I have asked Marybeth Lanius to write this week's HCC Blog. Marybeth is a regular part of HCC and leads our Survivors Support Group.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Shortly after my last chemo treatment in June of 2020, I was struggling with the “what ifs,” the “what’s nexts” and the “what nows”. Unfortunately, after being entrenched in active duty (chemotherapy), a cancer patient must learn to LIVE with cancer.  

On 6.17.2020, I wrote this exact entry in my journal:
Last night I was suddenly overcome with tears. I cried to God…the same fear that repeats in my head throughout the day – in different formats. I am so saddened by thoughts of leaving my family too soon or even being sick over and over again. I will do anything to keep that perpetual pain away from them.  I closed my eyes and just listened…and heard these words “Believe it! You will live.”

Our Christmas decorations include the Christmas bells we received when we took two of our grandsons, Gavin and Connor, on the Polar Express train a few years back. 

Last year, Connor begged to take one of the bells in the car to play with on the trip back to his house. I forgot about that lost bell until the day after I heard the words “Believe it! You will live.” I was driving down the hill from our house and heard a distinct jingling. As I ran my errands that day, every once in a while, I would hear the ringing sound again. 

That night I told my husband, Brian, about it. His response was, “Haven’t you heard that before? It’s the Christmas bell that Connor left in the car last year. I hear it every time I drive your car.” I was amazed. I promise I had not heard that bell ring until that very day. 

Upon decorating that next December, I decided the tree looked full enough even though there were still a few little wrapped ornaments left in the bottom of the tub. I thought, ‘just one more,’ and then I’ll be done. So I unwrapped the crinkled, red tissue paper, and out fell the other Christmas bell AND a silver heart ornament with the word HOPE etched on it. 

My heart jumped! There it was again…another reminder for me to believe that I will indeed live a longer life – and finally, an eternal life with Jesus.  

PS If you have a heart for the sound of bells ringing this season, please sign up to help with the Salvation Army bell ringing during our annual road trip session! It is a wonderful way to get the family involved with holiday giving.  CLICK HERE

Recent headlines caught my attention this past week. 


“Want to be rich? Now you can!”
“Three life-changing ways to be rich!
“Ways you can become rich!”


Of course, those kinds of headlines have been a part of our culture for decades. 


One headline you won’t often see is “How to be rich in good deeds.”


That line comes from a little letter in the Bible written by the Apostle Paul, who is encouraging a young man he has been mentoring by the name of Timothy. Timothy is pastoring this little church in the town of Ephesus. (Modern name today is Selcuk, located in Western Turkey.)


The context for being rich in good deeds is found in 1 Timothy 6:1:

“Teach those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Teach them to do good, “to be rich in good deeds.”


At HCC, this is the season for us to “be rich in good deeds” through our annual ROAD TRIP. During this season of generosity, we are CHOOSING TO LOVE by serving non-profit organizations and under-resourced families in our community. 


Follow this link and learn “How you can be rich in good deeds.”
CLICK HERE

“The role of the leader is to define reality and give hope.” This famous leadership quote is credited to Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France.

As a leader and pastor, I’d like to reframe that statement by saying that the role of leaders is “to help see what is so that we may have a vision for what could be.”

Recently, people at HCC filled out a survey. The purpose was to assess three things:

1. The demographic makeup of HCC post “Covid Quarantine.”
2. The spectrum of HCC people’s Spiritual Journey
3. Identifying needed spaces for our future facility at Gig Harbor North, presently being designed by BRCA Architects. 

These results provide a realistic view of where we are as a church today and will now offer a road map to create a desirable future to impact our community for the next decade.

CLICK HERE to see some of the results.

This week I have invited Adele LaCombe, the CEO of Debbie Macomber Inc, who is a regular part of HCC and serves on our Council, to write this week's HCC Blog.

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28 – 30)

After 30 years from schooling, I decided to return to college as part of a program with YFC. I started college right out of high school but never completed it. I could have been a better student and did trade school instead. Truthfully, I've done fine for myself in all the years since, so going back was a bit intimidating.

It's been quite the adjustment to my life, with many work assignments due. Recently, I stayed late into the night at my office, taking my first open-book test. It took three hours, and I completed it at 9 pm. I hadn't had dinner and was exhausted. As soon as I hit enter, my score came back. I got a 68% for my first grade after thirty years off. 

I wanted to put my head down and cry. I wanted to call it quits. Insecurities I hadn't experienced in a long time came to the surface, and suddenly, my identity came into question.  

I'm fifty-one years old; I thought I was confident in my identity, and this test score reeled me. 

Do I truly understand what it means to be yoked to Christ? To let Him and his identity wash over and cover me and all my weaknesses? I need to accept that I may be a C- student this time, but I am yoked to an A+ God. And what might He have in store for me if I continue to lean into this journey?

