We’ve just launched our new series – Soulflix. We’re looking at current movies…specifically the stories movies tell.  Everyone loves a good story!  But we want to put the story through the right filters – so we’re exploring what these stories say about us, and what they say about God.

What a thrill to have some of our Port Kids join and lead us in worship last Sunday. Shane kicked off the series (uhh…pun intended) with Kung Fu Panda 2.  Missed it?  Great message – catch it online here.  And a few pics from the weekend:

This Sunday we’ll have our Fuel Students helping lead worship, and Cars 2 is up to the plate.  I read recently,  “all movies preach. Some more than others. Some more effectively than others.  And Cars 2 preaches an effective 113-minute sermon on…friendship and the quality of a person, er, a car.” Jazzed to look at the story within the story in this summer blockbuster.

Have you seen the new Cars 2: V12 TV spoof clip?  Loved “American Idle”. Enjoy. :)

I’m super energized about the next 24 hours. And challenged by it.

Why?

Our elder team will be hidden away together, dreaming and mapping out our future.

Over recent weeks, our leadership teams have been celebrating the story and impact of the first five years of Westport.  What a journey it’s been!  And reflecting on God’s goodness and faithfulness in our past has caused our hearts to beat fast for the adventure ahead. Building on the foundation of values Westport has been launched on, we’re building a framework that we believe will result in increased impact and for our future.

Think Westport 2.0.

It’s an important 24 hours, indeed.

As we dream about the future, we’ve invited those who attend Westport to lend their voice to the process. Through a survey, we’ve wrapped around a single thought: image Westport in 2021, a decade from now… Reflecting on their experience in this faith community, we’ve asked the following:

What about Westport first grabbed your attention?

Which of Westport’s core values resonates with you most? Why?

Over the next 10 years, what impact could Westport have in these areas:

• in your personal life?
• in your marriage and/or family?
• in the next generation?
• in your neighborhood?
• in this region?
• around the world?
  

It’s been inspiring to read the responses! Numerous people have not only identified what elements of Westport they resonate strongly with, but are also energized for fresh expressions and points of impact in the years ahead.  What’s clear is this:  Westport is gifted with a gathering of people who are in a passionate pursuit of Jesus, wanting to make him and his beauty known to others.

We have a clear desire to see God work in a transforming way in those who are impacted through Westport today, and those who will be impacted through Westport tomorrow.  Please be in prayer for Bob, Mark, Vinny, Tom, Shane and me as we pray and dream together about what God has in store.

Moments of confusion, doubt, discouragement. Times when my heart feels discontent, betrayed, lonely. Seasons of fatigue, or needing increased clarity.

Privately, I’ve been feeling touches of all those and more recently.  The transition to Portland/Westport has been a joyful one…and a challenging one. The specific joys are easy to acknowledge publicly; for various reasons the specific challenges often stay private.

Carving out some ‘think’ time this week has given space for much-needed reflection.  I love my church.  I love my team.  I love my community. I’m secure in my calling.  But during my first five months, I’ve had areas of imbalance.  It’s normal, it’s to be expected.  But it’s not healthy, it’s not sustainable.  Often I’ve been giving, giving, giving as a pastor – and not resting, not receiving.  I’ve been pushing hard in multiple areas, perhaps too much too fast – resulting in a reduction of my natural default to celebrate. I’ve experienced some disappointments that have surprised me.  I’ve been spending alot of time in the scripture for others – and not so much myself.

I was reminded again this morning of why The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan has become one of my favorite books in recent years. God has used this book numerous times to refuel my soul.  Thumbing through this morning, I read the following.  It captures beautifully the desire and hunger of my heart:

We should be a little uneasy about the pairing of purposefulness with drivenness.  Drivenness may awaken or be a catalyst for purpose, but it rarely fulfills it, more often it jettisons it.  A common characteristic of driven people is that, at some point, they forget the purpose.  They lose the point. The very reason they began something – embarked on a journey, undertook a project, waged a war, entered a profession, married a girl – erodes under the weight of their striving.

Miss this, and you miss wisdom.  For only those who number their days aright gain wise hearts.  Those calm, unhurried people who live in each moment fully, savoring simple things, celebrating small epiphanies, unafraid of life’s inevitable surprises and reverses, adaptive to change yet not chasing after it.

Only they become God’s sages.

I take seriously the idea of living well and leading well.  The way God defines it.  For the long haul.

I have so much to learn.

I’m in.  I’ve officially registered.

10.09.11 – Sunday, October 9th

PDX 26.2 – Portland Marathon

11212000 – My bib number.  Why? It’s the birth date of my daughter, Lauren.  She flat out inspires me.

4:10 – my goal is to complete this bad boy in 4 hours and 10 minutes.

For local friends, 26.2 miles is the equivalent of running from my office at the Westport Church building to the Portland Airport. Then adding another mile and a half.  Yup.

It’s my first marathon.  I ran two half marathons last year, but as my friend Mark Grover has pointed out, “13.1 is half of nothing”. Another friend, Randy Rogers, has said that “26.2 vs 13.1 separates the men from the boys”.  And Jamie Niebergall has said “you’re insane”.

Oh the motivation. :)

Just putting this out there for accountability (it’s public – gotta do it now!), inspiration (if a flabby 37 year old can go for it so can you!), and excitement (I’m pumped to step up to the challenge!).