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"

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.

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!

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.

NO-Confidence in Leadership

Last night I watch the 49er’s take on the Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
Over all not a bad game. In the end Philly beat San Fran 27-24.
What was interesting was what happened late late in the game between the 49ers head coach (Mile Singletary) and their starting QB Alex Smith.
Smith was having one of those up and down nights, but at several critical times he fumbled, and threw interceptions or simple couldn’t get the job done.

The fans were getting restless, having not gotten a win all season.
The coach was getting more and more frustrated.
And the team itself appeared to be loosing confidence in thier QB.

During a commercial break the cameras caught Smith and Singletary “talking things out” . It was clear the QB’s night was done. Confidence in their leader was lost.
But then amazingly, Smith went back in to the game, helped lead the team to two more TD’s and made some great plays. (pass, run, scramble). Confidence in the leader was not only back but riding high. Plus it all happened in just a few plays.

The niners sill lost the game, but it reminded me of how fragile and crazy this thing called leadership is and can be. One minute you’re the “man”, the next (or so it seems) you’re loosing the confidence of your team (other leaders, friends, family, etc.) You may even be benched or on he verge of “going down”.

Moments like these are tough. For moments like this there is no real simple way to fix and repair the confidence of others in your leadership abilities. It could be any combination of things, over a period of time that brings you and your team to call a “time out” and have one of those talks on the side lines. From my own personal experiences in leadership, these talks are never fun, but they are highly valuable and needed at times.

What does it take to loose confidence in a leaders?
What does it take to regain or repair that confidence?
How do you navigate it when some “believe in the leader” and others don’t?
When is it best to let things “Play out a little longer”, while staying committed to the rest of the team and hoping and praying the leader gets back in the groove?

I don’t have the answers. I just hope and pray that when these drops in confidence of a leader come (and they will), that there is plenty of love, grace and forgiveness.

Green Zone

Last night I went and saw the new Matt Damion film, "Green Zone".

First of all don't waste your time on it. It's falsely marketed and a very anti-American film. Now I don't normally get to hung up on people "sharing their view points" in film making. Everyone has a story to tell, and we all see life through a different lens at times. But this was not just another lens, it as a clear anti-American, specifically anti- President George Bush film

Before you jump on the idea, I'm so Republican I can't take some hard "truth".... that's not it. Each president, each political party has it's own pros and cons. Ever administration has made giant mistakes, buried lots of skeletons in the closets, and each one has made some great choices for our country. So I can handle seeing where Bush or any President messed up. After all... we are all sinners.

No this film went extra lengths to paint our country and it's leaders as stupid, irresponsible, puppet masters for our own gain and then actually working a secret deal with Saddam's right hand man. Plus it painted the picture that army, CIA, presidents advisers were not on the same page, cover ups and hidden agendas were everywhere and the big one.... American lives and honor didn't matter.

If I where in the military today serving our country I would take offense for such a picture being painted. Especially as the conflict is not over and our troops are still there.

I'm all for a good "blow um up movie"
I'm all for a film that is a "what if" this or that may have happened."
I'm all for even "exposing the truth" in a film.

But at least make it a good film, at least be honest in how you promote it.
GREEN ZONE could have been a good film.... rather it's a big miss fire.

Damion and his buddies should have simply done the next Bourne movie.

Converge Assesment March 2010

So after a crazy day traveling I have arrived in Orlando,FL for a four day Assesment Center Experience. This is true an amazing process and one that has dramatically helped both our church planters and spouses be even more "sucessful" in fulfilling God's call on their lives.

As I arrive here, I clearly remember our assesment experience almost 8 years ago. (man how time flies) But as I arrive here I am also processing two fellow church planters and their churches that are either closing or looking new pastors. Both of these churches started close to same time that Journey Church in Rochester did. Both of the churches jumped to life way faster than ours did. Both had great men of faith, supported spouses and dedicated people to their specific mission. Yet their time in those particular settings has come to an end.

That's one thing about church planting... you have to be really comfortable risking. Because you never know what God has in mind for each planter or church family.

So tonight I am excited and humbled to gathering together with other pastors and leaders to watch, listen, study and see what God's Holy Spirit may say about each of the eight canidates that have stepped out in faith to be here.

8 years ago Cyndi and I really had no idea how this was all going to work out.
Today we still have no idea how it's all going to work out.
And is both still very exciting and very scary!

As my friends close down their church plants... I am confident that God used them and their churches in mighty ways. "For everything there is a season" the scriptures say.
Tuesday, may begin a whole new season for 8 couples.... even as my friends begin to see what new season they are moving into.

I may be in sunny Florida, in Orlando but it's not fun and sun that has called me here. It's God and his ever expanding Kingdom.
So please join with me a pray for this entire process.
Let's see what God may do next with some willing hearts and risk takers.

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!