The Mark of the Beast

A question was turned in for our Ask Anything series that simply stated, "What's the mark of the beast in Revelation 13 and 14?" While this topic has been debated (often badly) for centuries, I think we can make a few observations that are helpful.

First, it is useful to know more about the book of Revelation. As odd and foreign as some of the language sounds to our modern ears, this type of literature was quite common in the early centuries. It was a genre known as "apocalyptic" literature. This type of writing was known by its high use of imagery and symbolism. Often, apocalyptic literature was used as a method for criticizing the powers-that-be without directly using their names. Another feature of this genre is its "already/not yet" use of language. This simply means that apocalyptic literature had a dual purpose: it addressed a current situation, but also pointed forward to a coming time when similar events would occur or prophecies would be fulfilled.

This basic understanding of Revelation is useful because it helps us see that the author, John, was writing about a very real beast (Rome) in his day. And while we do believe that the words of Revelation give us great insight into what might be in the future (the "not yet"), Revelation is best understood in the context of 1st century Rome. The Mark of the Beast at that time was very likely (although this could be disputed) association with what was called "the emperor's cult". The emperor of Rome at that time would literally set himself up as a god and expect to be worshiped. Those who did could be said, in a sense, to be "marked" for the emperor and they enjoyed great freedom in the Roman empire. This is why Christians (and Jews for that matter) had so much trouble in that era- their system of belief put them in direct opposition to the ruling religion, which often resulted in persecution and even death.

A second helpful observation is the meaning and purpose of the mark. In Revelation 13, it is quite clear that the mark of the beast would set someone apart as having chosen to follow the beast and his rule. What this means for us is that the mark of the beast, should something like this occur in our lifetime, is not something you can get by accident. From time to time, I hear people warn about different products or technological innovations as being a potential mark of the beast. Don't buy that for a second. Using a credit card is not the sign of the beast. Owning an ipod is not the sign of the beast. Even if they begin inserting electronic chips into our hands as a way of doing banking faster, this will not be the sign of the beast! How can I make such a claim? Because Revelation 13 so clearly associates the mark with the beast himself- those who chose his mark knew clearly what they were doing. No one was tricked into being marked. Should we ever see a current "mark of the beast", it will be a clear decision to reject God and embrace a different rule in our life. Until I see that choice being forced, I won't worry about it!

So, what is the mark of the beast? I have no idea. But I do know that in Revelation 14, there is a whole different group of peope who don't have the mark of the beast. Rather than having the name of the beast on their forehead, they carry the name of the Father. They have set themselves apart for Him. As we watch our culture and wonder if the end times are near, this is the best thing we can do- to be "marked" by our love and devotion to the Father. If we continually bear this mark, we have no reason to fear the mark of the beast.

Blessings!
Nick

Ask Anything: Why Should I Go To Church?

OK, I know Pastor Nick said at the weekend services that we should not read our Bibles (If you want the context of that radical statement listen to the message online), but I am reading my Bible anyway. I have been reading through the book of Acts and it really speaks to this question. In the stories told in Acts we find the birth of community for God's people.

Acts 2 says, "They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer." And after a difficult circumstance recounted in Acts 4 we read, "...Peter and John found the other believers...then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer."

It is evident that the followers of Christ were finding value in being in community, even as they were persecuted and began to scatter all over the world. I believe that being in community is not just a good idea, I believe it is God's good idea.

Why don't people go to church? Here are a few reasons we have all heard:

I'm too busy

My kids are in sports

My house/yard/garden needs work

It's my only day off...give me a break

Church isn't really for me

The bible is too hard to understand

I don't know anybody there

The church is full of hypocrites

Yeah, I know...I've heard them too. But when we focus on these reasons (or excuses!) we miss out on seeing what God has for us as we rub shoulders with other Christ-followers.

Church is not just another appointment; it is the time when we can learn truths that will transform our thinking. It is also a place to use our God-given talents and abilities to serve and bless others. And it is a place where we can find safe accountability. It is a way to acknowledge the power and importance of God in our lives and homes.

Looking for more? Looking for better? Make time, make room, make it a habit to go to church. And look back at how the believers in Acts are described: "A deep sense of awe came over them all..." Now wouldn't that be worth rearranging your schedule for?

Am I being too simplistic here? Am I missing something? What do you think?

BTW, I totally agree with Pastor Nick's statement about Bible reading and meditating on the word, just for the record!

What's Wrong With Pornography?

Did you know that the most visited sites on the internet are pornography sites? More than Google, Yahoo, or Wikipedia, Pornography sites draw millions and millions of viewers daily. And did you know that the revenues of the sex and porn industry in the U.S. are bigger than the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball industries combined? The No. 1 search term used at search engine sites is the word “sex”. And while even the word “pornography” stirs up such vivid pictures and emotions in our minds, its influence on the average churchgoer is astounding. It has shaped our culture and our relationships with each other.

I was given a magazine in 7^th grade. It was my first encounter with playboy. I remember hiding it in my room and sneaking to look at the pictures when I knew my parents were away. After every time I was filled with such a sense of shame that after a few weeks I told my parents (an unnerving endeavor for a 7^th grader) and I embarked on an accountability quest with my father to strive after purity.

All of us, male and female are exposed at some time to pornographic material. From a young age, this can either become a thorn in the flesh causing constant guilt and temptation, or an area of victory. In ministry, I have not encountered one man or youth who has not struggled to some degree in this area. We are all exposed.

Pornography is drawing satisfaction from the physical body of another person that is not your spouse. It is the act of lusting after; and Jesus says in Matt 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus takes it seriously.

Did you know that:

• 87% of university students are having sex over webcams, instant messenger or the telephone
• 38 percent of adults believe it is ‘morally acceptable’ to look at pictures of nudity or explicit sexual behavior
• In a recent survey, 70% of Christians admitted to struggling with porn in their daily lives.
• As of a recent study: 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year
• In a survey of over 500 Christian men at a men's retreat, over 90% admitted that they were feeling disconnected from God because lust, porn, or fantasy had gained a foothold in their lives.

Now, I know these statistics can be staggering, but what is crazy are the numbers in the “Christian communites.” Lust and pornography is a huge issue… and for a vast majority, it is the elephant in the room that is keeping them from experiencing all that God has for them.

Our society not-so-subtly communicates to women that the relational part of sexuality depends on the visual. Just look at the huge emphasis on appearance in the media today.

In Movies, music, TV, and Commercials:
- Sexy is confused with beautiful.
- Image is valued more than character.
- Morality is treated as a private matter.
- Intolerance of another’s values is despised—no matter how unhealthy or destructive those values are.
- Getting my needs met is the name of the game.

This is what our media tells us.

And you know what I hear all the time? “It’s not hurting anyone. If I look at this picture or video of a naked woman, that’s my business and it’s not really hurting anyone.” What we need to realize is how much it actually does hurt us and the people we look at. To look at a woman just for her body is to degrade her to nothing more than “eye candy.” Would we look at that woman differently if we knew she was God’s daughter, His special creation, and his divine fingerprint?

The Root Problem

Masturbation, pornography and lust are not the source of the problems in in our lives. Rather, they are symptoms being fed by something else. In fact, there is a root which feeds and keeps sexual immorality alive. This holds true for all who face sexual struggles. The root cause is a desire for intimacy. We are each created with a need for intimacy, and when that is not met, we turn to where we feel like we can get it fast and cheap. But it’s not real. It’s an illusion. It is not real intimacy at all, only an imitation. And it never satisfies. That why people keep going back.

Until people realize that there is only an intimacy that God can fill, they will try to fill it with other things. This is why porn is so attractive. It has all the appearances of intimacy without commitment. But what it leaves is a person feeling hollow, empty, and filled with shame.

If you are struggling through the mess of pornography, or are having trouble bridling your passions and thoughts, we at East Hills would love to talk with you and help you work towards purity and help you set realistic goals.

