Vancouver Today — e.Update July 17, 2012

                             July 17, 2012
 

From Pastor Roger - Let's go fishing "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' 20 At once they left their nets and followed him". Matt. 4:18, 19 Todd Gessele, North Pacific Union, videotaping in the Alaska Conference, sent this report: "When I awoke this morning, I pulled on my rain gear over my pajamas, grabbed my camera and discovered Joe Chythlook was mending his nets on the back deck of 'Miss Molly'. As I pointed my camera at him, he shared with my TV viewers how our lives are like fish nets. They have lots of holes and tears, and can't catch the attention of others for Christ as well as they should, but God promises to mend our lives/nets if we'll let him. Then we'll be much more effective, when it sets us where he need us to serve. Joe Chythlook's simple illustrations and wise way of explaining what he's learned as an Alaskan native fisherman are powerful. I can't wait to edit what I caught on film this morning. I've learned that fishermen have a sense of humor, love adventure, observe nature, are extremely tough when absolutely miserable. They soak up a memorable story and are eager to share the lessons they've learned the hard way. Now I can see why Christ decided to pick—as his first selection—fishermen who were busy mending their nets." What a great picture Todd and Joe painted about God mending the net of our lives. Jesus has called each of us to Reach Out. We like to fish for people in our own way. It's a pretty common philosophy in today's world that we should work from our strengths. For the most part, I agree that we do best when leading from our strengths. But over and over, the Bible tells of people God has used after they have submitted their strengths to Him. And He used their weakness for His glory. Turn your net over to God. Let Him mend the holes and tears and use you in His way. Prepare to be amazed at what God will do.

What's happening >Oregon Conference Camp Meeting, Gladstone Park, Jul. 17-21. Daily campmeeting schedule >All About Jesus Seminar, Aug. 30-11. More information on the church website >Chuck Neighbors, Aug. 25 worship services THIS WEEK Tuesday, July 17  7:00pm Campmeeting begins at Gladstone Park  Wednesday, July 18  --Campmeeting/Gladstone--  7:00pm Finance Committee   Thursday, June 21             --Campmeeting/Gladstone--     Friday, June 22             --Campmeeting/Gladstone-- Sabbath, July 21  --Campmeeting/Gladstone-- 10am Abbreviated Sabbath School and Worship service at Vancouver  NEXT WEEK Tuesday, July 24  6:30 Youth Bible Study  Wednesday, July 18  7:00pm Church Board   Friday, June 22             6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, July 21  9, 11 am Pastor Danny Kim 10am Bible Study and Children's Programs

Battlefield Hollywood at Whipple Creek on Friday Evening

This is good information from these guys. You may want to plan to see them at Whipple Creek @ 7pm on Friday night.

Vancouver Today — e.Update July 11, 2012

                             July 11, 2012
 

From Pastor Roger - Why can't young people ... (fill in the blank)? The generation gap – "Why can't young people ..?" On the other side of the coin, you'll hear "Why can't older people …?" Whatever you put in your blank, the answer is: They can. And they do. Often. They may not be doing it the way you think it ought to be done, whatever "it" is. That doesn't mean they don't believe, have faith, understand – whatever you think the hold up is. For every Biblical example of things the 'young generation' did wrong, you can find as many examples of what they did amazingly right. And the same thing applies to the older generations. The children of Israel wandered 40 years in a small desert they could have easily crossed in days. For 40 years, they were tantalizingly close to the Promised Land. They could have thrown a small stick across the Jordan River to the land that would be theirs. But they were stuck because they – the mature adult population of Israel – lacked faith, wisdom and foresight. They also lacked the flexibility to accept change, and the difficulties that can come with change. Hold on – before you get too eager to say, "I told you so, older people can't change," let's think about Jacob and Esau. Neither was a young man when Jacob returned with his family. He was sure Esau would extract revenge, and so was Esau. We reviewed this story a few weeks ago. Jacob wrestled all night, with God most scholars believe. At the end of the night, he was changed, along with his name and his health. (Genesis 32) And Esau, backed by 400 men, ran to meet Jacob, embracing him and weeping. He, too, had changed during the night. On the other hand, the story we know as the "Rich Young Ruler" (Mark 10:17-23) shows that age is not necessarily a factor in whether or not someone is willing to accept change, progress, or whatever word you want to apply. Jesus wasn't really concerned about the young man's wealth. Wealth didn't matter for Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea, because wealth didn't matter TO them. It mattered a great deal to the young man. I have heard some in our congregation express their concerns that one or another group is stuck. We all need to be open to God's leading and being willing to bend, change, turn in a completely new direction, if we are led by God. That's the key. Are you being changed by God? Ephesians 4: 22-24: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

