Jesus and Mental Illness

There are many popular ideas which plague our species in this day and age. The focus on celebrities, attitudes toward war, beliefs that one race is better than others Are just a few. 

Oh how our lives would be better if we could reject such wrong ideas.

We keep hearing that mental illness is increasing since the pandemic. So we need to hear the words of Jesus correcting popular misconceptions about mental illness.  Some of those popular misconceptions that need to be corrected are:

1. The idea that mental illness is a pejorative term.
2. The idea that mental illness should be hidden.
3.  The idea that mental illness should be thrown in with criminality.
4. The idea that mental illness cannot be treated.
 
I could go on and on. But this weekend we are going to look at Jesus view of mental illness. This study will strengthen your and your families mental health.  Join us Sunday morning at 10:30 an.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White

Make Your Home A Sanctuary of Peace

I am always a bit shocked when I hear people refer to mental illness in a pejorative way.   Growing up in a pastors’ home, my mom (who was a nurse) and my dad (who was a pastor) always modeled for us a care and concern for all people. And those wrestling to establish their mental health represented… well all of us.  Even complex issues such as schizophrenia were just someone’s child, neighbor or friend. As a family we had many such friends. We often had people over for dinner or we ate at their home. This wasn’t a part of social inclusiveness it was just the Christ like thing to do.  In fact, we always felt like our home was a refuge to restore our minds.

Our home was a place of prayer. We always prayed together before every meal. Our parents would tuck us into bed every night with a prayer and a Bible-story. 

Our home was a place where put-downs were not allowed. Where swearing and filthy language was banned.

Our home was a place where we all enjoyed our meals together usually with a few friends.

Our home was a place of laughter, fun, playfulness, and friendship.

Our home was a place of discussing Godly values to help us to not feel trapped in the rip tide of less than healthy ideas being pedaled in society.

To not have such basic Godly forces in the home would to leave the door open inviting kidnappers, thieves, and abusive people to come in and try to destroy our family.

Please join us this Sunday as we study the book of Colossians on how to make your home a place of peace at 10:30am in-person or online.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Thoughts that Heal

What if the Bible had some secrets that could fill you with peace of mind?  Everyone knows that fear, anxiety, discouragement, frustration, and hostility are on the loose after Covid. But could it be possible that a book that goes back to the beginning stages of writing has relaxant passages that are not only great literature but have insights to the science of what makes up the human psyche in the 21st century?

Now add to that forgiveness of others and forgiveness which can even heal the guilt you feel leading to new confidence to tackle the personal struggle that we all face every day.

What if depression and other maladies  which we all struggle against could be overcome by a community all committed to the healthiest principles a group of human could hold together.

This is my dream, and it has been since a young research psychology major with study in a master of counseling started a church in 1984 with his fun-loving, compassionate wife. Jackie and I were 29 and 28 in those days and the dream of a sanctuary of healthy families all seeking encouragement that only God could provide.

The dream burns brighter than ever. Join us Sunday morning at 10:30 either online or in-person. You will be encouraged- I promise you.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White

A Message of Hope

A message of encouragement from our speaker tomorrow, Janet Richards:

After over seven years of severe depression, God had a message of hope for me. A couple of thousand years ago, Jesus had good news for the brokenhearted too. He came to provide healing and restoration from our trauma and the resulting mental illness we may suffer as a result. This message reminds us how Jesus heals our broken hearts. Let’s reflect together on how to bring our traumas and broken hearts to Jesus in community with each other.

 Tomorrow we will dive into the scriptures from Isaiah 61:1-2, as Jesus referenced in his first message Luke 4:18-19.

A few questions to consider:

1. Have you thought about why Jesus cried even though he knew he would heal Lazarus and bring him back to life?

2. How do we comfort each other by holding space for stories of trauma, suffering and loss?

3. Have you shared with God, and maybe other faithful friends, how you feel about the ways life has not always felt fair or just?

4. In what ways may God be inviting you into a healing process?

5. In what ways may God be inviting you into the healing process of others?

Pray silently with me if you are in need of healing:

Lord, I’m uncomfortable here. This makes me feel…..maybe I don’t have the words but I feel unsafe. I want to run away on safe ground. What I am seeking is to see clearly. Is this an area I need healing, restoration and peace? Stay with me as I linger here. Weep with me as I recall the painful memories I’ve not allowed myself to feel. Bring your resurrection power Jesus! Heal me! Walk with me as I tenderly walk with a healing heart. Protect my relationships as I learn new ways of interacting. If my injury caused harm in those I love, give me the courage to repent and heal those relationships. If I was injured by someone, I need you to guide me to the steps to live at peace. Oh Lord, that may mean reconciliation or separation; keep my heart soft as I navigate with others the best past to Shalom, wholeness for myself and others. Your good news means healing is possible, today. Thank you for being the Savior who binds the broken-hearted, like me.

