No One Should Be Left Out

Aloneness. Some people like being alone...for a while. It can be peaceful, a break from the hassle of daily living. But for the most part, being alone for some personal "quiet time" is quite different, than being in a state of "aloneness". You know that feeling of being in a crowd and no one knows you are there. You feel invisible, insignificant, that no one really cares. Our culture is plagued with signs of human aloneness. I see it through the multiple ways we try to manufacture some sense of community: myspace, facebook, chat rooms, online dating etc... Even text messaging and email has become very impersonal. It's all not very deep. It's surface. These are not real relationships, but they often fill the void of not having any...cause it sorta feels like a relationship, doesn't it? Now I won't say that these methods cannot foster and maintain existing relationships, cause they do, at times. I have family & friends in Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas, California, Ireland, etc... and we keep in touch through many of the methods I just mentioned. But so many people are trying to fill their "aloneness" through artificial means. We have this same problem in churches as well. People often come and go but no one really knows them. Even worse, no one really cares about what they are going through...because they don't know them well enough to care. It's sad to see churches with signs saying they are "friendly"...or slick brochures and websites touting how "friendly" they are...when in fact, after a few weeks or months of hanging around...you realize they aren't really that interested in "knowing you", so you move on to the next church...or maybe give up on church all together. How sad...another case of false advertising, so to speak. Shouldn't "friendly" be obvious...so obvious, that a sign or brochure isn't necessary for you to tell me "you are friendly"? Many times we settle for "surface" relationships in church, just like we do in culture in general. The sign says their "friendly". The nice people greet me at the doors with their smiles and official badges declaring that they have been "assigned the job of being friendly" today. Some churches have these "assigned nice people" at the doors, in the lobby, at the main auditorium doors...wow, by the time you get a seat, you've been smiled & welcomed 3 or 4 times. I know why churches do it...but "why" do we do it? I can handle one "Walmart greeter" with a flyer at the door...but a "Walmart greeter" at every turn, in every isle, at every door...now you're kinda creeping me out? It seems rather artifical, rather contrived... "we're friendly and we'll prove it! (even if we're buggin' ya)" It seems like false advertising, doesn't it? They say "hi" when you arrive but they don't talk to you during service, after service, or take you to lunch, or coffee? No one else talked to me either? Week after week, I'll see if it's for real or not...usually it's not. Hmmmmm...is it authentic, or just an image thing...a surface thing? The Pastor speaks of loving everyone, but he doesn't have time to take you to lunch or coffee or meet with you (unless you're a person of status or money...then you'll be invited on your first day to lunch & maybe golf). But for the rest of us "commoners", he may smile at you...but that's it...or just an atta boy pat on the back...but is there anything beyond the surface, the image, the facade? I've seen both "yes" and "no" to that question. Unfortunately, it's usually "no". Even sadder, is the fact that church congregations are often like their pastor. If he's surface and image only...then the people tend to have relationships to the same level...not much depth. If he's authentic, genuine, and truly relational...it seems to grow in the people of his church as well. Jesus, was like that. He had a way of truly caring in such an obvious way that people knew it was for real. Oh how we need more of that! Is it any wonder that 91% of non-christians believe the church is not sensitive to their needs. Even more surprising is 74% of Christians claim their church is not sensitive to their needs! If there is any place a person should sense people caring about them, it should be from followers of Jesus, right? God said it was not good for us to be "alone". Yet so many people hurt in our culture (both inside & outside of church) because of "aloneness". The symptoms are everywhere: dysfunctional family issues, divorce, children of broken homes, addictions of all kinds, materialism, violence, gang activities, sexual confusion and promiscuity etc... All are symptoms of aloneness and our vain human attempts at trying to cope with it. We either embrace a shallow substitute for "relationship"...or try to numb the pain of not having it. Yet God created us with a need for 2 vital relationships: a true relationship with God and authentic, genuine, caring relationships with other people. As churches we often emphasize the "relationship with God" side of the equation, often neglecting the vital human need for real community. God made us this way, yet we often diminish that sense of "aloneness" so many feel. Jesus taught us to "love others as you love yourself". That should be a natural outgrowth of our "loving God". Yet we can be so shallow and surface in "relationship" that no one ends up really "living life with each other". Living life with others is often messy. Maybe their marriage is falling a part? Maybe they are gay or sexually confused? Maybe their addicted? Maybe they are in financial ruin? Maybe they just cheated on their spouse? Maybe they come from a different spiritual background? Maybe they have a temper problem? Maybe they are suicidal? Maybe they just got out of prison? So where do people like this explore Jesus? Where is it safe for them to experience Jesus? Where can they see the love of Jesus expressed authentically...where no one is left out? Where no one is unacceptable? This is the essence of the relational ministry Jesus has called us to. For as we live this type of life together, this is where we learn the Godly qualities of being compassionate, generous, trusting, forgiving, and accepting. We learn to be less self centered and more other oriented. Less selfish, more of a servant of others. In this God's love is manifested and experienced, in us and through us. That love is patient, kind, does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, it does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This kind of love never fails. For God is this kind of love and we can experience it only in relationship with Him & others by doing life together! There is no other way, and Jesus constantly modeled it for us. Jesus comforted the sick, had compassion on the hurting, embraced the outcast, forgave the sinner, and loved the unlovable. At ECHO we believe our community needs to see more of this kind of Jesus. No one should be left out. Jesus taught us that, and the least we can do is live it. We do that at ECHO by intentionally trying to model and live out a Jesus like care and concern for our community, trusting that God's love will be revealed...one person at a time. Not as a "project" but as a "lifestyle". The bible says, "God draws all people to Him through His bands of love". It also says, "your loving kindness leads me to repentance". Our community needs to see more of that "loving kindness". Perhaps if we learn to spend time with people through the good, bad and the ugly...the messiness of life...then real, authentic, caring relationships will flourish. If we choose to, miracles can happen, and lives will be transformed. If not, we'll smile, pat each other on the back, and say "see ya next Sunday", perhaps never seeing that person again.