Make A Commitment Now
God is calling you right now to put aside selfishness and pride and to follow Jesus Christ! If you have been sexually impure, go to Jesus right now. No matter what your sexual sin, He is faithful and willing to forgive and purify you

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Verses to help…

1Co 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Rom 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Peace,

Caleb

Straying from the Path

As a follow up to our recent series on the Principle of the Path, someone submitted a great question: "Why is it so easy to stray from the path, even when you know the path?" I think we've all asked that question on some level in our lives. We know carrots are better for us than cake, but we put the carrots IN the cake to help us feel better. We know exercise is better than sitting on the couch, but instead we watch TV shows of other people exercising (ie, the Biggest Loser). We can see the right path, but walking it, and staying on it, is another matter all together. Why? I would offer these three suggestions:

1. Our Human Nature
It may be comforting to know that this struggle with knowing what is right and actually doing what is right has been going on for centuries. In the book of Romans, Paul laments his own struggle, "I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway." (Romans 7:18, 19) This is coming from a man who planted churches all over the world! What Paul reveals is that no matter our level of spiritual maturity, we can still become misdirected by our old nature- that part of us that rebels from God and His good will for us.

The truth is that even though we can be set free in Christ, the actual experience of living free is an on-going process. How does this happen? It occurs as we allow Jesus to transform us. In trying to stay on the path, we can get overly focused on our actions. Changing our actions is important, but more important still is a change on the inside. That's what Jesus can do! Paul goes on in Romans to say, "Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24, 25) So on a regular, daily basis, surrender your heart to him and ask him to help you make the right choices.

2. Our Environment
Let's face it: most of us are surrounded by influences that encourage us to live in ways that we know are destructive or unhealthy. Sometimes these influences are intentional, but most of the time it's a by-product of the culture we live in. We don't live in a world that highly values humility, self-discipline, or patient perseverance. We are immersed daily in an ego-driven, free-wheeling, have-it-your-way-right-now kind of environment. Unless we are intentional about placing positive influence in our life, it just won't happen.

There is a proverb in the book of Ecclesiastes that says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecc. 4:12) Add elements to your life so that you never stand alone. Go to church. Join a small group. Meet with a friend and go through a book together. Ask someone to hold you accountable. Taking steps like these, asking others to join you on the path, will help you keep your life pointed in the right direction.

3. Our Enemy
It's not very in vogue right now to talk about Satan as a real being, but the Bible says differently. The Bible clearly portrays an enemy of our souls who would like nothing better than to shipwreck our lives and our faith. Now I am not one who sees a demon under every bush- but I do believe we need to recognize that we live in a world that is not just physical. Spiritual realities exist, and we are in a battle. "For we are not fighting aginst people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

In this battle, it is asbolutely essential that we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit. This is the very presence of God, living in us and guiding us each moment as we learn to trust Him and listen to Him. Paul says, "So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then youw on't be doing what your sinflu nature craves." (Galatians 5:16) The Holy Spirit can lead us down the right path, no matter who, or what, is trying to lead us astray.

May you find peace and joy in Christ as you follow Him down the right path-

Nick

Angels - are they real?

I believe the bible is true and trustworthy, so I believe angels are real. They are key players in several Old Testament stories (Abraham, Gideon, Balaam) and in New Testament stories surrounding the birth of Jesus. They are described as innumerable, powerful, and obedient.

Angels were created by God as a special class of beings. They are messengers, protectors and aides, have been instruments of God's judgement, and they praise God. There are dozens of references to angelic beings and activities in the Bible, but there are many unanswered questions about them. This leads to speculation and misinformation when we get too eager to pencil in the details for ourselves. That is why we have so many images of beautiful blonde female angels with huge white wings who are wearing lavish amounts of white flowing chiffon...sort of like a prom dress gone wild.

A few things we do know is that angels were created pre-mankind, that they have free will, and that about a third of them followed a high ranking angel in rebellion against God and were cast out of their heavenly home. These rebel angels are followers of Satan and called demons. It appears that angels do not die, do not reproduce, and when they appear in human form they do not have wings and are always male. We can also deduce that angels are not the sweet little cherubic creatures we see on Christmas cards, but must be somewhat fierce looking as they almost always begin their interaction with humans by directing them to "fear not".

One personal and profound reference to angels is in Psalm 91:9-11 "If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." This is where we get the concept of a guardian angel.

From Genesis to Revelation angels are mentioned. Yes, they are real. I think the reason we don't know a ton about them is because God's focus in Scripture is on His created human beings, on His redemption and care for mankind.

Ask Anything: Do Angels Really Exist?

Short answer: Yes

Longer answer: Yes, but...

Yes, but we have so many misconceptions and misunderstandings about angels and their activities that it seems like a good idea to discuss a few things that we know to be true. So, we will turn from the common images we are presented with of angels that look like this...

or this....

or how about this...

What images pop into your head when you start hearing about angels? What stories have you heard? Tomorrow I will post a bit about what the bible tells us on this subject. In the meantime, feel free to weigh in with some of your own thoughts or even a picture or two. See you on Monday. ~Ann.

International Connections

by: Nate Hoover

Hello, East Hills!

I hope you’re all doing well, staying warm as autumn rushes in. In June I spoke about being a Bible Study leader with Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) last year—and how I would be working with international students this year. I wanted to update you on how International Connections is going this quarter.

International Connections is what we call our Bible study for exchange students. We serve dinner, play an icebreaker game, sing songs, and then break into smaller groups to look at Scripture. There are six leaders: Daniel, Jonathan (CCF staff), Brooke, Allison, Nate (me), and Kelsey. (We are known as DJ-BANK for short.) This quarter we are looking at the promises of God—how they are made and fulfilled.

Before school even started, I had the privilege of hosting a Swedish student at my house for a couple days until he could move into the dorms. It’s a long story how we got into contact, but basically I had some friends whose relatives met Henrik in Sweden and found out he was going to WWU. As a result, I’ve been able to hang out with Henrik and other Swedish and Austrian students in the past few weeks. Jonathan told me that Connections usually does not interact with Europeans, so this is an exciting witnessing opportunity!

During Opening week at Western, there is a huge Info Fair, where clubs, departments, banks, stores, restaurants, organizations, churches, and other groups advertise to all the students. We heard about a unique way to meet international students: Wear a sandwich board with the world map on it and the caption Where Are You From? Students can put a star on the map where they live. When we met students (American and foreign alike) we gave them a flier for Connections. We had over 20 countries represented!

At Connections, we mostly have Japanese students. We’ve also had Korean and Chinese students come. Henrik came to the first Connections, but has been too busy to make it on other nights. Overall, I am having a lot of fun meeting students from all over the world and discussing God’s promises and Christ with them. There are some students who have never heard of Jesus, the Bible, or even Christianity! It’s amazing to be able to introduce them to our faith.

I thank you for your support and your prayers. A couple prayer requests:

1) That I would be able to speak in simple language about deep things so students could understand me and understand God.

2) That I could have continued friendship with the Swedish and Austrian students (especially Henrik) and that I can be bold in talking to them about faith.

3) There is a Japanese girl named Risa who is asking a lot of questions about God and is consistently coming to Connections. She speaks English very well and it would be awesome to see her come to Christ.

In Christ’s love, peace and strength,

Nate Hoover

Wake Up People : Spiritual Disciplines for Today

This summer we will be embarking on a new series called “Wake Up People.” The theme comes from the idea that we can get into such a routine with God or with going to church that it just becomes something we do. For some it can become boring, for others irrelevant, but God’s intention is that our faith would be continually life-giving and truly energizing. One of the ways for that to happen is to intentionally engage in Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual disciplines are any activity done willingly and intentionally for the purpose of becoming more like Christ. We are breaking these into two aspects, inward and external. The inward disciplines (prayer, reading scripture, meditation, reflection) being more contemplative in nature, and the external being more active (service, generosity, encouragement.)

Spiritual Disciplines are always rooted in scriptural practices. That’s not to say we look in our bible for an exact description of how to fast. The disciplines are found more in a story. We see a description of encouragement from a few passages and can paint a picture of how that can become a part of our lives. “Most all of these disciplines have been practiced throughout the history of the church, but probably between the last 50-100 years they have become less central to our faith,” Pastor Nick says. “Our modern understanding of faith has made a mentality that says if we show up in the right places God will change us, where the saints believed that they had to be very disciplined and intentional in the way they lived to see Christ formed in them.

“I think the true value of studying spiritual disciplines is in developing new habits. We all have so many habits, but very few of them are holy habits. Very few of the things we do habitually bring us closer to Christ. The hope is that these practices will become almost habitual in drawing us closer to God. Even something like prayer can initially take a lot of effort, but the goal is that it would become a part of the fabric of our lives and faith.

