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Tar Heel Nation

My friend and colleague, Richard Dahlstrom posted a very thoughtful blog on the unfortunate vote in North Carolina. You can read it here.

Hey, All Saints!

I have a few things I want to share with you.

#1 - I am so grateful to Ron Jacobson for speaking on Sunday. You can listen to the message in case you missed it. Thank you so much, Ron.

#2 - We have another great guest speaker this Sunday, Jim Henderson. Jim is a friend and is really a blast to listen to. Jim's topic, "A New Kind of Christian Woman." He will be interviewing a local business woman in our congregation, Kaye Straight. It will be a great time and I want to encourage you to bring a few friends.

#3 - We are beginning the Starting on the Mission Class this Wednesday night at 7pm in the loft. This is a great way for you to connect with All Saints Church, learn about what All Saints' believes and the focus of our mission. You will also learn where you can serve and get on the mission. Join us!

#4 - We are beginning a new series on May 20th called After Eden. We are going to explore what the Bible has to say about Singleness, Marriage and Sex. My prayer is that this series can bring healing, hope and confidence to everyone. We face a barrage of messages about all three of those subjects; I speak to many broken and hurting people about those very issues. Join us and bring a friend or two.

#5 - Have you downloaded our App yet? Get it here.

See you Sunday!

Hey, All Saints!

I have a few things for you.

#1 - I enjoyed our music this past Sunday. What a great time of reflection and contemplation. The stories behind the hymns we sang were both moving and great reminders of God's grace when life's terrors arrive at our door step. Thank you to our music team for putting so much thought into that music time.

#2 - A couple thoughts on the message. (side note - we had a glitch in the recording of the message so there will no podcast this week).

- Christianity is more than picking up an ethic or a philosophy, it is becoming a completely new person. It is a power and a new life.

- There is no practical help in Christianity unless all of it's true.

- Unless you have a horizon beyond your present life span, unless there is a truth beyond feelings, there is no basis for heroism or courage in this life.

- We can have courage because God loves us in Christ, because we have approval that our life is simply to honor the one that has honored us. And that means we can handle anything. We can all say to:

Our Heart – with all your performance driven anxiety…shut up.

The World – with all of your changing opinions…you don’t terrify me anymore.

To Death – you can’t take away anything from me that makes me who I am.

#3 - We are really excited about our classes that are going to be offered beginning in May.

Starting on the Mission (SOTM) begins May 9 at 7 pm in the loft at All Saints Church. You can sign up online, the connect card or the concierge desk.

Journey begins May 6, 9:30 am in the loft at All Saints Church.

#4 - This Sunday we will be wrapping up our series in I Corinthinas 15. We are talking about Forgiveness and the secret to a guilt free life is belief in the resurrection. It's going to be a great day of healing for many people, I am anticipating some deep work going in our souls.

#5 - I am so proud of All Saints for the incredible outpouring of love and belief in the fact that All Saints has a global reach! We raised $10,701.40 for the One Day to Feed the World. We crushed our goal of $10k. Thank you so much for being such a generous church. I want this to be our reputation, generous and giving. These are traits that change people and make a city better. THANK YOU!!!

#6 - We are planning our upcoming series for the summer and fall. In the Spring/Summer we are going to spend six weeks talking about marriage, singleness and sex. I look forward to helping us all see what healthy and mature relationships look like according to the Bible. In the summer/fall we are going to spend time in Ephesians looking at the role of the church. It will be empowering for us to see what role we play in our neighborhoods and cities, also how we take serving, giving and loving to extravagant levels.

#7 - Life Groups are ramping up for our Summer semester, look for details that will be coming very soon. Any questions or interest in being a life group facilitator? Shoot an email to lifegroups@believedoubtseek.org or let us know on the contact card this Sunday.

#8 - Join us for prayer tonight (Wednesday, April 25 at 7pm in the auditorium).

All Saints Church, you are putting a dent in the world by introducing the people of Seattle to the abundant life of Jesus. I am proud to be serving you and serving with you.

