"Blind Spots" by Kim Phelps

I have been thinking about “blind spots” because I literally have them and was reading in I John 2 about being spiritually blind and wondered (silly girl!) if there was a message in there for me.

I was diagnosed about 20 years ago with 'bilateral anterior idiopathic ischemic optic neuropathy,' which means that I have a blind spot in each eye that effects my lower peripheral vision. If I look straight ahead I can't see my feet.

Now the doctor at the Casey Eye Clinic explained to me that the brain will not accept a 'hole' in our vision but will fill in what it believes should be there from the surrounding information. So I will think I see something, because my brain is giving me information it believes should be there and I have no idea that I am really not 'seeing' it. It's just conjured up in my brain—amazing!

But that is the way that blind spots work. If I know about it, it's not a blind spot. That being the case, how do I know if I have a blind spot? And what do I do about it?

In I John 10 – 11 it says:
“Whoever loves his brother [believer] abides (lives) in the Light, and in It or in him there is no occasion for stumbling or cause for error or sin.
But he who hates (detests, despises) his brother [in Christ] is in darkness and walking (living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (AMP)

What I understand this to mean is that I need each and every one of my Christian brothers and sisters. As we live under the umbrella of love, rather than law, my actions are guided by that love as described in I Cor.13:9-11. Hate (loving less) reveals our blind spots to each other and hopefully causes a change in the course of our behavior.

So to each and every one of you who are my friends or acquaintances, I am grateful for you and I need you, so thank you as I strive towards learning more about love and walking in the light.

I John 2:9 - 11
The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I Corinthians 13:4 - 7
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account
a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

"That's my Daddy!" by Randi Nelson

At a local children’s Christmas program this week a group of young children took their positions in front of the audience and began to sing their song and make the hand motions that went along with it. Suddenly, a little girl in the front of the group pointed into the audience and squealed, “That’s my daddy!” She began to wiggle, dance around and laugh with joy repeating, “My daddy’s here!” The other children, as their song continued, would sneak peeks of puzzlement at her. She remained unfazed. In the sea of faces she’d seen her daddy; he’d shown up and her pleasure was unfettered. Everything else was momentarily eclipsed by the wonder of seeing her daddy.

In the book of Job, the protagonist, Job, was suffering. Not only was he suffering loss of livelihood, loss of loved ones and then extreme physical affliction, but he was suffering the well-intentioned, yet very foolish advice of his friends as they tried to “fix” his situation. And then, in chapter 38, Job becomes aware of God’s presence. Suddenly, nothing else matters. Job is filled with awe beyond all comprehension; he says, “…but now my eye sees you”! (Job 42:5)

Sometimes life is more like a bowl of pits instead of cherries. I cannot fathom the extreme stress of Christians living in Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and other places where nothing and nowhere is safe. Friends all around are suffering illness, pain or loss. I cannot presume to know anything at all about their experiences.

But I can pray. I can pray for wisdom to know when it is appropriate to rejoice and when it is appropriate to weep with my friends.  I can pray for our Heavenly Father to reveal himself in the midst of these most difficult circumstances. I can pray for moments of unfettered joy that call out, “That’s my daddy! My daddy’s here!” Because the wonder of Christmas is that he came; He’s here! 

Deuteronomy 4:7 (NRSV)
 7For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him?

Psalm 139:7-12 (NRSV)
7 Where can I go from your spirit?
    Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
    if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light around me become night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is as bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

"The Wonderfulness of Wonder" by John Rice

Last night at our Sonship group, Dan Rothwell started us off by looking at the names for Jesus that appear in the Book of John, Chapter 1. We then discussed what it meant that Jesus was called both the Son of God and the Son of Man. We determined that in some ways it seems easier to picture Jesus as the Son of God, since Son of Man refers to His “humanness.” This raises questions about what He must have been like as a baby, a child, an adolescent. Did He throw fits and tantrums like we all did? Was He inclined to be selfish? Did His sinless nature mean that He was a sweet, loving thing from day one? How did He learn His heavenly Father’s ways? How old was He when He “only did as the Father instructed Him?” So many questions and so few Biblical references. We do know the story of Jesus staying behind at the Temple in Jerusalem when He was 12 years old to ask questions and discuss matters of spiritual concern with religious leaders. But that’s about all we read about His childhood.

