On Mission

Last night we held our second Monday Night Football party at Uturn. Over all the evening was a “success”. More people came then the week before and new relationship continued starting to form. But last evening was a night that confirmed our mission is beginning to take root and to have a bigger impact in our city.

Yesterday afternoon tragedy stuck the Rochester Skate Park and a local family as a 19 year old committed suicide at the park. He shot himself. How sad that one so young choose to end his life. Yet that tragedy is the very thing that gave another local pastor the chance the use Uturn for something greater. Pastor Dave of Harvest church got the call regarding the suicide, he then spent several hours talking with his son and other young men that were having to deal with news, and lose of a friend. The “friends” were not all friends of each other, but they had the common friendship with the young man that killed himself. Dave heard their cries and their desire to be together. The problem was, where is there a safe place for all of them to meet? Dave invited them all to Uturn and Monday NIght Football. Mid-way through the first quarter they began to arrive. In all at least 12 young men came, talked, shared, cried, ate CiCi’s Pizza, watched football, shot pool and found a new safe place to hang and connect.

At such a tragic moment it was exciting to serve those in need at Uturn.
It was exciting to see God use another Pastor and Harvest Church to use Uturn for a larger than life moment.

This was not about one church, or one ministry. It wasn’t even about one person. It was about the Kingdom of God, churches serving together because our city, it’s youth were hurting and in need. Praise God for how He is taking this dream and already using it to connect churches, serve our city and provide hope for the hurting.

We are on mission, the target is clear, the tools are being put into place each week and getting used more and more. I pray that many more catch the vision and that we see God move in powerful ways each time we open these doors to the city! I invite you to join the adventure.

NFL season begins tonight

Tonight the Vikes play the Saints to kick off the NFL regular season. All my life the Packers have been #1 and the Vikes #2 in my heart. Sad to say he two teams will not be neck and neck as they were last season. I want to make two predictions today.

#1 - Packers will win it all this year. Regular season could be a even a 12-4 year. (For sure 11-5) Rogers has a great team on both sides of the ball and they are young but maturing fast.

#2 - Farve will step out by the end of game #1 (yes tonight) or game #2.
Farve was begged to come back and his heart is there there anymore. Reality has caught up with him. His mind and arm can play, his body can't do a full season. Plus he really us the "old man" of the team and can't relate to all the kids on the field. He's a man from another time.

I have loved Farve play for so many years. The gunslinger has a hear of 12 yr old, but the body of a 40 yr old. Sad to say, but I think even he know really, really knows he is hanging on for all the wrong reasons.

So there you have it. My Kick-off thoughts for another season. Now play ball and let's see some long passes and hard hits already.

New series and prep

I am knee deep in reading, studying and preparing for our next message series. Actually, I started this process on this series months ago, but am now really fleshing it out in greater detail. "EXIT- journey to freedom" is a series of talks exploring the life of Moses and the Exodus of God's people from Slavery to the Promised Land.
There are so many practical and timely life lesson in this Old Testiment book, plus there are so many great promises of God and foreshadow moments about the coming Messiah (Jesus).

At times message prep and planning are boring and hard to stay focused on. This is not one of those times. This is flowing and flowing and that gives me hope that God is preparing me and Journey Church for an amazing fall. I am pumped, because I see a lot of my own life struggles in Moses and many God-appointed as well.

So prepare yourselves for a great adventure with God. Prepare to have a fresh expreience with the God that sets the captives free.

More than back to school

Today marked the end of summer, at least summer time activities.
It’s a very exciting and strange day for me.

Today Cyndi and i only had two kids heading out the door for school.
Abbi completed High School last May and today she did not have to walk unto Mayo High School. As strange as is for me to experience this, I wonder how strange it is for Abbi to experience this. Sarah and Hannah are now in 7th grade. I so many ways they are already taking care of themselves and Cyndi and I simply take care of the “big stuff” and help navigate life with them.

It’s an exciting and strange day at the Bontrager’s.

At the same time, I am so happy that summer is over. It has been a very strange summer for our church family. So many distractions it seems. It felt like a summer of disconnect at one level, and yet there were many new connections made of over the summer months.

I am ready to see what a “normal” rhythm of life is like for our leadership team and church family. I am excited to see where God leads us next. The Uturn is getting more active all the time and we have a church planter in the mix fir 2011. That’s a lot of exciting stuff.

So on a personal level..... back to school is stranger than normal this fall.
On ministry level.... back to school is hopefully a time of growth and stability.