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Tomorrow

It really is going to be a great day tomorrow at Meadow.  I am so pumped about what I've got to share.  Plus the band is kicking off the service with an awesome U2 song and MeadowKIDS is blasting into the summer with "Kidmo".

Make sure you wear your blue Meadow Spring t-shirt!  If you don't have one yet, there will be some available in the atrium outside the theater when you come tomorrow (come early).  You will find out tomorrow why we want EVERYONE (adults, teens, and kids) to wear them.

One thing I will be mentioning a bit more on is the OnePrayer series that starts a week from tomorrow.  There is no doubt in my mind this is and will be a historical month!  God is going to rock Meadow, our community, state, country and entire world!  Check out the latest numbers...

• 1,233 churches from 24 countries
• 754,571 people
• 13 churches are in Minnesota

Also...you are going to be blown away at the numbers of people who are signed up for and ready to serve through the Park Makeover and Relay for Life!  You will hear the numbers tomorrow!

Stepping into The Faith Zone

Today I am holed up in my garage (probably move to the back deck when the shade comes) - and I am starting to write the teaching series slated for July called "The Faith Zone".  I had this planned months ago, but I am just amazed at the timing of God.  This series is more relevant for my life and for Meadow than you will ever know.  And I think that as I start cranking away, I am about to enter into The Faith Zone and come out with more energy and passion to follow and obey.

Pray for me.  Seriously.  I need you to pray for me.

Later...

Hugo - we are ready to help

I have had contact with staff members from Eagle Brook Church in Hugo.  The young boy who was killed in the tornado yesterday was from their church.  I have offered our assistance in anyway we can.  At this point (Monday night), they do not have a formal response plan yet.  Tomorrow (Tuesday), they have a staff meeting and will keep me informed.

I will post and send out blast emails with any developments.

OnePrayer layout set

It's been a great weekend.  Time to kick back and relax.  Great service on Sunday.  Time with the family and friends.  Enduro race today.  But also...I spent a lot of time watching several OnePrayer videos of some of today's most outstanding Bible teachers.  I felt like a kid in a candy shop!

Here's how it will all layout at Meadow.  There were several criteria that I used as I watched each video.  Here are some...

• Quality of video.  Videos that looked like they were shot in someone's basement didn't make the cut.
• Content.  I chose three speakers who's message content is something Meadow needs to hear and live out.
• Verbiage.  Speakers that used terminology which does not fit with our culture or the lost in our community didn't make the cut.  Even if their content was good, if they didn't use verbiage that connects, it wouldn't work.

After watching these videos and finalizing what will be happening at Meadow - I am even more pumped about these four weeks and what God will do in our individual lives, our families, and Meadow.  This WILL BE four life-changing weeks.  Here's how it will all shake out...

• I will teach live on June 8 ... "God, make us eager."
• June 15:  Ed Young, Fellowship Church, "God, make us wake up."
• June 22:  Perry Noble, New Spring Church, "God, make us dangerous."
• June 29:  Mark Beeson, Granger Community Church, "God, make us courageous."

Will I - will we - believe and obey?

For the last several weeks, I believe God is prodding me, preparing me ... poking me regarding the next step for Meadow.  Ten years ago, I took the biggest and most riskiest step of faith ever in my life and left a secure income to start Meadow.  What is next for Meadow?

I don't know yet.  I keep asking God to make it clear to me.

However, the question that keeps popping into my brain - and I believe it is a question from God is, "Will you believe and obey Me?"  Regardless of what it is - will I believe God will do it and will I step out and obey?  Think about it, why would God make His direction clear to me and to us if we are not going to believe He will make it real and obey Him in doing it?  Will I obey regardless of the cost?

I have been hanging out in Romans in my quiet times and there have been several times God has stopped me in my tracks to ponder this question and to seek clarification of His direction.  This morning, I came to Romans 7:4.  To get a peek into what's going on in my brain, here's what I wrote in my journal today.

