Facebook Power

Last night I was reminded how much we have become a internet, instant communication world.
I posted a comment on my Face-book account that I was going to watch MNF at BWW.
As several of us were hanging out, two others showed up that had seen the posting and wanted to join the fun.

It was a great night, chicken fingers only 75 cents!!, lots of laughs, and solid relationship building between men.

Churches today, must take advantage of things like Face-book, podcasting, IM, etc. If we don't we are missing out on a very powerful evangelism tool. People are creating community and building relationships in real time via these internet based networks. I hope and pray the more and more churches seek to make great use of these tools. They are free! They are buzzing with activity and as I found out again last night... they are working as a new doorway to gather people together in the real world and make disciples for Christ.

The internet age is here... is the church, it's leaders and pastors ready to embrace it and go on exciting mission?

Worship Night

Before I head off to bed I must express my deepest thanks to Dave Reynolds and the entire Journey Band. What a great night of Praise and Worship at RCTC. The venue was perfect, the people in attendance sang, clap, shouted and praised God freely.
The band's practice and personal prayer and prep really showed and added so much the experience. You could that they were really enjoying themselves and enjoying worshipping with all of the soul.

It was extra special to be back on the RCTC campus 4 plus years after we launched Journey publicly at the RCTC Heintz Center.
IIt made it extra meaningful to have us come back with such gifts, talents, passions and committed servants. I pray that beyond those that were in the Hill Theater, God's Holy Spirit was felt in a powerful over all of the college campus.

I look forward to our next worship night. And to our upcoming "Family Christmas" event at the 4-H Building on the Olmsted County Fair Grounds. May we also reach up to God and reach out at the same time.

Thank you EVERYONE that served, set-up, teared-down, prayed or played in the band. Your love of God, does not go unnoticed.

Faith, Love & Hope

What a week in the life of this young church family. We talk of being a church of Faith, Love and Hope. A family that really risks and goes the extra mile for those in need. Well the last few weeks and days have seen that lived out.

Our church family emotionally and financially invested big in Jen, a 24 year old here in Rochester for Medical treatment.
Then this week she totals her car, in a car accident with the bad weather. With a neck brace and sling, I drove her back to Duluth where her mom lives and she will be receiving more care.

Two of our own Journey family members seek help and try to get jobs. While our "We Care" fund helps them with food and gas.

Saturday, Mike and Karen Ellsworth's neighbors house burns to the ground, and the Ellsworth's home is smoked filled, so they must evacuate. The Journey family goes into action to help the Ellseworth and their neighbor.

Days and weeks like this are crazy and intense. How many of them can a church take on and survive? Far more than we can imagine if we really believe in being an Acts Chapter 2 type church. A church marked by Faith, Hope and Love. Not merely in words, but action and resources. "They shared everything that they had" (acts 2:43), "they shared everything that they had....They had no needy people among them, because those who owned land or house would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to them in need." (acts 4:32, 34).

As we talk about financial matters, as we talk about giving and supporting the church mission through our offerings we often forget how many lives are really impacted by what we give, or don't give. It's a real challenge to be a church marked by generosity when the world is in self-protect and apathy mood. Yet, if we trust in God, risk and invest like we have... and even more. We will be seen as a community of "Faith, Love and Hope."

Some day, could be your day when you need financial aid, support that can only come from our "We Care" fund and the generous gifts and offering that are given and received at our gatherings. Some weeks are more intense than others.
Even as we have helped those that we mentioned, there have phone calls for aid and help that we have not acted on.
The need is great, the committed workers and givers are few.

Thanks for giving and making this week possible. You have made an impact.
No let's do it again, with you give generously this week.

Generis

Sunday, we continued our mini-series on "Trapped". I shared about how early Jesus followers who appeared to have nothing gave generously to the mission of Jesus. It was through their own personal encounter with Jesus, healing, freedom, and passion to have others experience the same thing with Christ that drove them to give generously. Living a generous life, is based on an ever expanding heart for the "Kingdom of God." The more you are transformed, the more that you will want to help us meet Jesus, become free and start living fully alive. Read Luke 8:1-3. Look closely at three ladies that because of thier personal freedom in Christ, freely gave generously to advance the mission and movement of God.

Sunday we used a brief media clip to set up our conversation. Here it is for you to watch... I hope it inspires you as it has others.
Watch it on the side bar of my blog or cut and paste the link below.

http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/12463/closed-fist-syndrome--cfs-

I want to but....

Every week I get the chance to talk to a wide variety of people. Some are followers of Jesus and many are not. What amazes me is how often the subject of money comes up. Money and what people can and can't do with it. Money and how if they only had a little bit more they would finally be able to do such and such a thing. Money is often a limiter in people's lives... or so it seems. So many people are waiting to live and do something great... once they have enough money.

I hear it all the time... "I want to give but I just can't do it now."

Now I understand that many, many people are upside down in debt. But should that limit your giving to God?
Giving to God is directly linked to the heart. A heart that is free from sin, pain, fear, regret, etc. How free is free?

Is God's gift of freedom a great gift to you, or small left over.
Many people live giving from their left overs and never really growing in the faith.
While a few seem to grow and grow while living on the leftovers.
Which are you?

"I want to but".... never worked with Jesus. He was committed to show us how to give generously first... even when it didn't make sense. Yet, the eternal benefits of his generous gift is priceless. What if we stopped waiting for the checkbook to balance perfect, the credit card debt to gone, the gas prices to drop and we just started to give first?

What if we partnered with God and fueled the mission of Jesus to reach the lost, hurt, broken... even as we are being saved, mended and restored.

Sober Birthday

Last night I had the chance to hang with a new friend... Justin. Justin has just completed a re-entry program after serving time for crimes that he committed and drug abuse. Justin has become a Jesus follower and has begun to dive into serving at Journey. Last night, Justin invited several of his new "friends and family" to go celebrate his birthday with a night of bowling.
What a great time. THe scores were low, but the laugh count was high!

As we left, I asked Justin when was the last time that he had a "sober Birthday party?"
He said, at about the age of 12! Over 12 years ago!!!
How sad, but how awesome that he is not only free from prison, sober.. but that he is free of his past and living a whole new life with Jesus and the family of God. I look forward to many more nights like that.

Keep it up Justin. We're proud of you.