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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Phil. 4:8-9 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (NLT)

Part of the process of experiencing the presence and peace of God in our lives is learning to make choices what we think about.  I think we spiritualize many principals in the bible way too much.  We assume that thinking on what is true, honorable, right and pure certainly must be thinking only about bible verses or meditating on God Himself.  These things should happen of course.  BUT, when I am reflecting on positive memories of my family, the fun we had, the love we share, the blessings from the hand of God, am I not living out Phil. 4:8-9?  As I look on these captured moments when I am discouraged, does this not remind me of the sweetness of my relationships, the goodness of my God?  Does this not change my mental state and then impact my emotions?   When we take pictures and put them in a photo album or on our walls at home, it is Phil. 4 in action.  I can’t begin to tell you how often I walk through my home looking at the photos on the wall or grab an old album and thumb through it and as I do, it brings tears to my eyes at my blessings.  Yes…Phil. 4 in action again.

Summer is a great time for you to choose to go make some memories with the ones you love the most.  Take your camera.  Capture the moment.  Remember how much fun you had and how much you love the ones in the pictures.  Make an album.  Put the pictures up in your home.  The darkness of winter will be here all too soon.  There will be some days when you will find your mind drifting into negativism or even despair.  Remember the goodness of these times.  Look at your pictures.  Remember God’s goodness to you.  Do Phil. 4:8-9, and the God of peace will be with you.

May God give you the grace to go out and make some great memories this summer!

Pastor Dale

When I see an old picture like this it just makes me laugh.  (Something I’m sure many of you are currently doing right now.)  I remember who I was at 18; I remember what I was like and I simply praise God that I have grown and changed over the years.  I thank the Lord that I have not stayed the same.  I’m not referring to the external either.  That change is going to happen regardless what we do.  The hair got shorter, the white stuff started to show up, and the wrinkles have begun.  I’m referring to the transformation of the internal.  I am no longer the boy in this picture.  That person no longer exists.  I think about my journey and all the lessons and experiences God has taken me through.  I think about my own personal transformation; the values that have changed; the Kingdom perspective that God has placed within me; the relational insights; the skills and abilities He’s cultivated over the years; and I look at the kid in this picture and cry, “Hallelujah Lord Jesus!  That is not who I am today!”  “Thank You for growing me and changing me into the man of your desire!”

Being a follower of Jesus is all about embracing continual growth and change.  What a tragedy it would be if my internal person still resembled the 18 year old in the picture.  How tragic.  Unfortunately for many believers this is the case.  They have given their life to Christ years ago yet have made very little progress at becoming the person He is calling them to be.  Their growth and internal transformation is stunted or stopped.  Their spiritual maturity is no different then when they first believed.  The skills for serving in the Kingdom have remained the same.  Their spiritual knowledge and wisdom is still juvenile.

What about you?  Listen to the call to give ourselves to growth and change from the word of God.

Rom. 12:1-2 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (NLT)

To follow Jesus is to embrace His continual work upon our lives to grow us up and change who we are.  Transformation is what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Anything less means we are following something else.  I hope that in another 28 years I can look back at a picture of myself as I am today and laugh in the same manner.  I pray I can rejoice that who I am today will no longer exist in the future because I continued to allow Jesus to transform my life.

So…go ahead and laugh.  That guy in the picture doesn’t even exist anymore!

Let’s keep growing and embracing change for His Kingdom

Pastor Dale

Now before you all disagree with me or think I’m not serious about my title…I am!  In fact, I have never been more serious about it in my life.  You see one of the great lessons the Lord is teaching me from my time off has to do with balance.  There is no possible way I can be the Pastor of Foothills until I’m 80 years old unless I embrace and live balance.  Balance is the key to my longevity.

Before my break from ministry, my life was completely out of balance.  The demands of the church had consumed my life.  I no longer did anything to recharge or do anything that I considered fun.  I had become mentally and emotionally fatigued and my passion for ministry was being drained from my personality by the day.  I was on the fast track to burn out.

What God showed me over the past two months is that He longs to bring balance to my life.  He longs for me to continue doing things that pour life and energy back into my mind, emotions and spirit.  Everyone is unique in what this looks like.  For me, one of the activities that refuels me internally the most is fishing.  (Jesus had a fondness towards fishermen so I think this is OK!)  This is an activity that I have done very little of over the past 5 years.  As you can see from the picture, I have rekindled this passion.  Can I hear a Hallelujah!!!

When I take the time to fish, God pours back into my mind that is tired, restores my emotions that are overwhelmed, and often on those beautiful rivers, I hear the voice of God speaking ever so softly into my life.  There is sweet communion during these times…not to mention more fish for the BBQ.  I literally come back  a better husband to my wife; a better father to my children; and a better pastor to my church.  Balance!  It is the key to my longevity at Foothills.  Look what God says about it.

