Your Commitment

Our family watches a lot of sports; we find it a tool for family bonding as well as a source of escape from our worldly problems. With the upcoming NFL season there is much excitement and anticipation for our Wellspring Fantasy Football League!
 
As a league participant I can tell you that performance and outcome is directly related to the level of commitment one is willing to put forth.  There must be constant player evaluations, statistical reports to analyze along with upcoming match-ups in order to make judicious decisions for game day.  All of this in the hope of positioning ourselves for the best chance of winning.
 
Similarly, our Christian life and walk with God requires a level of commitment that many simply do not embrace.  Why, some will tell you that their life is too hectic and they do not have time for such a commitment.  As unfortunate as this may sound, it represents an all too common story for many.
 
For those that seek Him, fully relying on His resources and power, will see His awesomeness displayed.  This is the doorway to winning that many of God's children never enter.  There are great things that are done for God that are not done by great people.  They are actually achieved by a great God working through normal people, just like you and me that are willing to put forth the effort.
 
Be encouraged this week as we discuss a greater game plan for the Kingdom of God that is sure to yield eternal victory.  As Paul states in 1Corinintians 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
 
See you at church,
Elder Glen Ehrhardt


‘Beach Party has Eternal Rewards’

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Trust

Every summer in swimming pools around the country a familiar ritual is observed.  A parent standing in the pool calls to a little one to jump in.  The fear, the excitement, and the exhilaration that comes when the little one finally does, overcome the fear, and jump in.  The jumping in is a exercise in complete trust.
 
We can sometimes struggle with trust.  It is understandable, because life and all of its consequences are often filled with regret and pain.  Such things cause us to flinch, hold back, and live in fear. The experience of our life tells us not to proceed we will probably just get hurt. But it seems that no matter how hard we try and avoid pain and difficulty we always seem to be put back in the place where we must either trust with the full knowledge that it could turn out badly, or don't trust and live the rest of our lives with regret.
 
Do you completely trust Jesus?  Do you trust Him as he calls to you come on in?  Or are you busy trying to find some way to test the waters, to ease in, to take the risk out?  This week come and be challenged to trust.
 
See you at church.
 
Pastor Chris


The Untied Shoe

 
Last week at church a very funny thing happened.  While preaching my sermon I stepped on a shoelace and untied my left shoe.  What to do?   I had hoped (in vain) that no one noticed.   It was not to be. I am pretty sure everyone noticed.  In fact, some were wondering if I was going to trip and fall off the stage.  Others whose every heart beat moves them to serve almost came up and tied it for me! I recognized it as soon as I did it.  But there was a compelling thing that was stopping me from tying it again.  I have an injured knee.  Getting down on my right knee to tie my shoe would have been troublesome to say the least. So I tried to power through it and hope no one noticed. Here is the fun little fact.
 
Many may not remember what I preached on, but will probably remember the untied shoe.  In fact, 6 months from now that will probably be even more true.  It is human nature. Distractions have a way of sticking with us even in the face of things that are much more important!  The key is staying focused on the important things no matter what the distractions around us are.
 
Jesus was an amazing example of this.  In the moments right before the most significant events of his earthly life,  in a time when it would have been so easy to get distracted by what was coming, he was amazingly focused.  Even though he knew what he would be facing, he never lost sight of His agenda.  His agenda should be our agenda.  No matter the distractions.
 
This week we will take a look at His agenda as he revealed it in His prayer of John chapter 17.  Come see how your agenda in life is matching up with His.
 
See you at church,
 
Pastor Chris
 
Ps. I will double tie my shoes this week!


Making a Difference

 There are times when I read the news and watch current events unfold, that it can get a bit dismal.  I know lots of people who just don't watch it at all.  There is a certain amount of wisdom in that.  I however, have not taken to that extreme quite yet.  For all sorts of reasons, especially that I am a pastor, I feel somewhat obligated to pay attention.  But it can be tough work sometimes, especially the times when it feels like I can't make a difference.
 