“One hope I have is that the flexibility of schedules in the summer may give people more opportunity to begin some of these practices. Every person will have a two or three disciplines that really connect with them that will not just be tried for a week or a month but will become a part of their faith experience from here on out.”

It’s a great series because even if people miss a week or two because of vacations or travel, each message will stand alone, a complete idea, as something people can apply and work on.

All Star Camp Being Planned

All Star Camp, a summer outreach for kids, will be offered by East Hills July 7-10. All Star Camp is like a VBS because it is designed to help kids connect to the love of Jesus; but it is unlike VBS in that it is not here at the church. We will "take it to the streets" in North Kelso, and we have been invited by Barnes School to use their campus from 9AM to noon each day. We will again have three tracks for kids to choose from: Soccer, Dance, and Arts. Last years program was hugely successful because of the great volunteers who helped with everything from coaching to cookie baking.

An initial organizational meeting has taken place and plans similar to last year's are being refined. Pastor Ann is All Star Camp director. As we begin to ask for volunteers it is vital to note that this is not just some cute summer project. All Star Camp will impact the community of North Kelso with the Light of Jesus Christ: By His grace and power, lives and families will be changed. Find out on May 30/31 about the variety of essential ways you can experience All Star Camp as part of the staff or as a camper. Wouldn't you love to be part of something eternal this summer?

East Hills Joins with Habitat for Humanity

By: R.D. Hight

In the Highlands neighborhood of Longview, on 18th Avenue, is an empty lot on which Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are combining to build a duplex for two needy families. The Habitat for Humanity share is an Apostle's Build project, meaning that 12 local churches have agreed to support it with money, volunteer labor, and prayer. East Hills is one of those 12.

Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a Christian ministry that uses contributions to build or renovate houses and sell them to low-income families for no profit. The eventual recipients help work on their house, as do volunteers. For the past several years, we have given Habitat the use of our facilities for meetings, but we have never taken part in their construction projects.

"I developed a connection to them and thought what they did was a great opportunity," Pastor Nick said. "We got an Apostle's Build letter from them last summer. Last fall, we discussed as a leadership team that this might be a good way to help our community."

The project starts the last Saturday in March, the 21st, when we have the first of our work days. Habitat is hiring skilled contractors, but we will provide grunt labor on several Saturdays throughout the six months of construction. We are also responsible for feeding the crew on those days, so there's more involved than just construction tasks.

Our part of the cost comes to about $6,500. Rather than pay it like any other bill, Nick wants to fulfill that commitment through purposeful donations to build ownership and involvement. On that kickoff weekend, we will take a special offering toward "our" house and begin making it a special, temporary item, just as we have done in the past with overseas church plants.

We have also taken on a responsibility to pray. Nick has not received any specific prayer requests yet, in part because Habitat is still working through the process of locking in a partner family for this house.

"We want to have a relational connection with this family by getting to know them in ways that go beyond these six months," he said.

For East Hills, the goal is not just to assemble resources to make someone's life more comfortable. In these bad times, the secular conversation is immersed in financial matters. This project gives people a route from where they are to where they need to go, from material things to spiritual ones.

"I think it's a real practical way we can live out our values," Nick said. "We've put it on our sign -- 'We exist to impact our communities with the love of Christ --' and this is one way to get involved in our community, by helping build a house."

Any of the staff can explain more about our construction job; Jason Hoover is the Habitat liaison and can also answer questions about it. Beginning this weekend, you will be able to sign up for work days in the Welcome Center.

A Mom's Perspective on Missions

What is it like to have a son who teaches in a college on another continent? In today’s world, it’s not so far! We talk nearly every week through Skype, and e-mail makes sending notes and pictures almost instantaneous. It also has made a huge difference to visit. We saw firsthand where Jonathan lived and where he taught. We met students, fellow teachers, employers, friends and local people that he interacts with, like his door lady and his fruit vendor on the street. We visited places that helped us to learn about the culture, and we went to places that helped us understand the spiritual darkness that needs God’s light.

We normally talk on Sunday evenings—Monday morning for him. On New Year’s Eve in 1999 he reassured us that nothing bad would happen in Y2K. He knew, because he was already there! During his first year abroad he taught at a K-12 private school. Our first phone conversation was not a good connection (and I wondered what authorities might be listening in). We talked about his campus. He told us that for security at night the gates are locked and guard dogs roam the grounds. A little later, our connection was lost. I remember praying for him that night as I pictured him being interrogated under bright lights. (It is SO easy for moms to jump to the worst-case scenario!) Dads can worry, too. Jack’s concern is that he won’t seek out medical help if he gets sick. This came after hearing about Jonathan finding his roommate unconscious on the floor. At the hospital they thought it might be the result of food poisoning. The scary part was that the potential food source was still in their refrigerator when we heard about it a few days later! So, one of my “job descriptions” as a mom includes trusting God to take care of him and to lead him.

For all three of our sons the knowledge that they are trying to follow God’s leading in their lives brings us much joy. As Jonathan’s mom, I pray for him in his struggles and rejoice in his victories. Some of his concerns have become mine as I learn to love the country and people that he loves. I gladly pass on his communications to others who join in prayer (and I feel extremely grateful for these partners). And, of course, sometimes I still send off a package filled with homemade cookies.

Elder Affirmation Unanimous

Over the past several weeks our congregation has been in the process of affirming two of our elders for new terms. The votes from the membership were due February 15 and have now been counted and recorded.


A total of 75 votes were returned of 105 eligible members.

For Tom Hight, there were 75 "Yes" votes and 0 "No" votes.

For Noel McRae, there were 75 "Yes" votes and 0 "No" votes.


It is encouraging to see such a large response in the voting and to know that 100% of those who voted approve of our elders and affirm the job they are doing in this God-ordained position of authority.

What's God Really Like?

Pastor Nick began a new sermon series from the book of John in January. It is called “What’s God Really Like?” This series is taking a look at who God really is, beyond what we want Him to be, or expect Him to be. In the first, introductory message in the series, Pastor Nick pointed out that our perceptions shape our view of God. “Our perceptions about God become our truth. Whether or not it is actually Biblical truth. That is so significant because we behave and live by our truth. We want to make sure that the way we view God is an accurate picture of who He is.”

“Jesus came at a time when people’s perception of God was formed entirely by the Old Testament. Much of what Jesus did was to reveal a new picture of God. What is ironic for us is that most people still view God as an Old Testament God. The Old Testament is still accurate, but it doesn’t give the full picture of who God is. We tend to separate God and Jesus so much that we think God is one way and Jesus another. What I hope this series will help us see is that what we see in Jesus is what God is like. God is JESUS.”

Last year, Pastor Nick began our journey through the book of John in a series called “Traveling Light.” That series focused on the first 11 chapters of the book which covered most of Jesus’ life and ministry. This new series begins in chapter 12, and covers the rest of the book of John through chapter 21, which details the last 9 days of Jesus’ life. This last week is often referred to as Passion Week and includes the last supper, Jesus’ arrest, death, and resurrection. You won’t want to miss a week of this powerful series that reveals What God is Really Like through the life of Jesus.

If you do happen to miss a week, you can listen to the messages online, or contact the office to have a CD of the service made.

www.easthillsalliance.org/message.html

Heart to Heart: Spring Sprint Being Planned for Women

Due to Financial Peace University being held on Monday evenings, I chose to forego having Heart to Heart in session at the same time. We believe here at East Hills that having too many busy evenings each week is not healthy for families, so I have chosen to hold off on the next season of Heart to Heart until the week after FPU is concluded.

I am very excited about a new format that will begin April 23rd and run for 6 weeks, with a presentation and celebration day June 4th. This new session is called Spring Sprint and will be a way for women of East Hills and their friends to prepare for the coming summer. Registrations will begin on the first weekend of April. Signing up for this session will get you a “Spring Training” preparation packet and a reserved spot at one of the tables. Start thinking now about a friend, neighbor, sister, or co-worker who you would like to invite to sprint along with you.

Kidville On The Move: More than Expected

Moving each class each week through a rotation system has been an interesting change for Kidville staff and kids. We have tried to provide opportunities in each site that address various learning styles and allow us to include staff members who love kids, but do not necessarily consider themselves to be teachers. We have had a wonderful mix of teaching, activities, events, and just plain fun this year. At the beginning of the school year it was all organized, planned, and prepared for. Little did we know that “on the move” would mean more than we anticipated!

