Finding Inspiration + Sunday Morning Resources
By now, you know that I am an avid reader and lover of inspiring books, articles, blogs, movies, and films. Let me share a couple of books and a TV series that have been part of the inspiration I’ve received during my chemo/radiation treatment plan. A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie was sent to me by a woman in our church who bought several copies for some friends. She ended up with an extra and decided to bless me by dropping it off at my office. The book is divided into specific prayers for both morning and evening. Here’s an example: “O God, be my refuge in every moment I face today. Be my guide through all uncertainty and darkness. Be my guard against all that threatens my spiritual well-being. Be my strength in times of testing. Cheer my heart with Your peace; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.” This prayer of trust came my way on a day I needed to strengthen my awareness of God’s never-failing presence.
Another book that has inspired me deeply is Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. I found this book to be significant to me because of its emphasis on Jesus as my compassionate friend full of grace and truth, who identified Himself as being “gentle and lowly of heart.” Wow, each day this book met me right where I was as I picked it up. There are twenty-three short chapters based on incidents or stories or teachings of Jesus. These prayers offer an opportunity to meet Jesus and discover a level of compassion and warmth that may be unnerving in some ways. Here’s an example: “The dominant note left ringing in our ears after reading the Gospels, the most vivid and arresting element of the portrait (of Jesus painted in the Bible), is the way the Holy Son of God moves toward, touches, heals, embraces, and forgives those who least deserve it yet truly desire it.” I found myself relating to this in such a profound way. I realized that I’m deeply broken and in great need of His relentless compassion because I’m frail and so often weak in my resolve.
I will come to you with humility and say that possibly the biggest surprise I received during this time of deep need and longing was the lift I got when I took the advice of someone I respect and watched The Chosen mini-series. It’s a biblically-based interpretation of the life of Jesus and the people He chose as His followers when He looked at them and said, “Follow Me.” As you know, we’ve adopted this as our discipleship model as a church. We are followers (apprentices) who are called to BE WITH JESUS, BECOME LIKE JESUS, and DO WHAT JESUS DID. The series challenges us to move beyond the Sunday School Jesus some of us carry and try to see what He was like as the Messiah come to save His people, combined with how His first followers expected Him to be if He truly was the Messiah. It’s full of moments to be moved to tears by the compassion of Jesus, moved to laughter by the humor of Jesus, moved to devotion by the love of Jesus, and moved to action by the message of Jesus. It’s not perfect. It is wonderfully messy and refreshingly creative. It has fictionalized moments where the producers dug down to tell stories that the Bible doesn’t wholly describe. I know there is a danger in mentioning something like this because someone somewhere will be offended, but I want to recommend it. If you watch it, please allow yourself to see Jesus with fresh eyes.
All three of these resources have filled me and sustained me during this season tie together in theme and meaning. I pray you might allow yourself a moment to be enthralled with Jesus and possibly see Him in a way you could never have imagined. These books and The Chosen have tenderized my heart, and I’m grateful to God for that.
CANCER SURGERY UPDATE. I had hoped to get a surgery date this week when I met with the surgical team at UCSF, but I am still following their procedures which will take another week or two. They did indicate that it could be four to eight weeks from now. Please continue to pray for recovery and renewal from chemo/radiation so that I can be strong when the date comes. I love you and am so grateful for your prayers.
A special HOSPITALITY HOUSE OFFERING will be this Sunday, August 29. You may already know that Hospitality House is one of the organizations that COVID has adversely impacted. Here are some thoughts from their director, Ashley Quadros. “The HH primary shelter (Utah’s Place) hasn’t been sufficient to meet the needs during COVID, so they have rented rooms in multiple hotels in the area for 18 months. Regular food costs have tripled during this time. The lack of willing volunteers has forced the staff to be increased by over 20% to meet the greater needs they are experiencing. There are multiple families with children, including moms with infants, depending on HH.”
The previous time we received an offering, the entire staff from Hospitality House was extremely grateful for our help during this demanding and challenging time. We will provide special envelopes on August 29 in our Sunday Gathering, or you can give directly here.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY WATER PLAYDAY is also this Sunday, August 29 from 12:15-2:15pm. Families, we’re going to have fun on the front lawn with slip-n-slides, inflatables, Otter Pops, and a lot of fun. Make sure your kids bring their “get wet” clothes (you too) and a picnic for your family. You can find out more on our website.
SUNDAY, we will look at a section of warnings Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount. It’s about Following the Way of Resistance. He calls us to resist the temptation to believe that all roads lead to Him. He reminds us that there is a wide way that leads to destruction, but He calls us to follow the narrow way that leads to life. He calls us to resist the temptation to listen to those false teachers who proclaim a false gospel or distort the Bible's teachings. He calls us to resist those disciples who have built their lives on a false understanding of who He is. Instead, He calls us to become true disciples who are faithful to Him and God’s Word. I’m excited for us to dig into these teachings together.

Here are the links you’ll need to be fully prepared for Sunday’s Service:
Joyfully living everyday life on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,
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At the End of All Things: A Conversation about End Times and What Follows + Sunday Morning Resources