So we were speculating. Some thought He might never have done a wrong thing. Others thought maybe he was just like a normal child until He reached the age of accountability which, at least in today’s Jewish world, would mean around 13 when boys and girls participate in their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah and are considered adults, responsible for their own actions after that ceremony. Others just weren't sure what Jesus was like. It was fun to speculate, but of course, no one knows these answers for sure, so no one can claim to have a full understanding of this.

This whole thing made me think of how much the Bible tells us...and how much it doesn't. How privileged we are to have a written document, inspired by the Spirit of God, handed down over the centuries, validated over and over by hundreds of manuscripts and by archaeology. The Almighty God and Creator of the Universe has chosen to reveal Himself to us by the written Word. How incredible is that!! But at the same time, we are left to wonder about those things left out. Why did God leave us to wonder? Why did He leave mystery surrounding so many things? The saying, “God works in mysterious ways” is certainly an understatement when we think of all the unknown and unanswered questions.

I’d like to suggest that wonder is a wonderful thing. When we wonder we become like children. We recognize our smallness in this big universe. We recognize that we have, and need to depend upon: a Father who is bigger and wiser than we are ourselves. If everything were answered for us in the Bible or elsewhere, we wouldn't need to communicate with God. As it is, we have somewhere to go with our questions, our needs and our pain, and He has a relationship with His children, which is what He has wanted all along.

Romans 8:3 "For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering."

Philippians 2:5-8 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!"

Luke 2:4-7 "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

"Call Upon the Comforter" by Daniel Blomberg

Early on in my ministry as a Chaplain, I learned that I could not do the work apart from the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  In John 14:16, we read about our Helper, the Holy Spirit, as the Comforter: “One called alongside,” parakletos. 

The Amplified Bible best describes the work of the Comforter:
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-”

The Holy Spirit as Comforter, is available to every Christian that calls upon Him for help, strength, and counsel; and He is quick to intercede for those who cry out to Him in their time of need.

On May 21, 1998 our neighboring community, Springfield, Oregon, experienced the worst tragedy in that city’s history when a troubled 15-year-old boy brutally killed his mother and father and proceeded to carry out a mass-slaughter at his high school, killing 2 fellow students and wounding 24 of his classmates.

Teresa Miltonberger, the daughter of a correction officer at the jail, was shot in the head and wasn’t expected to live.

I quickly rushed to the local hospital to see if I could be of some assistance.  The scene was one of utter chaos.  Grieving students, parents and friends were weeping hysterically, holding one another, stunned and saddened by the unimaginable horror that had befallen our community.

Among them was the extended family of Teresa, gathered together in an adjoining room.  As I looked at their crest-fallen faces, I felt totally inadequate for the task.  “How do I minister to them?” I thought.

It was then that the Holy Spirit spoke to me, saying, “Go in there and pray for them!”  Trembling in my spirit, I obeyed.  Not knowing what I was going to say, I introduced myself and asked them if I could pray for them.  It was then that the Comforter came alongside of me, strengthening me, giving me the words of hope and healing I needed as I cried out to God; asking Him for His help, invoking the name of Jesus Christ, while inviting His peace to invade the situation.  I boldly prayed, petitioning God to spare Teresa’s life and to heal the wounded.  

Immediately, the atmosphere changed.  The Comforter had come! Later, after I prayed for Teresa, God miraculously healed her, even though the doctor said she had .5% chance of surviving through the night. 

Experiencing trouble?  Cry out! Call upon the Comforter!

"Acceptance in the Here and Now" by Joseph Scheyer

We are accepted.  One of the wonderful things about being a Christian is that we know God accepts us for who we are.  Yes, God loves us right now… just the way we are.  God doesn’t fret about what we might have done in the past (nor does God keep score) and God does not worry about how we might stray in the future. Right now, right where we are… God finds us completely and absolutely acceptable.  So much so, in fact, that God sent Jesus here to die for our sins.   

