Amazing

Ah, summer...beaches... convertibles... sun...cool breezes...ice cold drinks...it can be an amazing time. But it all makes too much sense usually. I mean you don't drive a convertible in the rain or when its 28 degrees, do ya? Ice cold drinks in sub zero weather seem out of place. We like it when it all seems to fit...it all works as it should...and maybe that's why we like summer and all that is "supposed" to go with it. In our world, as humans, that's how we like it I suppose...yet in God's Kingdom, it ain't as tidy as we often like. It is amazing to consider how God uses the foolish things... to make eternal impact. Hilarious, when you think of the imperfect bozos who often lead the way...in our time...in past generations...and all through out scripture as well. What a rag-tag bunch we are. It makes me bust a gut laughing. Sometimes it makes me cry from the depths of my soul. Sometimes it makes me clench-fisted angry. But mostly...it amazes me! God in His baffling brilliance has chosen to entrust His message of hope to a bunch of goober brains like you & me? Now why? Why not just do one of those God things...and reveal yourself to us all...you know, overwhelm us with your God-ness! Then, this whole thing is done...settled...you're in or you're out...and off to the eternal new heaven & new earth stuff where we can finally live without pain, without brokeness, with total provision, in perfect love, and in perfect peace! Hey, isn't that what we all crave... believer and not-yet-believer alike? Yet the process God chose is... slow... sloppy...messy...seemingly imperfect, if you will...YET completely brilliant at the same time. To us, it don't make sense. Yet doesn't it paint a wonderful picture. It clearly reminds us that God's ways are not like ours...and it also screams out HOPE! It clearly screams out that God doesn't need perfect people to accomplish His perfect will...He can truly turn all things around for good, for those who will trust Him, in spite of themselves...and in that get us & our world to God's intended destination! Now we all have seen people and wondered... how did God ever use a moron like him (or her)? We see them in the bible...we see them in church history...we see them in churches we've been in or read about...perhaps we've even seen it in ourselves, in the mirror. Yet this random, messy journey God has us on reminds us that its not about being perfect and having it all together... but it is about Who you trust in living it all out. Somehow, someway, God's Kingdom has been and will be expanded by buffoons... and I love it! That means I'm eligible to be a part of it all. As much as it frustrates me sometimes, it also encourages me to press on, to get back up, to keep moving in a Jesus led direction...cause somehow He can use my mess...my sloppiness...my wayward heart...my rough edges...and still, by His Spirit, accomplish His purpose through my fragile life. Wow, at ECHO, we consider that a song of hope...a message to be embraced and shared. Yes, even a message to be screamed from the rooftops and down the alley ways. Let it ECHO...Guess what, God loves you so much, He ain't gonna give up on you, and He'll use your imperfect self to accomplish perfect Kingdom things...if you trust Him! That is something amazing... something to be celebrated...something to pass on...so embrace it and enjoy!

