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It’s Been A While

I didn’t ever get to do a lot of podcasts before. I started a project during COVID titled: Anchored in Truth. The goal of the podcast was to talk about how the gospel collides with life. I enjoy being able to ask questions and really liked talking with others.

Anchored in Truth

The last episode I interviewed my friend Dirk Dallas who is a phenomenal graphic designer and teacher at California Baptist University. That was over 2 years ago! A lot has changed for me and my family.

In this new episode I explain what has taken place and a little introduction to a series of what let us to move to Washington State.

The Most Asked Question

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The Most Asked Question I Get: Why did I leave the church I came From to go to a small rural church in Washington?

It has been a little over two years since we have moved from Southern California to Bellingham, Washington. We were a few hours away from the Mexico border and now we are just under an hour to the Canada border. The weather is different, the culture is different, the typography is different, even the church I pastor is different from where we came from. 

The question I get asked the most is what brought you to Bellingham, Washington. I tend to even get a little bit more specific of a question, “What brought you from the big mega church to this small, somewhat rural church in the county?” 

I want to explore this answer as best as I can. I have struggled with this answer because it isn’t always easy to answer. Yes, I usually give a very basic answer under the guise of God’s sovereignty, which is true. It’s that simple yet it is also a lot more complicated than that. 

Leading us to move wasn’t easy. God had to do a lot to push me, push my wife, push my children, to trust him. I don’t think I knew the extent of it until I was away and saw some of the causalities that I experienced surface since we moved. See, I was afraid, and I was too comfortable. I had experienced trauma, and it was the only church I really knew. 

I don’t want to overlook the fact that I gained so much experience from my previous church of almost 20 years. I did more funerals and weddings that the average pastor does in America. I was thrust into some situations for pastoral counseling and learned more on the job than through formal education. I know so many godly men and women who have impacted my life and my family so much. I did get to see God move and work with the impact of the gospel on a large scale.

I also want to be mindful about what I say because the church, good or bad is still the bride of Christ (Eph 5:23). Also, those in leadership, though by no means are perfect are still placed there by God. I do believe that God raises up people and brings them down in his perfect timing, he is sovereign (Dan 2:21). 

I hope to share my personal struggles with the goal to show how God works in our lives. 

First, I would point out to the ultimate reason and what I tell everyone—Because God Called Us

God’s Calling

Ultimately, I rest on the fact that when I am asked what brought us to Washington, to RCBC, and moved us away from family, friends, away from a successful ministry would be God’s calling upon my life to lead a church.

I became a pastor at 24 years old. I was the youngest pastor at that time. And all I knew is that I had an intense desire to do the work of ministry. It is all I could think about, and I was given that opportunity. Charles Spurgeon encouraged those who went to his Pastor’s College to look at calling as, “An intense, all-absorbing desire for the work.” If you could do anything else than do it. I didn’t want to anything else. This was it for me!

Harvest Christian Fellowship asked me to come on staff and be the Jr. High Youth Pastor. That was my calling into ministry. But years later, I had another calling to lead a church. Probably around 2015 is when this desire to lead a church. I didn’t know what to do or who to talk to. I was comfortable and was told by other leaders at the church if I were to go anywhere else, I would see how good I got it (More about fear culture at another time). I was afraid of leaving because this was all I knew. I grew up in that city. We had family and some good friends in that city. I questioned if I could, and I did that questioning for several years until 2020. 

I realize now that God needed to teach me a lot from that time until we moved. Some of it was my immaturity that needed to be addressed. Some of it was my understanding and deepening of what does Scripture say about being a pastor. I also needed to understand some deeper theological truths that I was wrestling with as well as a better understanding of what is the church. Bottom line, God needed to have me grow because I don’t think I was ready at that point. 

In 2020 I honestly believe through some doors shutting and other doors opening that it was all about his calling which led us to come to RCBC.

