We have had some wonderful Sundays the past few weeks. I will share a few thoughts from those weeks, and I hope it’ll be helpful and encouraging.  

Genesis 37 and Baptism

Preaching at One Champion Field is challenging because the net that separates the field from the stands creates a false barrier and makes it difficult to see everyone.  But Luis Castellanos did a great job introducing us to Joseph in Genesis 37.  There were two particular highlights from Luis’ sermon for me (both very convicting):  

• The first one was a great reminder.  God wants you to remember that you are not the end of the story.  Joseph had two dreams indicating he would be a ruler over his brothers.  Yet, after sharing his dreams with them, they threw him in a pit and sold him to slave traders.  That seems like an odd beginning for a future ruler.  Luis’ comment on this was very appropriate.  God wants me to remember that I’m not the end of the story.  No matter how grand my dreams are, I’m not the end of the story. Neither are you.    
• The second highlight was when Luis said, “The pit may not be where you want to be, but it’s where God wants you to be.”  Whoa.  That one stopped me in my tracks.  God knows the exact places that He wants us to get where He wants us to be.  Sometimes, it’s in a pit, a wagon on the road to nowhere, or a jail cell.  Those are certainly places that none of us want to be.   

There is only one thing to say about the ten baptisms:  Wow!  What a great day, as ten people shared their testimonies with us and were baptized on the field.  This year has been a fantastic year for God’s work of salvation at CLF.  We have had over twenty people baptized, and we’re praying for more.  

August 25th was a great day of celebration. We not only had church at the field and did baptisms, but we also had a church picnic following all of that.  Hundreds of people stuck around, ate great food, and enjoyed a great day of fellowship.  

Judah’s Sin

After church a couple of weeks ago, one of our members, Daniel Ritchey, approached me about the irony of Judah’s sin with Tamar and Simeon and Levi’s sin at Shechem.  If you don’t know Daniel, he’s an ancient history buff and scholar.  He’s a ton of fun to talk to and has some exciting and helpful thoughts.  He also teaches a CLF class called “The Bible and Ancient History,” which meets on the 4th Thursday of every month.  

Here’s Daniel’s helpful thought:  Judah’s sin with Tamar was ironic because Judah’s tribe became the line of the kings.  One thing about the line of the kings is that it was to be pure.  Yet, the beginning of this tribe was Judah marrying a Canaanite wife and having children through Tamar, his daughter-in-law.  The line started from anything but purity.  But that wasn’t all.  Levi and Simeon become the line of the priests.  Interestingly, the priests in Israel were the ones who oversaw circumcision.  And where do we find Levi and Simeon in Genesis 34?   Using circumcision for ill gain and for manipulating the men of Shechem to destroy them.  

It was interesting how the Lord redeemed both tribes and their lines.  Thanks, Daniel, for the info!  

Biblical Justice

This past Sunday, we studied Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.  In that story, she falsely accuses Joseph of attempting to take advantage of her, and he ends up in jail because of it.  I won’t rehash the sermon, but I want to say something about biblical justice.  

What happened to Joseph is what has happened in our world over the last several years.  Accusations are immediately believed to be true, and there is no opportunity for the accused to plead their side of the story or face their accusers.  Instead, they are condemned, canceled, and castigated by society. Some lose their jobs, influence, and future opportunities because of this. Now listen, this doesn’t mean that people are innocent every time.  But it does mean something is eschewed.  

Biblical justice (true justice) requires us to withhold judgment until all parties have been heard and all evidence has been brought forward.  In Joseph’s case, his perspective was not heard, and not all the evidence was brought forward.  Instead, there was immediate judgment and consequence.  In our culture, someone could write a scathing article about someone or post an accusatory comment on social media, and instantly, judgment and consequences happen.  We live in a day when true justice is not administered.  

This is why the church must be different.  Christians must be careful of believing one report without hearing the other side.  We must withhold our judgment or evaluation of situations until true justice has been administered.  Otherwise, we are prejudiced (pre-judging) or showing favoritism and partiality (see James 2). 

We must remember that lives are at stake, that people’s jobs and futures hang in the balance, and that justice is too important to get wrong.     

A Podcast Episode for Parents

Ryan Finlay referred me to a podcast episode with Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who lost her arm when a shark attacked her and became a champion.   In this episode, Bethany talks about raising their children and the intentionality with which they do it.  Just a snippet that I found good:  when talking about declining to let their kids use social media, she said that social media is about consuming, not creating.  Since God made us to create, we’re violating our God-given identity by consuming.  She also said that she wants her kids to build because when they’re building, they’re not bored.  And finally, she said she wants to raise kids who serve others rather than themselves.   Here’s the link on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzl3VH9PwRs&feature=youtu.be. Here’s the link of Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0M9WqjxPMroQJrlTzOSLl1.  

Looking Ahead

This coming Sunday, we will study Genesis 40-41 to learn lessons about God’s Providence in Joseph’s life while he’s in jail.  

From the Cheap Seats

• This is the catch of the year:  https://x.com/MLB/status/1828989355395875282.
• NFL season is back, and I’m not as dialed in as I’ve been in the past. Some of it is that I want to watch good football and enjoy it with family and friends as a means of fellowship. Another is that I’m tired of drama.
• Kumar Rocker is making his MLB debut Thursday for the Texas Rangers at the Seattle Mariners.   As you know, this is my team.  To say that I’m excited about this is an understatement.  Here’s a short video on his last start in AAA:  https://www.milb.com/app-firstpitch/rome/news/rangers-kumar-rocker-strikes-out-career-high-in-round-rock-debut.  
• Ok, this Saturday, the earliest Civil War in the history of Oregon/Oregon State.  As a Beaver fan, I hope the Duck’s early season struggles continue on Saturday:).  

To watch or listen to the sermon described in this post, please click here.

Have a great week! Christ is King!

In Christ, 

Dave York

P.S.  Would you keep our family, Jill, and me in your prayers?  Sunday after church, Jill and I are flying to Texas so I can speak at the funeral of my mom’s last living sibling.  My Aunt Anna was a sweet, strong Texas woman who became my mom’s dearest friend.  We will be gone until Saturday (Sept. 21), so I can preach that Sunday.  It will be a whirlwind.