Well yesterday the gates of the Olmsted County Fair 2008 offically opened to the general public. That means min-dounts, cotton candy, rides, smelly animals and the Journey Booth are all ready to go. Our booth this year got a face lift, thanks to our friends at Technlodgy Concepts! Throughout the week that booth will be manned by many different Journey volunteers. So this year I thought it would be fun to let you share your fair stories.
Who did meet?
What did you eat?
Was is a slow day or was it out of control crazy?
Simply share with us how your volunteer or family time at the fair went.
Let's hear what God is doing day by day as we reach out to our city in this special way.
Thanks for making an impact.
Rich
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Dog Days of Summer
I can feel it in the air and in people... the "Dog Days of Summer" are nealy upon us.
Two of three meetings that I had this week, people appeared half awake, tired, run down, bored.
Church we had a strange Sunday with set up and organizational stuff. The last few weeks, we've had volunteers just not show up.
Man that's always so tough, but extra hard when you see others running down.
A week ago, my phone rang almost non-stop, and there were some major events in peoples lives that exploded all at the same time. I was feeling tired. This week.... silence. Those two extremes, remind me the Dog Days are almost here.
(Even the ski show we went to last night was fully of mistakes and went on and on and on)
I love Summer, I'll take it over winter any day. But when the dog days come, energy, focus, determiation begins to slip... I hate that. I know that we can't stay "jacked up" all the time, but can't we stay more balanced, focused and resolved to stay in the game and get things done. So if you're like me and you are feeling the dogs nipping at your feet.... give them a big swift kick and continue to press on, enjoy life and do what you do best!
Two of three meetings that I had this week, people appeared half awake, tired, run down, bored.
Church we had a strange Sunday with set up and organizational stuff. The last few weeks, we've had volunteers just not show up.
Man that's always so tough, but extra hard when you see others running down.
A week ago, my phone rang almost non-stop, and there were some major events in peoples lives that exploded all at the same time. I was feeling tired. This week.... silence. Those two extremes, remind me the Dog Days are almost here.
(Even the ski show we went to last night was fully of mistakes and went on and on and on)
I love Summer, I'll take it over winter any day. But when the dog days come, energy, focus, determiation begins to slip... I hate that. I know that we can't stay "jacked up" all the time, but can't we stay more balanced, focused and resolved to stay in the game and get things done. So if you're like me and you are feeling the dogs nipping at your feet.... give them a big swift kick and continue to press on, enjoy life and do what you do best!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Dark Knight rocks
2 and half hours... that's how long the latest Batman film is and it's worth every cent that I paid!
The last Batman film I thought really captured the Batman / Bruce Wayne of the comics. A man committed to protecting his dark, broken city at all cost. The Dark Knight.... goes even further into the original comic-book vibe and brings to life the Joker as he was meant to be.
The Joker was always an insane insane, character.
Jack Nicolson played the Joker like no other had... up until the late Heath Ledger took on the role.
My skin crawled at times as Ledger brought to life the raw insanity of the Joker. No history on who he really was, what made him the way he was.... simply insanity at it's best and worse. His only goal was to see or help a good man to fall.
Two- Face / Harvey Dent sub-story was so well crafted it amazed me. Two-face can be played so shallow and silly as we have seen in other Batman films. But the fall of Harvey Dent was played with real tragedy! "You either die a hero, or life long enough to see yourself become the villain." That's Harvey's story in a nut shell. He lived to long, survived the Jokers insane game and now is almost as crazy as the Joker. Even the make up at the end was right out of the comics. Amazing!
This film should get Heath Ledger an Oscar. Not from of a reaction that he died so young, but because his performance was so real and powerful. The Joker was a dark character and Ledger let us see that darkness as never before.
If you are expecting Adam West or Burt Ward to make a cameo and add a funny line somewhere.... don't waste your time looking for it. No this is action, drama, and a comic book film that gives us a powerful glimpse of our culture and world if it every went over the edge insane and dark. It has enough realness in it to keep you glued to your seat, and enough comic book history woven into to make you wish this type of insane criminal and dark reality never comes to be.
