, you need containment, air flow, closely stacked fuel. Stacking the fuel is a key to making an enduring and useful fire.

TO PUT OUT A FIRE – No need to take water to it and flood your campsite. Or toss dirt on it and fill your fire pit. Just separate the logs out from one another, spread them around, keep them below the wind break so they don’t get too much air flow…and all you have to do is wait a little bit. In fact, did you know that you can take a red hot piece of wood off most any campfire and isolate it for about 10-20 minutes and you can pick it up with bare hands.

I liken our roles in this world as being FIRESTARTERS for THE KINGDOM OF GOD. We can make a huge difference. When we offer the fuel of our lives to God . When we off the fuel of our lives TOGETHER in closely stacked proximity to one another to GOD. AND … we receive the WIND and FIRE of the HOLY SPIRIT to fuel our energies and efforts. SO….take this metaphor of FIRESTARTING into the book of ACTS with me…and let’s see where we wind up..

Introductory Texts to ACTS – 2 Important Readings. Acts 1:1-11 and 2:1-13

Acts 1:1-11 (ESV)

¹In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ²until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ⁴And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

The disorientation of seemingly losing Jesus to death, is reversed by the Resurrection, and a new RISEN CHRIST community of followers is with JESUS. V3 - “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” What we call the New Testament Church is forming in its early stages here. People are gathered, not individually, but together in community around Jesus. Mind you, this is a delicate and dangerous time. Some of these folks who are labeled Christ-followers are literally running for their lives while running toward Jesus.

Step ONE: Jesus starts a general gathering. Jesus had plans for these people that they would be world changers as they went their various ways, but he needed to prepare them and keep them TOGETHER.

⁴And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

During his earthly life and ministry, Jesus had taught his followers about the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Helper, The POWER, The Comforter, that would come. NOW… he gives specific directions for his followers to GO NOWHERE and to STAY TOGETHER until the Old Testament Prophet, Joel’s, well known prophecy, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh” had been fulfilled amongst them. THIS COMING SPIRIT could take uneducated, educated, poor, rich, outspoken, quiet, wildly gifted and only modestly talented people and send THEM EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD to be TOGETHER AS HIS EMERGING AND GROWING CHURCH.

“You will be my witnesses” In JERUSALEM – close to home and familiar but hard and dangerous. To JUDEA – the countryside full of small towns, hard work and tough people. Samaria – the neighboring state where good little Jewish boys and girls don’t go. THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD – where Rome and other empires have ruled, where languages vary, cultures diverge and nothing is certain…

Step TWO: what we see here is JESUS intentionally bunching the disciples together like closely set fire wood … and calling them TO STAY TOGETHER UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND EMPOWERMENT. THEN… the next thing we see is that JESUS ASCENDS

⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

I won’t go into an elaborate theology of the Ascension, but what it does is. Move Jesus to his rightful place in HEAVEN as LORD OF ALL. It makes room for his followers to become something big. Firestarters, usually light a match and stand back. That’s what Jesus does here. His Ascension also causes one more new event of disorientation out of which the FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, become REORIENTED TO BECOMING WITNESSES AND WORKERS not OBSERVERS.

Check out this cool verse…

¹⁰And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

WHY DO YOU STAND LOOKING INTO HEAVEN? (sermon title today). There’s a huge message in this angelic question: FIRST: Don’t look up to heaven – LOOK AHEAD HERE…BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COMING WITH POWER HERE AND NOW. SECOND: The presence and power of the Holy Spirit that is coming is so real and intense, that you will know it is the spirit of JESUS and you will really know what he meant when he told you recently, “Behold, I will never leave you or forsake you”. THIRD: The Risen Jesus had also told his followers, “Behold all power in heaven and on earth is given to me. NOW…you guys go and make disciples of all nations…” We now get a glimpse of what JESUS DOES WITH ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY: He shares it. He empowers.

Let’s look at how that happens as our text continues…The First Match is thrown on to start the fire.

A. Acts 2:1-13 (ESV)

¹When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹²And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

I am not going to line by line this part of the story … it is a pretty singular unit…but do let me highlight a couple of things…

ONE: Pentecost was a Jewish Holiday which is derived from “the Fiftieth Day” from the PASSOVER. While Passover celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from captivity in Egypt…and this is the holiday feast on which Jesus was crucified, PENTECOST is a thanksgiving pilgrimage. Jews came from many nations in pilgrimage to offer a thanksgiving offering of two loaves of bread given in response to the first fruits of the Harvest that year. This is what is happening in Jerusalem when the HOLY SPIRIT COMES DOWN…The City is PACKED with people from all over the world. The first believers receive the first fruits of THE SPIRIT OF GOD that is promised to all believers. While happy pilgrims are offering bread loaves to God, these first Christians are blown away in the power of the Spirit and telling other spiritual pilgrims about Jesus in their own native tongues and doing it with such giddiness that they are thought to be drunk.

TWO: God the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit is the MAIN PRIMARY FIRESTARTER, but even from the first moment of the Spirit’s Outpouring, the earliest Christians, both gathered and distributed as the church become FIRESTARTERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. Think of the symbols of the Holy Spirit: ROARING WIND –The power of every storm…directed. The winds to which a faithful sail may be set to journey. The freshness and aeration that creates a strong and useful fire. TONGUES OF FIRE- The heat source of God that is fanned by the wind of the Spirit. This is like unto the elemental forces with which God first Created the Universe from nothing.

NOW…this day…THOSE FORCES FALL upon the church…they fall on you and me. So…some take away’s for today

While we are looking to experience God deeply and personally and for our peace, pleasure, help and benefit – THE COMING OF GOD IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT A ME THING, BUT A WE THING – FIRESTARTER FAITH IS NOT A SOLO ACT. The Spirit comes to the community of faith.

The results of the coming of the spirit are not certainty, comfort and orientation to the same-old-same-old. NO. The coming of the Spirit means disorientation, sending, adventure and risk. FIRESTARTER FAITH IS NOT SELF PRESERVATION.

Partial immolation at the hands of a fire starting force from God is not possible. You cannot and I cannot control the coming and the movement of the Holy Spirit within us. If you and I are open…WE GO WHERE THE WIND BLOWS and WE BURN BRIGHTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WHEREVER WE WIND UP..…….FIRESTARTER FAITH IS NOT A SPECTATOR OR VIRTUAL EVENT.

FIRESTARTER FAITH appears to me to be the normative calling of all believers. WHERE AM I WITH THIS TODAY? WHERE ARE YOU?

WANT THIS KIND OF FAITH? Then, like the Angel said to those first disciples, “why do you stand looking into heaven?” Instead, let’s look here and now for the wind and fire of the Spirit. --- join me on this journey for the next 12 weeks. Next week, we will see what primitive Christian Spirituality and Christ following looked like in the very first days after Pentecost. I think you will find next week’s study quite compelling.

And, I think you will see that Sanctuary, all of us together has a great capacity to be FIRESTARTERS!

PRAYERS –

God, we pray for all who are ill, especially Patty Smith’s brother, Kit.

Christ, have mercy on all who are travelling.

Jesus, we pray for your peace, love and joy to overcome war and hatred.

Father, we ask your wisdom and guidance for our various nations as we select governments and dream about tomorrow.

Holy Spirit, strengthen those who deal with chronic pain, depression and other difficult disorders.

Now, go out into your world in the power of the Holy Spirit and make it a great week!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 3/16/2008

2008-03-16T15:13:00.001-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Worship Attendance: 102 Kids: 6 Offering: $12,496.95

Holy Week: Good Friday Service 7pm @ Upper Crust (85^th & Greenwood)

Easter Sunday Resurrection Worship: 10am @ Taproot

Coming Soon: Mutual Commitment Gathering for Sanctuary Church Membership. Information? Write Summer Mohrlang smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org

PRAYERS –

We pray Lord, for Patty Morgan Smith’s brother, Kit, who is extremely ill. Be with him and his family and bring him safely to where you need him to be.

God, we lift up our brother Don to you following his heart attack and we pray for health and restoration of body and soul.

Lord Jesus, for all expectant parents, give encouragement, strength and health. We especially pray for Rachel who has had a tough early pregnancy.

Spirit, guide and assist all those making key life choices this week, especially those in our community at Sanctuary who are shopping for first-time homes.

We continue to pray, Lord, that your eternal peace won on the cross will find its way into our warring circles and bring violence to an end.

REFLECTIONS – on “The Parade of Your Lifetime” Mark 11:1-11

Jesus’ parade on Palm Sunday – the beginning of a week that offers all of the up’s, down’s, sideway’s and everything else that it means to be human beings created in the image of God.

After all the work, the miracles, the walking about, the teaching of the disciples…he finally makes the big time…

Let’s read about it in the Gospel of Mark ..

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

⁴They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!^a” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^b ¹⁰“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” ¹¹Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jerusalem is located up high….Bethphage and Bethany were small villages on the way “up to” Jerusalem. The significance of the colt is that dignitaries often entered into cities in parades wherein they road a young beast of burden like this. The Divine mystery is added to this story by disciples going up to the owners and saying “the Lord has need of it” and getting permission to take the animal. (Don’t try this at home).

During parades in the time of Jesus it was not uncommon to see the crowd MAKING A WAY – make a big deal about a very important dignitary entering the Holy City of Jerusalem. Throwing cloaks, branches, palm fronds (like you see here) on the ground was not unusual. At the same time “MAKING THE WAY OF THE LORD” was a concept of anticipating the Messiah and his coming to SAVE Israel. So, there is a working tension for those at this parade….. what is it they are seeing? Another interesting angle as we cover this story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is that someone so UNACCEPTED by the local religious authorities and so UNACKNOWLEDGED by the ruling government could receive such a large, public welcome.

There is a longing in the people for spiritual truth, spiritual deliverance, spiritual meaning – they are parched, and willing, and open and hungry and thirsty --- and READY. So, THEY MAKE A WAY and shout HOSANANA – ‘blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”. By the way: The Hebrew word from which the people of Jesus’ day god HOSANNA – is a pleading form of shouting “S A V E !”

Palm Sunday begins our personal pilgrimage of Easter. A Parade - Acknowledging the presence of AN EXTREME Dignitary. A willingness to go public with our spiritual thirst and longing, even if it doesn’t fit the ORDER OF THE DAY. ABANDONING ourselves to the moment – throwing down whatever we have and being in the parade.

THE TERMINUS of this parade route is the cross…This forces us to look at life from lots of complicated angles. We love the idea of celebrating and parades … of births and weddings. We mourn over breakups and death. Yet these are so often linked in the human experience…TRIUMPH TRAGEDY are inextricably linked here. What can that tell you and me about our triumphs and tragedies? No good thing we do or experience stands by itself or lasts forever, or defines us. No bad thing defines us either. We live between the good and the bad, the rejoicing and the suffering and BEING A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO AND WORK WITH THE RHYTHM OF LIFE

I love the high times, but they don’t shape me. I wish they did. The high times, the triumphs…strengthen and energize me. BUT…I am one of those guys who is most shaped by adversity and TRAGEDY. I don’t by any means go looking for it. But, I change most and grow most when it’s DO OR DIE; when the tragedy finds me.

