Keeping Ourselves on Target

I read a great article, Keeping Ourselves on Target by Bill Hybels, on the whole area of preaching and evaluation. (It turns out that this is from the book Mastering Contemporary Preaching. I’m not familiar with the book, but if it’s as good as this excerpt it would be well worth getting.)

It’s fun to read about his journey as a speaker/teacher. Toward the beginning of his ministry he was standing before a group of 150 or so teens and realized that he had totally lost them. His response,

"I have to apologize," I said, "for the fact that I am missing the mark tonight. What I prepared to say is obviously not on target. And I want to make a commitment to you students. If you'll come back next week, I'm going to talk about something straight out of the Bible that is going to make a difference in your understanding of God, in your appreciation of the Christian faith, and in how you live your daily life. And if you'll give me another opportunity, I'd like to prove that to you."

What a great response and commitment to make. And what humility to stand up and say, “I blew it.” Many speakers would keep plowing on through.

Why Bloggers Really Blog

Pearls Before Swine is one of the few comics that I find consistently funny - though it often has very dark humor. (The others I love are Dilbert and Foxtrot, which is now weekly instead of daily.) To subscribe via a daily e-mail go here. Collections of all these are available from the library via an inter-library loan (or you can buy them, which I am often too broke/cheap to do!)

The Move is Scheduled No Matter What

Here's the latest in the ongoing saga of the Spahr's move (from my latest e-mail to the Journey North Church family):

Thanks again to so many who have been praying for us and those who have expressed interest in helping us move. As you know the closing date keeps moving. Currently we are planning to close on Thursday morning and begin moving at noon. If you’d like to help, come on by at noon or any time after that (hopefully we’ll be all done by supper time and we have people planning food for all the helpers!) We need to be out before the new renters move in where we currently live (they’ll be doing that later Thursday night and on Friday!)

Please pray that the closing takes place by Thursday morning as we have to be out that day (and I know nobody wants to help us move twice!) One way or another we’re moving Thursday afternoon – pray that it’s to the new house.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Still Waiting to Move

I just sent this letter to the Journey North Church family:

I regret to say that we will not be moving on Tuesday of this week. Hopefully we can move on Wednesday night. Our loan is not yet cleared to close and the seller is unwilling to let us move in until we actually close. I will let you know more tomorrow as I hear anything.

Please pray that our loan would be able to close on Wednesday or that the seller would reconsider and allow us to more in on Wednesday, regardless. We have to be out so that the next renters can move into our place here on Elm Circle.

Thanks to those who were/are planning to help. Everyone can help by praying! Thanks.

So Much to Be Thankful For

Well, we had a perfectly lovely family Thanksgiving today. It was a real treat to be able to just stay at home and be together as a family rather than traveling and visiting relatives somewhere. Too many times 'relaxing vacation' and 'relatives' just don't mix. Kind of like ketchup and peanut butter - both great on their own - they usually just don't go together all that well. (Of course this doesn't apply to my relatives who read this blog... I'm talking about the other relatives!)

Instead or going somewhere, we stayed home and enjoyed a great meal of turkey, gravy, corn, sweet potatoes (for me), baked potatoes (for the rest), dinner rolls, and sparkling grape juice, followed (much later) by pie - Oreo cream (for the rest) and coconut cream (for me). We then enjoyed watching the Packers win their tenth game this season! 10 and 1 now, they take on the Cowboys who are also 10-1 next Thursday evening. That will be their toughest game yet and I don't know if we'll win it, but even so, to be 10-1 at this point is amazing.

While I'm certainly happy about a Packers' win, I'm deeply thankful for many things so much more significant: a wonderful wife whom I love so much, two great kids who are growing into great young men, a church that I love and that I am excited and privileged to serve, a great community to live in and raise my family, a new house that we will be moving into (someday!), and a fun youth group that accepts and loves one another. And most of all I am thankful for the love of Jesus and the fact that I can walk with God each day and that He loves me no matter what!!!

One final note: We did get some sad news today - Dolores Madison passed away this morning. Pastor Tim has some very poignant comments over on his blog about this and he says it so much better than I could. Please take a moment to read them. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dean and family.

New Format for My Blog

If you're on the site (and not just viewing these posts via a RSS Reader) you'll notice that I have an all new template in honor of our upcoming church Launch this weekend.

No, not really. I just liked this look. I've been tweaking it for a while now and finally got it to look the way I wanted it to. It's got a nice simple look and not nearly as dark as the last one. Enjoy.