Join us in-person or online tomorrow morning at 10:30 and we will pray together and discuss the healing of inviting Jesus into our trauma.

Peace be with you,

Janet Richards

Healing in Community

As we continue our sermon series on peace of mind, our focus this week is on two common myths we find ourselves believing when struggling with mental health. The first is, “I'm alone and need to figure this out on my own”, and the second is that getting help is a sign of weakness. Western culture has a strong emphasis on independence. This is an important value in our society because it produces hard work, perseverance, endurance, determination, and persistence in our character. Which are all great qualities that have built this nation and made it become what it is today. However, we have to pay close attention to the fact that when we lean so much on becoming too independent on ourselves then we have to watch out because we can easily develop a pride that causes us to believe that we do not need others around us. Since independence has such great qualities that come with it, how do we maintain our independence in a healthy way? We need to balance our independence with interdependence because we need both in our lives. Both bring out the best of who we can be as individuals and as a nation. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us that, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Interdependence is therefore just as valuable as independence. May God grant us the wisdom and humility to seek healing in community whenever we need it. 

Below you’ll find reflection questions to think and pray on with your small groups and community: 

1. Discuss as a group how much the concept of independence has become a part of our culture. What are some positive and negative results of independence within our society?

2. Why do you think seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness in our culture today?

3. Identify and discuss passages in scripture that encourage us to live in interdependence

4. Who has God placed around you that you can lean on in seasons of distress?

Join us Sunday morning at 10:30 online or in-person via our church app, YouTube, or Facebook.

See you there,

Pastor Mark Nsimbi 

Peace and Independence

I remember when I had just graduated from college a friend of mine asked me if I could baby sit a man who had a psychotic break for 24 hours until he could be taken to mid Columbia mental health for inpatient treatment. They didn’t want to throw him in jail until then because he was a good guy with wife and kids who recently had this psychotic break.  So I went down where he was being arrested by our local police and they put him under my custody for a while. The problem was it was summer and my day off and I was planning on going bass fishing. When the patient heard I was going bass fishing he said I will go with that guy.

So there we were a bunch of my friends with this guy who had woken up that morning and thought he was Jesus Christ.  It wasn’t as bad as it sounds because it was a beautiful day and we were going fishing.

On the way fishing he asked me if I would follow him he would make me the next pope.  He said that knowing I was a lowly youth pastor and he thought I would welcome the promotion. I explained to him that I was a follower of the Jesus from the first century but I would be his friend and watch over him until we could get him into a hospital. Come Sunday and I’ share the rest of the story.


In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel 5 directions to diagnose mental health and mental illness. Every patient that is ever diagnosed for mental health or mental illness are directed by this Manuel.  When I began in the field of research psychology we were using DSM 1. Now all these years later it has expanded and sometimes contracted and changed in many ways and we are on DSM-5.

This Manuel describes broad categories in mental illness or mental health.

Broad analytical categories for mental health and mental illness can include:

1. Psychological Well-being: This category focuses on positive aspects of mental health, such as subjective happiness, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. It encompasses factors like positive emotions, self-esteem, resilience, and the ability to cope with stress.

2. Emotional Disorders: This category involves mental illnesses primarily characterized by disturbances in emotions and mood. It includes conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. These disorders often involve significant changes in emotional states, ranging from persistent sadness to extreme fear or worry.

3. Cognitive Functioning: This category examines cognitive processes such as perception, attention, memory, and problem-solving abilities. Mental health is associated with optimal cognitive functioning, whereas mental illnesses can impair cognitive processes, leading to difficulties in thinking, decision-making, and concentration.

4. Behavioral Disorders: This category focuses on behavioral patterns and disruptions that impact mental health. Conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and addictive behaviors fall into this category. Behavioral disorders involve difficulties in impulse control, self-regulation, and engaging in appropriate social behaviors.

5. Psychotic Disorders: This category encompasses severe mental illnesses that involve significant disruptions in thoughts, perceptions, and reality. Conditions like schizophrenia and delusional disorder fall into this category. Psychotic disorders often involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired social functioning.

It's important to note that these categories provide a broad framework, and mental health and mental illness are complex and multifaceted. Individuals may experience a range of symptoms and conditions that can overlap across categories, and diagnosis and treatment should be conducted by qualified professionals based on a comprehensive assessment.