During this school year, our Kidville census has been growing. To respond to the large number of babies and toddlers, we moved our nursery area across the hall to a larger, brighter, and safer site. It is now called “Movers & Shakers” and has been a much better place for these young ones. We are anticipating some upgrades to that area this winter.

Moving that site required juggling other sites and we landed one group in the youth room. This was OK for a temporary adjustment, but with growing numbers of kids it became awkward to hold a class that required telling kids not to touch musical instruments and game equipment, not to climb onto (or jump off of!) youth risers, and to try to focus in distracting surroundings. In response to that need we moved this group again; this time they are using the library. We have gently transformed it to a kid-friendly site, and will continue to consider our options for ministering to kids in the best way possible.

I have sincerely appreciated the tolerance of our Kidville staff for these ongoing changes, even embracing the new ideas that have bubbled up to solve problems and space crunches. You can be very appreciative of the way these remarkable people engage each week with our kids to demonstrate to them in powerful and creative ways the love of Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to be teammates this session with Mandy, Jenny, Katrina, Jenn, Amanda, Kim, Laura, Lori, Rene, Erin, Olivia, and Doug and Laurie. We are also developing a team of junior helpers who are willing to step in and help in a wide variety of ways.

With our growing population in Kidville we have growing needs. Can you spend some of your time, talent, energy, creativity, money, skill, and love on the next generation? They are worth it! Contact me. I would love to talk with you about a million ways to bless our kids.

Youth Ministry is Growing!

“If I could sum up youth ministry this year in one word, it would be ‘Growth!’” said Pastor Caleb Cox. “Jesus nailed it on the head when he said ‘the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’ This past year we’ve been praying for the harvest, and it has exploded (in a good way)! This coming year we’re praying for workers, for they are few indeed compared to the astonishing 58 students we had at an all night lock-in the first week in January.”

“We’ve had amazing help with Stephen and Katie Sande, Mike Musser, Evan Waller, and my wife Becky,” said Caleb. “But two of those will soon be bouncing babies on their knees, and it’s hard for two or three guys to herd 40 kids. Pray for more workers this next year, and pray about your involvement in what God is doing in the East Hills youth ministry!”


What does it take to be a volunteer?
Great question!
1- I’m looking for people with a heart for God and a heart for the youth in this com - munity.
2- Some time to give.


The most pressing need is for helpers at Jr. High. “The Forge” as it is called, is on Sunday nights from 6-8pm. That’s only two hours a week. The connection you can make with students in just those two hours is amazing. I don’t doubt that those two hours are the highlights of every week for some of the students who come.

Another great thing about working with youth, is that we periodically go on retreats or outings, and it’s just plain fun to go out and do those things we used to do when we were young.

If you’ve felt the Lord tugging on your heart while you read this article, or if you have been thinking about volunteering for some time, we’ve been praying for you. Contact Pastor Caleb to see where you can fit in this exciting, life-changing ministry!

Quorum Vote

For several months, the elders have been discussing the possibility of changing the percentage of members required for a quorum. For years our bylaws have stated that “more than 50% of the voting members” who are able to attend need to be present for a quorum to occur. While we do value high levels of involvement from our membership, we have found it increasingly difficult to reach the 50% quorum requirement specifically at our annual meeting. This is due in part to a growing membership roster, and also in part to the change in attitude toward membership in recent generations.

After much discussion the elders recommended changing the bylaw’s requirement for quorum from “more than 50%” to “at least 30%”. Pastor Nick announced this recommendation to the congregation, and then a letter and ballot were mailed out to all members in November.

We had a large response. We received 64 ballots back of those mailed out to the 105 members. A 50% return was still required to pass this bylaw change, and that was easily met. The results were 44 Yes votes in favor of changing the quorum requirement to 30% and 20 No votes. At the annual meeting Pastor Nick expressed his appreciation for those who voted “No.” It reveals a deep care and concern about what goes on here at East Hills.

It is an interesting footnote that this year’s members at our Annual Meeting easily satisfied the new “at least 30%” quorum, and in fact also satisfied the old “more than 50%” quorum by one person.

Annual Business Meeting: More Than Piles of Paper

For more than six weeks the office has been humming --between snow storms, ice storms, and flooding-- to gather and publish what is needed to get everything ready for the annual celebration. Administrative Assistants Lori Shero and Becky Cox have gathered, collated, copied, organized, and stapled mountains of paper, all so that the church family can have what is needed for an orderly and informative meeting.

Finally the day arrived and after we checked and double checked to make sure we had what we needed, the meeting finally began.

This year we joined together after the Sunday Service for a potluck lunch, followed by a time of several people sharing highlights of the year. Then Pastor Nick presented his “State of the Church” message highlighting four areas in which we have been risk takers during the past year: remodeling the Main Hall, selling the parsonage, moving VBS off site and into the community, and becoming proactive in inviting people to East Hills. He then shared four ways he sees us sharpening our focus in the coming year: Kidville, missions, evangelism, and a recommitment to prayer.

Communion was then served at tables with a time for prayer.

When the business meeting began, all of that carefully prepared paperwork came into play. As reports were reviewed, financial documents inspected, and budgets pored over, papers shuffled and a few questions were asked. Then at the end of each discussion a vote was taken. For the entire meeting every vote taken was unanimous. The unity that is represented by those votes was so encouraging. It makes me wonder what grand things God is planning for us for 2009 as we seek His will and follow him as a unified body of Christ-followers.

At 2:15 the meeting was over and the carefully prepared documents were set aside, a few to be filed, most to be recycled. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Because a few dedicated people behind the scenes did a thorough job, the information was easily accessible and understandable. As all that paper is recycled, it is great to know that our annual meeting is about so much more than just the paperwork: It is about redefining our direction and with one purpose stepping boldly out to bring Light to a dark world.

Annual Business Meeting:

For more than six weeks the office has been humming --between snow storms, ice storms, and flooding-- to gather and publish what is needed to get everything ready for the annual celebration. Administrative Assistants Lori Shero and Becky Cox have gathered, collated, copied, organized, and stapled mountains of paper, all so that the church family can have what is needed for an orderly and informative meeting.
Finally the day arrived and after we checked and double checked to make sure we had what we needed, the meeting finally began.
This year we joined together after the Sunday Service for a potluck lunch, followed by a time of several people sharing highlights of the year. Then Pastor Nick presented his “State of the Church” message highlighting four areas in which we have been risk takers during the past year: remodeling the Main Hall, selling the parsonage, moving VBS off site and into the community, and becoming proactive in inviting people to East Hills. He then shared four ways he sees us sharpening our focus in the coming year: Kidville, missions, evangelism, and a recommitment to prayer.
Communion was then served at tables with a time for prayer.
When the business meeting began, all of that carefully prepared paperwork came into play. As reports were reviewed, financial documents inspected, and budgets pored over, papers shuffled and a few questions were asked. Then at the end of each discussion a vote was taken. For the entire meeting every vote taken was unanimous. The unity that is represented by those votes was so encouraging. It makes me wonder what grand things God is planning for us for 2009 as we seek His will and follow him as a unified body of Christ-followers.
At 2:15 the meeting was over and the carefully prepared documents were set aside, a few to be filed, most to be recycled. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Because a few dedicated people behind the scenes did a thorough job, the information was easily accessible and understandable. As all that paper is recycled, it is great to know that our annual meeting is about so much more than just the paperwork: It is about redefining our direction and with one purpose stepping boldly out to bring Light to a dark world.

The Perfect "Not Yet"

by: June Hoover

I am not what you would call a risk-taker. I like life to be safe, comfortable and predictable. I’m not a big fan of change. So even I was surprised when the words, “I’m going to leave and start my own business” came out of my mouth as I vented to my husband after a bad day at the office.

Like everyone, I had good days and “challenging” days at the office. Over the years, the hours seemed to get longer and the work more complex and less enjoyable. I had been looking for a change for quite a while, but I always sensed that God’s response was, “Not yet.”

As a CPA, people often asked me if I considered going out on my own. My answer was always a resounding “no.” Too much liability, thanks to the Enron scandal. Marketing and networking? Forget it – accountants are introverts, and I am no exception. And who was going to fix the paper jam in the copy machine or figure out why the internet wasn’t working? I am mechanically and technologically challenged.