Look for more to come as I unpack the complexities of ministry and God working in me and through me as I discuss how I grew in what pastoral ministry meant for me. 

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What Does It Mean to be Spiritually Blessed?

Have you ever heard someone say, “I am so blessed?” Maybe they received some good news or something exciting happened in their life. What does it mean to be blessed by God. I think sometimes we associate it with our circumstances but the Bible points to it being so much bigger and deeper than that.

In Paul’s introduction to the church in Ephesus he praises God by saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3).

What does he mean that those in Christ have received every spiritual blessing? In the next 9 verses Paul describes what he means. He was in prison and could have started by giving insight on his difficulties but instead he starts with praising God for the blessings he has received. His blessings were not about his circumstances or anything to do with his present difficulties but all about his spiritual life.

The Apostle Paul describes the spiritual blessing that the Christian receives are these four things:

  1. To be chosen into adoption of the family of God (Ephesians 1:4-6).
  2. To be redeemed by the blood of Jesus who is rich and lavishes his riches upon us (Ephesians 1:7-10).
  3. To receive an inheritance which is built in the hope of Christ all for the glory of God (Ephesians 1:11-12).
  4. To be sealed by the promise of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Paul is desiring the great work that Jesus did through his sinless and perfect life, sacrificial death, and amazing resurrection. Look at how those who are in Christ are truly blessed. He uses different verbs to describe salvation such as being adopted, redeemed, receiving an inheritance, and being sealed (assurance).

The Christian must remember that God is not holding out on you. He has given you the greatest gift, the spiritual blessing that is found in Christ alone. When we think about this great work this should bring about praise like Paul who praised God for this spiritual blessing.

For more you can listen to the sermons on Ephesians

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A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Whenever I go to the beach I find myself always wanted to build sandcastles. I think I even build them when the kids aren’t with me.  

We get to the line of the water where the waves come in and we start building sand forts. We want to see how long can we keep the water from coming in and destroying our creation. We build the walls thick and high. We make motes of water and other ditches for the water to have to pass through. We spend hours building and having fun.

Sure enough it takes just one good wave to knock over all that hard work. I am glad that what we make is not like real life or maybe it is. What we try to do for protection fails in comparison to the one who is called a Might Fortress. The Bible has a lot to say about God being our fortress. In fact, just in the first section/book of Psalms 35% of the use of God being our fortress in the Bible is found in that section of Scripture.

Background:

Psalm 46 was a victory song that Israel would sing. It was one of many that the army would sing after defeating the enemy. You can picture Israel looking at the battlefield, being victorious, and singing this song to God.

Psalm 46 also inspired Martin Luther to write one of his most famous hymns, A Mighty Fortress is our God in 1527. This hymn has been called the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation.” It was pressed on him so much that even inscribed on his tomb is this phrase.

God is Our Fortress even if there is Cosmic Trouble

In the first few verses of this Psalm we see how God is our fortress even when there is cosmic trouble. The Psalmist writes, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).

Right away we are introduced to God’s attributes of his protection and power. He is present to help when we need it and in him there is safety.

As you keep reading, the picture that is described is not a fun one. In fact, it would be very troubling to see mountains that you have looked on for your whole life all of sudden move into the sea and disappear. This definitely would grab your attention.

Is God Your Fortress?

I ask myself is God my fortress? Or, do I believe this to be true? What if there was this cosmic chaos going on? What are some things that I trust in that if they were immediately gone would shake me up? Would it be my retirement? Would it be the government? Is it in my health, healthcare, medicine, or doctors?

This is a reminder to me that God is my fortress even during uncertain times, even in cosmic chaotic times. As a follower of Jesus Christ I am reminded that God is for me (Rom 8:31). I need to remind myself this truth frequently and I hope this is a good reminder for you too!

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The Great Intervention

We have a cat that the kids named Molly. I just call her cat. During the day she is outside and comes in at night. Recently she climbed up in our carport where she was stuck. I thought, she climbed up there, she has to know how to come down. That was not the case.

