You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November, 2007.
There is an increasing interest in planting churches in the US. Some of the most recent data is painting an encouraging picture of the success of these new plants. I am surprised at the wave of excitement and enthusiasm that has emerged these past few years.
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“Church planting has grown in its scope, diversity and impact,” says Ed Stetzer, director of research for Lifeway Research and leader of the study. “North American churches, networks and denominations are making church planting a growing priority.”Such emphases push the church closer toward a movement–where churches plant churches that plant churches across North America and the world.”Commissioned by Leadership Network, the State of Church Planting USA study was based on interviews with more than 100 denominational leaders from a wide spectrum, 200 church-planting churches and some 45 church planting networks. |
- Rebekah and Papa Day…off to Coco Moon this morning.
- Spent the early A.M. catching up on blogs I read.
- My friend Dan Schmitt from Adoration thanked TJN for sharing our gear after their trailer was stolen 9 months ago. TJNers that missed it should listen here >>> (posted on Monday).
- Bjorlo family tradition has me cooking clam chowder today as the rest of the gang decorates the tree.
- Family night will include Chinese Checkers.
- We started the advent season by making a new wreath.
- Jen Castro and band rocked Sunday.
- These just crack me up.
- It is going to be cold this week. Ice should be on the lakes soon.
- I hope we get a ton of snow this year.
- Who would have thought that the Vikings had a game like that in them.
- Extreme Makeover Home Edition last night was awesome.
- Get your TJN news from our new weekly podcast.
Almost four years ago a small group of us launched The Journey North Community Church. It was and is thrilling to be part of this new thing here in Brainerd. I often find myself thinking about the awesome people I have had the chance to work with and I feel incredibly grateful. Some of the most dedicated, sincere, loving and hard working people have come alongside of us in this endeavor.
In the course of a few short years we have seen the church grow from that small handful to almost 500 people. In the church world that is amazing growth. With that kind of growth I found myself more that antiquity challenged and I knew there was a ton at stake.
We were seeing peoples lives getting changed and they were making all kinds of commitments. They were making commitments to God and to one another. These were people who wanted their lives to matter, to make a difference.
I remember feeling a huge responsibility to steward the opportunity. To create the structure that would allow lives to continue to be cared for. Because of my passion for the vision and a profound desire to see people’s lives changed. I poured myself into the effort. In the early days I ran at an unsustainable pace. Looking back I was living on an adrenalin rush.
Fortunately, I was able to slow down before the work I was trying to do for God destroyed the work of God in me. For the past several years I have made sure that each week I take a day off. Truthfully, I had to learn how because for some of us it is hard to just stop. We run from one thing to next without really giving any thought to the effect it has on our souls. The paradox of our high speed age is that we get a lot done without ever getting done.
The Bible says that God rested on the seventh day. Yet some of us never seem to stop. I reflected on this a few months back. Once or twice a year, I try to stop for an extended amount of time by taking a silent retreat. These times away have proven to be some of the richest and most rewarding times with God. I have learned more about myself (my heart, my hopes and dreams as well as my weaknesses). God has used these times to clarify who I was and where I was going. I think that God designed us to stop from time to time for more than a day.
Thanksgiving can serve as natural break. It can provide us with an opportunity to pause for a moment, a day or a weekend and reflect. On the Fridays after Thanksgiving, I often find myself reflecting on the fact that I ate more than I thought possible. I love it all…cranberries, pickled herring, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pie. More than that, I love taking a little time to think about the year.
This tradition dates back to the beginning of this great country. In fact, in 1789 President George Washington issued a national Thanksgiving Proclamation. He wrote,
“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country.”
What’s not to like about a day that has as its primary function the gathering of friends and family around the table for a time of celebrating the goodness of God. Take a moment and just stop. Stop rushing, cleaning up, going from one thing to the next and take a little time for yourself. Consider the year and remember the good things the little blessings…and give thanks.
- Papa Day with Abbie…we’re off to do a little breakfast and run some errands.
- I have a physical today. New Doctor – New Clinic (what a pain).
- My dear friends Yaz and Loren are moving Down Under. Yep, they are Australia bound on Wed. They are coming over for a final meal (a little something on the barbi).
- I distain Pharisees
- This is going to be a great week.
- Tomorrow is our Area LEAD Team meeting. Pastors from our network get together to Learn, Encourage, Affirm and Dream.
- Thursday is all about Faith, Family and Football. I love Thanksgiving…oh ya and Survivor.
- This Sunday is going to be awesome. Dan Schmidt from Adoration Church is coming to say thanks to TJN for helping them out this spring.
- I am so thankful for our church and for the leadership that God has surrounded me with. It’s awesome to have Kingdome minded people who share a passion for the things of God.
In light of what I heard from the meeting at Temple Baptist, my friend Jeff Gauss‘ Nov 8th post took on a new life for me. It’s a must read:
I’ve been meditating on Acts 4 today in preparation for my sermon on Sunday. Previously, in Acts 3 Peter & John healed a man who was crippled for 40 years. Peter then takes advantage of the crowd that has gathered in awe of this miracle and preaches the Gospel. Acts 4 starts this way:
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.
Despite the awesome display of God’s power in their midst resulting in a rapidly growing Church, there are those who don’t approve. The religious leaders are threatened and oppose this new movement of the Spirit which has obviously produced good results (sharing with the poor, healing the lame, true community, etc.) and have Peter and John thrown in jail.