While it’s good to learn from the past, we do not have to be held down by our history.  Similarly, while it is wise to plan for the future, attaining goals is not the key to happiness and fulfillment. God does not operate in the past or future… access to God can only occur in the present moment. Our eternal God is an abiding presence.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

All too often I realize I am mentally beating myself up over some careless, selfish, wasteful or just plain stupid action from my checkered past. We’ve all done things we regret and while it’s important to learn from those mistakes, while we ruminate and revisit that past, we are prevented from experiencing God’s presence. The slate has been wiped clean through the blood of Jesus so that we can be free to abide in Gods presence.

“Honor and majesty are in His presence; strength and joy are in His sanctuary.”
 1 Chronicles 16: 27

I’ve also spent most of my life operating under the impression that once I achieve that goal on the horizon, I will find happiness and fulfillment. From acquiring the degree or finding my soul mate or landing that job or that promotion or getting that house/car/boat (or that winning lottery ticket) or whatever it might be that is out there that seems like it will make my life better. My mind tells me that I need time to find, achieve, acquire, become or understand something before I can be free or complete. But really, I can only be free and complete right here and right now.  There is nothing I can ever do or attain that will get me closer to salvation than I am right now 

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”
 Psalm 139: 7

Salvation is not a concept for the future or the past.  Salvation can only occur now. God’s acceptance of who I am right now means that I am saved.  There is no condition necessary for salvation… Jesus took care of that on the cross.  The only way I can access that salvation is to accept myself… who I am and where I am right now. God see’s me as a beautiful, loveable human being… worthy of Love and acceptance. Only when I am present in the moment can I begin to see myself as God sees me. 

“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33: 14

Learning to live in the moment is the trick. And only in the present moment can we gain the deep understanding that we have everything we need to find happiness and fulfillment right now. Only then can we simply move forward as each moment presents itself and do the next right thing; listen deeply… experience God in each other… be fully engaged and know that the miracle of the Kingdom of God is right here and right now and we are privileged to be able to participate in it.

"Letting God Celebrate" by Ally Mittleider

If someone were to ask me right now how my relationship with God is, I could say wholeheartedly that I feel closer to Him now, more than I have in a long time. Good for me, right? Wrong.

When I thought about why I feel so close to Him now and not all the time, I realized it was because there was some struggles going on in my life and I ran to Him as my comfort. I also quickly noticed that I wasn't reading my Bible, I wasn't listening to the right music, and I wasn't devoting enough of my time to Jesus. So naturally I thought to myself, this HAD to be the reason for the hard times I was experiencing. Logical, right? I can’t be the only one that, when life gets tough, switches my radio station to positive, encouraging, K-LOVE or makes sure that every song on my iPod and the songs I get stuck in my head are worship songs. Ever notice how your Bible somehow gets used every day, if not twice a day when those types of trials come your way? Don’t even get me started on the drastic change in my prayer life! You’d think I would feel great about the improvements in my spiritual life, but I couldn't help but feel guilty.

The only reason I was worshiping Him daily, getting into the Word and praying consistently throughout the day was because I wanted the hard times to be fixed ASAP! Every prayer was asking God to intervene and fix the things that need fixing. I read with expectations, hoping that something would pop out and apply to my current situation. I worshiped hoping that God would see my good deeds and come fix my life. It made me realize how inconsistent my relationship with God can be. When everything is good, I don’t think I need Him to come and help me. “I got this, God! You can take a break on this one.” I am confident and I am going throughout my day with my head held just a little bit higher, but not thanking God for any of it. 
I was reading through Ecclesiastes when I came across this verse: “Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life.” If that wasn't a slap in the face, I don’t know what is. God doesn't ask us to be faithful to Him just when times are tough. He does promise us that He will take care of us throughout those trials and tribulations, but also that those trials and tribulations come from Him to help us grow into stronger people. 

Instead, He wants to celebrate with us in the good times as well as help us through the bad. I’m not a mother, but I know that my parents love being able to celebrate my siblings and my accomplishments with us just as much as they want to be there through the hard times in our lives. My parents made it to every award ceremony and major celebration in my life, but are still just a phone call away when things are tough. I believe our God is the same way. He wants us to feel comfortable coming to Him for strength and encouragement, but he also wants us to come to Him excited about the goodness in our life. I picture God wanting us to run to him in excitement with our arms stretched towards Him just as a child runs to his mom or dad after hitting a home run in his first little league baseball game, leaping into their arms. God is proud of us when we do good and wants to lift us up in His arms and embrace us just as much as when we come on our knees, crying out for strength just to make it through the day. Both are equally important to Him. I feel challenged to include God in my celebrations just as much as I include Him in my worries.

THE CITYSALT STORY...

CitySalt Church (formerly SouthHills Church) is part of the Foursquare family churches and was established in September of 2004.

The church was started by Pastor Shannon Kearney following her 13-year service as an associate pastor and counselor at Eugene Faith Center. With a heart drawn to the South Eugene area, she and a group of 60 people began a prayerful search for a meeting location. The group settled on the 70-acre campus of Oak Hill School--where a team of faithful volunteers transform the secular school's gymnasium into a sacred gathering space for fellowship, prayer, worship and biblical teaching.

In time, the vision and characteristics of the church began to emerge. Staff people, ministries and programs were established as God stirred up passion and vision for various needs within the fellowship. In 2009, Dusty and Julie Johnson joined the staff to help the growing needs of the church. As a friend and colleague of Pastor Shannon, Dusty served as a part-time associate pastor until assuming the role of Senior Pastor in January of 2010. Shannon continued her service to the church as an associate pastor role until she and Mike retired and moved to Nashville, TN in the Fall of 2012.

In the Fall of 2013, church leadership began to feel a stirring of fresh vision for the future. In the months to follow the church made purposeful steps to contend for a new home for the church. Early on the leaders felt the search for a new location should not be limited to the Hills of South Eugene. As part of the preparation for a new location the church was invited to a series of meetings to determine a new name not location specific would have a prophetic calling for the future.

After months of brainstorming, discussion, and a number of lengthy meetings, the church arrived at CitySalt Church as a new name.  In the Fall of 2014, as per Foursquare Bylaws the church membership voted to approved the name CitySalt Church and on November 9, 2014 the church gathered to celebrate the church’s 10 year anniversary in addition to launching the next chapter in the journey a congregation as CitySalt Church. 

WHY SALT?

Jesus said, "you are the salt of the earth," and what he meant is both simple, yet profound. It speaks to the potential and intended role we have been given as carriers of love in the world around us. Just as natural science bears witness to the vitality and essence of salt, it makes for a rich and compelling challenge for the followers of Jesus to be carriers of his love toward every man, woman and child.

Here are few interesting things we can appreciate about salt...

• Salt is pure
• Salt is common, yet vital (well known, yet is the essence of all living things)
• Salt is an organic building block
• Salt is valuable, yet abundant (was traded as a commodity “worth your salt”)
• Salt is a regulating sustainer. (in appropriate quantities will keeps things healthy and in balance - PH)
• Salt is change agent. It melts ice and can lower the freezing point of water.
• Salt is a health promoter (fights infection and promotes healing)
• Salt is an absorption accelerator. It serves as delivery vehicle for heavier elements (A sustainable and convenient vehicle for distributing other essential elements when deficiencies are present (ie. iodine to the body through salt)
• Salt is a preserving helper (keeps things from getting rotten and going bad)
• Salt is a flavor enhancer (the five flavors: bitter, sweet, sour, savory and salty)
  • It doesn't simply make things salty.
  • Suppresses bitter dominance and makes way for sweet, sour and savory.
  • Influences aroma and sensitivity.
  • Adds substance. (makes things like soup more substantial)
• Salt is a neutralizing change agent (de-escalator; It can make a toxic acid or base safe to the touch or even drink)
• Salt is an infection fighter
• Salt is a potential killer (If overused, inappropriate or in excess it can cause death; ex. - plant life, slugs, people)

I find it interesting that Jesus would express the heart of the Father/Creator by telling his followers that they are the salt of the earth.

"The Sin Question" by Sarah Moorhead

It's an old-fashioned question, one we don't talk about much because it's an unpopular subject. But like it or not, sin still exists and at times we still choose it. We sometimes fool ourselves into thinking that our sin isn't as bad as the sin of others. After all, we're not out killing innocent people like ISIL is doing in the Middle East and we have a right to our superior attitude because of _________ (fill in the blank).

However, I know from experience that sin's promises are empty and hollow. There is no lasting peace or joy or freedom. Every time I've taken that road, at the end I've found only an arid, desolate desert, much like the land of Mordor.

