point of difference...

First off let me extend thanks to my pastor and my friends and to all who have shared with me encouragement and prayer in regards to my recent blog. It is interesting sometimes when I read my previous blogs and I look back at the very moment at which I decided to write them... and then I remember what I was going through in life at the time I wrote them, and remember the exact moment where God showed up and helped me out maturing, growing and drawing close to Him. He is so faithful all the time... even in the times of pain, and brokenness.

Let me share my prayer with you since so many of you have shared much with me...

"Father, I thank you so much for this day in which I can live for you. Thank you for being a God who is big enough to create a universe but small enough to know me better than anyone. Thank you for always being there when I needed you. Thank you for catching me if I fall. I pray that you will help me grow closer to You. I pray for my church... Heal those who need healing, comfort those who need comforting... Help us to come together as a church, and as a body just as You have designed it. I pray specifically for everyone that would call our campus there home, I pray that you would bless them and encourage them. I pray that you would bless anyone who walks through these doors. Help this Gresham campus to grow as a family and help us to impact our community the way You impacted us. I pray that you would bless the leadership team of this church and pray that you would help me grow as one of the leaders. I pray that you would give me patience, clarity and understanding as I take on this call that you have given me to be a pastor. I pray protection over my family, and pray that you would encourage and bless my wife. Thank You for everything You are, and everything You do. We love You and we Praise You.
In Your name we pray, Amen."



For those of you struggling with hurt and pain... Hold on, and keep praying for in His name alone will you find healing and comfort.

Blessings,

-Tim

frustration...

So I have recently been frustrated at God, just a little, and the reason being is that I feel at times like my campus here in Gresham is going nowhere. Which is really totally not right because we really have gone far. We are in a place of growing individually... when we grow individually than God will grow us in numbers. I have to keep my mind focused in the goal at hand but I can't get so caught up in the #'s that I lose sight of the people that we do have. Even if I only get a half dozen people one weekend, I want to make sure that they are the most blessed, most prayed for, most cared for half dozen people at living hope church. I need to get over the fact that it isn't all about #'s... it is about my influence in there lives and my impact that I can make to help them grow in spirit...

Please be prayin, as I am still having these struggles now and again.

-Tim

Our Perspective...

(click on picture to enlarge)

Isn't that a great poem... it really brings in to perspective what our lives really look like, and how we can sometimes feel like we are completly alone... but instead of saying "where are you God when I need???" change your perspective, "how can I draw my self near to You Father in these times of need?" All it is is perspective.... change your perspective, change your life.

Another Thoughtful Moment with Tim part II

So last night I had this dream... It was me viewing a bible story as if Hollywood got it's hands on it. Think of the movie Troy, or Kingdom of Heaven, or 300. Imagine David and Goliath, and think of it instead like the felt board sunday school story, or God forbid David and the Giant Pickle (veggietales), think of it as it really was... blood, guts, "war". Cuz that is the way that it really happend, not like the watered down stuff that we learn when we are younger. Which don't get me wrong, is more kid appropriate, but wrong... What if we read the bible in the way that is was intended, would you be more interested in it?


I have been talking to a friend recently who has a friend that isn't interested in God because they think the bible is boring, therefore God is boring... All they remember is the stuff they learned in sunday school. Do you think if someone down there life had told them how it really was, and what really happend, do you think that that person would believe differently. I DO! This week read your favorite story from the bible, maybe it is David and Goliath... maybe it is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel and the Lions Den. Read it differently and see what a difference it makes in the story.

Spending quality time...

So the last two weeks at Living Hope we have been talking about friendship and community and all of the above. I wanted to just share with you a fun moment we had on monday with NEW friends and building on old friendships.

What is it that is in the picture? IT is a architectural masterpiece. sorta. It was intended to be a fort, than it turned into an alter, than it was just a bunch of sticks that me and my friends stuck in the ground! And that was that.

It wasn't about what we built but it was the time spent building it. Let me know what you think...