Now we must wait for the next Batman film... featuring the battle between Two-face and Batman.
The only question is.... who from Batman's vast rogue gallery of criminals will we see come to life and be played properly.
We can only hope that no one allows this current collection of Batman adventures to be cheapen, lightened up or made shallow. Forget the 70's Super-friends, 1960's campy Batman... this is Batman as he was always meant to be seen.
I can't wait to see it again, as I prepare to do my annual discussion series... "at the movies".
This August you can guarantee that THE DARK KNIGHT will be used as a spring board to help us explore and learn God's time truths.
The last Batman film I thought really captured the Batman / Bruce Wayne of the comics. A man committed to protecting his dark, broken city at all cost. The Dark Knight.... goes even further into the original comic-book vibe and brings to life the Joker as he was meant to be.
The Joker was always an insane insane, character.
Jack Nicolson played the Joker like no other had... up until the late Heath Ledger took on the role.
My skin crawled at times as Ledger brought to life the raw insanity of the Joker. No history on who he really was, what made him the way he was.... simply insanity at it's best and worse. His only goal was to see or help a good man to fall.
Two- Face / Harvey Dent sub-story was so well crafted it amazed me. Two-face can be played so shallow and silly as we have seen in other Batman films. But the fall of Harvey Dent was played with real tragedy! "You either die a hero, or life long enough to see yourself become the villain." That's Harvey's story in a nut shell. He lived to long, survived the Jokers insane game and now is almost as crazy as the Joker. Even the make up at the end was right out of the comics. Amazing!
This film should get Heath Ledger an Oscar. Not from of a reaction that he died so young, but because his performance was so real and powerful. The Joker was a dark character and Ledger let us see that darkness as never before.
If you are expecting Adam West or Burt Ward to make a cameo and add a funny line somewhere.... don't waste your time looking for it. No this is action, drama, and a comic book film that gives us a powerful glimpse of our culture and world if it every went over the edge insane and dark. It has enough realness in it to keep you glued to your seat, and enough comic book history woven into to make you wish this type of insane criminal and dark reality never comes to be.
Now we must wait for the next Batman film... featuring the battle between Two-face and Batman.
The only question is.... who from Batman's vast rogue gallery of criminals will we see come to life and be played properly.
We can only hope that no one allows this current collection of Batman adventures to be cheapen, lightened up or made shallow. Forget the 70's Super-friends, 1960's campy Batman... this is Batman as he was always meant to be seen.
I can't wait to see it again, as I prepare to do my annual discussion series... "at the movies".
This August you can guarantee that THE DARK KNIGHT will be used as a spring board to help us explore and learn God's time truths.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Many Rivers in Trouble
Today I came across this new acticle on the KROC news site.
If this comes to pass it is a sad, sad news story because a group of these young men attend Journey almost every weekend and have become apart of our church family the best that their situation allows.
Read article:
07/16/2008 - LOCAL JUVENILE OFFENDER TREATMENT CENTER CLOSING
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
Budgetary pressures are being blamed for the expected demise of the Many Rivers Residential Treatment Center in Rochester. Olmsted County Community Services Director Paul Fleissner says the County Board will be presented next week with a recommendation to close the facility this fall. Fleissner says the treatment center, which is separate from the 12-bed Many Rivers Juvenile Detention Center, has run significant deficits since it opened in 1997 and will likely require a transfer of about $175,000 from reserve funds this year to cover the cost of providing sex offender and other treatment programs to juvenile offenders. It's estimated that sending those offenders to other treatment facilities in Minnesota would cut the county's costs by over 30-percent. Fleissner also notes that about half of the offenders housed in the 24-bed center are usually from other counties, which means Olmsted County taxpayers end up subsidizing their treatment. Closing the facility is expected to result in the loss of 20 regular and 15 on-call positions. In addition, the Rochester School District's Campus School, which serves the juvenile offenders at the treatment center, will close when the county discontinues the program November 1st.
