This week's post by Theresa Adams

Our boys are six and almost nine. That means we are departing from the little boys stage and entering into the big boy stage. Our kids are the ones now finding out ways to climb on top of the play structures at parks. They are the ones occasionally rolling their eyes and learning what boundaries they can push. They are the ones asking for house keys and cell phones (No. Just no.) As we learn to navigate this new season of parenthood it is tricky to not look too much ahead to where we hope our kids to be and wish them out of where they are. It is a balance to not get down on them so hard that we don't remember where they were. It's easier to point out what they still have to work on then it is to praise them for what they've done. It takes being intentional to not compare them against another kids progress. To remember that they will all learn math, eventually. They'll all be able to run a certain amount of laps at one point. How and when they get there just varies.

That's kind of how we are with spiritual growth, isn't it? Although no calendar or time piece can measure our growth we are constantly focused on where we should be or where we think God wants us to be that it overshadows where we are coming from. We get down on ourselves for not being at a certain point yet that we can forget where we've been. We continue to get down on ourselves for not  spending more time reading our Bible, for not knowing as much as we should, for being too short with a friend, for not being as quick to forgive. We can spend so much time on the "woulda" and "coulda" and even "shouldas" that we completely forget what once was. We lose sight of where we've been. Instead of thinking, gosh, it's a miracle I'm even here. Getting to live this life. Spending time doing these things. We just focus on what we aren't doing. How we aren't living.

In her book, For The Love, Jen Hatmaker says: "You are doing a better job than you think. Self-criticism sometimes improves best practices, but it can also lie to you and probably has. You may need to ignore your mind and watch yourself for awhile." She goes on to say, "Condemnation is a trick of the enemy, not the language of the heavens. Shame is not God's tool, so if we are slaves to it, we're way off the beaten path. And it is harsh out there, debilitating actually. If you inner monologue is critical, endlessly degrading, it's time to move back to grace."

Grace. "The love and mercy given to us by God, because God desires us to have it not because of anything we have done to earn it." What if, instead of thinking about how far we still have to go, shaming ourselves for not being there yet, we take a minute to think about how far we've come? What if instead of beating ourselves up we soak in the grace that's so freely available to us.  As Rob said recently " Change isn't just possible it a guarantee."  I don't know about you, but that is some good news.The good news is that God isn't looming over us with a measuring stick. Tapping his watch, saying "tisk-tisk" that we aren't "there" yet. Rather I'm starting to believe He's actually waiting over us cheering us on. Seeing growth in us that we don't see in ourselves. Elbowing the angels "did you see that? That ones mine."

I recently had a friend ask me some questions about my past. She had heard bits and pieces over the years. But she wanted more. In talking to her and sharing with her it made me realize just how far away I am from where I once was. Isn't that amazing? Not in a look-at-me-and-what-I-have-done sort of way, but in a wow God sure has been graceful with me sort of way. Does this mean we look back with regret? Does this mean we look back and glorify some sordid past? No. We don't even need to dwell there. But, what we can do is glance back and see the progress of what we've, with the Holy Spirit, have made and look forward to what's to come.

I am a miracle. And so are you. Perhaps your past isn't nearly as checkered as mine. Still it's just as amazing you are here. Whatever your "here" looks like if you are keeping your eyes on Jesus most likely it looks a lot different than your "there."  Last time someone wronged you were you a bit quicker to forgive? Did you hand out grace instead of disfavor? That's remarkable. Are you becoming quicker to repent? More sensitive to sin? Amazing. Do you have a growing interest in God? Are you wanting to learn more about Him than you did a year ago? 5 years ago?  Are you finding it easier to love others? Were you able to stuff your selfishness aside and give of yourself to someone when you didn't feel like that? That's a miracle right there. All of the steps no matter how minute or mighty are worth celebrating.

What if we were better at celebrating? What if we were just as quick to share our triumphs as we were our failings? I think we can all agree life is hard. All the more reason to lean in to others when we see growth. When we recognize something in someone that wasn't once there. When we can say "I'm not who I was." Let's not just get together when we need prayer or when we are struggling or when life is seeming too much. Let's not discount the steps we take no matter if mammoth or mini. A step is a step. One step closer to the person God is shaping you to be.

In our family we have started to celebrate when our kids are courageous. When they try new things or when they don't give up on a difficult situation. We look ahead for those opportunities with expectancy and anticipation. Why should it be any different with us and our walks with God? If we know Him and believe in Him then we ought to look forward with expectancy to the works He will do in us.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 
Philippians 1:6

Post by Ashley Bowie - Sapling in progress.