That was several weeks ago. I continue to struggle on my quizzes. However, I do better on the written assignments, and in the end, I'm getting an A in the class. It is hard work; I'm being pushed to maximize my time and prioritize my calendar. I have learned that being a donkey yoked to a stallion is pretty amazing!  

One of the first things I learned in driver's ed as a teenager is to be aware of my blind spots while driving. These were spots that were not visible from my side or rearview mirrors. In addition, I was taught to make an effort to look behind my shoulders before changing lanes to make sure there was not another car in the lane I wanted to merge into. 

That discipline has kept me from numerous potential accidents.

All of us have blindspots, areas where our view is obstructed. The businesses we run, the companies we work for, and even the church we attend can have blind spots. 

In leadership circles, we often say, "a blind spot occurs when a leader thinks s/he already knows the correct answer or best course of action and is, therefore, unwilling to spend additional time listening to others."

At HCC, we have always valued collaboration. That means taking time to listen so that we can have the best outcome possible for most people. Indeed, you can't please everyone, but you can allow everyone an opportunity to voice their perspective on an issue.

This past Sunday morning, several of our Council members provided an update regarding our future facility. We are now in the pre-design process with the help of the BCRA architectural firm. At this design stage, we must identify all the spaces needed to fulfill our vision and mission as a church.

One way to ensure we don't have any blind spots regarding our future facility is to invite you to fill out this survey and provide your perspective.

CLICK HERE TO START THIS 4-MINUTE SURVEY

I have asked Ric Hansen to write this week's HCC Blog. Ric is a regular part of HCC and is the Lead Director of "Night To Shine" coming up in February.

Music and entertainment have been a big part of my life, so when I read about NFL star Tim Tebow’s worldwide event called “Night to Shine”, I was intrigued. I thought, hey, I could probably get a DJ and throw a dance party for people with special needs. Little did I know the enormity of the task and what a life-changing experience it would be. It was clear God was calling me to use the gifts he blessed me with to honor his special creations with love and compassion.  

Getting a DJ was the easy part. It turns out it was a night that was four months in the planning, involved over 400 volunteers, and included a banquet of food and beverage, corsages and boutonnieres, decorations, a hair, and make-up room, a relaxation room for parents, a sensory room for over-stimulated guests, medical staff, security, coat check, karaoke, prom pictures …and lots and lots of dancing!

The result on prom night was nothing short of magical. As our guests arrived in their finest party attire, beautiful dresses, suits, ties, and oh-such-amazing smiles lit up the room; our huge column of cheering volunteers welcomed them with applause, high-fives, and reciprocal smiles. 

I have never witnessed such joy as in that room for 3 hours non-stop. Our honored guests were beaming from start to finish. Then, the highlight of the night, when every one of them was crowned King or Queen of the prom, every parent, guardian, and volunteer could feel the love of Jesus in the room. 

Our honored guests had a fabulous night they would not forget…..there is no question. But the part I wasn’t quite expecting was the emotional and moving experience it was for every volunteer who helped make it happen.  

As we plan for our big event to return (after covid) on February 10, 2023, we are leaning heavily on the Holy Spirit to guide us and our many volunteers in this love-fest.  

To learn more about how you can help lead a team of volunteers: CLICK HERE

I have asked Daniel Johnson who is the Executive Director of Harbor Hope, one of our partners supporting Washington’s youth experiencing homelessness, to write this week's HCC Blog.

At 1:30 Eastern Time on September 8th, Charles, Prince of Wales, became Charles III, King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Like his mother, Elizabeth II, who “Went up a tree and came down a queen,” Charles’ title and authority were expanded in an instant.

The reality is that Charles, who was born in a palace, had his station in life determined by blood. Regardless of the day or time, the news of his mother’s passing came, there was no doubt that if he continued to live until her death, he would become a king.

Royal succession is a great reminder to people of faith: Our position is settled regardless of our circumstances. Our self-esteem may be in the gutter, and our behavior may reflect our brokenness more than our elevated place in the divine family. Still, our status as family members of God, our royal position, is never at stake.

Paul writes in the New Testament book of Ephesians (2:8,9): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” What does this mean? That even the faith we use to connect with God is gifted to us. Divine love is largely one-sided.

The breadth and depth of God’s commitment reaches its mic drop moment in something else Paul wrote in his lovingly-crafted masterpiece to the Jesus followers in Rome: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (New Living Translation).

Bottom line? God believes in us when we do not believe in ourselves. Confessing and living out of our position, which cannot be taken from us, is the secret to a prevailing life where grace and love carry us confidently, flaws, failures, and structural weaknesses notwithstanding.

Thank you Daniel for reminding us of God's indefinite love towards us!

Gino Grunberg

I have asked Ann Webb, who works fabulously as Director of Family Ministry at HCC, to write this week's HCC Blog.

