Weather

Just another normal "spring" day in MN. I can't believe that we are once again into May and still having 35 degree days. It's no joke, we really do from winter to summer in MN. The other two seasons of the year are "GREY"

New Believers Group

Often we have so many questions about what it means to be a "Christian". Or maybe we have heard so many ideas about who God is that we have no idea what to really believe.
Well I am really excited that tonight, Cyndi and I have the chance to have a small group in our home just for those people that are new to Jesus. Or new to the idea of really following God.

BASIC is a video teaching series featuring Pastor Francis Chan that we will be using as a jumping off point. Each 8-10 minute video will help to get our hearts and minds thinking. My hope is that as we go through this series, we'll all have a greater understanding of the basic foundational concepts and teachings of who God is, what does it mean to follow Jesus, and how to really let the Holy Spirit guide our live.

It's exciting to know others are hungry for the truth, and they have intentionally set time aside to grow in wisdom and understanding. The time of the video series is BASIC, I believe that there is noting basic or simple that will come of this time together. Rather I hope and prayer that the amazing happens each week in our lives.

If you want to join us, let us know. 507-281-1420
or come to our home at 1114 West Center St., Rochester, MN

Lazy Day

Took Sarah to the doctors today. Found out that too much dancing, running, jumping can be hard on a growing kids feet. Now she is a in sexy looking wrap for two or three weeks. The doctors medicine... "Take it easy, not any dancing for a week or so"

Yeah, right that will happen.

Other than that.... I simply rested my day away, after a great Sunday. It really felt good all the way around this weekend, but man was I a lazy man today.

Yet another

Praise to God for yet another person seeking, asking and find her freedom in the truth of Jesus Christ today. Not only another new committed follower, but another chance to disciple a newer follower of Christ in listening, sharing and helping another cross over the faith line.

Now May 8th we'll have at least 3 people getting baptized!

God is on the move and great and mighty days. Oh for the days of acts Chapter 2 when, "God added to their numbers daily those that were being saved".
It's not daily yet... but it is growing to be a more and more regular thing.

Please Holy Spirit don't stop now! We want more and more to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. More For Freedom in Christ!

My tax day

I used to be one of those early tax guys. Everything was nice and in order and ready to go after the first of the year. Not anymore. It's not really that my taxes require that much work, it's just that my days fill up more unexpectedly. That's one part about being a pastor, I never know what my day will really be like, the adventure person within me likes that. But then it takes away from the nice and orderly system I used to have in my life, like tax prep.

Honestly, I also just don't care as much about getting them done. It's not really a bad attitude as much as it's, I just know it will get done, because it has to get done each year. So why rush it.

I am thankful to have a great tax accountant that has served me and my family very well for many years. I do not know what I will do when calls her home.

Today is the day, I have it all ready, the time is carved out and then we'll get to see if we get any money back to reinvest in our family, life and ministry.

At least I got in done before the real due date!

Deeper into addiction

This morning I went deeper into the world o addiction.
In fact over the course of the last five days I have gone deeper and deeper into the addictive world... and man is it great!

Now let share why this is so great.

Earlier this year our leadership team agreed with my feelings that God wanted us to press in even deeper into the recovery and addiction ministry area. Over half of the people that attend Journey each month are opening struggling with some form of addiction.
Over the years we have seen God do some amazing things in these peoples live.
They are often the modern day, "lame, sick, blind" that Jesus touched and reached so well. Our passion to see God work powerfully had lead us to want to see the most broken of people fully healed and restored.

So decided to be even more intentional about reaching, loving and serving these people whom God cares deeply about. The week after we shared this at our annual vision night, we saw a new wave of addictive, hurting and searching people come in our doors....and that wave has no stopped since.

Sunday I was in a different mens recovery / re-entry house and this morning I was invited to visit the Gables Recovery House (For women). Each place wanted to hear about our outreach / coffee house called Uturn, and the Gables has asked me to come semi-regular (rotating basis) on Fridays and talk, listen, help give spiritual advice to these ladies in recovery.

It is amazing how we heard God leading us more this way, how we intentionally responded and now how he has added, and added to this already. We did not go seeking these new connections, they came to us.

Add to all this, on Thursday of this past week a women in recovery meet with me and another lady and she gave her life to Jesus! God has clearly called us to step out and reach these people in recovery. We are reaching them on their terms, in their comfort zone, at church, at recovery meetings and one-on-one settings.

To reach the lost, hurting and broken... we must intentionally be looking for ways to meet up with them and hear their stories. I can see that we are doing that better and better each day, and God is taking us deeper and deeper into this unique area of ministry.

God confirmed how much of an impact we are already having in this new wave of people.
One young lady was proudly wearing the Uturn T-shirt that she bought this Sunday at Journey. The staff at the Gables stated, "They had no idea that you were coming today".

To save a life, you must go to wear people are dying.

I look for and expect God to continue to do even more amazing things as we go deeper into addiction.

Recovery Ministry

It is amazing to see how God is growing Journey's recovery ministries both formerly and informally. There are lots of newcomers attending Journey on Sundays and many are trying to break free from some addiction, or really unhealthy behavior. These that are coming in are truly hungry, thirsty and dying to hear about the love of God through Jesus.

But another amazing thing that is happening is that many of these same recovery people are already ministering and serving others. I am not talking small stuff here, rather deep Holy Spirit, power of God stuff! Last night at group, yet another individual stopped and spoke words of life, encouragement and insight that brought tears of joy and freedom to another. The words were not of their own prior knowledge or insights, but the Holy Spirits! Each week I see men and women, in recovery praying together of their own free will. Not pastor or group led.... just one-on-one natural pray time because of love for one another and God's Spirit speaking in hearts way beyond any teaching or words that I may share.

There is something truly special happening at our Freedom For Life and Women Sober Support groups. I pray we simply stay out of the way and continue to follow the Spirit's leading. What is happening is not scripted or planned, but it is fun to be a part of!

More Church planters

Just spent the last hour and half with another new potential church planter coming into the Rochester area. It is so exciting to hear the dreams of other planters as they come into this great city.

So much potential.

Uturn Grand Opening

Grand Opening Weekend is underway.
Check out the Channel 6 news link and come enjoy our concert tonight.
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Headline act is Shasta Blvd. from the Twin Cities


http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S2047189.shtml?cat=10151

Grand Opening

Today is Aprils fools day... April first and we are finally having our GRAND OPENING for Uturn Coffeehouse & Event Center. NO joke we really are. I think it's very fitting that we do so today.

This month marks the 7 year anniversary of Journey Church (the ministry that birthed Uturn)

It was a year ago that we moved from the Chateau Theaters into the former Quality Woods Building (no Uturn) as renovations were under way.

It also marks my wedding anniversary this month to my awesome wife Cyndi!

So why not go public with another crazy dream in the month of April.

No one really thought that Journey would ever really survive.
Many did not understand the bold move from the Chateau Theaters to a building under construction. And even fewer believed that a small church with very little funds, and no bank loan could ever really launch a outreach center, let along coffeehouse.

Thank goodness I serve and believe in a BIG GOD... as do others that have walked this foolish dream out these last years. So today we invite you to come celebrate our foolishness in following our great God. We can't wait to see what God will continue to do with the growing number of men, women and churches that will partner together to reach our city for God....one cup of coffee and event at a time.

Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:21

Doors open at 6 p.m. tonight.

Coffeeundraiser started

We just started promoting and selling the Uturn coffeehouse coffee to help raise funds for our new espresso machine (due to arrive any day / hour). For at least a $16.00 donation toward Uturn you will receive a 1 ib. bag of our fair trade / organic coffee.
No one else has this coffee in the Rochester area.

Spread the word, place an order and know that for every $16.00 donated, half goes directly back to Uturn. If you want to donate more, please do so. Anything above the fifty / fifty split of the first $16, goes toward the Uturn.

Donate $50.... $8 goes to the coffee brewer, the rest to help Uturn. Simple math, great non-profit organization and incredible fair trade coffee.

Got questions, give us a call....at Uturn Coffeehouse & Event Center 507-282-7773.

Uturn Coffee Fundraiser

Man I am pumped that we have finally secured the right company to partner with and press forward with our bigger dream of adding Fair-trade coffee to the Uturn food line up. Not only will we have Fair-trade coffee, we’ll feature some of the best organic blends as well. To make matters even better we will actually be able to label and market the coffee as “Uturn Coffee”. The packaging label has been proofed and is ready to go on the first batch of coffee.
Here’s how you can help.
Drop by the Uturn, get a Uturn-Coffee Fundraising sheet and ask your friends, family and co-workers to order a bag. Each bag is a 1 lb. bag of our first Uturn blends.

We’ll have three blends to choose from;
Fair-Trade Organic “Papua New Guinea Okapa Coop” - Medium Roast
Fair-Trade Organic “Minnesota Mudd Blend” - Dark Roast
Decaf Fair-Trade Organic “Mountain Water Processed Peru La Florida.

Can you smell the coffee?

The funds raised will help us pay off of New Espresso Machine that we are trying to get in Uturn ASAP. Your help can make all the difference. Adding the coffee will allow us to expand our hours into limited day-time hours. The mission of Uturn continues to grow. This Non-profit, all volunteer Coffeehouse and Event Center is making an impact in Rochester. Thanks for you on-going support.

R.I.P.

