Weekly Blog

Sometimes you get a feeling in your gut that is a deep knowing that only comes from God.

When Josh Gallagher, the lead pastor of Paradise Alliance and I talked about what he wanted to find most in the ashes of their house in Paradise, my stomach turned over.   Josh said, “I’d like to find my wedding ring he said, and I kind of know where it was in the house.”  

I volunteered our church staff to take a half day to help Josh and his wife Erin sort through ashes – I just had a strong sense in my gut that we were going to find it.

Over the past six weeks I have seen incredible unity among churches who have never partnered together.  The tragedy that we all have been living in has softened hearts to receive prayer at a rate that I have never seen before.  People are hurting and it’s impossible to hide it.  As you look around public spaces it is common to see someone weeping or you feel the stress level in our city at a heightened level.  This is not just the recovery from a wildfire; this is an historical event of epic proportion that it is impossible to fully comprehend. 

We will call today’s lunch – “A memorial lunch.”

A few friends gathered to eat together and tell stories about a man named Don, who slipped into heaven the day before this awful fire broke out.  His passing could have been forgotten with both of his brothers working long days at the Red Cross shelter at Neighborhood Church on November 8^th.  They responded to this crisis in the midst of their shock and grief, and graciously served others.  It was good to visit today and focus on honoring and celebrating Don’s life and also to encourage his brothers. 

What do you do to remember special people or events in your past? 

The Camp Fire is still burning, but we already feel how life in our area, as we know it, has changed for a long, long time. 

When I woke up last Friday and heard that so much of the ridge had burned, I knew this was no ordinary wildfire like we have ever experienced before.  The magnitude of the devastation is overwhelming.  After getting a rare chance to survey a bit of Paradise earlier this week, I was both heartbroken and hopeful. 

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself,  ‘I lived through this horror.  I can take the next thing that comes along.’”   - Eleanor Roosevelt

This week many of our friends escaped the flames of the Camp Fire on the ridge with only the clothes on their back.  It has now been declared the most destructive wildfire in California history. The grief that I experienced in the course of 24 hours was the most overwhelming I have felt in my 25 years of full time ministry. 

What a shame… the series is over. 

We have received so much feedback about our recent teaching series, “Shame: Facing the Flames from within.”  As I talk to more and more people who are becoming aware of the presence of shame in their lives, I find that the skill of good coaching is becoming seriously handy!  When someone is trying to unwind a personal problem with you and they are quick to ask you for your advice on what to do – it’s time to slow things down and ask questions rather than blurt out your solution to their problem.  As we seek to be safe people who others can be vulnerable with, and tell their shame stories… the coaching posture is gentle and helpful. 

As I sang the phrase “How do you solve a problem like Maria…” from The Sound of Music  the woman working at Walmart thought I was crazy. 

There are many evenings where I run out to the grocery store or to a place like Walmart to get one or two things that we need for the next day.   I have grown accustomed to a woman named Maria checking my receipt as I walk out to the door.  Maria has a smile and nurturing way about her that makes you feel like your “abuela” (grandmother) is here to make sure you get another helping of food. 

Yesterday our church took our turn at covering the county in prayer for 24 hours. 

When my time slot rolled around, I nestled into the couch with my coffee in one hand and the prayer guide in the other. As I started to pray down the list I was surprised when I looked up and the 30 minutes were almost gone. The Lord brought to mind individuals in different spheres of influence to pray for. I kept a pad of paper nearby so I could jot down any ideas that came to mind during the time so I could stay focused. That proved to be a very good idea. 

I serve at the pleasure of the president. 

Dr.  John Stumbo is the leader of our movement, our “Christ Centered Acts 1:8 Family.”  He’s a gravelly voiced, tall, thin man who has been humbled by God, miraculously healed and has been leading the Christian and Missionary Alliance in our country for the past six years. 

We have 43,200 minutes to spend in each month.  Can we ask you for 30?

Butte County churches are launching a new prayer movement that we are calling “Butte County Prays.”  Each church is being asked to mobilize their people to take a 30 minute slot, one day per month to pray.  Butte County Prays officially launches  on October 1^st.  

As Neighborhood Church, our day to pray is the 2^nd Wednesday of each month.