Unfortunately, our mp3 player did not record last weeks message, so if you are looking for the Sacrifice message you are going to have to ask for notes from someone who was there. I’m bummed, but there is nothing we can do. Sorry!

When we initially formulated our Core Values, the word I wanted to use here was, LOVE. The problem is that our culture has watered down the word “love” as it is used to describe our feelings for food that we eat, sports we enjoy as well as for people with whom we are at one point in relastionship with and at another point abandoned. Does this capture “love” like God intended? Perhaps not. So we wanted to capture the kind of love that God hopes that we will represent. We felt that SACRIFICE best described that kind of love.

The backstory only makes you realize the limits that language plays in our communication. I even wonder if Sacrifice fully captures the heart that God intended. It seems that the Apostle Paul, who endured more trials and difficulty than anyone I have ever met, considered even the best things in his life as trash compared to living a life in pursuit of the heart of God. He saw what Christ did for him as the true sacrifice and whatever he endured for Christ’s sake was simply a way of identifying his life with Jesus.

We, as a culture or maybe more accurately, as broken creation, seem to have trouble getting past the idea of inconvenience, much less sacrifice. What would it look like if a community of people truly embraced the Story of God in such a way that they were willing to fully give of themselves to the mission to which God has called us? What is it that holds us back from full commitment to the message of God? From commitment to a community? What are some small steps that each of us can individually begin to take as we move in that direction as a community?

Our community received something precious in the mail last week — a handwritten thank you card from Kenya. I was so touched by it that I wanted to share it with everyone.

Last summer Jared O. was with us to explain the need for fresh drinking water at the orphanage he runs in Kenya. The people of Pathways responded by giving for more than what was required. To the right is a scan of the hand-drawn cover of the thank you card that was sent to us. Below, you can see the notes that were written inside. If you click on that image, a larger one will be loaded so that you can read it.

Enjoy … and thanks!

Our very good friends, Ed and Vicky Gunthner had their house burn down at the end of December. The fire enveloped the house at 2am, but everyone was able to get out of the house without harm. Most of their “things” were lost. Their daughter, Julia, whose wedding I had the privelege of performing, is living with them while her husband is in Iraq. She is seven months pregnant and it was her “tiny bladder” that woke her up, not the smell of smoke. She woke up the rest of the family and got them out of the house.

They just sent me this news story from Arizona. This family has been HUGE supporters of Pathways church, both financially and with their prayers. Many of you have met them as they have been up here twice to visit. Let’s support them with our prayers just as they have done for us.

Have you ever asked the question, “What was I created to do?” It is a dangerous question because it really causes you to seek out your Creator to understand why you were made (Kingdom purpose) as well as seeking to know yourself (talents & passions). I say that it is dangerous because the answer to the question might lead to huge changes in your life and lifestyle. It was asking that question in 2002 that led me to leave a great job in a great church to risk planting a church in a state and an area where I know nobody outside of my wife’s family. However, amidst the risk there is a sense of this idea of redemption - I am being used in a way in which I was created for.

Redemption is captured when we understand that life has MEANING - even amidst the STRUGGLE, when we are being restored and the world around us is being restored to God’s original intention.

Do you have favorite REDEMPTION snapshots? I think that my favorite comes from my friend Geoff Olds here at Pathways. I will never, ever, ever (many more ever’s here) forget when he stepped out of the baptistry after publicly confessing his commitment to Jesus. He collapsed to the floor and wept the most beautiful tears I can ever recall seeing. After a moment, he looked up at me and said, “I am soooo happy.” That is a REDEMPTION snapshot - Geoff finally understood his Creator’s love for him and was restored to His original purpose - to be in relationship with his Creator. Thanks for that picture Geoff - it will live with me until I die!

I’d love to hear from you about favorite REDEMPTION snapshots. Pictures of the world being made right.

Hey Pathways community!

I thought it would be cool to every now and then post some recommendations for new worship albums. I’ll try to pick albums that are full of songs that we will be singing together on Sunday mornings. I truly believe that when we can get a song to sink into our heart and not just be expressed from our lips, true worship takes place. Until we get to that place, it’s just music. As a community, my prayer is that we can move to a place of worshipping God with our hearts and not just our tongues. To get past the music and the words. Hopefully these resources will help that process and give you an insight into what is coming. The links I will be using are to iTunes (sorry Microsoft friends). If you don’t have iTunes, you can download it here. Here’s a few to get us started…

David Crowder Band - A Collision
Chris Tomlin - See The Morning
Charlie Hall - Flying Into Daybreak

Blessings……Josh

I found this three paragraph description of God’s dream for His people on the blog of a pastor of a church in Naperville, IL. I thought this truly reflected the heart of what we are praying that God will do at Pathways. We are striving. We are not “there” yet, but I am so encouraged by what I see among our community.

God has a dream; it is a dream that He has had for all of eternity. It is the dream of a people whose hearts beat with a passion for “Helping People Find Their Way Back to Him.” Their presence enters the community as freshness; like the first fragrance of spring at the close of winter. The breath of new life; new beginnings and the promise of what’s to come fill the air. They bring a message of hope through Jesus Christ inspires of truth and joy. When they gather it is to experience and celebrate the mystery of their oneness in Jesus Christ. Together they are His body – the very physical presence of Christ on earth. They celebrate and embrace God’s eternal plan for the church to be the hope of the entire world. God has a dream.

