What makes people just love Christmas?  It’s more than the lights, the decorated trees, the Christmas carols and the crowded shopping malls.  People love Christmas because there is just a different spirit in the air.  People tend to be more giving, more helpful, more apt to recognize needs and feel a responsibility to help in some way.  There seems to be a greater emphasis on helping one another and less of an emphasis on satisfying ourselves.  I believe this is also why so many people tend to be happier this time of the year.  They stop living for themselves and discover the joy of living for a greater cause…others!

Just look at how many organizations raise food to help the needy; have toy drives for children, raise money for local food banks, and even provide warm clothes to those who have none.  Even organization that may be normally competitors during the year come together and work for a common cause to help those in need.  Yes, Christmas is indeed a magical time.

As followers of Christ though, this same spirit should characterize our lives 12 months out of the year.  We shouldn’t wait until Christmas to engage in these activities.  This attitude and these activities should be our lifestyle continually.  We should be the happiest people around because we know the joy of living our lives for the sake of others.  This is what Jesus calls us to.  To call ourselves Christians and then simply live for ourselves is one of the great heresies of our time.  Jesus modeled no such thing!  Whenever I see unhappy followers of Christ I’m left wondering what, or who they are following.  Following Jesus is  embracing a lifestyle of giving, generosity, meeting needs, loving people, and walking in joy knowing that our lives makes a difference.

May we continue to grow as a church that models the spirit of Christmas 24/7/365.  May we not only surprise a community with our generosity and giving this Christmas, but may we surprise them next month and the next month, and every month after.  May we be known as “the crazy church” that just keeps giving until an entire community finally sees Jesus.  May we all experience the tremendous joy that comes from knowing our lives were used for a greater purpose besides ourselves.   When we all discover the secret to joy is not believing life is “all about me”; the secret to joy is understanding my life is really “all about serving you”.  Then, the spirit of Christmas will become entrenched in our hearts and lives and become a lifestyle not simply an event.

May God give you the grace to understand how He wants you to embrace this lifestyle for His glory!

Pastor Dale

I Thess. 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Easier said than done isn’t it?  It’s tough trying to be thankful in light of all that is going on today.  The more I watch on TV, read on line, and talk to people in our community, the mood is not a positive one.  People are genuinely and consistently unhappy.  In fact, people are more than just unhappy, they are complaining.  People complain about the government, the economy, their jobs, (or lack there of), their neighbors, their co-workers, their commute, their life, their circumstances, and sometimes…even their church!

Yet, here is God telling us that it is His will for our lives to be thankful IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Please do not miss the simplicity of this truth.  If it is God’s will for us to be thankful in all circumstances and we choose not to be thankful, we are out of God’s will.   Being out of God’s will means that we are walking in a disobedient manner.  This means that whining and complaining are choices that withhold the blessing of God from our lives. To put it simply, God will not bless a person with a bad attitude.

Please understand that God is not asking us to be thankful FOR all circumstances but rather IN all circumstances.  The difference is rather simple.  How can God ask us to be thankful for painful and horrible situations?  He’s not!  He is asking us to be thankful IN them because HE is IN them. It is when we lose sight of God in the circumstances we lose our grateful attitude.  The reason I can choose thankfulness is because Jesus walks with me through all my circumstances.  I know that it is He who will never leave me, His strength will empower me, and He will use whatever happens to me as something good in my life.  I can be thankful because circumstances are not the driving force in my life but Jesus is.

In light of all that people are complaining about, now is a tremendous time for the followers of Christ to stand out as lights in a dark time.  Now is a time to be witnesses not just through our actions, but with our attitudes.  Now is the time to demonstrate something very few people are doing…choosing to be thankful.  Whining and complaining is simply a bad witness and is a faithless response to adversity.  It is in our choice to be thankful that truly honors God with our lives.