Another Great Weekend

Wow! What a great Sunday. First we (Journey North Church, that is) gathered together for our NFL Football Theme Event. We had a lot of fun playing and worshiping together. And the decorations were fabulous! Kudos to all who worked so hard on everything. I don't even know all of the people behind the scenes and I'm afraid to start listing people lest I leave someone out, but I do know that Julie Adams worked herself to the bone leading the team that made this event happen. Wendy Leibel, Pam Steinle and many more worked on this, as well. Great job.

Our family got home just before 1:00 in the afternoon and enjoyed a great lunch before collapsing in exhaustion. We listened to the Green Bay Packers win - again! Go Pack! 9-1. Then the Connect small groups met at our house for a time of food, fellowship, and digging into God's Word.

Now, the final countdown to launch this Sunday. I can't wait so see what God will (continue to) do!

This Blog's For Me!

Just read this in a post about communicating in ministry ...

Blog for you, not them
Don't start or continue a blog because you want a bunch of people to read your thoughts. No one cares more about what you have to think or say than you do. Now that you know that, the only reason you should be blogging is because you just have to get your thoughts out of your head and into some sort of online journal format. The ironic thing is that the more you blog from your head/heart, the more people will actually start tuning in because they see how important this stuff is to you.

I think this is really true. It's fun to have (or think I have) other people who 'care' about what I write, but that shouldn't be my motivation. Good reminder.

Boogie-Woogie

Our whole family got to see Journey North's own Andrew Behrendt in Rush City High School's production of Boogie-Woogie Bugle Girls last night. He did a great job, as did the rest of the cast.

Rush City has a wonderful auditorium that was tons more comfortable than Pine City's. Their facility really puts ours to shame. I am really praying that Pine City voters pass the referendum on December 18!! Just a friendly reminder.

No Complaints Here

"Martin Luther King Jr. didn't change the world by saying, 'I have a complaint.' "

-- Artist Chris Jordan

I saw this quote the other day and thought about how true it is. It seems that many times Christians are known for what they complain about - what they're against rather than what they are for.

Not that we shouldn't take a stand or that all complaining is wrong, but there is a difference between constructive and unconstructive complaining. I’m reminded of an old joke supposedly from Mark Twain: “Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.”

Some good thoughts on constructive vs. unconstructive complaining from another blog:

Unconstructive: Complain about what bugs you the most
Constructive: Complain about the right thing
Is the problem really the problem? Or is there a deeper issue going on? Complain about the problem, not just the symptoms.

Unconstructive: Complain when you feel the most annoyed
Constructive: Complain at the right time
There are times to complain and times not to. Choose a moment where there’s time, will and energy to deal constructively with the issue. Five minutes before an important meeting starts is probably not the time.

Unconstructive: Complain to whoever will listen
Constructive: Complain to someone who can do something about it
If your boss is the problem, complaining to your co-workers can be a lot of fun, but it changes nothing. Complain to your boss or to the boss’s boss.

Unconstructive: Point fingers.
Constructive: Look at yourself first.
Maybe it’s just you who has a problem and everyone else is fine with the situation? Try to recognize those situations where everything is actually fine - you’re just being irrationally annoyed (happens to me all the time).

Also: To what extent are you a part of the problem? How are you contributing to either the problem or to the solution? Before complaining about others, make sure you know what your role in the issue is.

Unconstructive: Seek blame
Constructive: Seek solutions
Going in with the intention of making people admit they’re at fault is rarely productive. Does it really matter whose fault it is? Forget blame and focus on moving on and finding lasting solutions.

Unconstructive: Only complain
Constructive: Also appreciate what’s good
Complain when there’s a reason to, but remember to appreciate the good stuff also - don’t just always complain.

It sounds like a balanced (and biblical) way to approach change - and life! Instead of complaining, grumbling, griping, gossiping, etc., we should offer suggestions, ideas, critique, feedback and input in order to build up rather than tear down.

One of our core values at Journey North Church is that we "focus on what unites, not on what divides." I'm so excited and proud to be a part of such a great group of people who want to change the world for Jesus Christ - not by complaining - but by loving and serving others in His name!

Are We Ever Moving?

I've held off blogging about my move because I was waiting to find out when we are moving. The original close date of the 16th (today) is off. It will now be the 26th before we can close!! The current plan is now to move on Tuesday the 27th beginning after school (around 3:30 p.m.) Stop by if you'd like to help.

I knew we wouldn't end up moving this weekend - the weather looks great!

So Close... But Not Quite

The Star Tribune today ran a much more balanced article about the whole superintendent resignation, school board election issue I mentioned yesterday. I'm thinking, great! That's good journalism - showing both sides of the issue!

And yet... they couldn't resist a little dig at the end. The last paragraph quotes a Lind detractor saying "I wouldn't trade one Tom Westerhaus for 10,000 Chris Lind." They could have closed with this quote from youth pastor Jim Barringer: "Chris is trying to do the right thing. I think his heart is to help, to not give up on this community, to not give up on the students." That would have helped balance out the reporting from yesterday, certainly.

Nothing on KSTP or WCCO this morning. Too bad. I think it definitely says something about where we get our 'news'.

One-sided Reporting

As I was watching the morning news today (we DVR both KTSP 5-5:30 and WCCO 5-6 a.m. shows and watch without commercials - takes us about 30 minutes total - while we drink our morning coffee), I was amazed to hear about the Prior Lake-Savage superintendent resigning after a former employee who had been fired was elected to the school board. As he wept on TV and people kept saying great things about him I thought, "That poor guy. I really feel for him." Both stations covered this story and both did so in the the same way.

Then I began to remember something I had read several months ago. After hearing the story for the third time (on the second half of CCO's news cycle) I turned to Rosalie. "I don't think that's the whole story. I think I remember reading about the fired supervisor. There's more to this story." A quick check of Google and I found out there was much more to the story. Here's the blog post from the Minnesota Family Council/Family Institute site:

Voters sent a clear message to Prior Lake-Savage schools last night by electing Chris Lind to the school board. Lind, who received 13.96 percent of the vote was the only non-incumbent elected.

Last June Lind was fired from his job as Prior Lake-Savage high school campus supervisor because of job performance. A closer look revealed that Lind was told by Tony Massaros, District 719 Director of Human Resources, that he could not talk about sexual abstinence with students during or after school, on or off campus, during or after school hours.

Massaros also told Lind he could not talk about abstinence in a bible study in his own home, “in youth groups at church or in small group study off campus.” Massaros allegedly censored Lind from discussing abstinence with anyone who had ever attended the district.

Not a "news story" per say, but definitely a different slant than the morning TV shows which painted Lind as next of kin to a child predator! At least the Star Tribune had a slightly more balanced article, although they end with this quote by the outgoing superintendent:

Tuesday night, he said Lind's election sent a message from voters that "it's OK to have behaviors that are not appropriate in the schools, and it's OK to stare down the superintendent and the school board and say, 'This isn't bad; I did nothing wrong.'"Gee, I wonder whose side they're on.

I'm sure there are two sides to this story (even though our local stations only gave us one of those sides). I don't know all of the details and I'm guessing Lind probably made some mistakes in the way he handed things. But had I not remembered hearing Lind's name and done some checking myself I would have completely believed what I had heard, one-sided though it may have been (shame on you, WCCO and KSTP!)

Heard one side of a story recently? Maybe it's worth checking out instead of choosing to believe rumors and gossip - even those that come from a so-called 'credible' source. (1 Corinthians 8:2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.)

"Anything Goes" at Pine City

Rosalie and I had a wonderful time at the Pine City High School production of Cole Porter's Anything Goes last night. The students really did a great job and seemed to really enjoy the production. Senior Sam Seuntjens was outstanding in one of the lead roles. Director Bradley Mariska mentioned her in an article in the Pine City Pioneer:

"I am really proud of the entire cast, but I think people will especially be blown away by Sam Seuntjens' performance as Reno Sweeney," Mariska said. "This is such a hard role (made famous on Broadway by Ethel Merman), yet she makes it look easy.”

Very true! I don’t know Sam personally, but, wow! What talent, and great stage presence!

Journey North’s students were no slouches, either! Karissa Lange also did a fabulous job in the role of Erma! I didn’t even realize that she was in the musical and I was thrilled to see her great acting abilities. Franklin Foster came back from his appendectomy earlier this week to pull of a great performance as a part of the sailor quartet. I didn’t see Kellen Montague as he was working sound, but I assume he did a good job as I could hear everything – which is not always the case in many student productions I have attended in the past.

The only drawback to the evening – the extremely uncomfortable seats in the aging and dilapidated auditorium. It’s really a shame that our students have to put up with such a substandard venue. The bright side – we will be voting on two referendum items on December 18 which will help fund additional classrooms, a new library and gymnasium at the Elementary School and an additional gymnasium and performing arts auditorium at the High School! If you live in the Pine City school district, I urge you to vote and encourage everyone you know to vote! These items are really needed! As someone with kids in the schools plus as a substitute teacher and youth pastor I can tell you firsthand that these are huge needs!

Back to the play: Congratulations to all the students who did such a great job and all the parents and staff who supported it. You guys rocked!

Next weekend: Rush City’s musical featuring youth group student Andrew Behrendt!

Moving is Moving

Our moving date is being moved (is that irony or what?) We had hoped to close on the 16^th but now our realtor is saying that the loan probably won't be complete by that day. Yikes. We are really bummed.

So now we are going to try and get stuff moved on Tuesday evening, November 20. If you’re in the neighborhood and would like to lend a hand please feel free to stop by. (We’ll have food!!) If you have a van or trailer we could use that would be another helpful bonus. We’re gathering at our current home at 4:00.

On the plus side, it looks like we're going to be okay on boxes. Thanks to all who have been helping!

[Of course if my earlier prediction of dire climatological problems comes to pass we’ll figure something else out. No more moving in rain/sleet/snow/hail/etc. for me!]

UPDATE: According to who we talk to, we may be able to close on the 16th! That means we could move on the 17th. It's a good thing I didn't put the date in the Journey North worship folders for Sunday or anything... um. Oops. Just watch the blog or my Facebook page for the final time one we know it (maybe Monday or Tuesday before we move).

Simple Church

Finally finished Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger and I would highly recommend it! The first four chapters flew by and were stuffed with great information and illustrations. The rest of the book was a bit less engaging - developing the concepts introduced in the first few chapters - but very well done, nonetheless.

The main idea is that a church’s strategy – their gospel-sharing, disciple-making method - should be a simple process. Programs should be used to move people along in this process. Complexity dilutes focus and should be avoided, even if it means having fewer programs. Simply put: Do a few things and do them well.

All church leaders should read this, and especially church planters. A church plant has a real advantage in that we are able to implement major structural principles without having to change established programs or traditions.

The concepts are not completely revolutionary – several are drawn from the excellent and even more highly recommended Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones. Nevertheless, this book distills these concepts and presents them in a clear, easily accessible (you could even say “simple”) manner.

Who Are You?

I'm kind of curious about who is reading my blog, so I started a little poll (you'll see it on the right hand column under my info). If you can take a few seconds and select one of the options I'd appreciate it. If you read this on a RSS Reader please stop by and let me know who you are. Thanks!

The First Flakes of Winter

Yes, the first snowflakes of winter fell today. It's a cold and blustery day and you can tell winter is just around the corner. On the bright side that means broomball soon!

On the down side, anticipate a major meteorological event on Saturday, November 17, beginning around 1 p.m. as that is when everyone is coming to help us move. I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but based on historical climatological data something major weather-wise will happen as we move. Friends in Ripon will recall helping us move to our Jackson Street house in the middle of a monsoon! Oshkosh back to Ripon came with additional rainfall - mostly a cold wet drizzle. We moved to Northfield in January accompanied by near-record snowfall, etc. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong, but if not remember you heard it here first. Get those snow blowers ready!

Super-size Weekend

Wow, what a great weekend! It's going to be a bit longer as Pine City students have Monday off of school, so having the boys at home just makes the weekend seem that much longer.

We kicked off the weekend on Friday as we celebrated Jordan's 12th birthday together. He didn't want a party, he just wanted to go out to Pizza Hut for some stuffed crust pizza. It was a nice family outing. Back at home a bit later we enjoyed his chocolate birthday cake and then sat down to watch a Survivor episode from the night before. (Survivor and Kid Nation are the only two shows our whole family enjoys watching together.) The boys and I stayed up later for Stargate: Atlantis and then I headed to bed while Jordan and Jonah stayed up for an 'all nighter' (wherein they stay up until they get too tired to be awake any longer - usually around 1 or 2 a.m. Practicing for being teenagers, no doubt).

Saturday was spent packing. Ick. I don't mind moving - that is to say I don't mind living somewhere new. What I hate is packing (and unpacking, and physically transporting all they boxes and furniture and stuff - the actual moving part of moving!) Fortunately several people have helped by providing boxes so we are okay on that front so far. The boys' trampoline got packed up in the early afternoon as it was a gorgeous day - perhaps one of our last for a while, what with snow and stuff in the forecast for early next week. I also packed up five bookshelves full of books. Rosalie worked on the boys' rooms and got them packed up. Less than two weeks now until the big move, but if we keep going like that we'll be ready, no problem.

Today Journey North Church held a 'come back event' at the Pizza Pub where we all had a fabulous time together. Great food and a great turnout. I thought we would be way down in attendance with all of the hunters out hunting, but we nearly matched our turnout from the last Pizza Pub event and easily filled the restaurant. Wonderful worship, plus we heard from Holly Larson, a missionary we are supporting from Pine City through Wycliffe Bible Translators. All in all just a terrific morning.

Now we're getting ready for the CONNECT small group meeting tonight at our house. We may have kids stay longer as there is no school tomorrow! It's such a fun group of students and sponsors. We always look forward to gathering together!