Alithia recently turned five and had been asking her parents for a while about being baptized. So when she heard about the opportunity this summer, she asked her mom if she could.

When Alithia was asked why she wanted to be baptized, she replied, "I learned about Jesus at school and Church. I follow Jesus because I love him, and he loves us. He wants to keep us safe and love others. I want to be baptized because I love Jesus and want to live my life for him."

If you have ever had the privilege of meeting sweet Alithia, you would see how she exudes the love and joy of Jesus. Her mom tells us that there hasn't been a time in Alithia's life that she hasn't known Jesus. For some of us, that is our story, and some of us met Jesus much later in life.

Our preschool program at HCC uses a curriculum with three fundamental truths that we base all our lessons and activities on: "God loves me, God made me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever." 

God is doing big things at HCC amongst the littlest of our community… one Sunday at a time, one story at a time, one fun dance and worship party at a time, and one precious child at a time.

Jesus's very closest friends and followers doubted the value of Jesus spending time on little children. In the gospel of Matthew 19:13-14 (NIV), we read:

"Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

We are so grateful to walk alongside these children and point them to their best friend forever.

Marybeth Lanius is a beautiful gift to our church and this community. I have asked her to write this week’s blog. Read it carefully and forward it to all your friends!

In January 2020, when I was diagnosed with advanced staged ovarian cancer, I went from feeling shocked, to terrified, to betrayed, to lonely all in the first day.

Along with a plethora of mixed emotions that followed, I found myself putting more effort into being brave for others rather than getting better. Then I searched and researched everything about ovarian cancer – survival rates, traditional treatments, alternative treatments, side effects, surgeries—but I really longed to find women that were going through this journey alongside me.

My faith in God kept me upright, and I never doubted that He had me and was going to save me either now or later or maybe even bring me into His kingdom sooner than expected. I was blessed with so many people who loved, cared for, prayed, and cried with me, and I will be forever grateful.

Still, I so wanted, and needed, to have just one person that was the same as me.

Today, I am celebrating beautiful remission. It’s been over two years since my last treatment. And even though I feel physically better than before I was diagnosed, the journey is not over.

There is the aftermath of changing my lifestyle, walking away from my career, wondering when and if there will be a recurrence, follow-up scans and the anxiety that goes along with oncology appointments. And I frequently question what am I supposed to be doing now? What is my purpose? Am I doing enough?

One thing I know for sure is that talking to people who have been through a cancer diagnosis can be a very calming experience. Sharing those initial feelings, comparing notes on treatments, praying for one another, and even crying together is healing!

The Survivor’s Group at HCC meets on Sundays after the 10:00 service at the HCC office. This group is open to any woman seeking support throughout a cancer journey. Please, pass along this invite to whoever you may know that is battling this disease. We need one another now more than ever.

JOIN THE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP HERE.

Many of you at HCC are moving from isolation to community. Way to go!


As many you know and can attest to, relationships take time and effort to build, and they are organic in nature. However, two things to keep in mind as you move towards community:

1. Community is not something you find; it's something you BUILD. You want life breathing community that inspires you.? You want people to influence you towards a godly life? Do something about it. Build it, and they will come.

1. Community is not something discovered; it is something SHAPED. All relationships of worth are products of labor. Worthwhile communities are filled with people who are intentional about being in community.

HERE ARE SOME AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:

• You can view GROUPS at the HCC App on the FIND YOUR PEOPLE banner. There you will see some of the new groups listed this past week, like several men's and women's Bible studies in addition to a Doubters Club, Foster Parents Group, and a Couples Small Group Bible Study that meets on Sundays at 9:00 am.

• A great resource, "no homework Bible Studies," is also listed on the GROUPS site. If you go to whatever HCC GROUP you are a member of and view your group, you will see on the left hand margin a tab called "RESOURCES." Click the tab to learn more about these studies.

Join us Sunday morning as we continue our series with Episode TWO....

While on sabbatical, I am reading some of my journal entries from the past. Allow me to share the memory of using the same stick of deodorant for a year!

I was originally drawn to the bright green 'roll-on' for its enthusiastic promise of a fresh fragrant shower experience. It claimed to 'glide on clear' and was 'body heat activated.'

The directions were simple and easy to understand: "apply to underarms only." I could use the product without worry unless-it warned-a rash or irritation occurred.

No rash, as it turns out, but I did end up irritated!

I began to notice, after months of daily use, that the deodorant stick continued to appear brand new. The chalky white mini-monolith seemed to be miraculously regenerating itself. It never changed shape or color, standing at attention on the bathroom counter. It appeared to be mocking the toothpaste tube, slowly dying and curling up from the end. I had apparently discovered the fountain of youth in the perspiration relief category. 

While I found this product's longevity amazing, I did wonder how the company could maintain profitability without any return business. This seemed like the last stick of deodorant I would ever purchase.

