Dear Family and Friends of The Neighborhood Church,

In the face of recent maladies and tragedies, I have been reminded once again of our use of the term “blessing”—as in, “We were really blessed by avoiding catastrophe when that tropical storm blew through…”. Others said, in the aftermath of an event: “At least we have each other. We were really blessed.”One woman, freshly plucked from disaster, proclaimed: “We’re so blessed!”

And, of course, all of this is true.  But what of those who lost their lives? Or had their livelihoods and/or homes destroyed or ravaged? What about the families that were broken—even, destroyed? Does that mean that they weren’t “blessed”, but somehow cursed?  Were they bad?  Did they live wrong? It could come off that way if we use the term too loosely.

And what does that communicate to the world who may or may not be connected to God? Because our use of the term “blessing” most often means the recognition of a Divine Benefactor—a God of providence and mercy, who generously grants us life and all that we need from day to day. For others, it’s simply an expression—almost as if to use “blessed” as a nice sounding replacement for “lucky”.  Just doesn’t sound so Las Vegas-ish.

Consider the word of God as shared with God’s people by the writer of the Book of Deuteronomy: “Behold, I set before you today life and death—blessings and curses. So, choose life so that you and your children may live!” (Duet. 30:19)

It’s not our use of the term “blessings” that’s a bother. But in Scripture, “blessings” are always found in people, a sense of well-being, our profound and grateful understanding that God cares, and that God provides. NOT material things. NOT treasure. NOT power and might. And understanding that our good God is behind, before, and beside us can happen in the face of the most mundane things in life. or during calamity, or when experiencing great relief and joy.

BUT, the opposite is NOT true. People who suffer, seem defeated, have life turned topsy-turvy are not cursed—God did not make that happen. Or somehow miss them when the blessings were handed out. It is weather, bad actors, sin, and even evil that curse our lives.  And as the verse says, even in the face of the tough stuff of life and in death, we can choose to see God’s blessing activity, and choose to live in it! Scripture calls this real living…abundant living…well-being.

Here at The Neighborhood Church, we have so very much to be thankful for—beautiful location and unique facilities, wonderful Spirit-filled leadership, marvelous people, and all of the resources we need to be the people of God in this place and time. We simply lack nothing! We are truly blessed, and you are a living, breathing blessing to others. And if things change, fall apart, come undone, disappoint we can still regard ourselves as “blessed”.  According to God’s word, it’s a choice we make. Because we have faith in a great and amazing God—shown to us in Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe it to be so.

Several of the latest and greatest blessings in my life as your Intentional Interim Pastor come in the shape of people who have agreed to say yes to the call to serve as the Transition Team—good and gifted people who will work closely with me in gathering, processing, and interpreting information and input about TNC from all of you over the next few months via Listening Sessions, conversation, and written surveys. Members of your Transition team are:

        Lara Curtis    Tom Gates    Melessa Humiston    Jeff Johnson
    Phil Kassouf        Michael Moorhead        Mari Poturica
    June Spilburg        Karen Tucker

Thank them for their service, and feel free to share with any of them your questions, needs, hopes, and concerns. Together, we will hopefully all be about the Biblical business of “choosing life’—abundant, joyful, and grateful. Perhaps these attributes will be the hallmark and legacy of this place. It’s our choice, you know?

Pastor Rick
Intentional Interim Minister