Today we're visiting the home of Tim, one of the Wy'East Church Family, in Gresham, OR.

The First Annual Campus Tailgate Party Video Blog

Wy'East Movie Night: Casablanca

Going the Second Mile.

"If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles." -Matthew 5:40-41

Last weekend we wrapped up the last of the Living Hope Mens Retreats, which I have to say went really well...as this last retreat we had close to 70 guys coming together to commit to let God be the fuel of their life. On the first night we had Jon Anderson speak (Hockinson Campus Pastor), about the need to go the second mile with people. And it was one statement in particular that really stuck to me and it was simply this "the first mile we do in our strength, the second mile is done only in God's strength." I love that, and when you think about it how true that is...everyday we encounter points where we have a choice to go the second mile with others...to go beyond our comfort zones...to go beyond what we feel we can't...to get beyond pain and hurt. Choices that only happen when we first commit to daily step beyond ourselves and step into the grace, mercy, and call of God. See in seizing the opportunities that come our way everyday to get beyond ourself, in essence we're seizing opportunities for God to work. Opportunites that are often found in the most unlikely of places... the obnoxious co-worker that rubs you the wrong way...the guy who cuts you off in traffic...your spouse who says something insensitive...the neighbor who asks you why you go to church. Last night I got off the phone with a friend from our campus that seized an opportunity to go the second mile with someone and in the process seized an opportunity to see God's reality and work of grace like never before. Hanging out on Sunday with his brother at a local Tatoo parlor...a conversation started in regards to Living Hope, as the guy doing their tatoo mentioned that he had done a lot of tatoo's for Living Hopers. Well, this guy across the room overhears the conversation and starts asking questions...so Sam & Aaron start talking to the guy inviting him to the Sunday Evening service. The guy comes, makes a commitment to ask Jesus into his life, and that night gets baptized...talk about "only God." See by making a choice to go the "second mile," they made a choice to get beyond themselves...beyond their comfort and fears... and in the process they stepped into an "only God" moment. So what are some of the second mile opportunities around you today?

Life Group Road Tour #3

I have to say Holli and I really enjoyed getting to just hang out with Melissa’s Life Group. It seems like every group we visit we hear a story of how God has revolutionized and changed their lives. Simply put, it’s so encouraging just getting to sit and listen, and be reminded of the amazing reality of God’s love and grace. I really appreciated the honesty in which Melissa’s Life Group shared about the topic of greed…not always an easy topic to talk about. So it was refreshing to hear a group just talk honestly about what they struggle to let go of, and in the process finding myself challenged to face some of my own issues of greed. So thank you for letting us just come and hang out, you made us both feel so welcome…I also have to say I will never be able to look at dead skin the same way again (you just had to be there). Anyway, love you guys…and just keep doing what your doing…God’s working in it! Also want to thank Melissa for simply being Melissa, you’re such an encouragement to Holli and I. Your attitude in life, even when life doesn‘t go your way…is an example to all of us, it certainly is to me!

What do you like best about Living Hope?

We're interviewing you!

Wy'East Pre-Service Video Blog!

Join us as we interview some of our volunteers at the Wy'East Campus in Video Blog 4.

Thanks Martin and Exodus Ministries!

First off I just want to thank Martin for letting me go out with Exodus Ministries last night. If you've never heard of Exodus, it's a ministry that heads into the juvenile detension center of Clark County...and encourages, minister, and mentors these kids. So last night I had the privilege to head out there with Martin and several others including Dan Dickau (NBA player), as Dan spoke on having a dream, peservering in the pursuit of that dream, and leaning on God to provide the strength and vision to accomplish that dream. Anyway it was so neat seeing these kids, who'd had a few wrong turns and bad breaks in life, hear of a God who loves them, and believes in them, and still has amazing plans for them. Simply put, I think I was more blessed getting to be a part of it than the kids themselves...so thanks again Martin, as well as the whole Exodues team. If you would like information on how to get involved with Exodus, simply e-mail me for more information at sethm@livinghopechurch.com.
(By the way, my apologies to the Mens Breakfast Group this morning, unfortunately I wasn't able to recover from the late night before to get there...I'm sure it was a great time nonetheless.)

Pointless Ramblings of Seth, Dustin, and Josh

Join us today as we celebrate our third video blog ever by introducing Dustin Evans, also with Josh Dickens, the campus tech guy. For a sneak peak into the Adventures of Washington Man mentioned in the last segment, visit Josh's blog - http://wyeasttechguy.blogspot.com where the unofficial introduction to Washington Man is posted.

Life Group Road Tour Stop #2

The Seth & Holli Road Tour is in high gear now as we checked out the Brownlee Life Group last Wednesday. First off, have to say they may have one of the best Life Group settings around, as I was about ready to move in at the sight of their leather easy loungers. The group itself was an amazing time, as you could tell everyone genuinely cared for one another as they shared stories, shared laughs, and shared struggles. There was just a real sense of authenticity in the group that I so appreciated. I also enjoyed their lead off question which was…”If you could do one thing before you died what would it be?” My answer was to visit every Starbucks in existence, okay…not really, for me it would be visiting the Holy Land. Thanks to Gene & Darlene I’m now a believer in the beauty of potato salad again. And of course, Jim & Diane, what can I say you guys are awesome! May you never tire doing what you do, when I think of how many Life Groups you’ve helped to start and the people you’ve just simply loved on and encouraged…I’m awed by it all.

Next Tour Stop: Engler Life Group

Youth Garage Sale

First Campus Pastor Video Blog Ever!

The Opportunity of Today.

