Coming to Our Senses

"When he came to his senses... Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you."  Luke 15:17

OBSERVATION:
When he came to his senses he smelled stink, he saw a pig pen, he heard snorting and oinking, he felt... alone. A Jewish boy standing by a hog trough longing to eat what he saw them eating, but he couldn't even get any of that.
Up until this moment his senses were dulled by the deafening sound of... SELF. It was louder than anything else, more captivating then anything else, and more desirable than anything else. Self had led him to this day. Self had wanted what it wanted when it wanted it... NOW! No waiting, certainly no patience and not once ounce of self control. Self had said "if I get what I want, when I want it that will be...??? "well, self was not sure what would happen but Self still wanted it. It would be pleasing, it would take the edge off, it would satisfy?  But Self, left the boy in a place he would never consider being... alone with himself.

Sin will take us further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you can afford. And for this young son it had stripped him of all dignity and hope.

Except for one thing... the Father. There was hope there. And the son knew that at minimum he would do better than he was doing at the moment. Even as a slave in his father's house.

So, he practices his speech. It's reminiscent of Joseph when he ran away from Potiphar's wife..."I can not sin against my God nor my master Potiphar. In other words our sins not only offend God's laws but they hurt people. The son's repentance was clear. His understanding of what awaited him was not at all on his radar. That would be a surprise. A stealth grace bomb. All he knew is that he was leaving his stinky, messy, noisy, lonely place to go...HOME!

APPLICATION:
Wow. And double wow! Such grace demonstrated by the Father-- available to all who will repent and come home.
"O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."

PRAYER:
Father Thank YOU, for the overwhelming measure of your welcoming grace. When we come to our senses and start back home YOU are on the road to welcome us the rest of the way in--- I love you!

myWillamette

40 Days of Love | Day Two | The First Day

I remember the first day I met my new brother. Veteran's Day 1977. Mom and Dad drove him home in our brown Honda Accord. Mom held him in the front seat. (car seats wouldn't become mandatory for a few more years).  He was wrapped up in a cotton blanket. And I couldn't wait to unwrap him... he was like the best present ever. I was more than excited.

I had been the youngest of 4 brothers. Being the baby of the family, I was "thumped upon" quite a lot. BUT on this day, November 11, 1977 the tide had turned. I was now the BIG brother. I could do some thumping of my own. At least I could, if I wanted to. But I didn't want to. I was overjoyed. I couldn't wait to play with him. I cherished him.

Perhaps no other calendar date is more emblazoned on my mind. It was on this day I started learning about love. I learned you could love someone you have never met, but somehow already knew. And that you didn't know when you started loving them or how it happened, but it felt good. Like the best decision you had ever made.

I had no way of knowing that first day's lesson would be written on the chalkboard of my heart and would never be erased. Ben was the recipient of my love. He hadn't done anything to earn it and he couldn't do anything to stop it. God's love is like that... only better!

More later.

VAN

40 Days of Love | Day One | Lessons on Love

On May 30, 2010 at 10:15 AM during our preservice prayer time I felt compelled to pray "Lord, get glory in this day." I remember I repeated it... "Lord, get glory in this day!" What I didn't realize was at that exact moment God was doing just what I was asking.

I was thinking about the next hour and a half that we would be in our worship service at Willamette. I was thinking about people worshipping God and hearing and responding to His word. I was thinking, praying and believing that those were the ways God would get glory. Yet at 10:15 AM on May 30, 2010, 600 miles away, God was getting getting glory.

2 Timothy 4:18 says "the Lord will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever."

That's just what God did for my brother. He brought Ben safely home. He started that process at 10:15 AM when Ben had his first of two seizures. He answered my prayer in a way unexpected and frankly undesired. Ben died about a hour later. God got glory on May 30. How?  By proving how faithful He is in every situation. In fact for the 32 1/2 years previous, since that wonderful and yet dark day on November 11, 1977 when Ben was born, God has been getting glory.