I did, however, notice that the effect seemed more pro-perspirant than antiperspirant. The chalky stick had zero deodorizing effect on my native ambiance. It wasn't working. I felt confident in my application technique, but something was apparently wrong with the active ingredients.

The mystery unraveled itself early one morning when, upon close inspection under intense lighting, I found a nearly invisible plastic film protecting the top of the deodorant stick. It's known as a tamper guard. After tearing the tamper guard off and making contact with the target area, the process reversed itself. Now, an effective shower fresh deodorizer was at work, at the expense of its former everlasting feature.

Morning after morning I had been slapping away at my underarms, never engaging the active ingredients. I had been going through the motions without making contact.

I had unwittingly found truth in a non-aerosol package. A personal hygiene parable illustrates the downside of maintaining a protected and isolated life.

It does seem easier to leave our personal tamper-proof seals on, keeping our distance and not getting used by the people we make contact with. For instance, when somebody we know experiences profound loss, the urge to send them a note and quote something motivational tends to push back the instinct to reach out in a more personal way. Life is crazy enough, right? Why not keep a safe, tamper proof distance? 

It turns out to be very efficient and perfectly ineffective. There is no replacement for actual time spent together, hugs, conversations, and freshly baked cookies. 

As it turns out, when we are willing to strip off our tamper protection and make real contact with others who need friendship and help, we might well get depleted, but in the process, we can create something new out of a potentially stinking situation.

Find your people. In community, we live out the fragrant life that God calls us to.

This past Sunday, we started a new "ALL IN" series. We are focusing our time on Sundays asking this question, "What is our first step forward as a church in the 'Post Quarantine Era?'"

The first step is to move towards community and away from isolation.

Robert Putnam, a Harvard researcher, wrote a book called Bowling Alone.

He says, "Something about religion seems to cause people to become more satisfied with their lives, and that 'something' turned out to be church friends. Gaining friends at church seems to make you both happier and nicer. Church friends produce happier, nicer people."

Move towards community and relationships, and your happiness rate will increase.

One of the ways to do that is to become part of the HCC movement, "Find Your People," Once you join, you will have the opportunity to see existing groups (new ones starting every week, or you can create one). There are BEGINNER GROUPS focused on fun activities like pickleball, kayaking, walks, golf, etc. There are INTERMEDIATE GROUPS, focused on Bible or book studies, and then there are ADVANCED GROUPS concentrating on long-term support groups and deep Bible studies.

This is a work in progress, so keep checking in.

Join Here!

During my sabbatical this summer, our building task force was busy these last few months. Once BCRA was chosen as our architectural firm, the task force started meeting every other week and has accomplished the following:

• Applied for and received a $20,000 grant from the state for pre-design architectural drawings of our future facility. (Thanks to Steve Fisher, one of our HCC Council members, and our partnership with the Gig Harbor YMCA for that grant.)

• We completed a wetland survey on the property, and none of the wetland areas will be impacted by the proposed HCC Facilities. 

• A land and tree survey along with the title report has been completed. 

• We developed a preliminary outline of functional programs, with a list of required spaces and approximate areas identified. 

• Laid out a foundation for goals and a vision for the new HCC facility

• We visited Fircrest Community Center for facility ideas that serve the greater community.

Special thanks to our building task force members and their wise insight regarding our future HCC facility at Gig Harbor North. If you’d like to be on this task force, let us know. CLICK HERE

We’ll see you back at Gig Harbor High School on Sunday for our 10:00 am service. We will be starting the series "ALL IN"

One of the joys of leading and pastoring HCC is working with our HCC Council. This group of people who make up our board, tirelessly and passionately provides ongoing discernment and direction for our church. They help oversee the ministry of HCC, and they are a wonderful gift to our community. 
 
Though you may not see or know them, rest assured that they are some of the best volunteers at HCC. Here are their names so that next time you see them, you can thank them personally for their faithfulness. Also, include them in your prayers as they continually seek out the will of God regarding the beautiful ministry of HCC.

Adele LaComb
Steve Fisher
Adison Richards
Steve Brannon
Manuela Schwab

We’ll see you on Sunday at Sehmel Park for our 10:00 am services with awesome pancakes. Bring the whole family and your wonderful friends!
Gino Grunberg

A few years ago, 30 of us from HCC went to Israel. One of the stops we made was at the DEAD SEA.

Do you know why it's called that? Because nothing lives in it.

And do you know why nothing lives in it?

It has such heavy mineral content that the water cannot support life of any kind. It's so saturated with minerals that it chokes out all life.

So it's simultaneously decadent and dead. 

It's full yet empty. 

It has water, but nothing is living in it. 

It looks like any other body of water, yet it's dead, which is why it's called the DEAD SEA.

And it got that way because there's no outlet for the water that flows in to flow out.