I fully understand that such a program may seem to be too much, or not worth the investment... but these young men that have come through our church doors really need a place like Many Rivers. Society has hurt them, they aren't equippeed to handle the battles of life on their own at this time. Some of have been hurt and rejected by their families for what they have done. Shipping them off to another place, not as focused on sexual matters is not right. These young people need special focused help.... not a general criminla program.
We have meet these young men, meet their oversees and have seen them open up, interact properly and even worship God. Each week that I see these kids, we talk , laugh, give high fives and they tell me they want to attend Journey each week because they are getting something they never understood before. Yes it's a high price to put out... but we're seeing God things happen. Let's be praying for Olmsted County and the staff and offenders learning at Many Rivers. May God make away and let them continue to learn, grow and change.
If this comes to pass it is a sad, sad news story because a group of these young men attend Journey almost every weekend and have become apart of our church family the best that their situation allows.
Read article:
07/16/2008 - LOCAL JUVENILE OFFENDER TREATMENT CENTER CLOSING
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
Budgetary pressures are being blamed for the expected demise of the Many Rivers Residential Treatment Center in Rochester. Olmsted County Community Services Director Paul Fleissner says the County Board will be presented next week with a recommendation to close the facility this fall. Fleissner says the treatment center, which is separate from the 12-bed Many Rivers Juvenile Detention Center, has run significant deficits since it opened in 1997 and will likely require a transfer of about $175,000 from reserve funds this year to cover the cost of providing sex offender and other treatment programs to juvenile offenders. It's estimated that sending those offenders to other treatment facilities in Minnesota would cut the county's costs by over 30-percent. Fleissner also notes that about half of the offenders housed in the 24-bed center are usually from other counties, which means Olmsted County taxpayers end up subsidizing their treatment. Closing the facility is expected to result in the loss of 20 regular and 15 on-call positions. In addition, the Rochester School District's Campus School, which serves the juvenile offenders at the treatment center, will close when the county discontinues the program November 1st.
I fully understand that such a program may seem to be too much, or not worth the investment... but these young men that have come through our church doors really need a place like Many Rivers. Society has hurt them, they aren't equippeed to handle the battles of life on their own at this time. Some of have been hurt and rejected by their families for what they have done. Shipping them off to another place, not as focused on sexual matters is not right. These young people need special focused help.... not a general criminla program.
We have meet these young men, meet their oversees and have seen them open up, interact properly and even worship God. Each week that I see these kids, we talk , laugh, give high fives and they tell me they want to attend Journey each week because they are getting something they never understood before. Yes it's a high price to put out... but we're seeing God things happen. Let's be praying for Olmsted County and the staff and offenders learning at Many Rivers. May God make away and let them continue to learn, grow and change.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Heaven on my mind
Kind of been a strange week... all week.
First my week started off with a strange dream.... read the posting on it.
Then I began preparing in detail my first discussion outline for our new series on Heaven.
As I began the process, my wife called and told me that a long time friend had passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Then just yesterday (Thursday, July 10th) I get word that another man that we knew from our last church had passed away.
Two men that knew and loved Jesus passionately and both went home to Heaven in the same week.
It really has added some extra meaning for me as I explore the scriptures and go deeper and deeper in prep for Sunday.
A few days ago these men both suffered, family and friends provided aid and comfort... today the two live a new life, in new bodies in a eternal home with their King/ Savior Jesus. Memories of pain now forever overcome with Joy.
Families talk, share and mourn and yet are not crippled by the loss.
No in fact the wife and daughter of one of these men attended their softball game as they always have on Thursday night. (they beat us.... maybe some extra angels in the outfield that night... or maybe just bad hitting by us again)
Heaven should be a source of HOPE.... I hope that this weekend and the next few weeks those who attend Journey, down load our pod-cast, get into a LIFE group catch the reality of that HOPE and see how very real Heaven is.
Don & Dennis... I hope you are really enjoying your new home in Heaven. We'll see you soon.
First my week started off with a strange dream.... read the posting on it.
Then I began preparing in detail my first discussion outline for our new series on Heaven.
As I began the process, my wife called and told me that a long time friend had passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Then just yesterday (Thursday, July 10th) I get word that another man that we knew from our last church had passed away.