This week has been marked by death. Monday night I was at St. Mary’s Hospital to love and support a family as their father [step-dad] took his final breaths and went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus. What a honor to be there to share in the tears of hope and sadness. Then that same night I got word that a young man, whom I had ministered to over the past two year had died. Jason had a long battle with drugs and it finally cost him his life. Jason was a guy that desperately wanted to make up for lost time with God, friends and family. But he still struggled. Then the Chateau Theater closed up operations this week. The entertainment, movie industry has been hard these last several years. Hearing that the lights had gone out at the Chateau was sad, because as a church we have very fond memories of the place and it’s people. In the five years that Journey was there we held weddings on site, showed “Veggie-tale” movies, partnered with the theater with “Cruise for kids”, “Family fun night” and more.

Our relationship with the theater had been a really, really good one for the most part. Being known as the “Church at the movies” helped us reach our city for Christ. Now like these mens lives, that chapter of our life as a church is really dead and gone. All we have our memories of a greater place and good people.
Your family will miss you Don.
I will miss you Jason.
Our church and our city will miss you Chateau.
R.I.P - Rest in Peace and thank for the memories!

Super Sundays

Some days are more special then others. Most Sunday, I really am excited to get to Journey, reconnect with the larger church family and share what God has laid on my heart. Sunday’s are normally great days. Then there are some Sundays that seem to have an extra bit of power in them. We have been blessed to have several of them lately. This Sunday was a prime example.
From the moment I came it the Uturn coffeehouse, there was a sense of extra anticipation for what was in store for us today. As volunteers came to serve, it only added the feeling. Then both Sunday morning gatherings seemed very Spirit led and filled. Our large gathering with God was an extra special encounter. Part of the added bonus was the testimony and baptism of Sara. It never gets old, hearing and seeing how people are effected by a transformed life. That is a committed follower of Jesus making public statement of faith, total surrender through the act of baptism. When the crowd screams and celebrates another person added to the family of God...it’s overwhelming.
Then then are day rolled into opening up the Uturn coffeehouse and Event Center for the NFC championship game. We had a very excited and interactive crowd. Yeah it doesn’t hurt that the Packers won. That’s a extra bonus as well.

Honestly though you never know how long a wave will last of spiritual growth, newcomers, and clear transformation in peoples lives. Sometimes “it” just happens and you simply get to enjoy what God’s spirit is doing. I wish I could figure out the “it-factor” of days and weeks like this... but I can’t. That is where I must simply follow God, play my part and wake up each day wonder what God will do. I believe “expectation” does have something to do with “it-factor” of great days. So as I start this Monday, I expect something exciting, challenging or unforeseen to happen. I expect God to move in my life some how. I pray that I see, and enjoy it as much as i have enjoyed these last few weeks.

Planning Porn Sunday

Cyndi and I had dinner with Bob and Bunny Yanish tonight. We have hammered out the details for how we will have ages 3 years through 5th grade off site at CiCi's Pizza on Sunday, Feb. 6th. The kids will have some crafts, special activities and breakfast pizza, great cinamonn rolls and more. It's going to make our Porn Sunday extra special for everyone and allow both teens and adults to really hear, focus and hopefully allow God's Spirit to work.

Big yeah God for Bob and Bunny and their common vision for God.

Life Changes.... parents

You never really believe that you will ever reach that point where your parents health begins to fail and they really, really need you. Cyndi and I are both having to adjust to that hard reality. Last week Cyndi's mother was admitted to the hospital for some serious stuff. Now almost a week later it is clear her mothers life will not be the same. The family must begin to make plans and adjustments. My parents have loved living in the mountains of Colorado. Yet they both must mow sleep with the aid of Oxygen. That is not a good long term solution to two people that love to travel and be on the go.
So now they must sell the mountain home and move to lower lands.

It's a strange place to be our hearts and minds. We all know that we are fragile and human, yet the actual reality and walking through these adjustments is emotionally and spiritually draining. You never know when the phone may ring and things have gotten worse, or a parent may pass away.

Thank goodness all of our parents deeply love and follow Jesus Christ.
That is hope and joy each day. We have a confidence that our parents will meet their Savior and enjoy new life in a new way with Him. So yes it is strange to be where we are at, but it is also exciting to know where they are going.

We live as people of two worlds with mixed emotions.

Porn Sunday

Today I really began preparing for dangerous message on Sunday, Feb. 6th.... PORN SUNDAY.
Yup, we are going to address another one of those "elephants" in our lives and churches.
This is an event / message I have wanted to do for some time. But I also wanted the proper venue for follow-up. The Uturn coffeehouse and event center really allows us to hit hard topics such as this and do really good follow up.