Thankfully, when I cry out to God, He comes swiftly to rescue me, as on eagles' wings. He holds me close and tells me He loves me. No recriminations. No guilt trips. Only love. And with His arms wrapped tight around me, He lovingly whispers, “My dear, sweet child, are you ready to let go of that lie?”

And there in the safety of His embrace, my heart overwhelmed by His love and grace, I see the lie exposed in all its evil and I gladly renounce and repent of my agreement with the Enemy. Only then am I truly free.

Since people have to have their own epiphanies, I will not tell you what to do with your sin. I can only tell you what I've done with mine. All my sin, all the lies I've believed, all the prideful attitudes I've held, all the times I've pitied myself as a victim or a martyr, all the anger, hatred and judgment that I've carried – all of it I've given to Jesus.

In return He has healed my wounded heart. He has taught me truth – even the hard truths about myself. Without guilt, He has shown me the root of my bad attitudes and without fail, no matter how it's dressed up, every time it seems I've fallen for the same lie; the lie that I can be god. It's the same lie that got Lucifer kicked out of Heaven.

Therefore the only safe path for me is humility, gratitude and love. I will always choose Jesus over my sins. I've seen the results of both choices in my life and Jesus is far and away the better – only – choice!

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Mark 12:29-31 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

"Through the Glass Dimly" by Terry Sheldon

Have you ever seen God? Or felt his presence? Do you know for sure? These sound like "baiting" questions, I know. But I pose them because I always seem to bump up against not so much the existence of God (seriously, have you ever been to Yosemite Valley?) but our daily relationship to him. How do I relate to someone I can't physically see, hear, and touch? And of course, what do we do with the idea of suffering?

Yep, I am the classic "doubting Thomas" by nature; a skeptic. But I like to think of myself as someone wise whose mind is not for rent to the next bidder. Hopefully my motives for this are sound and good. Those who can relate know the constant struggle, the internal battle to "settle it once and for all.” Be honest, I don't think I am unique.

Again, I don't question the grand scheme of things; I just want to be truly authentic in not just what I believe, but in HOW I believe it. I want to get to know the real God, the real Savior. I want to put my struggles, those flash points of trial and tribulation in proper perspective.
This is the eternal struggle I know, one of the constant themes threading through our collective cultural and religious histories. One thing I think we understand is that many things shape our image of God - good and bad. What we've learned, our experiences, people in authority in our lives, the Bible; all ingredients that make up how we view God and how we view ourselves relating to him. Our perceptions are like glasses to the vision impaired. We see through the glass dimly, as Paul says in Corinthians.

So where does this lead us? Does it feel like you're dropped off at the bus stop, waiting for the next one but not seeing it? It does for me sometimes. And our perceptions that shape us are not just in the past. Present ones do too. Lost your job? Your career faltering? A key relationship in trouble? A health crisis? Do you battle with depression? And the flip side - if we go the other way with this, we can get a false image of God by putting too much on the good times in life, when things seem to be going great. Is that His blessing or do we just deserve it since we worked so hard to achieve it?

I ask a lot of questions, I know. The answer here might just be related to the relational. Yes, we are taught that God is relational, but he seems "out there" too much, right? But when I look at my relationship with the closest person I know (hint: she has red hair), I see someone I know quite well, but I also see mystery, things yet to be discovered; new horizons, new depths of meaning. New possibilities. Maybe that's the way it should be with our God.
As I am writing this, I hear God's voice. His message sounds like "I am here. I've never left you. Be patient. I will never forget you or lose you. Stick close. Seek me. There is so much more out there for us. Be patient, be patient."

"I Am Chosen" by Laura Rice

Years ago someone wise encouraged me to release another person from
my judgment.  Since that time, I have tried to make it a practice to remove any
judgment I find myself holding over someone else.  It's not my job.  My job is
to forgive and try to live with acceptance and love toward others, as Jesus has
modeled and instructed us to.

Recently I had an insight that this was something I was practicing on
myself.  I was always "taking my measure,” so to speak.  Unfortunately this soon
becomes introspection and a cycle downward.  Once again this is not my job.
God will examine my heart and the Holy Spirit convicts as necessary.  We get
carried away with something far beyond either.

