Last weekend, Darin and I had the privilege of spending an entire weekend with Brian and Sara Felushko and the Vancouver Church. Brian and Sara were gracious hosts and great examples of service – they served tirelessly all weekend. Friday night was time to unwind and then meet Brian and Sara for a great dinner and time of fellowship.

On Saturday, we had an all day devotional and workshop, 9am to 4pm, with the Worship team. Darin preached an inspiring lesson entitled, “The Heart of Worship.” We had a great time of Q and A afterwards, followed by lunch and Part II of the workshop. The worship team in Vancouver is full of servants, eager to use their talents for God.

On Sunday morning, we met with the entire Vancouver Church, Darin preached a great lesson and then we enjoyed a time of rich fellowship with the disciples following the service. We even saw some Seattle disciples who were in town visiting for the weekend. We ended the weekend over lunch, discussing the weekend, with the Felushkos, Andy (who leads the Worship Team in Vancouver) and his wife, Cathy.

We feel even more bonded to the church in Vancouver. Our hearts were truly refreshed after our weekend in Canada.

By Scott Green

If you’re feeling stressed, you may need this warning I got this from the internet:

“There is a dangerous virus being passed around electronically, orally, and by hand. This virus is called Weary-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely.

If you should come into contact with WORK, put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest grocery store. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should forward this to five friends. If you do not have 5 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.”

(OK, this is not a literal recommendation, but everyone, ease off the gas: “each day has enough trouble of its own” right?)

Hugs,

Scott

By Jay Kelly

“Church Restoration Continues” is the headline this week in the Queen Anne News. The article is by Russ Zabel who wrote about us when we first purchased the building.

“The congregation and leaders of the Seattle Church of Christ have big restoration plans for the former Christian Scientist church they moved into last year. They’ve also launched an effort to hold a live and silent auction at the end of May to raised money for the work.”
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(Read Ron’s San Diego update below, then come back to this post)

I don’t follow horse racing but because I’m addicted to both trivia and rareness, I usually watch the 3 minutes of the Kentucky Derby each year, wondering if a horse might win the elusive “Triple Crown,” something that hasn’t happened since 1978 (back when I was in high school, Jimmy Carter was President, and the telegraph was invented). Today “Big Brown” won the derby (as predicted); finishing second was a fly filly named Eight Belles.

A few seconds after the race was over, Eight Belles collapsed on the track. Right at that moment, I had to answer the front door and left the TV. When I returned I learned that Eight Belles had broken both her front ankles and had to be euthanized right then and there on the track. I got a little teary for a horse I didn’t know and an industry I don’t care about, remarking out loud, “that’s the saddest thing I can think of…”

Why is that? Why should it even affect me? I’m thinking back to John 11 when Jesus learns that Lazarus has died and sees the torment of his sisters. The Bible says that Jesus was deeply moved and wept. Of course, Jesus knew he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, so why did he cry?

It must be because death has a sting, even for God (1 Corinthians 15:55-56). Death is always tragic, always painful, even when we see resurrection on the other side. It’s painful to God, and when we’re in touch (even with horses we do not know), it’s painful to see. I suppose the innocence of animals is a large part of today’s pain as well.

On tomorrow’s Lord’s Day, as we commune together remembering Jesus’ death and sacrifice, may we be deeply moved at the tomb that is now empty. May we feel the sting of death enough to appreciate salvation from its jaws.

Dispatch From Ron Brumley:

Linda and I had the good fortune to travel to San Diego last weekend, to visit with our daughter, Gretchen, and her family. Besides all the wonderful grandkid stuff, a highlight for us was the opportunity to worship with the Pomerado Region of the San Diego Church of Christ. In 1965 Linda and I, along with our first two babies, Greg and Meredith, began to worship with what was then called the Poway Church of Christ. Now, 43 years later there are four regions of the church that is spread out over the San Diego metropolitan area.

We were very encouraged to see how our old church family remains to be faithful and obedient to God and how it has grown over the years. As in most other places throughout our brotherhood, the San Diego church has patiently implemented changes that better meet the needs of its members. We are also encouraged to realize the close relationship they feel with the Seattle church.

There is a special joy in my heart, feeling as I do, as a “father” to the church there. As John said in 2 John 4, “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us”.

The San Diego Church of Christ is a great example to all of us , through many trials over the years, of love, faith, service and perseverance. Thank you, San Diego Church of Christ!

(Don’t let me bore you, but try to read to the end). I’m taking a feminist course right now in my masters’ MFT program (yes it’s required). My professor is terrific, mixing in humor, information, discussion, and I appreciate how much she encourages our freely expressing views that dissent with both patriarchal and classically feminist orthodoxies. It’s a riot and epiphany every Monday night.

The largest issue looming in the class right now—in both the books and articles we’re reading and in class discussion—is the role of “sociology.” The trend towards blaming this component for how we are seems simplistic and question-begging to me. Do we blame Homer Simpson, or Archie Bunker, on just their “socialization”? I think this over-credits nurture. After all, isn’t “socialization” just US? WE contribute to the traditions we wind up calling socialization. This really matters because postmodern academics see gender purely as a social construct. Besides reproductive anatomy, they tend to equate the sexes, blaming “socialization” for any other differences.

Genesis offers some clarity. When God casts Adam and Eve out of the garden, he warns them of curses they will face. To Adam, He says, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life…by the sweat of your brow you will eat your food…” To Eve, He says, “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Remember, these were consequences, if not curses (“because you have done this…”).

Men, then, seem addicted to work. Women, then, seem addicted to “a relationship” (or their husband). And we all know addiction isn’t the goal. These Genesis 3:16 characteristics are as true today as they’ve ever been, and if all of this is just “socialization” then I’m Gloria Steinem. There is a “nature,” a temperament at work here, not just society.

Keep in mind that these are curses, not strengths. It’s not a strength for women to be “all about relationships”—it’s insecurity. It’s not a strength for men to be “all about career and success”—it’s insecurity. BOTH sexes need the healing that comes from Jesus, and with it, the grace to transcend these consequences, while still affirming the different strengths God respectively gave men and women. Men AND women are each incomplete on their own—and that’s by beautiful design. If you don’t understand that, go see a UW volleyball match.