Ps. 50:23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Yes, sometimes being thankful will seem like a sacrifice.  Sometimes we have to make a choice and not wait for our feelings.  Yet, this is the response that honors the One we say we follow.  It is the response that God promises to bless.  It’s the only response that unleashes supernatural power into our lives and circumstances.  It is a faith response that Satan fears and causes heaven to cheer! 

Will you make thankfulness your choice?  Not because it’s Thanksgiving, but because as a follower of Jesus, you truly have much to be thankful for.

Choosing to be thankful with you all,

Pastor Dale

I realize that some of you will not like this, especially in our “anything aggressive is bad” culture, but I believe there is a time when you have to fight.  I raised my kids with the mentality that they’d better not start any fights when they were in school or there would be severe consequences at home.  However, I also taught them there may be times when they might have to to protect themselves or others.  In these cases, I told them that it was OK to fight…even necessary.  If they ever found themselves in this type of situation, I told them I had one rule; “When you have to fight, you fight to win.”

As followers of Jesus, we are engaged in a spiritual war with the enemies of darkness.  Whether or not you want to be in a war is irrelevant.  The word of God tells us we’re in one.  Look at what the word of God says.

I Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (NLT)

Eph. 6:10-12 “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT)

Seems pretty clear to me that we have an enemy who is attacking us…attacking our marriages…attacking our kids…attacking our churches…and attacking our communities.  Men and women, there is a time to fight and that time is now!  The efforts of the enemy are going to be relentless.  What do our efforts look like in response?

Growing in our understanding and application of prayer is one critical way we engage our spiritual enemy.  Choosing to pray is a choice to fight in the spiritual realm.  Choosing not to pray is a path of spiritual cowardice.  I realize that sounds harsh, but the stakes are high and the causalities are real.  It’s time for believers to make the choice to fight and fight to win.

We have a great opportunity to grow in our ability to fight well this weekend at our Prayer Conference.  Hopep I see you there!

Fighting to win for His Kingdom,

Pastor Dale

Another political season is upon us and I can hardly wait until it is over.  If I see one more political add on TV or receive one more political phone call I just may scream!  Often, when the political climate is so charged like it is today I hear people wanting Foothills to get involved politically.  They want to know where we stand on issues, candidates, and just how we are going to get involved in this “very important” time.  Therefore, let me be very clear how we are going to get involved…we’re not!  Sorry to disappoint some people.  We are a church committed to transformation not politics.  We are committed to advancing the Kingdom of God not the kingdom of men.  For too many years the church has gotten their focus off the Mission given to us by our Lord Jesus and turned to trying to advance the Kingdom of God through politics.  It will NEVER happen at Foothills while I am here as your pastor.

Now, before you brand me as “un-American”, let’s be clear on some things.  Should followers of Christ vote?  Yes.  Should they understand the issues that face our City, County, State and Nation?  Of course.  Should their biblical convictions influence how and who they vote for?  I certainly hope so.  BUT, transformation will NEVER come through a political process.  Transformation is a spiritual process.  If we want to see our nation and our communities transformed, the church must be more concerned about who is in charge of the human heart than who is in charge of the House or Senate!  When Jesus is in Majority of a person’s life, then real transformation takes place that effects everything…even their politics.

So Foothills, let’s not get the cart before the horse.  Our calling is to “Go and make disciples” not Republicans or Democrats.  Let us not get our focus off the mission of the church to go make a difference by lifting up the name of Jesus.  This election will soon be over and we will still be left with all the same problems facing us today.  What will make the difference is when the church decides to stand up and act like the church by embracing their call to be instruments of God’s power of transformation.  This is the real miracle.  God changes the human heart.  When God truly changes the human heart, everything else changes with it.  May we see the above picture multiplied so many times over that Molalla will never be the same.  There’s something I can vote for!

Staying true to our calling,

Pastor Dale

It’s here!  Fall has arrived.  As the sun has set on yet another summer we enter another Fall ministry season with great anticipation of all that God will do.  Fall Kickoff is over.  Our 3G focus for the year has been explained and launched.  All that’s left is your response.  What response am I referring to?  A willingness to embrace sacrifice for the Kingdom of God.

