Category Archives: Monthly Updates

I was a solo entrepreneur for more than 25 years before taking the helm at the Jesus Center 6 years ago. Working for myself I had high expectations for the quality and professionalism of my work, and I felt like all I did for my customers was an expression of my love for God (Colossians…

We all love choices. As parents we are taught to give our children age-appropriate choices so they can start to feel their own sense of independence: “would you like to put your shoes on or pack your lunch first?” As friends, we love to plan for an excursion for a friend and get their input:…

Like many other organizations, the Jesus Center operates within her mission statement and is anchored in her core values. Just as a quick reminder, the core values are: Christ-Centered, Collaborative, Accountable, and Restorative. These four run like flowing rivers through all we do, all we are, every decision, policy, and strategy. As we have celebrated…

I love the fact that every July, as we contemplate celebrating Independence Day, I find myself in a deep reflection about freedom. As we operationalize our new program in our new home, I find myself compelled anew by a verse from Isaiah that Jesus quotes in the gospel of Luke: “The Spirit of the Lord…

Thank you for joining with us to build our new expanded facility on 2255 Fair Street! It was a journey of epic proportions. We are thrilled to be creating a pathway towards hope, health and housing for our unhoused friends in the community. Since arriving on Fair Street, I’ve had so many reflections on the…

Birch. Sequoia. Myrtle. Sage. Lily. Holly and Hope. We love flowers and trees around here so much that we have named each of our transitional houses to match a plant with a special meaning. For example, Lily’s full name is St. Joseph Lily House, reminding occupants that Joseph, who was engaged to Mary (the mother…

I love Spring. It is the best time of year because there are so many fresh starts and new beginnings. Hope seems endless. This year, after a year of COVID, Spring seems brighter, fresher and lighter than ever. Our move fits so perfectly in this Spring season with the extra love and extravagance of Easter.…

In the midst of so much change, I find it heartening to turn to the pages of the New Testament and listen to the master story-teller, Jesus. Recently I had the special privilege of sharing the pulpit with Pastor Bryan Meyers where we reflected together on one of his stories found in Mark 10: the…

Greetings from the Jesus Center! As I write this letter to inaugurate our 40th Year Anniversary, I keep returning to a simple affirmation in the book of Hebrews: “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). What began with two crockpots on the 1500 block of Park Ave back in 1981, what…

We love new years. We throw parties to bring in the new year. We buy silly hats. We buy fancy new calendars. We choose words to guide us for the year. We start new habits and build new patterns. Something beautiful happens in our brains when we think. “Ah...Last year is complete. I’m ready for…

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and…

“It is important to realize how often we have had chances to be grateful and have not used them. When someone is kind to us, when an event turns out well, when a problem is solved, a relationship restored, a wound healed, there are very concrete reasons to offer thanks: be it with words, with…

I have a confession to make. I am in charge of organizing the 15th Annual Run for Food presented by Golden Valley Bank and I am not a runner. I am not a racer. I actually hate running. It hurts! The good news is that I am working with a seasoned team to put this…

Here we are in the last days of summer: Autumn is quickly approaching. Last month, I referred to this as the year of the unknowns, but it could just as easily be called the year of transitions! In our community I can see examples of efforts supporting transition and it excites me. Some transitions are…

Early in my time in church as a young adult, well meaning church leaders thought I’d be great as a youth leader. What they didn’t know was that the mere sight of a pre-teen or teenager gave me a light form of PTSD. My own experience at that age was enough for a lifetime. And,…

As I write this letter, my weather app reports alarming wind changes today: 15 mph ssw; 17 mph sse; 16mph s... and so it goes all day. One direction; then the other. Cloudy. Sunny. Really windy. I can’t figure out when to take a walk, when to garden, or whether just to go back to…

During this endless spring of sheltering in place, thank God for the flowers that bloom and the sun that shines. Getting outside and breathing in fresh air has taken on new meaning. It is now a sustenance. A part of a necessary diet born from isolation. Thank God for Spring! This photo is from a…

It is hard to believe that Butte County, this time in company with the entire world, is facing another monumental crisis. I sense around us both a certain “game face” mentality and an equal amount of exhaustion. How much more can we take? And yet we soldier on. We listen to the news from the…

Who are the folks we lump together as “the homeless?” It seems that if we could unpack this question, we might grow in our understanding and change the way we think about the issues facing our city. I try to help others (and myself) by first seeing them more like God might see them, as…

This is the time of the year where we get all sorts of answers to that question. It may be easy to get overwhelmed with the suggestion that love is candy, teddy bears or sparkly diamonds. But I’m convinced that Valentine’s Day is about more than the gift being given, it serves as an opportunity…