Restoration Blog

In a conversation with the Pharisees, Jesus made a surprising statement when he said, “the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21). Jesus made a bold claim that the kingdom of God had broken into the world in his person and ministry. Sadly, these religious leaders failed to see and behold it as the King and kingdom did not arrive as they expected.

Pastor Nate's book Recommendations for the New Year--available in the church bookstore.

When Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church in the 1st century, he encountered an unexpected adversary. As he traveled to Damascus to persecute those belonging to the Way, he was confronted by the risen Lord Jesus.

As a child, I didn’t mind a little turbulence when flying. I thought it was fun. But as an adult, not so much. When I’m on a flight that starts getting bumpy, I immediately tighten my seatbelt and grip the armrests. Don’t we tend to do this when things get shaky? Have you ever been in an earthquake, the passenger in a car going too fast, or on a boat rocking back and forth? What do we do in these situations? We look for something to hold on to that will steady us.

Prussian military commander Helmuth von Moltke, who lived from 1800 to 1891, wrote, “No plan of operations reaches with any certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main force.” Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson said something similar when he quipped, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Both men pointed out that no matter how great a plan one has for a battle, whether in war or a boxing ring, adversity will come and force you to navigate unexpected circumstances. Helmuth von Moltke said it more eloquently, Mike Tyson said it more memorably.

I remember the sense of freedom I experienced when I finally got my driver’s license at the age of 17. On my first day of driving on my own, I went to Alki Beach with my friends as we enjoyed the sun, sand, and waves. It was glorious!

I remember the days when my wife and I sincerely believed we were patient people. We believed this all the way until we had children. The Lord then graciously disabused us of a high view of our patience. Our impatience was exposed! Our failures often serve to remind us of our need for the gospel as well as our need for the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives...

Often when we think of worship, we think of singing and music. Though singing is a method of worship, it is not synonymous with worship. Worship essentially is assigning value to something. We give our attention and affection to that which is most valuable to us. When we begin to invest much of our time and our resources into something other than God, we are in danger of elevating it to an unhealthy level, which scripture labels as idolatry. Read more...

Pastor Mike Bullmore tells the tale of a man who traveled to the Louvre in Paris to see famous pieces of art firsthand. As he stood in front of the Mona Lisa, which is always under guard, he played the part of an art critic. He took his time looking at the piece from several different angles before declaring, “I don’t like it”, to which the guard replied, “sir, these paintings are no longer being judged, the viewers are.”

“One of the greatest influences in my life, particularly in my Christian growth, has been a faithful catechism, because it provided me with categories for understanding the nature of God and His Word. A catechism is not a form of empty recitation, but is a