We have been in a series called the Fruits Of The Spirit these last few weeks. 

Another way to frame this series would be to call it "The Flow Of The Spirit." As we allow the Holy Spirit to flow through our lives, with generosity, kindness, patience, peace, and joy, we create an outlet for the beautiful things God is doing in our lives. 

Essentially we allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us with whoever we come in contact with, literally becoming a "river of life." 

You can become the Dead Sea spiritually or allow the Holy Spirit to flow through you in real acts - in real generosity, real joy, real patience – in a life that lives it out from the heart rather than the head. 

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday as we conclude our series and celebrate Communion.

Gino Grunberg

During my sabbatical, I have invited Manuela Schwab, who is a regular part of HCC and serves on our HCC Council, to write this week’s HCC Blog.


When I first became a student of the Bible, I was in my early 30s. Reading Proverbs, I came across Proverbs 3:5-6, and the words immediately and powerfully spoke to me. To this day, these two verses still do. In


“The Message” translation, the text reads: “Trust God from the bottom of your heart;   don’t try to figure out everything yourself. Instead, listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;   he’s the one who will keep you on track.”


Until I became a follower of Christ, I had been trying to figure things out on my own. And many times, I realized how deficient that was because I simply couldn’t figure everything out on my own! As a result, I felt off track many times in my life. It was exhausting.


When looking at the structure of this Proverb, I could identify a promise (God will keep me on track) preceded by three commands (to trust Him from the bottom of my heart to not try to figure everything out on my own and to listen for God’s voice in everything I do).


Admittedly, following these three commands is still a challenge for me, but through and by God’s grace, I try, and I have seen His promise to keep me on track fulfilled in many ways since I have become of follower of Jesus.


Contrary to me, God always keeps His promises. Indeed, God is more trustworthy than I can possibly be to me.


How encouraging is it to know our Heavenly Father longs for us to have a close relationship with Him in which we can trust Him from the bottom of our hearts? And, we can be confident that God is with us everywhere we go because He tells us to listen to His voice in all we do. If He wasn’t always with us, we couldn’t listen for His voice. That’s assurance only God can provide.

During my sabbatical, I have invited Carolyn Ritson, who leads our grief support group and is a regular part of HCC, to write this week’s HCC Blog.

Most of us are familiar with the commandment :
      Love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14)

This verse is played out in the story of the Good Samaritan and Jesus’s response when asked who our neighbor is. He tells the story of a man who was attacked and left to die by robbers. A priest and a Levite passed him by.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine. Then he put him on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out 2 denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”(Luke 10:30-35)

In this story, Jesus is telling us that many avoided the hurting man for religious and tribal reasons. Yet, the Samaritan looked beyond and saw the man’s need and cared for him exceptionally.

When friends and family are grieving the death of a loved one, we often feel uncomfortable. We avoid them because we don’t know what to say or do, are afraid we will upset them, or maybe are fearful of our own grief. The Good Samaritan wasn’t required to help and likely was not qualified other than his compassion and generosity. We can do much for the bereaved with our presence, kind words, and physical assistance (cleaning, getting groceries, running errands…).

There are no magic words that will change the situation, but our presence can make a difference. It alone can communicate our compassion. I usually listen a lot and say little. I listen for where my neighbor is that day. Maybe she is angry at someone or even God. Perhaps she feels guilty for some reason or is even speaking her faith and quoting God’s will and ability to heal all. I respond according to where she is that day, not trying to change her thinking and supporting her process. And I know that she may be in a different place the next time we meet, perhaps better or more deeply grieving. We can be there. Present.

Grief takes time, often a long time. So our presence for weeks, months, even years is one of the greatest ways we can love our neighbor.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. (Proverbs 17:17)

Thank you Carolyn!

During my sabbatical, I have invited Sherri Lane, who is a Family Therapist in our community and a regular part of HCC, to write this week’s HCC Blog.


I’ve always been a somewhat anxious person.


In my senior year of High School, I was voted “Most Stressed Out,” which wasn’t exactly the legacy I hoped to leave behind as I graduated. So, when Gino asked me to write about my favorite bible verse and how it has impacted my life and my work as a counselor, it was pretty easy for me to choose which verse I wanted to write about.

I was 16 years old, living abroad in Germany as an exchange student. I felt sad, anxious, and alone when I opened my bible up to Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:


“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” 


At that moment, I no longer felt alone and experienced true peace and comfort, which I believe only comes from knowing God.

 
As someone who tends to be anxious, I have learned that the tighter I hold on and try to control, the more miserable I am. So I hold this verse close as a reminder that I cannot control what others do or what happens in the world; I can only trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him; in doing so, things will work out the way they are supposed to work out. Worrying about things does not change them, but trusting in God does bring me peace and comfort as I go through them.