God dreams of a people whose heart beat reverberates through neighborhoods, cities and countries stirring an awakening in hearts and souls. Christ followers, those close to God connect with those far from God in groups where the language of “we” replaces “me.” Inside these groups it’s safe to risk, to be vulnerable, and share life deeply. They are marked by a radical kind of faith, hope and love; the marks of Jesus Christ and His followers. Transformation takes place as groups empower us to more fully obey Christ together than alone. Neighborhoods become places where the word “lonely” doesn’t’t exist; where a smile replaces suspicion, security replaces fear, and Jesus is a holy name on lips. Community becomes a life changing experience, not simply a location. God has a dream.

God dreams of a people whose hearts beat with such compassion that no need goes unmet. The One who has freely given His life calls His own to give freely in return. These Christ followers hold all things loosely and love opens their hands. In this supernatural economy, the greatest return is in the giving and nothing is held back. Personal contribution becomes a path to obedience, fulfillment, unity and joy. The young invest in the aging and the aging contribute to shape the generations of the future. Generosity replaces self-centeredness as compassion calls us to take risks. With a contagious and passionate desire they contribute to the dream of God to meet the needs of all He loves. God has a dream…

Well, last week we talked about “Struggle” and it seems appropriate to admit right here and now that I am struggling with getting these posts up on time. Excuses fly through my head, but really, I’m not soooo busy that I can’t get these up by Tuesday night. Everyone has my permission to pile on and give me a hard time.

While you are thinking of something clever to say, don’t forget to start thinking about our next Core Value: Meaning. As I thought about the rhythm of our Core Values, it occured to me that struggle has no positive without meaning. If I can’t find deeper meaning in this life, then avoidance of struggle becomes my highest goal - which we see all around us.

Here is a question I’d like for you to ponder: Can you find meaning in life apart from a God of redemption (the next Core Value)? Don’t answer without thinking this through. Don’t mock those who don’t believe in God because I believe that they would argue that there is meaning in their lives. I’m looking forward to your thoughtful answers…I’ll be struggling with next weeks post.

I’m Back! Between power outages, the Holidays, and Holiday sickness, it seems I haven’t visited here in a while. How is everyone doing? Are you ready to roll?

I have to say that I am incredibly excited about our upcoming series as we look at each one of our Core Values. These are not just words on paper or “pie in the sky” concepts. These values are the very “core” of who we desire to be as a community. We take them very seriously and hope that you will as well. These values are also not about something that we have attained - they are things that we strive toward. It is an urging within our hearts that says, “How incredible would it be if there were really a community of people who lived in this way? What could that look like? I want to be a part of that.”

So what I’d like to do is let you read and respond to each Core Value as we progress through these next five weeks. This week, we’re talking about STRUGGLE.

Personal depth is developed by asking tough questions, by struggling. Those who abandon the struggle either come to believe that they have gained all of the answers or quit caring about those answers altogether. Life is not meant to be lived in either of these extremes. Life is a struggle. Following Jesus does not alleviate our struggle, give us the answer to every question, or enable us to conquer every difficulty of life. But it does make the struggle worth facing by tying it to something greater than ourselves. It is in this wrestling that we learn to trust and draw closer to the heart of God.

How has the value of struggle played a role in your life and pursuit of God? Do you struggle with struggle? It’s time to get off of the internet couch and let your fingers do the talking. Nobody is encouraged/challenged/thoughtful/provoked by your thoughts if they stay in your head.

Several people have asked for a list of all the references that were used in our journey through the Story of God this past weekend. So, for all who asked, and even for those who didn’t…here you go:

Revelation 1:3
John 20:31

Genesis 1:1, 1:24, 1:26a, 1:27, 2:8

Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6, 3:9, 3:17, 3:19, 3:14-15, 3:24, 6:5-6
Romans 5:12, 3:23
Isaiah 53:6

Numbers 14:18a
Psalm 103:8-10
Jeremiah 23:5
Isaiah 11:1, 7:14, 9:6
Galatians 4:4-5
John 1:14
Luke 1:26-28, 1:30-33, 2:1, 2:4, 2:6-15, 2:39-40
John 1:6-7, 1:29
Luke 3:21-22

Luke 4:16, 4:18
Matthew 13:55, 13:57
John 1:11, 6:35, 8:12b, 10:9a, 10:11, 11:25-26a

John 14:6, 15:5-7, 10:10b
Matthew 4:23
John 20:30-31
Luke 22:7, 8, 14-15
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 14:1-4, 25-27
Mark 14:26
Luke 22:41-42
Matthew 26:45-46, 48-49
Mark 14:46, 53
John 19:1-6, 16

Luke 23:33-34, 44-46

Matthew 27:51-54
Isaiah 53:5
1 Peter 1:18-19
1 John 1:7
John 3:14-15
Matthew 25:57-60, 65-66
Luke 24:1-7
Acts 5:29-30, 32
1 Corinthians 15:20, 51b-52
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
Matthew 28:16, 18-20
Acts 1:9-11
Revelation 21:1-7

Acts 16:31
John 3:16
John 1:12
Romans 6:4
Revelation 22:17