The Leviticus Challenge!

I read an interesting article today about a Boston church that decided to study Leviticus in a unique way. Here's the first paragraph:

Mention Leviticus to most people and what comes to mind is that arcane tome of Torah devoted primarily to the proper (and gruesome) management of sin through animal sacrifice. Others may recall mind-numbing instructions on how to rightly handle infectious skin disease and mildew, and a mishmash of other commandments about not mixing fibers and seeds and not sleeping with your stepmother or sister or nephew—commandments deemed either irrelevant or plain common sense. Rarely studied and even more rarely preached, Leviticus often becomes that graveyard where read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plans go to die. Skeptics know it as ammunition for homosexual haters or as a target for animal-rights activists. Many Jews regard it as awkward and outmoded. To slog through it can be unbelievably tedious. Which is why most of us don't.
But what would it look like to take Leviticus as seriously as we take the rest of the Bible?

Pastor Daniel Harrell decided to get a group of people together for a 30-day challenge: to live "Levitically." To see how this interesting experiment went, click here for the rest of the article: The 30-Day Leviticus Challenge

New Hope Kids Camp

This morning from my office I could hear the youth drama team practicing for the upcoming Kids Camp at Camp Tapawingo. It sounds like it's going to be very fun!

The camp is coming up soon, so it's time to get signed up! The dates are August 18-22 and it's for kids entering 3rd-6th grades. Cost is only $175 for 5 days and 4 nights of Cosmic City fun! Contact Ashley DeForrest for more information.

Women of Faith Conference

Women of Faith is bringing its Infinite Grace conference to Portland on October 10-11, and we're hoping to get a group of New Hopers together to go. Talk to Keri Laeger if you're interested, or just contact us on the website and we'll put you in touch with her.

I've known a number of ladies who have gone in the past and it's a great time! Here is one of their promotional videos if you want a little preview:

Sunday the 20th

It's good to be a part of God's family. All over the world millions of believers gathered to worship in settings and traditions of every kind. But I'm especially glad to be a part of my local church at New Hope, and we had another nice service of worship this morning. Here's a report for those who are away on this summer Sunday.

Our singing was sweet as usual. I appreciate Steve's friend Colby coming to fill in on the drums while the Blumensteins are on vacation--it's tough coming in to play songs that are unfamiliar with band members who are all complete strangers! (Dustin and Beth, we're looking forward to seeing you again next week!) Christie and Cassie did a nice job playing/singing "I Belong" by Kathryn Scott after the message, and it was fun getting my oboe out for the song and playing along with Kim on clarinet (who is a very fine musician).

We prayed for and said good-bye to some of our college students today. Krysta Baglien graduated from Linfield and is heading home to Caldwell, Idaho to fight fires for the summer and then find more permanent work. And Josh and Cassie Kanable, who just graduated from Western Oregon and Linfield, respectively, are soon heading out to Fort Collins, Colorado, where Cassie will be working on her masters at Colorado State. All three of these quality folks have been with New Hope from the beginning and we'll miss them very much! Pray for their job needs as they go.

Dewey is away speaking at a camp, and Gerry Clark filled in as our teacher today. Gerry spoke about Mary and Martha, and encouraged us to "sit at the feet of Jesus" as Mary did. It was a good reminder to me to make sure even in the midst of serving Him that I take that quiet time with Jesus. The sermon was good, and it was only 27 minutes long, so I hope you'll give it a listen on our Sermons, Etc. page on the website this week!

Our softball venture wasn't quite successful as we lost 10-7 to Carlton Trenching. Our team had to put up with some iffy calls and a pitcher who kept on walking people (me), but I was so pleased to again see good attitudes all around. As representatives of Christ and His church, how we react and interact during wins and losses is what pleases Him and what really matters, and I think our team represents well! I had one of the girls from the other team tell me we were a fun team to play, and that's a good testimony to the world.

So that was the Sunday that was, and we look forward to another one in seven days! Hope you all have a terrific week!

New Recordings Online

Just wanted to let you know we have last Sunday's message on the Trinity uploaded to the website. Click on the Sermons, Etc. menu button to find all our recordings. We also recorded the song I sang after the sermon, Praise to the Trinity, in case you'd like to hear it again!

Bad analogies and metaphors...

- John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

- He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant and she was the East River.

- Even in his last years, grandpappy had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

- Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

- The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

- The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

- He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a landmine or something.

- The Ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

- It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids with power tools.

- He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

- Her eyes were like limpid pools, only they had forgotten to put in any pH cleanser.

- She walked into my office like a centipede with 98 missing legs.

- Her voice had that tense grating quality, like a generation thermal paper fax machine that needed a band tightening.

- It hurt the way your tongue hurts after you accidentally staple it to the wall.

And for your listening pleasure...

I'm always on the hunt for new songs to sing, and this week I've been listening to tunes on PraiseCharts.com, a site I sometimes use for getting music for our New Hope band.

Anyway, I found this recording of a song called "The Name of Jesus" by Christopher Wright. I don't know if I'll use it at our church or not, but I just love listening to it online, so I thought I'd give you a link to hear it if you'd like. Enjoy!

Andrew Stanton Interview

Last night Kelly and I went to see Pixar's latest film, WALL·E. I've seen all of Pixar's movies, including their short films, and there's not a loser in the bunch, which is amazing to me.

There are some big themes in this movie about love and human interaction, among other things, and I was pleased to learn today that Andrew Stanton, the writer-director of WALL·E is a Christian. If you've seen the movie, you might be interested to read this interview with Stanton about this film and the industry as a whole. (If you haven't seen the movie yet, be warned that there may be spoilers in the interview).

Power to the People!

A Happy 6th of July Celebration

We had a big day at New Hope yesterday! Our worship service was well-attended, with a count of about 154 in church. Since it was July 4th weekend, I had a couple patriotic hymns in the mix, with a brass quartet and a 10-voice men’s choir—fun! Dewey talked about Jesus’ baptism, and we sang songs about our need for cleansing and what Jesus has done for us.

We then headed over to Dancer Park, where we enjoyed a barbecue potluck together. The weather was perfect, and it looked like everyone had a really nice time. We had some balloon tossing and 3-legged racing, and I got a chance to meet some new people. It was great! Thanks to Repko Bruinsma for the burgers and dogs (and for suggesting the picnic in the first place).

Our softball team improved its record to 3 wins and 2 losses yesterday afternoon with a fun win over Creekside’s #2 team. I sure appreciate Meredith Berthot managing our squad. It’s a lot of fun every week. There are no games scheduled next Sunday because of Turkey-rama, and I’m bummed we don’t get to play!

It’s days like this that make our fellowship a family. We love being a part of the New Hope Christian Fellowship community!

Barbecue this Sunday!

Don't forget we have a barbecue following our Sunday morning worship service! Repko is grilling burgers, and you can bring a salad or dessert to share. We'll be gathering at Dancer Park in the area across the street from First Christian Church. And you're invited to cheer on our church softball team at 2:15 right there at the softball fields.

And be sure to join us for worship in the morning--I've got some nice musical surprises planned! See you Sunday!

Happy Independence Day!

Our great United States declared themselves to be a new, independent nation exactly 232 years ago today. Happy birthday, America!

As you may know, I am unabashedly patriotic. I honestly believe the USA is the greatest and best country in the world, full of freedom, opportunity, stability and strength. When I was younger I had the chance to do a lot of traveling. I've not only been to all 50 states, but also about 21 other countries, and while there are things I enjoyed about all the places I've visited, there is no place like this place. I thank God that I can raise my family and serve Him here in America.

This last week I watched on DVD HBO's terrific mini-series John Adams. The most moving part of the 7 or so hours of dramatic history was the point at which the Declaration of Independence was signed and it was being read aloud in various locations around the colonies. I found some tears coming to my eyes, and my daughter asked me why I was crying. I didn't go into much of an answer because we were all watching the TV, but I trust that Molly and Ethan will one day understand and share the love Kelly and I have for this country.

Watching John Adams prompted me to look up the Declaration online, and I had never read the whole thing before (it's longer than I thought)! Here are the first couple paragraphs in case you'd like to read it as part of your Independence Day celebration today. (You can click here for the full text and lots of other info).

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...

Have a happy Fourth, everyone--and may God bless America!