We are at a place and a size where unless more people are willing to embrace sacrifice for the purposes of God, the advancement of the Kingdom of God will be hindered.  Sacrifice IS the lifestyle of the follower of Christ.  Sacrifice is not some optional, when I have time kind of commitment.  Sacrifice is what it means to be a believer.  Without sacrifice we live for ourselves.  Without sacrifice we think the church exists to simply meet my needs.  Without sacrifice needy people are ignored.  Without sacrifice ministries are short-handed.  Without sacrifice lack of finances hinders the vision.  Without sacrifice the church becomes a social club that exists for it’s own pleasure instead of a movement that changes the world.  Listen to the words of Jesus.

Mark 8:34-35 “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. ³⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” (NLT)

We are here to “give up our lives for Jesus’ sake and the Good News.  Only in embracing this type of a lifestyle, do we truly discover the life Jesus promised.  The greatest privilege of our lives is not what Jesus can do for us.  It is giving our lives to Him and allowing Him to use our lives for a greater purpose.  Embracing sacrifice is not the way to lose life…it is the path to find life!

As we enter another Fall, so many of you already embrace this lifestyle.  God is using you to make Foothills into a church of tremendous Kingdom impact.  For others, I can only encourage you to embrace this lifestyle and discover life.  We need people to change services to make room for visitors.  We need people to attend Saturday service that begins this week.  We need more volunteers serving in a variety of ministries.  We need people signing up for classes so they can grow in their maturity as believers.  We need people reaching out to their neighbors.  We need people giving financially in a consistent manner.  It all takes a sacrifice of some kind.  BUT…it’s worth it.  The byproduct of embracing sacrifice for the Kingdom of God is life!  It’s really not a bad deal!  What can you sacrifice for the Kingdom of God this year?

Embracing the joy and privilege of sacrifice with you,

Pastor Dale

Every Fall I am filled with anticipation, bottled up energy, and feel a bit like a race horse in the starting gate waiting for the competition to begin.  Those brief, peaceful days of summer are over and it’s time to “kick the tires and light the fires” for the Kingdom of God.  What can I say, I am excited about the beginning of another ministry year.  I can’t wait to be a part of what God is going to do and how He is going to use Foothills to make a difference in Molalla and the surrounding area.  It’s going to be an amazing year serving the purposes of God together!

Please make September 19th Fall Kickoff Sunday a priority.  It is on this day I will be sharing with all of you the direction God is taking us as a church for this next year.  Many of our programs begin after a break such as Kids Church and FSM.  Saturday services begin September 25.  11,000 postcards go out the following week.  Yes, that is right…11,000!   There is no complacency setting in on Foothills.  It’s time to buckle up and get ready for the next adventure. I hope I see you all on the 19th!

If you have had a busy summer and been gone a lot, may I encourage you to make getting plugged back in consistently a priority.  We need you!  I am also convinced you need us.  God knows that we are at our best when we’re together.  If you know of people you haven’t seen in church for awhile, give them a call.  Remind them there are good things here at Foothills that will bless and grow their lives.  Sometimes I feel as if the sheep are so scattered from the summer months, I wish I could personally gather back each one.  I may not be able to do this but each of you can help gather those you know.  Let’s start Fall together and strong.

Let me leave you with one of my favorite verses.

I Cor. 15:58 “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and go to work for the Kingdom. What we do matters!  What we do counts for eternity.  What we do changes lives.  Let’s buckle up together and make a difference this year.  Here we go!

At the starting gate!

Pastor Dale

It just seems that dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and pessimism are at epidemic proportions today.  The people in our country and state are generally in a foul mood.  Now I realize times are tough.  I see the statistics of our unemployment rate.  I know about our depressed housing market.  I may be a bit bewildered over our current political situation.  But wait a minute…as followers of Christ shouldn’t we be different?