Two men that knew and loved Jesus passionately and both went home to Heaven in the same week.
It really has added some extra meaning for me as I explore the scriptures and go deeper and deeper in prep for Sunday.
A few days ago these men both suffered, family and friends provided aid and comfort... today the two live a new life, in new bodies in a eternal home with their King/ Savior Jesus. Memories of pain now forever overcome with Joy.
Families talk, share and mourn and yet are not crippled by the loss.
No in fact the wife and daughter of one of these men attended their softball game as they always have on Thursday night. (they beat us.... maybe some extra angels in the outfield that night... or maybe just bad hitting by us again)
Heaven should be a source of HOPE.... I hope that this weekend and the next few weeks those who attend Journey, down load our pod-cast, get into a LIFE group catch the reality of that HOPE and see how very real Heaven is.
Don & Dennis... I hope you are really enjoying your new home in Heaven. We'll see you soon.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Strange Dream
Last night I had a strange dream.. it really emotionally hit me. As I came out if it in the middle of the night I was almost in tears... I had been in tears in the dream. My oldest daughter (Abbi) and I were packing up a cart, outside some place and she was asking me why Journey was closing, why no one else was taking my place as pastor.
No lie this is the real dream!
I was in tears as I said something along the lines of, "Well no one really seemed to care one way or the other."
This dream came to me the very evening that we had discussed catching Jesus Grander Vision, believing in the supernatural adventure of "Fishing for men" and how big it can be. This dream came at the close of a weekend where we had a huge fourth of July BBQ and baptized three people. We celebrated the "catch". This dream came after a LIFE Group discussion that was very free flowing and fresh and yet left me wondering how inspired, encouraged, amped up others were to see an even great catch for God be brought in.
I have to admit, I get even more jazzed up about reaching people, the more I see people far from God turn to Him and radically change. After weekends like this I feel a sense of urgency to make sure that we're really fishing as Jesus would want us to. That we're praying and expecting the supernatural to happen and our nets (churches, life groups) explode.
I feel so passionate, and I'm sure I look like a crazy dreamer at times like these.
Maybe that's why that dream hit me so hard last night. Maybe my own words, in my own dream are one of my deepest fears.
I have to care, I want to care. Half-way, lukewarm doesn't cut it with me.
I want to see what the disciples saw. I want to experience what the early church did. I want to to all of Olmsted County come to know Jesus as Savior..... that's 120,000 people.
So if you are one of those that look at me and say... "he's just a little to crazy about this God thing, or the potential of the church, it's people, our transformed life stories." All I can saw is, I'm sorry... I just don't to ever live out that dream with my daughter!
No lie this is the real dream!
I was in tears as I said something along the lines of, "Well no one really seemed to care one way or the other."
This dream came to me the very evening that we had discussed catching Jesus Grander Vision, believing in the supernatural adventure of "Fishing for men" and how big it can be. This dream came at the close of a weekend where we had a huge fourth of July BBQ and baptized three people. We celebrated the "catch". This dream came after a LIFE Group discussion that was very free flowing and fresh and yet left me wondering how inspired, encouraged, amped up others were to see an even great catch for God be brought in.
I have to admit, I get even more jazzed up about reaching people, the more I see people far from God turn to Him and radically change. After weekends like this I feel a sense of urgency to make sure that we're really fishing as Jesus would want us to. That we're praying and expecting the supernatural to happen and our nets (churches, life groups) explode.
I feel so passionate, and I'm sure I look like a crazy dreamer at times like these.
Maybe that's why that dream hit me so hard last night. Maybe my own words, in my own dream are one of my deepest fears.
I have to care, I want to care. Half-way, lukewarm doesn't cut it with me.
I want to see what the disciples saw. I want to experience what the early church did. I want to to all of Olmsted County come to know Jesus as Savior..... that's 120,000 people.
So if you are one of those that look at me and say... "he's just a little to crazy about this God thing, or the potential of the church, it's people, our transformed life stories." All I can saw is, I'm sorry... I just don't to ever live out that dream with my daughter!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Power of Your Story
This last Sunday we discussed our personal life stories can be used by God in a powerful way to help others meet God.
