Days of Nehemiah

God rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt in 52 days... the tools used were... Vision, passion, sacrifice, prayer, a and people of faith.

It's been an amazing start to 2010!
Personally I am in awe of how God has cleared the way, and provided for us an amazing place to reach our city for his glory. It has been but a God-size miracle to receive financial gifts, donations and volunteer time from so many people. As I write this more pounding and hammering us going on here at the U-turn.
Demo and Renovation are an amazing process.

Yet there is so much more that needs to be done.
We are just now about to enter into the most costly part of the built-old process.
At this moment we do not have the funds to pay for all that needs, must be done.
Yet.... we press forward in faith that God will provide.
God provides by using men and women to give sacrificially, generously and ridiculously. I know that money does not grow on trees, but it does hide in wallets.

Read the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. See how his heart hurt so badly for his city. How a vision was born. How a call to give, serve, invest at a crazy level was put forward. Read how skeptics came forward to shoot down the vision. And read how God did the impossible in 52 days!

I am thrilled, humbled and amazed to be with a group of people, a church family, that is reliving the days of Nehemiah. If you ever wanted to be apart of a God-size movement. If you've ever wanted to see God-do the impossible.... I invite you to join the adventure. Give like crazy, give so that others may come to know Christ.
Give so that in a short span of time a building can be renovated, and become a nee light to the city. May God be glorified.

Church planter potential

Today was exciting and special. It was another chance to sit and talk with a possible church planter for the SE Region. The SE region of Minnesota has so many cities that don't have a vibrant evangelical church / faith community within them. It has been a forgotten or untapped area of our church movement over the years. Smaller, mid-size cities present an entirely different challenge for pastors and leaders to establish a new church plant.

It does not mean that it can't be done, it simply takes a uniquely gifted person that understands smaller / mid-size city life and has a vision and passion to serve in an often close knit community.

Today was exciting to hear and see a man (family) that may be called of God to relocate and take on the challenge of planting in such an environment. Days like today, are simply inspiring to me. They lift me up and make me want to see God mountains.

So here we are again, exploring uncharted territory with a potential church planter.
So let's see what happens this time.
Let's see if some new begins in SE Minnesota in 2010 & 2011.

On the Job Training

There is always something to new to learn in life it's been said... and I totally agree.

I minister from the school of life, not a seninary of special university. Walking through life with God, reading his word and applying it to my life has taught me more than any formal eduaction ever could.

Right now, the "classroom" pf ministry, life, growth, dependence on God and deep water faith is at an on time high. I and never thought it could get higher than launching a church plant almost 6 years ago. But a the church a grown, God has continued to bring bigger, deeper even more amazing dreams and plans into my head and heart.

There is no script for this stuff.
You either trust God, follow, or get out of ministry.
I am willing to look like a fool for God.
I am willing to try what appears to impossible by human standards.
I just will never have a clear cut plan, pre-laid out process or clear dead-line of how it all plays out. I leave that totally to God, so that I may simply be a willing servant, teacher, leader and fellow sojourner with people.

God's hands on training transformed fishermen into world leaders and teachers.
I pray that I pass the training and testing of his "school" and leave a mark for God long after I am gone. I am so glad that God always has more room in his classroom. Open enrolement is awesome!

U-Turn on KNLW and Facebook

The excitement continues to grow and expand as we move forward with the U-turn remodel project. Go is announcing this new ministry in so many creative ways it blows me away.
Today a Facebook page was launched to act a hub in the social circles of peoples lives.
On day one over 40 accepted in and added it to their facebook profile.
Way exciting.

KNLW interviewed me today and will be airing a 3 min piece on the dreams and plans of the U-turn. Thanks Ken and Betsy.

There is such a buzz already and it's no where near ready to open.

Praise Godm, I open we all can continue to keep up with God's pace on this.