I’ve been a Christ follower for a majority of my life. At about the age of eleven I walked quietly to an alter during the midweek worship service at my church. The children’s pastor came and put an arm on my shoulder and asked me what I wanted to pray about. I told her I wasn’t good at being good, I didn’t know how to do all the right things all the time. I don’t remember much else about what we said, but we prayed together, I asked forgiveness for my sins and prayed that Jesus would live in my heart and teach me how to be good.

I’d like to tell you that I have never once wavered from my faith since that day. I wish I could say that I learned how to be good and am now an expert at it. But you’re smart, and you would know I was lying. In fact, from that day on, I did devote myself to being good. I read my bible, I prayed, I attended church, memorized scripture, went to church camp and worshiped my God with abandon. I learned which sins were socially unacceptable, and what sort of girl I was supposed to be. Though I was young, and though “church culture” has a tendency to capitalize on the idea that we are to “be good,” I did have some deep, life changing moments with God during that time. In spite of all the world’s best efforts to distract me with religion, I can recall the simplest moments sitting alone with God and knowing with certainty that I belonged to Him and He loved me.

One of the sweetest memories I have, is coming in from swimming in midsummer, exhausted, all played out and happy. I fell onto my bed in the late afternoon and let the sun warm me, my mind was wandering around all of the fun I had that day, and landed abruptly on Jesus. I picked up my bible and read:

1 John :18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

I laid back on my bed and breathed pure truth into my lungs. My heart was overwhelmed there by the fearless love of God. Call it the sprouting of a seed, the first inclination that I did not want to “be good” I just wanted to be near to God.

I have sinned a lot since those sweet days. In fact, I think I am even worse at being good than I was as a child. I have fought depression, anxiety, anger, fear and mistrust in my good Father. I have manipulated scripture to “mean” what I wanted it to, and I have ignored God and my bible for months on end.

But the little sapling from so long ago has remained firm, has grown to a full tree that I cling to, remembering that though it costs Him everything, God is not afraid to love me. I have also come to understand grace in a deeper and more personal way than I could have imagined. I have tasted the sweetness of God’s presence, and His abounding love when I thought He would rather not deal with me at all. I have taped the surface of what it means to love God without fear, the way He loves me.

There are forests around here known as old growth forests. They are the ones that have been around for at least 150 years, most for longer. The redwood forest is one of the oldest, and is thought to date back at least one thousand years. These trees have survived bleak winters, dry summers, fires, insect plagues and worst of all, humans. Old growth forests have extremely fertile soil and are host to more varieties of plant and animal life than other forests.

Any culture has its fads, and Christians are no different. We seem to be in a fad right now, where we are looking for the most clever way to say a thing. We want the raw truth, sure, but give it to us in a phrase we can remember and pass on to people who need a golden nugget of wisdom.
In all the storms and battles of my life, when I was at the very lowest point, it was not a cleverly packaged phrase that I wanted to hear, or that I needed to pull me out of my self pity or shine a light on my dark fears. It was that ancient oak, born of the simplest sweetest moment of love between my savior and me. It was the ancient wisdom that says; Jesus loves me, I am sure of this.

Isaiah 61:3 “...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Every mighty oak began as a seed. Every branch in you that bears fruit began as a seed and has been cultivated by the omniscient hand of the Father from the beginning until now. The longer you have a faith, the longer you are in Christ, the easier it can become to sort of forget or become bored of the old simple truths. They are like hymns that just tell you how it is, in simple repeatable verse, accompanied by simple instruments, beautiful in their place. Altogether forgettable if you aren’t paying attention. 

But listen, let it fill you; Perfect love that drives away fear, a garment of praise instead of despair, Love has nothing to do with punishment, joy instead of mourning, Oaks of righteousness, made for the display of HIS splendor. These are the truths by which God captured my heart. These are the truths I return to when the lights are off and my soul is alone except for God. 

Life can be bleak and difficult at times, you may not see any new growth, or feel like you are accomplishing any good at all. You may feel alone or lost or even too far gone for God to be willing to rescue you. Maybe you feel like God is treating you unfairly. In my most difficult moments, it was not new understanding or clever wording that made me turn and run into God’s waiting arms. It was the old growth, that has found me in the quiet, the ancient wisdom that was a seed when God designed the world, it sprouted in my heart as I was laying in the warm afternoon summer sun. It has been my source and sustenance through so many storms and has been there after I’ve wandered off, and come trudging through the rain and mud, home again.

This week, we get to hear from Dane, to hear a little bit about his heart for the church.

How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?

My wife and I have been a part of Redeemer Church for almost ten years; we came to Redeemer just a few months after Redeemer first started doing public services. About eight years ago I felt intrigued about what a deacon is within the local church. I began to research the qualifications of a deacon within 1 Timothy 3 and realized that Redeemer would greatly benefit having deacons within the church, caring for the church's needs. So I reached out to the elders of Redeemer, entered a process and became a deacon I believe seven years ago. 

