Rejoice! Blog

2010-02-23T05:56:00.001-08:00

Week 2 - Sunday, February 28: We will be searching out how we were "planned for God's pleasure." We will be exploring things like what makes God smile, such as the heart of worship, developing a friendship with God, why does God seem distant sometimes, etc. May our great God richly bless your week. Give 'em Heaven!

2-8-10 Surprise Me God - Day 30 Final Post

2010-02-09T08:48:00.001-08:00

My final post...hmm...I guess for this guy who has never succesfully journaled anything, I am surprised that I made it 30 days.

Today was a day of rest...in fact...I am doing this post a day late.

If I learned anything, in this surprising ride of surprises is that most of your surprises God do not happen in the metaphysical realms. I guess that should not surprise me. Your greatest surprise was not a metaphysical one, but a very odinary physical one, you became human.

Help me to carry the learning from this 30 day journey God and carry it into the future. Help me to not so much to strive to see you in the miraculous, but in the ordinary and daily. You are an awesome God. Thanks for these 30 days of surprises...I look forward to the next 30-40 years of surprise...you(God) willing of course.

2-7-10 Surprise Me God - Day 29

2010-02-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday...one would think that the greatest surprise today would be that the Saints won the game...Nope!

No there were several beforehand.

First, thanks God for the surprise that Rejoice's worship attendance was pretty full today...considering the cold, snow and wind...wow! Thanks God! Thanks Rejoicers for that surprise!

Second, our prayer team finally set a time when we could all meet. It had been long overdue! This was truly Holy Spirit time. It should never been a surprise that this would be blessed time, but it always new, fresh and surprising when my friends and I get together to pray, share and invite you into the conversation. Awesome!

Third, I am a football junkie...love the game. Admittedly it is close to an addiction. But at our anual Super Bowl party, I hardly watched the game. And for this football addict, I did not miss it. I just so enjoyed time with my fellow Rejoicers at the party that I almost forgot there was a game going on.

Thanks God for a great day of surprises!

2-6-10 Surprise Me God - Day 28

2010-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Some surpises are there all the time, but you walk by them daily and ignore them. Today's surprise was housecleaning. It was one of those Popeye moments for us, we've "had all we can stands, and we just can't stands no more."

How often is the spiritual and emotional clutter in our life go often unattended until it gets to a desperation point.

Thanks God for the suprising lesson of housecleaning...who'd thunk? Lord help me to not only keep up with routine cleaning and maintenance around my house, but help me to daily keep at cleaning and doing maintence within my soul.

2-5-10 Day 27

2010-02-09T08:15:00.000-08:00

Today's suprise was that my mind started to begin to click for my community ministry - refereeing.

Let me give some background, as a pastor, we spend so much time with the "flock" (so to speak) that we rarely get a chance to be in the community with unChurched people. For a church like Rejoice! who has a focus to reach out to deChurched and unChurched people that is a problem. So I decided to mix my love of sports with an in-the-community activity. Started with umpiring softball...easy-beasy...did that through high school, college and grad school. Umpiring for softball games was like getting on a bike again...no problem!

But referee basketball...as the kids say, "OMG!" Wow I had not refereed for basketball since 9th grade...and...then I was not really that good. During all of last year I was asking myself, "What was I thinking?"

Well tonight, nearly 2 years of doing this...stuff started to finally click. I could just react...rather than think...this is key to basketball referees...it is such a fast game...there is no time to think.

And then I thought driving home...how often is life and ministry like that...often life is so fast that there is no time to think...only react. And then I realised how the help and guidance from each night's fellow referee was just like the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thanks God for help my brain finally click on the basketball court...but even more thanks for the life lesson and the help of your Holy Spirit daily!

2-4-10 Surprise Me God - Day 26

2010-02-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

Had a wonderful surpise today...Megan called and asked, "Dad do you want to do lunch today?" At first I was going to say, "Well, I already have a lunch date with a friend." But then I thought, "No, next year your daughter will be over 1500 miles away and you will not be able to do this." So I said, "Sure I will pick you up a little after Noon at the high school." Then I called my friend and rescheduled our meeting.

Thank you God for the surprise of a teenage daughter asking to spend time with her dad. I give you thanks for my beautiful daughter and all the blessings she brings to my life and so many others!

2-3-10 Surprise Me God - Day 25

2010-02-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

The morning was booked with meetings, but it was great. Met for the first time in weeks with my pastor friends for worship at the Crossing's office for what Jon DeGroot calls, "Harp and Bowl." Go to http://www.ihop.org/ (then click "Prayer Room" on the top right of the screen) to see what the format is like. Actually if any are free on a Wednesday 10 a.m., you are welcome to join us for an hour of worship and prayer. This prayer time is so wonderful for church worship leaders because it is often difficult to relax and enjoy worship when you are leading worship. (constantly thinking about what is next and who should be where...etc.) This worship time is always feels fresh and new. Thanks God for this time of renewal.

Later I got to meet with Connie and Gary (two new Rejoicers). It was fun to hear their perspective about Rejoice! and their dreams of how they can join us be about what God is already doing in our midst.

Last, was Theology on Tap. We had some new faces tonight. And to be honest, I never know what to expect from these get togethers. Sometimes they are deep and thought provoking. Other times they are jovial and a little goofy. Last night's was both...and...what a blast! Thanks God for showing up last night and all day. I guess I am constantly learning that you are always there, but it is always wonderful to be reminded of your surprises!

2-2-10 Surprise Me God - Day 24

2010-02-03T07:33:00.000-08:00

Went to my office at Peace Lutheran today. Caught up with the staff and what is going on at the mother church. I learned that they are looking at interviewing and possibly calling a new pastor. Thanks for the surprise that even at big churches, nothing stays the same.

Later on in the evening, I was called to cover refereeing for someone who had life give him a surprise and had the opportunity to cover for him. The game was in Canton. Never had been to that school...so I left plenty early. Had some free time...so I checked out the school. Apperently smaller schools like Canton have each graduating classes senior pictures up on the wall. Fascinating to look at all the fashion changes through the years...and...all of those faces, with so much promise. Then I remembered one of my best friends from seminary (our class of 125's best preacher!) Darin Wiebe was from Canton. Did the estimating and found his picture. Wow...how cool! And...thanks be to God, Burnsville High School's class of 1987 was way, way too big (over 900 that year) to do the same as Canton. I am not sure anyone could handle the surprise of my shocking mug from high school!

2-1-10 Surprise Me God - Day 23

2010-02-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

Snow again...like that is a surprise? Well, at least it was not windy...and...I got to serve others by shoveling several sidewalks. I am not sure my neighbors even noticed...since the conditions of sidewalks are sort of like our body, we do not notice them unless there is an irritation. Oh well, thanks for the opportunity to bless other, whether they noticed the surprise or not.

Later, Guys Group. We did the John Eldredge study, "Walking with God." It all went along fine until the end. Our guys just like each other's company. But the focus was on listening/hearing God's voice. My gut said my group of guys biggest difficulty is to just slow down and listen for God's voice...they are wonderful "doers of the Word." (James 1:22) But the Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God" comes a little more difficult for my Band of Brothers. So we did a 15 minute guided meditation at the end. For these Type A guys, it seemed like the first time in a long time that they fully relaxed. I hope that was rejuvenating surprise for them.

1-31-10 Surprise Me God - Day 22

2010-02-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

Before worship this Sunday, my friend Jason (from Ransom Church) met with our new hospitality team. Jason shared with the new team how the Ransom learned through research that the first time guest decides whether they are going to return to a church in the first 7 minutes. I guess I knew that statistics, but it always surprises me. Even before I begin to preach, people have decided already if they are going to come back. Thank you God for this and several other insights Jason offered our new team.

My second surprise is far more mundane. I am a sports addict...and...gosh sports sure get boring this time of year. (bowling? figure skating? basketball before playoffs? this year's gopher hockey team?) Eek! And to top it all off...the Pro Bowl...yawn!

Keep surprising us God, I think we all need some surprises during these dog days of winter!

1-30-10 Surprise Me God - Day 21

2010-01-31T04:32:00.000-08:00

Today I am at a conference in Fargo, ND...before today, I wanted to complain about our cold winter in Sioux Falls...yikes, compared to Fargo, we have had a heatwave winter. Thanks for that shocking surprise God. To quote the old Scandanavian maxim, "It could be worse."

At the conference there was some wonderful worship time with some very intentional quiet time. I try to spend some quiet time each day with God, but often I don't let things slow down enough to fully experience God's Shalom/Peace...today was different...thanks God for how wonderful it was today to fully experience your presence...I guess it wasn't surprising that it was refreshing, but the ever-newness of your presence always feels like a wonderful surprise or the perfect present from a loved one. Thanks God.

1-29-10 Surprise Me God - Day 20

2010-01-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

Woke up and started planning out my day...and thought, hey I am I am going up to Fargo for a day and half conference and laughed to myself, "Only Norwegians go north for the winter." Thanks God for that surprisingly absurd laugh. :)

Then I started checking my email and read Katie Davis' "Surprise Me God" story from yesterday. (do go back and read it...touching!) Thanks God for that surpising story. And thanks God for a reminder of how powerful the faith witness of our loved ones can have and does have on us.

Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!

1-28-10 Surprise Me God - Day 19

2010-01-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

Last night I got a surprise phone call invitation to my friend Leif's Bible study group. What a nice surprise to start some new friendships all centered in studying the Word. Thanks God!

Later I had lunch with a new fellow pastor friend, Pastor Phil Tague from the Ransom Church. Great conversation with great prayer time.

Later I dropped in on Don Reiffenberger for a surprise visit. It was great to catch up.

Thanks God for all the wonderdful surprise of great relationship/friendships.

1-27-10 Surprise Me God - Day 18

2010-01-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

Today was a day full of meetings, one cancelled, one added. Sadly my weekly meeting with friends Jon and Seth for worship was cancelled due to Jon's mother's heart attack...thankfully she was recovering nicely.

Next I meet with Sonia for our weekly meeting. Some great brainstorming.

My surprise meeting followed shortly afterward. I met with Dave Oswald to pray with him and his coworkers. We prayed over day before he left for Haiti.

Later, I met with Breanda and Brenda to talk about Confirmation. It was a nice time.

Oh Lord, I thank you that you control our calendar when we let you. I ask that you continue to control my calendar the rest of the week.

1-26-10 Surprise Me God - Day 17

2010-01-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

Today's first surprise was that I had a meeting that was cancelled, but I was given work to do by a supervisor instead of meeting. Sometimes life is like that...you think to yourself, "Hey I am going to catch a break, but then all of a sudden you have more work.

Later I left for refereeing in Harrisburg. I had several errands to do before leaving so I loaded the van with all I needed...or so I thought...I forgot my black referee shoes. I am sure I looked a little ridiculous in my white shoes. All the same, thanks for reminding me Lord that it is not so much how we look on the inside, but how we live on the outside.

1-25-10 Surprise Me God - Day 16

2010-01-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

It is Monday, a pastor's day to get somethings done around the house. Did the bills and got new tires for our van. It has been running a little bumpy lately. I think we dropped a tire-weight in the snow and ice. Sure enough after the new tires, we are driving smoothly again. Thanks God for the reminder of the need for regular maintance (bills, cars, body, soul, etc) are important for life to run more smoothly.

In the afternoon I met with my friend Jason. I had asked him to visit Rejoice! this past Sunday and give me some impressions from a first time guest. Great insights! I think we will be able to apply what Jason experienced to make us a more welcoming church. Thanks for the surprising insights of first time guests Lord!

Later the bad weather came and Men's group was cancelled, but I went over to Chuck's, just in case someone showed up anyway. No one did, but Chuck and I had a great conversation. Thanks Lord for the reminder that even when the snow plows are not even going out that your Spirit is still working!

1-24-10 Surprise Me God - Day 15

2010-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

Wow God...thanks for the surprise in full attendance for worship this Sunday morning. It has been a few weeks since we crested 100 and 107 today! Yeah God! Bring some more next week, not for our sake, but for your Kingdom's expansion's sake.

Got another surprise as we got home. Got a surprise invite by the Forsman's to watch the NFC Championship game. It was a very exciting team. I was hoping for the surprise of the Vikings going to the Super Bowl, but maybe it is better this way, I will be able to fully enjoy Rejoice's Super Bowl party and everyone's company rather than worry about a silly little football game in two weeks.

So, the little boy inside of me goes to bed a little sad inside once again, but the man/husband/father/son/child of God is grateful for a wonderful family and a wonderful church family. My football team lost, but I am still a winner in God's eyes.

1-23-10 Surprise Me God - Day 14

2010-01-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

One last warm day before the deep freeze of January kicks in. Time to clean off the ice off of the sidewalk before it becomes impossible.

Nothing too extraordinary, but it does remind me of the need for Christ followers to remove the slippery spots around their life (e.g., greed, anger, depression, cynicism, sarcasm, etc.) so that neither they, nor anyone else falls in their walk. Thanks for this surprising lesson and another warmer day in January.

1-22-09 Surprise Me God - Day 13

2010-01-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

Got up, got the girls out the door, answered emails and worked on my sermon for Sunday...found a perfect illustration online about a friend to conclude my sermon...thanks God for that surprise.

Later in the morning, met Linda (a new Rejoicer) for a One to One meeting. It was great to get to know her better...and...I think she felt blessed by the conversation too. I don't know why, but I am always surprised by the fact that when I take time to listen to other people stories it turns out to be a blessing for both parties. I guess it should not be a surprise anymore, but I am always grateful for those spirit-filled times.

At Noon, I went with my friend Jason to an event he invited me to...Christian Business Men's meeting. The speaker was fantastic telling a great story of God guiding him through his life from America to Europe and back again. He summed up his story with this maxim, "The places and desitinations along the journey of life are less important than the process of the journey." I pray that that surprise insight could be learned by all of us at Rejoice! too.

My last surprise for the day was that I was scheduled to referee basketball in Hartford last night, and I was worried the whole day about ice on those county roads in the evening on the trip back. Thankfully I was gratefully surprised by a late phone call that games were postponed. It was good to use last evening for time to exercise at Family Wellness, order pizza and spend time with my girls.

Give 'em Heaven!

1-21-10 Surprise Me God - Day 12

2010-01-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

Today's day started off with the usual stuff, prayer, email, scripture reading.

Then I headed off to a meeting with a friend with whom I recently had a difference of opinion. I had been praying that God would use this difference to make us stronger friends and make us better at what we do. God did more than that. We shared our thoughts and feelings, hopes and dreams. In the end, we not only understood each other's opinion's better, we came up with ideas for how we can better communicate in the future. Thanks Lord for transforming struggle into deeper friendship.

At Noon, I picked up my daughter Megan to have our every other week lunch date. I always let Megan pick the place. She picked Great Harvest Bread Company (57th & Louise) The lunch date started with a nice surpise. They were offering samples of bread...mmm, mmm, yummy. It reminded me of God's word, "Taste and see that the Lord is Good." Psalm 34:8. Megan and I talked about her week. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but few things are better than precious time with your daughter.

Thanks Lord for all of the relationships you have given me. I am always surprised at how blessed I am by family and friends. Give 'em Heaven!

1-20-10 Surprise Me God - Day 11

2010-01-21T16:34:00.000-08:00

So I woke up thinking and praying, "God surprise me with some really good ideas for our Theology on Tap event tonight." So I sort of set aside that thought and worked through my email. One of my 20+ emails was from Sonia Larson our Ministry Coordinator. She wrote out 7 different spot on questions for this evening's Theology on Tap event. Awesome! Sometime the answers to our questions come from God using others to bring answers to our questions. Thanks God for the whole Body of Christ to help me with Life's Questions!

Another Surprise came that we had a first time guest Donna from Peace Lutheran come to our event. It is always great to see an unexpected friend show up. Donna offered some great insights to the conversation too. Thanks for that surprise too God.

I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings...

1-19-10 Surprise Me God - Day 10

2010-01-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

Today I started off doing my normal Monday stuff (since yesterday I did little work, but rather I enjoyed my daughters' day off from school) So I today put together the podcast. (a day later than normal) I was surprised I preached as long as I did. I guess I was on a roll...hopefully no one was too bored.

Later, I met with my surprise friend Matt. You see Matt and I met in an airport in Philadelphia. I was on my way home from my daughter Megan's and my trip to the East Coast to look at colleges for Meg. Our plane was delayed and so I started reading, "Have a Little Faith," by Mitch Albom. Which for those who really know me would be surprised. You see I am more of book on mp3 listener rather than paper reader. But we had lots of time and my voracious reading daughter Megan said, "You should read this book dad." So I did...what else are you going to do in a strange airport waiting for a plane? Well I am sitting there reading Albom's book and Matt (found out afterward is also from Sioux Falls) walks by and says to me a complete stranger, "So what do you think of the book?" That intro question led to a 45 minute conversation, which led to an exchange of business card, which led to a couple of emails, which led to a lunch date, which...you get the picture...which feels like it is leading to a lifelong friendship (I hope!) Well today was my second lunch date with Matt and he is a fascinating man with a wonderful curious, inquiring mind.

Hey God, I cannot thank you enough for all these God-incidences with Matt. And thanks today for another lunch with my new friend. God I am still surprised and amazed that you used a wonderfully uncharacteristic event of me reading a book in an airport in Philadelphia to lead me to a new friend. I guess it is almost poetic that we would meet in Philadelphia "the City of Brotherly Love."

Thanks for the surprises Lord...keep them coming! Give 'em Heaven!

1-18-10 Surprise Me God - Day 9

2010-01-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

MLK Day always seems to sneak up on me. I am grateful for a surprise day off with my kids. We had lunch together. I was able to clean some more ice off the driveway once again in just a jeans and a flannel shirt.

The beauty of the Hoar Frost on the trees was another wonderful surprise.

Late in the evening I went cross-country skiing using my new headbad-headlamp that I got at the REI store in Minneapolis last week. (love that store) Love me new toy. Well anyway the conditions were perfect. Just the perfect tempeture for exercising and the groomed grooves on the path were perfect too. It was wonderful to take 6 foot stride/glides. It is just a kick! Sort of like sailing when the wind is just right...you almost want to say "wheeeeeee!" on each stride.

Thanks for the surprise of a nice day off with my daughters and a nice evening skiing

1-17-08 Surprise Me God - Day 8

2010-01-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

Woke up at O'Dark:30 as is my custom every Sunday. You see I am not a morning person. I have to fake my body out to thinking the day is mid-day by the time worship happens so that this pastor/evening person/closet-introvert can actually say an intelligible sentence in public. But by the grace of God am I able to preach at all. So for me, every Sunday that I preach is sort of a "Surprise Me" moment.

I was wonderfully surpised by Karen Lukens before worship who came up to me and began by praying with me over our friends in Haiti. Needed that!

I was wonderfully surprised to see several new faces in worship this morning. I know it does not make God any more present when new faces are "in the house," but the place just feels more electric on days like today.

I was surprised when Lindsay said after the pre-worship prayer, "We are going to really rock it today." And they did...well I should say...God used them to rock the place! Mom's were dancing holding their children. Little kids were swaying to the music. People had their hands raised giving praise to God. (no small task for Scandanavian Midwesterners!) Not only that but Shane's scripture readings and prayers between songs were spot-on inspired. Great day of worship!

Earlier, Sonia asked me before worship...how are you doing/feeling? I shared how I was uncomfortable preaching after such a difficult week...Haitian tragedy and being away from home for 3 days at a conference did not help either. I shared, "If any good comes this week, God gets the complete and total credit!" I am not sure how it was received...I guess the hearer has to judge that.

After worship, Confirmation. The Forsman girls once again brought a friend. We ended sooner than usual...duh...there was Vikings game going on!

Ugh the Vikings game...the ViQueens (my team) was playing the favored CowGirls of Dallas. I have a strong dislike for the boys with the star on their helmets. (the 99 yard Tony Dorsett run on MNF, the debacle of the Herschel Walker trade...can you say Russell Maryland, Darren Woodson and Emmitt Smith to Dallas 5 players, 5 other draft picks for one worn out running back...and oh don't even mention the Drew Pearson Push Off play 34 years ago...ugh....don't get me started)

Anyway surprise, surprise the boys in purple came to play...whodathunk?!? 34-3 Lovin' IT! I suppose the Vikes could get blown out next week in New Orleans...but today was a wonderful surprise.

After the game I shoveled snow/puddles...without a coat in January. What a great surprise.

Last, the day ended by going to the Sioux Falls Stampede hockey game with the Forsman's. Our boys won in overtime! Someone from Family Wellness just gave away the tickets after worship. What a great surprise. What a great game. To top it all off, we were surprised to see the Behrend family at the game sitting just below us.

What a great day Abba-Daddy...thanks for the Surprises!

1-15-10 Surprise Me God - Day 6

2010-01-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

Today's surprise moments were as much of reminders as they were surprises. I had just gotten home my trip to the Twin Cities, unpacked and checked my 33 emails for the day.

I decided to call Dave Oswald and see how he was doing. I think I surprised him, but he seemed to genuinely appreciate my phone call. He talked mostly. I listened mostly. Then we prayed, cried a little and then did the best thing we could do, leave things in God's hands. It was good to be a friend and be reminded I am blessed with awesome friends!

After the phone call, Suzy reminded me of my Johnny Corino's gift certificate from Christmas. Love this restaurant! So we surprised the girls and took them out for dinner.

Surprisingly, we hardly had to wait. In the little moment or two of waiting for a seat, I got a surprise text from my son Ben telling me he loves me. Those sorts of surprises never get old.

There are so many choices on the Corino's menu, but tonight I chose not to be surprised. I went with my old standard, Spicy Chicken Romano...sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, bow-tie pasta and chicken in a spicy cream sauce...mmm-mmmm-yummy! Maybe after the topsy-turvy week of Haiti news, I just needed something that felt like normal. Sometimes on a chaotic week, normal can feel surprisingly delicious. You are blessed...now go and be a blessing!

1-14-10 Surprise Me God - Day 5

2010-01-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

Today's main surprise happened through God's word. A troubling Bible text for me and for many scholars has always been, Luke 13:1-9. http://bit.ly/6hOehX In it Jesus and his followers discuss why evil happens.

Even more difficult is Jesus telling a confusing parable of cutting down an unfruitful, 3 years unproductive fruit tree in response to their conversation on evil. Sometime our life and death questions provoke more questions with few answers.

You see I have been wondering what to say about Haiti. Today I heard Mike Housholder, pastor of Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines teach on this text. I never would have guessed this troubling text would ever be an aswer to any of my questions.

I realised this is a text for Rejoice! This is a text for all hurting over Haiti. Come Sunday to hear more....

The second surprise was nothing earth-shaking (maybe that is a bad choice of words...forgive me) My 2nd surprise was just a simple lunch date with my son. We ate at a new favorite restaurant of his. Nothing profound happened, but sometimes the best moments are not Hollywood-esque, but maybe some of our best moments are when two loved ones get together and share time together and enjoy each other's company. Thank you God for this simple surprise.

Well my friends, hug someone you love today...may you be surprised at how profound this simple act can be...Give 'em Heaven!

1-13-10 Surprise Me God - Day 4

2010-01-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday/This Morning...somewhere around O-Dark:30 I shared that my surprises had not been happening not till later in the day. Well, as soon as you start to put parameters around God, God laughs and changes the rules.

So today I am on my way to a continuing education event in the Twin Cities at the seminary from which I graduated, I am driving along, things are going smoothly...then...FOG. How inconvenient. So I ask, "What are you trying to tell me with this fog God?" God says, "Slow down...and...not just the car." I suppose that God is telling all of us, "slow down."

Afterward, after my lesson in slowing down, God gave me another surprise. Hoar Frost...what a beautiful site...for those who never have been to the midwest, Hoar Frost happens when all things meterological line up (usually after fog) God's landscape turns into a crystaline sea of twinkling light. Trees, fence posts, roof tops, etc...all reflecting the glory and light of God's creation. In a word, "BREATHTAKING!" Hmmm...lesson number 2...slow down...and then...expect a God surprise.