In our Sonship group we are asked to listen for God's voice.  In response
to a question, I heard God tell me to quit measuring myself and letting my
performance define me. God has already told me that I am chosen, acceptable,
forgiven and loved.

The second part of my hearing was that I should measure God instead of
myself.  What a relief to look up to God instead of down and into myself.  God
is good, full of compassion, slow to anger, tender-hearted, faithful, and forgiving.
God will never leave me. God is a good Father and Shepherd, and I am always
in His constant care.

Matthew 7:1  Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
                        And with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Psm. 42:5  Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?
                     Put your hope in God, for I will yet praised Him, my Savior and my God.

                    My soul is downcast within me.  Therefore I will remember you.
                     By day the Lord directs His love.  At night His song is with me,a prayer
                      to the God of my life.

"In the Gap" by Ally Mittleider

Wilfredo De Jesus, more commonly known as Pastor Choco, was named Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and is the author of the book, “In The Gap: What happens when God’s People Stand Strong.” Needless to say- Wilfredo De Jesus is a “salty” person. 
He has a very simple vision: to be a church for the hurting that reaches people for Jesus. I can’t help but jump on board with that vision, as it can be applied anywhere at any time. As we have been going through this series of saltiness with Pastor Dusty, I personally have become excited to go through the process that Pastor Choco shared with us at the 2014 Global Leadership Summit. 

The first step is prayer. As we are called to be salt to Eugene, we need to remember to pray! We can pray for our own sake; that we will be moved to weep for the hurt in this city. “Break my heart for what breaks yours,” is a simple Hillsong United lyric that has stuck with me since I heard it, but it’s an important mentality to have. There are gaps in Eugene, but we need to be revealed to what these gaps might be before we can do anything about it. The next step is to plan. Being the planning-type myself, this is one of my favorite steps, as I get to put together a plan to execute. It may seem too business-like to be of the Spirit, but it is all part of the plan God has to use us as salt people in this city. The most important step of this process is to proceed. Do something! Act out the plan that God helped you create. Wilfredo De Jesus said in one of his talks that, “Once you have been revealed a problem- you must act! If you aren’t going to do anything about the answer, why did you ask?” Ouch. But SO true. Taking the next step of action is vital, because faith without action is dead. Period. (James 2:14-26)

This was such an encouragement to me! Ephesians 2:1 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” The first line says we are God’s masterpiece. We are His work, and as a work of God we are made to do God’s work. The reason we are here and alive today - the reason our hearts beat – is for this mission. My encouragement is to begin praying for open eyes; that we, as a body of Christ, will see the needs of our city. I pray that He will break our hearts for what breaks His so we can begin to meet people where they are at.

James 2:14 - "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?"

James 2:18 - "Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."

10 Year Anniversary!

This fall season marks the 10-year anniversary of our church and is worthy of a special celebration! You are invited to join us on Sunday, November 9th for a special service where we plan to worship, reflect and celebrate all that God has done in the past ten years and look to all that He has ahead in our future. This day will also mark the beginning of our new name change to CitySalt Church. So mark your calendar and be sure to extend a personal invitation to anyone who has been a part of our collective journey as a church and may appreciate celebrating this special occasion. We will gather for a worship service at 10AM followed by food and fun for the whole family until 2PM. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Name Update!

Gratefully we received the necessary 2/3rds majority vote from our membership and have since secured approval by the Foursquare so that SouthHills Church will now begin the transition to CitySalt Church.

Not only is this name a fresh and unique expression for a congregation, it carries a timely reminder of our calling to be an expression of Christ when gathered together or scattered throughout our community as we live, work and play. As we walk through this transition, we trust it will inspire and challenge us to press in and discover all that Jesus intended when he called his followers the “Salt of the Earth” as recorded in Matthew 5:13.

Practically, you will see us begin to rollout a series of changes as we lead up to our 10 Year Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, November 9th. Until that time, we will continue to “do business” as SouthHills Church. As we walk through this season of change, we invite you to continue to worship, give, serve and pray for your pastors and leaders while making room in your heart for all God has in store for our church.

"The True Gospel" by Sarah Moorhead

You may already know that there are many gospels.  Just as every religion and cult has its own version of Jesus and/or God, they each have their own gospel.  “Health and Wealth,” “God wants you happy,” and “Name it and claim it,” are just a few.  There are also some gospels that are not attached to any certain religion.  “Save the Planet,” is one example.