The trouble is few of us believe that our story is of any value. Or we have no idea how to make it sharp and impactful.
I have to admit up front... not everyone is a story teller. Yet, everyone has a story, and anyones story could be used by God.
Compare your faith story to a movie or novel. Sometimes movies get hyped as amazing and great... yet the truth is they are boring, dull, lifeless and go on and on. I have seen several films and thought... can I somehow get my 2 1/2 hours back please.
(Miami Vice the movie was once such movie.... now that was a waste of time and money!)
Jesus was a master of storytelling. In fact read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Jesus constantly used short stories to teach, connect and challenge people to really follow him. Did you see the key thing... SHORT STORIES!!
Since Sunday I have talked with several people and they have shared some great stories. It was fun to watch them mentally edit their stories to keep my interest, make me laugh and communicate clearly. Now, can we do that with your faith story.
Movies have tag lines.... simple phrases to highlight what a film is about. Our life stories can have tag lines.
The women at the well...."Thirsty for relationship... quenched by Jesus"
Apostle Paul.... "Persecutor of believers.... passionate Jesus follower"
Peter..... "Fisherman turned fisher of men"
My tag line... "Professional broadcaster turned....communicator for God"
What's your tag line?
Figure that out with answering three questions...
#1 -Who was I before meeting Jesus?
#2 - What brought to believe in Jesus
#3 - Who am I now because of Jesus?
That's a powerful, simple, short story. 100 words or less. No more than five minutes... with a built in tag line.
I'll pay good money to hear/ watch a good story. Locked within each of us that knows and follows Jesus is a story worth hearing. A story that can help other person encounter the living God. Don't waste it. Practice it, edit it, use it.
The scriptures say that we should always be prepared to share the hope that is with us.
Are you prepared to share?
We want to help you with this process. E-mail us your story. 100 words or less. And allow us to read it for content... not grammar and share some insights and pointers into crafting a sharp, powerful story that you can always carry with you.
E-mail your story to..... stories@journeychurch.net
I love a good story and I can't wait to hear yours.
The trouble is few of us believe that our story is of any value. Or we have no idea how to make it sharp and impactful.
I have to admit up front... not everyone is a story teller. Yet, everyone has a story, and anyones story could be used by God.
Compare your faith story to a movie or novel. Sometimes movies get hyped as amazing and great... yet the truth is they are boring, dull, lifeless and go on and on. I have seen several films and thought... can I somehow get my 2 1/2 hours back please.
(Miami Vice the movie was once such movie.... now that was a waste of time and money!)
Jesus was a master of storytelling. In fact read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Jesus constantly used short stories to teach, connect and challenge people to really follow him. Did you see the key thing... SHORT STORIES!!
Since Sunday I have talked with several people and they have shared some great stories. It was fun to watch them mentally edit their stories to keep my interest, make me laugh and communicate clearly. Now, can we do that with your faith story.
Movies have tag lines.... simple phrases to highlight what a film is about. Our life stories can have tag lines.
The women at the well...."Thirsty for relationship... quenched by Jesus"
Apostle Paul.... "Persecutor of believers.... passionate Jesus follower"
Peter..... "Fisherman turned fisher of men"
My tag line... "Professional broadcaster turned....communicator for God"
What's your tag line?
Figure that out with answering three questions...
#1 -Who was I before meeting Jesus?
#2 - What brought to believe in Jesus
#3 - Who am I now because of Jesus?
That's a powerful, simple, short story. 100 words or less. No more than five minutes... with a built in tag line.
I'll pay good money to hear/ watch a good story. Locked within each of us that knows and follows Jesus is a story worth hearing. A story that can help other person encounter the living God. Don't waste it. Practice it, edit it, use it.
The scriptures say that we should always be prepared to share the hope that is with us.
Are you prepared to share?
We want to help you with this process. E-mail us your story. 100 words or less. And allow us to read it for content... not grammar and share some insights and pointers into crafting a sharp, powerful story that you can always carry with you.
E-mail your story to..... stories@journeychurch.net
I love a good story and I can't wait to hear yours.
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