Last God surprise to report today...I was driving listening to the 4 EP (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) collection from Jon Foreman (from the band Switchfoot). Jon's stuff is truly inspired and as brilliant as Switchfoot's stuff is...Switchfoot songs tend to be more subtle in sharing the faith...not Jon's solo work...nothing subtle in these 4 EPs Many of the songs borrow a great deal directly from scripture. Nearing the end of the end of Jon's songs, my mind was already skipping ahead...thinking, "What will I listen to next on this trip to Minneapolis?" Then...Surprise! Jon's second to last song slays me... It is entitled, "House of God, Forever." Most of the song is a paraphrase from Psalm 23. Beautiful lyrics...the middle of the song set me sideways.

Even though I walk
Throught the Valley
Of Death and Dying
I Will Not Fear
'Cause You Are with Me
You Are with Me

You see while I am listening with one side of my brain...and...I have been praying over the tragedy in Haiti, especially my friend Dave Oswald with the other side of my brain....then...BLAM...It hits me...both sides of my brain collide...these lyrics from this song are for Dave (and all the others who soon will be heading down to Haiti) God will literally be with Dave and all the others, be "with" them as they "walk through the Valley of Death and Dying."

Thanks God for helping me make a little sense of the present chaos...not that I have it all figured out...but it surpises me and helps me to be reminded that you will go with us even through our "valleys of death and dying."

My closing words today are borrowed from another great song writer, Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time."

These fragile bodies of touch and taste
This vibrant skin -- this hair like lace
Spirits open to the thrust of grace
Never a breath you can afford to waste
When you're lovers in a dangerous time

When you're lovers in a dangerous time
Sometimes you're made to feel as if your love's a crime
But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight
Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight
When you're loves in a dangerous time

Kick at the darkness with me my friends until it bleeds daylight. Help us Lord Jesus...

Surprise Me God - Day 3

2010-01-13T03:04:00.000-08:00

OK God, there were several surpises today. I will go in chronological order, not in order of severity.

First why do most of your surprises happen latter in the day? You seem to work best when we focus on you less. You are an allusive God.

So my first surprise didn't happen until later in the day, just before noon time. I went to the Sioux Fall Area ELCA monthly meeting. Great people, but usually boring meetings. Today was different. Larry Olson of Dakota Road was there leading worship and sharing his story. Wow thanks for that surprise. Larry is an annointed, inspired worship leader that can bless both the traditionally oriented and contemporary alike. One of Larry's new songs was based on Psalm 65:9. "The river of God is full of water...." God filled my water tank with Larry today.

Second, I was on the way to visit a friend out the country, but ran into the ditch near his house. Thankfully Randy was there and pulled me out. Thanks God for the surprise that I am not all powerful and than I need others and that I am blessed with good friends.

Third is the most difficult surprise. I did not need this surprise. HAITI Why God do you in all your power allow things like eathquakes happen? I am struggling with this one, probably will be for quite a while. But it is a reminder to praise and ask for your grace not just on the mountaintop, but also in the valley. Help me God. Help my friends like Dave, Tammy, Ashley, Aaron, Darrel, etc. But most of all help our friends the Haitian people. May you work miracles amidst this tragedy

1-11-10 Day 2 Surprise Me God

2010-01-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

Today started off a "back to normal life" day. My girls all got back from their weekend trip to the Twin Cities. Everything was back to normal, except for the "Surprise Me God" thing. But the morning seemed, "same old, same old," but it was really nice to have "same old, same old," having everyone home was a wonderful non-surprise.

The morning sort of purred along. Monday's for pastors are sort of our weekend. (at least it is part of a day off...other than loading the vodcast from the previous day's sermon.

However, I got a call from my new friend Leif. He called and invited me once again to his Bible Study. I tried to go 2 or 3 times before, but schedule, life and snow got in the way. But today finally worked out.

What a wonderful surprise! Leif and his friends were serious about studying the Word. They came with their sleeves rolled up, ready to learn, study, pray, share and experience God. Awesome stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed. What a nice surprise. Thanks God.

Later on, I had been playing telephone tag with my friends Dave and Tammy about hearing their "Surprise Me God" stories from Haiti. (I will not give too much away, because I videoed it and you should see it in worship soon) But wow...some great surprises!

Lastly, the night was about to end, I was thinking about going to the club and run on the treadmill. I love to sweat (so I can eat more food) but jogging is kind of boring to me, then I get a phone call from Leif. You still thinking about cross-country skiing...oh yeah...I forgot we had talked about that...Heck yeah...I would much rather exercise outside than inside. What a great night, more great conversations.

Wow thanks for the surprises...bring some more tomorrow! Give 'em Heaven!

Surprise Me God: Week 1 - Day 1

2010-01-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Day 1 - 1-10-10
Today, as we concluded our teaching series on Galatians, we introduced our new series, "Surprise Me God." We asked everyone to start each day of the next 30 with simple 3 word prayer, "Surprise Me God."

So today we, as a worshipping community, started with that simple 3 word prayer..."Surprise Me God."

Maybe not surpizingly, God did surprise me in our worship. First, as I was preaching, microphones were flying, Lutherans were laughing in worship, and the seats were close to full on a day where the temperature was below zero. Wow, thanks for a nice beginning surprise!

Second, as final song was playing, we sang, "God is Good, All the Time." The background video was from two year's ago Men's Retreat organized by former Rejoicer, Brian Bernhard. Sadly Brian died unexpectedly last year. Our loss, heaven's gain. One of Brian's favorite things to say was, "God is Good All the Time!" It gave me a smile and a reminder of Hebrews 12:1. Hebrews 12 reminds us that a great cloud of witnesses cheer us on from heavens. Today I, along with many, could feel the angels and Brian along with all the other saints cheering us on from Heaven.

After worship, we had Rejoice's First Annual Meeting. Quite frankly, many pastors wince a little at the thought of anual meetings. At best, most are boring. At worst, too many can be divisive and ugly. In fact, I have been in a few doozies of anual meetings myself.

Gratefuly, today's anual meeting was neither boring, nor divisive. That should be surprise enough. But to add to the surprises, there were awesome hopes and dreams shared, great questions asked and so many reasons to be excited about the upcoming year.

My favorite piece from a very positive anual meeting were the closing words by Dave Oswald. Dave shared how last year's $500 Outreach Budget served over 20,000 people. How does human logic explain that? This can only be attributed to God. Thank you lord for that wonderful surprise of what You can do when we just join together with what you are already doing. Awesome!

Now it is up to you my friends and fellow Rejoicers, click the "Comment" button below to share your "Surprises." God is Good All the Time. Give 'em Heaven!

2009 Habitat 500 Ride

2009-09-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

Day 1 Saturday, July 11, 2009 - Arrival
Megan and I arrived in Faribault, MN. We met some friends from last year's ride. What great people! Tim D. (this is the guy the actually bikes across the entire USA) arrived from Colorado (Megan and Me 0 miles...Tim D. already 1200) It is more than humbling to do this ride with such giants. Even so, this ride is not about the riders, but the people with inadequate housing. On the way to Faribault (our first evening's lodging), Megan noticed a Habitat for Humanity House. It was a great reminder of why we do this ride. It was also great to reacquaint myself with and introduce Megan to the "Ride Support Team." What an awesome group of servants. As a side note. It was too bad that we did not have video of me relearning how to put up my sister's tent. Thank you guy next to me with a hammer...boy was the ground hard! Back to the ride, I am so excited to share this year's ride with my wonderful daughter Megan. It is fun to introduce her to all of these awesome servants. I think she can already see why I love this week: great people, great experience and an even greater cause! Thank you to all you friends and family who made this week possible with your generous donations. Thank you and God bless you all!

Day 2 Sunday, July 12 Faribault to Rochester
First day riding. Perfect Day! 80 degrees and next no wind. Partly cloudy, rolling hills with smooth roads. What a dream! Megan did great! We did not ride super fast (14 mph average, finishing in the middle of the pack) A great start. Thanks for the prayers. Keep them coming! P.S. Thanks to our friends Paul and Jill from Rochester, MN (it was great to spend at least one night of the ride in a real bed!)

Day 3 Monday July 13 Rochester to Rushford
Today was an up and down day...that is we went up some hills and down some hills. The first half of the day we had to climb two very large hills between Rochester and Fountain, MN. After Fountain, we jumped on the Root River Trail. (the RR Trail is one of the former railroad lines converted to bike trail) The RRT was simply gorgeous. It winds its way through Minnesota's "No Drift Zone." That is, a place where ancient glaciers did not drift across the land like most of MN and the Dakotas, but left the ground hilly/semi-mountainous in SE MN, SW WI and NE IA. From Fountain to Lanesboro we rode downhill for literally 15 miles. I have not gone down hill for that long since my days in California in the mountains. I kept giggling to myself thinking, "maybe this is what it will be like in Heaven." Our final destination was Rushford, MN where we treated like kings and queens by the loving people of Rushford. Some of you may remember Rushford being in the news 2-3 years ago for a devastating flood...it was an Aberdeen, SD sort of flood. (citywide) After dinner, one of the of the residents shared her story about the flood and about how the whole community rallied around the town's flood victims. Tomorrow we will be working on one of those houses that is in the process of being refurbished. Please keep the prayers coming. Tomorrow we will ride up what some are calling "the mountain." (as if there are mountains in MN...but it is a 2 mile curving uphill climb @ a 6-8 percent grade Tour de France stuff) So keep praying, we feel your prayers and we need them! Give 'em Heaven!

Day 4 Rushford to Rushford (a loop through the no-drift zone)
Megan and I survived "the hill/mountain." We went up slow and steady, certainly not at Lance Armstrong speed, but we did make it to the top without stopping. After today's ride, Megan and I went over to the Habitat for Humanity home in Rushford and helped shingle the roof. After working on the home, we were treated once again by the beautiful people of Rushford for an evening BBQ, with bluegrass music, corn on the cob and lots of great deserts. The new home owner addressed the crowd with tears of gratitude in her eyes for her new home...and...new bikes provided for her whole family from the H500 riders. It was a very touching evening. Tomorrow is the 100 mile ride, so we will definitely need your prayers tomorrow...so keep the prayers coming! Give 'em Heaven!

Day 5 Rushford to Grand Meadow
Today was the 100 mile day. It was both beautiful and challenging. The first 60 miles were along a different section of the Root River Trail that was again beautiful. The last 40 miles were a 40 mile gradual uphill climb into 20-25 mph wind...brutal! Megan learned the biking art of "drafting" (out of necesity) and we completed the ride with teamwork and tenacity. You all should be very proud of Megan. She did great! Tomorrow Austin MN and the "Spam Museum" (no foolin') and then later Albert Lea. Keep the prayers coming. Give 'em Heaven!

Day 6 Grand Meadow to Albert Lea
Today's ride was a lot like a ride out in the country around Sioux Falls...uphill both ways into the wind. But seriously, we again battled 20-30 mph wind the whole 80 miles through corn fields and soy bean fields offering little to no wind break. Only on the last 5 miles did we turn back west to come back to Albert Lea and finally the wind was at our back. After a much needed shower, we rode over to First Lutheran: Albert Lea for a huge, wonderful potluck. God bless the Lutherans! It was feast...and...yes there was tater-tot casserole and green jello, plus thankfully no lutefiske. Tomorrow we ride from Albert Lea to Lake Crystal (10 miles west of Mankato). The weather calls for surprize "stong winds" again, plus cold! Keep the prayers coming! Give 'em Heaven!

Day 7 Albert Lea to Lake Crystal
Although today was not the longest day of the week, it sure felt like it! Many 10-15 year Habitat 500 riders said that today was in the top 1 to 2 hardest rides in memory. Brian from Sheboygan, WI said, "Tim, I have been doing this ride for 8 years now and this year's ride is the hardest ride that I have ever done!" So I am very proud to share that Megan completed the hardest 440 miles in recent memory. Megan and I definitely want to thank you for your prayers along the way, we have so needed every prayer! We have been totally tested this week physically, mentally and even spiritually. Keep the prayers coming. Tomorrow our trek finally turns west and we should finally have the wind at our back for part of the ride. Give 'em Heaven!

Day 8 Lake Crystal back to Faribault
The Finish Line! Today we travelled from Lake Crystal back to Faribault where we started. Gratefully the wind was either diminished or at our side and/or on some rare occassions even at our backs. Thankfully today was an easier ride because our spirits and our legs were nearly broken by the last 3 1/2 days of brutal headwinds. Maybe I should say today was less difficult rather than easier. Today we had our steepest climb of the entire ride. We turned into a hill near Mankato that was 1/2 mile up at a 13 percent grade...eek! In addition, the trail from Mankato to Faribault was a bit bumpy. This did not help that our backsides were quite sore from 6 days of steady riding...and my 44 year old wrists, neck and back was in pain after every bump. Nonetheless today was shorter (68 miles) and the wind was diminished (compared to the previous 3 days). The highlight of the day was coasting across the finish line holding the hand of my awesome daughter above our heads in victory/accomplishment. Great memories! I could not be prouder of my daughter than I am right now. Megan is definitely a loving, strong woman with a wonderful heart and determined, unbreakable spirit. Praise God for this Vision Quest of sorts. And praise God for each of you and your prayers! We could not have done it without your prayers! Our love to you all! Give 'em Heaven!

Happiness vs. Joy

2009-07-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

Someone remembered an old sermon I once preached on the difference between "happiness" and "joy." Here it is below

When Normal is Broke...Get Cured!

2009-02-24T07:26:00.000-08:00

Something is wrong! Deep down you know it in your soul. You see it on TV. You see it in the Stock Market. You hear it on the radio. Something is wrong. You know it. We, at Rejoice!, know it...

Starting March 1, 2009, Rejoice! will begin a new 6 week teaching series

The Sickness
& The Cure.

Come & receive healing that only God can give.

9:30 A.M. Sundays
@ Family Wellness

Down in the Big Easy...Day 2

2009-01-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

Through this whole...a family escaped the rising flood water to their rooftop of their lower 9th Ward home in New Orleans, LA. Some of their neighbors were not so lucky. Some have come back to rebuild. Others like this home owner have not.

So much devestation. So much work to be done. The experts believe it will be 25 years for New Orleans to get back to their pre-Katrina days.

So many images and stories that I want to share with you. I look forward to coming home and sharing them with you. In the meantime, keep the beloved people of God in New Orleans in your prayers and thoughts. Click here for more pictures on my Facebook page.

Give 'em Heaven!

Pastor Tim(serving our Lord in the Big Easy...aka New Orleans)

Sermon on the Mount

2008-11-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

The Sermon on the Mount...many have heard about it, some know who preached it, very few knew what the preacher said. Join us Fall 2008 as we learn more about the famous sermon preached from a mountainside.

Sept. 7, 2008: Beginning with the Ending - Wise and Foolish Building (Matt. 7:24-29)
Sept. 14, 2008: Beatitudes – Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Blessedness (Matt. 5:1-12)
Sept. 21, 2008: Public vs. Private Faith; Doing Things God’s Way (Matt. 5:13-16; 17-20)
Sept. 28, 2008: What to Do with Anger: (Matt. 5:21-26, 38-48)
Oct. 5, 2008: A Good, Healthy Sex Life; Stop Swearing (Matt. 5:27-32; 33-37)
Oct. 12, 2008: Sharing with the Needy (Matt. 6:1-4)
Oct. 19, 2008: Prayer (Matt. 6:5-15)
Oct. 26, 2008: The Fast Lane vs. Fasting; Treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:16-18; 19-24)
Nov. 2, 2008: Judgment Don’t Worry, Be Happy Blessed (Matt. 6:25-34)
Nov. 9, 2008: Judgment – Take the Log Out (Matt. 7:1-6)
Nov. 16, 2008: Ask, Seek, Knock (Matt. 7:7-12)
Nov. 23, 2008: Narrow and Wide Ways (Matt. 7:13-14)
Nov. 30, 2008: Trees and Fruit (Matt. 7:15-23)

2006 Christmas Video

2008-11-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

This was one of our first attempts at podcasting...so the sound was bad...we still were trying to figure out video, but you can at least get an idea of our attempt at a postmodern Christmas Sermon.

Peace Out!

T-Rob

Contagious Christianity

2008-08-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Where did we go wrong? So many live out their spirituality as if it is just as it is a me and Jesus relationship. Trouble is Christ called his followers to share the faith. Faith is meant to be shared. Plain and simple, Christ followers are meant to be contagious.

Our latest teaching series covers this particular subject...Contagious Christianity. We have found at Rejoice! we are excited about our faith...so excited we want to share our faith and spiritual journey. But many do not know how. Many do not know how best to share their faith in their own, personal, unique way. Below is a look at each week:

July 29

Why and How to Be Contagious Spiritually

August 3

Building Faith Relationships

August 10

How to Share Our Spiritual Story

August 10

How to Share His (Jesus') Story

August 17

Leading People to Cross the Line of Faith to Jesus

Growing in God's Way

2008-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Life…Health…Growth…These qualities are at the core of God’s creation. Jesus constantly compares the life, health and growth of his people to what occurs naturally in God’s Creation. A mustard seed, lilies in the field, weeds and wheat are but a few examples of Jesus’ famous comparisons. We invite you to join us for our new teaching series “Growing in God’s Way,” where we will explore how God grows people, God grows community and God grows his church.

Join the conversation on our blog. Share stories in where God has grown you and you have experienced the growth of God’s community: the Church. Share also where you feel more growth is needed. May these growth areas become a communal prayer offered to God.

This is the tentative teaching schedule for each week:

April 6 Discipleship Strength
April 13 Understanding the Christian Faith
April 20 Ownership of the Ministry
April 27 Leadership Development
May 4 Struggle, Forgiveness, Repentance and Witnessing
May 11 Mission, Purpose and Plan

God Bless and Give ‘em Heaven!

Pastor Tim

One Question - 24 Great Answers!

2008-03-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

“Where do you see Rejoice! in 5 years?” On Sunday, March 16, this simple small question was asked of those who were in worship. Not all answered but those who did gave brilliant answers. Read below and discover that God has placed some great vision on the hearts of the Rejoice! community.

Rejoice! will be a church – a community – of common, ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others. We’ll be known as people who serve others and share the message of God’s love.

A community of love and peace not afraid to show others. Rejoice! is an inviting community of Christ followers who enjoy studying the word of God and going out and doing his good works. This church family welcomes all no matter where an individual is on their spiritual walk.

Reaching people at exactly the right time with exactly the right words and exactly the right love with exactly the right God.

To bring all the body of Christ and to know him – young, old, and even the broken.

A life saving station who plants churches. A place were miracles happen and people pray. A place and a community were the unchurched experience Jesus.

I pray for…not just a building, but to be a people who are maintained as one people…broken pieces, accepting of one another, caring and sharing. As we grow…may we always reach out to others in the community, continually! May spiritual growth continue through small groups and loving accountability groups as well.

Family: Togetherness at home and church. Uniting the two worlds that is my wish for Rejoice!

I pray that Rejoice! would stay the life saving hut from Chuck Swindol’s story. That it would be a true mission…loving it like now…not another clubhouse. The building is not the mission. We need just him and each other to “be sent” – in each of our lives – to each ministry to which we are called in our home, at work, in society, in politics and in life. Perhaps it would be good to read Swindol’s story about "the life savaing station" once a year to keep Rejoice! on our mission. God bless you! God bless us all!

I see a large and loving place where any age will fee comfortable to learn more about their faith and be renewed.

Rejoice! is a place where people can come and experience joyous living and friends are only a handshake away.

A church that serves and then leads the unchurched they have served to find Jesus in their church.

Regardless of where Rejoice! is at physically – my hope is that Rejoice! will continue to find ways to reach out into the community. This is what has attracted me to Rejoice! It is about building relationships with each other and with Jesus the will make this church continue to grow.

I would like us to financially sound more than anything so we can focus on ministry, servant projects, instead of paying for a building. I think financial health at our entire congregation plays a large part in that. One will take care of the other.

I pray for the Rejoice! community and that we continue to serve the rest of the community. I pray for us to keep bringing others to Rejoice! and more importantly to Jesus. Rejoice! has helped me to become better connected to Him (God) and I hope and pray that we bring others like me to find Christ .

I pray that our church will always be the Servant Church. As our numbers and size grows, so will our acts of service to our community.

Successes where He (God) is first without distractions.

Always serving others…doors wide open…Bible centered coworkers of Christ

Building…Youth Ministry (high school)…multiple services…solid praise bands…classes to teach individual outreach…online services (that is broadcast live and recorded worship) via the internet to the entire world.

Dear God thank you for Rejoice! and all my church family…all of you help me to grow in the Lord.

God centered!...Outreach…Fun…Sense of Community…Caring Support of One Another…Welcoming to Those Who Do Not Have a Support Network…Be the Hands and Feet of Christ.

Rejoice! is a place that will help you find your way when you are lost. With a strong sense of community, they help to strengthen your faith.

Family

A place where people are reached by others who love them – just as they are – warts and all. Reached through small groups, one-on-one visits, prayer, worship – in whatever way they need. A place where everyone counts and everyone has a place…a place that is a true life saving station.

Men’s and Women’s small groups where love, support and accountability help individuals grow…mentoring or young women and new mothers.

Wow I am so proud of my tribe/community/sisters/brothers/fellow-Chist-followers. Today it is easy to use my normal salutation, “Give ‘em Heaven!” Obviously that is what Rejoicers are all about!

Give ‘em Heaven!

Pastor Tim

P.S. One person had a question of her/his own. Since a name was not left…I will just include his/her question and try to answer it. “Why isn’t Rejoice! listed in the ELCA section of the Argus Leader (Sioux Falls’) newspaper? This is a great question. It is not the first time we have heard this question. Well #1 we would love to have an add in the paper, but it is expensive. #2 Newspaper adds about local churches are for people who are already churched…Rejoice’s mission is primarily to the un-churched and de-churched…so for the same amount of money, we have chosen to advertize where un-churched and de-churched people are…namely at the movies…that is the WestMall7 theater where our ad has run for about 8 months. #3 and probably most importantly, we believe Rejoice! will grow better through word of mouth invitations partnered with creative advertizing and service events. We don’t feel called to be just another Lutheran church, we feel called to be a different sort of church for a world that would love to see a church that makes a difference. All the same this was a great question. Thanks for asking it. Email me if this answer was not satisfactory for you. I am not saying this is the right answer forever…it just has been the right answer for our first year and half.

NCD Natual Church Development

2008-03-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Soon you will be hearing a great deal about NCD or Natural Church Development. NCD is not a program, but it is a process which churches have used worldwide. NCD's main premise is that God wants all of His churches to be healthy...and...a natural biproduct of health is church growth. NCD was developed by a Lutheran pastor in Germany nearly 20 years ago. Since this process has grown to help churches all around the globe.

WHY IS NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT HELPFUL AND SUCCESSFUL?
Church research in America shows that 85% of our churches are on a plateau or declining and that Protestant denominations have declined by nearly 10% in the past 10 years. But the more important reason has to do with the health of our churches.

Natural Church Development helps a church focus on its health as a congregation, not on the numbers of increase or decline. It assumes that healthy churches will be growing churches, but a church will not always experience an increase in numbers.

The questions Natural Church Development asks have to do with congregational health and transformation. For instance:

Does the church empower its leadership to do ministry?
- Does the congregation have a passion about its sense of spirituality?
- Do people leave worship knowing they have been in God’s presence?
- Do the relationships of the people show the signs of God’s love?

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Teach leaders and members of our churches what a healthy church is like, and coach them in a process of becoming healthier communities.

WHAT ARE HEALTHY CHURCHES LIKE?

