Deep Thoughts (reprise)

"If the Divine call does not make us better, it will make us very much worse. Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. Of all created beings the wickedest is the one who originally stood in the immediate presence of God."
-cs lewis

"Christians are like manure: spread them out and help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly."
-francis chan

"I went to the charismatic disneyland of evangelical christianity only to discover that I would never be tall enough to go on any of the rides." -paul anderson-walsh

"Jesus never let me down you know,
Jesus used to show me the score,
then they put Jesus in show business,
now its hard to get in the door."
-bono

"I flew on the jumbo jet of traditional fundamentalism and disembarked with far more baggage than what I boarded with."
-david borum

"It's not candles but community...not art but attitude...not liturgy but love...that makes the difference in our broken world."
-john burke

"wealth can't be defined in terms of what we have, but only in terms of how free we are to give and take." -rich mullins

"The Scriptures are filled with commands and references about caring for the poor and for those who cannot help themselves. The crazy part about God's heart is that He doesn't just ask us to give; He desires that we love those in need as much as we love ourselves." -francis chan

"When you know a pretty story you don't let it go unsaid
you tell it to your children as you tuck them into bed.
When you know all of a secret you tell it to your friends,
you tell 'em that a lifetime filled with happiness
is like a street that never ends."
-larry norman

"If we dare to look... we may even see God 'not' as this nice, passive, passionless "Breck lady"-looking mystical thing, and instead we may discover a maniac God, a God who is wild and ferocious, uninhibited by our arrogance, unafraid of any cruelty---a God who is passionate about people, One who would truly go to Hell and back out of love for us." -rich mullins

"Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself." -donald miller

"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's Kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being sheltered from pain or distress." -francis chan

"You can't always get what you want,
but if you try sometimes, you just might find,
you get what you need."
-mick jagger

"The news of my impending death
came at a really bad time for me,
yeah the news of my impending death
any other day might have been OK.
I was starting to track with my inner guide
I was getting in touch with my feminine side
but when the doctor starts whistling "Happy Trails"
tends to knock a bit of wind out of the old sails."
-steve taylor

"We are haunted by the ghosts of the 'what ifs' who live in the shadows of the 'if onlys' ." -rich mullins

"I do believe in miracles, and I want to save my soul,
and I know I'm a sinner, I'm gonna die here in the cold..."
I thought I heard an angel cry
I thought I saw a teardrop falling from his eye..."
-mick jagger

"In a civilization like ours, I feel that everyone has to come to terms with the claims of Jesus Christ upon his life, or else be guilty of inattention or of evading the question." -cs lewis

"I did not come to condemn the world, but to save it". -jesus

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

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 and I went a few summers ago 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

If God is Love?

Stand Up Comedy

by Bono

from U2's album, "No Line On The Horizon"

Love love love love love…

Love love love love love…

I got to stand up and take a step

You and I have been asleep for hours

I got to stand up

The wire is stretched in between our two towers

Stand up in this dizzy world

Where a lovesick eye can steal the view

I’m gonna fall down if I can’t stand up

For your love

Love love love love love…

Stand up, this is comedy

The DNA lottery may have left you smart

But can you stand up to beauty, dictator of the heart

I can stand up for hope, faith, love

But while I’m getting over certainty

Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady

Out from under your beds

C’mon ye people

Stand up for your love

Love love love love love…

I gotta stand up to ego but my ego’s not really the enemy

It’s like a small child crossing an eight lane highway

On a voyage of discovery

Stand up to rock stars,

Napoleon is in high heels

Josephine, be careful of small men with big ideas

Out from under your beds

C’mon ye people

Stand up for your love

Love love love love love…

God is love

And love is evolution’s very best day

Soul rockin’ people moving on

Soul rockin’ people on and on

C’mon ye people

We’re made of stars

C’mon ye people

Stand up then sit down for your love

Love love love love love…

Love love love love love…

This is my favorite song off the new U2 album...not only is it a catchy guitar riff, but the lyrical call to wake up and make a stand drew me. If God is love...and love is creations highest ideal...then why are the followers of Jesus so tentative? My favorite line is "Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady". What a great word picture of a believer trying to ever so gently help God across the road...as if He is some frail, weak old lady...in contrast to the bold call of the song...to "stand up for your love". If God is love...then why are we asleep...so distracted...so tentative? Shouldn't that love be boldly proclaimed...confidently lived out...and actively expressed? Isn't that something to stand for? At ECHO we think so, do you?