What's happening >Oregon Conference Camp Meeting, Gladstone Park, Jul. 17-21. Daily campmeeting schedule >All About Jesus Seminar, Aug. 30-11. More information on the church website >Chuck Neighbors, Aug. 25 worship services THIS WEEK Wednesday, July 11  10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study  7:00pm Elders Meeting   Thursday, July 12  6:30pm CHIP Alumni  Friday, July 13   6:00pm Shabbat Service    Sabbath, July 14  9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter - "Mercy and Judgement". Communion 10:00am Sabbath School  NEXT WEEK Tuesday, July 17  7:00pm Campmeeting begins at Gladstone Park  Wednesday, July 18  --Campmeeting at Gladstone Park--  7:00pm Finance Committee   Thursday, June 21             --Campmeeting at Gladstone Park--     Friday, June 22             --Campmeeting at Gladstone Park-- 6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, July 21  --Campmeeting at Gladstone Park-- 10am Abbreviated Sabbath School and Worship service at Vancouver

Vancouver Today — e.Update June 26, 2012

                             June 12, 2012
 

From Pastor Roger - The Look of Love The Look of Love Back in the 70's, there was a popular song about the look of love, a look that said "so much more than words could ever say." What does love look like? To a five-year-old, love might be a warm cookie, a sloppy kiss, a hug, a story or a picture on the refrigerator door. To a 95-year-old, love might also be a kiss, a warm cookie, a hug, a story, or a picture on a refrigerator door. In between, love takes the form of gifts, flowers, candy and, yes, a kiss, a warm cookie, a hug … About 30 years go, a report was published about orphans in Romania. While some were thriving, many were not developing at normal rates. The study concluded that children who were held frequently did better than those who went without human contact. We never outgrow our need for love, because we were created from love for love. We're hard wired to receive love. We're programmed to give love. We are nourished by love. We wither without it. How often have you seen couples or parents and children exchange a look that sends buckets of love at a glance? In Luke 19:5, Zaccheus climbed a tree so that he could see Jesus. When Jesus passed under the tree, he looked up at Zaccheus. Zaccheus found no condemnation in that look, only compelling love that led him to surrender all, in that moment. In the song, "How Beautiful," we hear of "eyes that forgave and never despised." Zaccheus knew that look. So did Peter, meeting Jesus' eyes after cursing anyone who associated him with Jesus. A college student got in trouble and received a suspension. She told her friends that what hurt worst of all was the look on her father's face when she told him what she had done. She could have dealt with anger and condemnation, but his love, tinged with disappointment, was more than she could bear. It's that look that will have some of us lifting our arms to receive him and others calling for rocks to fall on them. Will you see the look of Love or disappointment? You get to choose - will you choose Jesus' Love or fight against it today?

What's happening >Lifestyles for Excellent Health: Natural Healing, Raw Foods Classes with Danny Vierra, begins Friday, 6:30 pm. More information on the church website. THIS WEEK Wednesday, June 27             10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study  6:30pm Youth Bible Study   7:00pm Church Board           Wednesday, June 28  6:30pm CHIP Alumni   Friday, June 29                6:00pm Shabbat Service 6:30pm Lifestyles for Excellent Health    Sabbath, June 16  9, 11am Lifestyles for Excellent Health: Natural Hygiene Revolution  10:00am Sabbath School 2:30pm Lifestyles for Excellent Health: Can Attitude Affect Your Feeling 4:00pm Lifestyles for Excellent Health: Bible Prophecy and the Standard American Diet  NEXT WEEK Sunday, July 1    1:00pm Lifestyles for Excellent Health: Cooking Demonstration                     Wednesday, July 4               Happy Fourth of July     Friday, July 6                      6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, July 7               9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter: Mercy and Judgement 10:00am Sabbath School