EIGHT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS
Empowering leadership
Gift-oriented ministry
Passionate spirituality
Functional structures
Inspiring worship
Holistic small groups
Need-oriented evangelism
Loving relationships

WHAT PROCESS WILL HELP?
Churches are organizations, and they are organisms. As with any organism [any living thing]
God has designed natural processes for health and growth. Natural Church Development teaches churches to follow these six life-giving principles to enhance their health and increase their growth:

Interdependence: everything is connected:
Multiplication: living things normally reproduce themselves
Energy transformation: both negative and positive energy harnessed for good purposes
Multi-usage: increasing the capacity for ongoing growth and development
Symbiosis: cultivating cooperative relationships for mutual benefit
Functionality: an organism’s functions produce discernible results according to its purpose

WHAT IS NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT?
The Institute for Natural Church Development is an international, interdenominational organization based in Germany committed to helping congregations become healthy, growing churches. NCD resources are being used in the U.S. by many denominations, including Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian.

Christian A. Schwarz is head of NCD and the author of Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches and several supporting books and resources. In the 1990s they surveyed over 1,000 churches in 32 countries – churches of different denominations and with different theologies, both growing and declining churches. On the basis of that initial research, they identified the Eight Quality Characteristics which define healthy churches.

NCD has now surveyed 33,000 churches in 60 countries, including 20,000 churches in the U.S. Their research continues to support their initial findings and conclusions. They have discovered that every church surveyed which showed a certain level of health in all eight areas is, without exception, also a numerically growing church.

Send a pastor and key leaders to an informational night where they will learn how Natural
- Church Development can help them be healthier, growing churches
- Recruit a leadership team – called a Church Health Team – which we will train in how to oversee the process
- Have 30 active members and the pastor complete a survey which we will process and report on to the congregation
- Engage in a process to discern their next steps, on the basis of the survey report, to move toward health and growth as a congregation
- Begin that process, and work on it for a year.
- The time and energy required for the process is the most important contribution they will make.
- The extent of their financial contribution will be the decision of the denominational body sponsoring the Natural Church Development program in this area.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?
http://www.ncd-international.org/

God Bless...and...Give 'em Heaven!

Pastor Tim

Casual on the Outside - Serious on the Inside

2008-01-18T21:43:00.000-08:00

In the Church where I grew up, the experience was very serious on the outside. Everyone wore their Sunday’s best. Children were expected to sit still and be quiet. We sang very serious, formal, dark hymns (a church word for songs).

While we were very serious about our outside religious appearance, we were very casual about our faith experience on the inside. Bible reading in the home was never encouraged. Faith seemed like a once a week, one hour a week obligation.

Rejoice! aims to be just the opposite of my childhood experience. We seek to be “casual on the outside, serious on the inside.” I believe this was Jesus’ way of living. The common person found Jesus very approachable. The ultra-religious found him far too casual on the outside and when Jesus examined their insides, it got personal and they then schemed to kill him.

During the next few months we, at Rejoice!, encourage our community to come as they are, casual. In fact come to worship in your sweats to workout your soul and stay at the health club to work out your body with a free day pass at Family Wellness’ health club.

We also believe there is something very serious about serving and worshiping the living God of the universe. Think about it, if God is “in the house,” we can expect Him to be up to some very “serious” business. (Forgiving people’s past errors, loving people unconditionally, giving his Holy Spirit to purify and perfect, and showing us what His love is really like through the life, love, miracles, healings, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus the Christ.)

We pray that you come just as you are…but we also pray that you leave seriously transformed by the awesome love of God and the Spirit of Jesus the Christ.

Give ‘em Heaven!

Pastor Tim

"Casual on the Outside - Serious on the Inside" Teaching Series

2008-01-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

A recent survey done by USA Today found that 79% people in the United States say that “Christians make them sick.” Unfortunately, studies tell us the average person finds Christians to be fake and hypocritical.

We at Rejoice hope to reverse the trends of hypocrisy. We hope to reinvent church for seekers looking for something deeper, more spiritual. We say it this way; we try to be “Casual on the Outside, yet Serious on the Inside.”

Below is the schedule for our new teaching series, “Casual on the Outside…Serious on the Inside. Join us to help reimagine church. Come as you are, casual on the outside…and…we hope that you will leave experiencing the serious transformation of God’s love deep in your soul.

February 3
(re)joice – (Discovering the Difference between Happiness and Joy)

February 10
(re)boot – (if your computer needs to reboot from time to time, what makes you think your body, mind and soul don’t need to also?)

February 17
(re)turn – (God created us for greatness…see John 10:10 and yet to often we settle for less than greatness…we will discuss the way to return to God’s ways)

February 24
(re)lease – (Baggage…we all have it…we all carry it…How do we Let God and Let God?

March 2
(re)discover – (The average home in the United States has 2.4 Bibles. Trouble is many are never opened. Come this day to rediscover Word of God and learn how to read it for direction and purpose in your life.

March 9
(re)deeming brokenness – (If we are wounded on the outside, we put on a Band-aid or see a doctor. What do we do if our wounds are deeper than the skin? Come and learn how God desires to redeem broken people and broken lives.

March 16
(re)charge – (If our electronic devices lose power, we throw out the old batteries and put in new batteries. But what do you do when you lose power and energy in your emotional/psychological/spiritual life? Come and learn how to recharge your spiritual life.

March 23
(re)surrection – Easter Sunday! The day Jesus came back from the dead. God through his death and resurrection has made us Easter people. Learn how Christ resurrection makes it possible for dead and lifeless lives to be transformed into beacons of hope, purpose and life.

Dreaming about the Ministry Tool of a Building

2007-10-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

“When are you going to build the church pastor?” I hear that question almost weekly. Not too often from Rejoicers, but very often from people from our mother churches or from people within our community. My usual answer is, “Well, we started building the church a year and a half ago with a small Bible study and some day we will grow large enough to need a building.” The responses are usually puzzled stares. Let me explain.

What is a church? Some use the word "church" as a synonym for a building…as in, “Where is Pastor Jones…Oh, he is in the church.” Others use the word “church” as a synonym for worship…like, “Hey kids, let’s get ready to go to church.”

In the original Bible, written in Greek, there were two words for our one English word “church.” Trouble is neither of the two words refers to “going to a worship service” or a “church building.” The first Greek word the early Christ followers used for “church” was “koinonia.” The English word “economy” has its roots in koinonia. This word can be translated, “the gathering, the fellowship, and the community.”

The other Greek word for “church” was “ecclesia.” We get our English word “ecclesiastical” which refers to matters of church ministry. “Ecclesia” can best be translated, “the congregation, the assembly, the gathered ones.”

1 Corinthians 3:16, says, “Do you not know that you (God’s people) are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” (NRSV) So you see, Rejoice! Lutheran Church is the people and we are church not only when we worship, pray and read the Bible together, but we are church in our homes, in our schools, in our neighborhoods and wherever we live life.

As for a church building and location, thanks to God, the South Dakota Synod and the ELCA, 20 acres have been purchased for us to someday use for ministry and build a building upon. You can find where the land is off our website

As you can see we will be right next to St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church. Please note St. Katherine’s new worship building is a beautiful, cathedralesque type building. How could Rejoice! ever build a beautiful enough building to compete with St. Katherine’s? Why would we want to try competing? They are our brothers and sisters. They have their mission, to bless and grow a church for loving Roman Catholics…and…we have ours, “Daily renewing and serving our community until all join us in rejoicing in Jesus’ love.” As St. Katherine’s will do an awesome job of reaching the churched people of our community. We hope to do an equally awesome job of reaching the unchurched and dechurched seekers of our community. Two different strategies require two different types of buildings.

Please look at the pictures of two church buildings that our leadership visited this summer. These buildings are used and owned by Community of Hope on the southside of the Twin Cities and Kauw Prairie in suburban Kansas City. Notice that their buildings are not cathedrals, but they are more of a tool for ministry.

What do you think? Dream with us about what sort of building we will someday build on the 20 acres of land God provided for us. Please share your comments.

Ask Thank Tell

2007-10-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

About once a year, we at Rejoice take some time to have a conversation about what Christians call "Stewardship." Merriam Webster defines stewardship in this way, "the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care ."

We at Rejoice believe that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. (Acts 7:49-50) We also believe that we have been "blessed to be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2)

So for the next month, we ask you to share three things in comment section of this blog:

1. We ask that you share how you have been blessed by God his past year.

2. We also ask that you please pray about how much God is calling you to invest in his kingdom expansion in our midst.

3. Please also share your hopes and dreams about what God might do in and through Rejoice in this coming year.

God's Peace,
Pastor Tim

Got Questions? Get Rejoice!

2007-09-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

What are your questions? Do you have your "when I get to heaven" questions?

For two weeks (September 23rd and 30th) Rejoice! will be doing a short, "Got Questions? Get Rejoice!" sermon series. But we need your help.

Either send an email (timr@rejoiceforlife.com) or better respond to this blog (that way everyone can see a log of all the questions that everyone asked) I will pray over those questions and study God's Word and do my best to answer the answerable questions and be honest about the unanswerable questions.

So...start thinking...starting praying...and...start blogging

Peace Out!

Pastor Tim

I Love Autumn

2007-09-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

What a great day!

Yesterday the Bishop asked me to go Sporting Clays shooting to support South Dakota 4H. Hmm...let me see? Would I like to give support to a great group (SD 4H), have fun and get to know our future bishop and his future staff better? Hmm...let me see...YES!

So we loaded up the bishop's SUV and headed out. I need to insert here, I go shooting about once a year...so I always set my expectations really low. I figure if I get anywhere near 50% I did OK. Sure enough I got 50 out of a 100. After all sporting clays is a very humbling sport...why not be humbled again? Of the dozen teams, our team took 2nd place. So thanks be to God, I did not pull them down too far.

I love autumn! I love football. I love cooler weather. I love the changing of the leaves. I love people coming back to worship after vacations. I love hunting. I love it all.

It is good to be back home in the Midwest! In CA, there are just two seasons: 8 months of hot, dry, smog & traffic and 4 months of cool, wet, cloudy & traffic.

It is wonderful live in SD. It is wonderful to turn on the morning news and ask God what kind of weather will you give us today? It is wonderful to be surprised on a daily basis.

Yesterday's surprise was a beautiful day with beautiful weather, getting to know some really great people.

Lastly, let me report to you that I know that there will be no surprises from our new synod staff. Our outgoing staff, Bishop Andrea and her gang, as many of you know, were outstanding! Thanks be to God, on the talent and enthusiasm level, we move from outstanding to equally outstanding. I know SD is in great hands with great people. Sure there will be surprises wherever there are new personalities, but with God is in the mix, with a very talented synod staff, any of those surpises will be minimized. I am confident this new staff will do a great job of rolling with any and all of the surprises. I know they will be a blessing to our great Church.

What a great day...what a great state...what a great time of year!

Give 'em Heaven!

T-Rob

Day 6: The Trip Home

2007-07-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

Earthdate: 7/30/07 Captains Log: DAY 6 The Ride Home

Time to go home. What a wild ride!!! Thanks for all of your prayers and support. We leave Michigan with minds and souls filled with ideas, inspiration and love.

As many of you already know, Rejoice! is filled with wonderful leaders…and…I had the awesome blessing and honor to spend six days with 4 of our best and brightest! DeWayne, Don, Jim and Sonia represented our community above and beyond the call of duty. Not only were they fantastic listeners and contributors to what we will bring home to Sioux Falls, but on many, many occasions they blessed the communities visited as much as we were blessed by them. They were not only takers of great ideas, but also helping hands and loving servants. Whenever one of the churches we visited was cleaning up or setting up, they were one of the first to jump in and say, “How can I help?” I am so proud to have shared this week with them.

I am sure much of what we learned and experienced will germinate and grow into our future, but I also want to say this was not only a trip about how can we do things better? It was clear as the week progressed, this was also a trip to be affirmed that we are doing many things right. We indeed do many, many things very well already! Each of you reading this have played a part in our growing. Thank you for your part in making Rejoice! a great community.

As we are on our way home, I am truly proud and honored to serve such an awesome community. May God take what we do well now and make it great…and…may He take what we do great now and make it excellent.