AS I witness the parade of life – and the parade of God’s actions IN FRONT OF ME … I throw down who I am and abandon myself to ‘ever moment of life”. THE SYMBOLS OF PEOPLE THROWING DOWN GARMENTS AND BRANCHES to make a way for Jesus is returned by JESUS AS HE THROWS DOWN HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS AT THE END OF THE PARADE. Jesus will go to the cross and die for all of the spiritual thirst and hunger he has seen. He will go to the cross and die for all of the brokenness and sin he has seen. He will go to the cross and throw down his life for all of the longings and spiritual desires he has seen. Jesus will die that his triumph of the Resurrection will amplify and direct our personal triumphs. He will demonstrate that the greatest triumphs come through the greatest sorrows.

IF you were in this parade….what would what you threw down symbolize….? What do you lay before Jesus that he would take to the cross to fulfill and MAKE A WAY for you??? A habit pattern that needs broken? An emotional pain or loss you cannot overcome? A physical condition? A failed or broken relationship?

Well, right now, you have a chance to walk the parade route covered with palm fronds RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW. What triumphs and assets do you have to thrown down in front of Jesus today? Close your eyes and imagine them…

Now imagine your sorrows, pain, losses and longings…your TRAGEDIES….keep your eyes closed and let them be there…and join me in this prayer …

Lord, we often let our Triumphs become tragedy, because we expect bliss and don’t capitalize on it and grow from it when good things do come our way. we can easily take those things, and you, the giver of all good gifts for granted.

Father, we often let our Tragedies define us negatively rather than seeing the resurrections beyond the crosses we bear.

What we really need is a delicate balance and a ability to find you and grow in you in the midst of our lives PARADES and THE KILLING FLOORS, the crosses.

As we enter this most holy of weeks, draw us into your parade wherein you make sense of all of life – the ups and downs – and draw us into your parade of redeeming all circumstances, reaching out to redeem all people and all the world. JESUS, you are the first in line. You show us how this is done. Grant us the courage and wisdom to follow you on the path of life, beginning with today’s parade….In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a deeply meaningful Holy Week as you walk with Him.

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

^a A Hebrew expression meaning ``Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10

^b Psalm 118:25,26

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 3/9/2008

2008-03-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

This coming Friday 3/14 7:30pm URBAN HYMNAL service. Y’all come! First Presbyterian Church, downtown. Information? Mark.mohrlang@gmail.com.

Good Friday @ The Upper Crust, 85^th and Greenwood, 7:00pm

Easter Sunday Worship 10:00 am 3/23

Coming: New Members Mutual Commitment Group: Information – smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org. Summer will help you.

PRAYERS –

Lord, be with Chad from Donegal and his American family as they wrestle with his father’s grave health situation.

Christ, have mercy on all those who suffer depression and anxiety.

God, bless our leaders and help us to vote and participate well in the elections and changes to come.

Spirit, guide our world’s leaders toward peace.

God, we do pray for the economy, for those who need jobs, for those on fixed incomes.

REFLECTIONS ON – Mark 10:17-31 “Oh…and one more thing…”

Have you ever surveyed your values on the internet on one of those psychological tests? You can do it through any number of websites, including YOUR VALUES TEST @ http://www.geocities.com/Area51/1303/personality/yourvaluestest.html.

Here’s the values for life that this survey measures

i. Security

ii. Influence

iii. Recognition

iv. Helpfulness

v. Freedom

vi. New Experiences

vii. Friendship

viii. Family Life

ix. Religion

x. Orderliness

xi. Wealth

xii. Workmanship

With regard to a couple of the areas, I was not surprised….For instance, I scored very high in FRIENDSHIP. I am an insecure guy who loves people and values life time friends. No shock there. I also valued being HELPFUL. I guess that makes sense as a pastor and teacher, etc.

BUT>>>>>>>I was stunned that my repeated valuation of “to be reasonably sure about the future for myself and my family” scored the most points and was my top value. Here I thought that my number one value was being RESPONSIBLE, ETC> ETC> ETC…but what this really TRANSLATES TO IS THE VALUE OF SECURITY. According to this survey, I potentially value SECURITY 10:1 over RELIGION/FAITH and 10:3 over FAMILY LIFE. Crud…I got to thinking more about this and was wondering if my being helpful and generous were just an insecure hunger to be loved and to buy friendship and loyalty. And, then to make it a little worse, I realized I scored low on FAITH RELGION, because I often valued another answer over “to do that which is right according to my beliefs”

My values stink…..and I stand here today ready to read the Gospel of Jesus WEARING A THREE EGG OMLETTE ON MY FACE … think I would walk out of here right now, if I didn’t suspect that maybe I have some company.

So.. help me and help us Jesus…

Here goes: Mark 10:17-31 (ESV)

¹⁷And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” ²⁰And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” ²¹And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²²Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. ²³And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ²⁸Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

A closer look at this text. Jesus gets asked a very sensible question: What do I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus won’t even lay claim to being GOD here, he references the long-known God of Israel, His Heavenly Father, as the only good giver of VALUES that are eternal and worthy…You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’

The young man feels relieved and relishes being able to say, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

Instead of “way to go… you were religious and moral”, Jesus cared enough to point out not WHERE THE MAN’S VALUES WERE GOOD, BUT WHERE THEY WERE POTENTIALLY DEADLY…You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

²²Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. … This young man was decent, upstanding, successful, honorable in many ways…but, he lacked the capacity to FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST OF VALUES even at the expense of others things that are dear.

There’s a good Biblical and Theological term for holding some values that are of relative value over the URGENT, IMPORTANT and ETERNAL values GOD teaches and JESUS demonstrates: IDOLATRY – the worship of false God’s

Like Security, Influence, Recognition, Freedom, New Experiences, Orderliness, Wealth…and so on. In the Gospels, Jesus points out and corrects his beloved people for many different errors in the ordering of values. He attacks judgmentalism, religiosity, discriminiation, abuse of power, self-determination…THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES ONE OF MANY VALUES THAT CAN BEOME AN IDOL – WEALTH – but, believe me, wealth is not the only thing that can destroy us…but, it is a good example. And, it is a powerful example in our culture where moods rise and fall on the stock market and real estate market. Since our “Recession” began a month or two ago, the political polls have changed and American’s now say the #1 thing that will influence their votes in November 2008 is what a candidate will do for them in regard to the economy. and yet barely flinch at news of the increasing number of people in our culture living below the poverty line, or the number of people who die of violence in our world on any given day. Just give me the Dow…and good equity on my properties.

BUT AGAIN, LET ME EMPHASIZE having your retirement covered, paying for family needs and education and owning a home are NOT INHERENTLY BAD AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SIN OF WEALTH…But, there are values inherent in this and every culture that challenge our ability to FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST and LIVE FULLY FOR HIM…

Jesus uses an almost absurd illustration for this: Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” He could have said, this with regard to a person who must always be right or have power over others. Or, he could have said this of a person so addicted to new experiences and personal freedom that he or she lacks the capacity to LIVE FOR JESUS and OTHERS. Or…he could say that it’s easier for a camel to get through the eye of needle than it is for RANDY ROWLAND, a pastor at that, TO VALUE HIS BELIEFS OVER HIS NEED FOR FRIENDSHIP AND SECURITY.

Do you see where we’re going here? What are our values? Are we open to hearing JESUS speak to us through scripture and through the community of believers to our deepest needs…and most risky addictions to things other than GOD?

If you are open to having your values challenged…you are on your way to being a growing, self-sustaining follower of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a student…if you are open to the challenge you will learn and grow…and be transformed by the power of God.

Fist off: No one has their values straight…some of us are minutely closer than, but no one is there – even great saints like Mother Theresa had issues of control and the need to be overly helpful.

READ JESUS DISPOSITION TOWARD THE RICH YOUNG MAN AND KNOW THAT HE VIEWS US THE SAME JESUS looks at all of us and as the texts says, LOVES US … He loves us just as we are and right where we are. and he LOVES US so MUCH, that he cannot let us stay where we are for our own eternal growth and good and happiness and for the salvation of the world. He just can’t love us and not speak up…

A friend who was killing himself in his business, and eventually lost it all….he put success and freedom and wealth ahead of values that are more Christ-Driven…and he failed miserably and took others with him. He later told of all the times he heard and ignored the voice of God and how he ruined himself and others.

Just to put a little bit of hope and a smile into this very serious subject, let us remember that sometimes the values we hold and revere so deeply actually come off as silly if we sit back and give God the time to teach and give ourselves the grace to listen and learn. Here’s a story from a recent book called “THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK”

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican of the quality of his fish.

“how long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.

“Only a little while”, the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American then asked.

“I have enough to support my family and give a few to my friends,” the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basked.

“but…what do you do with the rest of your time?

The Mexican looked up and smiled, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boar. In not time you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you will have a fleet of fishing boats.”

He continued, “instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the customers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, or course, and move to Mexico City then Los Angeles, and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, senor, how long will this take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years. 25 tops.”But what then, senor?”

The American laughed and said, “that’s the best part, when the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with you wife and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos…..”

Isn’t that a dandy???

We can convince ourselves of much, but when we sit back and look at some of our pursuits in a proper perspective, we can look silly. BUT…if we learn to challenge ourselves and step up to the CALL OF JESUS for each of us…the rewards of a meaningful life, a clear conscience, a growing faith and an abundance of love and joy are INESCAPABLE…²⁹Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

And lest we forget….Jesus reminds us…³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

LORD CHALLENGE US, REMIND US, SHAPE US….Amen.

Go out and make it a Great Week!

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly words from Randoon ... 3/2/08

2008-03-02T15:44:00.001-08:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 91 Kids: 6 Offering: $4,500+

This Friday 3/7: SCARED TO DEATH, starring Bella Lugosi in his only color film. Yes, a true B or perhaps B- horror film. 7-9pm at the GREEN BEAN COFFEE HOUSE – schlocky-rock concert lead in. It's FREE. Don't miss it!

Looking for a small group experience: Well, we can hook you up. Short Term group on WORSHIP meets next Sunday 3/9 immediately following morning worship. And, if you are looking for an ongoing men's, women's, couples or mixed small group contact Summer Mohrlang – smohrlang@sanctuarycrc.org.

NOW serving DELICIOUS soups, quiche and Panini Sandwiches @ THE GREEN BEAN … stop by for lunch….or coffee or some of our great baked goods.

REFLCTIONS – on Mark 8:27-9:1 (ESV) Who? and Why? And What?

²⁷And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" ²⁸And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." ²⁹And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." ³⁰And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. ³¹And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." ³⁴And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷For what can a man give in return for his soul? ³⁸For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." ¹And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Jesus' First Question: Who do people say that I am? Because many Palestinian Jews believed that prophets in the Old Testament sense had ceased, ranking Jesus among the prophets would have been radical—but it was not radical enough to grasp his true identity.( IVP Background Commentary). One might also have expected one of the answers to be that Jesus was some kind of liberator since Israel had been occupied by foreign oppressors for centuries.

Jesus' Second question: BUT…who do you say I am? The Greek form of this sentence is an emphatic second person…literally translated, it would read something like "You. You, what do you say?" Peter Answers a lot like this kid who comes to Story Time at the Green Bean Coffee House each Tuesday. She is very precocious and no matter what you ask or say or who you direct a question toward this little girl is always first to speak. Peter's famous confession of course: You are the Christ. Peter speaks the truth and he does so for himself and the group. Peter is fast on his feet, vocal…and in this particular instance, correct – uh…for the moment.

Jesus counters in a way that seems problematic: And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. ³¹And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²And he said this plainly. Why keep Jesus' identity about which he just inquired a secret? One commentary summarizes well what the majority of students of this text and other occurrences of what we call "the Messianic Secret". (International Greek Testament Commentary) The popular enthusiasm for Jesus, and the hope that he might be persuaded to take a more political role as the leader of a Jewish uprising would mean that messianic language could be seriously misunderstood on the part of both friends and enemies. In view of what Jesus is about to reveal concerning his real mission in v. 31 there could hardly be a more unfortunate misunderstanding, or one more calculated to derail his enterprise as it approaches its decisive phase in the journey towards Jerusalem. So language about Jesus as ὁ Χριστός is forbidden.

Why choose this time to predict his death on the cross that looms down the road in Jerusalem? There are couple of possible interpretations #1 – he wanted to link obedience to the will of God up to and including death as a mark of discipleship…of faithfulness. #2 – His "foretelling" at least announces his wisdom about the religious leaders of Jerusalem, but even more likely points to his ability as God Incarnate to know what lies ahead and accept that as the plan of God.

Peter, always one to assert himself, jumps in again: And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. It may be okay to confront God…and to express onesself, so long as onesself is prepared to be put in one's place…Now Jesus launches back: "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Jesus probably uses hyperbole to make the point: Peter is just like Satan in preferring the worldly to the divine. Calling Peter by the name of the ultimate tempter and accuser underlines the seriousness of his failure as a disciple at this point.(IVP Background). When Jesus begins to teach them that He is the Son of Man who must suffer many things, Peter switches from confessor to counselor. Acting as a condescending friend, he takes Jesus aside and begins to set Him straight on what it means to be the Christ. Like us, Peter can accept only the immediate and positive side of truth. The proper position of a disciple is "behind" his master, "following" him; "get behind me" may call Peter back to his rightful position of subservience. In Greek circles a person could be reproached for thinking in human rather than divine terms.

Jesus then spins the issue of his identity, his death, and what it means to follow God in radical obedience rather than follow human wisdom and survival instincts: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷For what can a man give in return for his soul?

The SUPREMECY OF CHRIST…THE SECONDARY NATURE OF ALL ELSE. Easter is coming. The cross lies ahead. Jesus bids us to join him in absolute abandonment to the will of God. Following and losing is a WIN: the reward is experiencing the eternal here and now……."Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Seeing the Kingdom come with power in OUR LIFE TIME. RECOGNIZE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AMONG US EMERGING AND WAITING TO FULLER EMERGE FROM WITHIN AND AMONG US HERE AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES OF FAITH IN SEATTLE AND ELSEWHERE. A holistic worship/glorification God through Jesus: Body, Soul, Mind, Will. Radical Followership of the KING in HIS KINGDOM. Time, talents, treasures. Who do YOU SAY JESUS IS? If you say, THE CHRIST…IF we say THE CHRIST….then we heed the call: If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

PRAYERS –

We pray Jesus, for healing for a young couple whose pregnancy may be threatened.

God, we lift up our dear Brother, Don Black, to you. Thank you for sparing him and bringing him through a serious heart attack. We pray for complete recovery.

Lord, we pray for the work of Classis Pacific Northwest of the CRC as they meet this week to pray and discern God's will for the church in this region on many matters.

Spirit, guide us all as citizens of our country and our cities. Help us to be informed and involved in elections and actions that work toward the common good.

Lord, we pray for all those struggling with the issues of aging and/or aging parents.

God bless one and all, and do make sure to go out there and make it a great week!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 2/17/2008

2008-02-17T13:22:00.001-08:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 80 Offering: $6,300

ON NOW!! A small short term small group on “worship”. Meets Sundays immediately following worship at Sanctuary office above the WAMU Bank on 85^th and Greenwood.

Welcome Aboard: Congratulations to Summer Mohrlang as she joins our ministry staff! Summer is a Fuller Seminary graduate, an officer in the USAF, a gifted teacher and someone you should get to know.

PRAYERS –

Lord, in your great mercy, look after all those who are struggling with serious depression and mental health issues, particularly one young mother.

Christ, may your kingdom of peace rule over the shattered and violent kingdoms of this world.

God, we pray for wisdom as we consider how to vote in the coming elections.

Spirit, comfort those who have suffered losses, particularly the family and friends of the students at the University of Northern Illinois who were hurt and killed this last week.

REFLECTIONS on: Mark 6:6-13 “All Together Now!”

A number of years ago, well know author Henri Nouwen, wrote about a spiritual cycle he described as Solitude to community to ministry. This is an essential rhythm that weaves in our values of WE PRAY, WE BUILD AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY and WE TALK ABOUT JESUS IN WORD AND DEED.

Solitude – learning to be silent both alone and with others … learning to pray by both speaking to God and listening for God. I had a great 4 day solitude experience during a very painful time a few years ago at the Downing House in Denver. Prayer. Questions. Conversations with spiritual director. It was extremely instructive – bring your needs to God. Physical health. Strategies. The need for friends to “play with”. I came out of this time determined to work on my health which was out of control. I weighed 400 pounds, was deeply depressed and had a good number of serious problems including out of control diabetes. This all led to my gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago on Feb 18, 2003. I am now 236 pounds lighter, healthier, and way more committed to playing with friends in my life.

Community – learning to live life together with others in love and unity with God as Father and all of us together as family. We are each God’s workmanship, and together the Family of God…and, God is the head of the household, guiding us in our relationships, our growth and maturity, our chores. I have told you numerous times that Nancy and I have been part of a couples group for over 18 years. The membership hasn’t changed in that time. THE ROWLAND’s may have had a number of transitions in life, but we have community where there is love and unity… and the Scriptures shared among us, wherein we know we are loved, accepted, forgiven and grounded in lifelong, covenant relationships. We are family to each other. We’re doing that here at Sanctuary in small groups, brunches and other opportunities to build meaningful relationships…

MINISTRY – is the final movement in the three part rhythm of life. WE ARE MADE TO LIVE WITH OTHERS AND FOR OTHERS … our LIFE TOGETHER unavoidably becomes our LIFE FOR OTHERS as we all discover and gives ourselves to ministry.

As we move from SOLITUDE TO COMMUNITY TO MINISTRY, let’s take a look at a wonderful example of this movement and rhythm in the life and ministry of Jesus and His disciples…I’m going to read from Mark 6, beginning at the 6^th verse.

Mark 6:6-13 (NIV)

Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.

And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

I want to make a few observations about this very important text:

Jesus calls people to himself to know Him and to participate in the very life of God….and we do that together and on behalf of others. To know Christ is to grow in embodying HIM. To Embody Christ means Christ-like acts of love, forgiveness and mercy in both formal and informal settings. Formal = ministries of the church. Informal= work, or even an example like Mr. Skillings from Adams Elementary School in Ballard who paid dearly for intervening in the harassment of a woman at a bus stop. He was beaten into critical condition, and is recovering slowly.

The community of the Trinity becomes the model LIFE that God offers us. The life of God demonstrated in the Trinity profoundly unified and loving and open and vulnerable. The relationship of the Trinity is unquestionably permanent. The life of the Trinity is so overflowing with love, passion, creativity and a desire to GIVE LIFE AND LOVE AWAY that the very EXISTENCE OF GOD and COMMUNITY OF GOD becomes the mission of GOD. God’s mission is CREATION. God’s mission is to include everyone in God’s loving family and for everyone to experience God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. God’s mission is TO REDEEM AND RESTORE EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE CREATION TO ITS ORGINAL STATE OF BEING wherein God said, “IT IS VERY GOOD” and rested.

The life of God is given to you and me in the LIFE, DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ is at work in IN YOU AND ME TOGETHER LONGING TO RESTORE A FALLEN AND BROKEN WORLD…seriously…can you feel it??? And as we share in the LIFE OF GOD – a literal dance of love and beauty and reconciliation – we are compelled by the life of God within us to reach beyond ourselves and share the love of God where it is not known.

So, while God in Jesus Christ call us together with Him, he also SENDS US TOGETHER in and with Him. The mission of God is the Trinity in action. The mission of the church is the Community in Action. It is never “MY MINISTRY”, it is always “God’s ministry that he has called ME and __BOB__ and __DONNA__ and __MARK__ to participate in. There is a power of us going together in UNITY and LOVE.

Ministry can be easy -- Even as simple as last week when we distributed marketing materials for our Green Bean Mission to Greenwood. And, it is in the going that we find unity and love…Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us that the church achieves unity and maturity when we fully “equip the saints for acts of service”. And, we go empty handed. Not with budgets, programs, gospel marketing plans…but with love. God is pure, white-light-love, many people respond to God’s love for them by accepting Christ and by embracing you and me and all Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ…by becoming adopted members of the family, just like you and me.

At the same, time God also gets rejected. Not all of our efforts to love and include work. Just like God, we get blown off sometimes. Other times, in spite of our best efforts we stumble over each other … or even hurt or disappoint those who we are seeking to serve. None of that is an excuse to not try…or to stop working for the kingdom. Don’t be discouraged by rejection or interpersonal problems with your kingdom co-workers. These are part of the business. Rejection and problems with others are powerful in bringing us back to solitude and then to supportive community. These issues alert us to our needs. We have to learn to dust off our sandals and move on when we hit snags in community and in ministry. That’s not an act of blame or retribution, it’s just a reality check.

In the end, the Mark’s story tells us that the DISCIPLES went out in TWO’s and that many did believe the message of God’s OUTRAGEOUS and EXTRAVAGANT LOVE … and that people were healed left and right. The proof of solitude’s value and the authenticity of community is not INTERNALLY found. The proof is in the SIGN AND WONDER OF Divine Love coming through you and me in ways that DRAW OTHERS INTO THE LIFE OF GOD. How powerful is your solitude? You can tell by how effective your efforts in ministry are. How authentic is a community? Check and see the percentage of those who are going in ministry and CHECK THE FRUITS of their ministry. Jesus said very clearly of his followers,

“You shall know them by their fruits”. And our fruit will never show unless we go. All of us are in a transition in our lives here at Sanctuary. Some are hurt and confused by issues in life. Some feel under-informed and somehow not yet able to dig into ministry and leadership. Some are fearful about the future and finances and time crunches and family. NONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WILL EVER BE ADDRESSED OR EVER GET FIXED BY SITTING AROUND AND PROCESSING HUMAN EMOTIONS. THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE ON IS TO MOVE ON TOGETHER IN MINISTRY

The staff and council of this body are your leadership team. They love you. They are called and passionate about leading. They love God and listen to God. They are practicing solitude, community and ministry. And, they want to include you and equip you and release you…LISTEN TO THEM AS IF GOD IS THE VOICE YOU ARE HEARING AND FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. THEY WILL TAKE YOU INTO GREAT MINISTRY TOGETHER.