"He (Jesus) had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar...Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food." (John 4:4-8)

Couple things of note: To go through Samaria back in that day, was considered a trip through the bad part of town, the ghetto area, or traveling through Texas as an Oklahoman (Sorry, my Sooner roots are coming out a little bit.). Some Israelites were so hesitant about the area of Samaria they would purposely travel an extra days journey to go around Samaria all together when traveling to Jerusalem. Simply put, to Israelites Samaria was certainly not a place to stop and hang around for any significant amount of time, it was just a necessary evil in getting to where they needed to go. That said, this is one of the things that makes Jesus' decision to stop and actually talk with this Samaritan woman so amazing. Here Jesus wants to stop and rest, the disciples on the other hand are looking for the nearest Dairy Queen so they can get back on the road as quick as possible. And it's in this simple decision to stop and notice, that Jesus saw an opportunity. A lone Samaritan woman, who was just going through life's routine. A lone conversation that progressed from surface conversation about water, to where she was at in her faith, to where she was at in life, to the very answer in life. Here's the point, Jesus knew that some of the best opportunities in our lives are right in front of us, not way down the road. It's the opportunity of changing someones life, by taking the time to ask your neighbor how he's doing, taking time to pray for another, taking some extra time with your family or kids. I sometimes wonder how our lives would change, how my life would change, if I learned to open my eyes to the opportunities of today...not next year, or next week. How would my life be different if I quit waiting until I was at a better job, or a better place in life, and just lived with a sense of expectancy and purpose each day of my life? God didn't create this day, no matter how tough it may seem, to simply get through and survive until you get to something better. But there is purpose in this day, there are opportunities this day, there are Samaritan conversations waiting to happen this day. The story of the Samaritan woman is the story of a God who saw purpose in today, and in that saw an opportunity to change a life forever. Listen to what Jesus says to the disciples when they return from the local fast food joint to the place they so wanted to just get through...

"Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life." (John 4:35-36)

Seth & Holli's Summer Life Group Road Tour Update #1

Don't know if I could've had a better start to the Summer Life Group Road Tour than Josh's Thursday Night Mens Group. Meeting at the local Brewed Awakenings in Fishers, an automatic plus 15 points on the scorecard on their quest to be voted the Best Life Group of '07 Award. It's a small group, and yet they were incredibly welcoming and very real and honest with one another. Recently they felt led to start going through the Book of Revelations, and I have to say I thought it was pretty cool how they took a book very heavy in theology and imagery, and yet as they talked it over made it incredibly practical. Anyway, thank you guys for letting me check out your group, you've certainly set the bar high for the rest of the Seth & Holli Road Tour stops.
For more information on this Life Group or others at the Fishers Landing Campus, please contact Seth McRae at sethm@livinghopechurch.com.

NEXT TOUR STOP: The Brownlee's Wednesday Night Group

The Beauty of Risk.

So how was your fourth? My wife and I got to enjoy the pyrotechnic performance of the Andersons, as we sat and watched them light up the night sky in an array of ever-changing color and smoke. I don’t know what it is about Americans but we love our fireworks. It’s said that Americans typically spend 420 million dollars a year on fireworks…that’s a lot of fireworks. And so there I sat, joining millions of other Americans who sat eyes fixed upon the glow of the skies above. Which got me thinking… I wonder if when Jesus called us to be a light in the world, if He really meant for us to be a G-201 Black Cat Artillery Shell in the world…in other words an explosion of grace and mercy in a darkened world. See as I watched the night sky light up I wondered what the draw was, why do people come from all around to see a fireworks show... and in that, one word kept coming to mind…risk.

The risk of danger. There’s risk, there’s a sense of danger to lighting fireworks, I discovered that risk last night as we had to duck more than a few times to avoid injury. See I believe those around us long to see believers who will risk, who will take a chance in their jobs, take a chance to go for their dreams, take a chance to actually step out and lean on the faith we so readily talk about. And isn’t that really what faith is all about, Hebrews 11 is an amazing chapter of faith fleshed out in a group of God-followers who didn’t just light up the world around but lived lives that were explosive. See these were a people who never settled for the path of least resistance, or the path that seemed most rational, or most safe. They took a risk, even if it led them to face danger. They took a risk even if the explosion of grace and faith was seen only by a few. They risked the ordinary to do something extraordinary in life.

There’s a risk of waking up the neighbors. When you start to take a risk for the kingdom, start to take a step that requires faith…in your marriage, in your job, in your family…it will wake up the neighbors. People will call you crazy, people will wonder why you’re investing so much to simply light up the night sky. When Jesus came into the world not everyone was excited about the explosion of grace and mercy He brought with Him. It woke up a religious establishment that had become content just going through the motions of religion… It woke up those who thought they had it all figured out…it woke up those who would rather shut out the needs and concerns of the world around them and even the reality of the God above them. Simply put, if Jesus woke up the neighbors, you can be assured that as you walk in His footsteps you’ll set off a few too.

This summer I want to risk…I’m going to risk to invite a friend to church, I’m going to risk to do something that involves the danger of failure, I’m going to risk some of my time and convenience to help others in need. And yes, I’ll probably wake up the neighbors, and probably get burned a few times in the process, and yet at the end of the day…I will live a life of faith that draws the attention of an unbelieving world. I will live a life that resonates with the beauty and afterglow of God’s incredible mercy and grace.
I will live a life worth remembering. How about you, what is God calling you to risk and risk for in life?

Summer Road Tour Update: I'm excited as tonight I kick off the first stop on the "Seth & Holli Life Group Road Tour" in our search for the Best Life Group of 2007. That said Josh, I'm hoping for a little bribery, free cup of coffee or something.