But suddenly, here was this new idea from out of the blue. The first euphoria of declaring my intention to be my own boss (tempered by my husband’s wise advice that, “today probably isn’t the day to decide”) was followed by a rush of anxiety – what if I didn’t get any clients? Why did I think I could succeed at this? How would we be able to pay for two kids in college? I committed to pray for direction. I set April 15 (a magical day for accountants) as my quit day, unless God told me in the meantime to scrap the idea.

During the next weeks, the idea didn’t go away. I thought about how I could build my business around the things I really liked to do (and kiss multi-state corporate tax returns goodbye forever).

I continued to pray for direction and devised a timeline. Again God said, “Not yet.”
He showed me that it would be better, for many reasons, to wait until the end of the summer to start my business. I revised my timeline. More days were added to my countdown, but I knew I could not do this outside of His timing.

Throughout the spring and summer, I learned to put aside my own plans when God rescheduled them for me. The day I had planned to request a meeting with my bosses, I learned that one had extended his vacation by a week. The next week, the other boss was out of the office on the day I planned to tell them. After I finally gave them my notice, they requested that I hold off on telling the staff and my clients for a while –one more lesson in self-discipline and patience.

When I finally was able to share my news with my clients, a few asked to join me. It was flattering, but they would only need my services once a year, at tax time. In the meantime, the economy was tanking, tuition bills were looming, and I had to ask myself gently, “ARE YOU NUTS???”

The day before I left my job, my biggest and best client called me to tell me that their stockholders had voted to go with me. This meant monthly income and a far better start than I could have hoped for.

I love being on my own, and I know God has led me in this direction. He has brought me new business from unexpected places. Former clients have tracked me down in such a way that I can only imagine they had to call every Hoover in the phone book to find me.

Every day, I pray that God will guide me. This is uncharted territory for me and I know I cannot do it on my own. As I look back on all the times God said “Not yet,” I see that things wouldn’t have turned out as well if I had forged ahead.

I’m still technologically challenged, but I know who to call when I need help. And I’ve learned how to clear out jams in the copier all by myself!

Christianity is not for sissies!

"Just 1", our current series at East Hills weekend services, has encouraged us to notice those around us and begin to pray for them, make points of connection with them and befriend them, and find ways to share the love of Jesus. One way we have done that in the last couple of weeks is to encourage each person to take the "One Minute Challenge". We are each encouraged to pray for one person at 1:00 for one minute. To help us remember we handed out bracelets with "ONE" printed on them. The following e-mail was sent to me by my friend Mary describing the interesting way this challenge is playing out in her life. I know you will enjoy reading it. ~Ann

Christianity Is NOT for Sissies!

During the months of September and October, I prayed, along with many others, for God to find my job for me; one “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet,” to quote Frederick Buechner. He did exactly that. On October 31st, I began working with Young Life ministries as their Area Administrative Coordinator. I’ve been at work four days, feeling so much gratitude for the opportunity I’ve been given. We met for staff meeting on Wednesday, and began with prayer for one another. How different is that from my previous thirty years’ work experience?!?

But this story really begins with last Sunday’s challenge to take one of the blue “One” bracelets and commit to prayer every day for one minute at one o’clock for one person. As soon as the pastor explained the exercise, I asked God for whom I should pray. The Holy Spirit immediately whispered a name that took my breath away. It is someone I have despised and held in contempt. I’ve built almost twenty years of bitterness and resentment toward this person. They have hurt me in the past, and continue today to hurt people I love very much by their wounding words and actions.

They don’t know, or seem to want to know, the love of God through Jesus Christ. They have always rejected the idea as a “crutch” for “people who need that”. My daughter was sitting next to me in Saturday’s church service. I jokingly pretended to be having to force my hand to write down the name, holding my pen in my fist and practically tearing through the paper. She laughed when she saw the name I was writing, and put her hand over mine to “help” me finish writing.

At one o’clock the next afternoon, it wasn’t quite so funny. I had to begin by asking God to forgive me for my anger, bitterness, resentment and contempt for this person. It took more than one minute. I finally got to the prayer, “I know you love him, Lord. Please help me to see him the way You do. Without your Grace, I can’t pray for him without anger.”

On Tuesday morning I told my new boss about the experience, and asked him to pray for me, and for my “one person”. On Wednesday, the staff meeting I mentioned took place, and the other three staff members, familiar with their routine, shared from their hearts about their prayer need, and one of us prayed for them. Then, I shared this story, with the addition of the confirmation of Scripture I asked for and received that morning before work, during my time alone with the Father.

I had spent some time complaining to God that morning about how many times our family had prayed for this person, tried to show love to them, and been ill-treated by them. Finally, I surrendered my will once again, and asked Him to confirm that I had heard from the Holy Spirit about this assignment, and turned to my book of devotions to select a reading. The passage? 1 John 4:20-21. The Message Bible states: “If anyone boasts, ‘I love God,’ and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.”

I confessed all this to my new cohorts at my new job, and asked for prayer to be able to forgive him, and for him to find Jesus precious to his heart through receiving His offer of salvation. They were kind and generous, and prayed with amazing insight, even mentioning in their prayers aspects of the circumstances I hadn’t mentioned in telling my story.

Today, I was knocked to my knees again. A letter in the mail from the pastor included a “Just-1” insert with a blank for filling in the person’s name that had been placed on my heart. I did that, not happily, but I did it. THEN I read Step 2! Invite that person to the December "It Would Take a Miracle" series at EHA! Well, my little efforts to get my heart right are like a small bird’s nest on a cliff edge being hammered by the wind and rain. I have to start all over again. It will take a miracle, and immeasurable amounts of God’s Grace, for me to have the courage and willingness to ask this person to come to this series. When I try to imagine them saying, “Yes,” it’s so unimaginable, I can’t get a picture of it in my mind. They don’t speak to me and I don’t speak to them. When we’re in each other’s presence by circumstance, we act as if the other person isn’t there.

God, help me.

You Just Had To Be There

Words and pictures cannot accurately report what "simple truth" women's retreat was like. You just had to be there. You had to see the ocean view from the deck, you had to feel the balmy sunny windless weather, you had to see the deer grazing within arm's reach, you had to taste that amazing gravy.

Twenty-eight women attended the EHA retreat in Ocean Park, and we knew from the very beginning it would be great: Dessert the first evening was "Death by Chocolate". As far as we know no one really died from it, but it would have been worth it!

Our time together was marked by a real sense of unity and joy. During messages from God's word we heard about unity, diversity, and margin. We sang to guitar and piano music provided by Becky Cox. We played crazy games, had quiet times of reflection and prayer, and even shopped a little bit. There was something for everyone.

I came home blessed, refreshed, and so impressed with the women of East Hills and their talents and care for each other. And I fell deeper in love with a kind and caring Savior. That is the 'simple truth'.

Rockin' With The Forge

God is doing a mighty work in the Jr. High ministry at EHA. Not only are tons of kids showing up (and I mean tons if you weighed them all together on a huge elephant scale), but lives are being impacted and changed. We are seeing the unsaved drawn to Jesus! And that is exciting! On a typical night I show up at 5:30, prepping my heart and my body for the night's onslaught. Near 6:00 a few kids will have trickled in, and by 6:15 the place is a madhouse; balls flying everywhere; screams and laughter resounding throughout the lower building; and hugs and high fives creating a cacophony of smiles and joyous outbursts.

We play a few rousing games that get the blood moving, and I'm usually hoarse by this point. Then we file into the youth room and sing songs at a level that would register about a 2.5 on the Richter scale. After worship I share a brief message, trying to be relevant to the cultural issues these youth are facing in the world today. After that we play a closing game that will make them sleep well that night. It's awesome every week, because God is at work. At this point there are three leaders, and we are stretched pretty thin... so if you feel God's tug on your heart to help out, we could really use you! What can you expect if you show up? Lots of energy, lots of life, and a very sore back the next day! But it's so worth it! Even if you can't help out, I encourage everyone to come at least once to check out what God is doing in the Forge…!

Heart to Heart

This fall we decided to try Heart to Heart as evening only sessions.  This decision allows us to meet together as one group, and also allows guest speakers the opportunity to participate without having to prepare for two sessions.  Our current series, “10 Things Every Woman Needs to Know” is subtitled, “Practical wisdom for everyday…and eternity.”  We have had a great time hearing from guests on practical topics and are excited to hear the remaining presentations.  Also, each week, I have been privileged to share from God’s Word on related subjects.  It is truly exciting and energizing to open my Bible and put together messages that I know are specifically for the women of East Hills.  

