Hey Everyone!
 
We're nearly mid-summer and it's flying by already! Sort of how life happens. One minute you're learning how to ride a bike, quickly followed by the awkward teen years that don't seem to go fast enough, then into adulthood, where you learn the actual value of how many ramen packages you can buy for a buck... and then smack! Mid-life crisis hits and everything around you isn't what you thought it would be.

Welcome to my world. In my 20's I had my life planned out. It was gonna be GREAT!  And then life happened and NOTHING went as planned. Some for the worse, some for the better. My journey is changing and I'm shaking off what's no longer working for me and taking a stab at new things, trying to find my new place in life. 

Shauna Niequist, in her book Present Over Perfect says "Some of us are made to be faster, and some slower, some of us louder, and some quieter. Some of us are made to build things and nurture things. Some of us are made to write songs and grants and novels, all different things. And I'm finding that one of the greatest delights in life is walking away from what someone told you should be in favor of walking toward what you truly love, in your own heart, in your own secret soul."

When I heard her speak those words (because I was listening to her read it to me on Audible!), I had to immediately rewind it like 10 times to listen to it over and over again. Each time I listened to it, I had a different response, ranging from gasping in near shock, to crying, to screaming "YES!" in my kitchen as I prepare dinner for the family. All because I'd gotten to a place where I felt like I've lost ME somewhere along the years, and became who others thought I should be or do or believe (former churches, family, past relationships and my own inner negative self). My journey continues, but it's just starting to look a little different now as I dig deeper into who I am and figure out my NEW purpose in life!

So where does this leave you and me?

Continuing our walk together, by recognizing and EMBRACING our differences, but not forcing our own expectations on each other. Working together in unity for the common good - for the love of Jesus and the world.

So this week, be intentional and reach out to at least one person who is different than you. Encourage them as they journey onward and spread love and peace to all.

Peace,
Stacy Henderlong
​SPV Administrator

Fake News
 
So who of you has ever read an article and gotten really excited or really angry over what you were reading, maybe even forwarded it onto someone or posted it on Facebook/social media only to discover that it was either a bogus tabloid article, a "too good to be true" sales pitch, or a fake news story specifically designed to get people wound up and "won over" to their way of thinking? I hate to admit it but I have been "suckered in" on a few occasions which is probably one of the reasons I have a certain level of cynicism and trust issues to this day. And yet, maybe in a good way I am a lot more measured and not (as) prone towards hype and hysteria.
 
The bottom line is this: people HATE feeling deceived or ripped off.  And if we are honest, this carries over into faith, religion, and "church". There have certainly been enough "fake news" stories about phony healing testimonies, preachers embezzling funds, having affairs...to cause people to have their own "trust issues" and cynicism when it comes to God, faith, and the church. Who could blame them? 
 
With that said I am still 100% convinced that "the gospel (good news) of the kingdom" isn't fake at all! But how do we know this for sure? Some might argue that there is no way to know for sure, but for me, some of the questions I ask are: are the poor and downcast being loved and encouraged? Are the hungry being fed? Are the homeless being housed? Are the sick being healed and the blind receiving sight? Are the captives being set free? Once hearing the message, are people more inclined to respond to others in love rather than hate or fear? That's certainly not an exhaustive list but those are a few indicators to let us know if we (as a church as well as individually) are on the right track and if what we are doing falls more under the category of "good news" rather than "fake news". 

Much love,
Chris

Hello SPV Family!

One of our family's favorite sayings is "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" which we claimed/borrowed/stole from one of our favorite TV shows "Friday Night Lights". I love this because it emphasizes a few things:

1) Clear Eyes: so often we lose sight of the important things because we're too focused on the peripheral, the distractions...choosing to fixate on the lesser and insignificant. I want to be a person who sees clearly and spends my energy on that which is important and lasting. 

2) Full Hearts: my heart is very full right now. I've never been more in love with Jesus than I am right now and I'm deeply appreciative of the Lord for the family and friends he's placed in my life. Being anchored in the truth that God IS Love and being surrounded by people who continually choose love (rather than conflict, division, grudges, unforgiveness...) makes for a Full Heart. 