In my work as a counselor, I try to help my clients embrace this idea. The more we worry about what might happen, the more we are robbed of the joy right in front of us. Being present in our lives and with the people we love is possible when we trust in the Lord and accept that we cannot control our surroundings or what others do. It doesn’t mean difficult things won’t still happen; it means we are not alone as we go through them.


Thank you Sherri!

During my sabbatical, I have invited Andria Stephens, who is a regular part of HCC and serves on the worship team, to write this week’s HCC Blog.


I headed to central Oregon with some friends for a Women’s Retreat a few months back. While there, I shared with a friend that for the past 8 months or so, I had felt a profound lack of joy.


This is not usual for me. In fact, I would say that joy has been a defining characteristic of who I am throughout my life. So this lack of joy deeply concerned me. Not able to pinpoint any one thing causing this, it was more a general sense of feeling “blah .”Almost numb. And I felt a weird sense of shame about it.


That night after confessing this to my friend, the worship leader referenced Psalm 34. I didn’t think much of it at the time as it was not a Psalm I was familiar with. But the following day, the Lord brought Psalm 34 to mind, prompting me to open my bible and see what it said. As I read, the words of verse 5 lept off the page to me.

“Those who look to Him are RADIANT with Joy; their faces will never be ashamed.”
-Psalm 34:5

In my conversation with my friend the previous day, I had said to her that I felt like I used to radiate joy…..that was the exact wording I used. RADIATE. I felt so seen and known by the Creator at that moment.


God revealed that my joy was missing because I had taken my eyes off of Him. My eyes were looking at the things and circumstances around me and allowing those to dictate my emotions and rob me of my JOY.


The Lord, in His kindness, reminded me of the truth, that joy comes when I keep my focus on Him alone. I felt that He gently held my face in His hands and said, “Keep your eyes on me. I’ll handle all of those things. Let my peace and joy radiate through you as you trust and follow me throughout your day.” Are you keeping your eyes on Him? 

One of the ways I keep my eyes on Him throughout my day is with worship music. Listening to and singing the truth of who God is and who He says I am, changes the atmosphere around me. Below is a link to a playlist of worship songs I am presently loving. CLICK HERE

Praying  JOY for you today!
Andria Stephens

During my sabbatical, I have invited Adele LaCombe, the CEO of Debbie Macomber Inc, who is a regular part of HCC and serves on our Council, to write this week’s HCC Blog.


Being the daughter of a writer, you would think that I would be drawn to words, but I tend to love numbers. They are so precise.


Often, I find myself searching for the right words, and I’m left feeling inadequate for the task. Yet throw me a problem involving numbers, and I can solve it with the exact answer.


My favorite number is 516. I almost always wake at 5:16 AM; it appears in phone numbers, addresses, and seemingly random places. I feel like God gave this number, particularly to me. He orchestrated the heavens and the earth for me to arrive on May 16th, so it’s my special number. Maybe that’s going a bit far, but you will see it everywhere once you’ve decided to claim something as yours.


Several years ago, I decided to go through the Bible and see what God had to say in every book in the 5th chapter and the 16th verse. Clearly, one of those verses must have been heaven-sent just to become my life verse.  



The Beatitudes fall in the fifth chapter of Matthew, allowing this beautiful verse to grace my birthday. I’ve adopted it as my life verse. Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.  



Through all that life has thrown at me, especially during the last two years, I want to shine as a light for Jesus. To reflect others towards Him.  


I think there are times we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves; we don’t want to shine. We may hide ourselves and all God has given to us in the back of the room. Yet God asks us to step out into the light to live into all He has called us to be. This brings glory to him.  


If God is speaking to you, He sees you! He wants you fully charged, do not dim your light. Live it at full wattage. For Him. He is glorified when you do. And others are encouraged by it. 


If you’re a numbers person, allow your love of numbers to draw you into scriptures. God is, after all, the Master Mathematician, and there are amazing formulas all over scripture to seek out and study. God is personal in his love for us, over us, how He speaks to us, and how His Word works in our lives.

Thank you Adele!

During my sabbatical, I have invited Ann Webb our Family Ministries Director at HCC, to write this week’s HCC Blog.
 
Some time ago, the HCC staff gathered and attended the Global Leadership Summit virtually. One of the speaker's talks was about regrets. He said something very profound, "regrets point to what you value. "I don't know about you, but I have always heard, "No regrets," "Move on," and "Don't dwell on the past." These cliches at the surface ring true. I just want to bury my regrets and not even think about them.


Regrets to me have always been a negative thing, a reminder of a painful past and things I wish I hadn't done or had done. I think of what I wish I would have said or didn't say, the risks I took or didn't take. I should have… why didn't I… if only I had…how could I have been so stupid…? Unfortunately, stuffing things down and the feelings associated with them don't make them not exist anymore. They are still there, just waiting for the moment to pop up and overwhelm us at the most inopportune times.