We are addressing each of these areas by asking two questions. 

(A.) What does the Bible have to Say about it

(B.) What can we as a community of faith do to build a sanctuary and launching pad for mental health.

Please join us this weekend for church and our independence picnic. I’m making a Key Lime pie only made with Blueberry and Lemmon instead of Key Lime.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Father to the Fatherless

I believe in Father’s Day.  “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:12-14. I love the image of God as our Heavenly Father.  My dad Dale White was one of my best friends. In my imagination I can still hear him calling my name in the wind.  My love of my dad always made it easy for me to accept mentors in my life. And I had some great ones all because of my dad.  This week Dr. Rey Diaz, president of Orphan Outreach will be preaching on the “Father of the fatherless”.  It’s a great Sunday to be blessed by inspiration on Father’s Day. We are having a special drawing for dads and the winner gets nice tickets for two to the Mariners - Red Socks game coming up. You will get to see someone win the father of the year at church.  Please join us in-person or online.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

Faith that can Move Mountains

I believe that if we have the faith the size of a mustard seed we can tell a mountain to move and nothing will be impossible to us. 

It’s faith in Jesus Christ, in his will not our own.

I believe that God can save marriages, comfort those who grieve, empower those who are victimized, and bring irresistible joy into our lives.  I believe that Jesus can reach our loved ones no matter how impossible it seems.  I believe that God will grow our church and anoint Pastor Mark with world-changing faith. I believe that Jesus is trustworthy and that we don’t have to bear our burdens alone- but we can live with trust in him.

This week is family camp week, and we are praying that God will do something mighty for each person attending. Jackie and I are still holding services at our church at 10:30 am in-person and online- so if you can’t make it to camp- meet us at the church because God is going to bless us at both camp and at our sanctuary.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim

An Invitation to Community

A couple of weeks ago our staff attended a day conference at Seattle Pacific University for church leaders in the area. It was incredibly life-giving to worship, learn, and connect with other church staff and each other. 

The final session of the conference was led by SPU professor, author, and pastor, Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil. Salter McNeil also happens to be one of my favorite preachers- so it was an absolute joy to hear from her. She said something I have heard her say before, but this time truly moved me. 

 She said, "When Jesus Christ reconciles us to God, Jesus also reconciles us across every single barrier that divides us. Our gender, religious differences, our denominational differences, our ethnic and racial differences, our cultural differences- when we get reconciled to God, we get reconciled to each other." She discussed the vertical and the horizontal of the cross- getting reconciled to God, and in turn being reconciled to each other. How powerful is that? Healer God connects us to each other when we connect to God. When we say yes to God, we say yes to a deeper, more whole version of ourselves. And we say yes to healing.

On Sunday Pastor Mark will preach from Acts chapter 10. He says in his sermon summary, "All his life, Peter grew up knowing that as a Jew there were certain foods you could eat and there were others that you dare not touch, otherwise you will be breaking the laws of Moses. However, through a vision, Peter’s assumptions were exposed and the way he assumed the world worked was turned upside down. God was renewing his mind and building the foundation for a new perspective on how God’s Kingdom operates.  This must have been uncomfortable for Peter, however, he chose to follow the leading of the Spirit. Out of obedience Peter was let to step into new relationships within his community. These new relationships allowed him to see both God and his neighbors in a new light. 

Peter's experience teaches us that whenever the gospel makes us feel uncomfortable, we need to realize that in our moment of discomfort, that God is using that experience to call us into a deeper relationship with him, and into a deeper relationship with our neighbors. As we grow in relationship with our neighbors, we experience both the power of the Spirit and the power of community!"

Join us tomorrow as we come expectant for God to work in our community as we worship together.

See you soon,

Chelsea Maitland

Jesus and Community

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to relate to Jesus so authentically that they just keep growing every single day? You haven’t? Well wonder about it now because this Memorial Day weekend we are going to consider all the precious memories of loved ones in our lives. For many of us there is a loved one who showed Jesus to us and we cannot express our gratitude enough. We feel like they helped us to see Jesus.
Some of the people in my life that have shown me Jesus were all the great Christians who served as my executive assistant through the years.  There was Glen Wolverton, Jane Bishop, Diane Sibley, Barbara Maryatt, Kelly Kinsey, Chelsea Zappone and many others. Each of them was doing the job because they loved Jesus. And how they honored Jesus and the church by their gracious service.

Who in your life has helped you to see Jesus love in the land of the living?

Please join us at 10:30 am this Sunday morning as we experience deep encouragement from studying about Jesus and Community.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White