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
Showing posts with label Journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journey. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, April 11, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, November 08, 2010
“refrigerator rights”
This weekend we started a new message series at Journey called “What if?...” It’s a discussion series based on dreams and idea, on what our churches and lives may be like if we were more like the first century church.
Week number one focused on “What if we really cared for one another?”
Have you ever heard of a book called “REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS”
It’s a title of a book that came out a couple of years ago. The writer describes people who have this amazing thing in common called, “Refrigerator Rights” I have enjoyed these rights with several people over the course of my life. It’s an amazing thing to give “refrigerator rights” to someone or receive them. What I am talking about is when you can walk into another persons home, open up the frig and make yourself at home. Make anything, eat or drink anything you want. No hesitation. “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.”
It’s an amazing and freeing thing to enjoy with friends that are like family.
The church was originally designed to enjoy “REFRIGERATOR RIGHT” as away of showing and being a real caring community / family.
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper),and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
Do you see the “REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS” of the early Church? These people shared everything they had at it was based out of their homes.
And did it with great joy and generosity.
They couldn’t help but live this ways.
Refrigerator Rights was not the rare thing in the early church, it was the norm. It was the standard by which Jesus followers demonstrated how much they really cared for one another.
This type of caring is not forced, manufactured, manipulated. This type of caring family, laughs.... I mean really laughs and has fun. This type of caring family, gets real with one another.
This family both celebrates and experiences life's pains together. Note this type of caring community of family is contagious.
It was powerful, it electric and attracted more and more people.
They added to their numbers daily.
But more than that. They weren’t just adding “friends” like we do on Facebook or Twitter. They added daily to those that were being saved.
More and more people came to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior partially because of how amazing this caring community of people were.
Ask yourself, “What if I really cared like this? How different would your life, your family, your friends life be?
If you are a follower of Jesus.... how more alive and amazing would your church be. What would it be like to extend refrigerator rights to those in your church or small group. Might we experience some of what the early church experienced? Might we see people come to faith daily.
Ask yourself.... What if I really cared?
Week number one focused on “What if we really cared for one another?”
Have you ever heard of a book called “REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS”
It’s a title of a book that came out a couple of years ago. The writer describes people who have this amazing thing in common called, “Refrigerator Rights” I have enjoyed these rights with several people over the course of my life. It’s an amazing thing to give “refrigerator rights” to someone or receive them. What I am talking about is when you can walk into another persons home, open up the frig and make yourself at home. Make anything, eat or drink anything you want. No hesitation. “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.”
It’s an amazing and freeing thing to enjoy with friends that are like family.
The church was originally designed to enjoy “REFRIGERATOR RIGHT” as away of showing and being a real caring community / family.
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper),and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
Do you see the “REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS” of the early Church? These people shared everything they had at it was based out of their homes.
And did it with great joy and generosity.
They couldn’t help but live this ways.
Refrigerator Rights was not the rare thing in the early church, it was the norm. It was the standard by which Jesus followers demonstrated how much they really cared for one another.
This type of caring is not forced, manufactured, manipulated. This type of caring family, laughs.... I mean really laughs and has fun. This type of caring family, gets real with one another.
This family both celebrates and experiences life's pains together. Note this type of caring community of family is contagious.
It was powerful, it electric and attracted more and more people.
They added to their numbers daily.
But more than that. They weren’t just adding “friends” like we do on Facebook or Twitter. They added daily to those that were being saved.
More and more people came to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior partially because of how amazing this caring community of people were.
Ask yourself, “What if I really cared like this? How different would your life, your family, your friends life be?
If you are a follower of Jesus.... how more alive and amazing would your church be. What would it be like to extend refrigerator rights to those in your church or small group. Might we experience some of what the early church experienced? Might we see people come to faith daily.
Ask yourself.... What if I really cared?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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.
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.
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