But the one that trips up a lot of Christians - the one that distracts them the most - is what’s called the “Social Justice Gospel.”  On the face of it, it sounds noble, honorable and right. You could spend your whole life fighting for the rights of ___________ (fill in the blank).

But what did Jesus say?  “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”  The context in which he said this is at a dinner in Bethany, recorded in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-7.

Jesus and his disciples are having a meal.  During the meal, a woman opens a jar of very expensive perfume and pours it on the head of Jesus.  Seeing this, the disciples, led by Judas, become indignant.  They protest that instead of wasting the perfume, it should have been sold and the money given to the poor.  Jesus rebukes them, as he often did, and helps them get their priorities straight.

He was right. The human condition has not changed. Because of that, we will always have poor people. We will always have those who suffer and those who inflict the suffering. Without Jesus, the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.

So, what’s the answer?  We have a great many laws based on the Ten Commandments, and yet people still lie and steal and kill.  We still treat each other unfairly.  The answer is not to pass yet another law.  It's impossible to legislate righteousness.

The only answer to any injustice is Jesus.  We must go back to basics.  We must return to the true gospel.  In humility and love we must preach the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.  Once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit can begin to bring about real change.  Salvation through Jesus is the only path to true social justice.

Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 16:15-18 "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

"The Stand" by Kettwig and Brown

A sample from our praise and worship time on 10/5/14 by Madison Kettwig and Lisa Brown on vocals.

"We Believe" by Madison Kettwig

Check out this new song performed by Madison Kettwig at the close of our service on 10/5/14...

"Trying to Love" by Kayla Erickson

Do you ever wish you could love people better? As a recovering perfectionist this is a hard one for me. Some days it’s easy to be polite and show an interest in peoples’ lives, and other days I need every scrap of will just to be civil. But I get the feeling that’s not the spectrum Jesus is talking about when he says to love one another. I’m sure he understands that we all have our off days; He was a man after all. But when the Bible says that Christians would be known for their love of one another, it seems to imply that deeply loving our spiritual siblings would be a natural (or rather supernatural) consequence of becoming a Christian.  

I've learned two things about myself regarding this recently. (Yes, recently - it turns out trying to be perfect all the time tends to slow the growth of self-knowledge. Who knew?) First, it’s hard to be nice when you’re in pain. Second, it’s hard not to judge people when you can’t forgive yourself. The piece of God that has come into sharp focus in light of these realizations is His compassion. I finally began to understand that it wasn't God’s intention for me to keep working hard to love people until I finally got good at it (though love certainly requires practice). It was his desire to heal my soul through his presence; to show me that he cared deeply about the trials and sufferings of my life; to tenderly rebuild me to wholeness. And my part was to stop “should”-ing myself. The true curse of a perfectionists’ life is “should.” I should love them better.  I shouldn't have said that. I should help out more. I should be a better _____. That is the spirit of condemnation, friend. And every failure is a little death. 

Should I do those things? Probably. But that’s the wrong question. The right question is why should I do those things? Because it’s a good thing to do? Nope. Bad reason. That rabbit trail leads to the clanging cymbals Dusty was referring to from 1 Cor. 13 on Sunday. That path leads to either self-glorification or self-condemnation… usually a liberal dose of both. So then why?  Because when Jesus makes us alive (and remakes us alive every time the world breaks us again), it punches holes in our thick walls of self preservation and we start to really see each other. More and more, there is enough in us to care beyond our own pain and inconveniences and start seeing how we might be able to show kindness to our sisters and brothers. We start to see that it is a grand privilege that God allows us to share the stumbles and burdens and joys of our journey together. We learn to lean into God’s compassion for others’ needs as well as our own, and forgive ourselves and others the way God forgives us.

But there is a cost. We have to give up our own righteousness. Is Jesus’ righteousness really more important to me than my own?  Easy to say, hard to live.