And, no matter how you are feeling, don’t succumb to being a lone ranger. We cannot make it on our own. Life and ministry are hard work. Growing in Christ doesn’t happen without solitude, community and going out in ministry together in Jesus’ name. We need each other!

DON’T TRY TO DO THE JOB ALONE LIKE THIS POOR FELLOW DID.

Listen to his labor and industries insurance claim letter…

To: the Department of Labor and Industries:

From: Joe the Bricklayer.

RE: More information on trying to do the job alone.

I am writing in response to your request for additional information for my insurance claim. In block number three of the accident claim form I wrote, "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain that statement more fully. I trust the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carrying the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which was attached to the side of the building at the sixth-floor level.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block number 22 of the claim form that my weight is 150 pounds.

Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded up the side of the building at a very rapid rate of speed.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.

By this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel then weighed approximately 50 pounds.

I refer you again to the information in block number 11 regarding my weight. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.

This second encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind, and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope so it came down upon me and broke both of my legs.

I hope I have furnished information sufficient to explain why the stated cause of the accident was "trying to do the job alone".

You get the Point, don’t ya?

Now, go out and MAKE IT a GREAT WEEK!!

Much love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

weekly words from randoon ... 2/10/2008

2008-02-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 91 Kids: 6 Offering: $6,221.00

Thanks to all those who helped do door hangers for the Green Bean and our part of our Green Bean Team!!

PRAYERS –

Lord, we do pray for all those who have suffered losses, particularly Megan Follett and family following the loss of sister, Beth this last Friday.

Christ, have mercy on all those suffering the flu, including a certain pastor with the initials, RR.

God, be with Pastor David Snapper as he undergoes next surgery this coming week.

Father, we pray for the ongoing outreach and sustainability of the Green Bean Coffee House.

Holy Spirit, we pray for the power and imagination you bring to us to pour forth at the New Conspirators Conference coming soon to Seattle.

Lord, Bless Tim Soerens and Ben Katt as they lead their new churches, Dust and Awake in key Seattle neighborhoods.

REFELCTIONS on – Mark 4:35-41 Who Is This Man?

We're not unaccustomed to storms in this area of the Pacific Northwest. Just a week or two ago, we had a violent avalanche that closed Snoqualmie Pass. And, we are not strangers to pouring rain, occasional thunder and a bit of snow here and there. But, I realized I had never really experienced a Capital S Storm until a couple of years ago when I was traveling in the Southeast. I was in Little Rock, Arkansas….thunderstorms in the region had the airport shut down…and I could not get back to Seattle. I found out my only option to get home on the day I absolutely had to get home was to rent a car, drive to Memphis, TN (4 hours on a good day---and this did not turn out to be a good day), stay overnight at an airport hotel (overnight being about 2 ½ hours sleep), then, fly from Memphis to Denver to Portland, to Seattle.

A couple of other guys were stuck….and there were no more rental cars, so they offered to pay for my car and for food if I let them go along. I said okay. It was just beginning to rain and blow a little bit in the late afternoon. Soon, we were in the middle of rural Arkansas on a reasonably good 4 lane freeway. Dark set in and it began to lightning and thunder. Then it began to rain….with a ferocity and volume I have never seen before. The lightning grew more intense….it would make it daylight for a few seconds, then pitch black. After this, it began rain in earnest….the ferocity of the rain I had never seen before gave way to something that must have been like a hurricane. It rained so hard and was blowing so hard…and the lightning bursts were so close and so blinding, it was impossible to drive. Everyone on the freeway just slowed down to a stop….and sat there. I could barely see the taillights of the car 10 feet in front of me….and I was dreading one of those 100 car pile ups.

The rain would subside a bit and we would begin driving again, only to hit the another deluge of rain that stopped us cold. I think this is the first storm at home, at sea … whatever…that actually scared me and reduced me to very, very sincere and deep prayer… Now, imagine being in a storm just like that with about 13 or 14 people in a 20 foot boat that sits about 12 inches off the water and is made of primitive wood planks and rope…

Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Step by Step with Jesus and his crew …

V 35 – "let us go over to the other side -- Jesus calls. Disciples follow. We all need a mission We all need to be led. Who can say to you "let us go" and you do because it is the right thing to do?

V 36- "leaving the crowd behind" -- Living on purpose and following Jesus takes us away from the comfortable and familiar crowd into additional and challenging missions in life that bring us into new relationships with additional crowds…You are not the same crowd I pastored in either of my last two churches. I love you. I would never known you had I not been moved by the call of Jesus…and not knowing you would be a BUMMER.

V36 – Jesus, his disciples and a flotilla of "other boats were with him." -- There are lots that want to follow Jesus….and they do it together. Get on a boat. It doesn't matter which one.

V 37- "a furious squall came up and waves broke over the boat until it was nearly swamped". a great storm. The Greek word is used of a furious storm or hurricane. It never refers to a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however violent, but to a storm breaking forth from black thunder-clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy. From ^{^[1]}Wuest word studies)

You have to love the pure power of nature. Nature is God's creation. God created the heavens, earth, sun, moon, stars, seas, land, plants, animals, and man. Viewing His work, God pronounced it "good." David sang, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Ps. 19:1, kjv). Lloyd Oglivie says, "Original nature was good because it had unity and balance that worked together in the harmony that made the morning stars sing together. We still see the traces of that harmony. Astronauts rocket into space, assured that orderly laws of the universe will not be canceled during their flight. Naturalists see the beauty of the earth in the delicate and interlocking balance of plant life. Ecologists remind us that everything in the universe is so connected with everything else that when a person stubs a toe on earth, it is felt in Mars. No one can watch a sunset spreading in varicolored splendor across the western sky without wanting to exclaim, "It is good." Thomas Higgins said it for us, "Creation is an overwhelming outpouring, the overflow of infinite good news."¹

V 38 – CONTRAST: Jesus doesn't do storms. He "was in the stern sleeping on a cushion".-- Jesus chills where others fear disaster. Whatever storm you are in now, Jesus has seen it and is chllin'

V38- Disciples: "Teacher don't you are if we drown?" -- The Disciples 'we' is really an 'I'… sounds like me…

V39- "he got up and rebuked the wind and said to waves, "quiet! Be still!" - Peace, be still (σιώπα, πεφΐμωσο). Lit., be silent! be muzzled!...wax dumb!

V39- CONTRAST: "the wind died down and was completely calm" -- Ceased (ἐκόπασεν). A beautiful and picturesque word. The sea sank to rest as if exhausted by its own beating.

V40- "why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" – No Jesus. Of course I don't have faith for this. That's why I woke you. I have faith in YOU, JESUS. "Teacher, do You not care that we are perish-ing?" (v. 38). I wish that I could have compared their look of paralyzed panic with the eyes of Jesus as He blinks Himself awake, looks around to survey the situation, and with a calmness of spirit that puts the worst fears of men and the wildest winds of the seas to rest, He speaks, "Peace, be still!" (v. 39). The wind stops blowing and the sea settles into resolute calm. God has put His creation at rest.

Fear wipes out faith. If the disciples had not been paralyzed by the fear of death,Turning to the disciples, Jesus asks. "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" In my own twisted "Randy Reading" of this text, I would offer the interpretive option that the proper response to the storm was to seek Jesus for help, not to try to fix it on one's own strength…and that perhaps Jesus was simply saying "call me sooner" and "don't let your fear cause you to forget me when stuff like this happens."

V41- "WHO IS THIS MAN? Even the wnd and waves obey him!"-- Awe is our only response to the God who controls the wildest whims of nature. Photographs of Mount St. Helens' volcanic eruption have now become still-life posters that convey a sense of unbelievable force to the viewer. But the awe of the mountain cannot begin to approach the awe of the God who can speak winds and seas, mountains and volcanoes to calm. Jesus speaks with that awesome power, proving that He who rules the wind, controls the sea, and stills the tempest is the Christ, the Son of God.

This is the passage of scripture that called me to JESUS CHRIST. But, this passage is alive and well and speaking to me in new ways…When Jesus says LET US GO (like we will do today for the Bean) we simply GO, we don't question the weather, the mode of transportation or the task ahead..Do I really believe that? Do you? Can I? Can you? Will I? Will you? When Jesus bids us to come and follow him, it is not by any means an invitation to safety and comfort…but rather an adventure in the deep meaning that comes from alignment with HIM.

There are and will be storms…

Think about your own life now…and in years past…Review the storms..

For me…the storms have helped eased my baseline fear and faithlessness…THE HARD WAY. We never have enough faith to meet the demands of the occasion. We are never ready. Faith is a relationship with God that develops and blossoms as we depend on him. When we can no longer navigate our boats, bail them out, or white-knuckle it any longer….WE SHAKE JESUS AWAKE…AND BEG FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH THAT IS LARGER AND MORE POWERFUL THAN WHAT WE
HAVE.

If you ever begin to feel that you have it together and have the kind of faith that would allow you to rebuke the storm and let Jesus sleep, come and see me so I can either change my theology or bring you out of denial!

DON'T EVER MISS A CHANCE TO ASK "Who is this Man?" It's the question of a lifetime..The question of the year..The question of the day…The question of the hour…The question of the minute

THIS WEEK – when you get smacked with something…AWAKEN JESUS AND HIS SPIRIT IN YOU. BEG AND PRAY FOR HELP. THINK AND REFLECT "Who is this man?"

And, Go out and make it a GREAT WEEK!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 2/3/2008

2008-02-03T19:58:00.000-08:00

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY:

Next Sunday Feb. 10^th @ 11am immediately following worship, we are all going to walk through Greenwood and do door hangers for the Green Bean to increase our contact and hospitality in Greenwood. We need you all with us…then come on back to the Bean for some treats.

THIS COMING Wednesday, the 6^th, is ASH WEDNESDAY … join us for a special Ash Wednesday, Lenten Preparation Service at the Sanctuary Office @ 8pm. We are located at 312 N. 85^th on the second floor above the WaMu Bank at 85^th and Greenwood. Enter from 85^th Street. All are welcome.

Looking for a small group. Contact Mark Mohrlang mark.mohrlang@gmail.com

PRAYERS:

Lord, we thank you for your goodness to us at Sanctuary as we live our lives in Greenwood and increase our outreach through the Green Bean Coffee House.

Christ, have mercy on all who are ill, lonely, poor or homeless.

Jesus, we thank you for news of several pregnancies in our congregation and we pray that you would watch over mom's and babies in the oven.