See you Sunday!

Look who's wearing Bronco gear!

DenverBroncos.com

Why Young Christians are leaving church...

This looks interesting, I look forward to attending.

Check this out from David Kinnaman author of unChristian:

Today’s Christian teens and twentysomethings are changing their churches, businesses, and nonprofits.
Our team has listened to their concerns and asked for their solutions. We’ve discovered how their world is shifting and what it may mean for those who influence them.
Join David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, for a provocative event called You Lost Me: Live!
This half-day training focused on today's younger generation will help you and your team understand the important cultural shifts that are influencing young Christians.
Bring your ideas, solutions and questions about the teens and twentysomethings you work with. We want to hear them.
Immerse yourself in the Barna Group’s practical and visionary research. And learn how you can apply these insights right where you live.

Here are some deetz: May 22 Northwest University 10a-3p - $19

You can register here.

Compassion for the City

"When he approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it." Luke 19:41

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because he knew they were going to reject the King and his Kingdom. The city was on a collison course, and Jesus knew it. The people were doing whatsoever they wanted, looking for the freedom to be. The only way Jesus could do something about it was to go to the cross and die for them.

Today, over 2000 years later, we have the same problems. People are trying to do whatsoever to find an identity and a way that is suitable and satisfactory. As a pastor in the city, I want the same compassion as Jesus, I want my heart to break for the people that live in my city. Jesus didn't engage in silly philosophical arguements, he didn't draw a line in his fundamentalist sand box, he drew the people in by his love, grace and mercy. He was compelling because he was completely true to his character. As we enter into the Easter weekend, I think it is vital that we weep (with compassion and love) over our cities and neighborhoods.

I came across this great video that tells the story of people in Richmond, Virginia who have this same compassion for their city. You can see it here.

Take some time today to pray for Seattle or whatever city you live in. Pray for your neighborhood and your neighbors. Look for opportunities to be compelling, and above all, serve.

Some Magic and Larry - the basics

Here is a glimpse of the two best ballers ever to play the game. And, it supports my illustration from last Sunday!

 

Serve Seattle

This article is important for all of us who are working in the city. Seattle is setting the tone for urban improvement and building a strong urban core. As a pastor in Seattle, I see this as something that gives insight into what the city values and the receptiveness to what All Saints can bring to its vitality. As a church, our goal is to make Seattle better, this article gives us some good insight as to what and how.

My Final Four

It's time for hoops. Wait. When isn't it time for hoops?

I filled out my bracket, this is my final four:

North Carolina, Marquette, Syracuse, Kansas

North Carolina over Marquette in the final

Tar Heels are champs!

Who do you have?

Lent - Surprised by Grace

We are beginning a new series this Sunday, "Lent - Surprised by Grace." I hope that as we observe Lent we are realising the world around us.

As we approach the infamous Day 3 of Jesus' resurrection, we must take the time to reflect on the things that are in our soul. The season of lent is a time of reflection, where we look deeply into our soul to find the places that need to be nurtured and pruned, so we can grow, even if it is something that is new, we must tend to it so it will blossom. It is also a time of repentance, where we dig up,  and cut away the things that keep us from maturity in Christ.

This series will help us learn how to grow deep roots that are grounded in stability, and lives that bear fruit for service and compassion. Let's give up the things that keep us from maturity and nurture the things that help us serve our city and neighbors.

This Sunday we will be working out of Matthew 7:13-27. Read it through and make some observations. Bring a friend and let's talk about "Being Authentic." We must be able to make distinctions in what are the essentials and non essentials of our life, philosophy and beliefs. We live in a culture that says it's not a good idea to try to discern between true and false religion, "let's just take it all and use what everybody has to offer, in a sense, a big salad bowl of religion with all kinds of variety. Let's just assume that everybody is sincere and ok. Let's not be intolerant."

Jesus, speaks to this and it is very sobering. We have got to come to grips with this so we are able to be authentic in our beliefs. This is really about a soul sifting.

See you Sunday.