MH-RV Vision Casting Night

This past Tuesday evening was a big night for Mars Hill Rainier Valley.  It was a night for vision casting and Pastor Turner Sutton, Pastor Dave Bruskas and Pastor Mark Driscoll would be attending to give updates.  Not only was the whole church invited to this event, but youth group is now back on Tuesday nights meaning a full building and a lot going on.  Josh and I headed over early for him to help set up for youth.  My plan was to find a quiet corner and read, but as soon as we walked in the door I saw Roberta, head of hospitality, prepping for the masses.  I jumped in and helped her get it all set up.  It was great to see all the regular volunteers going back and forth getting the building set up for the big night.  

The meeting started with worship- which I must say was rocking.  I think everyone was so excited to have the Pastors there, for the Rainier Valley location to have just celebrated its one year anniversary, and really simply to be a part of it all.  It's all about Jesus, and there was no doubt in my mind that was everyone's focus as we worshiped.  

Pastor Turner Sutton (Executive Pastor) spoke first giving an overview of the churches finances and their stewardship.  

Pastor Dave Bruskas (Network Pastor) spoke second giving us an update on the other 13 locations.  There are a total of 11 locations in WA and 3 out of state- Orange County, Portland and Albuquerque.  He had a great theory on how to describe Portland, "its when white culture goes unchecked."  Ha!  Those that have been to Portland TOTALLY understand what he's talking about!  But Mars Hill is growing and its great to hear about all the other locations and the future Mars Hill homes.     

Pastor Mark Driscoll (Preaching and Vision Pastor) brought a different twist to the night.  He first spoke about how all the other locations really love and support Rainier Valley.  It is a beautiful picture of the church and we are all here with the same goal and love.  Then he had our campus pastor- Willie Will- join him on stage.  He had Pastor Willie speak of his new son, his past, his father and stepfather and how he came to know the Lord.  It is amazing how Jesus has saved Pastor Willie and where He has brought him in life.  Pastor Mark did this to emphasize the fact that there is a great need for young men and really all men to step up and be fathers.  Whether that is first to their own children or be a spiritual father to other men and women in the church- it is a great need, especially in the Valley.  As Mark put it "God is looking for fathers".  

The meeting ended with us all singing, "Jesus Paid It All" Rainier Valley style and again everyone was pumped because its all about Jesus.

Afterwards Josh and I got the chance to meet Pastor Mark and briefly share the journey we are on.  As funny as it sounds, it was great to finally meet our teaching Pastor.  We watch him preach every Sunday and its always great to make a connection with the Pastor who teaches and preaches.  

It was a night to once again solidify how much we love our church.  Mars Hill Rainier Valley is our Seattle family and the thought of leaving them grows harder with each day.  I realized later that the night also reminded me of our Cross of Christ family.  From birth to college we attended Cross of Christ Community Church.  It was a smaller church where you have the joy of knowing everyone and being close to the people in leadership.  As we were helping get everything set up that night my heart was warmed in the realization that we get to serve, know and be a part of a body that has so many wonderful people. 

If you haven't heard already, but the current series we are in is "Who Do You Think You Are".  Its all about finding your identity in Christ.  This is key for every Christ follower and I HIGHLY encourage you to listen to the sermons, and or read the book.  Knowing who you are in Christ changes everything.  

  

Fog in the Valley

Not to rub it in, but it is mid January, there is no snow on the ground (expect in the mountains), the coldest it has gotten is in the mid 20's and peoples biggest complaint is frost on the windows.  I recently heard someone say, "just count on the northwest to make you weak towards the weather."  Obviously coming from MN- this winter has been extremely mild.

But one thing we did not experience in the midwest is the settling of dense fog.  We are now on a five day streak of thick fog hanging over the whole Puget Sound area.  Granted it hasn't rained in the past five days, I am ready to see beyond the immediate trees in the park outside our window.

I have never stared in a horror film- but I feel like as Josh and I walked to Redemption Groups the other night I now would have some experience to put on my resume for my late acting career.  And I could also add driving into an abyss or the deep beyond.  To get to my nanny job I drive across the 90 Floating Bridge (side note- 90 eventually turns into 94 meaning if I stayed on it I would eventually end up in MN).  As I emerged out of the tunnel the other day and onto the bridge it was literally a wall of fog surrounding both sides.  So where I am used to seeing Lake Washington, Mount Rainier, downtown Bellevue and tons of houses- I only saw grey....creepy....

