If you are looking for something exciting to do right after church tomorrow, you might want to pack a picnic and walk over to Freedom Field (across Bothell Everett Hwy.) for the State Championship game of the 12 year old all-stars. Mill Creek will be playing Richmond for the title at 1pm. This Mill Creek team is INCREDIBLY talented and many believe they have the capability to be playing on ESPN in the Little League World Series this year.
I have really missed being with all of you the past two weeks. Vacation was great and our time at Central Christian Church last weekend was phenomenal, but it’s always good to be back. In fact, I’ll be back just in time to take 13 middle school and high school students up to Island Lake Camp. Canyon Hills Community Church and their staff has been an incredible friend to me personally as well as to our students. They have invited us to be a part of their summer camp for the past three years. It’s awesome to partner with another church and it allows our students to be a part of something that they would never get to experience as a part of a small church.
There is something very powerful about partnership. God demonstrates His desire for partnerships simply by allowing us to be used as a part of His “Great Commission“. He then calls us to work together to bring about His purposes. This is easily seen when we work together in a church, but I believe it is even more powerful when churches join together in unity. This is why I love working together with Faith Fellowship and our connection to Central Christian Church in Arizona and East 91st St. Christian Church in Indianapolis.
My time in Arizona last week was to say “Thank You” for being a community of people who believed in the work we are doing here in Mill Creek, WA as well as to encourage them to continue to step out into faith as they struggle with God. This weekend, I’d like to share some of those same thoughts with you as a way of connecting the heart I shared with them, with all of you.
The prophet Micah proclaims, “Who is a God like our God?” As we continue to review what the scripture says about God, we will ask an important question of ourselves. We often look at a young man and compare, “He is just like his father,” Or, “He is nothing like his dad.” There is an amazing comparison the scripture calls for as we put together Micah’s picture of God with Paul’s instruction to those who claim to believe what Micah says about our Father.
If you were to meet someone who had never heard of God, how would you describe Him?
If you have lived in the area for any length of time, you know that this weekend is a big deal in Mill Creek, WA. The Mill Creek Town Center turns into a huge street festival filled with food, booths, dogs jumping 20+ feet into the water, lots and lots of vintage cars and did I mention that Pathways Church will be there.
Our theme this year is: “It’s not about us.” (Get your t-shirt today!) We will once again be raising money for children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Zambia as we work to promote the Hoops of Hope fund-raiser that place on World AIDS Day on December 1st of this year.
I want to encourage all of us to be there this weekend. Be a part of connecting with our community. Be a part of serving in a way that will be significant for children in Africa. Be a part of the food and laughter and joy that always accompanies a street festival. Contact Andy Smith at Andy@thecea.org if you would like to be scheduled in our booth.
I will miss all of you as Leslie and I will be in Arizona this weekend. I have the opportunity to speak to the 8000+ people of Central Christian Church to say “Thank You” on behalf of Pathways Church for the blessing of helping to make this church a reality. So much has been given by the people of Central and I am thrilled to stand in the pulpit (for six of eight of their services – the other two are video venues) and speak on behalf of all God is doing here in the Everett / Mill Creek / Snohomish area through your faithfulness. Thanks for joining us on this journey!
Bob Kuest will be preaching this weekend. Here is a little taste of what’s to come this Sunday…
Are we enjoying our relationship with God? When I was a child I developed a picture of God as an old white headed man with a long beard and dressed in a black robe. He sat behind a big desk situated so that He can see the world. He held a quill to write down my every sin in a big black book. Most of us have a picture of God that is a made up of a series of myths, stereotypes and examples of people claiming to be godly. Most of our pictures sap our joy rather than promote it. Perhaps it is time to take a fresh look at how God reveals Himself in scripture. We might be surprised what we learn.
Pathways Church is people, not a place. We gather every Sunday morning at 10am at Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett. We invite you to join with us as we strive to follow the example of Jesus in this world in which we live in.