New Hope at Washington Cathedral

by Pastor Tim White

Washington Cathedral just hired an exciting, new Youth Pastor, Jared Gallardo. Jared is 29 years old and just returned, with his wife Rianna, from teaching in Thailand. He has his Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry from Simpson University in New York. Rianna played college basketball at Simpson. Jared has his Masters from Azusa University in English as a second language, teaching English as a second language. They are an adorable couple and we are so excited to have them at Washington Cathedral. Jared starts August 15th and it comes at a perfect time to boost the youth ministry of our church. I know that 2020 has been a tough year for everyone but remember God knows the plans he has for us and they are to give us a hope and a future.

Your friend for the rest of our lives,

Pastor Tim White

Psalm 23

by Pastor Tim White

PSALM 23
King James Version

 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters.
 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
 I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me.
 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Some of the greatest words in all human literature. Recognized by all religions and philosophies Psalm 23 is memorized by children around the planet and relied upon throughout their lives. It echoes through hospitals, government offices, refugee camps and prisons throughout the world.
As many of us know there is Just something healing and restorative in these words.  It speaks to universal human needs and brings rest and refreshment.

Join me this Sunday at 10:30 am online as we dive into the exhilaration of the 23rd Psalm.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Refreshment Through the Psalms

by Pastor Tim White

Psalms Chapter One is the thesis statement for one of the greatest collections of human literature. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the wicked.”  This Old Testament blessed statement needs some unpacking to understand its vitality in our lives today. First of all, it applies to both men and women. It is a generic statement from ancient culture that thinks of mankind as everybody. Any other interpretation misses how this phrase is used in the Semitic word group, or ancient near eastern languages. So most modern translations of the Bible understand this and put it in their translation.  The New Living Bible uses: 
 Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked…

It’s obviously for everyone. But even more, the blessed phrase is a Hebrew word group. A word group in English would be “forget about it.”  It is a colloquial phrase that is so common that on the streets they become one word.  Blessed is the man (generic male or female). This phrase is picked up by Jesus and used in the Beatitudes. Blessed are you when…  Do you see how revolutionary this Psalms One was on its culture and following literary works? You will be happy when you are deliberate in your choice of who influences you.

There is so much here. Join us this Sunday as we study refreshment through the Psalms.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Online worship every Sunday at 10:30 am.  Join us on Facebook Live, YouTube Live,
or at our website www.wacathedral.org.

Let’s Make the Peace Work Through Teamwork.

by Pastor Tim White

Life is good.  Think about it - there is so much to celebrate, and we need to be thankful.  This week is going to be the conclusion of our series on peacemaking.  And we are looking at peacemaking in the “Corinthian Correspondence”. For years I taught a course on Corinthians Correspondence at Northwest University.  I believe it was a required course because my students were nursing students, teaching students, counseling students, and pastoral ministry students.  I loved the subject matter, but I also loved the students that I had over the years.  They were inspiring. I have stayed in touch with a lot of them and enjoy reading about their continued success.  One of the ideas that we focused on was discovering your gift mix and knowing how to get involved with a team using it.

In the middle of all the joys of life we humans have this major challenge.  We want our lives to count.  Every human being has this need.  Even when we are stuck at home during a pandemic, we need to know that our lives matter.  How do we fit into the big picture?  Well, l Corinthians lets us know that we need teamwork to make the peace work. We can all accomplish so much more as a team than what we could as an individual.  And that presents us with a problem.  All of our weaknesses that cause us not to engage with other imperfect people hold us back to the thrill of the adventure of life.  Do you want to grow in your enjoyment of the goodness of life? Then you need to enjoy the teamwork of life, so you can use your giftedness.  

Remember in the movie “Castaway”when the Tom Hanks character was stranded on a beautiful desert island in the South Pacific?  The landscape was beautiful to watch on the movie screen, but it wasn’t enough, so he fell in love with a volleyball with a face painted on it called Wilson.  We laugh at it, but it really was sad when he lost Wilson at sea.  He had a basic human need to have his life to mean something and for that he needed relationships.  Since he had none, he invented it.

