Down to the South East Corner of Washington

It's Tuesday (8/1) and I am officially 1/2 way (6 weeks) into my sabbatical. Today I rode from Winthrop, WA down to the South East Corner of the state, Clarkeston, WA. It was hazy, due to fire activity in Idaho. I also experienced some remnants of forest fires where it looks like 1000+ acres were burned. As the ride progressed, it got warmer and warmer, until I got to Clarkeston where it was 103 degrees! Glad I'm in for the night with AC! On the way out, I stopped for coffee at Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Whisp, WA. This was recommended by the young couple this morning as I was packing up camp. It was a very good choice!! Great cup of coffee.

The ride took me along the Columbia River and finally crossing the Snake River into Idaho then back into Washington. It reminded me of the saying, "you can't get there from here!" If you're from South Carolina, you know what I am talking about.

Today's thoughts and concerns are about fire and the devastating effect they have one us and the world around us. Fire is a necessity to life. We cook food using fire and heat homes. To see the forest burned like that was very sad. However, I understand by reading an article from The Journal on July 12, 2017, 'Fire is important. Fire is necessary' as the headline proclaims. As part of the ecosystem, fires make things new! Yes, they are dangerous, especially if you have a house in their path, but once the fires have done their purging, the land comes back healthier than before.

This got me thinking about the spiritual aspects of fire. John the baptizer did say, "I baptize you with water. But the one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandles I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16 NIV) For us followers of Jesus, we understand him to be the one who renews us by purging us of our sins, much like fire that makes things new. So, when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, we take our place in the renewal of the world through Jesus' teaching by following him and participating in his movement in the world.

Fire is referenced in scripture several places. One that comes rushing to the front of my mind is the "refiner's fire" mentioned in Malachi 3:2. "But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes." (Malachi 3:2 NLT) Referring to the "one who is coming" the Christ, who will renew the world like a blazing fire... People that know something about refining metal know that it is heated to a molten state, then the impurities are skimmed off the top. The metal is then cast and polished until the refiner can see his/her reflection. This has all the implications of making us as followers into his likeness by molding and forming us after we have been made new as followers. Fire is also mentioned in the scene at Pentecost as the presence of the Holy Spirit that "burns" within us.

Now, I'm not suggesting that we go out and set any fires... it's only a metaphor. However, thinking about it... the only church I knew of in Rowan County,  NC that was growing substantially in a healthy way was a church that had burned down 3 times in it's 175 year history. Each time, the congregation had to define itself and rebuild, reevaluating who they where as followers of Jesus Christ and what their mission was in the world.

Challenge to Self: Kindle the fire burning within you to be courageous enough to do the things that will help give new life.

Challenge to Trinity: Let's "Burn down the house" 🔥 (metaphorically 😳). Let's do something so drastic and defining that will cause a wave of renewal throughout our congregation and city and county and state and country and world. Now, what might that be? If we don't know, let's find out! Yes, that seems like a tall order, but let's do it in baby steps, letting the spirit guide us. Fire is necessary, Fire is important! - and I will add, fire is dangerous!