THE BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED
If there was an underlying theme to every church we visited it was that growing churches can take many shapes and forms, but the truly great growing churches exist not so much for their members, but they exist for the sake of those outside their worshipping community. In Cincinnati, they used the phrase, “outward focused.” These churches grow, not to become big, but they grow because that is what great churches do, they grow. I like what one person said, “Great small churches become big churches…this small to big growth is just a fact of church physics.”

If you would like to see pictures from Day 6 trek home, click….
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CYtW7lw3aMXcA

Thanks for reading. See you next Sunday if not sooner.

Peace Out!

T-Rob

Day 5 - Life Point Vineyard Church and Mars Hill Bible Church

2007-07-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

Earthdate: 7/29/07 Captains Log: DAY 5 Monroe, OH – Life Point Vineyard Church (LPVC) and Mars Hill Bible Church, Grand Rapids, MI

Today was a day with two very different experiences. The first experience was in Monroe, OH and the second was at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI. (Rob Bell’s church) These two experiences could not be any more different.

First things first. Life Point is in Monroe, a suburb north of Cincinnati. It is a daughter church of yesterday’s visit to Vineyard Community Church.

LPVC in many ways felt much like Rejoice! It was, at this point, a relatively small (160 people), yet fun, energetic and dynamic church. LPVC did so many things right from our team’s perspective. They were very welcoming. There was a warm feeling from the moment you walked in the door. The music was great. The announcements were fun. There was just a fun, good vibe from the moment we walked in the door to the moment we left. Plus our experience was boosted by an excellent sermon by Pastor Andy Ransdell. Memorable, well delivered with pearls and nuggets to take home to use in daily living.

At LPVC, we were invited to arrive early and sit I on n the worship team’s pre-worship prayer, pep talk and strategy time. It was great. All the team’s that made Sunday happen were at this meeting. Pastor Andy shared with the team the mood of his sermon and the team together shared how best to make everything feel like it fit just right. The meeting finished with everyone putting their hands together in a circle (like a basketball team) Andy asked loudly, “What time is it?” They all said even more loudly, “It’s Worship Time!” Fun!

About the only thing that was dramatically different from a Rejoice! Sunday morning…and we would not change our way to theirs…was they don’t have their kids worship with the adults. This is typical practice for many non-denominational churches, but our team agreed we like kids worshiping with adults and we thought…we should keep doing things our way.

The day in Monroe ended with a golf cart ride to our van. The LPVC kids are in a building down the street and parents, after worship are carted to get their kids and then brought to their cars. It was different, but it was one more “fun” thing.

After LPVC, we got in the van and traveled to Mars Hill Bible Church (MHBC) in Grand Rapids, MI. I was duly warned by friends that it is quite difficult to find Rob Bell’s church. The warning was accurate. It was almost as if, Mars Hill was trying to hide its worship location. There were no signs that read “Mars Hill this way.” In fact the signs on the building almost added to the confusion. Old signs from old building tenants were still up and MHBC appeared to be in no hurry to take down the old signs and stop the confusion.

We made our way to the door of an old mall and found small letters on the door that read, “Mars Hill Bible Church.” …so we entered. No frills, no glitz. One team member commented, “It almost felt sterile.” To use an MTV word, there was no “bling” anywhere in the house. The bulletins were very simple…no graphics, just printed text in Ariel font. The wall decorations, the few that were there, were simple and Spartan. It was almost as if they decide to be as minimalistic as they could possibly be. It was almost like the MHBC leadership asked themselves, “What is really needed for worship?” People, some music, a message and some prayer. There was not much more there.

Although, almost to a person, MHBC was the least favorite worship experience of our trip, it still was a valuable reminder that churches grow (this one to over 10,000 people per Sunday…yes there are four zeros in ten thousand) not because of flawless worship, glitzy buildings, slick sermons (not everyone even liked Rob’s sermon), but churches grow because God decides to move in a community and the people willingly respond. Rejoice! does not need the latest greatest sound system, media production, best preaching, a flawless worship band, etc. All we really need is for God to move (and He is moving) and the people to respond (and we are responding). All Rejoice! really needs to do is to continue to pray and be faithful.

Now for some closing words…

Wow! What a great trip! What a great team (back home in Sioux Falls…pressing on in praising God without us…and…my 4 friends in the van who joined me on this wild ride) Whose idea was this trip anyways???? J

If you would like to see pictures from Day 5, click….
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CYtW7lw3aMXYQ

Thanks for reading. Pray for a safe return…and…we will see you next Sunday if not sooner.

Peace Out!

T-Rob

Day 4 - Cincinnati

2007-07-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

Earthdate: 7/28/07 Captains Log: DAY 4 Cincinnati – Vineyard Community Church (VCC)

Today seemed like a day and half chucked into 24 hours. We had just traveled overnight from Kansas City to Cincinnati. Mid-morning/middle of the night, we tried to catch a little sleep and then rush into a full day Saturday. And what a day it was!

First on the agenda, a “Block Party” with two churches, VCC a worldwide mega-church and W.A.E. Church (W = Window, A = Arts, E = Enrichment) WAE Church is a year-old, brand new inner city church just beginning with 25-30 people per Sunday. A couple of months before, WAE called VCC and asked for help to reach their neighborhood. They made plans, scheduled a Saturday, and today, that “Block Party” became a reality. Free food, free games, free inflatable jumper, free juggler, free DJ, and free Grace from God was shared with all who responded to the neighborhood canvas and word of mouth.

Wow, VCC sure does know how to do a neighborhood outreach. WAE made the call and VCC did the rest…setup, people and event. About 50+ VCC people (kids and adults) clad in their “Cincy Kids” t-shirts, joined with around 15 WAE members and just loved an entire neighborhood.

The gimmick used to get the neighborhood to check out the event was a bag of popcorn and invitation that read, “Come and check out our free neighborhood party with this invitation and you might win a brand new microwave. As the Block Party was winding down, a name was picked from a hat and the microwave winner was decided.

Don and Sonia, from our team, had the honor and privilege to go and deliver the prize $35 microwave. They found their way to a home that would have better fit in the 3rd world than it would fit in the world’s richest country, bugs were crawling on the floor, urine and feces smell permeated the air. From the home with next to no furniture emerged an older woman who welcomed them. They gave her the $35 microwave, but she responded with a gratefulness that rivaled a lottery winner. This prize delivering event culminated a half day filled with life- long memories.

As we helped pack up the Block Party, we traveled to VCC (a mega-church campus) which is the birthplace of the Servant Evangelism movement (remember our Dollar Car Wash…we stole it from VCC). Once at VCC we did some Q&A with Harmony Hensley, a literal tornado of service, love and energy. Harmony speaks twice as fast as the average human being. Harmony would take a breath every other minute, amidst her enthusiastic sharing of all the VCC outreaches, only to launch into another 2 minute long run-on sentence of awesome VCC servant event outreaches. After about an hour and half of only scratching the service of all of what VCC does, Harmony gave us a tour of their building. It is an impressive building that declares what it is about right from the beginning. Written in large letters across the front entrance were the words, “Small Things Done with Great Love Can Change the World.”

After meeting with the whirlwind of Harmony Hensley, we met with Andy Ransdell, former Teaching Pastor of VCC, and now mission developer pastor of LifePoint Vineyard Church (http://www.lifepointvineyard.com/), Monroe, OH. Andy shared the journey of moving from teaching pastor to planting a new church. Andy shared the gift of launching out of an awesome church and the struggle of trying to carve out their own identity and God-calling. He also shared the struggle of trying to figure out how to grow not only wider as a church, but grow deeper as a community of faith. He shared how he didn’t want to grow a big church, but also grow people to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Much like Kaw Prairie Community Church the day before in KC, Life Point helped us connect the dots between where we are and where we will be. It was affirming to share our first year journey with Andy and have him respond with a “Wow, you guys are doing great.” I guess deep down I know that, but it is always good to hear it from an outsider.

The piece de resistance of a very busy day was 6:30 worship at VCC. The worship band was excellent. The sermon was well crafted, practical and memorable. The whole experience was well done. Afterward, we loaded up with more pop and water from Target and poured ourselves into bed.

Tomorrow, worship at LifePoint Vineyard Church and then a five our trip to Rob Bell’s Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

If you would like to see pictures from Day 4, click….
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CYtW7lw3aMXUg

Thanks for reading. Thanks for all your prayers…we feel them…keep ‘em coming!

Peace Out!

T-Rob

Rejoice! Church Trip - Day 3

2007-07-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

Earthdate: 7/27/07

Captains Log: DAY 3 Kansas City (Lenexa) – Kaw Prairie Community Church KPCC (a partner church of the PCUSA/Presbyterian & the ELCA)

Today we met the team from Kaw Prairie Community Church. You may notice that the name “Lutheran” is not in their name. This omission is intentional. It is because KPCC is a joint effort between the ELCA and the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). The ELCA fronted the start up costs and the PCUSA has given them the land. They presently worship in a lunch room at a new Roman Catholic High School.

KPCC, like Rejoice!, is a baby church. Whereas we are an infant baby, they are a toddler baby. But they, like we, are still young enough where everything we do still seems new. They, like we, are at a stage where there are no set rules and there is a lot of room for creativity and experimentation. One such example of experimentation is their order of worship. Unlike nearly all mainline Christian churches, KPCC celebrates Communion before the sermon, weekly. Pastor Dan said, “I can give you theological reasons like Jesus always fed people first and then taught them later, but really we order things this way mainly just because it works for us.” Another unique thing KPCC does is that they do not take an offering during the worship. They just leave two Pier 1 sort of pots in a conspicuous place in the worship space. All those people who have bought into the mission give and give generously. This, too, is “different,” but it “works” for them.

Their plans for their future worship space and ministry building are very interesting. (The architectural plans for the building can be found on their website http://www.kawprairie.org/) There is a coffee shop in the front entrance/central-courtyard. There is also a McDonald’s type playland just off of that central-courtyard. The plan is that moms and dads of preschoolers could come drink good coffee while their kids play in the McPlayland. In addition there is a youth/theater room. All of these spaces can be rented for birthdays, etc. Their main worship center doubles as a basketball gym. The space is creative, functional and welcoming! Ultimately the building, like the people, becomes a welcoming space for the unchurched/dechurched.

Even though they are making plans for building a building, KPCC seems in no hurry to have a building. They know that their building will happen by Christmas 2008, but no one seems very stressed over the completion of that building. KPCC is a community that completely does not equate success with a building. Their future building is only a tool to expand their ministry. They see a building as a step in the growth life of KPCC not the destination.

KPCC tries to groom volunteers from within their community. Some of these volunteers grow in ability and responsibility. KPCC believes, as time goes on, that some of the volunteers will just simply grow into a paid positions. In fact this just happened. They just hired their first fulltime staff. Her area of responsibility is Family Ministry Coordination. She just exudes confidents and organization.

KPCC, like Rejoice! seems to strive to “grow smaller as they grow bigger.” They have several wonderful small groups like Alpha, Men’s group, Women’s Group, Divorced Group and even a Paintball small group. (This paintball group would be more than enough for my son to sign up J)

KPCC has tried many and varied ways to get their name into the community…from door-knocking, to post cards, to roadside signs, to being a part of local parades. During the door knocking, they intentionally cut across yards (rather than using sidewalks and driveways) because they figure people who would be bugged about someone walking on their lawn would also be the sort of person who would not be a good fit for a mission church. I am not sure what I think about this…but it keeps rolling around in my brain.

At each church we have visited, I have decided to be bold and ask for financial help with the extra seating we will soon need for fall. To expand our seating, we will need about $4,000 of chairs and equipment. Interestingly the smallest church we will visit was the first to offer help, that is real help. KPCC is giving us their used rear projection screen that they no longer use in their present worship space. (this is a $1000+ item!) Wow! Baby churches are the coolest churches in the whole world! (Rejoice! KPCC, etc.!)

