God Calling...

CS Lewis once said, "pain is God's megaphone to a deaf world." It seems that "pain" is hard to understand, yet very effective in getting our attention. I see that reflected in these lyrics off the new Coldplay album, in the song "Lost". Pain is not all we see...or feel...or what makes sense in the moment...yet somehow God can use all things to draw us towards Him...even in the midst of life's confusion. Things are not always as they seem. We clearly do not see the big picture...the bible says we only "see in part"...that we "see through the glass dimly". In the moment, we see, perceive and feel one thing. Yet in God's Kingdom, He's orchestrating, redeeming, healing and aligning things, according to His purposes...even when we screw up. It seems that often, our greatest pain comes from our own actions or inaction. Yet God pursues us anyway...truly a relationship of love...one we often don't comprehend...especially in the midst of pain.

Just because I’m losing

Doesn’t mean I’m lost

Doesn’t mean I’ll stop

Doesn’t mean I would cross

Just because I’m hurting

Doesn’t mean I’m hurt

Doesn’t mean I didn’t get

What I deserved

No better and no worse

I just got lost

Every river that I tried to cross

Every door I ever tried was locked

Ohhh, and I’m…

Just waiting ’til the shine wears off

You might be a big fish

In a little pond

Doesn’t mean you’ve won

‘Cause along may come

A bigger one

And you’ll be lost

Every river that you tried to cross

Every gun you ever held went off

Ohhh, and I’m…

Just waiting until the firing stopped

Ohhh, and I’m…

Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
Ohhh, and I…

Just waiting ’til the shine wears off

Ohhh, and I...

Just waiting ’til the shine wears off

lyrics by Coldplay

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

9-11 Reflections

Do you remember where you were and how you felt 7 years ago on September 11th. As I look back, I remember being up early that morning, in order to catch a flight to Los Angeles. I was in the living room putting my shoes on, when the morning programming was interrupted by the “news flash” of an jet crashing into one of the Twin Towers in New York City. As we watched in confused horror, as the flames burst out of the building, the questions flew out from the TV speakers and from millions of minds across America…”How could this happen?” “How did a jet get that far off course?” “Was there a mechanical failure?” It all didn’t seem reasonable nor plausible. Then, I saw the second plane fly onto the TV screen and into the second Twin Tower! OK, this is no coincidence…somethings up? Suddenly, it was like watching something from some horrible nightmare. The media and the millions watching suddenly realized this was no longer some kind of fluke accident…something hugely tragic was happening right before our eyes. Yet, in the midst of this horrible catastrophy, we began to see some incredible scenes of people helping people. Some of the bravest, most selfless things, many of us have ever seen, would unfold in the hours, days, and weeks to come. People sacrificed their lives for strangers. Common citizens did the extra-ordinary for the benefit of those wounded, scared and distraught. Firemen, police officers, construction workers, pastors, relief agency's, soldiers, bankers, lawyers, housewives, celebrities, the unemployed, religious workers of every type, doctors, nurses, students, executives and blue collar workers united in something very beautiful. We saw people help, give, work and raise money for those affected. We saw liberal and conservative side by side for the greater good. We saw the employer and the employee weeping in each others arms, comforting one another. It didn't matter what class or race you were, we hurt & helped with each other. We saw an outpouring of something very good, something unique during this time. It came from all over the world, as the world rallied to help heal those wounded and those who lost loved ones. Suddenly no one was worried about church & state, or praying, or whose agenda was right or wrong. It became very clear that something very attractive, very healing, very loving was rising up during this time. In many ways it was a great reflection of how God’s love is intended to flow through His people, as they unite as one body, and represent His love to a hurting world. Everyone’s contribution was important. Everyone’s gift was needed. Everyone’s heart of concern was valued. It was a time that has left us all too soon. It was a time that truly represented all that was good in people, it seemed. That good, really was a manifestation of God’s love, through the unity of many, many diverse people. Some of the most unlikely people stood side by side united to “get through” this together. It was awesome to see, and sad to have seen leave us. Yet God’s heart remains the same…He desires that His people would represent Him in the flesh…grace with skin on…love lived out…mercy in action. It is very attractive when we see it. It touches us all very deeply when we come in contact with it. I believe it has such a deep affect on us because God has designed us to live within that environment…so when we do live it out…its beautiful…its right…its life changing. When we don’t see it…we notice…and it hurts. At ECHO we desire to learn to live a life of grace, with each other and within the community we live. We know, as we learn to love as God loves, then many will be touched and drawn towards the God who is Love. As we do this, as an authentic “body of people” sharing life, as we live in our roles, our giftings and our differences…together something really cool happens…and it changes lives when we do!

