Dreams From Disruption

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

- Vincent vanGogh

This weekend Pastor Jared talked about two things that arise out of disruption. First, disruption forces a new depth in our spirit that wasn’t there before. We draw closer to God through our questioning and confusion. Second, we develop a passion for things that matter in our life. Authentic friendships with a few, rather than surface relationships with the crowd. Developing a passion to invest and impact eternity!

The Bible is filled with examples of people just like you and me that did just that. For the Israelites, it began when they were disrupted into slavery in Egypt and then disrupted from slavery in Egypt, filled with hope to finally enter the Promised Land. (Of course, they took the scenic route wandering for forty years through the desert.) I’ve been to the Negev desert and I often imagine what that wilderness journey out of disruption inspired as they dreamed of the future in the Promised Land.

David, as a young shepherd boy, was disrupted to slay the giant, Goliath. Joseph was disrupted multiple times, first by his brothers and then by Pharaoh's wife. Saul was disrupted on the road to Damascus. And finally, the followers of Jesus, were disrupted when the man they believed would become king, was brutally beaten and crucified.

In every disruption, there is hope. There is a tiny seedling of birth, an itch for change and a rising up of new possibilities. It is in the disruption, the end of ourselves, the brokenness of loss and pain, that hope is renewed and dreams are realized.

The gospel didn’t end with Jesus’ resurrection. It was only the beginning, as His friends started what we know today as the church! And Saul became Paul, was forever changed, and wrote most of the New Testament.

Much of what I do in my pastoral role at the church has to do with disruption. I get to see and help others understand that when we live with disruption, the wilderness of life, we are awakened to new dreams, renewed hope and plans for our future. Wilderness awakens the imagination to new possibilities!

As Pastor Jared said this past weekend, we have to be alert and open to what those dreams are. How do we do that?

1. Silent prayer - 10 minutes of being still and listening (I started this practice a few months ago and yes, I set a timer (that solves the problem of checking the clock)!
2. Slowly reading the Scripture - “chewing on it.” Scripture is meant to be read a verse at a time, reflecting and meditating on the words in front of us. That is when we hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us and courageously move forward.

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

There was a fledgling group of people that did that very thing almost thirty years ago, and The Church at Carmel Mountain was born. I remember the days of not enough money in the bank for payroll. We, along with others, were in the middle of disruption but were also strong and courageous, believing that God was with us!

Then, in 2001, a much larger group of people gathered at an old movie theatre in Rancho Bernardo, believing it could be our new church home. We had no idea how it would happen, but through the generosity of so many people, refinancing homes, cashing in stock, postponing vacations, and many other things, the church formerly in Carmel Mountain, became the Church at Rancho Bernardo.

So many invested their lives and dreams into making our community, our city and our world better. And here we are again, at a crossroads the church (throughout our world) has never seen. How will the disruption of COVID change the church in the future?

I believe as we sit in silent prayer and slowly read Scripture, we’ll hear God’s voice to help make lives whole, families strong and our community new!

Pastor Pam

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