We also pray, Holy Spirit, for your blessing upon the many among us preparing for marriage.

God of Grace, bring mercy and peace to our war-torn world, we pray.

REFLECTIONS: on Mark 4:21-25 "light it up"

The recording voted top rock single of the 60's, 70's & 80's was demonstrative of the age of information in which we live, "when I'm driving in my car and a man comes on the radio and he's telling more and more about some useless information, trying to grab my imagination, I can't get no satisfaction." Mick Jagger was sensing the overload and the lostness of our culture as early as the mid-60's.

And here we are in the midst of the 21^st Century Gluttony of Information. My father in law had shelves full of book on how to live to be 120, how to detox, deoxidize, de-whatever…and shelves full of supplements that we later learned could have dangerous interactions with one another. We buy books full of contradictory information to apply to one's life, with perhaps marginal success. There are finance books on how to get rich while also getting 7 new credit cards in the mail each day..

Lot's of information sources, but who is reliable? We used to have NBC, ABC, CBS – and they all told pretty much the same story. Now, you can watch coverage of a story on CNN, FOX, BBC and you have to ask "are all of these people missing the point and misleading me, or is one of the three mostly accurate and reliable".

In the midst or piles of information and data, confusing viewpoints and counterclaims on everything….is there are simple core TRUTH to which we ought to adhere and hold dear. Is there a center? I think our Lord Jesus teaches us that there is ….and, he tells a somewhat whimsical story to get the idea across.

This story Jesus tells is a parable…A parabola – is a circular, dish-shaped object….A parable is a 'rouned' or 'round about' way to make a truth more true by not actually telling it straight out. It is a metaphor of a greater truth.Parables were used a lot in Jesus time as "wisdom teachings". They were memorable…repeatable…entertaining…and practical because they used the stuff of everyday life. As we get ready to listen to the parable of the light under a basket…imgine just having talked to people in the parable of the sower – about spiritual growth compared to a wheat harvest. Then, imagine him walking into the field owners house with a bin full of very good wheat that has been milled to flour. Now…very practically, in the setting of a house that everyone in Jesus' time can easily visualize…he shares another important parable…

Mark 4:21-25

²¹ And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? ²² For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." ²⁴ And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. ²⁵ For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Observations on this short, but shall we say, illuminating parable. J

This parable was important to Jesus and to his earliest followers and to the Gospel writers. It shows up in 3 of the 4 Gospels. And, it is on of 3 parables of Jesus using light as a theme.

Just a little background here about lamps, lampstands and baskets. Lamps were small urns that burned oil to provide light. There is a cute little grammatical word play in this parable the English translation of the Bible covers up. It literally reads, "does a lamp come into a room to be put under a basket?" Mark's lamp is alive…it moves. This gives us a hint that the light spoken of in the parable is not just a lamp…but a light embodied in the person of Jesus.

Lamps were a household necessity. They were placed on pole-like stands so they would be up off the ground and radiate more light around a darkened room.

And, a "basket" or "bushel" as is used in this text is actually what you and I would know as a "flour bin". This is interesting because this parable of the lamp and the basket follows the telling of the parable of the Sower in all three Gospels it appears in…And…the "basket" or "bushel" spoken of would be the container where the yield of the harvest sown would be stored for use. That's what a flour bin is for.

So, here is the overall picture given in this parable, delivered almost comically ---

Would it look absurd to you to walk into someone's house at night and see that they had lit an oil lamp for light, but then had dumped the fruit of their field – flour – out of their flour bin and put the inverted flour bin over the lit oil lamp??

--- Of course, you wouldn't see this all that well, because you would be standing in a dark room, perhaps with some powdery flour on the bottom of your shoes wondering, "Could I take you to see someone who can help, my friend?" to the occupant of the house.

The parable then goes a bit crazier – let's say lighting a lamp, covering it with a dumped out flour bin and using lots of resources with no result – no light --- isn't enough for the friend we are visiting --- SEE, I am giving credit – NO ONE here is crazy enough to do this their home!

So – now taking it up a notch…let's say the light is actually placed under "a bed". In Jesus time, the word used for "bed" here would be like a couch – this is the kind of place where people ate meals, dining while reclining, around the table.

"Welcome to our house, Bob! Careful, don't bump into that empty candle stand you can't see right there….oh…and come and take a seat here in the sofa made of natural fibers with an oil fire in a lamp burning under it. We call it the hot-seat."

Jesus bottom-line in this story: Jesus' Point: It's absurd to even think of not acknowledging the light, placing it in its right place and living by the Light's illumination…Jesus is the light – and as one commentary says, "The truth to be taught is that all other lights which shine upon truth—natural revelation, reason, intuition, experience—are dim reflections from the brilliance of the Son of God. Thus, a standard is set for judging all other lights."

Jesus Warning: pay attention to what you hear and see from God...Put it to use. People of grace and love like us tend to be really good on "ooh….ahh…yeah…" and receiving stuff…and we can also be really gracious about letting ourselves and others IGNORE the grace we have received. Now…I would much rather be in a gracious community than a JUDGMENTAL one, but this parable is here, perhaps, to balance grace-addicts like ourselves.

The spiritual principal of godly-prospertity is in play in this parable: what you pay attention to in listening to and following Jesus will grow and multiply in you as character and action – and you will be rewarded with yet more and more Christ-likeness and the accompanying love, peace and joy that are products of the kingdom of God. Ignore this stuff – and you will lose the blessings you have…and you will leave others stumbling around in the dark with you.

Take Aways for you and me

The first thing I notice when I apply this parable to me in a critical sort of way is: The Light (Jesus and His Word and His Spirit) ARE HERE BEFORE ME. I have been given a great, great gift.

This parable makes it clear to me, and I think, all of us…that just having the light and acknowledging it is not enough. An older Bible commentator, Matthew Henry said, "God expects a grateful return of his gifts to us, and a useful improvement of his gifts in us". Isn't that beautiful? God enlightens, warms, saves and sustains us…and we give that back to God by being openly transformed to Jesus way and living that and sharing that with others. At the same time, the use of the Christ-gifts within us as we return them to Jesus, become more powerful and effective over time.

When Jesus speaks of hearing….what he is saying is that we become people who look for an gobble up the light of God as we find it. A man named Warren Wiersbe said, "We must be careful how we hear and what we hear for this determines what we have to share with others. We do not receive the Word so we can enjoy it by ourselves. We receive that we might share, just as a lamp gives itself to provide light for the house." This also makes clear that our first gift to our world is not our wisdom, common sense, professional degrees, etc….event those these are important…our first and greatest gift to the world is the light of Jesus Christ in and through us. The fate of Greenwood and the world is at stake here. The fate of the world is at stake here. Christ is the hope of the church and of God's people. The church (the Body of Christ) is the hope of the world. Dig it.

Jesus is teaching us in way that calls for us to bring up our intensity of following him and nail it down with REAL ACTION. What is that for you this week? Green Bean? Teaching Kids? Small Group Leadership? Young Life? A co-worker? Neglected family members?

Bless you and make it a Great Week!!

Much love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

weekly words from Randoon ... 1/13/08

2008-01-13T17:49:00.001-08:00

Weekly Words From Randoon …. For the week of 1/13/2008

Welcome aboard one and all!

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 111 Offering: $2,464 kids: 5

Upcoming: Saturday January 26^th – HOSPITALITY team forming and we want YOU to help us help people feel at home and included in our wonderful church body. Join us from 9’ish through our hosted lunch. Information? Contact Kate Reynolds kates813@yahoo.com.

If you happen to run into Lisa Etter this week, ask her what’s new.

Also – Big upgrades and changes at the Green Bean. New sandwich and soup offerings, breakfast is coming, toast is on the way….and a special Sanctuary/Green Bean event to contact our Greenwood Neighborhood is on the calendar for 2/10..the week after the Super Bowl – it includes you eating Green Bean food..so, mark you calendar.

PRAYERS –

God, we thank you that Jeremy Jacobs got a replacement car after losing his beloved Saturn to theft.

Lord, we pray for all of our engaged couples at Sanctuary. Help all of these dear ones take deliberate steps to deepen their relationships as they prepare for their weddings. And, Lord, we thank you for newlyweds like Morgan and Elizabeth and Jake Cristin.

Spirit, thank you for helping Robert remain steady in living in the shelter and we pray that you will help him get his more permanent housing in Shoreline come February.

Jesus, we continue to beg for peace in our world.

REFLECTIONS – on Mark 1:35-39 We Pray

My dearest of friends, John Westfall, once preached a sermon where he informed me and all those gathered that all the devotional and prayer guides in the world are written for morning people. I think he may be right.

Are you a morning person? If you are, bravo. But, I am not….and I don’t have a personal profile for a prayer life that fits very well with much of what I was taught in my early years as a Christian.

But, in spite of not being a morning person, and being a bit different about how I approach prayer, God has met me deeply in my times of solitude and prayer…and God keeps meeting me … and in ever deeper ways and with increased frequency.

Here at Sanctuary, our vision is that we are people who are Making Space for God. We are clearing out obstructions in our hearts, in our relationships and in our world to help God be known in those places. One of our key values in this church is simply “We Pray.” It doesn’t matter when and how and where you pray as much as it matters that you do it…and that you do it increasingly.

Let’s take a look at one of my favorite Bible texts about Jesus and the rhythm of prayer.

Mark 1:35-39

³⁵Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Some observations:

1. Jesus got up and left the house – Intentionality, not necessarily pre-dawn, is the point here. Jesus set aside intentional time to be in the presence of the Father…to both speak and listen…to loving spend significant time.

2. Jesus went to a place where he could pray. The word describes this as a solitary place. Again, we see the intentionality here. Jesus goes to a place to pray where he will not be disturbed or deterred. And he finds a place that works for him for prayer. Don’t underestimate the power of making space sacred. Where is a sacred place for you? In your office at home, in your living room? In your bed? At a park? Any number of places might work for you, but be sensitive to where these are. For me, our prayer room at the Sanctuary office is very conducive to both group and personal prayer. I find it easy to pray in that place. Do you have a spot or two?

3. Our personal commitment to connect with God will not necessarily make sense to others. We SHOULD ALWAYS BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE. work calls. friends call. family calls. And, these are important facets of our life. Yet, sometimes they foist themselves as being more important than time with God…and when we listen to these ‘callings’ at the expense of prayer everything suffers as our souls become lean and impoverished.

4. religious people and religious systems already have everything worked out for us and our reluctance to “go along with the program” unquestioned is considered out of step, off-base, non-compliant and generally ill-advised. TAKE HEART if this happens to you. Jesus pioneered it. When I was in college as was sold the “get up 1 hour early and do a quiet time with Bible reading, a journal and a time for prayer following the ACTS patter (adoration, confession of sin, thanksgiving, supplication (prayers for self and others). This didn’t and still doesn’t work for me. Good grief, you cannot “task” prayer to an extroverted type A person like I have been most of my life. I had to learn contemplative, listening prayer and get of my task and agenda based life to learn to pray.