Ben was my teacher. Though he was my baby brother with Down's Syndrome, he taught me about love. God's love. I want to reflect on these lessons over these next 40 days. Lessons on Love taught by God through Ben.
More later.
VAN

Why Portland has a port

I love this ad inside the C terminal at PDX. Makes me smile every time.

ONE: conversations on marriage

Intro Video for new series on Marriage.

For all you WCC Planning Center Online Peeps!

CHECK THIS OUT












Planning Center, now with Facebook Integration

September 22, 2009 at 9:47 am · Filed under Planning Center

We are very excited to introduce our newest feature, Facebook integration. For the past several months we have been learning about how to develop on top of the Facebook platform and thinking about the best way to do this integration. I am really happy with what we have come up with and I hope this helps your volunteers become more informed about when they will be serving. Let me go ahead and walk you through the integration process:

1.) Install the Planning Center Online Facebook App: You can install this by going to http://apps.facebook.com/planningcenter/ . We will shortly be adding a link to this from the Planning Center Online Dashboard & Schedule pages. Make sure you click “Allow”.

2.) Enter In Your Login Information: Enter in your e-mail address and password and we will link all accounts with that information to your Facebook Account.

3.) View Your Schedule: This will show you all the dates you have accepted or have pending plus all the times you are scheduled for. You can also accept and decline from within Facebook.

4.) Receive Facebook Notifications: Whenever you are scheduled to serve, a notification will appear to alert you.

Neighborhood Block Party

Hello Everyone!

This weekend is our first Neighborhood Block Party at Willamette.

It begins at 12:30 PM and concludes at 3:30 PM. And You're invited.

We will have great food, music and activities including: rock wall, bike safety clinic, bike stunt demonstration, I.D. tags for kids, face painting, raffles, and more. Paul's Bicycle Way of Life is even coming to help with repairs on your bike.

So here's a few details.

1. PARKING: The front parking lot on the campus will be roped off so you will need to park in the back.

2. DRESS: come casual and ready to enjoy the day.

3. BIKES: If you're up for it. Ride your bike to church or make sure you at least bring your kid's bikes for the parade and maybe even a tune-up.

4. BUDGET: We did receive a great response on Sunday for the budget. If you are able to help us complete this fund that'd be great. If you are able to offer your lunch money, that would do it! (I feel like a school yard bully.... "give us your lunch money!")

5. THERE YOU ARE! - remember this is the perspective we want to have as we welcome guests to our campus. Let's make people feel welcome, loved and valued!

Looking forward to sunday!

VAN

Kids 1,2,3 - Outreach at end of the summer.

Here's a quick video that we put together to let you know what's happening with our Kids Revolution, Church G-Rated, and our all new... Neighborhood Block Party at the end of the summer.

Have a view. Join the team!

Van

College Gathering tomorrow night.

We've invited the college types at WCC to join us for dinner and movie.

Tuesday, June 23rd is our first gathering at our house.

You don't need to have read the book... you can just come!

Bring a coat just in case we sit outside by the firepit.

Chasing the Goose!

Pastor Van

Here's a trailer!

Youth Ministry Update

Summer Begins!
This is a quick video update on Youth Ministry at Willamette. Pastor Steve has been leading youth ministry during this interim time and overseeing the team of people ministering to our Youth and Gate Students.
Take a few moments and catch this update. A letter is enroute to you. If you didn't get the letter than simply email juneg@willamettechristian.com or call and we will get a copy to you via email or snail mail.

We love you! Thanks for your participation in the body here at Willamette.
Pastor Van

Pursue 21 Feedback Survey

Hello All!
Pursue 21 has come to and end. We would love to get some feedback from you so give us a few minutes and fill out the "Pursue 21 Feedback Survey" located on the bar on the right! ----->

Thanks so much! We are looking forward to our next steps together!
Pastor Van

Pursue 21: Day 9

A Video Blog for Day Nine. 

P.S. Sorry about the goofy screen capture on the video!

Day 7: How's it going?

Hello All,

We are into Day 7 of our Pursue 21 church initiative.  How are things going?  I'm sure there have been moments of challenge. I want to encourage you to not only maintain your fast but to utilize the those moments when your are thinking "boy, I sure wish I could have a cookie" or something like that, to pause and pray. Invite God to lead your life. Say "Lord, I want what you want more than what I want!" 

Keep up the good work! AND remember there are a couple of great opportunities for you to Life Journal. Every Sunday morning at 9:15 AM in the Hospitality Room off the Foyer, and also Wednesdays at 6:30 AM at Theo's Coffee House. It's located at 199 w. 8th Street.  It's on the corner of 8th and Charnelton inside the Strand building.  We had a great time last week. Please join us!

Here's an invite!

More later.

VAN

DAY TWO: The Cool thing about Fasting

One of the coolest things about fasting is it reminds us how "the natural" is so connected to "the supernatural." I'll always remember line from Jack Hayford years ago.. "spirituality and practicality were never meant to be polar from one another."

Fasting is one spiritual activity that is so very practical. It's challenging and it feels bad sometimes, but somehow it works to change things in supernatural ways.

God really does work in the context of our very human lives. In fact, it's where He does his best work.

So continue on! It will be worth it!
More later.
VAN

Fasting Ideas: Non Food

Here's a few thoughts for things you can fast, other than food. Buckle your seat belts!

• Television
• Movies, entertainment
  Your morning newspaper
• Facebook, myspace
• Web Surfing
• Video games
• Your routine
• other thoughts???

The key is to offer something that would cause you to stop, think and pray each time you would normally do it. My youngest child said she was going to fast being mean to her siblings! We are working with her to help her catch the concept a little better!

More later.
VAN

What to fast: FOOD?

NEED SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT TO FAST? Here's a few ideas from my mind to yours.

Partial Fast:
Here are a couple different partial fasts that you could participate in:

• Daniel Fast (here's the blog on that)
• Meats and Sweets (pretty self explanatory)
• Desserts and Sweets (oooh, this is a tough one)
• Carbonated Beverages/Coffee Drinks
• Sun-up to Sun-down Fast:
  From 6am to 5pm, you would abstain from everything except water.
• One Meal a Day Fast:
  Choose one meal and fast that meal each day of the 21-day fast.

Full Fast:
On this fast you abstain from everything except clear broth and 100% fruit or vegetable juices. Be sure to consult your doctor before going on this type of fast.

These are a few food ideas. Tomorrow I'll throw out some non-food ideas.

More later.

VAN

21 days straight?

A twenty one day fast. What does that mean to you? Does it mean you have to do something for twenty one days straight?

It might mean that for you, or it may mean that you will fast different things during this twenty one day period. We are cautious to not make this response to God a LAW or mere DUTY. We want you to be free to respond to God in the way he is leading you.

Remember whatever he calls you to do... do it! It's just better that way!
More later.
VAN

The Daniel Fast

Hello all,

As we prepare for 21 days of fasting, I wanted to give you some information and ideas on how you might fast during these days.

The Daniel fast comes from Daniel 10:2 "at that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice foods; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."

This fast does require a little prep in making sure you have the right kinds of foods in the house. For a list of foods click on the link below:

(click here for food list information)

There is also a little more backdrop into the Daniel fast at this link:

(background info)

I hope this is helpful!

More soon.

VAN

P.S. One favorite story I've heard regarding the Daniel fast was about a man who felt the Lord had asked him to do the fast for 2 years. He was from DC and was fasting for LIFE (against abortion). As he neared the end of year two, he was preparing himself for a juicy steak on January 1st. He had asked the Lord if he wanted him to continue that the Lord would give him a sign...the sign came. He was invited to a New Years Eve party by a friend who introduced him to another friend... that friends name...yep you guessed it... DANIEL FAST. Thus he began year three! OH MY!

Pursue 21

Over the next few days, I'll be blogging about some different types of fasts. This will help you prepare for this wonderful opportunity coming up on March 22nd.

These 21 days will be life changing for you and for our church family.

More soon.

VAN