Whidbey Presbyterian Church

Generations BBQ

What a beautiful day we had for our Generations BBQ!  It was great to be able to enjoy our yard and know that our kids were contained by the fence!

As you can tell we had plenty of food...

fun....

and entertainment!  About 30 people helped with all three projects (railing, fence, and windows) and they all were rewarded with great mementos!

We all had a great time.  Thanks Generations team for making this all possible!  (Click on the pictures below to make them larger.)

  

14. Acts 11:1-18: Peter Has Some Explaining To Do

Archive of past lesson from his series can be found here.

This is week 14 of our journey through The Acts of the Apostles. Click here to read Acts 11:1-18 & return here to read my thoughts and to post your own.

No matter the amount of baby proofing we do around our house, Jaxson always seems to find one more thing to get into. My mom bought him a shirt a few weeks back that says “i didn’t do it.” That’s rarely the case.

At 16 months old, he is beginning to communicate pretty well. Especially when he is letting you know what he wants. But when every tissue gets pulled out of the box, or a page gets ripped out of a favorite book, or every single thing in a kitchen cabinet is pulled out onto the kitchen floor, the communication ceases. When Jaxson has some explaining he needs to do, about all we get is the shirt that says “i didn’t do it.”

In Acts 11, the news of Peter’s revolutionary behavior - entering a Gentile’s house - reached Jerusalem before he did. 

While these Jewish Christian converts were completely accepting of the gospel, they saw their faith as a reforming force in Judaism, destined to wipe away the abuses of the Sadducees, legalistic Pharisaism, and all else which Christ had castigated. In their mind, to become a Christian meant to become a “fulfilled Jew.” They most certainly did not envision a break with the faith of their fathers.

While Judaism has always magnanimously offered hospitality to all who sought acceptance and fulfilled Jewish obligations, it was quite another matter for them to accept that Judaism was dead. 

While they certainly saw hints in the ancient Old Testament prophecies about a global faith, they had always thought the nations of the world would at last be convinced and would pour into Jerusalem for worship. To accept that the Jewish race had been merely temporary custodians of a preparatory religion that has not only been fulfilled, but superseded, in Christ required a reappraisal and an adjustment beyond imagination.

By the time Peter had made it home, these apostles were waiting on an explanation. 

I think we need more moments like this in churches today. Moments when people are so shocked at something they say - “Whoa, what just a minute, what in the world is going on here and why are we doing it?” 

I once read on a friend's blog about a trip he took to a conservative Baptist church in California. This church had caused a huge stir among members when they agreed to allow a gay rights organization who had just lost their building to continue their weekly AIDS crisis support meetings out of the fellowship hall.

Care to guess the tone of the next congregational meeting? 

“Whoa, what just a minute, what in the world is going on here and why are we doing it?”

The churches answer - because it is good and right and Christlike to be the hands and feet of Jesus to AIDS patients - our modern day lepers. 

This church was not compromising their beliefs on drug use or homosexuality or anything else. They are just saying that no matter what you’ve done - Jesus loves you. That no matter where you’ve been - Jesus loves you. And because He does, so do we. 

Needless to say many people quit the church and there are other’s who will never attend or support them because of this relationship. I think it is their loss.

Just like the similar situation here in Acts 11. Peter has not only just visited an uncircumcised Gentile - he “allowed” him and his family to accept Jesus. (Even though there is nothing in the world Peter could have done to stop it.) They are now restless and demanding an explanation.

Peter handles this potentially explosive situation with maturity, wisdom, and levelheadedness. Instead of being combative and argumentative, like we would have expected in the Gospels, he patiently walks them through his story and answers their questions. 

After they listen, they have nothing to say. Some even began to praise God at the news that the Roman officer had been chosen and given the gift of salvation. However, I wonder how many of them imagined that all of the world - all of the Gentile world -  was opening to a vast outward surge of Christian evangelism.

Their minds were sturdy enough and hearts devoted enough to see that the old apartheid was over. A new dawn was upon them. Another age had arrived - ours.

Thanks be to God.

Fun on Fridays: Pentecost

 

Pentecost is a Greek word that means, "fiftieth".  Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter, after all it is the sabbath day after a week's worth of weeks.  (7 x 7= 49)

Red is the liturgical color for this Sunday.  Red reminds us of the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. 

Read about Pentecost in Acts here.

Click here to read Justin's commentary about Pentecost.

Be sure to wear red, yellow, or orange this Sunday!

Generations Celebration!

Don't forget...

Generations Celebration
Saturday, May 30th
6pm

Come and celebrate our new changes we have been making to our building!

Young Adult's Night Out

As you are all aware of, we have a night out for all our young adults.  It features a wonderful dinner, fellowship, and games.  This is a great time to get to know one another and just hang out.  Childcare is available, so take this opportunity to get out of the house and meet other people!

We meet once a month on the fourth Saturday.  This last time we had a great turnout and enjoyed hanging out.  And once we started playing Hoopla, it got a little interesting.  Hoppla is a combination of Pictionary, Scattergories, and Cranium all combined.

Here's Peter trying to "act out" the zoo.  He's playing the elephant role, of course!

And Zac looks a little confused on what he was suppose to draw!  Come on team...help him out!

 

And look at this yummy desert.  Very festive for Memorial Day weekend!