Pastor Dan, after hearing about all the different churches we were visiting said, “I am not sure how much we will help teach you…I hope this trip you made to us didn’t feel like a waste of time.” I said, “Oh no Dan, don’t think that. This stop with you is probably the most important stop along the way. You at KPCC are the place that best helps us connect the dots between where we are now and where we might be 10 years from now. Without you, the other churches ministries seem a little unrealistic and beyond our means.” Don shrugged and gave an unconvinced “maybe” sort of look and let out a nearly inaudible, “Hmmm.” Interestingly, as we were saying our good-byes, one of the other people on the Rejoice! team said almost the same things I said without any prompting. Dan and his team gave us a big smile…

If you would like to see pictures from Day 3, click….
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CYtW7lw3aMXQw

Thanks for reading. Thanks for all your prayers…we feel them…keep ‘em coming!

Peace Out!

T-Rob

Rejoice! Trip Log - Day 2 7-26-07

2007-07-28T01:33:00.000-07:00

Earthdate: 7/26/07 Captains Log: DAY 2 Des Moines – Lutheran Church of Hope (LCoH)

Today we stopped at the two fastest growing churches of the ELCA (Evangelical Church in America…our national church affiliation). First we started at Hosanna! Lutheran. (http://www.hosannalc.org/). We went with the thought of just to check out the campus, because we were ahead of schedule and it was on the way. Fortunately, we were blessed by an impromptu meeting of one of Hosanna’s pastors. Pastor Tim shared that about 3 years ago Hosanna! added a 3,000+ seat worship space which is full for the 3 weekend services already! He also shared that HL had 13 pastors on staff. (Only one ordained and only 6 fulltime…this idea of non-ordained pastors is a unique thing that Hosanna!) HL was a beautiful space with awesome ministries from Alpha to a motorcycle club, to skateboarders club. Hosanna is in the process of planting two new churches.

Next we headed down I-35 to Des Moines. We were greeted by Pastor Molly of Lutheran Church of Hope (LCoH) who took us on a campus tour. LCoH is in the middle of a huge building project. They are in the process of adding 2,600 seat worship center.

LCoH, unlike Hosanna!, is not planting daughter churches, but planting satellite churches. They presently have planted two satellites and are in the process of planting a third.

LCoH is busy place that teeters on the edge of organized chaos. Great wisdom was gleaned from LCoH, for example they are creating a systematized way of identifying, grooming and growing leaders. (They will be sending us their program later in the month) They operate with the rule of “don’t commit to anything till it is absolutely necessary.” (building buildings, adding staff, etc.)

Another unique LCoH thing is that LCoH only had Contemporary worship for its first 10 years. But, as they got bigger, they decided to add a Traditional Worship chapel (the most beautiful space on campus with seating for 300) Who goes to this service? A unique blend of two generations. Senior citizens and 20 something children who were raised in traditional worship, left church for a while, came back and wanted traditional worship. To be sure this is the smallest service of their 7 worship services on a weekend, but a vital part of their community.

Pastor Molly shared how nearly every room at LCoH has more than one function. LCoH tries to maximize the investment/tool of their entire church building. This using every inch of space adds to its uniqueness, charm and organized chaotic feel. There is just a buzz and an energy about the place that is contagious.

We later met with Pastor Scott who is the new Satellite pastor LCoH NorthBranch. (http://www.hopenorthbranch.org/) Scott shared how LCoH NB has intentionally avoided the whole “When will we build a building” question with the anwer,“We will build a building when it fits our mission.” Rather than going to a larger worship space they decided to add another worship time.

We got to check out VBS at LCoH. Wow! Four hundred kids for the evening. We missed the morning time slot where there were 1,200 kids (no—that number is correct…no typos)! The same numbers occurred the week before. LCoH sees VBS as a major outreach into the community. Our team was very impressed with the parent and older youth leadership/participation. The group worship was like one mass aerobic class of 50 adults and 400 kids. Words cannot truly convey the energy…check out the pictures!

The last piece of the day was my personal favorite. We went to one of LCoH satellites. Immersion is LCoH satellite for 20 somethings. It started out just as a band practice. But people started coming just to listen to the band. A congregation was being born. Six months later, the senior pastor asked if they would like to add worship elements to the practice for the audience…and…a congregation was born. The music was concert loud and the participation was spirit-filled reminiscent of a mini Life Light Fest. You can check this satellite online at http://www.beimmersed.com/

A full day, but a great day. Find pictures of the day at:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CYtW7lw3aMXNA

Thanks for all your prayers…we feel them…keep ‘em coming!

Peace Out!

T-Rob

Rejoice! Trip Log - Day 1 Rosemount, MN

2007-07-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

Earthdate: 7/25/07 Captains Log:
DAY 1 Rosemount, MN – Community of Hope Lutheran (CoH)

Today the team made our first leg of the tour. We drove down County Road 42 into Rosemount, made a couple turns and got close to what we thought was the general area. Someone said, “That building over there doesn’t look much like a church, but I bet that might be it.” Sure enough, what looked like a warehouse from the side, had tastefuly designed front entrance. We stepped inside, we found a very welcoming front atrium with lots of space, banners on the wall, TV screen saying welcome to CoH and a very nice Christian bookstore on the right.

After taking a looking into a worship space that would hold about 500 people completely full, we were greeted by Pastor Per (pronounced “pear”) Nilsen. Per gave us a tour of the building. (classrooms, gym, prayer room, offices, media room, etc.)

Per shared how CoH how worshipped in a school for three years. Bought property in the fourth year, paid down the debt and then built a very low cost building that minimized churchy architecture and maximized technology and functionality. Where CoH put up a 30,000 square foot building for 2.7 million dollars after 5 years…to compare a neighboring church built a 9,000 square foot building for 1.8 million after 10 years. CoH plans to use this space for 10 years, sell it as a warehouse and then move onto a bigger campus.

CoH has given a great example of faithfulness, kingdom expansion and growing disciples. There is much to be learned from CoH.

One of the last things Per said continues to germinate in my brain (Per was responding to “big church” vs. “small church”) Per said, “It is not a matter of whether a small churches should stay small…it is just great small churches become big churches.” Church growth expert Christian Schwartz says it this way, “If a church is a healthy, it is not a matter if they will grow…a healthy church will surely grow…the only question is how much will it grow?”

You can find pictures from Day 1 at:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CYtW7lw3aMXFg

Peace Out!

T-Rob

2007-07-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a great day!

Today 20+ people from Rejoice! left their homes armed with towels, buckets, hoses, faith and 100+ $1 bills. Our mission, surprize people with a reverse $1 car wash...that is wash people's cars but instead of taking a dollar from each car, we gave each car a $1. Strange looks, protests, giggles, smiles, questions...all asked, "Why?"

Our Answers:

We believe "Small Things Done with Great Love Can Change the World." We are "Sick of Christians who Talk about What They Believe. We decided to Show People What We Believe...Namely, God Loves You and So Do We."

It is so wonderful to be a part of this tribe of people called, "Rejoice!" It was so much fun to see Rejoice put the Joy in serving our community. It was fun to see minds being blown by "Small Things Done with Great Love."

Funny how skeptical some of us humans can be. Sad how cynical our society has become. Some refused our $1 and our free clean car. It was just too much to get their heads around. Some just could not figure out how to to respond to kindness...no strings attached. God bless the one fella who insisted we take his $5 bill...it was even more fun to give his $5 to the woman behind him an additional $5.

Yes this was fun for all who served. Yes our service may lead some people to check out Rejoice! (not our reason for the event...we only wanted to shine and show God's love) But by far the most important thing that happened today was that Rejoice experienced the joy of serving and loving others. Everyone who served said, "This was great...this was fun...we should do this again sometime."

Maybe, just maybe...we pray that our sharing the love of God today might inspire others to do the same. Wouldn't it be great to see our small pebble of service today sending a ripple of love across our city. Wouldn't it be fantastic to see a whole community of people sharing and receiving love in surprizing ways which begin to transform hearts, transform homes and hopefully someday transform our whole community!

We have a bold vision and belief...We believe, "We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us." (Philippians 4:13) We believe God can use small, simple acts of love to show and shine His love. May our serving change hearts everywhere...our hearts...and the hearts of those whom we serve.

Give 'em Heaven My Sisters and Brothers!

Pastor Tim

IXHUS - Somethin' Fishy's Happenin'

2007-06-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone has a bumper sticker or some sort of symbol on the back of their cars these days. A common symbol on the back of many cars is the IXHUS fish. The IXHUS fish is actually the first Christian symbol. IXHUS was used by Christ followers long before crosses became the dominant symbol for Christianity.

For 300 years Christianity was an illegal religion in the Roman Empire. Christ followers had to be careful with whom and how they shared their faith…it literally was a life and death thing. In those days of illegal Christianity, early Christ followers would use the fish symbol to keep their illegal worship secret to just believers. If another person’s faith was in question, one believer would draw one half of the IXHUS fish on the ground. If the other person was a believer, they would know to finish the other half of the symbol to complete the fish…then the two would share where worship would be. Anyone in the first century would know that IXHUS is the Greek/Biblical language word for “fish.” But IXHUS is also an acronym for who Jesus is. I = Jesus, X = Christ, H = God, U = Son, S = Savior/Healer.

When one looks at the Bible, one sees fish references all over. We find fish being served at Jesus’ resurrection. (John 21:1-14) We find fish at one of his most famous miracles, the feeding of the 5000. (Matthew 14:13-21) Jesus calls the disciples to “fish for men and women.” (Matthew 4:18-20) Jesus compares his rising from the tomb to Jonah’s being in the belly of a fish. (Matthew 12:39-41) Jesus compares his bringing people to himself like catching fish. (Matthew 13:47-50) Jesus even pays taxes with a coin found in the mouth of a fish. (Matthew 17:23-27)

Join us at Rejoice! for our new sermon series “IXHUS Somethin’ Fishy’s Happenin’.” Week by week, we will look at each letter in the IXHUS acronym. Learn with us the rest of the story behind all of those fish symbols on the back of the cars on our roads.

Let's hear your "Fish Stories." Share the craziest "Fish" bumper stickers you have seen. Share how people drive with "Fish Bumper stickers." (Better? Eek...Worse?) Maybe God has used you to lead wayward fish into Christ's net...share that story.

May God use us to "fish for men and women" with the good news of his love.

Give 'em Heaven!

Tim

What's on Your TV - Sermon Series

2007-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

We live in a media driven culture, we run so fast we have to find time to record our favorite TV programs and find time to watch them later. How about you? What's on your 'TV'? The Bible talks about our lives being recorded in the book of life. Is your life worth recording? Join us for our four part series 'What's on your TV?"

The schedule for each week's message is:

May 20 "24" – Living each moment as if it were our last. (2 Peter 1:3-9)

May 27 "Desperate Households" - our closest relationships (Joshua 24:14-15)

June 3 "The Office" - our careers/work (Colossians 3:23-24)

June 10 "CSI Sioux Falls" – investigating our purpose and mission S.H.A.P.E. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

We would love to hear your feedback. How is your life going? Do you desperately need prayer? If so, submit a prayer request off of our website. Our hope and desire is that you would see God active in all parts of your day, in the moment...every 24 hours, at the office or wherever you work, in your homes and around our city. Blog in and let's here your ideas and feedback.

Rejoice! Road Trip

2007-05-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

Come One, Come All!

From July 25th to July 30th, Rejoice! is going on a Road Trip. Our hope is to have 15-20 adults go on the trip.

Our purpose is to experience and learn from other churches around the Upper Midwest about how to plant churches and grow mission.