(Just a word of understanding .. if you think a pastor should have clear direction from God and all the answers and never struggle with life and understanding God - then don't read my journal because you will come face to face with my own struggle and life journey of trying to understand God and obey Him - and the many times (more than I want to admit) I fall far short.  But if you want to get a peek into my brain and heart, walk the journey with me, and pray for me, my family, and for Meadow - then I welcome you to my journey.  It is from this journey and my time alone with God that I get my energy and passion and the vision and strategy for Meadow.)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Romans 7:4 (NIV)  "You also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God."

Whatever God is leading me to do and asking me to believe Him for - it has to be something that bears "fruit to God."  What is "fruit to God"? ... being Christ-like, holy living...

• Serving others like Christ
• Reaching the lost like Christ
• Obeying the Father like Christ
• Worshipping the Father like Christ

Three words... bringing, teaching, serving.  Whatever it is - it has to produce these.

But still I believe the question is ... "Will I believe and obey God regardless of what it is?"  Why would God give me clear direction of what He wants me and Meadow to do, if I am not going to fully and unquestionably obey Him? ... regardless of the cost - regardless of what other Christians will say - regardless of what others at Meadow will say - regardless of the financial cost - regardless of the time involved...

5/25 - Service Order

Countdown:  "Stars" by Switchfoot

Opening Performance:  "Justice and Independance '85" by John Mellencamp

Welcome

Worship:  "Shout" by Parachute Band

Worship:  "Majestic" by Lincoln Brewster

Worship:  "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin

Video:  "OnePrayer"

Message:  "Who will God Vote For?"

Worship:  "Unchanging" by Chris Tomlin

I am soooo impressed

I am so impressed with our volunteers and their spirit of "whatever it takes".  I wouldn't trade them for anything.  We had MAJOR adjustments today with meeting in the theatre due to an early opening and showing of Indiana Jones.  But, our volunteers set up and pulled it off like pros!

It was a really good Sunday.  Everything - set up, music, message, kids ministry, 1st impressions, tear down ... everything REALLY went well today.  Largely because of our volunteers.

Thanks!

BTW...if you missed the excitement and great morning, you can listen to the message here.  For the entire service, you will need to watch the schedule for Channel 15 in the next couple of weeks.

This Sunday Just Got Even Better!

As if this Sunday was not already going to be a lot of fun - let me add a fun twist to the morning.

Late last night I got word from the theatre that we will only have 15 minutes to tear down the kids' ministry theatres and wing!  I said, "No problem.  We can do it.  Let me give our Director of Children's Ministry a quick call - who happens to be in the hospital having a baby."  WRONG!!!  I did not say that!!!  To be totally honest - I FREAKED OUT!!!  As good as our volunteers are in tearing down (and they are REALLY good) - 15 minutes is not enough time.

After I took a deep breath and got my salvation back (I think I temporarily lost it with my sudden outburst of FREAK.)... God reminded me of Romans 8:28.  (Why does He always do stuff like that?  You'd think He was trying to teach us to depend on Him or something.  Sheesh!)

Everything is going to be fine.  No...wait - everything is going to be GREAT!  With a few flexible adjustments, all ministry will happen on Sunday.  God has something He wants to teach us through this and I believe He is going to do something really awesome because of it!

Here's the plan.  Everything will be down the same theatre wing.

• Nursery - will be in Theatre 1.
• Preschool - will be in Theatre 2.
• Elementary - will be in Theatre 3.
• Main Service - will be in Theatre 6 (as usual)
• Coffee & Bagles - will be available before the service but not after.

So...get here early.  Especially if you have kids.  It will take a few more minutes to check them in.  If you are on the Set Up Team, First Impressions Team, or MeadowKIDS Team - please get here early.  This is going to work, but we will be making adjustments on the fly Sunday morning.

Thanks for being flexible.  Satan probably thought he had a great idea to discourage us.  Nope, we are going to have some fun with this.  It is going to be a GREAT Sunday!

Don't ya just love it!