I will confess that when it comes to some of the biggest concerns in this world right now I will not substantively make any difference whatsoever.  Curiously, (at least from my perspective) no one has asked me to be part of the Bilderberg group, the Counsel on Foreign Relations, the Federal Reserve, State Department, Illuminati, Michele Obama's School Lunch Commission, or any of the other movers and shakers in world events.  No one has called me up and asked me to give them any counsel on environmental concerns, sustainable farming, healthcare, or taxes.  If I am honest with myself, I admit will not have any significant or lasting impact on any of these things.  It would be easy to allow fatalism to rule, but that is not what we are called to do.  Instead we are called to make a difference.
 
You see on the really big stuff we probably won't make much of a difference, but that is not the shape of the tool we are anyway.  We are a church.  That is to say we are a local embodiment of Jesus Christ.   We are His hands, His feet, and His mouthpiece.  It follows that if we are an embodiment of Jesus that the nature of our ministry too would look like Jesus' did.  Jesus did not transform his culture or the government when and where He lived.  Rather through His redemption He created a new way of being and a new way of being in community.  While these transformed people and communities, eventually rose to the place of the majority, one might question how that really worked out: mixed reviews at best. 
 
So if we are not going to have this big impact on the really big stuff, what is the point in trying?  We try because we will have an impact on individuals.  That is the tool we have been shaped as.  To make a difference on one person and even possibly, one family at a time! 
 
This week I want to encourage you and our church to make a difference!  Come find out how!
 
Hope to see you at church.
 
Pastor Chris


‘Drake and LauRen Wedding’

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Meet Mr. & Mrs. Drake Alexander Henderson, as of around 3:00PM on Saturday July 12th. Drake is the last in a series of four Henderson children to be wed (in order: Jessica, Jordan, Marcus and now Drake).

To say the wedding was steamy is not an under statement, but it was another spectacular day for the Kingdom of God as these two were married in a fun yet heartfelt ceremony officiated by our pastor (Drakes Father) Chris Henderson. Enjoy a smattering of shots from the day-

Don't forget out August 3rd ‘BEACH PARTY' EVENT, scroll down to learn more! Thanks you to so many who helped make this day possible. 



August 3rd ‘Beach Party’

WF Beach Party


In Dependence Day

 
Today we celebrate our annual love affair with picnics, pyrotechnics, and freedom.  Of course the day points back to when the 13 colonies decided to break free of the governance of the British monarchy and become independent.  They voted on July 2nd and then adopted the resolution explaining why on July 4th.  Reflecting on the vote which occurred on July 2nd, John Adams wrote to his wife and said this.
 
“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
 
While the 4th of July (when they signed the declaration) ended up being the celebration day, his prediction of the nature of the day was fairly spot on.  I think it is valuable to read the Declaration of Independence from time to time.  You might even consider reading it every 4th of July.  It represents the reasons why they decided to risk their lives, fortunes, and futures to be free. It is sometimes both sad and shocking to look at those reasons and see that in some ways we have gone back to the very things we were declaring freedom from.   It is also disconcerting that while the founding fathers were declaring independence from the monarchy, they were affirming their dependence on God.  At the very end right before the signatures began are words that are not quite as famous as some of the other words, yet are far more important.  They say this  “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor”.
 
While the founders were declaring independence from a monarchy they were also acknowledging and relying on their utter dependence on God.  I am not so sure that our country can continue to claim that.   I suspect that if questioned, most Americans would put much more trust in our military, our economic domination, or our technology.   In all practicality, they live out a life that relies more on government for protection and providence. History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. I don't see a government in the history of humanity where such reliance was justified or where that worked out very well.  Rather than living in dependence on Government,  I would suggest we should return to a place of living in dependence on God. 
 
This year as you celebrate lets listen to the whole counsel of John Adams and not only celebrate with “…pomp, parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations.” but also celebrate with “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”  
 
This week at church we will explore how we can be praying for our country.  Enjoy the 4th and I hope to see you at church!
 
Pastor Chris


‘Potluck in the Park’

The weather was awesome as we shared an incredible day at the City Park at Crescent Creek in Gig Harbor. We participate with this wonderful opportunity of outdoor fellowship seasonally, about 3 times a year!   We brought our favorite picnic foods and we had plenty for all. We shared an extended fellowship post our church service at Wellspring Fellowship which meets at 3:30PM every Saturday.  What a great fun day, and as you can see; every age participated in the food, fun and fellowship!

 

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