I ended up having to get a ladder out, climb to the very top and grab her to bring her down. In the process I was scratched by her and my jacket received some nice new holes from her claws.

I needed to intervene.

The word “intervene” means to take action to improve the situation.

Intervention is Needed

Like my cat, we have found ourselves in a dire predicament. I am not talking about just making some bad decisions. I am talking about a spiritual condition that has left us unable to save ourselves. We need an intervention.

A book that I would recommend to read more than once would be Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. It is a classic with so many metaphors for the Christian life that is so relevant for us today. 

There is this one particular moment where the main character, Christian, is trying to get the burden off his back. He runs into a man named, Mr. Worldly Wiseman. Christian wants to go to the path to remove his burden and go to the Celestial City. Mr. Worldly Wiseman is asking why he would want to go that way: 

Mr. Worldly Wiseman says, “If you continue in this direction, you are likely to experience wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and who knows what else.”

Christian responds, “Why Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things which you have mentioned.”

The Burden

Christian understood that the burden on his back was worse than the dangers that were ahead. He would be willing to endure those terrors in order to be relieved from his burden. 

This is so insightful for me because many times we want relief or intervention from our problems. This is not a bad desire; I want that at times. But if we misunderstand that there is a greater danger, a heavier burden, that we face besides trials and tribulations which is sin than those trials and tribulations will be unbearable. 

I have to understand that sin is worse than trials or tribulations. Sin is worse than the dragons according to Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress. Sin is worse than sickness or disease even. Sin is an eternal problem. A weight that is incomparable that every human being bears (Romans 3:23). 

We may ask for intervention/help from those trials and tribulations. Sometimes that happens and sometimes not. If intervention happens for those than it is just for a time. We still are in a dire predicament. For the believer it is very important for us to understand that the great intervention did take place. 

Sin has been paid for. The burden can come off. This is better than even healing or relief to come temporarily because there is eternal healing and eternal relief that is in Christ. Just like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress who understood that the burden coming off meant more than the dangers he would face on his journey. 

Friend, the burden can come off, Jesus paid the price by giving his life. Turn to him, call on his name to be saved (Romans 10:13).

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A Life of Service

Blog Recap: Here is an article on the life of Amy Carmichael to share with you again. She was a missionary in India who founded an orphanage.

I am reminded of the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). These are the reflection of Jesus Christ. We are to reflect Jesus in all things, and that is also in the fruit of the Spirit.


Not everyone may be familiar with Amy Carmichael or her writings but she is a world changer. There is a sweet vault of wealth that comes from the writings of Amy Carmichael. You read the spiritual riches that she possessed that came from her heart that was joined to Christ. Amy Carmichael is a world changer as she served the country of India by bringing the message of salvation to a dark place.


Amy served India for over 55 years, opening an orphanage and founding a mission in Dohnavur. She was a prolific writer, which includes many books of poetry, her testimony of the mission work, her biography, and devotionals.


My first hearing of Amy Carmichael was as a child in school. The story goes that Amy, who is the oldest of seven siblings, was born with brown eyes but wished she had blue eyes like her brother. She would often pinch his cheeks to make the blue in his eyes stand out. As an adult, she realized that God gave her brown eyes to help her gain more acceptance in India. I don’t know if this story is true. I couldn’t find a credible source either way, but she knew God had molded her and created her to be a vessel in India.


Amy was born in a small village in Ireland in 1867. She was raised in a God-fearing family. God equipped Amy with a strong personality. She left Scotland as she was accepted by the Japanese Evangelist Board, and sailed to Japan in March 1893. Once she entered Japan, she wasted no time going throughout the streets with a translator sharing Jesus Christ. She wore the native dress.