Listen to what Jesus said.   John 10:10 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Jesus said this to people who were basically slaves to an oppressive regime.  They were occupied and governed by the mighty Roman Empire.  Yet even in this oppressive environment, Jesus could still give them a life that truly satisfies.  Jesus was trying to get people to understand that real satisfaction doesn’t come when the circumstances are favorable.  That type of satisfaction is temporary and can end at any moment.  He was teaching that there is a satisfaction that comes as a byproduct from intimacy with Him that no government, political climate, or bad economy can steal, kill, or destroy.   That following Jesus allows us to live a life that transcends the temporal world and all it’s bad news and connects us to something eternal…something supernatural…something more powerful than this life.  There is a a promise Jesus gives to those willing to follow Him.  Jesus promises to satisfy you!  He did not say; “Come follow Me and be miserable.”  NO!  He said, “Come follow Me and discover a life that truly satisfies.”

In light of all the bad news around us these days, where are you going to find your satisfaction in life?  Will you finally be satisfied and fulfilled when you get that new job; that new house, make more money, when your political party wins, when the economy turns around?  If this is the case, you might be waiting awhile.  Jesus says that you can discover satisfaction today!  It’s found in Him and there is no one who can steal it from you.  May we be a people who despite the ugliness in this world shine as lights in the darkness because our satisfaction is found in a relationship that is more powerful than any force in this world.  Don’t let this world steal from you a life that truly satisfies.  Take Jesus up on His promise.  It will be a decision you will never regret.

SATISFIED!

Pastor Dale

Here is a picture of a  truck load of food boxes going out from Foothills to some needy families in our community.  Why am I posting this picture?

There has been much in the news lately, countless articles online, and survey reports done by various groups all point to the decline of Christianity in America.  The fact is that people are leaving churches in record numbers.  What’s really going on?  Are we turning into a secular nation?  Are we leaving our historical roots of faith?  Do people see no need for a relationship with God?  Some of these may be true to some extent, but I believe there is a greater culprit.  I believe the church has traded the truth that it should look like Jesus for looking religious.  The church has become more obsessed with it’s religious traditions, religious rituals, and a commitment to self-preservation instead of being transformed into the image of God’s Son.  The term “Christian” was a derogatory name unbelievers gave the first century followers of Christ which meant, “little Christs”.  The early believers liked the term.  It simply reflected what each of them was called to be…look like Jesus.  It obviously has lost this meaning 2000 years later.

People are leaving the church today because it is no longer relevant.  Jesus was always relevant.  People are leaving the church today because of all the internal conflict and squabbling that takes place.  Jesus modeled love and forgiveness.  People are leaving the church because they ignore the needs of the communities in which they exist.  Jesus was always concerned about “the least of these” and meeting their needs.  People are leaving the church today because of all the hypocrisy they see by those who attend.  Jesus confronted the religious hypocrites of His day.  I am convinced it is not Jesus most people are rejecting but empty, powerless, unsatisfying , religion.

The real Jesus is a magnet.  People flocked to Him 2000 years ago and I believe when followers of Christ demonstrate the real Jesus in their life today, people still flock to Him.  May we never be a church that trades Jesus for religion.  Let’s show a community what the real Jesus is like!  Let’s continue to feed hungry people.  Let’s continue to reach out to the hopeless.  Let’s continue to be generous with our money by giving it away freely meeting community needs.  Let’s tell people there is a God who loves them just as they are.  Let’s model His grace and forgiveness so others will embrace Him.  Let’s show people a unity that is so amazing it can only be created by Jesus in us.  Let’s live His truth so fervently that our lives are an example of His transformation and blessing.

I want Foothills to be the most non-religious church Molalla has ever seen!  I also want it to become the greatest reflection of Jesus Molalla has ever seen!  If we do this, we will become a magnet that people will not be able to stay away from.  The church in America may be in trouble, but not here in Molalla.  Let’s be Jesus to the people of Molalla Foothills!  Get more trucks ready to deliver food.  Jesus is on the way!

Learning to be like Jesus

Pastor Dale

On Saturday, I will be giving my beautiful daughter away in marriage to the young man in this picture…Paul Tice.  For over 20 years I have been praying for this day.  (Maybe fearing it as well.)  For 20 years I have asked the Lord to provide His choice for my daughter.  For 20 years Lisa and I have tried to instill values, skills, and a godly perspective in our daughter.  We have tried to model what a healthy, Jesus following marriage looks like so that she would know what to create in her own marriage someday.   We have always believed that if we model the right stuff in front of our kids, they would catch the real thing.  They would be infected with the right convictions that would bless their lives.  After 20 years of praying and practicing these convictions, I am here to tell you that it works!

I am flooded with a multitude of emotions contemplating the fact that my little girl will no longer be under my roof and under my protection.  There is one emotion though that is completely void from Lisa and I.  That emotion is regret.  We trusted the Lord in raising our children.  We invested in them the best way we knew how.    Although we were far from perfect, we were faithful.  Now we are harvesting the beautiful results of a life that attempts to live God’s way.  The blessing of a godly young woman marrying a godly young man who together, are attempting to begin a bran new journey learning how to do life God’s way.   Their future is filled with hope, promise, and the expectation of God’s blessing.  Why?  Because that’s what they saw in mom and dad.  Obedience equals blessing!

For all you weary parents out there trying to be faithful,  I know it’s hard.  I realize there are many distractions.  I understand that it’s painful at times.  BUT, please hear me loud and clear.  The sacrifice is worth the future blessing!  It works… and it’s worth it!  Someday you can be watching your son or daughter begin their own new journey with their spouse and have no regrets…only blessing.  Living life God’s way really does work.  If we delight ourselves in the Lord He will truly give us the desires of our heart.  I can’t even imagine my desires being more fulfilled!

Thank you Lord for Your extreme faithfulness!

Pastor Dale

Everyone has hopes, dreams, and desires they wish will come true someday.  It’s simply part of our human nature.  It’s instinctively wired into our DNA.  Will all have dreams we long will come true.  Unfortunately, life is a very harsh reality and many of our dreams get shattered on the rocks of pain, or loss, sickness, betrayal, financial stress and poor choices.  Pretty soon we give up hope that dreams come true and simply face the harsh realities that this is as good as it gets…right?  Wrong!

I believe the Bible is very clear that God cares deeply about our desires, hopes and dreams.  Yes, we live in a fallen, imperfect world that will let us down more often than not, but we have God on our side.  We have a God who is actively involved in our lives who cares deeply about His children.  If we will simply align our lives with Him, He promises to fulfill the desires of our hearts.  The problem that gets in our way is not the fallen world, or believing God has an uncaring nature.  No.  The biggest hindrance to seeing dreams come true is usually us.  We have a nasty habit of sabotaging our own dreams.  It’s not so much the world that steals them or even God not wanting to grant them.  I have found through my own journey with God that He is more ready to grant my desires and dreams than I am ready to see those dreams fulfilled HIS WAY.  You see, there is the key…His way!

Prov. 13:19 “It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.” (NLT)

I think this verse captures my biggest problem…me.  I have a tendency to refuse to turn away from the very things that sabotage the very dreams I long to see fulfilled.  How often do we cry out to God over our lack of blessing while we refuse to turn away from certain behaviors, attitudes, resentments, activities that we know are not honoring to Him?  These are the very things that are destroying our dreams and yet we continue to cling to them as if they are some priceless treasure.

Have you been sabotaging your own dreams?  I am convinced that dreams really do come true.  This world cannot ruin them; Satan cannot steal them; and God’s love will not withhold them.  They key to our dreams is us.  Obedience really does result in blessing.  God really does want your dreams to come true!

Oh, by the way, this picture I took is a private island in the Bahamas while I was there with Lisa and the girls in May.  Yes, places like this really do exist.  God even delights in your dreams of travel.  Why wouldn’t He?  He made it for you to enjoy.

May you align your life with Him and discover more dreams that come true than you ever imagined possible!

Still dreaming,

Pastor Dale