Before Abraham was, I am. I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I am the door. I am the good shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the true vine. I am the way, the truth and the life. This week, Wayne is beginning a series on these eight “I AM” statements...
Here it is Labor Day weekend, the official end of Summer, but it feels like Fall started a week ago. Many Portland area kids started school last Monday and the weather today is autumn—ish. I hope you had a chance to get some down time this summer or at least a slower pace of life for a...
Would you like to hear a story? It was a dark and stormy night. Just kidding. Well, actually, it was dark but it wasn’t stormy one night, many years ago, when I was curled up on my couch in my SE Portland apartment that I shared with my friend Maile. It was late and I was absorbed in a...
First of all, I want to thank the elders and the church for the wonderful gift of a trip to Hawaii. In July/August Doug and I went to Hawaii for three weeks. We went to the big island, the island that I call home, as well as a trip to Maui. I enjoy swimming and being in the blue water always...
In one week the youth will begin their mission trip. We aren’t going to some far off land or some exotic place. We aren’t headed across the country to another city or a rural setting. Nope, instead we are headed to where we are now, Portland. Our hometown where we go to school, work...
It’s hard to believe it’s August already! The summer months seem to fly by more quickly than any other season. This month the children’s programs will be focusing on what it means to be in a Faith Community, where God’s family cares for each other and worships God...
“If you hear someday that I’m in prison, please pray for me.” The comment was made offhandedly, half-jokingly by Pastor Alexey Shipovski in his sermon to us last Sunday. But the reality out of which his comment arises is no laughing matter. The government of Russia has recently...
Simply watching the news or scrolling down your Facebook feed can be pretty discouraging these days. With further connectedness through technology and social media, it seems that we are increasingly being exposed more and more to the hate and brokenness of our world. We all react in various ways...
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece”. This is quite a statement from our God, especially this past weekend as I looked out over the blue mirror that is Crater Lake. It was Lana and I’s first visit to the imploded volcano and we had no idea what to expect...
For more than six weeks now, Paulette and I have been on the receiving end of fellowship. We made the move to our new home on Father’s Day weekend. In the weeks before our move and in the weeks since, very many of you in our church family have “fellowshipped” by sharing your...