This is a good reminder to me that no matter how obviously good things are, there will always be opposition; that even if God speaks with a booming voice there will still be those who won’t hear; and even if Jesus Christ showed up in the flesh on Sunday, there would still be those who would not let him inside. Sadly, this opposition almost always comes from religious leaders - from those inside the church whose primary objective is maintaining the status quo and keeping God inside their hand-crafted box they designed specifically for Him. Whenever God tries to “escape” they scramble to get Him back inside so He doesn’t change things up too much. No matter how many people come to Christ; no matter how many are becoming devoted disciples; no matter how much the church grows and the miracles that are done in their midst - they will never be satisfied unless things are contained within their clammy grip.
Acts 4 has been a tremendous encouragement to me today, reminding me that there will always be opposition no matter what. Our job as disciples of Jesus Christ is to continue proclaiming the Truth of Christ boldly in the midst of opposition.
In verses 24-30, the believers pray a prayer that ends with this:
And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
I am struck that there is no “protect us, Lord” or “please make them stop.” Rather there is just a request for boldness in preaching and power in action.
Opposition will come no matter what.
“Lord, give me boldness in preaching your Word and validate your message with signs of your marvelous power.”
It’s been said that there are three kinds of people in the world. There are those that make things happen. There are those who watch things happen. There are those who have no idea what’s happening. I want you in that first group.
Job 6:11 “I do not have the strength to endure. I do not have a goal that encourages me to carry on.” If you don’t have goals set in your life right now I will tell you without even knowing you that well that you’re just drifting. You’re just coasting. You’re going through life aimlessly without direction. If you don’t have goals you have nothing to encourage you to keep going.
A ton of people just coast through life because living a life by design is both a lot of work and is not easy work to do. It takes courage to wake up every day and choose to live life on purpose. There is fear of obstacles, fear of being overwhelmed and just a general fear of failure. Ambrose Redmoon said this. “Courage is not the absence of fear. But rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”
The guys in my men’s small group have been working for a few months on becoming increasingly “on purpose”. Here are a few of my musings (an ya…it’s a work in process):
Purpose:
Enjoy God and make the God I enjoy known, while living my life with intentionality.
I enjoy God by:
- Learning about Him (Bible)
- Spending time with Him (Listening)
- Trusting Him (Obeying)
- Resting in Him (Sabbath)
- Giving my resources to Him (Time, Talent and Treasure)
- Spending time in His creation
- Loving the people He brings across my path
Vision:
To be relentless in my passion for God, Family and Ministry (and in that order).
Missions:
Mission 1: Child of God…
Mission 2: Husband, Father…
Mission 3: Leader/Pastor…
Key Verse:
“Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Cor. 16:13 (NLT)
Thanks for the worship highlight Key…
Our pastoral team and office manager met at my home for breakfeast and a little team building…Awesome Time!
- Caleb turns 11 tomorrow.
- Find a place to put your gifts into service. Get involved in something.
- I am going to watch LOST season 3 online today
- The past few weeks I have been spending every spare minute working as a volunteer on the Minnesota Baptist Conference Database. It will take a few months getting it where I want it.
- There is some more wood splitting in-store for me this afternoon.
- I am working on a special staff meeting for tomorrow.
- The Vikings Stink – shut out…you got to be kidding.
- Temple Baptist had its 125th year anniversary this week. God has used then in amazing ways in Brainerd over these many years.
- Tomorrow night The Journey North will hold the fall businesses meeting. I can’t wait to look over the audit with the church.
- Oh and congregational meetings ROCK @ TJN (child care is available).
- Special belated thanks to our serving men and women and the veterans who have defended our freedom.
- I can’t wait for this Sunday. I will be making a very important announcement. Please plan on clearing a few hours from you calendar after church…more on Sunday.
- Our former youth leader Bret Toman is moving and we are having a party for him this Wednesday.
I woke up this morning thinking about church stuff. In my dream, I publicly went off on someone after a service.
Each quarter I take a day to just be part of our congregation. I sit and worship with our church, learn with our people and seek God alongside of them. In my dream it was one of these Sunday’s.
As I slept, my mind worked through an imagined experience. The first service went great but was five minutes over (the Swiss could typically set their clocks by our service times). In the second service the team went five minutes over again but this time was just beginning a seven minute drama. I knew there was a wrap up and communion to follow. The service had fallen apart and they were going to be at least 25 minutes over.
Out of nowhere one leadership team member of our church stood up and said, “This is ridicules”, and turned to walk out - everyone began to applaud and they all stood to leave.
I stood and walked out as well. In the hall, I blasted the person, yelling, “THAT WAS INAPROPRATE”!
Ok, so now I am awake and am processing. A few quick observations and self-evaluations items:
- I don’t yell at people…I am of Norwegian decent, that kind of outward display of emotion would never do.
- I do want the services to be well crafted experiences.
- I give away control of services with reluctant fearful and hopeful expectation.
- I may have a leaden fear of an Elder led revolt of a staff led initiative (not that, that ever happens in churches).
So the dream reveled a number of things to me (and more things about me to the sociological community, I am sure).
For team members who may read this and wonder what would likely happen if the dream was a moment of charismatic prophetic revelation...here’s my best guess: as the clock ticked to 12:05 PM, I imagine myself walking to the sound booth to mic up. I envision walking on the stage and saying, “There are three times to end a service, when the preacher’s done, the audience is done or the time is done. We have achieved today at least two of the three.” The Worship Leadership Arts Team would be having a debrief meeting about the days events (I am sure of that).
Best of luck on the 25th as I sit back and enjoy worshiping at The Journey North. I’ll be praying for you all. 