Vancouver Today — e.Update June 12, 2012

                             June 12, 2012
 

From Pastor Roger - My Way or the highway? It is hard to imagine what our lives would be like without the Interstate freeway system. Well, maybe during rush hour traffic, it wouldn't seem like such a bad idea to go back to a time before freeways. But, for the most part, the US freeway system allows us to have a quality of life that surpasses most others. Pretty much everything we eat, drink, wear, watch, listen to — every aspect of our lives, comes to us through a freeway. As of 2010, the total length of the US Interstate system is 47,182 miles, built over 35 years, at an estimated cost of $425 billion. Richard Weingroff, in "The Genie in the Bottle: The Interstate Syste and Urban Problems," calls it the the "largest public works program since the Pyramids." Some people have to drive a long ways to reach an interstate. We have it pretty easy here. Our church sits about 2 miles from an entrance to either Interstate 5 or 205. About 6 miles away, we can jump onto Interstate 84 and, with a merge here and there, drive all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Or, we can stay on Interstate 5 and go south to Mexico or north to Canada. If you have any question about how to get where you want to go, you could fall back on the trusty Rand McNally Atlas, or program your GPS or smart phone. With all of these highways, easy access, GPS, maps and SIRI, why are we so lost? Could it be that we're reading the wrong maps? Listening to the wrong voices? There's a road in the old city of Jerusalem called the Via Dolorosa. The translation from Latin means "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering." You probably know it as the title of a song. Christian pilgrims come from the world over to walk this famous road. The current route has been pretty much the same since the 18th century. Is it really the road Jesus traveled on the way to Calvary? Who knows. And really, does it matter? We like these roads we can see. We can get our minds around something tangible, like the Via Dolorosa. Like the Interstate system. In one of the favorite texts of Adventists, John 14:1-3, Jesus says He is going to prepare a place for us. It's a beautiful promise, but it's not the first time He talked about preparing a place for His people. Way back in the time of Moses, God said, "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." Ex. 23:20 NIV (italics supplied) How do we find the way? We have our answer in John 14:6 "… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Are you on His Way or the highway?

What's happening >June 23, 7:30pm, King's Heralds             Future events: • Natural Healing, Raw Foods Classes with Danny Vierra, June 29-July 1. More information on the church website ATTENTION: PRAYER WARRIORS! 40 days of prayer leading up to Camp Meeting begins Friday! Learn more. THIS WEEK Wednesday, June 13  10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study  6:30pm Youth Bible Study   7:00pm Elders Meeting  Friday, June 15   6:00pm Shabbat Service    Sabbath, June 16  9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter - "Turbulance" 10:00am Sabbath School  NEXT WEEK Monday, June 18  7:00pm Pathfinders              Wednesday, June 20  11:30am Women's 51+ Luncheon   6:30pm Youth Bible Study  7:00pm Finance Committee   Thursday, June 21             6:30pm CHIP Alumni 7:00pm CAA Board    Friday, June 22             6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, June 23  9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter - "Just Do It" 10:00am Sabbath School 7:30pm King's Heralds Quartet  ... 40 DAYS OF PRAYER  What difference can forty days make? A lot, if you are praying, says Dennis Smith, author of the "40 Days" books. The Oregon Conference invites you to join us on a forty day spiritual journey that will change your life leading up to the first evening of Gladstone Camp Meeting. Here is what to do: 1. Get one of the three "40 Days" books and/or find the "40 Day Prayer Challenge" online at www.oregonconference.com, beginning on June 8. 2. Choose a prayer partner or form a small group to study and pray together June 8 through July 17 using the above. 3. Come to the "Prayer Connection" workshops in Zull Hall on Wednesday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. during Camp Meeting to delve deeper and to share what God has done. You missed the starting day? Start as soon as you can.

