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O Happy Day!
08/15/2004
"This is the day the Lord
has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
Sunday's Teen Service was
incredible! The singing was electric! The introducing of the service by the
reading of Psalm 100 by Tomas Gonzalez was inspirational. The opening prayer by
Eddie James was so real and unpretentious. After the opening prayer, the nine
teens baptized in the last two months shared for one minute each on the theme,
"what was awesome about being a disciple." Their gratefulness for
God's purpose, peace, people and perpetual grace literally brought tears to my
eyes. The communion was articulately delivered by Ezequiel Gonzalez. Then Lauren
Rasmussen shared her entire family's conversion during the communion, helping us
to focus on the power of the cross to change lives and families.
Later, the communion and contribution prayers, respectively given by Rodrigo
Luna and Shawn Quintanilla, were appropriately solemn and thoughtful. Then
another highlight for me, as a proud dad, was our teen summer intern Eric
McKean's sermon entitled, "One Consuming Passion." To close our
service, the congregation gave a heartfelt send-off (back to New Mexico) to our
women's summer intern Lauren. Then we witnessed two more baptized into Christ,
one of which was another teen, Chantelle Gemmill!
The main text of Eric's sermon
was Philippians 3:7-11. Eric reminded us that Paul after 25 years of being a
disciple wrote, "I consider [my accomplishments] rubbish that I may
gain Christ." Paul's one consuming passion was "to know
Christ." Eric addressed very sensitive issues: "false
guilt" keeps us from having a singular passion for God; anything that
becomes our first love (even a noble endeavor or dream) has the potential to
turn us from God; a warning to not set your heart on leadership to make you
happy; imitating Jesus' example of going to solitary places to be with God -
Matthew 14:13, Mark 1:35, and Mark 6:31; and a special admonition to the
Portland Church - do not idolize leaders, but appreciate God working through
leaders. He went on to say, leadership is essential in God's plan to build
churches, but make your passion to please God, not leaders. In all of this, Eric
shared very candidly about his sins and the discipling from the brothers in the
San Francisco Church that helped him to get restored last fall. Through the
Spirit working through their efforts, he became deeply convicted about the
emptiness of the world and that only Christ could totally fulfill his life. He
spoke so appreciatively of Russ Ewell, Zack Mariscal, Micah Weger and Todd
Singleton. He also shared about the upward call of his older brother Sean and
his passion for Christ. Later, he gratefully shared that being in the
"P-town" (Portland) Church had been the most faith-building summer of
his life! Then he gave a final challenge. He quoted his favorite movie Forrest
Gump as Forrest spoke to the grave of Jenny, "I don't know if we have a
destiny or if we all just floatin' around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I
think maybe it's both." Eric humbly preached that God does have a destiny
for us, but we must choose God as "one consuming passion" to make this
destiny a reality. I will never forget God's message to us on that "happy
day!"
A year ago this week was our
"Evening of Atonement" to heal our deeply divided and scarred
congregation. Now twelve months later, God has literally opened the floodgates
of heaven! During the past fifteen days, we have seen eight baptisms: Erin
Corbin, Kelly Stanley, Blanca Vasquez, Chuck Woods, Fernando Delao-Vargas, Maria
Magdelena Laguna, Joey Anderson and Chantelle Gemmill. We also witnessed two
very moving restorations: Cheryl Hunter-Morales and David Lindsey. And finally
we have been encouraged by four disciples placing membership: Julian Murguia,
Andrew Todd, and Carlos and Maria Diaz. Excitingly, four more disciples will
place membership next weekend: Matt and Helen Sullivan, Angelica Robles and
Cathy McRee. God has now increased our membership this year starting in January
with 120 disciples to now over 200 sold-out disciples! Truly, the angels are
rejoicing in heaven! (Luke 15:10)
Let us never forget our rebirth
through the water and the Spirit into Christ's kingdom and the joy of seeing
others baptized committing themselves to "one consuming passion."
Sunday reminded me of the words of the chorus of the old Black spiritual,
"O happy day! O happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how
to watch and pray and live rejoicing every day. Happy Day, happy day, when Jesus
washed my sins away!" Truly, "this is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Kip McKean
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