XXXChurch has put together really solid material to help local churches such as Journey be well informed and practical. We will be putting a lot of promotional support behind this dangerous Sunday. My prayer is to really help people find freedom from this ugly, addictive and distructive material.

Please, join with us now!
Pray for us as we advance into dangerous territory.
Pray for freedom, practical steps and help.
Pray that many, many will be saved from our human efforts, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Surprises

The scriptures teach us that God goes before us, that He is preparing away for us. Often when troubled times hit it’s hard to see, believe or understand that. This last Tuesday (Jan. 11th) following our Freedom For Life recovery ministry two men in attendance asked if they could pray for me. The man that I barely knew said, “I came into the building tonight, and God impressed on me that I was to pray for you. God is telling me you have sometimes ahead, an attack is coming and we should pray for you.”
So Nate and Jose laid hands on me and prayed. What was unique about this was, Jose prayed in a spiritual language I could not understand (tongues it is called in the Bible), while Nate simply prayed in english. After several minutes I thanked the men, gave them each hugs and that was it. (By the I’ll take all the pray I can get!)

Thursday afternoon I received a phone call from my brother-in-law. Cyndi’s mother was back in the hospital with “congestive heart failure and kidney failure.” Wow... pretty serious stuff. Later that afternoon, Cyndi and called her brother back, got more details and began adjusting our plans for the weekend. Plans that were going to be exciting, fun, family times. Now we had to tell our kids about grandma, have Cyndi pack and leave for Iowa this morning (Friday, Jan. 14th).

I shared with Cyndi the story of how Nate and Jose had prayed for me on Tuesday, With tears in both of our eyes we knew that God used these two me to help emotionally and spiritually prepare us for this phone call and the unknown future for Cyndi’s mother.
There was a peace that only God can provide that came over Cyndi and I as we finalized our new weekend plans.

Once again, we can see that God is 100% true to his word. We may not like or enjoy what situations we face in life, but God is there with us. God is actually going before us, clearing away for us to make it through the highs and lows of live. “I will never leave you or forsake you”, Jesus said.

Thank you God for going before us always.

Goodbye 2010

There are few times in my life when I can honestly say, “ am glad that year is over.” 2010 is one of those years. Even as I say that, it really surprises me. 2010 was an exciting, dangerous and an amazing year in the life of our church and ministry. We experienced a lot changes, and God’s working in so many ways. It was a tough year of ministry, but that is not why I am happy to see the year pass.

Honestly was my home life that was the bigger struggle area. Oh yeah, we had major changes there as well, but some were changes that actually brought more conflict and pain into my life and that of the entire family. There were some off the chart great moments, like having our oldest daughter complete high school. (man do I feel old )
At times it really felt like our family could not take much more of the battle and drama.

But as we start 2011, it seems as if we have collectively all begun to come out the funk and darkness. I am not saying all is well at the Bontrager household, only that it feels really good to be where we are at. Before Cyndi and I stepped into full-time ministry and church planting we were told that this would take a lot out of us, “guard your family and marriage”, we were told time and time again. We tried, but man life, the enemy and our own sinful nature continues to mess things up daily. I am eternally grateful for the family I have, the experiences that we have shared.... it’s even sweeter to say that at the start of 2011.

White Balanced

As a broadcaster I learned that when you use a video camera it’s best to first point your camera to a white piece of paper. This technique has been used for years and years. They use the white paper as true standard by which to set the lens. The technique is called “WHITE BALANCE” The camera is focused on a white, pure image... before trying to adjust and focus on people, clothes, and the moving action.. like a football game. Without first setting the camera to a “White Balance” the images will be off-color, blurring, not a crisp and clear as they could be.

The scriptures remind us to “fix our eyes on Jesus”, He is our white balance.
The things he said, the way he lived, and the sacrifice that he made for each one of us. When I focus on Jesus Christ, the Bible.... the many timeless truths found in the Holy Scriptures... I get “WHITE BALANCED”. This has got to become a daily practice in my life or I don’t stand a chance against the influnces of this world or our enemy Satan.

The Apostle challenges us to be “white balance” as Jesus Followers.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

That’s a tough one to hear, especially when other places we are told to be, “In the world but not of this world.” God does not call us to retreat, from the world... yet he also does not want to be conformed to it either.

People we have to admit that the things of this world can have a strong influence and pull our lives. If we admit that, then we are able to attack the various areas in our lives that arer being compromised by buying into this world and it’s low standards. How do we do that?

We must once again return to the true standard of God. We must be daily “white balanced” by reading the scriptures, listening and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our steps. Once we remember the true standard, then we will be able to interpret everything else in light of the true standard instead of interpreting everything else according to everything else.

Are you tired of slowly being poisoned by this world? Are you wanting to remove the toxic influences in your life? Test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)