Our preliminary itinerary is below:

Wednesday (July 25)
Community of Hope Lutheran Church Rosemount, MN
CoH is 5 year-old mission church that has miraculous growth…they were a daughter church birthed out of 4 mega-churches on the Southside of the Twin Cities.
(4.25 hours travel time) http://www.cohlc.org/
-Meet with their staff in the afternoon
-Worship with CoH at 7 p.m.
-Late Supper in Minneapolis at Black Forest Cafe

Thursday (July 26)
Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines, IA
(Main Campus & New NorthBranch Campus)
LCoH is the fastest growing church in the ELCA. NorthBranch is their new daughter church that was planted a little over a year ago.
(3.25 hours travel time http://www.hopewdm.org/, http://www.hopenorthbranch.org/
-Leave MN early
-Experience VBS in the Afternoon
-Dinner with some staff from NorthBranch
-Worship at Main Campus’ 20-Something Worship @ 8:30 p.m. http://www.beimmersed.com/

Friday (July 27)
Kaw Prairie Community Church, Lenexa, KS
KPCC is a mission plant in suburban KC about 3 years ahead of Rejoice! KPCC has just begun to pursue their first building project
(3 hours travel time AM) http://www.kawprairie.org/
-Leave for KC in early morning
-Meet with staff in late morning
-Tour worship location and see plans for future
-Early evening Dinner with Pastor Dan for Q&A
-Get on the road for Cincinatti…arrive late at night. (Travel Time 8.5 hours PM)

Saturday (July 28)
Cincinnati Vineyard Community Church & LifePoint Vineyard Church
CVCC is one of the largest churches in the US. They are known worldwide for their love of people and their love to serve people. Founding pastor Steve Sjogren literlly wrote the book on servant evangelism CVCC recently sent one of their pastors, Andy Ransdell, to birth a new daughter church (LifePoint Vineyard Church) in the greater Cincinnati area
(www.lifepointvineyard.com/ www.vineyardcincinnati.com/
-Do a Servant Evangelism project with CVCC in the afternoon
-Meet for Q&A with Pastor Shawn Michael Murphy for Q&A
-Worship @ CVCC 6:30 p.m. (EST)
-Meet for Q&A with someone from LifePoint

Sunday (July 29)
Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, MI
MHBC is one of the fastest growing churches in the country. Rob Bell, its mission developer pastor has written several books and is a well respected Christian speaker.
(Travel time 5.5 hours) (http://www.marshill.org/)
-Worship @ LifePoint 10:30 a.m.
-Travel to Michigan
-Worship @ MHBC 6:00 p.m.

Monday (July 30)
Home (12 hours travel time)
-Leave Grand Rapids early in the morning
-Take the Ferry from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI
-Then travel through WI through MN to SD

20 Acres of Land

2007-04-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while someone new comes to Rejoice! and asks, "So why do you have that picture of the sunset up front?"

Answer this is a picture of the 20 acres of land for the future campus of Rejoice! Lutheran Church.

I just received word from Harvey Olson (the big cheese of land purchasing at our national headquarters in Chicago) that the land purchase should be finalized come June 15, 2007. Yeah!

For all those who have been praying, thank you. For all those for whom this is news, we would invite you to pray with us. Pray that God would inspire Rejoice! to see this land as a mission center launching pad for blessing our community and not a plot of land to build a big cathedral to our own achievements.

As Jesus would say it is all about the "haverst" bringing seekers into the family of God. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV)

Peace Out,

P.T.

What Does "Grace" Mean to You?

2007-04-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

What is Grace?

It really is a simple question. But sometimes simple questions can be so difficult to answer.

A couple weeks ago, my friend Jason Andera and I did another “man/woman on the street” video in downtown Sioux Falls. We asked one question…”What is Grace?” The answers we got were amazing and fascinating. You can check out the video online @ http://rejoiceforlife.homestead.com/videograce.html.

During this next month Rejoice! will be exploring the topic of "Grace" in our new sermon series "Grace Anatomy." (yup…that is shameless rip-off word play of the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.” Come and join us...then afterward blog-in and give comment. We would love to hear from you.

If you cannot be there with us in person, feel free to listen or watch the messages online via our streamed audio, video and podcasts @ http://rejoiceforlife.homestead.com/podcast.html

Come on People...Chime in...let's hear your comments. What does Grace mean to you?

Give 'em Heaven!

T-Rob

Grateful!

2007-04-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

Wow! Double Wow! Double Wow with a Cherry on Top!

I am so grateful for all God has done in and through Rejoice! Lives are changing. Faith is growing. Hearts are expanding...and...God's kingdom is advancing. Amidst it all, I am grateful! So very grateful! Let me name a few, but in no way all, the reasons why...

1. Our Prayer Team has just been assembled and trained. The first group will be upfront for Communion during worship for Easter and beyond. They will also wait in the back after worship for any wanting a little more private/quiet prayer time. They will be ready and available for any and all who would like prayer. They also will pray before worship for those who come...for lives to change...for hearts to come alive...and...for God's kingdom to expand. They will pray for any and all of the prayer requests that are sent in via our website. Rest assured, Job 1 for the team is confidential...if you have a prayer request, it will remain private unless you wish it to be shared. This Prayer Team is a result of about year of prayer for me. As soon as I took the call to be Mission Developer, I have been praying for God to lead a grow a prayer team for Rejoice! I am so grateful!

2. Our men's and women's groups are truly taking off. The women's group started with over a dozen and the men's group has nearly doubled in this last month. Grateful!

3. Today nearly a dozen of us handed out nearly 1000 "Come and Grow with Us" carrot seed packets. We do this as a part of one of our central themes..."Small Things Done with Great Love can Change the World!" Hopefully all who received a gift today will feel blessed. My small prayer as I placed the brochure and seed packet on each door was, "Loving God, bless this home and bless the people who live here...and...if they don't have a worship home, may you lead them to give Rejoice! a try."

4. Lastly I am grateful for our upcoming sermon series, "Grace Anatomy." (All apologies to the TV show "Grey's Anatomy." For the next few weeks, we will be looking at what God's grace is...after doing our last "Man on the Street" interview...it is obvious that a lot of Sioux Fallsians do not know what Grace is...Come and learn with us...invite a friend. Share you thoughts on this bog....and...may God's grace reign on us all!!!

So grateful...and...I pray that you would experience God's grace in a powerful way in this coming week so that you too would feel grateful.

Give 'em Heaven,

Pastor Tim

It is Good to Be Home!

2007-03-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

This past week, our little city was bombarded with a pretty major snowstorm. The kind people used to hear about in California and say, "Ugh, how could you stand living there and having your life just completely shut down???"

Well the answer was and is...sometimes it is a really good thing to slow down, shut down and unplug!

My family and I really needed a break from the grind of all of our family activities: after school meetings, homework, swimming, dancing, dropping off, and picking up. Run, run as fast as you can, no one can catch you're the...chicken with its head lopped off.

It was just wonderful to unplug from the pull and push of scheduled time and find the rest, solace and renewal of a good snow storm. We rented and watched some movies...then shoveled some snow. We watched some more movies...then the neighbors blew out our latest snow with a snowblower. We took the dog for a walk...then shoveled out the driveway...and then watched another movie. You get the idea...simplify...spend time together...take time to breath...ahhhhhh....let it snow, let snow, let it snow....

The piece de resistance was on Friday when over 40 people from Rejoice! went to the local pizza place in town, ate, laughed, ate and laughed some more.

Thank you God...most of us needed to unplug.

Peace Out!

T-Rob

So UnDisappointed

2007-02-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

Wow! God and God's People are so awesome!

This past week's Sunday, I was so setup for disappointment. Over a half dozen of our most faithful families told me that they would be out of town Sunday. I was thinking...hmm...I hope someone shows up...hopefully we might have half (30 people) of our average (65 or so people) come for worship.

Well...God and God's people surprised me again! Worship was starting and people were still coming. I stopped counting at 75 people!

I allowed my mind to daydream for a moment...if the regulars and this crowd showed up on the same Sunday...wow...now that would that be something!

I think my point is summed up best with a quote from my former bishop, "We make plans and God laughs." This Sunday, the joke was on me and my expectations...thanks be to God.

Way to go God! Way to go God's people!

Give 'em Heaven,

P.T.

The Best Made Plans of Mice & Mission Developers

2007-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

Pastor Erwin McManus once prayed, "Lord if my public humiliation is necessary to advance your kingdom, make it happen."

This past Sunday, hopefully God used our technical difficulties to advance his kingdom. Hopefully all who came could see we are a human church, fallible and in need of God's redemption.

Just in case you were curious what Sunday's sermon was supposed to look like...with some digital editing you can check it out online.

http://rejoiceforlife.homestead.com/podcast.html

Thanks for struggling with us as we grow through our growing pains.

In His Humble Service,

Pastor Tim

Lenten Sermon Series

2007-02-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Blessings,

Lent is coming upon us very soon. It is an ancient tradition within the Christian church. Lent is a 40 day time for renewal and repentance. It parallels Jesus 40 days in the desert when he prepared for his public ministry. It is our time to spend to focus on repentance and renewal during the 40 days before Easter and Holy Week. Below is the schedule for each week:

In Philippians, Paul uses the words “joy” or “rejoice” 15 times in only 4 chapters. Considering Paul is suffering in prison and possibly near death, it is an amazing/perplexing topic for a man in his circumstances.

Sermon Series Title: How to Find Joy amidst Life’s Struggles?

Feb 25 Week 1 Joy in Suffering? (Philippians 1:20-30)
Mar 4 Week 2 Joy in Serving (Philippians 2:1-20)
Mar 11 Week 3 Joy in Shining Christ’s Light (Philippians 2:21-28)
Mar 18 Week 4 Joy in Believing (Philippians 3:12-16)
Mar 25 Week 5 Joy Everyday Life (Philippians 4:1-7)
Apr 1 Week 6 Joy in Thanksgiving (Philippians 4:10-20)

Start reading Philipians and praying about what God might teach us through this powerful book of the Bible.

Give 'em Heaven!

Tim

Super Sunday!

2007-02-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

So what did you think of the not-so-Super Bowl? Well, unless of course you are a Colts fan, it wasn't much of a game. What a sloppy game! I haven't seen so many turnovers since the last time I watched a Vikings game and that was months ago.

But...if you were at Rejoice's Super Bowl party at Lori L's you had a great time. Great people! (there were between 20-30 of us) Great food! Great conversations. What a great blessing!

I am so excited about Rejoice's near future!
About a dozen people have shown interest in our 2nd Come and Grow/Charter Member class. We just commissioned Dave O for his mission trip to Haiti. In the middle of the month, we will have another outreach to the Family Wellness Center (Movie night)

Personaly, I feel so blessed to be a part of what what God is doing through our men's group. For the dozen plus of us, I see men truly coming alive. It is great hearing the stories and seeing God knit us together into a Band of Brothers!

Plus the new Rejoice! t-shirts look awesome! Contact Lori L if you would like one. It is so wonderful to see her so excited! It was doubly wonderful to see such an interest within the community. Heck, even people who have only been to Rejoice twice, believe in our mission so strongly that they chose to buy some t-shirts. We must be doing something right!

A future thought...
One growth area that I have been praying about...and...would invite you to join me is that I feel Rejoice! could really grow in is the area of Prayer. It would be wonderful to have people who would pray for others before, during and after worship. It would be great to have a team of people who would pray for our worship each Sunday to be blessed.

Ask yourself and God if you could/would be willing to be a part of a Rejoice! Prayer Team. Pray about it. If something in you has been stirred, but you feel unqualified email me...we can do training. All who are apprensive must consider that the most important part of any prayer is not the one praying, but the God to whom the prayers are directed. To quote Pastor Rick Warren, "It is not about you."

Give 'em Heaven!

T-Rob (a.k.a. Tim Robertson)

First Entry

2007-01-31T05:45:00.000-08:00

Wow!

What a great start!

God has indeed blessed Rejoice! We are experiencing growth in depth and width, that is growth in numbers and growth in spiritual maturity. The poor have been served, strangers are being welcomed, and the love of God is being shared.

We have vibrant, evolving, authentic worship. God has grown a worship team from our midst and our sister congregations (Peace, Holy Cross and Spirit of Joy) have been very gracious in offering worship teams to help fill the gaps. Wow again!

God is growing both men's and women's groups from our midst. The men meet weekly on Mondays at 7 p.m. Email me if your are interested timr@rejoiceforlife.com. And soon in February, the women's group will be launched. Over half of our worshipping community is linked together in small group communities! Double wow!

Thanks to Jason Andera (our webdude), Rejoice! has gone global. Anyone, anywhere can check out our weekly messages via our podcasts. http://www.rejoiceforlife.com/podcast.html Triple Wow!

May God continue to do great things!

Give 'em Heaven

Pastor Tim