God has been so good to bless us each week.  We enjoy the mid-week break, the snacks, and the excellent childcare.  All of this together allows us to grow closer together and closer to God.  Each message of this series stands alone, so that you can join in at anytime and be part of the community of women who are learning ten new things.

Kidville On The Move Update

The revised format of Kidville has had a trial run of a couple of weeks.  After lots of planning and rearranging, we have gotten underway on the rotation style of children’s ministry.  Last Spring when I began considering this way of doing kids’ ministry, I thought we were inventing something new that was a hybrid of traditional Sunday School and VBS.  Just last week I found online a book called “Rotation Style Sunday School” and found out that this is the newest trend in children’s ministry.  Too bad we didn’t’ write the book! 

The format moves kids each week from one specialty site to another where there is staff to teach in a variety of ways.  From a traditional story time to big motor activities, crafts, songs, and skits, each child will have the opportunity to participate in the way he or she learns best. For me, one of the most gratifying parts of this change has been the new people who have volunteered to staff it.  None of us knew on day one exactly what to expect and this staff has jumped on board to minister to kids in creative and effective ways.  

I think as you observe what is going on, hear from the kids themselves, and take a turn at helping out, you will see the value of Kidville On The Move.  Kids truly are important to us at East Hills and we know that our commitment will pay off.

God's Perfect Timing

By: Jim Fishel

Have you ever said to yourself, “Now why did that happen? What am I supposed to learn from this? Is this just a random event that has no lesson to learn or benefit to me or others, or is God about to show me something special?”

Earlier this month Sharon and I and our friend Elaine Sharer were on our way home from Alberta, Canada when I asked myself all those questions. We were towing a small 4’x 8’ box trailer with perhaps 200 lbs in it. The route I had chosen was to go through Yakima, then Hwy 12 to I-5 and home. We were on a long uphill run on I-90 when my chauffer said “Jim wake up, we’ve got smoke coming out the back end.” Less than a half mile ahead was a rest stop so we kept going and came to a stop in the truck parking area. Oil was pouring out of the transmission.

Disaster always seems to draw a crowd, and just as I verified that the oil was from the transmission the man already parked next to us came over and said “tranny’s hot, happens a lot on that long grade”. I’m not always sure what to say when someone states the obvious so I just nodded, but he continued, “Do you have any ‘tranny fluid?” I didn’t and he said, “I have a couple of quarts you can have, and a funnel to put it in with.” I thanked him and tried to pay him but he wouldn’t take any money. This modern day ‘Good Samaritan’ said, “Just pass it on, there aren’t enough people who care nowadays to help.” Then he gave me a 3rd quart of fluid and left.

We had to wait for the transmission to cool down before we could continue and as we waited a young family in a pickup pulling a big travel trailer rolled in next to us. Oil was pouring out of the transmission and I walked up and said, “tranny’s hot, happens a lot on that long grade. Do you have any transmission fluid?”

In retrospect it seems obvious to me that the reason my transmission over heated was so I could be in the right place and at the right time to help the young family. We drove away from that rest stop rejoicing and praising God for His goodness to us and His perfect timing. Now if I could just see what I’m suppose to learn from the turn signals not working.

Parsonage Sale

After over a year without a tenant, the East Hills parsonage has been sold to Residential Resources for our asking price, $250,000.00. When occupied, a paid-off parsonage is a major asset. The use of the building was a form of compensation for staff that was equivalent to several hundred dollars a month, but with no cash outlay for the church. However, since Caleb and Becky Cox moved into their own home a year and a half ago, the parsonage has gone from an asset to a liability. With no pastoral staff member living there, its local property tax exemption had expired. Using it as a youth center or office space does not confer the exemption, so with no plans to use it as a residence, we would be paying taxes on it into the foreseeable future.

A sale of the parsonage would have paid for our recent remodel with a great deal left over, but the feeling of the Administration Board was that the remodel needed to stand on its own, supported by the current membership rather than the effort and giving of the past members who bought, maintained, and expanded the parsonage.
"For me, personally, I had always been opposed to selling the parsonage," Elder Tom Hight said. "We could, in effect, pay someone $600.00 a month, and here's our property appreciating, and we're not out of pocket. But we just came to a place where it made more sense to sell than to keep."

The church leadership put the house on the market in early July, and Residential Resources expressed interest within a few weeks. After the EHA members voted in favor of allowing the property to change hands, Pastor Nick closed the deal on our behalf. We asked for, and got, 10 percent up front. From that down payment, we paid the closing costs and the back property taxes that had already come due.
Founded in 1980, Residential Resources cares for both children and adults with developmental disabilities and other medical needs. They are a well-established non-profit agency and already own three other group homes in the Kelso-Longview area. They are also associated with AmeriCorps and United Way. After some modifications, the parsonage will serve as a home for disabled children. They have committed to paying off the property in two years.

We have not yet decided where and how to deposit the incoming payment. We have the ability to put it to work earning interest, but there are strict limits on what we can do with the principal itself. The Christian and Missionary Alliance allows member churches to spend money from the sale of property only on capital improvements, so we could not use it to pay pastors' salaries, for instance. The elders have proposed the idea of earmarking the money from the sale to help plant a daughter church."We were no longer tax-exempt and had no real hope or expectation of regaining that," Tom said. "That was really the entering wedge. And we had already years back considered that if we grew to a size where we could do this, that we wanted to daughter a church -- it's a long-range goal. The two are separate but parallel."

Lunch Money

The money fast continues, and on Monday morning I was faced with a fresh dilemma. As I prepared for my day I remembered that I was scheduled to have lunch in Portland with an old friend. This is a friend who I had not seen since last summer, and who had paid for our last several lunches. When we made the date a couple of weeks ago I made a big deal about how it was really truly my turn to pay. Hmmm, now here I was with a week long no-spending policy. I couldn't make lunch and take it because I had not bought groceries and we were down to half a bag of ice and three eggs. Nothing there.

As I was describing my quandry to our son, Ross, I listed my possible options: 1) Flake out and ask my friend to pay (again), 2) Break my self-imposed rule and just buy lunch, or 3) Pay with a credit card and pretend like it is not real money. None of these sounded right and the option of cancelling lunch until a more conveneint time did not even enter my thinking.

Ross thought for a minute, then offered to buy lunch for my friend and me. He handed me some money and said, "Go for it Mom, it's on me." I feebly refused, even tried half heartedly to give back part of the money. "No", he said, "don't go on the cheap." So I carefully folded the money into my pocket and at lunch a few hours later explained the situation to my friend.

We splurged, ordered bevereges, lunch, then even split a dessert. When I paid I left a generous tip and still had $5 left. As we parted I asked her what she thought my ethical responsibility was about the $5: give it back to Ross, give it to her, or spend it? Her answer was quick: It was a gift, you should spend it all. So, on the way home from lunch, feeling a little drowsy, I stopped at a Starbuck's. I bought an iced coffee, then dropped all the change into the tip jar. I don't know if it was generosity or contrition, but it felt good.

What am I learning? That not spending money is more complicated that it sounds. You should try it sometime!

Money and Kids

My spending fast continues. I have spent no money since Wednesday afternoon. I am surprised at how often I think about NOT spending money. Little things like cruising by Starbuck's on my way to church, or stopping by the grocery store on the way home are on hold for now.

So far the hardest thing has been not spending money on kids. We are trying to "train up a child in the way he [or she] should go" by taking our grandaughters to Kelso football games. As part of the bribery...I mean training...we buy them popcorn for the game. Well, this past Friday night I could not buy any. We usually buy two bags, one to eat, and one to spill, and that has worked out well. I felt like a real cheapskate when someone else volunteered to go to the concession stand and get the poor deprived girls their football treat. As it turned out, the popcorn was about the only good thing about Kelso football that night.

And then there is the whole half done birthday gift. A little friend has an October birthday and I had found a good start to a gift a couple of weeks ago, bought it, and planned to add something snazzy to the very practical item I had gotten. Alas, I did not get it done before the big spending fast kicked in. Now I am left with the option of cheating and buying something extra, giving just the practical part and hoping she is OK with that, or trying to find something around the house to add on. Do you think some re-gifted tealights would fill the bill?