3) Can't Lose: while the context of this phrase involves football, points, and winning and losing, it is often followed up with something like "if we do the right things, stay focused on what is important, and have each other's backs, it doesn't matter what the scoreboard says gentlemen, you'll be winners in my book." We need to keep score differently, not based on military conquest, squashing our enemies, padded bank accounts, fame, and who can stay looking youngest the longest. I want winning to be defined by how well we love, the level of our compassion, the depth of our gratitude, and choosing joy at every turn. 

Much love, compassion, gratitude, and joy to you winners out there,
Pastor Chris

My heart is racing. Oh my god I'm going to pass out. Why are my palms so sweaty? I feel like I'm in an Eminem song. Ok...This isn’t going to kill me. I’m going to be ok. I'm going to be OK.
  
   "Babe, you ready?"
  
   "Uh...I think so."
  
   "Ok. Let's go."

Roller coasters.

They've always been a fear of mine. While my friends spent their summers at top speed, flipping upside down, twisting around, and having the time of their lives, I stood with my feet firmly planted on the ground, clutching their purses and the lie that I was having as good a time as they were. I was scared. And I let fear control me.
And there I was, almost 30 years old, faced with the decision to conquer my fear or wimp out and walk away from another opportunity.
    
    This is not a rational fear. Hundreds of thousands of people ride roller coasters every day. I'm going to be ok.
   
    "Babe, you ok?"
   
    "I'm scared."
    
    "You're going to be ok."

For years, I avoided all the things I was even slightly afraid of. Roller coasters. The high dive. Difficult conversations. The doctor. All good (but not easy) things.

Let me make something very clear: There was nothing standing in my way except for me. No force of nature, no person, no law. Just me.
 
    "You ready?
  
    "Yes."
  
    "Good! Cause this ride is nuts."

A wise, bearded man (yes, it was my husband) once said that "The thing you need to learn is on the backside of what you’re scared to do." It hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe my fear was just an emotion and, like all emotions, deserved to be analyzed and processed. Fear is not always a bad thing! It's what keeps us from petting wild animals and trying to fly! But unhealthy fear will keep you from things; joy, opportunity, life.

So ask for help. Confront injustice. Apologize to your friend. Take a trip. Go to the doctor. Stand up for yourself. Whatever your unhealthy fear is keeping you from, run at it full force.

Maybe you'll learn that the thing you're scared of isn't all that scary.

And might actually be super fun.

In the spirit of hearing from different voices in our church family, this week's post is written by staff member, Stacy Henderlong.

Hey there SPV family!

We all come from varying backgrounds and spiritual/religious experiences. I grew up in a tradition based on fear of the end of life (hell). My church experience as a kid was quite boring and not very "spirit-filled" and led me to seek out the opposite when I left home for college. I ended up in some very charismatic churches for quite some time, and I became comfortable, always expecting a wild ride with Holy Spirit.  Then I entered into a season of working for a more traditional and liturgical church, that seemed a bit lifeless at the time. Then I came to SPV just 5.5 years ago. At first I was craving more of the charismatic and pentecostal feel and felt slightly disappointed that it wasn't a bit more exuberant in worship and prayer.

Now that I've been here a little while, I'm been stretched in my thinking, in my faith, and feel like I'm getting to a good place of balance. I'm now craving times of silence, solitude, and reflection and actually miss those times of liturgy - seeking it out online. I still enjoy it when the band gets rockin' during worship, but I'm also love those times when we can just sit or stand in God's presence and not a sound is made - and we just are.

My prayer life has also gone through this change - from crying out & begging God for things for myself and others - into more of a contemplative, peaceful time. I no longer feel like I have to pray for a certain amount of time or come with a list of requests, but just to sit and meditate. To be still. To listen. And to not be afraid of the quiet.

May we each find those times of solitude. May we seek them out, to just sit and listen.

Peace to you,
Stacy