As Long as They Have a Towel They Should Be Okay

I read this article over on the Internet Movie Database Studio Briefing today:

Do People Know That TV As They Know It Will Shut Down? Two new surveys released Wednesday provided conflicting conclusions about consumer awareness of the switch to digital television slated for February 17, 2009, Broadcasting & Cable reported. One, by the National Association of Broadcasters, concluded that 79 percent of the public is now aware of the planned transition. The other, by Consumer Reports, noted that of the households that will lose over-the-air transmission on the cutoff date, 24 percent believed they weren't affected and another 25 percent said that they didn't know whether they would be affected or not. "The good news is that surveys from Consumers Union and the broadcast industry show that more Americans are becoming aware of the DTV transition," Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein told B&C. "The bad news is that there is still a lot of confusion that could turn into widespread panic if the government doesn't take a more proactive role."

"Widespread panic?" Panic?! When I hear the word panic I think of riots in the street, "human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria," etc. Either Commissioner Adelstein is using hyperbole or we as a nation seriously need to get a life. Now I love watching TV as much as anybody, but... panic?

Too Cold for FPU

We had to postpone our FPU class last night due to the extremely cold temperatures and wind chills. It was only about 40-45 below with wind chills, so I don't know what the big deal was - hey, we're Minnesotans, right? It's supposed to be unbearably frigid this time of year! (I guess Wisconsin transplants/Cheesehead/Packer fans are just more hearty!)

I was watching the news this morning and they had some reporter in Chicago complaining because it was Zero degrees this morning. Zero! That's shorts weather, right?

In all seriousness, I was glad to be inside last night and glad others didn't have to be out in this weather. So, in the spirit of financial planning I thought I'd share the Dilbert comic from this morning. Not sure if I can legally show the graphic on my blog, so here's the link. Enjoy!

They Like Me, They Really Like Me

I'm one of those who only rarely wins anything like a raffle, drawing, etc. But I got a call the other day from Northwestern Book Store saying that I had won the drawing for a $50 gift card. I entered earlier this month at the Youthworker Brunch held at Northwestern College (not related to the book store) and I won!

Looks like I can stock up on some of the recent Rob Bell Nooma DVDs I've missed!

How to Get Out of Debt

I'm getting ready for our second Financial Peace University class tonight and am excited to see everyone and share together. In the meantime, I just had to share this video clip. My sister, Heather, had posted it on her blog and it is completely hysterical. I'll no doubt share it with the FPU group at some point, as well. Enjoy!

More Broomball Pics

I had just finished my previous post about the broomball game yesterday when Jeff Adams e-mailed me some more great pictures - much better than mine. (He used a 'real' camera whereas I just had my cell phone.)Click on them to see them full size. Enjoy!

Brrrrrrrroomball

Wow, what a great time yesterday playing broomball! It started out as a youth group event and morphed into an all-church, family outing. We had a wonderful variety of ages and a great time was had by all. Best of all - no injuries!

Yes, it was about 1 degree out, but fortunately there was no wind so it seemed like at least 2 or 3 degrees in the sun! In all seriousness, it didn't feel that bad out as we were all dressed for the weather. Hearty Minnesotans, that's us (plus a transplanted Floridian/Cheesehead -me - and a foreign exchange student from the Ukraine!)

We'll definitely plan on playing again soon.

Seattle Packer Article

Brian Gotter posted this picture of him at Lambeau Field last week next to Darth Packer. How cool is that!

He also has a blog post today reprinting an article from the Seattle Post Intelligencer (of all places!) about the Green Bay Packers. It's a heartwarming look at the Packers and what it means to be a Packer fan. Those who have never lived in Wisconsin cannot fully appreciate the level of devotion to their team that Packer fans have, but this article will give you a taste.

Another Great Sunday Kicks Off An Exciting Week

We had another great Sunday yesterday at Journey North Church, beginning with record-breaking attendance at our morning worship services, surpassing even our Launch Sunday numbers! Still plenty of room for everyone, but at the rate we're growing we'll either have to start a third service, do some video cafes, or move to a bigger facility. What a great problem to have. We already have a Site Committee looking at both short and long-term options. Keep praying for them as they seek God's guidance for our facility needs.

At our Ignite student meeting, CONNECT, we are beginning to see more visitors from beyond our church family, as evidenced by a couple of new students who joined us for the first time last night. We challenged students in their relationships with their families and talked about "How to Live with Imperfect Parents". Plus we enjoyed lots of pizza! It's fun to see new people join us a begin to develop a vision for what God wants to do in and through them.

Next Sunday CONNECT goes "On the Road" as we are planning a broomball event in the afternoon (and will not meet for groups in the evening). We'll be meeting at the outside courts next to the arena from 2 - 4 p.m. It's a great chance for students to invite their friends for a fun, event, where they can get to know our group and leaders in a non-threatening atmosphere. We're also opening up the event to anyone grades 5 - adult who would like to participate. One note: it is supposed to be cold with a high of about 8 degrees, so make sure to dress appropriately.

FPU Preview

Our Financial Peace University preview session last Tuesday night was a lot of fun. In addition to several from Journey North Church, we also had a couple from Hinckley (MN) join us who had found about about our class via Dave Ramsey's web site! There were nine of us this orientation session, but I know of about half a dozen more planning to join us for the first class this Tuesday night. It'll be a bit cozy (Realtor-speak for crowded), but a load of fun!

In this introductory session Dave told his story and laid out the plan for the next 13 weeks, describing each of the classes. After watching the 25 minute DVD we enjoyed some quick question and answer time followed by some great food and fellowship.

Blessing is Instrumental

Pastor Tim has already blogged about this but for those who aren't reading both his and my blogs I thought I'd throw in a note here.

Basically last week we gave away thousands of dollars (the equivalent of one week's offering) to everyone who was in the service. It was distributed in envelopes containing $20, $50, or $100 bills. The goal is to encourage and enable our congregation to be a blessing to those around us by "sowing good". Some are "acts of random kindness" while others are specifically targeted toward those in need. Everyone has been encouraged to pray about how to use the money to bless others and then do whatever God tells them.

Some might ask how we can afford to do this. Do we have so much money that we have extra to give away. Although God has blessed us financially many times in amazing ways, we do not have 'extra' money. We have a tight budget and a finance team and elder board who are diligent about stewarding well the resources that God provides. We have found, though, that as we are generous and open-handed, God provides even more - a principle that applies to both churches and individuals! You can't 'out-give' God! In scripture 'blessing' is always instrumental. What that means is that you are blessed to be a blessing, not just blessed because God just wants you to feel good or something.

As a church (and individuals) we want to put our money where our mouth is. We say we want to be a blessing to the community and this is one way God directed us to engage everyone in that endeavor! Too many churches are known for being "out to get my money" or stingy with their resources. We want to model biblical, God-honoring generosity.

Pastor Tim has a special web page set up to track the stories of how God is using us to bless the community. You'll definitely want to check it out.

Bill Gates Last Day

I thought this was completely hysterical. Enjoy.

FINALLY FPU

(I haven't blogged about this even though it's been in the works for several months now and even though I've thought about dozens of possible blog entries about it, but for some reason I haven't sat down and just written about it until now. Which is weird because I am so excited about it. Maybe the busyness of the holidays can shoulder some of the blame, but I think it's primarily because there is so much that I want to say that I am afraid this will become a very lengthy, involved post.

...or a lot of shorter posts. Yeah, I think I'll go that way. Not quite as intimidating for finally getting it down on screen.)

If you attend Journey North Church you've already heard this, but for the rest, here's the big announcement: We're hosting Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University beginning this month (January) at our house! The group will meet Tuesday nights from 7-9 pm and the cost is $90 (couples can go through it together for the same price). Our preview/orientation session is this Tuesday, January 8, with the 13-week course starting the following Tuesday. There’s plenty of information and details about FPU over at Dave’s web site.

Wow, am I ever excited about this! We (Rosalie and I) have wanted to host FPU for years and now we finally have the chance. We’ve not been through the official FPU course before but have listened to hundreds and hundreds of hours of Dave’s radio show podcast over the last few years. We’ve also had the privilege of meeting Dave personally this past summer thanks to my brother-in-law, Brian, who works for him. I also took our students through “No Matter What”, the youth group version of FPU (now replaced by an all-new curriculum called Generation ¢hange).

The biblical financial principles and practices that Dave teaches are changing our lives. I've read or heard every major Christian author on the area of finance (Ron Blue, Larry Burkett, etc.) am familiar with Willow Creek's Good $ense ministry and even had training to lead Crown Ministries small groups. They're all great - seriously - but despite knowing it intellectually it wasn't until I came across Dave that I was actually motivated to make a change because I finally believed I could do it! Dave lays out the simple, biblical process using Baby Steps (borrowed from one of the best comedies of all times, What About Bob?)

Back to FPU. In the class, Dave does the teaching via DVD while Howie Bloomquist (one of our Journey North elders and a great friend of mine) and I will be facilitating discussion following the video. The FPU course was just updated with all new video and updated books and materials - and man does it look awesome! The real genius of the course is that it combines the life-changing teaching with small group accountability (and fellowship!)

This FPU class is no doubt only the first of many we’d like to host in the coming years, so if you live nearby but can't make this one, don't panic. But wherever you live, I’d highly recommend joining a local FPU class! (Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City has a class starting this Sunday night, January 6, if Tuesdays don't work for you. I'm not sure if it's sponsored by the church or just held there as it's not on their web site but you can find details here on Dave's site.)

...so much for a short blog post. I knew that would happen once I started talking about this!

"Church" is Broken?

In an interesting blog post, Kevin D. Hendricks opines that "Christmas is Broken". While I'm not quite as down on contemporary Christmas celebrations as he, I certainly am sympathetic to the sentiment and think he has a lot of good things to say, especially about how people are "reimagining Christmas".

What really resonated was the closing lines of the post:

...Just like Christmas, I think church is often broken. And the best way to remedy that problem is just like many are doing with Christmas--reimagine it and come up with new traditions that manage to get back to those original good ideas.

Churches need to find new ways to connect with jaded people. We need new ways to communicate the greatest story ever told. If your church isn't changing your neighborhood, maybe it's time reimagine church.

Well said!

Kickball in January?

Did you get the gifts you wanted this Christmas? Did you get what you wanted from God? What about when God doesn’t give you what you think he should? Have you ever been mad at God? Is it okay to question Him? Did you ever feel like God did come through for you? What is the character of God? Is God good? And if God is good, why doesn’t he give me the stuff I want which will make me happy? And what does a kickball have to do with anything?

These are the questions we’ll be wrestling with this Sunday night at Connect as Ignite senior high and junior high students gather for the first group meeting of 2008. We’re starting fresh with new curriculum on hot new topics, but the same great food, fun, fellowship, prayer, and discussion we’ve always enjoyed.

Ignite students, if you haven’t been a part of Connect yet, this is a perfect time to join in! Resolve to make spending time connecting, growing, and serving with each other a priority in the New Year! Connect takes place at the Spahr home beginning at 6 pm every Sunday night.