I believe this shame is one of the most effective tools for the evil one. It is a ruthless taskmaster that keeps us in chains and keeps us from living out the best version of ourselves and the person that God created us to be. It keeps us looking down. It inhibits us from looking up and seeing what God sees in us. It deafens our ears to our loving Savior's words of grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness.


Take a minute and write down a few of your biggest regrets. Next to your regrets, write down your feelings associated with each regret. I know this is hard. Looking at my life honestly and soberly is difficult. I must face the pain that I have caused others and the pain that others have caused me. It can be triggering and painful. It's OK to feel these hard emotions; no, not just OK, but it is good to feel them and get them out there. God sees you; I see you, and your feelings are beautiful.


We are human. This life is a beautiful and messy journey of sorrow, joy, shame, regrets, forgiveness, perseverance, humility, grace, mistakes, growth, love, rejection, and REDEMPTION. 

2 Corinthians 7:10 (MSG) says, "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets."
 
Our God, our Father, is a God of redemption. 

Now that you have done that hard work, the good part comes! Consider each regret… what does each regret say that you value? 

The other day I was also able to share one of my biggest regrets with my 26-year-old daughter, and by the grace of God, we have a very close relationship today. So I would like to take a risk and be vulnerable with you and share one of my biggest regrets.

When I was going through a divorce at age 29 with three young children, I wallowed in victimhood, and I interacted with my former spouse with disrespect and contempt at times. I regret that my children had to experience some of that and that I took so long to forgive him. Ugh… that was even hard to type. What are the feelings I have associated with that? I feel grief and sorrow, ashamed, guilty, heartbroken, distressed, resentful, and embarrassed. What does that regret say I value? It says I value respect, forgiveness, treating people with dignity, mercy, kindness, self-control, protecting children's hearts, treating others as I would want them to treat me, and marriage. 

Embrace this life for ALL that it is. ALL of it points us closer to Christ… the good, bad, and the ugly. Have regrets. Feel them. See them. Reclaim them and praise God that he has redeemed you for greater things!

Thank you Ann,

During my sabbatical, I have invited Daniel Johnson, the Executive Director of Harbor Hope, who is a regular part of HCC, to write this week’s HCC Blog.
 
Last night I watched a video on "How Michelin Star Restaurants Cut Their Onions." In exchange, I traded two minutes and sixteen seconds of life.
 
 Like me, you are subject to the human temptation of clicking down the YouTube or Vimeo rabbit hole. We can now binge-watch our favorite shows and spend hours and days amusing ourselves in ways unique to our mind's interests and wildest impulses. There is no end to our curiosity. Or is there?
 
There is a tradeoff with each click of the mouse and tap of a key.
 
The term memento mori, is a reminder of the inevitability of death. The phrase is Latin for 'remember that you die.' Memento mori jolts us to reality with the heart-racing reality we live our lives against the backdrop of a ticking clock.
 
The Bible has much to say about time. It says it can be redeemed (redeeming means to recover ownership of something). It says our days should be numbered. Since we have no idea how long our lives last, the idea here is to be mindful of the value of each moment.
 
 The Bible teaches that time is fleeting, and it makes clear what all of us inherently know, it is passing.
 
 What do we do with this blunt reality that can scare us to the point of avoidance? We embrace the fact that our moments count and that instead of wasting time, recalibrate not just to saving it but investing it. Relaxing and pleasure are not wastes of time unless excessive. Being hurried or worried or rushed is not a healthy approach either.
 
 Someone wisely said, "Jesus was never in a hurry, but he was always on time."
 
 Today (and tomorrow and the day after that), we can commit our way to the God who is the Way. We can cast our cares, fears, and anxieties surrounding time away from us in prayer and meditation. We can ask for forgiveness and help out with addictive behavior and the guilt that comes with it, breathe deeply, and fully inhabit the NOW.
 
When we are fully here NOW, NOW HERE, we have more wisdom on how to act in ways that impact FOREVER. Easier said than done. So let us all live the next hour well.
 
Ephesians 5:16 Making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. (New International Version)

Thank you Daniel,

During my sabbatical, I have invited published author Debbie Macomber, who is a regular part of HCC, to write this week’s HCC Blog.

For God hasn’t given us a Spirit of timidity but love, power and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
 
For as long as I have been a published author, when I autograph books, I include a Bible verse along with my signature. For many years that verse has been 2 Timothy 1:7.
 
I chose this verse shortly after starting my writing career. Until that point, I’d been a stay-at-home mom, writing from the kitchen table. It wasn’t long before I set up a home office and wrote there until our youngest was a high school senior. It was then that I felt the need to join part of the business community by renting space outside my home.  
 