You're probably thinking, what great and wonderful insight or deep thought could I correlate to such a unique experience...I thought about it- but all I could come up with is I am ready for the fog to lift.

Redemption, Changes and Identity

This past weekend, Josh and I began our journey with "Redemption Groups" at church.  RG's started out as something for men and women who have been abused or have/had various forms of addiction.  They realized that the structure was giving those sins "too much credit" and people would still heavily identify themselves as "abused" or "addicted" rather than "in Christ".  So they rewrote the curriculum and now it is for anyone who struggles with sin or has been sinned against, which is everyone.  Josh is in a group with 10 other guys and I am in a group with 10 other women.  We each have different pain in our life- but as we learned pain is pain, and sin is sin and we all need to be redeemed from it.  Each week we will go through a chapter in the book "Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the idols we worship and the wounds we carry"- and within that book walks through the book of Exodus.  The kick off weekend went well and we are excited/nervous to see how God will move.  It is known for being really intense- but a good intense!    

As Josh and I have been completely digging the latest Phillip Phillips CD, one of the songs has really stood out at this stage in life.  We have completely loved our time here in Seattle as we anticipate leaving our new home in May.  We will be in essence starting over again, but with a greater sense and confidence in who we are and the God we serve.  There are still a lot of unknowns, and while we are not necessarily scared- we will be making the best of whats to come.  

(chorus lyrics)

Hope is just a ray of what everyone should seealone is the street where you found mescared of what's behind youand scared of what's in frontlive with what you have nowand make the best of what's to come

This week at church we started a new series title "Who Do You Think You Are"- Finding your true identity in Christ.  The first sermon was full of amazing truth- and I encourage each of you to listen- because what is life if we don't know who we are in Christ?
Mars Hill Church

Reflections and Resolutions

While it can seem cliche or typical I am grateful for the chance to reflect on New Years.  I am not confident it is true, but a yearly calendar could have been God inspired so that we would reflect over the past year and resolve to make changes for the new.  We know a lot of people make goals for the new year, as the gyms are packed out and lists are made.  But like clock work the gyms go "back to normal" by the end of February.  So what makes the difference between life change and the same ol' same ol'?

Jesus.

Too cliche'?  Doesn't change the fact that He is life changer and knows when you'll give up and go back to your selfish ways.

Too harsh?  He died on the cross for your selfish ways, He doesn't want you to go back to them.

Don't worry I have made many lists in the past of what I want to resolve to do, and have also failed.  But my hope is that this year will be different, because I hope to cover the list I have made in prayer so that I do the things I want to do and not the things I don't want to.

I don't think every goal has to be super "spiritual" because God did give us passions and desires and likes.  He gave us tons of taste buds- so why not enjoy good food?  He did give us the ability to see thousands of colors- so why not be in awe of them?  He did give (most of us) a sense of rhythm- so why not groove to music?

I wanted to share a few of my goals for 2013 as a form of encouragement, inspiration, and accountability.

Josh and I:

• Be MN tourists (we have been permanent tourists in Seattle and have enjoyed so many aspects of this city because of it)

Art:

• Watercolor a 2014 calendar

Food:

• Incorporate salmon into my diet

Faith:

• Find, serve and become a member of a MN church

Personally:

• Learn to embroider

Socially:

• Start a new blog....this green girl won't be in the emerald city forever...

A glimpse of goals that are still be refined and determined.  I also had this idea- inspired by reading "Start Something That Matters" written by the man who started TOMS shoes.  He brought up the idea of creating a Not-To-Do List.  We all have things that eat up too much of important time...so what do you resolve not to do this year?  Like cutting the grass (I would be okay of never mowing the lawn in my life, 25 years and still going strong with this one!) or more realistically not wasting excessive time on FB...mmhmm...

Josh and I had the awesome opportunity to celebrate New Years downtown by the Needle.  We both realized that the majority of 2012 has been spent in Seattle, how did that happen?  I have to say the fireworks display at the Needle was by far one of the best shows I've ever seen.  There was great dynamic to it because there were so many different ways to shoot the fireworks off of the Needle.  It may have only lasted 10 minutes but it was utter sweetness!

what the sky looked like on Dec 31st as the sun was rising

the Needle is in the background :)

Jan 1st- they were handing out those cool 2013 hats at the Needle

we were suppose to be running the Commitment Day 5k with Lifetime Fitness Jan 1st- but the Seattle race was canceled due to lack of registrations- BUT we still showed our support for Lakeville and the life of trainer Steve Toms.