What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?

I thought that deacons specifically only did mercy ministry work within the church, as you can see happen within Acts 6. Now there is some debate if these seven qualified men were deacons or not within Acts 6. I am not going to try and convince why I believe these men were the first deacons of the 1st-century church, but I saw an excellent example of particular people set aside to care for the practical needs of a local church body. I don't think my view has necessarily changed; I have always seen deacons having the duty to care for the practical needs of the church but what has changed is I think that serving practical needs includes much more than just mercy ministry. There are so many needs that arise within a local church, and the deacons have the privilege and joy to serve those needs to care for the community. 

What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?

I love getting to meet a lot of the different people that are a part of Redeemer Church. It is amazing, from a deacon's perspective to see all the different, unique people that God gathers around the gospel. It amazes me to see all walks of life gather together and become family members all because of what God has done, and He continues to do through the gospel. 

This week, we're meeting Christian as part of our Meet The Deacons mini-series.

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How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?
 
Christian: I joined Redeemer in 2010, and was commissioned as a deacon in 2013.
 
What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?
 
C: Honestly, I didn't really know what a deacon was. I understood that it was some type of leadership role, but that was about it.
 
It has been a slow process of learning what a deacon is, and I'm still learning. I’ve been shifting from a “doer” mindset to an “equipper” mindset. It's not the same as being a ministry volunteer, though I often do volunteer tasks. I believe that it is a position with the responsibility and privilege to equip volunteers to work as the body of Christ with their Spirit-given gifts to meet the practical needs of the church. It’s about delegating responsibilities to volunteers, and cultivating the gifts that God has given them.
 
What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?
 
C: I like that I get to serve the church. It still amazes me that I have a role in Jesus’ church. I think, “Why would God pick someone like me to serve his church?” The answer, I think, is because God wants to show his power, grace, and love through my service. He wants to show that it’s not about me, it’s about him and serving others. It’s humbling to really consider what it is that I’m doing while I’m serving – I am serving the church that Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, came to live and die for, establish, and accomplish his mission through. And really, that’s what all of us as Christians get to do as we fill the different needs in the church. It’s amazing!
 
The most challenging part of serving as a deacon, for me, is being a leader. Naturally, I think I’m good at “doing”, but learning to lead and cultivate others has been a difficult, but good process. I have been praying for the gift of leadership, and I have seen God give me opportunities to grow in this area and provide great resources to help me.

What’s the most common question you are asked about being a deacon, and how do you respond?
 
C: “So, what do you do?”
 
I usually respond with something like: “I coordinate the Cleaning Crew, which is Redeemer’s custodial ministry, making sure that our church buildings are clean and presentable for our church family and guests. I also help with various other needs that arise, such as filling in as Sunday Coordinator, or helping with the logistics of our Outdoor Work Party event.”

This week, as part of our Meet The Deacons mini-series, we're talking with Vanessa.

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How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?

Vanessa: 7 years at Redeemer. I’ve been a deacon for about 5 years. 

What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?

V: My understanding of the office of a deacon has not changed much at all. Deacons are called to serve the practical needs of the church and the community. I’ve learned that the specific role of a deacon does look different from church to church. 

What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?

V: I like being able to help where there is a need. I may not be passionate about everything that I do for the church but I am passionate about serving Jesus and the local church.

It’s challenging coordinating volunteers and the rewarding part is seeing how God does provide for a way to accomplish our goal even if we don’t have all the volunteers we need.

It’s also really rewarding to hear stories of evidences of grace from people at Redeemer. 

What’s the most common question you are asked about being a deacon, and how do you respond?

V: So you don’t work for the church? No, it’s all volunteer, though I did get paid to cover for a few staff over the summer.

This week's post by Brandon Adent, a deacon at Redeemer Church. He loves words, music, and words about music.

Before I became a deacon, I had no idea what one even was. The few places in the bible I saw them addressed had more to do with how one qualified for office than what they actually did, a question I still struggle with at times, if I’m honest.

The office of Deacon has service at it’s core, and tends to the tangible needs of the church they serve. Those needs differ from church to church, so the office of Deacon can be - and is - expressed differently between churches.

At Redeemer, the deacons all have their areas of gifting and service, but really, we all make ourselves available, wherever the need is. We want to serve Jesus well, to care for His people, and to help people serve in ways that are consistent with their gifting.

So, over the course of the next couple months, we’ll be peppering our normal blog with short a little bit of question and answer with some current deacons at Redeemer. This will hopefully give us all a chance to at least know who our deacons are, what they do, and why they do it.

Stay tuned to hear from Vanessa later this week!