Our Take-Away

I am beginning to get the idea that the Biblical notion of building a spiritually based and spiritually prioritized life is upside-down-and-backward from the way we are used to. Anchor Priorities: Private and Public worship. Increase these in your life. If you worship in church only once a month, bring it up to two. If two, bring it to three and so on. Also seek out time and sacred space for your own daily prayer time. Start slow, but be determined and you will be amazed at what this yields for you.

Prayer is like breathing. In…out. Receive God. Release aspects of self. Listen. Speak. Still yourself.

This is more complex than it sounds. I was reading an interesting story just this Fall. The University of Washington has a soon to be all-world quarterback, name Jake Locker, who was just a freshman this last year. He does some amazing running on the field and really impresses folks. But, at times he gets a little tired out. Well, guess what? They found out when he is really “getting busy with it” on the football field – he forgets to breathe! Are you an all-American breath holder when it comes to prayer? I sure can be…and when I don’t practice the reciprocal in/out pattern of solitude with God I suffer, as do those around me.

If you move down lower into our text for today in Mark, you notice a very powerful example of how prayer centers and directs us. Jesus followers come to him angry. “Everyone is looking for you!” They want Jesus to come back to town and continue to minister to the local crowds and stay where they are. Jesus responds, “let’s go somewhere else”. He has a better plan, based on data from a better source: THE FATHER! So, off they go, all through Galilee preaching good news, healing the sick and casting out demons…and the Good News spreads and touches many and spreads from there throughout the world. These anchor priorities raise us to a level of centeredness and discernment that is uncanny – Instead of, “Okay, I now have the energy to go back to town and face the masses who are waiting for me”, Jesus says, “Let’s go somewhere else.”

The solitude dictates the Active Life. The active life flows out of the solitude. Find your time – to pray in solitude. Find your place – to pray in solitude. Find your style – of prayer in solitude. Find your center and freshness of life like you have never known before.

Make it a GREAT week!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 1/6/2008

2008-01-06T18:14:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the New Year and 2008’s first edition of the Weekly Words …

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY--

Now Forming: A Green Bean Ministry Team – to work in the Bean and in our community to serve needs. We need volunteer barista’s, care-givers, companions, maintenance people….everyone has a gift to contribute and we need and want you! Contact Lisa Etter letter@sanctuarycrc.org or Hayden Smith hsmith@sanctuarycrc.org to get plugged in.

Interested in a small group? Contact Mark Mohrlang markmohrlang@gmail.com.

This week in Worship…

Attendance: 101

Kids: 5

Offering: $6,654

PRAYERS --

Thank you, Lord, for your healing hand in the lives of several members who have been ill.

Jesus, we continue to pray for peace in our world.

Father, thank you for bringing our many students back safely from Christmas Break.

Holy Spirit, we pray that you would be with the many expectant mothers among us. Keep them safe and strong.

God, we pray for our new church plants out of Sanctuary – for Dust with Tim and Cote Soerens and for Ben and Cherie Katt with Awake. Lead these leaders and fill them with strength and vision.

Lord, we also thank you for the great support we have received from the Christian Reformed Church over the last four years and we ask that we would be able to give back as we plant new churches and ministries and offer financial support back to our denomination.

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Vocational Beginnings. How do we get our starts? Unlike many of my colleagues in the radio business, I didn’t start out right out of high school or vocational school. I went to college. Worked in college radio on KPLU FM – an awesome Jazz station. Then I worked at a really great church. Then, at age 25, I embarked into radio.

Because I was a little older, I want to make fast tracks. I interviewed several very well known Seattle radio personalities and asked their advice for advancing my career. Here’s what the PROS told me: They told me to take any shift, even part time. They told me to take on any extra assignments. When I finally did get work, I helped to high school football and basketball broadcasts. I worked at a disco – thank God for the return of Rock at the end of the70’s!

AND…Over and over again, I heard, “Look to where all the other guys who have made it got there starts. Go where the did. Do what they did. Follow their path.”

I did just that….wound up in Bellingham at KPUG Radio where everybody and his/or/her brother had work early in their career as a rock-jock…and soon I was on my way. It was only just this week in my meditations and reflection time for today’s message that I realized you and I could very well benefit from the same sort of positive EMULATION from the vocation of JESUS. Where did he start? Where did he go? What was it like? What did he do?

Mark 1:9-15 (ESV). This text offers us a glance –

⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” ¹²The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. ¹⁴Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Let’s synchronize our watches, calendars….and our spirits with JESUS and ALIGN THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY WITH OUR MINISTRY AS A CHURCH HERE IN GREENWOOD THIS YEAR. Jesus experiences 4 things in the beginning of his ministry: Baptism, Belovedness, Bedeviling and Belief. Literarily all the B’s are known as an alliteration…And I came up with all four all by myself and without a thesaurus. But, I did get a headache…just a little one…

Baptism: A point of remembering who we are and whose we are. Baptism also means “I’M IN!” It’s an inauguration – an identification with a new direction. Owning the vocation of “Christ Follower” starts with our water baptism and moves forward toward our being “all-in” for Jesus.

Belovedness: A motivation that wells up from in, nourished by the Spirit of God and not the approval of others. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” You are a beloved daughter or son of God. You play your life to an audience of ONE. We are motivated by the love of God and a desire to see his will done on earth as it is in heaven.

Bedeviled: Doing something good and significant enough to merit resistance from Anti-Gospel forces of all sorts. “¹²The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.” You cannot move forward with Christ without the evil one attempting to move you backward or hold you where you are. As you step into line to follow Jesus, expect bedivlment.

Believing: The greatest labor for God of all – to place the full weight of our lives, our hopes, our dreams, our fears, our fortunes and our futures on HIM>…

“THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND…” The time is fulfilled. There are several Greek words for time, the most prominent of which are chromos and kairos. Chronos time is chronological, measured in minutes, such as on a wathc. Kairos time is: Timeless, god-ordained, sovereignly controlled time. Kairos is “The molten moment” – it’s eternal … and it’s now. It never has been before…and it will never be again. JUMP AT IT TIME! Kairos is the word used by Jesus to describe that the kingdom time is here and now.

This is our NOW … God is for us. God is with us. God is in us. GOD IS PRESENT IN THIS MOMENT AND IN OUR ACTIONS!! Douglas Hyde (Dedication and Leadership) wrote a well known book after being a major leader in Great Britain’s Communist Party. He had converted to Christianity and was recounting the story of a Chinese Underground Christian leader/pastor to peasant farmers. The Chinese pastor felt his flock was not “getting it” when it came to putting faith in Jesus into action in their lives. Finally, he almost shouted in a sermon: “Look at your hands! Look at your Hands! God is in your hands” They stared at their hands. They began to smile in the KAIROS moment. THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS LITERALLY AT HAND…

So…take a minute and look at your hands! The delicate hands of an artist? The strong hands of a physical therapist? The ruddy hands of a carpenter? The shaky hands of a wise but aging person? The well manicured hands of someone with too much time on their hands? Hands that twist and wring themselves in worry and fear? Dirty hands that work the ground? Weak hands like mine that get thought about a lot but not used enough? GOD IS IN YOUR HANDS!

What are those hands of yours going to be up to as you – Live into and out of your baptism? Live into a deep relationship with God where you are daily reminded of your belovedness and motivated by ‘what you mean to God.”? How will your hands deal with temptation and opposition? Are they pure and resolute? And, finally, our hands are a metaphor of our WORK OUTPUT – how is it that your HANDS are gearing up to reflect the BELIEFS and VALUES of your heart and mind in ACTION DEVOTED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAT IS AT HAND?

Now, go out and make it a Great Week!!!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

WEEKLY WORDS FROM RANDOON ... 12/22/2007

2007-12-23T21:00:00.001-08:00

Jesus, the light that enlightens all humankind, enlighten and fill us today and always.

Merry Christmas…and God bless.

News From Sanctuary

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE – 7PM @ TAPROOT…ON THE 24^TH, OF COURSE. BRING ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon .... 12/16/07

2007-12-16T14:55:00.001-08:00

Welcome to this week’s Edition to weekly words….

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Tonite 12/16 – Special Taproot Theatre “Christmas Past” one act play plus Sanctuary Band Christmas Music and Carols followed by Dessert at the Green Bean --- brought to you by The Green Bean, Taproot Theatre Company and Sanctuary. 7pm. Admission is free.

Monday 12/24 – Candlelight Christmas Eve service 7pm @ Taproot Theatre….we will doing a really meaningful (and cool) ancient candle lighting ritual that is quite different than the typical candlelight service. Please bring family and friends an join us.

Maile and Ozzie are missionaries from Africa living in Greenwood and they are a part of Sanctuary while on “furlow”. They just had a beautiful baby boy and are going to need to stay in Seattle for a good part of the next year. We are looking for rent relief monies, furniture and baby stuff to help them out. Want in? Good. We need you. Contact MarkMohrlang@gmail.com to get on board. Thanks.

Also, as year-end approaches, we ask that you would prayerfully remember your church, Sanctuary and The Green Bean Coffee House in your giving. We are stretched on resources because we are doing so much. Also pray for God to help us meet our monetary and ministry needs. Thanks.

PRAYERS –

We pray, Lord, for Michael’s family as they mourn his passing from cancer. Comfort and draw them together.

Christ, we ask that you would continue to look after Ozzy and Maile and baby Nicholas as they adjust to a new home in the states and continue medical care for Maile.

Holy Spirit, we rejoice with all the students who have completed their academic terms and we pray for a restful and refreshing winter break.

Father, we do ask that you would provide for the financial needs of Sanctuary and The Green Bean Coffee House during a time when we are stretched thin.

God, we pray that unemployed and underemployed people who really desire to work will find jobs and be able to be self sustaining.

Jesus, we praise you for this Season of your coming to us…and we delight in the fact that you are with us now and always.

Lord, be with all who are or who are preparing to travel this holiday season. We pray safety and comfort.

REFLECTIONS ON “Voicing Advent” from Luke 1:56-79

I knew these folks who were devoted and humble people of God.

I wish we could have been neighbors.

She was a kind, engaging sort. He was a quiet, strong working man with a deep spiritual bent.

They did well in life and were loved by many….deeply involved as leaders in their faith community.

They even suffered pretty well. You see, they couldn’t have children, even though the desperately wanted to. There was pain and dignity in their loss – in their eyes. Although, I could sort of see a little bit of resentment under the surface on him. But, together, this deep pain deepened their relationship rather than splitting it. You have to admire that.

They were really faithful people. You’d think that they deserved better. They were such practical and steady people. And, they weren’t religious cuckoos who were naming and claiming miracles to fix their problem…they just lived with it…no, in fact….beyond it.

Well, anyway, later in life, they actually thought they were pregnant. He found out about it one day while he was at a church meeting …. And the irony of his situation slipped out of his mouth along with a little of the bitterness…

Okay…well, let me give you a little more detail on this church meeting. The guy, he was a pastor/priest and he was in a holy prayer room burning incense as praise to God and praying when he says….and I totally believe….that an angel…well, more like THE ANGEL…archangel Gabriel, showed up, freaked him out and told him that he and his wife were pregnant. And, as he later told the story, he just couldn’t help but pop off a little…the shock of running into an angel in a prayer room, sort of made him transparent…and as the story goes…

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

So………..this guy that I really would have like to have known and been neighbors with, who is a practical dude, gets his practical vocal cords put on sabbatical for about 2/3 of a year…

But, the angel was right. She, Elizabeth, was pregnant and all went as expected.

⁵⁷Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ⁶¹And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶²And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. ⁶⁴And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. ⁶⁵And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, ⁶⁶and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. ⁶⁷

Zechariah then begins to talk about this child…and more than just a child…but a KINGDOM…AN AGE THAT WAS DAWNING…after 273 days or so of silence … here’s what beautifully bubbles to the surface…

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people ⁶⁹and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; ⁷²to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Here’s the distillation of what Zecchariah says in his word from God that comes from the depth of his being. I think it has some Advent inspiration for you and me.

1. God made us. We belong to him….And, while we experience ourselves and our minds and our emotions…the reality of life is more about GOD than it is about us. We get that message today, when we see our friend get SILENCED to stop self-referencing and take time to GOD-REFERENCE. That’s a huge part of advent: TO MAKE THE COMING OF GOD A BIGGER DEAL THAN THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF YOU AND ME.

2. God is Saving us, because we are precious to him. You are worth whatever it takes to move your life forward. You are worth it! God is not only taking care of you spiritually and in all other ways in your life at HIS EXPENSE…God is also taking care to shape something in you and me that is GOOD FOR THIS WORLD AND FOR ITS SALVATION.

3. God is calling us to a future to serve him WITHOUT FEAR “all our days” – just like Zechariah, Elizabeth and Baby John. I believe that this call to the future is in stark contrast to how Western Christians have been shaped and seduced into celebrating this Season on which we are embarking: Cultural Christmas=The Past, Sentiment/Memory, Family of Origin. There are some good things about that. I am not denouncing the past, sentiment, memories or families of origin…but I AM SAYING that an ADVENT encounter with the GOD OF HOPE…THE GOD OF THE FUTURE…THE GOD OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD…Stirs longing and yearnings for what will be that trump the sentiments of WHAT WAS.

Zechariah style ADVENT=The Future of What a Loving God is going to COMPLETE, HOPE and LONGING, New FAMILY (KINGDOM) OF GOD.

I can’t say I know everyone of you here well, but I have met and chatted with most of you. I would be happy to be your neighbor.

I have seen your honest faith and hard work.

I have seen a good life, and a desire to be a part of a faith community that makes a difference.

Some of us here … have suffered much pain with much dignity…and we have managed to keep OUR collective resentments and disappointments below the surface…below a greater desire to persevere and stay connected to God, Others, Life…

Most of us here are pretty practical. We aren’t of a name and claim it faith. We aren’t spiritual “posers” who try to show how we have it all together. We humbly accept what God has for us. But, we don’t necessarily see ourselves as world changers…and we don’t necessarily expect God to jump in and do miracles in and around us…..do we?

We find it easy to shape our lives on our past, our sentiments. We find it easy to “carry on” with today.

But, I need to warn you to be careful – this advent season may go down differently for you and me.

We may get sucked out of the sentimentality of Christmas’s past and sucked into the EVER EXPANDING, FUTURE FOCUSED ADVENT of which Zechariah speaks that is now and is coming in greater portions…

because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high ⁷⁹

He will give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Please, go out in HOPE and MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!!!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 12/9/2007

2007-12-09T23:12:00.001-08:00

Welcome to this week’s edition of Weekly Words From Randoon …

REFLECTIONS ON – “Advent Week 2”

Today is the second week of the Advent Season. One of the more commonly preached texts on this day is the one we chose at Sanctuary this morning. It is called Mary’s Song. Mary exalts God upon knowing she is with child – with a very special child. In Luke 1:47-55, Mary praises a God who is a Blesser, the one who silences the Opressor, the God who is Nearer than one could possibly imagine.

Mary’s song rings with humility and faith and expectation.

Mary’s Song prompts me to search my own heart and discover the song that I am singing. Am I singing the redemptive work of God through history, or am I going cute and sentimental with reindeer? Am I vocalizing lauds about the Light of the World, or about how nice the seasonal lights on my house look? About the Coming One, or about someone who is coming over to my place during the Holidays?

Now…I am not a total scrooge. I am not saying don’t enjoy family, friends, lights and festivities. But, what I am saying is that the visible cultural Christmas wants me to narrow my song to a diddy about family traditions and Americana. But, inside beats a heart that longs to sing Mary’s Song.

An option for you and for me. Crack a Bible and leave it open to Luke 1:47-55 and read this beautiful piece of soul music from Mary’s very heart…and from the heart of God….over and over and over again….until it sticks.

It’s a great season we are a part of. ADVENT is gloriously full of hope, longing, expectation and warmth. Let’s bask in the real thing together!

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 90 Kids: 5 Offering: $3,000

Friday 12/14 @ St. Mark’s Cathedral 8-9pm URBAN HYMNAL featuring Mark Mohrlang and friends in a fantastic Advent worship event. Please join us for THE LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR.

NEXT SUNDAY – 12/16 @ 7pm we host a very special ADVENT SPECIAL – Taproot Theatre Company’s “Christmas Past” plus music from Sanctuary’s band and some Christmas Readings. Tasty desserts also served. BRING ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS…!!!

Monday 12/24 @ 7pm – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Taproot Theatre. This will be a beautiful night of praise and meditation. Don’t miss it!

ALERT: We have a young missionary family setting up house in Seattle for the next year or so. They need some furnishings, food, baby supplies, etc. Want to help out? Get in touch with Mark Mohrlang mark.mohrlang@gmail.com

PRAYERS –

Lord, we pray for continued healing for Kathryn after her emergency appendicitis. Ease her pain and make her ready to care for her infant child.

God, we thank you for family and friend.

Jesus, we pray your blessing on Maile and Ozzie now that they have brought baby Nicholas into the world.

Holy Spirit, keep those who are lonely, hungry, homeless and otherwise on the margins safe and open our hearts to reach out and assist as we are able.

Father, give grace and attentiveness to students as they head into finals week and grant safe travel home for the holidays as well.

Now, my dear friends, GO OUT AND MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

Much love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

Weekly Words From Randoon ... 12/2/2007

2007-12-04T01:21:00.001-08:00

Welcome to this week’s Edition!

NOTE FROM RANDY –

Thank you for your kindness in prayers and your soothing words, and your patience with me as I have recovered from abdominal surgery these last two weeks. I am one tender/sore fellow, but feeling better all the time and please with the repairs done to me. Doctors say I am fully on track. No more pain medications, so I am thinking clearly, etc.

Sorry for the weeks without the Weekly Words, but I was a bit immobilized. So, now I am back in business and happy to be in touch.

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

Attendance: 90 Kids: 4 Offering: $4,800

Coming Up!

1. Our giving tree for youth at risk is now set up at services. Please give to a very worthy cause.

2. SPECIAL Christmas dessert/music/Drama, brought to you by Sanctuary and Taproot Theatre. Sunday Night 12/16 7pm at Taproot. A live play, Christmas Carols and Special Music, plus goodies to munch at the Green Bean.

3. Christmas Eve: 7pm Candlelight Service at Taproot. It will be a warm and moving family event. Bring all your friends and family.

4. Featured Speakers for Advent: Ben Katt 12/9, Randy Rowland 12/16, Mark Mohrlang 12/23, Randy Rowland 12/24 and Ben Katt 12/30.

5. WINTER PREACHING SERIES: “Mark My Word” – Jesus ‘for us’ through the Gospel of Mark

6. THE GREEN BEAN is going through some exciting changes and we NEED YOU to help us broaden our outreach to Greenwood and beyond. Contact Lisa Etter, Hayden Smith, Steve Geelhood or Randy Rowland for more information.

7. Don’t forget to Check out Sanctuarycrc.org on the WEB regularly for updates on things in our worshipping community!

REFLECTIONS – on “Let It Be” Luke 1:26-38

Well, here we are in the beginning of Advent Season, and it seems the thing to do is tell a story. Not my story….or just a story. BUT…THE STORY. But First, just a bit about the flow of Advent and Advent Worship…Week #1, this week, is often referred to as SECOND COMING SUNDAY. The first candle lit in the season and the first meditation around the Christmas story is meant to hearken us toward the ultimate reconciliation and consummation of all Things at the FINAL DAY OF THE LORD. From Early on, the church’s prophetic and pastoral voices have found it hard to depart from a message that says JESUS HAS COME<JESUS IS HERE<JESUS IS COMING. SADDLE UP!!

Even in today’s story of Mary and what we call the “Annunciation” when she is told that she will give birth to the God-Man, Jesus, the story reverberates with that ETERNAL PULSE that pulls this narrative out of hallmark card stands and forces it into the warp and woof of our everyday lives. Receive the Word of the Lord here from Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

It takes a little imagination to put this into your own mind-space, but give it a try. One of the Archangels, Gabriel, known for his trumpet and his announcements on behalf of God shows up for a One-on-One with a girl of 14 or 15 years old at most.

Far from the bustle of Jerusalem and the hot spots of the culture….Nazareth is a fishing village out in the sticks on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. To put it in the context, an Archangel went past Seattle’s fleet and popped in on a young lady named Mary who lived in Raymond or Westport in the Gray’s Harbor area. And, here she is with the Miles Davis of all Heaven.

All we really know about Mary is that she is engaged to a man named Joseph, whose trade is carpentry, not a trade in step with his town…and he is a distant relative of Israel’s ancient hero-king, DAVID.

Gabriel has had some time to think about this and he’s a decent word-smith, so he finds Mary and greets here with a mid-intensity, angelic, heralding-type message: “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Now if this were me, I’d be wondering, who are you shiny-haired, fiery-eyed dude? And, while you are at it, why are you here? And, couldn’t you have hipped me to this visit a little ahead of time. c’mon. Mary clearly starts coming apart at the seams here…

²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Now, I have always believed that God is my biggest fan, that God is in the balcony cheering for me; that God has great things for my life --- well beyond what I could think or imagine. But, man alive this would be reassure. “Don’t be Afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

I would want to know that God and I were okay.

This passage haunts me often, because even though I know that God is crazy about me and loves me more than I can possible fathom…my human brokenness still is always looking for the fine print that says I am a loser….for the clause that will obligate me to a life of misery and restitution as one of the boat loaders at Disney’s “It’s a Small World” Ride --- my idea of perfect divine punishment.

But, Mary who must consider this one day and THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD that is coming all at once, needed just like you and me to hear “You have found favor with God”

Where are you getting away quietly to hear God say this to you, to prepare you for your real marching orders in life?

Who are the Angels, the messengers around you, that constantly remind you of your status before God and help keep you open to hearing the whole story every time God wants to speak to you?