So, come on and join us on June 27th!  It will be a blast!

A Memorial Day Prayer

Memorial Day Prayer by Tracey McNeal

Almighty God,

In whom we live, love, and have our being,
We take time today to uplift the heavy hearts
Of those for whom Memorial Day
Is more than a mere diversion,
But is, instead, a painful time of reflection, lamentation
And enduring bereavement.

This day we remember with compassion
Your children who have lost their lives to war;
Incline us to honor their memory, dear Lord,
With a sincere pledge to seek peace
And nonviolent solutions to world conflict.

We pray for the safety of those entering military service,
And succor for the many returning from combat
With wounded bodies,
Or minds
Sickened by the sight and sounds of war.

Our prayers also extend, Great Comforter,
To those who still wait and pray
Day by anxious day
For that precious moment of reunion
With a distant family member, friend, or loved one.

And to others – whose reunion has been sorrowfully delayed
Until that Heavenly homecoming with Christ
In the fullness of time –
We offer the gentle assurance
Of your promise to all believers,
“ Blessed are those who mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

Amen.

13. Acts 10: Salvation Is Here

Archive of past lessons from this series can be found here.

This is week 13 of our journey through The Acts of the Apostles. Click here to read Acts 10 and return here to read my thoughts and to post your own.

The irony of this picture may give us a tiny glimpse of what Peter was feeling in Acts 10. Just as Saul was blinded in the pervious chapter, Peter’s lesson here is just as dramatic.

For just a moment, we actually see the return of Peter from the gospels. The one who speaks too quick and rarely thinks beforehand. You would think by now that Peter would have leaned not to answer Jesus with a “no” - but he does, attempting to stand on his own righteousness.

“I’ve never eaten anything that was not kosher, Lord.”

Sad to say - but we are no different. We worship each week, attend life group, intently pray, and religiously study the bible. As Peter does here, it is really easy for us to begin to work from our own understanding of God. Then Jesus does something we were totally not expecting and our understanding is expanded. Not because we faithfully do all the things on our religious checklist - but because He extends us grace we do not deserve. And usually, this understand forces us to see that we are much more messy than we would care to admit.

My favorite part of the story is that God is speaking and working through a Roman commander. Think about this with me. To this point, Peter had only imagined that God works exclusively through Jews. God uses his people. The set apart. The devout.

He would never use a Gentile like Cornelius.

He would never use a Roman pagan war monger.

He would never use teenagers in missions because they have not developed any life skills to give. Like an elder told me once.

He would never use a woman. Like a few power hungry men teach today.

He would never use a black man. Like my grandfather’s church preached less than 50 years ago

He would never use a drunk. Like some denominations teach, while many of those leaders can’t see their feet while standing because of their own gluttony.

He would never use someone with AIDS. Like the condemnation and avoidance that was preached in the 80s.

He would never use a homosexual. Like some preachers have proclaimed days before being found in their own sinful affair.

He would never use someone who has had an abortion. Like many ideologues yell in front of clinics as they condemn anyone entering or leaving.  

Sure, sin is sin, no doubt. However, let’s not forget from where we have come - and remember that but by the grace of God, it could just as easily be me - or you - having a judgmental finger pointed at us.

At the least we may say, “He would never use that kind of person to preach to me…to speak to me....to teach me…would He?”

Here is a good rule of thumb. As soon as you figure out the type of person you just know God could never use - you have just picked how God will be speaking to you next.

So Peter heads off toward the house of this Roman commander. Remember the last time Peter encountered the Roman military? It was the day his Lord was beaten - spit on - nailed to a cross.

While we have no doubt how painful those memories were for him - he was presented with proof that could not be refuted. God was speaking to and working through a Gentile. That made him Peter’s brother.

The Spirit of God was in the house of a Roman commander. Jesus found him, chose him, called him. Just like He did with Peter. 

Remember several weeks ago when we talked about speaking in tongues? (Week 3, Acts Chapter 2) What was said then bears repeating here. Every time the Holy Spirit moves & causes tongues to speak, it points to Truth - not emotion. It points to Jesus, not the experience.

Every time I read this story, I am amazed that Acts 10 is a story we seldom here. I’m surprised that every Christian does not know this story by heart. This is the most important story for the non-Jewish Christian world. How many times have you told your children & grandchildren this good news:

Jesus has come for the Gentiles. Jesus has come to the Gentiles. Jesus has come for us!

Peter soon realizes that the Way of Jesus would never be the same again. 

God had clearly spoken his plan through the life change of Saul and Peter…and the Church would never be the same again.

Fun on Fridays: Memorial Day

Memorial Day is the three day weekend that marks the beginning of Summer.  Well, in our area, I'm not sure we can consider this summer yet, but nevertheless...let's celebrate!

Check out these fun links about Memorial Day:

How Memorial Day got started

Memorial Day projects and crafts for kids

Great recipes for your Memorial Day BBQ!

How do you honor those for Memorial Day?

Thoughtful Thursdays

"The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—
is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the
friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and
all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties
you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no
human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with
heaven, if Christ were not there? "

John Piper (God is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself)

Generations Project: The Railing!

We desperately need a railing of some sort in the entrance to the Sanctuary. 

And here it is!

Make sure you attend the Generations Celebration on Saturday, May 30th!  Don't you just love seeing these new projects come to life?