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

Tolerance Rules

"Tolerance", according to Webster's, speaks of "sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own... the act of allowing something". In a sense it is a "making room for", even if you don't agree. Our culture seeks "tolerance at all costs", it seems to be a high value to many. In a world of “tolerance” many would love to see it extend towards religion also. Many say, "Well, they all are basicly the same... they are just different paths to the same goal", so we should be tolerant enough to allow this "religious smorgasboard". As I ponder this, I realize that perhaps all religions "are the same"...as some contend...let me explain. All religions acknowledge one central truth that seems universal to the human condition. Man is not “good enough”. Man has fallen short and needs to grow in His spiritual disciplines to be acceptable to god or even to become more in tune with god. All religions offer this concept as its core motivation. Apparently, humanity, at its deepest core, senses that we are out of favor with our Creator. We know we have sinned and come up short. Hindu’s, Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, ancient Egyptians, ancient Greeks, American Indians, Wiccans, Jews and yes even Christians all agree. We are not who we should be, and we need to grow, get in tune, and become "more" than we are. What’s fascinating, is that each of the world’s religions, past, present, and I assume, any we’ll dream up in the future, realize this and are built around “how” we get beyond our fallen-ness, and our human-ness. If you examine them all, they all tend to say similar things about right & wrong, it's quite fascinating really! To summarize some of the common religious beliefs, according to CS Lewis, we all basically agree that:

“-we are to not do harm to others in what we do or say (Golden Rule);

-honor your father & mother;

-be kind to brothers, sisters, children & the elderly;

-do not have sex with another’s spouse;

-be honest (don’t steal);

-don’t lie;

-care for those weaker or less fortunate;

-dying to self is the path to life”

It’s uncanny that such a variety of religions, would all have a similar code of conduct, so to speak, as if we all have some built in sense of right or wrong within us. Actually, we commonly know this as our "conscience", and it appears to be alive and well in most religions. The bible would say, "God has written His moral law on the hearts of all men". It seems that virtually all religions say most of the same things, so they do agree on a lot, don't they? Yes, there is an element of common truth present. Basically, we all agree on what’s right & wrong, in general. We all agree that mankind has screwed up and that we need God or a higher spiritual ideal. All religions offer methods to try to “make up for” or “try to attain”…but only one gives a permanent solution not centered in “us”. The bible says we are saved by God’s grace…not by what "we do". Grace is a concept far more powerful than tolerance. Tolerance is kind of like "grace light"...it is grace without love. Tolerance makes "room for" what we don't like...grace embraces us as we are! Jesus, God in the flesh, entered our messed up world, as one of us. He came humbly to model love in its purest form, and then He sacrificially died for all sin, all wrong doing, and all failures. God Himself had the solution…He paid His own price…and made a way for everyone to know Him in true & authentic, everlasting relationship. The “wall of our failure to be what we should be” is gone. Now for all who "choose" to trust Jesus, a relationship is available. The question now is, who "trusts" what God has done? Who will step into that relationship? That is what separates the religions of the world. All of them seek to "fix" the human problem of falling short. Only one provides the solution...it is uniquely found in Jesus! Only one isn't centered on what "we do", but on what "God has done" for us. That is a significant difference. One worth considering...and exploring. At ECHO we hope to be a safe place for people to explore that very thing...and to experience it personally...in the hope they might express it to others also...

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Back to the Future?

The other day I was surfing through channels on the TV when I came across that old Michael J. Fox movie “Back to the Future”. As I saw it, I said, “Oh this was a cool movie”, to my son. He replied clearly puzzled, ”uh…what’s it about…it looks old…but that car seems kinds cool…” Ah, reality as spoken through a 10 year old (who happens to like cars & cool space ship type stuff). But really as I watched it, I realized how cheesy the special effects were, and how lame it may look to my kids, but oh well. Actually I had already faced that when my kids got into Star Wars a few years ago. When I told em that there was a bunch more older Star Wars movies, they got excited. As I rented them and they watched them all…the "cheesy effects factor" became all too apparent. I suddenly saw that this old movie that "seemed so great" years ago...wasn't all I remembered it to be. It reminds me of a tendency we often have in church circles. There seems to be this overwhelming sense that the “older” something is the better it must be…the closer to truth it must be? I’ve often wondered about this phenomenon. I suppose people think that the closer we get to Jesus day the more accurate things are? In some ways it presupposes that the further from Jesus day the more distorted and foggy things get. I have had people over the years insist that for followers of Jesus to “get it right” they need to study the “early church fathers”…or go back to “Eastern Orthodoxy”…or study Martin Luther and the Reformationists…or its all about the Puritans…or the famous revivals or awakenings…but rarely do any of these same people point out 2 important facts. #1. in many ways we know church writings, history & cultures better than ever before due to advances in technology, archeology, linguistics etc… #2. each of the eras I mentioned above have contributed some error, as well as truth to the Christian discussion of our day. For instance, even the people of Jesus day missed the fact that He was the Son of God, their Messiah…they crucified Him in that ignorance. Clearly living in Jesus day, seeing Him personally, didn't give them a corner on truth. The era of the early church fathers had just as many heretics among them…as well as many valuable contributors. Gnosticism was prevalent during this time in history for instance…which distorted many a concept around issues of sin, the spiritual, reality, lifestyle and what the significance of a relationship with Jesus was. Eastern Orthodoxy gave us many cool things but it also gave us unhealthy doses of religiosity and mysticism that still plagues pockets of Christianity today. They were a great example of the symbolic, iconic, and religious ritual becoming so dominant that their “meaning” was lost and irrelevancy set in. Martin Luther, who did some awesome things during the reformation also contributed to some crappy theology that still seeps into church life from time to time. For instance, Martin Luther preached many a sermon on God’s judgment of the Jewish people for killing Jesus, which helped inflame anti-Semitism and people like Adolph Hitler. In fact Hitler quoted the influential Luther in some of his propaganda speeches, as if to give a spiritual stamp of approval to his ever growing, warped ideas of the Arian race and the inferiority of the Jewish people. He actually thought it was his God given task to punish the Jewish people. Scary stuff, not that it was Luther’s fault that Hitler turned out to be a “whack job”, but Luther didn’t get it all right either. He misunderstood some scripture passages just like any of us can & do. Even the Puritans, who many hold up as the Christian ideal, gave birth to many unhealthy spiritual concepts that still plague many believers. Their over emphasis on the pursuit of holiness, to the degree that many completely separated from the “world”, so as not to be "contaminated", was not a good thing. They also helped spawn and entrench some extreme ideas of “predestination” to such a degree, that “if God has already decided” who are His people, then the need to evangelize, and tell people about Jesus became moot. In fact some went so far as to believe that this concept meant man’s “free will” was virtually non-existent. These concepts were dangerous and quite contrary to what the bible says overall, yet their influence pollutes some churches and believers hearts to this day. Now I say all this to say…each of these eras have value and have contributed to the Christian discussion…but each has also thrown a few monkey wrenches into the mix as well. It is important to realize, that because something is “older”, does not make it better or more accurate. We have a tendency to exaggerate the "old" and diminish the "new", as if God's truth was limited to some bygone era. Yet the bible tells us God's word is "alive & active"...still at work today! “Everything”, the Apostle Paul cautioned, “should be checked against what the bible says”…not what the early church fathers said, nor what Martin Luther said, nor what the Eastern Orthodox say, nor what the Puritans said, nor what any of the great revivalist/evangelists say…we should check all versus what the bible says. This is a simple discipline that protects you & I versus human error. Check everything…even what your pastor would teach…what a book may say…even what scholars say…even what that "well meaning Christian friend" may say, against what the Bible says. By saying "check what the bible says", that is not a “find a pet scripture” to back up what you believe, type of thing…it’s a "check the bible" to see what it says about that concept, principle or topic consistently throughout the bible. In that you will get a fuller, more accurate picture…not some cheesy “special effect” created, that seems accurate at an glance, but isn’t actually real. At ECHO we want to learn together, to consistently point each other towards “what the bible says”. We love what books, film, art, & music say…but in the end, what lines up with scripture we hold onto…what doesn’t we toss aside. The same goes for any resource, commentary, or church leader who may contribute to a discussion. We realize not one of them have a corner on the truth, just like the church fathers didn’t, just like Eastern Orthodoxy doesn’t, just like Martin Luther didn’t, just like the Puritans didn’t, just like none of the great revivalists didn’t, and just like today, where no Christian author, scholar or pastor does either…the only one with a “corner on truth”, is the One who is Truth. Jesus is the Truth, and the bible is all about Him & our opportunity to be in close relationship with that Person, who is Truth. At ECHO we desire to grow closer to Jesus, learning to trust Him more & more, as we continue to discover Truth that is the same yesterday, today & forever!

Be God’s!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Politically Incorrect

I was reading an interesting article the other day about Russia and the Communist Stalin era. It was accompanied by a photo of a government building with a statue of Stalin as seen through a bullet ridden window. A cool photo...which is also very symbolic of a broken political system. While it may have begun with good intentions...it reaped far more destruction than benefit...as history has revealed. I say this to lead into a topic this blog is not intended to be "about"...politics. In particular, American politics. Very specifically, how Christians should respond in the midst of American politics. Now let's be honest we have very different views as believers on how Christians should live out their political opinions. On one hand, the conservative, traditional, more fundamentalist side would project itself as the 'republican' side of Christianity. On the other hand, some would suggest the more "open minded" believer would be 'democratic'. Many in the emergent, postmodern movements of Christendom would backlash versus the 'republican' stereo type by simply being 'democratic' as an alternative reaction "against" the abuses of the 'republican right' concepts prevalent in American culture. Now politics is interesting to discuss and debate, but let's face it...American politics is very corrupt and manipulative. Most citizens don't really "know" what they are voting on...and don't have the time to research and vote wisely. Most vote based on "sound bites" and "image". A majority of voters in America (which is usually less than half of the population by the way) make major decisions without really "knowing"...unless seeing commercials and tabloids equals "knowing" to you? Now, I'm not being "anti" American here...I'm just being humbly honest...America is an imperfect thing, run by imperfect people, swayed all too easily by the wrong things. In my life time, especially during the last 20+ years, since the early 90's when it specifically got worse...there has been an escalation in impropriety in campaigns. It used to be accepted protocol for instance, that a former President "would never" criticize a sitting President. This protocol was done in the spirit of respecting the office and the country as a whole. Today that protocol is out the window...and we are not better for it. Losing "respect" for authority, even those we disagree with, is not healthy...nor biblical. It also used to be off limits for anyone to go after a candidates family...spouse... and especially their kids. That "respect" has been off the table for a long time, and I would suggest, that many a good candidate has "not" run for office based on the crap their family would have to go through...and that does not strengthen America...it weakens us as a country and as a culture. We live in an era when rumors, gossip, half truths and flat out lies get floated in the media to undermine opponents. Every campaign does it. Every party does it. The bigger the campaign, the bigger the sh** that flies. Then the pattern is...the candidate of the party that is the "source of crap flying"...will step up publicly and proclaim the "high road" of condemning "whoever" says such things and declare those things as inappropriate. But as both parties have learned, it's a win-win when this is done. You get to float "rumor, lies, and half truths" into the public discussion...while also looking noble by saying, "I do not condone this type of politics". You undermine your opponent while also making yourself look noble and "above the fray". This tactic has accelerated over the last 20 years, and its too bad. What's worse is, it works. It works, because most people vote on these "sound bites" even if they are fabricated... twisted...or half truths. Both Democrats and Republicans do it...so I'm not taking sides here...but it stinks. The integrity of American politics on a "marketing & journalistic" level is so below the belt...it lacks integrity, respect & honor. No wonder other countries are losing more and more respect for us...we don't even respect our own! OK, politics is a messy subject...and I haven't even gotten into the money behind the scenes that manipulates both parties agendas...and has polluted the judgement of far too many "public servants?" Let's face it, most politicians live far better lifestyles than you and me...most Senators, Congressmen & Governors are millionaires plus. So let's not pretend "money" isn't in play here. So as followers of Jesus what do we do? Is Jesus a Republican dude? Is Jesus some kind of Democratic guy? Maybe He's a Libertarian or Green Party or Independent? As followers of Jesus our agenda should be the Kingdom of God. God says we belong to His Kingdom...not of this world. So if the "King" lives in our hearts...and we "serve Him"...then His rule trumps all else! I would suggest that American Freedom is a far cry from the Freedom Jesus provides. American freedom has degenerated into a freedom without responsibility...a "do as you please, you can't stop me" kind of freedom. I would suggest that God's definition is very different, and if we serve Him then we better filter our "American Freedom" through God's Kingdom's Freedom. God makes it clear that freedom has responsibility attached to it. We are all given a "free will", the right to choose, even a right to choose selfishly or wrongly or even to our own detriment. But freedom is not absent from responsibility. The choice is clear biblically, you choose your own way, and you are responsible...you choose God's way, and He is responsible. But either way, someone is responsible. Now God chose to be responsible because of His desire for relationship with us, and after all He is the Ruler of His Kingdom, so all who choose to walk in His Kingdom ways are under the covering of His authority. Of course not all choose God's ways...they'd rather go with "their ways"...in that opinion...in that choice...in that freedom... comes a responsibility (good or bad). I would suggest that as citizens of the Kingdom of God then we should look at who we