She entered India in 1895, where she remained until her death in 1951. Though her original goal in going to India was not to start an orphanage, God directed her steps. It started when a seven-year-old girl, Preena, came running to Amy to be rescued. Rescued from what? Her family was going to sell her to the temple where she would become a temple prostitute. Though dark, this was the custom in India and Amy would make her aim in caring for the children that were to be forced in this life. She would wear the dress of the culture, and dye her skin with coffee to make her skin darker in appearance to be accepted.


By 1904, seventeen children were under her care. It would continually grow. Amy soon was called “Amma,” which in Tamul means mother. At the mission, her job was to be a nurse to those who were sick, to teach the children the basics, and raise them up in the ways of the Lord. Though Amy never married or had children, God gave her many children to raise as her own. Through Amy’s life, she was able to help thousands of children and to this day, the Dohnavur Fellowship continues.


In 1931, she suffered a serious fall, which would change her daily life. Though not completely bedridden, she was very limited in mobility. She would never recover from this injury, and had another serious fall in 1948. This fall resulted in her being bedridden for the remainder of her life until the Lord brought her home. Through this season in her life, she wrote more than 13 books, which shows her diversity and knowledge.


Her Impact:


You may not be familiar with Amy Carmichael but once you read some of her writings it doesn’t take long to see her impact. Elizabeth Elliot, greatly impacted by Amy Carmichael, said, “With the exception of my parents, there is no one who has more deeply influenced my spiritual life than Amy Carmichael.”


Amy is known to have said, “Nothing is important but that which is eternal.” She lived by that mindset by counting the cost, leaving her home, and living in an unfamiliar place where should would be an example of Christ to them.


Amy never solicited funds from anyone. She never left India and never sought financial help. Amy was encouraged by the way George Muller trusted God for His provisions of the thousands of orphans that were under his care, and she had the same mindset with the ministry God entrusted to her. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” That was her motivation.


She had a mindset of prayer and had this motto with everyone who served in the mission:

1) We don’t need to explain to our Father things that are known to Him.
2) We don’t need to press Him as if we had to deal with an unwilling God.
3) We don’t need to suggest to Him what to do, for He Himself knows what to do.[1]

Amy not only left an impact with the thousands of children she rescued and freed from temple prostitution, but left a greater impact through the power of the gospel as many lives were changed forever.


She was in a dark land that was in the clutches of Satan, but we know God is in control and is greater. We must remind ourselves that when it may seem the darkest, light shines the brightest. God has called His church to infiltrate, and that is exactly what Amy did with her life.


She Teaches Us the Importance of Being Steadfast Until the Very End:


It would have been understandable for Amy to go back home to Scotland with her family at any point in her life, but she resolved in her heart that India was her home. I am reminded of what Paul wrote to Timothy in his last letter to his son in the faith. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV).


In one of Amy’s poems, she so eloquently portrays her steadfastness by saying:

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.[2]

Amy Carmichael is a world changer. As you read about her life, may it be a fan to your flame of faith as you serve the Lord.

Shadow and shine art Thou,
Dear Lord, to me;
Pillar of cloud and fire,
I follow Thee.
What though the way be long,
In Thee my heart is strong,
Thou art my joy, and song —
Praise, praise to Thee

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Can We Reach the West Again?

We live in a post-Christian America. To some, it would seem that the “good ol’ days” of Christian values have been tossed out the window of progressivism. Timothy Keller wrote this booklet, How to Reach the West Again. He communicates the problem while giving the answer by looking at what we can learn from the early church in how it reached its culture. 

Keller, as usual, writes in a way that is convicting but not demeaning of Christians today. This short read is something that I would encourage every believer to read. We live in a culture where there seems to be a mass exodus of leaving blue states to go to red states or withdrawing from culture. The question that needs to be asked is how can we best share the gospel in our country that is less Christian? Today we can find more and more people who have never stepped foot in a church. We find more and more that have no understanding of God and his law (the ten commandments). More and more many look subjectively at what is right and wrong. 