Ps. 127:2 “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” (NLT)

I am trying to embrace this.  It is USELESS to work so much that I burn out.  This is God’s opinion not mine.  Therefore, I am embracing God’s wisdom and discovering that the Lord loves it when we go fishing together.  I can actually sense His pleasure as I enjoy Him and His creation.  He is making me a better man for His Kingdom purposes while I have rod and reel in hand.  Go figure that God would be this amazing?

Fish on!

Pastor Dale

We return refreshed and with a new perspective on life and ministry.  I have never been more excited to be back from time off.  God has truly changed my life during this time away.  I don’t want to give you the impression that the changes are done though.  God has launched me in a direction where He is continuing to show me changes in my life and ministry that still need to happen.  I know that I’m only experiencing the tip of the ice burg.  I can’t wait to continue moving forward with all of you experiencing the great things God has in store for us as His church.

On Sunday, July 11th, I will be sharing a few of these lesson from my journey.  I will explain some of the new perspectives that God has been teaching me as I have prayed, met with other pastors and visited other churches.  I pray that the lessons God is teaching me you can learn from as well.  That’s what I love about Foothills.  We get to grow together.  We get to learn from each other.  We are on this adventure as a group of people following Jesus.  What a privilege!

I can’t wait to see you and hug every one of you!  (At least those who want a hug.)  I also am looking forward to meeting the new people who have begun attending Foothills during the past two months.  “Hi, my name is Dale and I’m the Pastor of Foothills.”  How great is this!  I am so proud of all of you that in my absence you have stayed committed to the course, the church actually grew, and you kept your eyes on Jesus.  What a blessed Pastor I am to get to serve the great people of Foothills!  I love all of you more than I have words to describe.  Thank you for your love, support, your prayers, and in believing in me as your shepherd.  Please know that I believe in all of you and together, we will continue chasing after the purposes of God in the Molalla area.

I love you!  It’s great to be back!

Pastor Dale

With this weekend being our celebration weekend, I must say I have been a bit reflective this week.  I’ve been thinking a lot about following Jesus on this journey for the past 12 years.  I’ve been looking through old pictures of the journey and just had to share a couple with you.  The first picture is our first Sunday at Foothills at the Elementary School.  I may look excited in this picture but in all honesty, I was scared to death!  The next picture is a few weeks later at our first Easter service in the cafeteria.  80 people showed up and 7 of them gave their lives to Jesus that day!

As I have been reflecting this week, the Lord continues to impress upon me the simplicity of this journey with Him.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and they follow Me.”  There it is!  There is the key to the life of a church.  It all boils down to listening to the voice of Jesus and simply choosing to follow Him.  This is what we have tried to do for the past 12 years.  No, we haven’t followed perfectly.  Sure, we’ve stumbled here and there along the path.  But, for 12 years we have had a sold out commitment to hear His voice and go wherever He leads us as a church.

The blessing of God upon Foothills is not because of our great strategy / planning / technology / education / or personalities.  God blesses the ministry of Foothills because we try to walk in obedience and follow Him.  That’s it!  All the credit for what has happened at Foothills for the last 12 years goes to the Lord Jesus and to Him alone.  The key to our Kingdom success in the future will depend upon the same principal that got us here.  It’s all about listening and following.

As we celebrate God’s tremendous goodness to us this weekend, may the journey God has taken us on be an example and encouragement for you to do the same.  Since listening and following Jesus is the key to a successful church in the Kingdom of God, can you embrace the truth that the key to your life is the same thing?  Maybe it’s time to stop trying to navigate life by your own understanding and wisdom and begin leaning how to listen to Jesus.  Once you hear His voice, now you can choose to follow.  If you don’t ever hear His voice, who are you really following?

Here’s to embracing the simplicity of what Jesus said and celebrating the results.

Pastor Dale

Heb. 12:1 “… let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (NLT)

I love this picture!  I took this picture on a gravel road above Molalla two Falls ago.  I love the area above Molalla in the Fall.  The leaves are brilliant as you drive through a canopy of color.  If you’ve never gotten up there, you really should.  The Lord has blessed us with such amazing beauty.

This picture also reminds me that we have been given a track by God to run on.  God has sovereignly placed Foothills on a course that has been designed by Him.  We did not pick this path.  God chose it for us.  Our job is to travel it well.

Heb. 12:1 tells us how we travel this path well.  We must throw off every weight that slows us down. For the past 6 weeks we have been addressing different weights to cast off.  As we finish our series this weekend, I simply want to give you one more word of encouragement about this path God has set us on as a church. Some things to remember that will continue to help us travel light for His Kingdom.

1.  Let’s keep remembering this is God’s path for us not ours.  He chose this course for us so that He could bring transformation to our lives and community.

2.  We must all stay committed to this path.  It’s not enough for a few at Foothills to travel this direction.  We all must travel it together.

3.  We must travel this path loving each other.  This is one of the key factors that makes the journey  fun.  I want to thank all of you who have helped make this journey fun for me!

4.  We must remember that this is a Kingdom path.  Therefore, it will many times not make sense to travel in this direction according to the world.  (Such as expanding during a great recession.)  This path requires faith!