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

Lest We Forget

My wife & I were on an early morning drive to the Portland Airport a few months ago, as we were catching a flight to Austin, Texas. As it were, the flight was so early, it was dark for most of our drive. Now I'm definitely a night person, not a morning person...but I've found the early pre-dawn hours to be quite amazing, on occasion. It's quiet... peaceful...usually no traffic...kind of relaxing...provided you are awake for the drive with coffee in hand. Now this morning, I "was awake", and my wife & I caught a rare surprise. As the sun rose we caught the amazing sight of Mt. Hood silhouetted against the morning sunrise... WOW! It was awesome. We stopped and had to take a picture. Sometimes life catches you off guard. Sometimes when you least expect it...BAM...a surprise...a memory...an unexpected event. Extra cool if you got a camera to record it. We did...and we did! It makes me think of heaven. Not just the beauty of the moment... but the surprise...the unexpected...the WOW! I am sure we will all be surprised when we get to heaven, in many different ways. One of the craziest things we'll experience is who else is there! As the world mourns the death of several celebrities & sports stars...the "biggest" being Michael Jackson, it seems...I often hear & read of Christians debating whether or not so and so is in heaven? Weird huh? At least I think so. First off...even a casual glance at the bible would tell us the one doing the decision making regarding the after-life ain't you or me...its Jesus! So entering the debate kinda usurps the Decision Maker Himself...so that seems rather bold. But the idea we know what is going on in the heart and soul of anyone is quite bizarre also. I was shocked to see people glad Michael Jackson was dead because he was a sicko, bizarre, weird guy who was a pedophile. Some seemed almost angry at the possibility that MJ may have gotten his life straighten out with God before he died. The facts are, we do not know him...only the cartoon, tabloid characterization of him. He was surrounded by many good believers over the years, and he clearly was a hurting dude, who was spiritually searching for years. You may believe or not believe the rumors. But since when are sicko, bizarre, weird guys... even pedophiles excluded from God's grace? I know it is hard to agree with...but scripture does say it is possible. "Whoever should call on the name of Jesus will be saved." Not whoever is good enough... or normal enough...or sinless enough. If we are to believe in God's canopy of grace that is available to each of us...then anyone is eligible, whether we like it or not. The bible is full of "offenders" who most of us expect to see inside the "Pearly Gates". A lot of messy lives will be covered by God's grace, so get ready. Noah got drunk and slept with his daughters and impregnated them. Moses killed a man. Abraham slept with another woman who was not his wife, and got her pregnant. David not only stole another man's wife, but he had the man killed to cover it up. Isaiah walked through the city streets naked. Hosea married a known prostitute, who continued to ply her "trade". Peter had one heck of a temper problem. Paul was known for aiding and abetting multiple murders. The thief on the cross, who was in his last breaths of execution, was assured by Jesus, he'd be with Him in Paradise. The list goes on and on. God's grace is sufficient for their failings...anyone's failings... even yours and mine. The bible reminds us more than once that "we" (followers of Jesus) were liars, thieves, sexual perverts, idolaters, prideful, adulterers, gossips and the like. It appears that many of us will be "surprised" who our neighbors will be in the Kingdom of God. Many will be there that we never thought "could be"...and many will not be there, that we sure thought "would be". In the end, Jesus is only One making those decisions...so get ready to be amazed... cause His ways are not our ways...thankfully! At ECHO we are so glad God chose to show us multiple people in scripture who were "His" in spite of the stupid, selfish, disgusting, sinful things they did. God in His love, makes His grace available to all who will trust Him...even the "Michael Jackson's" of the world. Even you & me...and that is "good news". May we not be a people that spend more time ridiculing others than we do praying for them. May we not be people that spend more energy in revealing anothers faults and weaknesses, than we do on loving and caring for them. May we spend more time modeling grace than gossip.

May we not forget...His grace is sufficient for us...and them!
.

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Freedom Thoughts...

"Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security, will not have, nor do they deserve, either one." -Benjamin Franklin

"Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire." -Epictetus

"By academic freedom I understand the right to search for truth and to publish and teach what one holds to be true. This right implies also a duty: one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true. It is evident that any restriction on academic freedom acts in such a way as to hamper the dissemination of knowledge among the people and thereby impedes national judgment and action."

-Albert Einstein

"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." -Soren Kierkegaard

"I believe in freedom for everyone, not just the black man." -Bob Marley

"Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will."

-Nelson Mandela

"With great freedom comes great responsibility." -Spiderman

"The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on an individual level. It's got to happen inside first. You can take away a man's political freedom and you won't hurt him- unless you take away his freedom to feel. That can destroy him. That kind of freedom can't be granted. Nobody can win it for you." -Jim Morrison

"True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what's right."

-Brigham Young

"It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either." -Mark Twain

"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." -Mahatma Gandhi

"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth."

-John F. Kennedy

"Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom." -Hannah Arendt

"Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be." -Daniel Boorstin

"When you are free in Jesus, you are free indeed."

-John 8:36, The Bible

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO