I’m not a big fan of Halloween.

I don’t like to dress up.
I don’t like to be scared.
I don’t like horror movies.
I don’t like haunted houses.
I don’t like cats, spiders or pumpkins.
I don’t understand why pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin pies even exist.
And I don’t see the wisdom in walking around in the neighborhood while people dressed up like zombies are roaming the streets.

Not everyone in the English household has agreed with me over the years. Annually, there would be the Halloween Summits – a series of meetings in which Amy, acting as the ambassador for the three kids, would negotiate the terms and conditions of what Halloween activities would be acceptable. Over the years, various concessions were negotiated.

Why am I bringing all of this up?

Because Hallelujah Night would have solved many of our issues! It’s not scary. It’s great for kids. There’s going to be free food. Lots of games. Lots of candy. No zombies.

In all seriousness, this is a great night for Antioch Church and Western Hills to get together. It’s a great picture of churches coming together to be a blessing for our city. So if you’ve got kids and don’t want to freeze to death – show up at the Antioch Life Center!

Just a warning though. There are probably going to be some pumpkins… Can’t win them all.

-Grant

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Two thoughts about this story…

Thought One:
Notice how similar this story is to Jonah? A storm that makes veteran sailors nervous. The reason/solution to the storm is asleep in the boat. In one story, the main character must die to calm the storm. In the other, the main character will die to calm the ultimate storm. Once the storm is calm, the sailors become even more scared.

Lots of parallels and not sure how to tie it all together, but I’m struck how consistently God chooses to use storms to get our attention. Of course, the problem is you never know exactly what Jesus is going to do in the middle of a storm.

Ultimately, this is our frustration with Jesus. He isn’t predictable. In one storm, he calms it. (Albeit after the sailors go into a complete panic and wake up Jesus, screaming at him – ‘Do you even care if we die???’) In another, he is walking on by with the intent to leave the disciples in the middle of the storm.

In both cases, those in the storm are left more rattled after their encounter with Jesus than they were in the storm. Which says something, doesn’t it? That really cuts to the core of the issue – Does trusting Jesus scare us more than the storm we may find ourselves in?

Here’s some good news – eventually the disciples will ace this test. Every time. They will change the world. They will travel the world. They will be tested in every kind of storm you can imagine, and they will trust Jesus every single time. They will trust Jesus without flinching… eventually.

And that’s encouraging to me, because there are some days when I relate more to these disciples in the boat than the ones post-resurrection. Of course, you know how Jesus transformed these disciples into those leaders?

By putting them in storms.

The Lord of the Sabbath

In Mark 2-3, Jesus is confronted by a controversy that we really no longer deal with: the Sabbath and keeping it holy.

In Jesus’ day, they had lists and rules of what you could and could not do, from how far you could walk to what animals you could rescue if they got hurt on the Sabbath. Growing up in the South, I remember we couldn’t go to the movies on Sunday, but we could go out to eat or watch Wonderful World of Disney. We could play in the backyard but couldn’t go over to a friend’s house to swim.

What made one acceptable and the other one not? I have no idea. As a kid, I figured the adults had this elaborate, complicated system all worked out. I figured it had something to do with church and God, but beyond that it appeared to be all haphazard.

Turns out, I wasn’t all that wrong.

The religious people of Jesus’ day had the same issue. And to this, Jesus says something particularly astonishing.

He says ‘I am the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man, man wasn’t made for the Sabbath.’

Part of Jesus’ answer is easy to understand – Sabbath was made for man. In other words, the day wasn’t created to serve as a way to control over mankind. The day was created to serve mankind, as a day of reconnecting with their Creator. It wasn’t made to add to the lists of do’s and don’ts. It was made to give mankind a pattern, a rhythm of work and rest. It was a gift. Over the years, man has turned it into something else.

I understand that part of Jesus’ answer fairly well. It’s the first part that actually creates a bit of disturbance.

We really need to see the phrase “I am the Lord of the Sabbath” as another one of Jesus’ ‘I am’ statements. I am the bread of life. I am the way, truth, and life. I am the light of the world. I am The Lord of the Sabbath. It’s actually the more bold and more in-your-face of these statements.

What Jesus is saying is – there is NO Sabbath without Him. There is no REST without Jesus.

Think about that for a moment. There’s no peace… no contentment… no rest. Without Jesus.

May we remember these words when we seek rest, peace, and contentment and don’t find it. May it drive us back to the Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus said to them (Peter and Andrew), “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17-18

Some scholars believe when Jesus asked Peter and Andrew to follow Him, it wasn’t the first time they had met. With all the crowds following Jesus, along with His teachings and healings putting Him at the center of attention in Capernaum, it is highly likely that Peter and Andrew had some familiarity with Jesus. To which I say – so what? Does it REALLY matter if this was the first interaction or not? Does it make their decision to walk away from their livelihood, their security, and their identity any LESS brave?

It doesn’t.

It’s safe to say that Peter and Andrew didn’t grasp in total what was happening. They probably couldn’t imagine days like feeding the 5,000 or walking on water were in front of them. It’s true they had days where they seriously entertained the idea of going back. But one thing they appeared to believe from the start was this: anywhere with Jesus is better than anywhere else without Him.

So they left their nets.

I wonder if this is at the core of what is seriously wrong with most of what is being called ‘Christianity’ today? How many people REALLY believe that anywhere WITH Jesus is better than anywhere else WITHOUT Him?

That it’s better to be poor WITH Jesus than rich without Him? Or sick with Jesus than well without Him? Or confused? Or alone?

The greatest half-truth people believe about Jesus is that He came to forgive our sin. It’s half-true. It’s half of the puzzle. That’s not all He came to do. He came to change us to look more like Him. He came to change our hearts. He will not just do one without the other. And therein lies the problem…

I want enough Jesus to make me feel better, to take care of my sin. But not enough Jesus that radically changes my life.

That is where the fight for our souls is.

Jesus invites us to follow Him so he can do His FULL work. Forgiveness. Transformation. Whatever it takes. Comfort? Convenience? Temporal happiness? Earthly security? None of these rank particularly high on Jesus’ list. But these are what most often are chosen instead of leaving the nets.

You would think that it would be self-evident that Jesus isn’t into half-measures. He is purposed to do His full work. Because He knows this is what we ultimately need. He knows that only His full work will satisfy that deep longing inside us. He knows and wants only the best for us, the best that we just can’t see or grasp. The work is complete but not instant. And we become partners with Him in this work when we follow. Partners on the way to a new life, new heart, new mind, new purpose….new everything.

That’s the good news of Jesus that requires us leaving our nets. So He gives the invite – come, follow me.

And in light of all of that, why stay at the nets?

This year has been an incredible year of learning and discovery when it comes to the relationship between Western Hills Church and Antioch Church. What started as two pastors who were friends grew into a group of men having breakfast, then two churches going through the same message series, a combined service, adopting some schools together, a school supply drive and continued conversations of how both churches can continue to be voices of unity and reconciliation for our city.

This Halloween is another step in that journey.

Antioch has long been a safe place in the community for parents to bring their kids on Halloween to dress up, get some candy, and have some fun. It’s called “Hallelujah Night,” and it’s a time for incredible fun, games, connection, and candy for the neighborhood. This year, in the spirit of continuing to build a stronger relationship between the two churches, Antioch has invited us to join them for this unique service opportunity.

(And just in case you were wondering, we said yes.)

It’s going to be an incredible event – full of fun and food. That’s what is obvious about the night. What may not be as obvious but is MORE important is this: it’s another opportunity for our city to see the Church the way the Father has intended the world to see the Church from the beginning. Different ages. Different colors. Different backgrounds. United in making a big deal about Jesus.

Here’s how you can be a part of this…

– Sign up to help. Click here to be a part of the team – set up, decorating, serving food, running a game, bringing candy.
– If you can’t physically be there, bring us some candy. This is a great way to help.
– Show up. Bring your family and kids to participate in this experience.
– Pray. For opportunities to reach those who would not normally consider Jesus or the Church.

Looking forward to seeing you there!
-Grant

We are walking through the gospel of Mark here at Western Hills Church this month. Truth be told, it’s the gospel I’ve read the LEAST. You could probably call it “The Forgotten Gospel” as far as I’m concerned, which I admit is a bit embarrassing. On the other hand, I can explain my obsession with the other gospels. John: the connection to Greek culture and philosophy. Matthew: his obsession with Jewish history and scriptures. Luke: his heart for the outsider and the marginalized.

Mark? Uh… yeah. About Mark.

I know a couple of things about the gospel of Mark. I know it was written by John Mark. I’m mostly convinced it was the first gospel written (around 50 AD). We know it’s basically from the perspective of the apostle Peter. We also know that John Mark was the guy that quit on Paul’s first missionary journey. When Barnabas wanted to take him on the second one, Paul lost his marbles about it and broke up the band because of him. (Eventually, Paul came around.)

What else? I’m not really sure. And that’s where my weekly devo comes back into play!

The plan is fairly straight forward. Every week, I’ll jot down my notes and thoughts as I study through the gospel.

What do I hope to find?

I have no idea… I do know that the Gospels still capture me.

Yes. That’s exactly the word I’m looking for – CAPTURE.

Do you remember the first time you read THAT BOOK? THAT BOOK that opened up a new world to you. That made you hide under the covers with a flashlight because you HAD to know what happened next? That started you on this road of imagination and dreaming? That turned backyard forts and tree houses into castles or dragon lairs? THAT BOOK that would not let go of your heart? That created more questions than answers?

That’s what The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe did for me. It’s what the Gospels still do for me today. The difference now? The Gospels are truth. They bring life and hope. Instead of transforming backyard forts, it changes hard hearts. The dragons may very well be more metaphoric, but they are just as real with just as real flames.

After all these years, I return to the Gospels, and I still wrestle with questions. I’m still in awe of the audacity of whole premise of the story. A Creator who has watched His creation reject Him. A Creator that IS love above all. So instead of a power play of manipulation, He makes a bold move of self-sacrifice.

What do I hope to find? Maybe a better question is… what do I hope finds me?

Then the Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted….

At the end of my Army Officer Basic Training, there was a comprehensive final called “Operation Cutthroat.” The final was not a written test but rather a 17-day test of platoon and company sized missions. Seventeen straight days of living in the woods, installing minefields, clearing minefields, blowing up bridges, building floating bridges, and every other skill they had trained us to do over the previous 4 months. We would perform these missions while being attacked by various kinds of opposition forces (OpFors): ambushes, snipers, airstrikes. And most of these missions would be on minimal sleep and food.

After all of the training we had gone through, most of us were not dreading it at all. We’d spent months training for this. The guys (and gals) in my class were very good. We had a great platoon.

It was all going great until 3 minutes after our first formation at 4:00am on Day 1.

It started raining.

Not a late afternoon sprinkle.
Not a 30-minute thunderstorm.
A sheet of continuous water so thick you couldn’t see 6 feet in front of you.
Rain that hit the ground and bounced up.
Rain that soaked through solid steel.
Rain that lasted 7 days.
It was never NOT raining.

Then it stopped. For 27 hours.

Then it rained again for 8 days.

It was beyond any kind of misery I had ever endured. No sleep. Little food. Cold. Wet. Stressed. Angry. Frustrated. We complained. We yelled. We were short-tempered. We were beyond miserable.

But nobody left. Nobody quit.

We volunteered for this. As bad as this was, we all knew that war was worse. Within weeks, each of us would be entrusted with the lives of hundreds of soldiers. It was for the best of us, and for them, to go through this wilderness experience. To avoid the wilderness is to avoid the core reason why we were there in the first place.

________________

Humanity did not need another conquering hero. Humanity did not need a physician to heal every physical ailment. Humanity did not need another religious leader to establish a new religion. Humanity did not need a genie to provide unlimited resources.

Humanity needed a heart transplant. Humanity needed a new heart that was not jaded with self-preservation, nor corrupted by selfish desires, or broken by selfishness. In short, humanity needed a heart that wasn’t consumed by sin.

And there was only one way for that transplant to happen. A Savior with a perfect and pure heart would have to give His away. Not for selfish glory but for self-less, unconditional love. That meant going to the wilderness… and along the way, this selflessness would defeat death.

That may sound like a tragedy, but it’s gospel. It’s GOOD NEWS. The essential thing we need was the essential reason Jesus became flesh. He went to the wilderness. Not just one time in the story… but over and over and over again. Culminating at a cross on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Come take the journey with us through the Gospel of Mark and watch the story unfold. Absorb it. Let it change you. Walk with the Savior who walks into our hurt, our chaos, our despair, our sin, our brokenness to redeem. To make new.

This is the BEST NEWS you’ll ever experience.

Grant

THIS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH | 6:00-7:45PM | WHC GYM

Church Family,

This coming Monday night will be our first LEAD Night. Food starts at 6:00. Sign up for childcare if you need it. I’ve been looking forward to this since this past spring. I really believe that these LEAD Nights (3rd Monday of the Month) have the potential to make Western Hills healthier and more effective in living out the reality of Jesus for our city.

Why do I believe that?

It’s starts with this foundation: Western Hills has GREAT leaders. I’m spoiled rotten. If there is a need, you respond. When an ask is made, you exceed expectations. When I go to a city meeting or event, I constantly hear our community brag on people who go to Western Hills and their impact.

But we can be better…

The harsh reality of churches is that the focus is on running programs and recruiting volunteers to work them. There’s something flawed with that approach over the long haul. It’s task oriented, not relational. It’s more about keeping a program alive, as opposed to effectively engaging our culture. It lends itself to treating leaders like resources, instead of people. I’ve been guilty of those things. If we’re serious about living out the reality of Jesus to every person, in every place, all the time – that mindset MUST change.

We must STOP recruiting people to a program and START developing people for a purpose.

That’s the heartbeat behind LEAD Night – to start developing people for their purpose – to live out the reality of Jesus. Why should you be there?

LEAD Night will grow your relationship with Jesus.

It will make you a better leader not just for the ministry you serve in but all of the places God has put you in.

You will learn spiritual principles that can be immediately applied in your life.

It will put you around the table with other leaders to encourage and inspire you. If you’re curious about serving, then it will give you the backstage pass of our ministries.

Everybody wins when a leader gets better. So this is your official invitation to join us Monday night.

See ya’ soon,

Grant