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Yeah, Sure, OK, Monet

Is that the hills under your fingernail

The tempest and the hurricane

The clouds to come beneath your breath

Did you introduce the night to day

Orion with the Milky way

And all the stars on your rolodex

Well you carve and you smash,

what you paint you call trash

Man you must have something to say

Sweat falls to the plate,

the burden to create

All your colors washed, inspiration lost

Yeah, sure, OK, Monet

There's nothing new in the world (ha, na, na, na,)

There's nothing new in the world (hey...)

Was that the roses knocking at your door

Asking how tall that they should grow

Well, if it was give them my best

Is that a lightning bolt back in your coat

A fist of hail for rainy days

A tidal wave in your coffee cup

Well you reach down deep,

and find nothing unique

Truth is getting so hard to paint

Just chasing the wind,

no place to begin

Mister, you're not the first

Try working with dirt

Yeah sure OK Monet

There's nothing new in the world (ha, na, na, na,)

There's nothing new in the world (hey...)

Another empty canvas

Tuesday Howling Wolf is on the LP

But even he can't prime this poets pump

The agony and the ecstasy

The tension and the sweet release

Did you know you were looking for Me

There's nothing new in the world (ha, na, na, na)

There's nothing new in the world (hey...)

lyrics by The Dime Store Prophets

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Living Proof

We live in a world of skeptics it seems. People seem to be pessimistic, on guard, suspicious of others motives. It seems to be the darker side of our human tendencies I suppose. We're all prone to it from time to time...some more than others. Perhaps its the media age where we learn so easily of all the scandals of religious leaders, politicians, corporate CEO's, celebrities, pro athletes etc... Perhaps it's also a by product of living in a "marketing age" where you gotta "read the fine print"...there's "always a catch"...you got to "buy 2 to get one free"...you get the idea. It seems it's never for real, so we're conditioned to be suspect of the "deals" that are too good to be true. I've been burned...I'm sure you have to. The same skeptical tendencies come into our hearts as we explore things spiritual or religious...is it for real? It's too good to be true? It's another scam? There must be a hidden agenda? It's got to be about money, ego, or some kind of power trip...at least we tend to think that way sometimes...so we don't trust easily. Many see philosopher's, and religious teachers this way. Whether its Socrates, Plato, Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad, Joesph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard, or Jesus...we tend to be suspect of whats the "real story" behind the facade. Now I'm not one to simply say, there all nuts or evil people trying to deceive us...and only Jesus is right. That would be very presumptuous of me. The bible encourages us to "believe the best of every person", so I choose to believe these philosophers and religious teachers all were seeking truth...genuine truth...as best they could. They all were attempting to discover God's truth and explain it to mankind as best their search would allow. Now, though sincere in their search, they may have only discovered a portion of the truth, being limited, as all human beings are. It is interesting though to see how they all have found room to include Jesus into their philosophical and religious equations. To some He is a wise philosopher, to others a prophet, perhaps another might say He attained christ-consciousness or was simply a humble teacher of what was good and right. But the real proof lay in the events of the first Easter morning. That morning, Jesus proved He was God...not just another guy talking about God. That's what separates Jesus from the rest. He conquered the one thing no philosopher or religious teacher has ever conquered...death! All the great leaders of the past have indeed died, in spite of the noble search for truth. But Jesus said "He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life"...and proved it. Living Proof, He rose from the dead. Hundreds saw Him after He rose. Men & women who hid in fear suddenly became bold and very. very public about seeing Jesus alive again. In fact they changed the world with that message...a message of hope...victory over sin & death was available to everyone through Jesus! Many of them died cruel martyrs deaths as they spread that message. History tells us not "one" ever denied Jesus was alive again. No one ever said they "made it up", even when facing torture & impending death. The significance of the resurrection of Jesus at the very least should prompt any of us to examine who Jesus said He was, and what He taught...regardless of your spiritual view...its worth a serious look. This once in history occurrence completes the miracle events of Good Friday...Jesus sacrifice on the cross (that we spoke of in our last blog entry "Things Are Not Always As They Seem"). The sacrificial death of Jesus, paying the price for you and me, removed the penalty of sin for all who trust Jesus in that sacrifice. That penalty the bible says is "the wages of sin is death"...and Jesus took care of that and proved it! He not only died for all our sins...He rose from the dead to prove He even had the power over death itself! That penalty of sin was of no effect now...in the hands of the giver of life...Jesus! Living Proof He was God and that we could trust Him with our eternal life. How cool is that! "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ", the bible tells us (Romans 6:23). To think God loves us that much! Our hope at ECHO is that we can be a group of Jesus followers who will share this Good News with everyone within our spheres of relationship, in authentic and loving ways, so that all may know how much God loves and cares for them! Join us in this adventure and watch what God does through us and in us!

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Things Are Not Always As They Seem

Have you ever heard of the Knob Cone pine? They grow predominantly in the Pacific Northwest. They are a very interesting tree, a very unique creation in God's world of nature. You see the Knob Cone pine tree can only reproduce under the most unusual of circumstances, or so it seems. There is one circumstance that ideally releases the seeds contained in the "cones" of the tree. The cones are extremely hard, and virtually impossible to open...except by fire! The heat of forest fires causes a reaction within the cone that releases gases, that as the cones cool after a forest fire, the cones slowly expand and pop open, releasing the seeds... and that allows the Knob Cone pine to flourish! Isn't that wild! The very thing you think would destroy these trees, actually is essential to their survival as a species! To think God wired into the trees DNA a way for them to survive and even flourish in the aftermath of their greatest threat...fire! That's so cool...amazing really. It's a constant reminder to me of how we, as humans, don't always see things, as God does. Things are not always as they seem. The bible says we "know in part", that we "see through glass dimly", that in a sense, we just don't know what God does. Isn't that the truth! I suppose if we were smarter than God, then what kind of God would that be? I know we "think" we are smarter sometimes...we think we know what is right...or wrong...or just...or fair...or what makes sense. But in reality, we are very limited in our understanding of our world, human nature, our universe, and things spiritual. Now its awesome to strive to gain more understanding in all those things, but not to the point where we diminish God's view in favor of ours. Because much of life, naturally and spiritually isn't always as it seems. Like the Knob Cone pine tree, it almost doesn't make sense...but in the end...how brilliant was that idea! As we learn to trust God's ways, our ways begin to make more sense, even though, to a degree we simply can't always comprehend everything. Like when Jesus died at the crucifixion. We remember this time in history, on the Friday before Easter. Now that's an event in history that almost doesn't make sense in human terms. Anyone who has seen the "Passion of the Christ" got a taste of the injustice of that day. Jesus, a man of the people, a lover of the downtrodden, a forgiver of the sinner, an includer of the outcast, a man who brought a taste of the Kingdom of God in such a way that crowds gathered wherever He went...and He was unjustly accused. Not only accused, but a sham of a trial convicted Him...to death. Now His enemies probably figured he was toast. Satan himself, in the spiritual realm, celebrated the defeat and end to Jesus attempts to reveal the Kingdom of God to people on earth. His death would end that...or so they thought. You see God was once again, one step ahead. Like the Knob Cone pine, the very thing that seemed to destroy...actually was essential in bringing new life! As Jesus died, He paid the price of every sin, that anyone has ever committed, for all time. It gave each person the opportunity to have a right relationship with God...no more barriers between man & God. The payment for sin was paid, so you and I wouldn't have to pay it. "There is no greater love than this", Jesus said, "than a man lay down His life for another". Now I know it seems harsh for God to declare that "the wages of sin is death"...you may not think its even fair. But since God Himself submitted to His own punishment, in place of you & me, then does it matter if you "think" its fair? If God's penalty is "way over the top unfair and harsh" to you, then what's it matter, since He paid the penalty for you! If anything it shows how incredibly determined He is to have you know Him and be in relationship with Him...He wanted nothing to get in the way! Now it all rests in your free will...your choice to trust Him with your life...or your choice to do your own thing? God is gentleman enough to give you that choice...so now it's your call. I know that I have personally come to a place in my spiritual journey where I trust God enough to admit "His ways are not like mine". He is God and I'm not, and I'm glad. The fact that God can bring the opportunity of eternal life to you & me through death...seems very ironic, even baffling, yet somehow brilliant. The very thing that Satan thought would end the Kingdom of God...actually has caused it to flourish. For now, 2,000 years later, hundreds of millions, even billions have said "yes" to trusting Jesus...accepting His sacrifice on their behalf...and enjoying the benefits of living in right relationship with a God that's crazy in love with them! Now this is why this Friday before Easter, is known as a "Good Friday".

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

The Luck of the Irish?

St. Patrick's Day...man I love this holiday...one of the best holidays of the year in my opinion. Now it's not only my favorite because I am Irish. My parents were raised in Ireland, and yes most of my relatives live there. In fact my family went last summer for the very first time. Wow, what a great experience! Seeing where my parents grew up, tracing family roots, visiting extended family (many I've never met before, face to face). But also gaining a greater understanding of my Irish history and a great appreciation of the most famous of Irishmen...St. Patrick! I know most of us in America see March 17th as a holiday full of drunk folks pretending to be Irish as they drink green beer, eat corned beef and cabbage, and wear a variety of embarrassing green accessories. But you see, St. Patrick's Day is much more significant when you know the true story. First, St. Patrick wasn't even Irish. He was captured and enslaved by Irish men and forced to work for them in Ireland. After years of slave labor he received a vision/dream from God. God directed him to take a certain escape route that would lead to a harbor where a man in a boat would be waiting for him, and that man would take him safely back to his family. Sure enough, Patrick did as directed and there was a man with a boat waiting. Shortly after, he was indeed a free man reunited with his loved ones. Patrick soon came to know God personally and became very devote, even training for the priesthood. After seminary, he was serving as a priest with the usual "churchy duties", when he received another vision/dream from God. This time the vision was a picture of the Irish men who had enslaved him begging him to return to Ireland to tell them about Jesus. Patrick humbly said "yes" and returned to the very people who had hurt him, used him, abused him & cruelly took him from those he loved. Patrick was used by God to bring the truth of Jesus to the barbaric Celtic tribes warring throughout Ireland. Due to his willingness and God's grace, St. Patrick's legacy is responsible for Christianizing the nation of Ireland! That is why the Irish celebrate St. Patrick. He is the patron saint of a nation, that is responsible for millions of people sharing in the blessings of the Kingdom of God for generations. I don't know about you, but that story motivates me. To think a humble man, simply being willing to do as God directed, could be part of such a miracle! Wow, I want to be like that dude! Were the Irish just "lucky"? Right place, right time? Coincidence? Heck no, they were blessed by God intentionally through a man that said, "yes, I hear their cry, and I'll go do something about it...personally!" You see, Patrick probably was real uncomfortable going back to Ireland. He probably hated the Irish for what they did to him. He probably feared for his safety, feared for his life even. Yet he trusted God, and went anyway...to a people most of the church establishment in his day thought was a lost cause. I love that...God does miracles in the midst of lost causes! God loves to transform lost causes! Our prayer is that ECHO would be a church that is willing to go to people that the "church establishment" may see as lost causes. Our prayer is that we can be a part of "lost cause miracles!" Our prayer is that we would be willing to be uncomfortable...hang with those we usually don't...reach out to those we may even fear...or don't understand...or maybe don't even "like"...and learn to love them as Jesus does. Because somehow in the midst of that, God's love grows inside us and spills out on those people around us, as we learn to "love others as we love ourselves". As we serve people, with tangible expressions of God's love, grace & compassion, God shows up in us and through us! Because no one should be left out. I love that! It's God's heart, His desire...that no one should be left out! I see that in the life story of St. Patrick...and I feel its a great example to us of what a church can be...an ECHO of God's love from generation to generation! Because God's heart is that no one should be left out...can you hear the ECHO...

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Just Another Brick In The Wall

I remember when I went to Europe several years ago. One of the most amazing things I consistently saw in the 7 countries I went to was the awesome cathedrals. Amazing works of art. Incredible architecture, stained glass, marble columns, carved altars and statues were everywhere. Every small village and town had them. The majesty, wonder and awe of these structures built hundreds of years ago, was so impressive, yet so sad. You see each weekend many of these cathedrals were empty. Hardly anyone attended their church services, and those that did seemed to take the wonder of the cathedral for granted...they were no longer impressed. Its a sad lesson. One I'm afraid we haven't learned yet. In our striving to "grow" churches we spend so much of our time, energy and resources on creating impressive programs and sprucing up our impressive buildings. Actually "we" may be impressing "ourselves", but the people we are trying to reach are not impressed! We've spent millions of dollars and countless hours of energy on things "we're impressed with", yet our churches are not growing. Oh sure, you may attract "other church people" to see your cool programs or spiffy new building...but statistics show we may actually be pushing the "not-yet-believer" further away. 90% of churches in America are shrinking or have plateaued. 10,000 "empty" churches a year are closing. Many churches look self-indulgent rather than like self-less servants of the community. I read where 91% of people do not think that churches care about their needs. Even more shocking is that 74% of Christians do not think their church cares about their needs. I think I hear God crying. How it must break His heart. Our church budgets are stretched to the max as we "compete" for the same believers, trying to out "wow" each other...while people with real needs go unattended...even unnoticed. Perhaps our "if we build it they will come" mentality is keeping people away, rather than attracting them. The "come and see" mentality to church is not working. Clearly the "not-yet-believers" are not impressed. In fact their first criticism is..."they just want my money." I wonder where they get that idea? Maybe, just maybe, our attempts to attract them is actually pushing them further away. Just another brick in the wall that separates them from a God that's crazy about them. There has to be a better way. At ECHO we are intentional about being different than most churches. Instead of being a "come and see" type of church, we choose to be a "go and be" church. We choose to invest our time, energy and resources in serving the people of our community in real, tangible ways that look and feel (to them) like we're loving and serving them as Jesus would. Tearing down the wall, brick by brick, one act of love at a time. Our hope is that as we authenticly care for our community, people will experience the love of God...as we do...when we experience it AND express it.

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

So Where Do We Go From Here?

It's weird, as I was reading some articles recently about how un-churched we are here in Eugene and in Oregon in general, I was unsettled. It seemed to say people here don't care or aren't "into" God. I didn't buy that implication. Eugene is definitely a "spiritual place". Most people I meet have some spiritual side to their life they are wrestling with...though some are definitely creative in their spiritual openness. In fact, spiritual concepts of almost any type will fly here. Not all may agree with you, but most people are open to "your spiritual journey" and admire your search. Some may feel they've arrived in a safe place. Some land in Eastern religious ideas like Buddhism or Hinduism or Taoism, for some, modern variations brought to us through New Age concepts are more appealing, for others, they look to more "natural" religious ideas such as Wicca and its variations, others like the feel of a Unitarian "all religions are equal...many paths to the same god" concept. In Eugene, where individualism reigns supreme, its no surprise that it carries over to spiritual things. We tend to pick and choose what works for us...kind of a spiritual smorgasbord. It all points to a spiritual openness, a search of the soul & spirit. I read where only 27% of Oregonians claim any affiliation with any established religion (not just Christianity). A percent or two each are Buddhists, Jewish, Mormon, Jehovah Witnesses, Unitarian etc... which left 20% of Oregonians affiliated with a Christian church. That means 80% of our population have not experienced a knowing of Jesus in a meaningful way (yet). So it makes me wonder. Is it that they are not interested? Most I talk to like Jesus, He seems like a pretty cool guy, someone we need to see more of in our world. Jesus-likeness and what He stood for, to most people is desireable. So why the disconnect? Is it that they have not seen Jesus expressed in a way that is attractive to them? Maybe they don't like what they've seen? Maybe what we "say we believe" isn't evident in how we live out our church life? Maybe the way we "do church" is only attractive to the 20%? So what about the other 80%? At ECHO we hope to be intentionally different for the sake of the 80%. Its a challenge, yet a privilege, to give people a safe place to "explore" the love of God...in the hope they may "experience" it personally...so they can "express" it authentically to others! We have to believe Jesus is not content to reach only the 20%...His heart aches for the 80% who have been wounded, disillusioned, or confused by what "church has presented". Our hope is to be refreshingly different for the sake of the 80%. Jesus spoke of the shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to find the one who had wandered off and was in danger. I have to believe He'd leave the 20 sheep to pursue the 80 who had wandered off as well. That's His hearts motivation and it should be ours!

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO