Here is a brown bear I ran into several years ago on the Russian River in Alaska while on a fishing trip. The fish were in and I could hardly wait to get my line wet fishing for this massive run of sockeye salmon. I heard people talk about “The Falls” on the Russian River. It is a 2 mile hike to reach the falls where tremendous amounts of salmon stack up before attempting their journey over this natural barrier. Many people won’t make this hike though. It’s not because it’s a rather difficult hike. It’s because when you arrive, there are already fishermen there…the four legged kind. What can I say…I had to go!
The day didn’t disappoint. I had one of the most amazing fishing experiences of my life. I caught so many fish that my arms burned with pain while my heart was filled with pleasure. Yes, there were bears. But they were so concerned about the salmon that they really didn’t care much for the fishermen who braved the journey. Was the hike a risk? Yes. But, taking this risk I was rewarded with some of the greatest memories of my life. Not to mention some pretty amazing pictures as well.
Our faith journey with Jesus will require us to take risks in order to continue following Him. Jesus doesn’t stay in the land of the familiar. He is constantly calling us and taking us where we’ve never been before. He wants us to have experiences with Him that will be beyond anything we have ever imagined. What are some of these risks you may ask? There may be times when He asks us to risk our reputations; risk our security; and even risk rejection from others in order to experience all He has. Following Jesus is not always predictable, safe, logical, linear, orderly, or with a list of details about what’s ahead. It’s a journey all about faith and trust in the One we call Savior.
As you consider what you’re willing to risk in order to follow Jesus, consider one final thought. The reality about this risk I am referring to is really no risk at all. It is a “perceived” risk. It is a risk that only exists in our minds. Why do I say this? Because the safest place to be in life is next to Jesus following Him. Where is the risk in this? It seems a lot riskier to live my life resisting the direction Jesus is calling me to go then it is to embrace walking with Him into the unknown.
I for one do not want to miss out on the adventure that awaits me as I follow Christ. May God give you the desire and the courage to risk whatever you perceive to experience more than you can ever imagine!
Pastor Dale



I believe there is an epidemic problem among believers in Christ today. Their understanding of God is too small. They don’t really know the God of the Bible. I constantly hear and see Christians saying things and doing things that indicate what they believe about God is rather insignificant. Their knowledge of God has little or no impact on their decisions, actions, feelings, stress, life direction or worldview. Why do I say this? Statistically, those who say they are Christians have lives that resemble any typical unchuched person. They have the same stresses, problems, fears, life satisfaction as unbelievers. Why? Their God is too small! What we believe about God is probably the single most influential issue of our lives. What we believe about God impacts everything in this life. Therefore, if this is true, we’d better believe the right thing.
As I reflect on where we are at as a church I continue to hear God say to me loud and clear; “Stay the course!” In other words, keep running, don’t stop, stay on track, press forward, or a host of other similar phrases. We are right where God wants us. Now is not the time to deviate from the present direction. Now is the time to simply keep running the race God has set before us.
Fall is almost here and at Foothills, this means everything is about ready to rev up into high gear. Ministries that took breaks, scaled back, slowed down, and relaxed a bit are on the verge of embracing the intensity of ministry for the next 9 month run. This year we have an added dimension with our remodel projects. It is our need to increase the amount of space to accommodate the increasing numbers of people God is bringing. This brings us to the urgent need of volunteers. We cannot move in the direction God has called us to go with the same level of volunteering we had last year. It simply won’t get the job done. God is increasing our numbers. This translates into increasing more volunteers. This is not a luxury…it is a NECESSITY!
Following God is like white water rafting. It’s an adventure. As Foothills enters another Fall season in a few weeks, God has us positioned for the next great adventure. Following God is not static, motionless, or boring. God moves, God flows, and sometimes, you had better just hold on for the ride. This is where we’re at. I will be giving many more details regarding this movement in the coming weeks, but today I want to share 3 qualities this adventure requires.