[1Co 13:1-4 ESV] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

[Rom 8:1-6 ESV] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

"Making Room to Revival" by Randi Nelson

As sincere Christians we recognize corruption as a natural state in the affairs of mankind and that righteousness is a salty antidote. We know righteousness is the mark of one who lives “in the Spirit”. We know we often must choose between what comes naturally and what is against the grain of our natural selves. Yet, in our desire to bring a savory (pleasing by reason of effective seasoning; morally good) flavor to our world, we often find ourselves marching down a frustrating path of strife, legalism and failure.

For some time I’ve been grappling within myself over a relationship that needs “revival”. I’ve prayed and spent many thought-filled hours on the issues. Yet a barrier remains. My “saltiness” has been overpowering and my sweetness impotent. Lord, Lord, what do I do?
In “Keys to the Deeper Life,” A. W. Tozer uses Joshua 7-8, what is often referred to as “the defeat at Ai,” to illustrate this very situation. The army had experienced a resounding and bewildering defeat. The people cried, tore their clothes and prayed fervently. But God rebuked their efforts and told them to prepare to face their sin. Tozer points out that revival cannot take place until there is reform.

Am I ready to reform? Honestly, my initial answer was, “no”; I was adamantly entrenched in my own viewpoint. Then, gradually, I realized that however much I may yearn for revival and however desirous reform may be, I am just not able to reform my own heart. I might go through the motions and do all the right things (tear my clothes, pray, seek revival), but true righteousness is not something I can attain or achieve, no matter how motivated. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” The Apostle Paul said it this way: 

“… I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me …. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:21-24)

And so I’ve been stuck until a few days ago when it finally hit me: while righteousness is not something I can attain, it is something (someONE) I can make room for - a tweak of semantics with a powerful punch. Making room for the thoughtfulness of the Holy Spirit sends my own thought-filled mind to the backseat. Making room for Jesus to walk beside me allows his righteousness to shape the path out of my entrenched unrighteousness.  Making room for God to salt my heart, rather than grasping at the shaker myself, releases the balance of healing antidote I need. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v.25); the reforming of my heart is at hand; I have hope for revival.

Encouraging Words
Romans 7:24-25 – Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Matthew 11:29-30 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

"Interdependent Living" by Joseph Scheyer

As much as some of us value independence and cherish those times of solitude, the fact of the matter is, we need each other.  God designed us to be in fellowship with one another and not to walk through the trials of this world in solitary. It is not that God cannot communicate with us in when we are alone; in fact, our times of solitude are often the times when God speaks most clearly. It is, however, as we find in 1 John 1:7. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”  In other words… walking with God leads us toward true fellowship with each other. 

The world’s economy equates strength and independence with the ability to take charge of our lives. It is good to be able to take care of ourselves; to feed and clothe and provide shelter for ourselves. It is also good to be able to make decisions independently and to have the personal strength to stand behind those choices. However, if we rely only on ourselves, our thinking can get off track and our decisions skewed. As Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We need that annoying neighbor or relative to learn patience and compassion and how to deal with adversity. We also need that special friend to experience acceptance and accountability, and then we need that soul mate to understand what love really means. Our vertical experience with the Love of God is not really complete without that horizontal experience with each other. 

I am convinced that God designed us not for independence but for interdependence. When you get right down to it, it is the people that we are able to touch and the people that we allow to touch us that determine the level of fulfillment that we walk with each day. The more we allow others to see who we are (intimacy = into me see), the more we are able to connect with each other and understand the true nature of God within us. Dealing with others can be messy and it takes effort to develop relationships, but I have to believe that it is God’s plan for us to learn and grow with each other. After all, our joys and triumphs are empty when experienced alone and there is little doubt that sharing our burdens makes them bearable. 

Some time ago Dusty brought in a guest pastor by the name of Dan Russell.  Dan was a former champion wrestler who gave insight into the importance of our fellowship and left us with the acronym HELP:  Hang - Eat - Laugh - Pray … Together.  What a beautiful and elegant way to describe some basic tools to reinforce God’s design for us and bring fulfillment to the body. I look forward to the threads of our lives woven together in Christ. 

While it is good to know how to be comfortable with those times of solitude, what we take from this life and more directly, what we are able to contribute, is almost always a product of the lives that we are able to touch (and that we allow to touch us). God’s Love for us is unconditional but the quality of our Love for each other is what adds fulfillment to the human part of our journey in God’s Kingdom. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”

Acts 2:42 “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”