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Religiosity

Living in this scenic postcard known as the Pacific northwest of the good ol' U.S. of A. has it's unique advantages... clean air... rivers & lakes everywhere...lots of fresh green forests...lots of open spaces...some of the most awesome coastal landscapes sitting on the shores on the Pacific Ocean... mountains...valleys... deserts... rolling plains...all within an hours drive or two. But with all the blessings of God's country, the Pacific northwest still "boasts" itself as one of the "least religious" areas of the country. To be honest the New England states are fighting to contend, with Vermont now leading the way...with 34% of the people in that state claiming "no religion" as their lifestyle. Nationally 15% of Americans claim to be of "no religion", up from 14.1% in 2001 and 8.2% in 1990. So this group of "non-religious" appears to be rising in every state. There definitely seems to be trend pretty easy to track in the sands of American culture. To be fair, many spiritual people (Christians included) may be put off by the term "religion" and thus may not want to wear that badge in a survey...so that is bound to have some effect on these stats...but the trend is there none the less. 76% of Americans claim to be Christians in 2008, slightly down from the 77% in 2001, but dramatically down from 1990's 86%. Now, the flat or decline trend looks to be in all areas of "religion". Mormons are still about 1.4%...Buddhism has slowed slightly in it's appeal...practicing religiously observant Jews has dropped from 1.8% (in 1990) to 1.2% (in 2008)...Muslims are about .6%...about 1.2% (combined) are into various fringe beliefs like Scientology, Wicca, Santeria etc...while 12% claim to believe in a "higher power" that is not a personal God, so to speak. Mainline protestant churches (Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist etc...) and Catholic churches are declining the most...down about 17%. Even with the influx of the Latino population, Catholics are diminishing. 45% of all Americans (including Christians & Catholics) claim to be "evangelical or born again", which is a decrease, as well. The one group that has increased the most is the non-denominational Christian, who were only about .1% (in 1990) and now are 3.5% (in 2008). A small but significantly growing group. Some would say we are in a "post-denominational" era...where people don't join churches based on denomination anymore...but based on the style or personality of the church. This is a major shift from previous generations where people based their church choices on the denomination of their preference. Why is this worth looking at? Well, in the Pacific northwest, approximately 80% of the people who live here, don't go to church. That means our churches are "competing" in reaching 20% of the population who are "shopping" for a church. Outside of that group, though, anyone who lives in the northwest would agree that the population is very spiritual...but in an independent, anti-establishment, anti-institutional way. At ECHO, we recognize this and rather than ridicule or chastise the community for "being that way"...we ask, why? Why do people search spiritually...but don't trust "the church" for honest answers? Why do people see "the church" as some sort of establishment organization that uses people and can't be trusted? Why do people feel used or even abused by "the church" in how their time, money and talents are used (or mis-used)? These are fair questions to ask...and the answers are multiple. But in short, the quick and direct answer is...because we have given them "good reason" to believe that is what we are about! As followers of Jesus we need to be forth right with the fact that "the church" has used the scriptures to forward agendas that are not always biblically consistent...to the point that even people who are not followers of Jesus (yet), raise an eye brow as they smell something disingenuous...so they back away. As followers of Jesus, we have, at times forwarded agendas that seem much more about building our denominations, individual church kingdoms and ministries...rather than God's Kingdom...and people searching for truth see it...smell it...and back off. We have been guilty, at times of being more about "butts in the seats", "dollars in the plates", and "building monuments unto ourselves". Is it any wonder, that people who are spiritually wandering...yet searching for truth...back away? So much of what "we" have done, and still "do", seems inconsistent with a Jesus-like lifestyle...even to the casual observer. Does it matter? The bible says we are to "let our light shine before men..." so that they may be drawn towards God. The bible says we are "to be a pleasant aroma" that is attractive. If what we are doing is having the opposite affect...then should we examine if we are "shining light", and "giving off a pleasant aroma"...or perhaps something that "smells like _____ (insert your own word choice here). At ECHO, we hope to be honest in addressing these short falls...and bridging the gaps...and barriers that keep people away from the Truth they seek. Jesus said, "If you seek Me, you will find Me." That promise should be of the utmost concern to those of us who follow Jesus. We should pave the way in how we live out our faith...not create "potholes" that hinder that search...as we point others towards the One who is Truth! Some of that is being honest about the "potholes" that do exist in church culture...past... present...and inevitably...will be in the future. As long as people are involved, we are bound to get it wrong sometimes...we are bound to get off track sometimes...but if and when we do...our admission and re-alignment to the ways of Jesus will speak volumes to a culture spiritually wandering. If we model humility in our errors and a heart that trusts Jesus agenda over our own, as we serve God and people, then maybe...just maybe, we can draw some in closer to the God that is Love and is the Truth they seek! At ECHO we embrace the wanderers...the messy lives...and the spiritually wounded...as we follow the One who knows the Way...Who teaches us how to Live as we were designed...and Who is the Truth!

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Lyrics Pro Bono

After my first few listens of the latest album from U2 entitled,

"No Line On The Horizon",

I thought I'd share a few random poetic moments from the CD...

enjoy...

"Here's where we gotta be

Love and community

Laughter is eternity

If joy is real"

lyrics by Bono, "Get On Your Boots"

"I can stand up for hope, faith, love

but while I'm getting over certainty

Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady"

lyrics by Bono, "Stand Up Comedy"

"Every generation gets a chance to change the world

Pity the nation that will listen to your boys and girls

'Cos the sweetest melody is the one we haven't heard"

lyrics by Bono, "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"

"I was speeding on the subway

Through the stations of the cross

Every eye looking every other way

Counting down 'til the pain would stop

At the moment of surrender

Of vision over visibility

I did not notice the passers-by

And they did not notice me"

lyrics by Bono, "Moment of Surrender"

"I was born

I was born to sing for you

I didn't have a choice but to lift you up

And sing whatever song you wanted me to

I give you back my voice

From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise...

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify

The Magnificent"

lyrics by Bono and the Edge, "Magnificent"

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO