In case you haven't read the news

It really is an incredible story. Distraught woman makes rash decision to jump off the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, ending her life. But quick-thinking rescuers grab her just as she jumps, and then hold her for twenty minutes, until rescue personnel can come and pull her back up. And it was a windy, stormy day to boot.

A couple of our people saw it in progress, as they commuted home that night. Doug said he simply saw four people lying on their stomachs, arms reaching over the side, holding this woman tightly. I can't imagine the terror in those moments, waiting for help to arrive with harnesses and ropes.

It's the kind of story that needs to be told. Although once again it reminds me that too many people find themselves in desperate situations, feeling they have no way out. Society ought not to be that way.

Thank God for Good Samaritans who sometimes have the chance to intervene before it gets too late.

Why yes, you did see me on television

King 5 news in Seattle headed out this way yesterday to do a story on gas thieves who hit the local food bank. They got wind that gas thieves had gotten to our church van, as well, so they headed up the road to hear our story. Both Howard Johnson, our M&M Outreach director, and I got a little bit of airtime, with a nice shot of the church in the background.

You can go watch it here.

If you watch really closely, right at the 1 minute mark, you can sort of make out Clara running toward the back of the Jeep, as well.

In the News

My dad was quoted in the Gig Harbor Gateway yesterday.

Phil Whitmarsh rode the school bus with Jerstad and said all the kids called him “Buddy” through their elementary and middle school years.

Random News and Notes

- The Air Force is officially retiring the F-117 Nighthawk today, parking the last four in a secure hanger in Nevada. Bummer. I never had the chance to see one fly. I did see one on static display at the last El Toro airshow, complete with heavily-armed security guards.

- Just in time for Passover, grocery stores in San Francisco have all run out of Matzo bread. "It appears there's been a huge disconnect between the Bay Area grocery community and the Bay Area Jewish community in terms of supply and demand."

- Ever wonder why the women in those polygamist compounds dress like 19th century pioneers? Experts are talking about the same thing.

- Religious leaders in Zimbabwe speak to the growing crisis in their country, warning of impending genocide if the situation isn't resolved.

- We used to have this good friend names Anya. Anya was pretty cool. She was very attuned to the Lord, you might say. (She has a cool younger sister, too, but this story isn't about her.) Anya spent a week in Mexico with us on a youth mission trip one summer. She also did the YWAM thing. Sometimes she would come hang out at our West Main house and eat tacos and talk about Jesus. Good times. Anya was just accepted to Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle, and we are excited for her. For one, she's finding her future and embracing it, entering into the calling God has on her life. I have no doubt she'll do great things for the Kingdom of God. So congratulations are in order. But, more selfishly, she'll be just across the water from us, so perhaps we'll all have a chance to sit down at Caffe Ladro and catch up, just like old times.

- Link: Church of the Masses. The blog of Barbara Nicolosi, one of the mainstage speakers we heard at the Transforming Culture Conference in Austin. Barbara is a Catholic who works in the Entertainment Industry, living as salt and light in Hollywood. She's got great insight into the intersections between God and Popular Culture, and she can be funny as well.

In the News

M&M Ministries, an outreach of Lakebay Community Church, was mentioned in the Gig Harbor Gateway this morning.

Random

- The Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll may go up another $1 in July. Somehow $1.75 just doesn't seem like much to pay for our Trader Joes run. But $2.75 each time starts to feel like a bigger hit on the monthly budget.

- Speaking of which, we just got the bill for last month's heating oil refill. For the first time, it was over $3 per gallon. Makes me even more thankful for all the free firewood we got last year. But. . .it's time to look into replacing the 1960s vintage furnace in the basement. Maybe with a heat pump?

- Robert L. Jamieson has on article on the Rev. Ken Hutcherson in this morning's Seattle P-I. Jamieson works hard at being the P-I's social conscience, and today is taking aim at the anti-gay activism and teaching that Hutcherson encourages in his church. Here's the problem. There is no simple answer to this issue. First, you have to decide what the Bible truly says on the issue, which is no easy task, if you want to do it honestly. Then, you have to decide what your own response will be, especially in light of all that the Bible says about so many other things. Will you actively try to denounce homosexuality? Or will you choose to love homosexuals as people, letting God do his work in their life (that's all assuming you agree that the Bible does, in fact, teach that it is a sin, a position which not every Christian agrees)? And if you choose to work "against" homosexuality, then will you give the same passion to pursuing all the other issues the about which the Bible speaks so clearly? Will you treat divorced people and lazy people and dishonest people the same way? Finally, you have to decide what the role of the Church is in our society. Should we be about passing laws and forcing companies to act "christianly?" Or should we be on the streets ministering to broken people no matter their condition or position?

And that takes a lot of energy, a lot of thought, a lot of nuance, a lot of patience and discussion.

Unfortunately, Jamieson never brings that kind of deep thought into his articles, instead given to cheap shallow rhetoric ("Whatever happened to Jesus' call for compassion, tolerance and humility in faith?"), and Hutcherson doesn't seem to bring that kind of deep thought to his preaching or his political involvement.

Which probably is simply a reflection of where society is at in general. Don't make me think when I can explain my position with a bumper sticker. And don't try to confuse my shallow belief system with all your details. . .

- By the way, take most of what I just said and place it over the Geraldine Ferarro controversy. It's pretty much the same story. People who attempt to make sweeping statements overgeneralize and end up eating their own feet.

- In no way connected to the previous items. . .Our friends down the road at Vaughn Community Church have changed their name, as they are in the midst of changing locations. They are now officially Waypoint Church. You might remember their building burned down two years ago. They are now waiting for the county to finally decide to let them begin construction at their new location along the Key Peninsula Highway.

Oh My

I haven't been near a radio, television, or computer for three or four days. So I haven't really been paying attention to the news.

Until this morning, when I go online and read about
- tigers mauling young men in San Francisco,
- mass murder east of Seattle,
- assassinations in Pakistan

Seems like the Enemy didn't take a Christmas break this year.

Lord, have mercy.