I have a friend who was a fabulous Tight End in the NFL. His name is Charle Young. This now retired star out of USC, finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks and still lives in Seattle. He also lives into the Gospel very intentionally. He has learned from Gabriel and Mary. Go up to Charle and say, “Hi, Charle! How’s it going?” and he will immediately announce, “I am blessed and highly favored.” And, he lives it means just that.

Do you feel like you are ordering your life to hear news of God’s good favor toward you and news, even startling news, about his plan to utilize you in his redeeming acts in this world?

Because, fact is, life comes at us HARD with the Good Stuff and the Bad Stuff. LIFE COMES HARD AND FAST LIKE SEHAHAWKS STAR, DARRYL TAPP, ON A BULL RUSH FROM DEFENSIVE END ON AN OPPPOSING QUARTERBACK.

Now, listen to what this little girl, barely through puberty, gets to hear from God Almighty --- and it’s good, because something good is taking place inside of her that makes her ABLE TO RECEIVE RADICAL GRACE AND RADICAL OPPORTUNITY AND RADICAL OBLIGATION IN WAYS THAT WE SOMETIMES FAIL TO BE ABLE TO SEIZE … Gabriel continues speaking….

³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Have you ever been in an intense conversation with someone and said, “let’s just get down to the bottom line?”….and regretted it? The bottom line on this one is a monster. This little girl is going to bear in her physical body an ovum that has been impregnated by a Divine Seed, not the normal male contribution to a pregnancy.

This really tosses May off center. She is probably been creating a best case scenario that she is going to wed Joseph, have a honey moon pregnancy and give to birth to a real special ‘prophet-type’ kid who could lead a nation or something like that.

Most of us by the time we reach puberty are aware of our plumbing and systems and how that they work and what they do….and though, she is not a well travelled or well educated girl, what she is hearing just doesn’t fit. So, she at least has the courage to have a clarifying conversation with an archangel. I find that gutsy!

³⁴And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Mary receiver personal divine revelation that she and her cousin Elizabeth are having very special babies in very special ways that they don’t even dream of at the renowned University of Washington Fertility and Endocrine Center located at 1959 NE Pacific St ...

This is all way, way off the charts….and Mary is somehow on board.

I want to study and work on this “on board” character of Mary, because I think it is important for you and me.

Something glorious is taking place here. The word for glory in the Hebrew Old Testament is KABOD. It means HEAVY.

What Mary is encountering is so heavy as to crush her to powder. How does she stand? I remember back in the late 70’s when I was pretty heavy, I once sat on a lawn chair…and my KABOD…the glory I bestowed on the chair, SIMPLY CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE. There I was flat on my butt, by a swimming pool. Here’s Mary standing humble yet tall in the presence of an archangel. God help me….!!

But, Mary hears words from Gabriel that not only console her and make her feel better…they infuse her WILL to be GOD’s PERSON AT THAT MOMENT NO MATTER WHAT …

³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Concerned about retirement?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Got Diabetes?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Marriage coming apart?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Job Going Bye-bye?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Having panic-anxiety attacks that make you think you are dying while driving the I-90 bridge?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Unable to get pregnant?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Pregnant and don’t want to be?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Have personality flaws that alienate you from others, but you can’t seem to beat them?³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.”

And….as this first little meditation for Advent 2007 that is as small as 12 verses and is as HUGE as the RECONCILIATION OF ALL CREATION IN JESUS CHRIST comes to a close Mary emits words I long to have form naturally in my throat…

³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; LET IT BE to me according to your word.”

And the angel departed from her.

Back in 1970, a man who had had absolutely everything: Wealth, Fame, Adoration, Success beyond all imagination – found himself at the end of his rope. He was having deep trouble coping. His beloved mother, Mary, had died. His business was falling apart. Friends he had known and lived close to since his teenage years had become his enemies and each other’s enemies. The public spotlight was way ridiculously to hot to stand in. All was falling apart. And, he was valiantly trying to keep it all together with extreme efforts of the will.

As Paul McCartney sat at the keyboard in a studio where the strife surrounding the Beatles actually had them coming into Apple Records and Abbey Road Studios separately to record tracks for their final two albums, Paul remembered the words of his Mother, Mary McCartney. She had taught him, perhaps even from this passage in Luke, to move from a willfulness to a willingness to “LET IT BE”.

Listen for that willingness in the song Paul McCartney wrote many years ago thinking about his mother, Mary McCartney…and her advice to him … and see if you can appropriate at little of that “willingness” to be “on board” with a greater agenda than your own … just like the Mary we have been tracking today, as she heard the annunciation from Gabriel that she was to bear the God-Man.

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be. Yeah

There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,

There is still a light that shines on me,

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be,

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Amen.

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org

weekly words from Randoon ... 11/11/2007

2007-11-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings and welcome to the Weekly Words ….

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY –

All hands on Deck! Green Bean Coffee House Cleaning and Renewal Today 11/11 and all day tomorrow 11/12. We need every manner of skill talent and help. Please come join daily until 7pm.

Thanks to Gayle Doornbos for her superb Sunday School class on the Old Testament. Still time to join in each Sunday after worship.

Attendance : 100 kids: 7 Offering: $1,719.

PRAYERS –

God, we pray that you would be with us in our ministry at the Green Bean Coffee House. We pray for strength, for financial stability and for continued vision to see you at work in people’s lives.

Christ, have mercy on all those suffering from cancer. We pray peace, healing and comfort.

Lord, be with our nation’s leaders as they seek peace and a good society.

Holy Spirit, inspire us to see the places of hope in our communities and give us the resolve to dive into those places and help bring even more hope.

REFLECTIONS – on “elevate your game” Colossians 3:17-4:1

Do you ever forget …WHO YOU ARE? WHAT YOUR ARE HERE FOR? WHAT YOU ARE DOING? WHY YOU ARE DOING IT? HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT? I sure do….I am on vacation in Europe this summer and Steve Cairns and I are on a side trip to Vienna, Austria. Steve is touring…keeping his options open…looking at everything around him. Suddenly I am organizing and achieving…absorbed in the minutiae as if I was on a business trip..I want to buy tickets for trains, Settle hotel locations, Have a set plan. I FORGET WHO I AM, WHY I AM THERE…etc., etc., etc. THEN IT DAWNS – “Dear Randy-Moron, you are on vacation, touring, adventure…fun, flexibility, you know all of that….remember what you are doing and kick back..”

TRAGICALLY … this is a metaphor for me and for many of us on how we can lose perspective on what we are really doing in even the simplest of things…I tend to look down rather than up…in rather than out…you have that problem? In our study of Colossians today, Paul takes a few moments to re-orient us and remind us that our faith is not just our private faith…but a faith that we live out in a God-given and ordered society…

Colossians 3:17-4:1 (NIV) Colossians 3:17-4:1 (NIV)

¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ¹⁸Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. ²²Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO…In word and in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus..In word is what we speak, what we form in thoughts. In deed is what we do. God’s dream for us is that our inner and outer lives correspond and that they are focused on and lived in and through Jesus. Paul is encouraging you and me to seek an integrated and intentional personhood where what we think and say and do are consistent with one another.

There was a nice column written by Jerry Brewer in the Seattle This week about Husky Basketball coach Lorenzo Romar. Brewer noted that there are new college rules pertaining to coaches and profanity in games. Romar made note of the new strict rules saying, “Me? I don’t see how I’d have a problem with it”. Romar went on to say that he is not one to use profanity. It just isn’t him. "Whether I'm in a car accident, whether I'm on the basketball floor, whether I'm in church or whether I'm at a boxing match, I would think my language is the same," Romar said. "So I try not to use profanity. It doesn't matter the situation.”

Isn’t there a god-given thing in all of us that seeks this kind of internal/external, wherever-i-may-go consistency and integrity.

“Giving thanks to God the Father through him.” … Our desire for consistency and integrity is not rooted in fear and in obligation, but rather in our deepest gratitude to God for who he is…and for who he has made us and for what we have been given. Living our lives, having our gifts is a privilege and responsibility. Living in gratitude toward God for all we have, even the challenges and letdowns is critically import. Gratitude expressed to God as consistent, regular “thanks” even in the tough times is a closing of the circuit…our personal reciprocation of God’ great initiative to create a world and to make a place and a role in that world for you and for me…for every one of us.

House Rules (haus-tafeln literary form). The next few sentences in Colossians are meant to liberate the spirit, but have too often been used to oppress, dominate and relegate persons into subjugated roles. I want to re-liberate them today. You see, this section of Colossians is meant to be a New Social order. It copies an ancient literary form in which heads of household corporations (large complexes with extended families and workers) left as legal directives for when they were away for extended periods. The “house rules” were to offer Fairness/function guidelines with some careful checks and balances of power. They were meant for Real People, not role players, yet in key roles.

Wives/Husbands – submission/love, love/submission, you pick the word and the order. They both look the same. Before Paul’s time, the rules would have been all about women being subjugated with no obligation to the one in power; the male. But now, Paul puts a heavy responsibility on both parties in marriage the looks like mutual submission.

Children/parents – obedience, making it easy to obey. Kids – your way to show gratitude is to roam safely in the field of learning and privilege that is given to you…and it’s not all bad, here. Parents: don’t embitter. In fact, parents, create a safe, wonderful, gratitude-inspiring field in which your kids can roam. Paul particularly singles out fathers because dads in the first century could be very detached and run family as a business and see kids as inventory. The idea here in Paul is to live as doing all things in word and deed in Jesus’ name and make it easy for everyone to flourish.

There was a song from the musical, HAIR, that Three Dog Night made a hit of in my teenage years”. It was called EASY TO BE HARD….

“how can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel

Easy to be cold

Easy to be hard”

It’s way to easy to be cold…but Three Dog night went on to say, you can learn for it to be easy to give in, easy to say yes..

Master’s/Slaves – market place issues…Those who are employed – work for Jesus. Those who employ – remember you report to God and God who is your model of how to lead is not an oppressor, but a liberator of the human soul, human talents and gifts…and lavishes his love and grace upon those who serve them.

There used to be an add by NIKE for Air Jordan sneakers that said, ELEVATE YOUR GAME….Number 23, MJ…hanging in the air ready slam the basketball home in his bright red Chicago Bulls uniform..now there’s even a little logo Nike uses for Air Jordan to memorialize this image of MJ floating above the hardwood..

This is what Paul is inspiring us to do with this picture of social-relationships from Colossians 3 and 4 … he is calling us to see a higher purpose in all who we are, all that we do….and all those around us with whom we do all that it is we do.. It might be a good idea to memorize and write down Colossians 3:17 with an introduction like this:

A. ELEVATE YOUR GAME …”AND WHATEVER YOU DO…In word and in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus..Giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Amen.

Make it a GREAT WEEK!

Much Love,

Dr. Randy L. Rowland

2854 NW 59th Street

Seattle, WA 98107

USA

206.953.0909

www.sanctuarycrc.org