Not spending is more complicated than I thought it would be!

Show Me The Money!

Last month I read an article about a guy who decided to completely stop spending money for a week. The idea grabbed my attention since we have been talking around here about our October series on money. Heart to Heart is also doing a piece on money management. At home we are trying to simplify and consolidate our banking (planning to enter the wonderful world of on-line banking). So I have been thinking about money quite a bit.

The idea of a spending "fast" has really intrigued me, so as of yesterday, I began my one week of spending no money. Zero dollars and zero cents. When I first thought about doing this I figured I would buy a trunkful of groceries, get the car gassed up, and maybe have a little recreational shopping trip to Target, just to get prepared for all the non-spending I would do in the next seven days. However, life got busy and I never did any of that. And I am already feeling the effects of poor planning.

Last night was our first life group meeting. I wish I could tell you that I was so taken with the new spending fast that I chose not to go to the store and get food for our first-of-the-season-these-people-have-never-been-in-my-house-before-life-group. But, honestly, I just didn't want to go to the store. So I scrounged, a practice I expect to get more familiar with in the coming week. I found some really nice strawberries in the refrigerator, invented "punch" from a bottle of Squirt and some secret ingredients; but my real coup was some crackers on a cute little plate served with a spread made from half a container of cream cheese and a glob of forgotten gourmet cranberry mustard (surprisingly good).

So far, so good. I think it will be interesting to see how this little project impacts me. I am not a big shopper, but I will admit that there are times when I look into my empty wallet and wonder where the money went. It seems like it sort of melts away sometimes. But at least for today, I will be able to show you the money: it is still in my wallet. Now, I wonder if there are anymore of those crackers left for lunch...I'll keep you posted.

Heart to Heart Restart

One of our ministries for women is Heart to Heart. More than 10 years ago this began as a Bible study for women on Thursday Mornings. Three years ago we added an evening session for the growing number of working women in our church and community. Along the way we have added practical components to the mix while keeping our intention of providing a safe place for women to learn, laugh a lot, cry a little, and pray with and for each other.

This fall I am trying out a new format in response to the continually changing schedules and needs of East Hills women. As more women have entered and re-entered the work force our attendance at the Thursday evening session has grown to surpass the morning session. So I am going to try a session of Thursday Evening only Heart to Heart. From September 11th to November 20th we will hold Heart to Heart Thursday evenings only, 6:00-7:30, with refreshments and childcare provided. I hope all the "morning ladies" will give the evening sessions a try this semester.

Our fall series is called "10 Things Every Woman Needs To Know". Each week will have a practical topic such as what to do about a bad hair day, and a spiritual topic such as how to have a vibrant prayer life. Guest presenters will jump on board for some of the topics. Besides attending each week, there are several ways to be involved in supporting the women of East Hills and the community; I am hoping for someone to organize the arrangements for refreshments, and someone to do childcare for these 10 weeks.

I am so excited to get back to Heart to Heart; it is truly a unique place for women, and I love being part of it. If you have any questions about this new fall format or how you can be involved, see me at any weekend service, or just call the office at 423-0521. ~Ann

Kidville Season Beginning

Planning for Kidville is underway. A new season begins September 15/16 and will incorporate a new format. We are always thinking about ways to change and improve our children's programs, and I am excited to have our kids and their friends discover what is new for this season.

The classes for 3-year olds through 5th grade will be divided into three sections and be on a three week rotation. Each child will have a week of Bible story, a week of crafts, and a week of large motor skill activities; then back through the rotation again. Park & Ride Nursery care for infants through 2-years old will remain in it's current location.That is a pretty brief explanation of hours and hours of planning, thinking, praying, and researching.

A couple of the reasons for this format change are that it allows us to divide the elementary age kids into two smaller groups, and it allows people who do not necessarily want to teach in the traditional way a wonderful opportunity to have contact with our East Hills kids. For instance, if you feel awkward managing a traditional classroom setting, but you love to do crafts or lead games, this new set up allows you a perfect match for your God-given abilities.

For each of the three semesters we have places for sixteen lead volunteers, plus helpers and specialists. It is my hope that all who have considered ministering to our church families through Kidville will boldly step forward to give this new format a try. There are many ways to be involved. Will you consider using your time and talent this year as Kidville On The Move gets going. You can truly make a difference in the life of a child.

Check out the available sign-up spots in the Welcome Center; I would love to answer any questions you have about how East Hills plans to impact kids and their families this year. ~Ann

Ordination Celebration

May 24 we celebrated the ordination of Reverend Caleb Cox! Ordination is a two-year process that involves reading books, writing papers, attending ministry “module” workshops, and intense study which leads up to a grueling interview. Caleb took his two-hour interview in March and passed with flying colors.

Ordination it is a stamp of approval on Caleb’s ministry by the district leadership. This is a confirmation of what we at East Hills already know, that Caleb is a worthy servant of God who handles the Word well, and knows how to apply it to his own life and helps others do the same.
Many people from East Hills were in attendance as well as some special guests from out of state. Caleb and Becky’s families from California came for the event, some family friends of Caleb’s and his youth pastor from high school.

Caleb’s ordination mentor, Tim Heffer, a C&MA pastor in Lacey, WA, gave a charge to Caleb to live in the current of faith alongside such biblical heroes as David, Abraham, Deborah, and Noah. John Thompson, Caleb’s former youth pastor, spoke about Caleb’s compassion, artistic ability, leadership, empathy, and the value of his wife Becky. Erik Williams came from the district office to affirm that God says to Caleb “U Da Man.”

The evening also included a special presentation to Caleb from the rest of the staff at East Hills. Nick presented a sweatshirt from local high school RA Long, while Ann protested that he should receive her gift of a Kelso sweatshirt since he lives in Kelso. Jeff, our intern, came through with a sweatshirt from his alma mater, Cheyenne East High in Wyoming.

The evening concluded with a time of prayer and blessing on Rev. Caleb and Becky and a delightful reception that had been put together in honor of the occasion.

Remodel Completed

All of the time and energy put in by the willing volunteers of East Hills has paid off. The sanctuary remodel is finished! The stained glass window is installed, sound equipment is functioning well, and the chairs are getting worn in perfectly. The room comes complete with a new name "Main Hall." Our goal is to make this space accessible to the community for clubs, special events, and any other large events. Come check out the new space if you haven't yet seen it at one of our weekend services or during normal office hours. You can also see highlights of the project by clicking on the following link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPpcFV_CSFI

Almost there!

The installation of the new stained glass represents the last contracted job of the church remodel. A few finishing touches do remain, such as replacing the outside sign and eliminating interference in the sound system, but major construction is now complete. The work itself took about three months and involved over 70 volunteers, and the Sanctuary Improvement Team had been meeting since April of last year to plan the remodeling. That team was Kirk Sherrell, Bob Shaw, Tom Hight, Katrina Mendenhall, Jeremy McAninch, Leon Rennells, and Jean Imholte. An East Hills Alliance trustee, Leon co-chaired the construction team along with Pastor Nick.

"We're real close," Leon said. "Nick was hoping it would happen overnight in a massive labor push, but unfortunately, that doesn't happen when you have contractors. Hopefully, it will serve the goals that we set for it."

Some of those goals had to to with basic upkeep. The roof in particular needed work to prevent leaks from damaging the church. Others were for convenience, such as plumbing in a sink at the coffee area. Beyond that, the team wanted to make the building more welcoming by improving its appearance, to increase the usefulness of the platform area, and to open new possibilities for the entire space by switching from pews to chairs.

Katrina had a big hand in the design and color selection of the sanctuary, although expert opinion, the consensus of the team, and feedback from the church body all factored in.

"Even myself, I was uneasy about how some of the colors would match," Leon said. "What's funny is that there's about five colors of beige in there, but when you look at it, it's hard to tell they're different. That was deliberate."

The new platform extends about three feet farther and is much more accessible. By removing the steps from the back and adding acoustical panels, we ended up with a much better site for a real drum set than we had before. The main speaker has been replaced and eight stage lights added. We have not yet figured out how much to use the new lighting in typical services, but it will definitely improve mime and drama performance.