Renting an office and hiring my first assistant was overwhelming; I was making decisions I felt completely unqualified to make. Because I needed direction, I decided to seek out the most successful women in our community for help. These wonderful ladies became my mentors. Because I had much to learn, we decided to meet for breakfast the following week. It turned out that we continued that tradition for over twenty years.  
 
We prayed for each other. We cheered each other on, offering advice and options. We shared our frustrations, our disappointments, and our successes. It wasn’t uncommon for us to loudly cheer or openly weep over our meals. I often wonder what those dining around us must have thought.
 
Early on, we decided we needed a Bible verse that would describe our lives and our work. We chose 2 Timothy 1:7. We felt that the Lord had brought us together to encourage and inspire each other. This verse seemed to exemplify the work the Lord had given us. None of us were timid. We loved and supported each other, and we were powerful women in the Lord.  

During my sabbatical, I have invited Family Therapist Sandy Brannon, who is a regular part of HCC, to write this week’s HCC Blog.
 
A few weeks ago, the women in our small group were able to get together as a group for the first time since the pandemic hit. I asked everyone to take a rapid COVID test. Why? Because I am immunocompromised. My oncologist told me I had a bullseye on my chest for the coronavirus, so I’ve isolated at home. However, at the beginning of the pandemic, our small group started meeting every week on zoom instead of our regular biweekly meetings. They were a lifeline for me. 
 
As a marriage and family therapist, I also moved my practice online. The hardest situations that I saw were those who had loved ones in care facilities in lockdown. The more support clients had around them in terms of friends, family members, financial stability, and faith, the better they fared. The same was true for their loved ones in the care facilities. One facility rigged a “hugging door” with stretched plastic across a free-standing door frame. Four holes were cut in the plastic for individuals to reach through with their gloved arms and hands to hug their loved ones on the other side. The need to “be” with one another is a strong motivator.
 
The worst part about isolation is that it can make us wonder, “Do I matter? Does anyone see me? Hear me? Do they care?” Those are the same questions humankind asked before the pandemic and will continue to ask. Children ask those questions regarding their parents, Spouses and friends ask it of one. People in crisis ask it in Ukraine, Africa, and next door. We ask it of God.  
 
We are wired for connection with both God and others. Do you feel seen, heard, and cared about? Do you communicate that you see, hear and care about others? Where does God fit in the equation for you?  
 
God tells us: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)  He’s on it. You’re on His radar. And he cares. Deeply.
 
If you are isolated, take advantage of opportunities to build relationships with others through small groups and volunteering when an opportunity arises. Build your lifeline with connections that matter. You’ll be stronger for it, and so will the people doing life with you.  

During my sabbatical, I have invited our Executive Pastor Caryn Bell-Palo to write this week’s HCC Blog.

Many of you know that I am an avid gardener. In the early months of spring, I find myself torn between wanting Winter to continue and desperately seeking warmer temperatures, longer hours of daylight, and the ability to add cheer through color all around the garden.


I often find parallels between life and gardening; spiritual life and gardening are everywhere. Here is what I have been mulling over recently. This is a quick pic of one of the garden spots in my yard. It captures perfectly the “in-between” season. Not yet finished with Winter, but hinting at the return of spring.


You can see that some of the early bulbs are green and healthy. Others are yellow and struggling. Here’s why. Each fall, like clockwork, we gather leaves from all the trees in our yard and cover all the beds for the winter season. It’s literally tucking in the fertile ground for a winter’s rest.


Throughout the Winter, and the timing varies, you will see the first markers of the coming season with bulbs beginning to send shoots through the leaves, seeking light to grow and bloom. Sometimes the blanket of leaves is so thick, heavy, wet, and mulching together that the shoots have a hard time poking through. Some shoots bend to the pressure, never get a chance at sunlight, staying yellow and underdeveloped.


It takes some time, but we hunt around the yard for signs of life trapped in the leaves. We scrape away the mulch and allow the previously stunted shoots to grow.


For me, the last few winter seasons have felt a bit heavy, like the blanket of leaves—heavy, decomposing, weighty. I am anxious to get beyond this season, see the light, and grow and bloom. But it’s been difficult at times to poke through. Covid, dissension, disagreement, anger, isolation, disappointment, hope, and hope cut short. I have found it hard to see the sun, gain nourishment, and think about actually thriving and blooming.


But then God…. While I find myself in this cycle of life, the anxious moments, the difficulty of pushing past the blanket of leaves, I believe that God sees something different. I believe that God sees and knows where we are at, where we are sprouting, just a hint below the blanket we have been under for a season.


I believe He uncovers slowly, in his light, the path to move ahead. In this new season, full of apprehension, hope, anxiousness, weariness, and a bit of giddy expectation…I am beginning to see a way forward. Are you ready to poke your head out, uncover and re-engage? I hope so; I get it. There is so much growing and blooming ahead. 
 
As He promises in Lamentations 3, God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.