All (big word) things work out for . . . (what a morning!)

I can't wait to see some (most :) of you this Sunday morning at the Greek Cusina! (hint, hint). Living Hope Church Portland is meeting on the second floor (go to my blog about this here) at 10am. I'm going to be sharing the exciting vision of being at Living Hope in Portland. Little did I know how much God would touch my life this morning in preparation for my sharing this Sunday!

Bible Guy, Paul (wrote most of the New Testament), had one unusual life - wow; big "theology guy", religious zealot, passionate Christ-follower, a guy beat up by the church he loved and served, misjudged constantly for the letters he wrote, physically beaten several times, shipwrecked, and finally beheaded! The words he wrote in Roman 8:28 sang out to my frontal lobes this morning: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." I like how the Message Bible says it; "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

My morning started with some uneasiness, @ 5:08am, when I woke with the realization that even though I had not confirmed preaching in India (via my cell phone - see previous story) it might happen anyway (a cultural thing?) Dr. Kumar had asked me to speak at 6:30am. I had decided I couldn't do it, but . . . I still thought he might call anyway. . . well he did. But did my doctor friend call at 6:30? NO he waited until 7:05am. That's a BIG problem. I had already assumed he wasn't going to call and by 7am had begun to do some paperwork (see picture) - Then the phone rang ("Oh crap!"). Preaching via cell phone has it's advantages (having to wait for the translator to speak does too) . . . by the time I finished preaching I was in my car, up at Q.F.C. (the best cell reception) . . . AND sure enough, GOD fulfilled His promise, given to all His kids, in Romans 8.

This evening I will blog (I hope) about the amazing story God led me to tell (it's a story of when Gordon was 3.5 yrs old and how the "Bird Lady", who we met in the alley by our gym, changed the way I view the "untouchables" of our world.) Little did I know how Gordon would speak again into my life when we had coffee together after I was done preaching . . . please come back and read the story when I've posted it. Once again, God used my family, and some strange "circumstances" to speak to me and through me (ONLY GOD!).

Bottom line: AS FOR ME AND MY HOME . . . we will continue to believe that God is BIG enough to take care of all our environments and situations. EVEN BETTER, GOD IS GOOD enough (so very good) as to always work out life-changing miracles of renewed or new "forever friendships!"

I'm so optimistic about God's future (and very excited to see His next great move)! Yes, Microsoft stock did crash (drop) to $20 a share yesterday. . . P.S. - I stopped watching the "news" a long time ago (and my health keeps improving). I stand in such awe at how great it is to be in a long-term friendship with Jesus! We are "Difference Makers!' Talk to you soon - Bruce

This Sunday

It will be a great adventure meeting at the Greek Cusina this Sunday (10am) and I still believe God has that perfect place for us in Portland. As several of us loaded vehicles this afternoon at Laurelhurst I was struck by how temporary everything is and how permanent our friendships can be.

We get to invite others to join us for a forever-friendship with God. This Sunday I'm going to share about God's focus for the time we are in - Our hope when things don't look so hopeful. Come join us for the adventure of a lifetime.

New Adventure For Portland

[Need information on Living Hope's NEW location for Nov. 16 - jump to the bottom of this blog] Not sure if you're a "glass half full" or "glass half empty" kind of person. Many of us have environments that change the way we view life (I tend to be a "half empty" guy in terms of politics). But I look at God's love moving in stronger waves in Portland. If you look at the challenges Living Hope has faced in the greater Portland area, let me share my "half full" perspective. We have been in three very different locations, had multiple staff help lead, and even had a traditional Baptist black church join us. We've seen people who used to attend a conservative denomination in Vancouver join us, and now we are in a very difficult economic time. And yet I see God raising up people who LIVE IN Portland to passionately desire to reach out and love people with the love God has put in them! Our Life Groups are growing and more and more people are finding our church to be the place where God meets them just as they are! We are moving once again, and the search for a new location has been a bit of a "boot-camp" experience. Just yesterday Don Taylor showed me a very cool venue that is being rebuilt, and again my hope took off. We will be walking in the dark for a few weeks more as we look for this new home. Pray with us, join us if you feel God's Spirit leading you. We are on God's adventure! We may have some wandering to do (like Abraham - no GPS). We may be tempted to doubt God's promises on "Mondays" (Abraham struggled with this too). And like Abraham's grandson, Jacob, we might have to wrestle with an American Gladiator all night (perhaps in the morning we'll find we were wrestling God - see Genesis 32). But God will shine out in Portland and religion that dresses up like a safe place to become friends with Jesus will either be reborn or die! Guilt, judging, and focus on external rules will no longer be called by the name, "Christian". I dream and believe God IS doing this even now. The dream to open an Arts Center where we can worship and then serve seven days a week is still burning in my heart! We are still looking. Next week (Nov. 16) will meet for church at: The Greek Cusina (404 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97204)

We are meeting at 10am and then will order food afterward. (We can help if you don't have a budget to eat there - there are some excellent breakfast or lunch options for cheap.) We won't have children's classes next week. Together we will explore this next stage of God's journey. DON'T WORRY, WE DON'T DO ANY GREEK DANCING! Check out to the Greek Cusina's website, look at their menu too).

It's going to be fun! See you there!

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