Now, don’t think that I am encouraging each of us who are stranded at home to buy a volleyball.  But we still need to have our lives matter.  We need to be a part of a team (the church) in the great challenge of bringing peace to the world through the love of Jesus Christ.  Is that possible in our situation today?  Yes.  Is it going to be easy?  No.  But nevertheless, we can do it, as long as we all apply ourselves to using our gift mixes to form a team which can adapt to circumstance and let God prevail.  

This week let us all work on finding our gift and using it.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Powerful Peacemaking

by Pastor Tim White

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers”. Notice that doesn’t say blessed are the peacekeepers. Peace keeping is courageous and much needed in our day and age. But this is more active than that, we are called to be peace makers. Jesus is directing us to take a high road in the midst of frustration, strife and conflict.

DeSean Jackson made a mistake on social media for which he apologized later. He praised Adolf Hitler and his view of Jewish people. And in response there was a flood of commentary slamming the talented NFL wide receiver. The bashing of Jackson continued until it seemed it would never end. DeSean had said in his apology that his comment was naive, and he did not really understand what he was saying.

NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman stepped in and said that he would be glad to take DeSean Jackson to the Holocaust museum and they could discuss it in a conversation. Edelman said, “I have a lot I would like to learn and understand about DeSean Jackson’s story”. I have been to the Holocaust museum and that would be a breakthrough conversation for everyone.

Julian Edelman is a great wide receiver, just like DeSean Jackson, and he is the only Jewish American player in the NFL. At this time he is a peacemaker. Jesus is right, our world needs more peacemakers. I challenge you to be a peacemaker in your family, at work, in the church and in the marketplace. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

I love America because I follow Jesus Christ.

Before you get all upset at that statement hear me out. The greatest point in my life was when I decided to become a follower of Jesus. And as a Christ follower I know that no nation or person is perfect. But that does not prevent me from loving them. The beloved apostle John wrote in his letter 1 John, Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loves knows God. He that does not love does not know God because God is love. So beloved let us love one another.” 1 John 4:7-8
Do you have those verses memorized yet?

I love Kenya because Jackie and I have two children there that we sponsor through Orphan Outreach. We are sponsoring them until they graduate from college. Edinah is age 13 and she is in the sixth grade. And our new boy (our last boy graduated out) is Gedion he is only age 3. Jackie chose him because of his sweet face and his favorite food was milk. They both live in the second largest slum in the world. They have a well with fresh water and a new building because of Orphan Outreach and Washington Cathedral working together. When we sponsor a child there, it pays for their food, education, and medical attention. We have met with many mothers and the elders of the gang that rule the slum. We know the kids’ teachers and pastor. We correspond with them and pray for them daily. We hope to see them again in the next couple of years. Listen, we know Kenya is not perfect. Their medical system is good but needs improvement. They live in a democracy, but it exists in conflict. Kenya has drought, political unrest and needs both infrastructure and urban planning. Not perfect, but we love Kenya because we love its people. And we have friends in Tanzania, Uganda, DRC, Burundi, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Black lives matter. We love the people themselves, not just because they are black or African but because they are beautiful people made by our Heavenly Father. How can you not love Kenya if you love God? And the same is true of the United States. We love our friends and neighbors, police and prisoners because they are beautiful people. So, Sunday we celebrate the country we live in. Again, not perfect but we will work along with anyone trying to make it better. We can’t help loving America because we love God.

Join me in worship at 10:30am this Sunday on Facebook, at our website and YouTube.

The 6-Foot Freedom Fest has been canceled due to Governors rescinding
his previous orders until July 9th.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim

By Pastor Tim

We live in a broken world that is desperate for peacemakers. When I think of Washington Cathedral, I think of this incredible family full of peacemakers. Nancy McJunkin has led, I don’t know how many, small groups. But behind the scenes she has helped many people struggling with deep hurts. I can feel the heart of Jesus when he says with such emotion and blessing – “blessed are the peacemakers…”

Rick and Karen Kammerer are both diligent peacemakers and Rick’s work, after being a veteran, has been helping stop forest fires, and helping at vital times in the church. Karen as a Seattle police detective was always an astonishing peace maker. Howard Blair and Tony Othieno are peace makers. They have raised their spectacular family with wisdom and good hearts that as a Christ follower they each stir deep hope for the future. How our society needs peace makers like them today. To laugh with them and share with them gives one peace. Doug and Carol Meckling who continue to reach out to people and help. Even after their 37th billion anniversary they are still there for family and friends turning tears to joy.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.

Join me as we begin a new series this Sunday on the joyful journey of peace making.
Services are at 10:30 am Sunday on Facebook Live, You Tube Live, www.wacathedral.org, or on the WaCathedral App.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White

Happy Father's Day

By Pastor Tim White

Jackie and I were hiking in the Wallowa mountains with our family when our kids were teenagers. We had followed this same trail together when we were in high school. The kids kept running ahead and wondered if we were there yet. Jackie and I laughed and told them “when it looks like heaven we will be there.” In a short time, they came running back saying enthusiastically “this is heaven!” I set up the tent and built a campfire while we all prepared to swim in the sparkling, clear Wallowa River. Jackie started dinner and we caught some trout while warming in the sundown. We watched deer, elk, beaver, and bear feeling like we were a part of their family. The sun began to set as we put on our Jackets and we ate roasted trout which tasted like lobster. No fishy taste in the high Wallowa’s. We picked some huckleberries and tasty mushrooms. Jackie made fried potatoes with asparagus. It was a feast. And of course, we topped it off with some wild s’mores which we wrestled down at Safeway in Wallowa. It was quite a feast. We sat out on a 100-ton piece of granite to watch the ‘once in a generation’ meteor shower. It was spectacular. We were so high in the mountains it seemed like we were looking at the sky through a great telescope. While we were sitting there by the fire on the granite one of my kids asked me – “Dad, how can heaven be any better than this?” I paused as we enjoyed the cracking fire. Then I said, “let’s try and imagine.”

This Sunday is Father’s Day - don’t you want to enjoy it as we worship the God of the Universe together with our families?

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

What an amazing time we are living through! Pandemic, International protests about our nation, racism and conflict between families over our response to the times. And yet we are the church trying to survive.

I have received a lot of good-natured criticism in the last two weeks for speaking out on this subject. And to make it more fun God has allowed critics from both the left and the right. Many times, it is life-long friends who are authentically standing for the truth as Christian Conservatives. And then it’s from their kids who are just as sincere pushing for change on the left. In the midst of this I have said repeatedly that black lives matter and how we are trying to live it out as a Christ-followers. As we work together, we are continuing to be the Family of Christ - the Church.

For those who haven’t listened to me in the last few weeks or read my post to 23,000 people on social media I say again … The situation right now in our country is one where a huge percentage of our population is hurting, and they don’t feel safe. It would be as if a wife comes to her husband and says, “I am hurting, and don’t feel safe,” and wants to know if she matters to her husband. And the husband says, “All wives matter.” Of course, all lives matter to Christ Followers but our neighbors and friends need to hear us say that black lives matter. So, we say it boldly. I know that makes many others feel insecure and you also matter to me. But it is time to speak out to a segment of our population that has endured 300 years of slavery and injustice. They need to feel a part of the family. What a joy it is to be criticized by both sides it gives a strange sense of balance to this unusual experience.

I care about you and I do enjoy hearing your convictions and I am battling as usual to help the church to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” It’s not easy but it is adventuresome.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White

What sets we Christ-followers apart from the rest of the world?  There is an old worship song called “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love”, that encapsulates how we are to be different.  Here are the lyrics:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

In the midst of the pandemic, when tensions are heightened and many of us are not the best version of ourselves, we need to remember who we are: We are God’s children, Jesus followers, who demonstrate the Love of God in our homes and community.  This verse sums it up:

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15, NLT

In Pastor Tim’s 2-week series called “By Our Love”, we will be inspired to put our love into action, culminating in a joyful event on June 14th, from 2 to 4pm.  We hope that EVERYONE who is a part of the church in any way will bring non-perishable food items to the church. It will be a joyous parade, as our staff greets you and load your donations up to be taken to local food banks, who are in great need.

I’m excited about this opportunity.  Please come and be a part of showing we are Christians by our love!