Keller points out that the gospel we know needs to be shared will need to be lived out. It is something that will take time as believers build relationships with nonbelievers. It is going to take intentionality as we pursue relationships in pointing to God’s grace and mercy. Believers need to be faithful in life and integrity in public spheres, it is going to require us not to withdraw from culture but to live in it and be different.

Faithful in Life

Keller gives the example of how God told Jeremiah and the Israelites in Babylonian captivity about being part of the culture. God tells Israel to seek the peace of the city—plant gardens, build houses, and seek its prosperity (Jeremiah 29). Keller writes, “we can still serve people, be good neighbors, and be involved in culture while being faithful and open about our Christianity.”

In reading this, I was challenged with something that was taught to me. It was that the thought that Christians should be the best in every sector of life. They should be the best artist, creators, musicians, educators, and leaders. Keller writes, “[The] expansive vision for Christian influence in every area of human life, not because Christians are dominant there, but because they are faithful there.” By believers being faithful servants to public witness. The church needs to be a place to help train and e what it looks like to live out our Christian beliefs in the workplace.

In it for the Long Haul

The early church knew and understood that the gospel changes us. They also knew that it was a marathon more than a sprint. It would take time. It would take work. Therefore, their commitment was until the Lord took them home.

Today, Christians must look at the road ahead for them in reaching the west again as a commitment that will take time and work just like the early church. Being faithful and not frustrated. Being willing to spend time and being humble. Reflecting Jesus and dying to self. It all matters.

If you get a chance to get a copy of How To Reach The West Again I hope you can spend some time thinking through what Keller presents.

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What Does Pray without Ceasing Mean?

I wanted to get better at running. Mainly is that I never could run for long distances and wanted to challenge myself. I could sprint but would burn out pretty quickly. There are two older gentlemen at our church that love running and they invited to join them. I did it and they blew me out of the water. 

Part pride and part realizing that men who are older than I could outrun me caused me to want to get better at running. I started to run, more and more and finally was able to run the farthest that I ever did without stopping. I started to research more on what I needed to do to build endurance. I looked at what were some healthy ways to push myself without injuring myself.

Like running a long distance takes some time to build up to, so does having a healthy prayer life. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessolanica a list of Christian disciplines. These come out almost like Tweets. He writes, “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 These 5:16-18).

Sandwiched in these verses we read to pray without ceasing. What does that mean? As a simple definition it means to invest oneself in regular extended and strenuous prayer.

To invest oneself in regular extended and strenuous prayer

Where does it start?

Prayer as a Lifestyle

First, it requires us to look at prayer as a lifestyle not just a spiritual discipline. In fact there should be no separation from prayer and being a Christian. Christians should pray. A. W. Pink wrote, “Prayer is not as it is an attitude-an attitude of dependency on God.”

R. C. Sproul said, “Prayer is not optional for the Christian; it is required.” With that, one must not compartmentalize prayer as just a spiritual discipline but as it is constantly casting oneself in total dependency upon the Creator who is sovereign over all.

Understanding that prayer is dependency upon God, it helps in understanding that prayer is asking God to help us to know and do His will.

Prayer as Priority

Second, we must see prayer as a priority to that of being a Christian. To the early church it was a priority. There are many references where we see the first church praying.

  • After Jesus ascended to heaven and commissioned the church to be witnesses and to wait for the Holy Spirit they went to the upper room and prayed (Acts 1:8, 14).
  • We see that the early church devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, fellowship breaking of bread, and of prayer (Acts 2:42)
  • Peter was going to prayer in the temple as an opportunity as God healed a man (Acts 3).
  • Through prayer God used that to communicate with Peter and Cornelius bringing about the Gospel going to the Gentiles (Acts 10).
  • The church met and prayed for the release of Peter from prison (Acts 12:5).
  • The church prayed and asked God for direction on where and who to send out as missionaries (Acts 13:2-3)

If it was priority and consumed so much church life, then wouldn’t prayer be important for the believers today? I wonder what it would look like if prayer was a priority for the church in America. Where we cast our whole selves before Him and realizing who we are in light of who God is. A. W. Tozer said, “Prayer at its best is the total expression of the total life.”

Let us strive to not only make prayer a priority but also the lifestyle of the Christian.

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Family Update

A Long Time Since You Heard From Us

Hello Everyone!

I hope and pray you are doing well. I must apologize for not writing more. It has been a huge adjustment to this new season of life and blocking out time to write has not been my best discipline. 

In Washington we were able to have our first snow of the season. I took this picture early on because it didn’t last. By the end of the day, all the snow melted. It sure is pretty to look at! 


Here is an update regarding us as a family:

The kids- They are doing great!

Jackson and Jude are involved in the youth basketball of the area and are loving it. A big moment was for Jude stepping out of his comfort zone and doing something he has never done. He was hesitant at first but loves it.

Jude had some educational setbacks before we left California and with COVID making things even harder it set him back even more. This year he has grown leaps and bounds in reading and writing. I get excited to see him pick up a book now and start reading it. He is getting closer and closer to where he needs to be and the way he pushes himself through these struggles is quite inspirational. 

Adah is doing well in 7th grade. She is making new friends that she has invited to youth group at our church. I am amazed at her willingness to share the gospel and invite kids to the church. She is excelling at school and really has started to apply herself. She is maturing into such a godly woman, it is great to see. 

Jackson is loving his friends and sports. He is quite an athlete. He did baseball in the fall and now basketball. He loves it and is having fun. He is doing well at school and loves going and learning. 

Alyssa:
She has gone through so much with her health. She was diagnosed with IIH earlier this year. Here is a brief description from Alyssa about it, “IIH is a brain condition called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or IIH. In short I have too much spinal fluid in my head. I was relieved talking to the doctor because I have raised concerns about my symptoms for years while being brushed off; the main symptoms being headaches and a form of tendinitis.” 

She has dealt with this for many years and to have a diagnosis is helpful. So far she has had her medication changed three times and each time it takes her a couple of weeks to adjust. I am encouraged by how she has handled all of this. The move alone has been rough in certain way but on top of that being diagnosed with something that has impacted her for so long and learning how to go forward has not been easy to say the least. 

We have a great community that has reached out and been mindful of her and her health.

God has her in his hands. She is liking working in Juvenile Detention and has a great crew to work alongside of. There have been some heavy cases and we just see that people need Jesus so much. 

Jonathan:
This year has been full of many things. I just completed another semester for my Masters of Theology program. I have about three classes left. I am shooting to be done by the Spring. 

I also completed my EMT course to be certified to serve as a volunteer firefighter. I passed the course and also the test for the national registry. I don’t recommend doing both masters program and the EMT course at the same time as it was a little hectic to say the least. Alyssa and the kids were very patient with me through this endeavor. 



The church, RCBC, is going well. The Lord continues to amaze me with his faithfulness. He has been faithful in the finances of the church and with many new families being added to the church. I am very confident that God has placed RCBC exactly where it is to be a light in the community. The gospel continues to be shared weekly and people are confronted with the truth. I get excited to see the growth and what God is doing. We see because of sin we were dead in our sins and trespasses but God who is rich in mercy and great in love makes us alive in Christ Jesus. 

This year we completed a series on What is the Church?, Jesus Fulfills: Looking at the Festivals in the book of John, The Book of Acts (a lot of the recordings we did not get as we were outside for most of the summer), and we just started our Christmas series called, Come Let us Adore Him.  

We have been able to experience the seasons now and see how winter can be tiring. We are currently getting ready to see some family for a little bit and it will be a nice time to reconnect with friends as well. 


Going Forward:
We plan on continuing to be part of the community where God has placed us. We see that the fields are ready for harvest but the laborers are few (seems to be a trend today with finding workers, lol). Where God leads, we want to follow!

A big thank you all for your continued prayers and support. We miss you all and long for days we can see one another again!