Like a Rushing River

Years ago I lived in South Texas. It is not unusual to see rivers that for about 80% of the year are dry. The floor of the river is dry, cracked and dusty. If you dig down deep enough, you will come across damp soil and eventually water, but sometimes you might have to dig for a very long time. During the rainy season when the rain may fall at the rate of 1-3 inches and hour this area is prone to flash floods. It is an interesting phenonomon watching a river "come down" as the locals call it. First in the center of the bed of the river there is the slightest trickle of water. That trickle grows into a brook, then a large stream and then one can hear the water from a way off. It sounds like rolling thunder. And then you see this massive wall of water surging over the river bed, closing up all the cracked, dry, soil. The water replenishes the area around the river and brings life back to the river bed, the banks of the river and everywhere the life-giving water touches.

This is how I have experienced the Grace and Blessing of God, when I am dry and my life looks barren, when things look the most difficult and the mountain before me seems huge, God surprises me with a flash flood of grace and blessing.

We are in a time and place when it might feel that we are in dry river bed with no hope of experiencing the refreshing touch of God's blessing, but I know that God is in control and I can almost hear the roar of the water coming down the river!

Finish the Race Well

In WOW (Women of the Word) we are studying Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther. Ezra & Nehemiah chronicle a time in the history of Israel when they were asked to build the temple in Jerusalem and then rebuild the city. They faced obstacles, challenges and people who said it couldn't be done. They knew in their hearts that God had called them to the challenge and with His help they would accomplish what they were asked to do.

I imagine that if we spoke to every person, young and old, that attends Washington Cathedral we would have hundreds if not thousands of stories that would tell of the challenges that we all face.

God has called us as a church to build the Randy and Rod ReCreation Center. He wants us to use it to bless the communities that surround us. We are in the last several miles of the marathon called the Deepen Our Roots campaign. We can see the finish line. Our lungs hurt, our legs hurt and sometimes feel like rubber. We are thinking, I am not sure I can cross the finish line. But there is good news! We are not doing this alone, we are a group of saints that have joined together to build the ReCreation Center and with God's help, it will be built.

Join us on the greatest adventure and race of your life!!!!!

"Possibilities"

In my musings, I have wondered what the ReCreation Building will become, what gives it meaning. It is a building made of concrete, steel, glass, wood and a myriad of other building materials. We can walk through the halls and rooms and "see" the proposed function for each area. There are distinct rooms, we can see the gym, the pool, the stage, the counseling center, the offices, the classrooms, the library, the kitchen, the cafe`, and the nursery.



The ReCreation Center is not just a building. The ReCreation Center is a building that will become a home, a community center, a healing place, a safe place, a meeting place, a work place, a sharing place and a place of worship. As much as we have been excited to watch the progress of the the ReCreation Center, we should be more excited about the possibilitie that will take place in these walls. A child learning to read; a husband and wife putting their marriage back together; a senior or child with a disability having the freedom to move easier; job seekers learning how to write a resume`; hungry people being fed. People will have their spirits touched by the music and drama that will be performed, children and adults will learn to dance, sing, paint. The possibilities are endless. We only have to imagine and dream of what God is going to do in and through the ReCreation Center.

New pictures!!!!

There has been much progress in the building. The trusses for the office and counseling center have gone up on the roof. More walls are being put into place and the parking lot is taking shape.

So many things to see!

There are many things taking place on the building site these days. The sight changes daily, but the changes are not as apparent as the steel being placed or the roof going on. The pipes for plumbing or conduits for the electrical system are being put into place. The rooms are beginning to take shape.

One of the major changes over the last few weeks has been the parking lot at the top of the hill. Once there was a small parking lot with lots of overgrown blackberry bushes, now the blackberry bushes and brush are gone and in their places is our upper level parking lot. For a week or so there were piles of dirt, now it is easy to see the three level of our parking lot.

We have change throughout the campus.

We can only Imagine!!!!!

Counseling Center

Stage

Kitchen

Cafeteria

Library

The building is beginning to take on form and whole rooms can be seen. I have included pictures of the gymnasium/worship center/performing arts center roof line that was completed yesterday. Also included are pictures of the library, counseling center, cafeteria, kitchen, classrooms and stage. Our stage by the way is almost the same size as the stage at the Paramount Theater in Seattle.

Summer Excitement

When we think of summer we think of the "lazy-hazy" days of summer. And for the most part I think many of us try to take life down a notch and try to relax more. Children are off from school and many take vacations, the weather is warm and the pool or beach or lake are so inviting. In a time when most begin to relax a little, the activity around the ReCreation Center is "heating" up. The outside walls on the bottom floor are up. The inside walls have been formed and sheet rock/wall board is being installed. The main truss that gives the gymnasium its stability has been put into place. This is going to be an exciting summer. Watch us grow!!!!