The Baby is Coming

Just got a call...Rachel is on her way to the hospital.  From her blog, she has been having contractions very regularly and didn't sleep last night.  When she came into the office today - both Dave & I just said "Good Morning" and didn't notice a thing.  Yup...chalk another one up for male intuition!

Exciting times!

Random Quotes - Pt. 1

One of the greatest annual conferences is going on right now in California.  I am not there, BUT...I am able to grab a TON from guys who are there and are blogging things the speakers are saying.  Lots to wrap my brain around.  Some are stopping me in my tracks to think and re-think.  Some are making me stand and yell "charge!"  Some are serious for me personally and for us as a church.  Here are just a few.

• "People always want success without suffering."
• "If you are going to call the shots you are going to take the shots.  The most blessed ministries WILL be criticized...and not from unbelievers...but from believers!!!"
• "If you have no friends that are unbelievers then you are not Christlike!  If all your other friends are other Calvinists or Charismatics or Baptists or ... then you have a lot of growing up to do.  And you are NOT Christlike."
• "The pastor who is available to people all the time isn't worth much when he is there."
• "God often puts His greatest gifts in the weakest individuals...that way His power shines through.  Other than Jesus, God always used flawed instruments."
• "It takes unselfish people to grow a church."
• "Are you taking a day off every week?  God made the Sabbath for our benefit.  If you are not taking a day off, you are breaking one of the ten commandments."

I'll post more later.  This enough to chew on and create some great dialogue.

Very Cool Numbers!

As of 10:25 AM today...

• At least 46 adults and 10 kids signed up for the Park Makeover on June 7!
• 35 signed up for Relay for Life - that's 3 maybe 4 teams!
• 906 churches from 20 countries participating in OnePrayer!
• 10 of those churches are from Minnesota!
• 2 of those are from Shakopee!
• Total attendance = 546,919 people!

What if...

• ...you and your family signed up for the Park Makeover and/or the Relay for Life?  Is it possible we could see 100 people from Meadow invading our city on June 7 and 50 people walking the Relay for Life?  What kind of statement would this make to our community and those who are wondering if the church is more concerned about themselves or the community God has put us in?  If you have signed up - THANK YOU!!!  If you haven't - it's not too late!  Join the party!  You can sign up for either one or both by emailing Patti.
• ...every person from every church in OnePrayer gave just $25 to the special offering on Sunday, June 22 that will go to planting 500 new churches in Cambodia, China, Sudan, and India - the total offering would be over 13.5 MILLION dollars!  Would that make a difference or what?

5/18 - Service Order

Countdown:  "Satch Boogie" by Joe Satriani

Opening Jam:  Meadow Made Instrumental

Welcome

Worship:  "Everything that Has Breath" by Parachute Band

Worship:  "No One Like You" by David Crowder Band

Worship:  "How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin

Message:  "Discipline"

Worship:  "I'm Not Ashamed" by Hillsong

Livin' Her Dream - Pics

Just a few pics.  I am so proud of my kids.

Livin' Her Dream, Pt 2

Not only did she sing Movement #10, but she was the student director of Movement #7 "Domine Fili Unigente" which means "O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ."  Some don't think its a big deal - but she is facing 135 voices and a 7 piece wind ensemble who are depending on her for cues and leadership plus the house was packed with 800 people watching and listening.  Oh...and you might want to know that when she got up to direct, her music was not in the right order so she directed it entirely from memory.

Livin' Her Dream, Pt. 1

Last night was Jess' last senior choir concert.  Mass choir of 135 voices.  Plus a 7 piece wind ensemble.  The main event was a performance of Vivaldi's "Gloria".  That was the main event.  But - within the main event was the MAIN event, Part 1 - Jess sang movement #10 "Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram" which means "Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us."  She is living her dream and doing exactly what God made her to do.

Leadership "Sweet Spot"

As soon as I posted my thoughts on the 3 types of leaders, I checked my Bloglines and saw this one from Shane Duffey.

Consider it additional food for thought to 3 Types of Leaders.  Check it out.

Sweet Spot

3 Types of Leaders

Something my Ministry Advantage coach and I have been talking through are the types of leaders and what each type of leader would be good at.  I know this is only one of probably a million leader "qualifiers" - but this really makes sense to me and is like a breath of fresh air in understanding staff and volunteer dynamics, frustrations, empowerment, etc.

This is not a hierarchy of leadership or what makes one leader better than another.  All of these are leaders.  All are needed for a fully functioning and healthy church.

3 types of leaders.  Which do you most align with?  What ministry roles does that mean you would just shine in and what ministry roles does it mean you would be like a square peg in a round hole?

CATALYST - initiator, decisive decision maker, creator, innovator, idea person, creates chaos, births the plan

CONSOLIDATOR - organizes the chaos, creates systems & processes, organizes the ideas, plans the plan, qualifies and quantifies the ideas, brings order

CUSTODIAN - task person, "doer", carries out ideas, works the plan, waits for "to dos" and lists

Think about yourself and those you lead and serve with - at home, at work, at Meadow.  How will understanding this make your marriage, family, work place, and ministry at Meadow - more enjoyable?

Planting 500 Churches

In June, we are taking part in the One Prayer series and initiative.  As of right now, there are almost 800 churches (probably over 800 by this weekend) from across the globe who are participating.  You can read more about it at www.oneprayer.com.

Not only will this be a life-changing four weeks for Meadow and for hundreds of thousands of Christians across the world, we are joining with all the other churches to take a special offering that will go in its entirety to, in my experience, the largest single effort ever for building the kingdom of God and bringing people into His kingdom.

On Sunday, June 22, we will take a special offering that will be added to all the other churches participating in One Prayer.  With this offering, we will be planting 500 churches in Cambodia, Sudan, India, and China.  For all the audacious details about this offering and mission go to http://oneprayer.com/missions.

There is absolutely no way Meadow alone could do something like this.  But partnering with hundreds of other churches across the world - all during the month of June and all on this one day - to take up an offering that will literally alter the course of history for innumerable people.

Tomorrow - I will start writing my message for One Prayer.  I will give it on Sunday, June 8.  "God, Make Us Eager" will be my focus.  It will be the first of four weeks centered on One Prayer.  This will be nothing short of awe-inspiring God stuff!

I'm no prophet

Matthew 24:3-8 (NIV)  "As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, 'Tell us,' they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?'  Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, "I am the Christ." and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.'"

I am no prophet.  I just claim and believe scripture.  Cyclone in Myanmar, Tornadoes in Okalohoma, Earthquake in China - and the list could go on.  We are being warned that this could be the worst season in history for tornadoes and hurricanes.

Again, I am no prophet and I am not some date-setting, doomsday preacher.  These are just the words of Jesus right from scripture.  If they weren't relevant - they sure are relevant now.

The world sees cyclones and earthquakes and hurricanes and disease and war.  I see the beginning of birth pains leading up to the coming of Jesus.  Birth pains start small and increase in frequency and intensity until birth.

Revelation 22:20 (NIV)  "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.'  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus."

Something to chew on and talk about with your family and community group.

Just Numbers

Interesting numbers from the day...

• 97 days until both my kids are off to college
• 20 fractal circles on my office whiteboard composed of 70 quadrants and they seem to be rapidly increasing in number
• At 6:51:30 this morning, visit number 20,000 came to my blog.  If I could trace IP addresses, I would find out who it is and give them some kind of big prize!  All I know is the IP address and it was from a Qwest service subscriber.
• Almost 50 people are already signed up for the Park Makeover on June 7.
• One Prayer series now has 771 churches with over 486,000 people planning on involvement.  This could reach 1,000 churches!
• 8 of the 771 churches are from Minnesota and 2 of the 8 are in Shakopee.
• 26 years, 4 months, and 12 days - the length of my honeymoon with my wife!  One of these days we will have to come down off the mountain top.
• 34 rings to the tree we cut down on Saturday.
• This past Saturday I weathered & survived my 5th prom as a dad.  (Or would that be my kids survived with their dad!)
• 33 more days until some R & R up north!