vote for, or what agenda's we support, in light of God's Kingdom. What does He say is consistent with His Kingdom. It will not be one party over another. I've lived long enough to know that as polluted as our government and political systems are, it would be hard to find any one candidate that is totally in sync with God's Kingdom 100%...but I'm running them through that filter anyway. Because God's ideals are more important than any candidates or party. As a follower of Jesus we should honestly look at the issues at hand in light of God's Kingdom... prayerfully consider complex issues like poverty, abortion, war, capitalism, taxes, global warming, education, law enforcement, the economy etc... in light of God's values...not your own. As subjects of God's Kingdom, we should align ourselves with Godly principles...not our party...nor our favorite candidate. It's a sad failure of many followers of Jesus to not honestly assess their politics in light of God's Kingdom. This is hard, and often complex. For instance it's easy to say God hates war because "killing is sin"...but what about the many biblical accounts of how God used war to rid evil and expand righteousness. Many love the passive, peace keeping images of Jesus...but forget that in the end of time, Jesus leads an army to defend His people versus the armies of the world that attack. History ends in an epic battle that Jesus is in!!! The issue of war is complicated, its emotional, and yes we don't have enough info to really know most of the facts (as common citizens we are usually in the dark dependent on sound bite media)...but its not as simplistic as "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" Is war right or wrong? Biblically, the answer is "sometimes yes and sometimes no". History would say the same as we look back in hind sight. There is a lot of biblical and prayerful reflection in seeking the heart of God on this matter and many others. Is capitalism "at all costs" biblical? In America it is, but isn't it also got a strong propensity towards selfishness and greed? How much is enough? Should we take advantage to get ahead? When are we as American's comfortable enough? Is the goal even comfort? The bible would suggest it all belongs to God, and we have the responsibility to steward it well. We are asked by God to use it appropriately, within a Kingdom concept...not necessarily a western capitalistic concept. Are we building our kingdom or God's Kingdom? Perhaps that is a better core question to ask. Global Warming? Interesting fact, while earth has risen a fraction of a degree over the last 20 years, Mars has risen by over 9 degrees, so apparently our green house gases are raising the temperature on Mars too? (I say, sarcastically) Actually, sun spot activity is the likely culprit in Mars case, but on earth? First off the science is all over the place on whether its happening or not. Some say we actually have just ended a warming phase, and now may enter another cooling cycle, some go as far as saying "ice age". That's funny because in the 70's that was what we were taught, that we were entering an ice age, because the earths temperatures were dropping. Now in the 90's and new millennium we're warming again, perhaps only to enter another ice age to come? Once again, few of us "know enough" to get beyond media soundbites...but the core question really is...are we being responsible? God clearly gave us this planet...He said it was for our pleasure & provision. The resources here are for our use...but when is the use of those resources wasteful? That really is the question...once again a question of stewardship or "responsibility". I really don't have a horse in this race, but I do have to constantly ask my self...to filter my opinions through God's opinions...or else I'm floating down the wrong river. Are people wasteful?...yep. Are people irresponsible?...yep. Are people selfish?...yep. What would God's Kingdom suggest we do with all that? Are we to become "like god" and try and control it all somehow in a feeble attempt to preserve whatever "we think" is necessary...or are we to preserve Kingdom values in how we steward what God has given us? I suggest that is the real question. Don't get me wrong, God cares about our human condition very much, but His ways are not like our ways...and the key as followers of Jesus, is not one party or another...not one candidate over another...they are all flawed...but if His people really pray, and consider Kingdom values honestly, then we can function as we should as citizens of the Kingdom of God first...who also happen to be Americans. If we get that backward, we'll continue to see the cracks of a broken political system grow and more and more get wounded in the process. Let's be honest, even American politics is broken whenever it strays from God's ways. We should never set aside God's Kingdom in favor of our own or our favorite parties. As followers of Jesus we should lean on His Truth, His Way and His Wisdom. At ECHO we are not a Republican thing...nor a Democratic thing...we are a Kingdom of God thing. The Kingdom of God is at hand, Jesus said, so as we learn to be as close to Him... learning His ways, values and principles...while trusting His rulership...we can learn to expand His Kingdom (rather than our own). Join us as we learn to honestly filter our life (even our politics) through the Kingdom of God...so that there may be more of Jesus and less of "us" in our culture. Discussing it all is challenging... opinions are ingrained in most of us...but challenging each other to go deeper than "our" opinion to God's Kingdom's ways...now, that's really where truth is discovered. Now I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in a lie...swayed by the latest tabloid or soundbite...as some kind of fool...I want the truth...and that's found only within the context of God's Kingdom. Can we challenge each other more based on God's opinion...rather than our own? At ECHO we desire to do just that. It's a wild, fun, crazy, messy ride...but one worth living.

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude
ECHO