5.  If we stay to the course and with endurance travel it together, we will see and experience amazing things by the hand of God.  The path will lead us to spectacular views, canopies of color, sights and experiences that will take our breath away.

Few churches truly follow the path God has chosen for them.  We are only 12 years into our journey together, but my…what a journey it has been so far!  As we finish up our expansion project, may our commitment to His course be even greater as we see what God will do for a church that truly follows.

Stay the course Foothills!  The journey is only beginning!

Thanks you for traveling with me.

Pastor Dale

As I reflected on this the Lord reminded me what was really important.  He reminded me that the greatest gifts in my life are the relationships I have not my achievements.  That the most valuable possession I have is my family not Foothills.  Now, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying.  I love Foothills and all that God has called me to do and be.  But, my greatest gifts are the three women that I have the privilege of sharing life with.  The most valuable treasure I have is not what I do as a pastor, it is what I do at home with my wife and two daughters.  The most effective stress relief is the laughter in our home and the memories we create not the check list that was accomplished each day.  These are the gifts that God has given me to make my life fulfilling.

So, with Valentine’s Day being this Sunday, (Don’t forget men!!!) may I encourage you to focus on your greatest gifts.  They are right in front of you…in your home…across the table…on the couch…playing their X Box…on the computer…texting their friends…working on dinner in the kitchen…fixing the car.  May God show you how to treat them like the gifts they are and discover the joy that is the result.

To all at Foothills, please know that I love you and consider you all a tremendous gift from God.  But the three girls in this picture are my greatest treasure.  They are the greatest gifts in my life!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pastor Dale

Here in the next few weeks we will be putting the final touches on the project.  We will be installing a new sound system in the auditorium, installing the platform curtain, rehanging the screens, adding more chairs, installing acoustic panels in the multi-purpose room and next week, moving our offices into our new building.  All this is possible because of the many volunteers who sacrificed their time to get us here.  I can’t even begin to thank you enough.  May we all be able to step back here in a few weeks and just be in awe of what God has done through your willing hands and sweet spirits.  This is how the church is supposed to function!  Foothills…Well Done!!!  I love you and am proud of you more than you will ever know.

Filled with gratitude,

Pastor Dale

As I write this it is cold and foggy out my office window.  It does seem like a rather depressing time of the year.  Everything is gray, cold, and the grip of winter is still very much a reality.  Therefore, let’s make the best of it.  Let’s choose to laugh, enjoy life, find some color in the midst of gray backdrop of winter.  God wants us to.  Look at what He says in His word.

Prov. 15:15 “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” (NLT)

Job 8:21 “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” (NLT)

Ps. 32:11 “So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!” (NLT)

Ps. 105:3 “Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.” (NASB)

Let me encourage you to find some joy today.  Choose to laugh, do something fun; for a moment, release yourself from the burden of being productive.  I think sometimes our souls are starved because we allow ourselves to become despondent in the grind and routines of life.  Notice the Scripture…for the happy heart has a continual feast!  Why not give yourself permission and let God once again fill your mouth with laughter.  I believe our laughter and joy brings God great pleasure.  Just as my heart is filled with pleasure over the laughter and joy of my children, I believe our laughter and joy does exactly the same thing for God.

It may be gray and cold out, but we can choose a glad heart today and put a smile on the face of our Father!

Pastor Dale

We have all been watching the events unfold in Haiti over the past week with heavy hearts.  The human suffering is just hard to absorb emotionally and to mentally try to understand.  I have found myself tearing up as I have watched the images on the news of broken bodies and wounded people.  I, like many others, have asked the Lord…but why?

I may not have an answer for such heart wrenching questions that come with events like this, but there is something I want to address right here and right now.  I have heard some Christian leaders say that this has happened to the people of Haiti because of their sinful ways and that this tragedy is a result of God’s judgment.  This just makes me angry.  How dare you speak for God!  How arrogant to sit in judgment of another nation!  How dare we elevate ourselves above these people thinking that we are so much better, so much more righteous, and not as deserving God’s punishment on our own lives!  Haiti may be the voodoo capital of the world but what about the US?  Are we any less deserving of God’s wrath being the porn capital of the world?  What about all the missionaries and aid workers who died in the earthquake?  What about the over 2000 Americans still unaccounted for?  (Most were there serving the people of Haiti.)  Listen to what Jesus said when people thought a recent tragedy was the result of God’s judgment.

Luke 13:4 “And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No…” (NLT)

You see, this tragedy had NOTHING to do with God judging them because they were such terrible sinners.  When it comes to disasters like this, our responsibility as the people of God is not to decide why God allowed such an event.  God does not owe us an explanation.  Our responsibility is to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus to hurting people.  This is our job.  This is our calling.  This is our responsibility.  These people have enough pain and suffering.  They don’t need critical believers raining down on them any more pain then they already have.  What they need is to know that the faith community will love them, and in so doing, they will find Jesus.  Maybe this is the beginning of a revival in Haiti that will sweep that island.  This is what we should be praying for.

Keep praying for the people in Haiti.  Remember… God loves them!
Pastor Dale