Vancouver Today — e.Update June 6, 2012

                             June 6, 2012
 

From Pastor Roger - Who is my neighbor? You know the story (Luke 10). An expert in the law is trying to set Jesus up and justify himself. Jesus turns the tables, quoting Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18, which summarize the law into its two over-arching themes: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind," and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Aha, thinks Mr. Wise Guy, I've got Jesus trapped now. "And just how am I supposed to know who is my neighbor?" he asks. So, Jesus tells him the story – which you have heard all of your lives. If this were the outline for a modern screenplay, it might read like this: Guy runs into a bunch of Bad Guys, gets beat up and left for dead.   Guy Number 1 walks by, but he's just a bit too good and can't afford to get dirty, so he walks around Banged-up Guy.   Guy Number 2 walks by, but he has too much work to do for God and can't spare the time. So he also walks around Banged-up Guy.   Guy Number 3 comes onto the scene. This guy doesn't get invited to the in-crowd parties. They don't consider him good enough to glance upon, let alone know by name. But Guy Number 3 doesn't walk by.   Guy Number 3 not only helps on the scene, but he takes Banged-Up Guy to the ER, and he pays for the hospital bill. Then Jesus places the burden back on Mr. Wise Guy: "Who do you think was a neighbor…?" As we get more people involved in the day-to-day operations of the church, we're finding that many members don't know about two funds that are used to help us be a good neighbor. The church office gets an average 2 to 3 calls a week asking for help. Usually the request is for money to pay rent or lodging, buy gas, purchase medicine. Sometimes the caller just needs a ride, sometimes someone to talk to, but mostly, people need money. We want our church to be a good neighbor, but the reality is that our coffers are limited and some of the requests are not true cries for help. We want to be good stewards of God's funds, money which comes from God's blessings to you. The church has a system in place to help us be a good neighbor and good stewards. Anyone requesting help must fill out a form, which is reviewed by a committee that is scheduled to meet twice a month. The form has helped us narrow the field of requests to those who are in real need. Requests are funded through two funds. A benevolent fund is set up to serve members in need. This fund was established through a very generous donation from one of our church members and has helped several of our own church families through tough times. Our poor fund is designed to help members of the community who need help. Money in this fund comes from the collection taken up at the door as you exit on Communion Sabbaths. Would you like to help us continue to be a good neighbor? Both funds are always in need of extra boosts. You can mark your tithe envelope for the Benevolent Fund or the Poor Fund, or put in an extra amount at the next Communion Sabbath (July 7). The Financial Aid review committee could use one or two more members. Contact the church office at 696-2511 or vancouveradventist@gmail.com if you are willing to serve.

What's happening >3:30 pm Memorial Service for Lester Zundel Future events: • June 23, 7:30pm, King's Heralds • Natural Healing, Raw Foods Classes with Danny Vierra, June 29-July 1. More information on the church website ATTENTION: PRAYER WARRIORS! 40 days of prayer leading up to Camp Meeting begins Friday! Learn more. THIS WEEK Wednesday, June 6 10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study 6:30pm Youth Bible Study   Friday, June 8  6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, June 9 9, 11am Pastor Jeff Richards - "Conversion: Religion vs Love" 10:00am Sabbath School 3:30pm Lester Zundel Memorial NEXT WEEK Monday, June 11 7:00pm School Board  Wednesday, June 13 10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study 6:30pm Youth Bible Study  7:00pm Elders Meeting Friday, June 15  6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, June 16 9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter 10:00am Sabbath School ... 40 DAYS OF PRAYER  What difference can forty days make? A lot, if you are praying, says Dennis Smith, author of the "40 Days" books. The Oregon Conference invites you to join us on a forty day spiritual journey that will change your life leading up to the first evening of Gladstone Camp Meeting. Here is what to do: 1. Get one of the three "40 Days" books and/or find the "40 Day Prayer Challenge" online at www.oregonconference.com, beginning on June 8. 2. Choose a prayer partner or form a small group to study and pray together June 8 through July 17 using the above. 3. Come to the "Prayer Connection" workshops in Zull Hall on Wednesday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. during Camp Meeting to delve deeper and to share what God has done. You missed the starting day? Start as soon as you can.

Vancouver Today — e.Update May 30, 2012

                             May 30, 2012
 

From Pastor Roger - Conflict is good? The books of the Bible tell many tales of conflicts. Some of the stories are gory and we wonder why it was necessary for us to know the details. Sometimes it shows the depravity of man without God, and sometimes it shows the redeeming power of God. However the stories turn out, most of the time, the conflicts were definitely not a good thing. One conflict that is an exception is found in Genesis 32. Jacob was about to face what he thought would be the fight for his life with his brother Esau. When he heard Esau was coming with 400 men, he knew he was in big trouble. Jacob was not traveling with an army. He was never the strong one. If Jacob and Esau were living in today's world, Esau would be the jock, good at everything physical. Jacob would be the geek, perfectly content to be in the house tinkering with computers. Now facing his formidable big brother and 400 armed men, Jacob is accompanied by women, children, shepherds and a few armed but probably inexperienced fighters. No wonder he couldn't sleep. He sent gifts and emissaries on ahead, hoping to appease his brother, but sleep would not come. He had split his group up, sending them in different directions, hoping to save some of them. He stayed alone, to deal with his thoughts, memories of betrayal and manipulation. In the middle of the night, he knew he was no longer alone. He began to wrestle with the man. Genesis 32:24 says they wrestled until daybreak. In verse 25, we read "When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man." Whatever was in Jacob's mind, he fought with every fiber of his being to save not only his life, but that of his family and workers. By now, Jacob is realizing this is not an ordinary attacker, and he refuses to release him without a blessing. His name is changed from Jacob to Israel, and he renames the location Peniel "…because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Conflict is a normal part of being human. If you have more than two people together, there will be conflict, even with identical twins. How conflicts happen and who conflicts happen to are not what matters. What matters is how the conflict is resolved. We had two big groups scheduled to meet in the same room here at the church, at the same time. To make matters worse, on one of those scheduled dates, three big groups had been scheduled. Conflict!!!! What is important is why this conflict happened and how it was resolved. Praise God, we have a busy church, with a lot of great things going on. The Journey is an outreach program to wounded souls. CHIP is an outreach program to banged-up bodies. God's Closet is an outreach to families in need. These are wonderful programs, each one deserving of our support. On the evening when all three groups were using the church, every room in the church was in use. How exciting is that! We had room conflicts because we have members who are involved and active, reaching out to care for basic needs in our community. Even greater were the attitudes of the people who worked to find solutions. If this is the kind of conflict we face in our church today, bring it on! Let's have more rooms full. Let's have more people in these rooms every night of the week. Let's never be satisfied with a church that's only busy on Sabbath mornings. The greatest conflict of all faces every human being. The tragedy is that so many of them don't know it. The joy is that we get to help them understand and face it. We get to help them find their own Peniel, to fight the fight for their lives, where they come face to face with God. Because we are reaching out, they lives can be spared for eternity.

What's happening >June 4, 10:00 am MGAES Groundbreaking for new gym >June 9, 3:00 pm Memorial Service for Lester Zundel Future events: • June 23, 7:30pm, King's Heralds • Natural Healing, Raw Foods Classes with Danny Vierra, June 29-July 1. More THIS WEEK Wednesday, May 30 10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study 6:30pm Youth Bible Study  Thursday, May 31 Last day of school CAA Friday, June 1  6:00pm Shabbat Service 8:00pm CAA Consecration  Sabbath, June 2 9, 11am Pastor Jeff Richards - "Conversion: Contract vs Love" 10:00am Sabbath School 11:00am CAA Baccalaureate  NEXT WEEK Sunday, June 3 10:00am CAA Graduation Monday, June 4 10:00am MGAES Groundbreaking for new gym 7:00pm Pathfinders Investiture Tuesday, June 5 7:00pm 8th Grade Graduation MGAES Wednesday, June 6 10:30am Women's 51+ Bible Study 6:30pm Youth Bible Study   Friday, June 8  6:00pm Shabbat Service   Sabbath, June 9 9, 11am Pastor Jeff Richards - "Conversion: Religion vs Love" 10:00am Sabbath School