One less obvious upgrade I personally appreciate is the balcony temperature control. Before work started, the loft was always hotter than the outside air during a Saturday night service, but with better insulation and a new air conditioner, we can now keep it cool in the summer. So you can expect to be more comfortable whether you are standing up front, sitting on one of the new chairs, or in the balcony.

Ultimately, though, the real goal is not to have a comfortable building for ourselves to spend time in, but one that helps us reach out to the lost and draw them into the love of Christ. We can reap a small reward now by looking around and seeing the improvements, but the real value will be in the lives of people who find it that much easier to start or strengthen a relationship with Christ because their surroundings make them feel welcome.

"There were so many times that we planned for something and it didn't work out per plan. It seemed like a mistake. And the way we resolved that mistake turned out to be God's will and was even better than we planned. God used it as a way to show His power. That was the neatest thing, to see God at work. God just put the right people in the right places. And he did provide the manpower. It was a God thing all around."

All-Star Camp coming June 23-27

East Hills has changed the format and location of our 2008 summer children's outreach. Rather than a traditional vacation Bible school held at the church itself, we are hosting the All-Star Camp at Barnes Elementary School, 9:00 to noon on June 23 through 27. This is a free event, open to kids entering first through fifth grades whether they attend EHA or not.

VBS was split into five sites, with each child cycling through one site per day and seeing a different staff member at each one. Instead, All-Star Camp is broken into three tracks: soccer under Pastor Caleb Cox, cheer under Becca Reid, and arts under Rene Rennells. Pastor Ann Hight is the overall camp director. Each kid chooses a track at the beginning of the camp and spends each day under the supervision of that track's leadership team, hopefully allowing the kids and adults to build trust and relationships.

"Each of the tracks has really competent, talented staff that seem like a great fit," Ann said. "It has been amazing to watch the people who are going to be involved step into the right spots. We are looking at every activity from two directions: first, the kids from the North Kelso community who we don't know yet, and second, our Kidville citizens. We want this to be a positive and fun summer experience for both like previous VBSs have been. I believe we can do both well with the level of staff that we have seen step forward."

Even so, the departure from past summer ministry, both in what we do and where we do it, is a big undertaking. This is our first time running such a program away from East Hills. Barnes has a great deal to offer: not only do they have more and better indoor and outdoor facilities, they will serve lunch, and kids from the neighborhood can walk there much more easily. We expect about 125 kids, double what we have had in the past.

Each day will have its own theme, such as never quitting. During a break in activities, the speakers will relate the theme of the day to Biblical values, leading up to a salvation message on Thursday with an opportunity for the kids to respond. Friday will feature an exhibition soccer match with cheer and drama performances and hotdogs for the kids and their families. For those not interested in athletics, the arts track will include drama, cooking, and interesting and unusual crafts leading up to their own presentation on the last day.

"We are definitely out at the edge of our experience," Ann said. "All-Star Camp has been one of the most gratifying and encouraging programs that I've ever been part of. I am absolutely delighted to be a part of this."

About 30 people are already involved, but both large and small positions remain available. If you are interested in participating, contact Ann. One way everyone can help is to pray that the leaders will be able to form meaningful relationships with the kids. For church kids who want to attend, pre-registration is highly encouraged. The forms will be available in Kidville next week and through Barnes itself.

A Testimony in Hard Times

My name is Alyssa Hansen, mother of the sole baby boy attending East Hills Alliance. I have only been attending for about two years now, and have had a lot of life changes happen in that time. Most importantly, my fiance and I had a baby boy last October and it's been a roller coaster since. We both work full time, and I attend LCC 4-5 days a week. Between his student loan payments, two car payments, rent, utilities, tuition, etc...it's been a long year. One of my goals, since starting to attend East Hills regularly, has been to tithe on a regular basis. I have been faithful to this commitment, and have seen some major blessings. I wanted to attach a blog that I wrote about something that happened to us last week, just so that you know how blessed I feel to be attending East Hills and also to give praise to God by sharing this story:

"No matter what you’re going through..."

"...heaven's watching over you."
So, I got home from work yesterday, and it had been a pretty good day. It was busy at work and I had made good money. Which was good considering that Chris and I are getting a combined (maybe) 40 hours a week and super struggling with money. I know everyone is going through the same thing, so it's hard to complain too much. But, I've been at Sharis for over three years now and all of a sudden I have Saturdays, Sundays and another weekday off every week. Normally I'd be stoked to have the weekends off, but when you waitress it's the only time you can make really decent money.

But, the point of this blog wasn't to gripe about my schedule. I came home from work yesterday and the first thing Chris said was, "You should check out that card we got in the mail." I went over to the mail pile and found a blue envelope, no return address with a card inside that said, "No matter what you're going through, heaven's watching over you." It was a beautiful card, no signature...and had five 20 dollar bills inside. I instantly got goosebumps, because this kind of stuff doesn't happen everyday and it seriously felt like something way bigger had just said, "See, I told you it would be okay."

I have been attending a church that I really like for almost two years now. It's called East Hills Alliance and it's in Kelso. There are great people and great music. The head pastor is named Nick Stumbo and he's young and puts together simple, concise messages that really get to the point. Anyways, in the past two years, even if I slipped in attendance, I tried really hard to tithe every week, (give 10% of my income to the church). It's a touchy subject with some people, understandably, and I know that it's one of the reasons that a lot of people stay away from the church. But I don't think of it as greed on the church's part. For me, when broken down to it's simplest form, God gave it to me and it's my way of thanking him for always providing. In the last two years, since I've been tithing, so many things have happened as a direct result. Sometimes it was just the right amount of money at just the right time. One time it was Chris getting hired for a second job on the spot. Getting this house, and the way that it all came together I know was a direct result of having faith and trusting God.

And it's funny because last week the check that I wrote was literally $25 of my last $50 in my bank account. But I know that it's just as important to tithe when you're broke as it is to tithe when you're in a time of plenty. It's all about the trust that you'll be taken care of, and for me that's a hard thing, to basically put my faith in something out of my control....and even harder, trying to convince Chris that I know what I'm doing. But it's paid off every time.

So yeah, take it as you will. And if you are, or know of, the person who sent us the $100. You paid the remainder of our P.U.D. bill, and we thank you so, so much. You've also renewed my spirit and assured me that I'm putting my faith in all the right places. The card had no signature. I am holding onto it until I am in a place where I can help someone else, and I'm going to use that card.

I also wanted to share that God is working through me at my workplace, Sharis, and I have co-workers attending with me on and off. I know that God is softening hearts around me and I just keep sharing stories like this with them so that they might know that God is waiting to bless their lives as well.

Red, White, and True-Blue

Red, White, and True-Blue is an evening event that celebrates the value of friendship between women. It will be held July 2nd, Wednesday, from 6:00to 8:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Themed for the July 4th holiday, there will be food, conversation, prizes, and more. It promises to be an evening of relaxed fun with lots of laughter guaranteed. It is a great way to start your holiday weekend a little bit early. Ladies, watch for more details in coming weeks and be thinking of a true-blue friend you can invite!

Summer Kidville News

Kidville classes have had a successful run during this school year. Dedicated teachers and helpers have taught and tended kids in a variety of ways in Noah’s Park & Ride (newborn through age three), Fun Factory (age three through kindergarten), and Uptown (first through fifth grades). During the Spring quarter we added KidSpace, a special class just for fifth-graders. Directed by Tary and Chris Jenkins, this practical program was designed to help kids transition confidently in to middle school and into church youth group by equipping them in the basic beliefs of their Christian faith.

Currently we are gearing up for our summer Kidville programs. We want to give our regular teaching staff the summer off, but we also want to offer a quality program for all kids, both Saturday night and Sunday morning. Nearly 70 slots need to be filled to staff each class for the entire summer. We are currently over halfway to our goal and it looks like we will be able to run the summer program at the level we would like. If you have not yet seen what areas of service are available in the Kidville area for this summer, please check out the flyer in the Welcome Center. Your help is needed, even if you do not consider yourself a teacher. And if your kids are part of this program, we strongly encourage you to help out a few times this summer. I believe you will find joy and satisfaction in sharing your love of Jesus with our wonderful Kidville Citizens.

Next weekend for Father’s Day kids will have a unique opportunity to get together in the Fellowship Hall during regular class times and create a gift for someone special in their life. The design team is Ed and Candy Sanders; I know kids will have fun and parents will be delighted! Be sure your child is part of this end-of-the-year event.