Anticipation

Have you had those moments where you sit back and wonder, what in the world is God going to do next?  I feel like that is where we are at as a church.  We are at a crossroads in the history of our church.  We have grown over 30% over the past year, and our 3 campuses are filling up fast.  The prime time services at each campuses are at or over capacity and the others aren’t far behind.  So, this begs the question…where is God going to lead us next?  God has called us to help others come into a relationship with Him…but how do we keep doing this with the space constraints we have?

These are the questions that the leadership of Eagle Brook will be wrestling with for 3 days as we head out on our yearly retreat.  I can’t wait to gather with the other leaders, as well as the church board, and simply dream.  We have been in prayer and fasting over the past couple months and would covet the same from you as we try to discern where, when, and how God is leading this great church.  Hope to see many of you around this weekend as I will be at the White Bear Lake campus before we head out.  Any transformational stories from the past week?

It is an honor to serve with you at EBC!

 

Get to the meat!

We had the honor today of hosting close to 700 church leaders from around the 5-state area for our 4th annual Relevance Conference.  It was a great day where we learned together, worshipped together, and were challenged by Bob together.  I couldn’t help but be proud of our church.  The way in which I saw our staff serving our guests from other churches, offering any advice we could give, but also learning from others was fun to watch.  I led a session entitled “Refocus Your Ministry Programming” in which I talked about the buffet of ministry options that we as church leaders like to offerat times.  I challenged the 100+ people in the session to determine what their church’s focus is…what do they value?  Once this is determined, how are you going to help people there?  I offered some helpful hints and ideas as they do that.  The best part was my visual.  I worked with our food service and set up a full buffet up on stage.  Items like jello, mashed potatoes, green beans, cottage cheese, pasta, etc. were thrown on my plate first, which left no room for the best part…the ham…at the end.  My lovely assistant (Mike) had to throw the slab on meat on top.  Many times we do not leave room on the plate for the best part, the meat.  And, many times, people in our churches never get to the meat.  They may take part in several options, but never do what is going to transform them the most.  At Eagle Brook, we think this is three things: 1) Come every weekend 2) Be part of a group 3) Serve others.  Have you made it to the meat?  What has been your experience?

The Bible at all times

 

Check out this really cool feature I started using today on my phone.  You can now access the Bible via your mobile phone at http://m.youversion.com! If you have a web enabled mobile phone, you will be able to read and search The Bible in 14+ translations and much more.  You can search based on a scripture verse, or even do a keyword search.  The other feature that this website offers is the ability to comment on a particular text or topic.  Then you can see all the other comments as well as learn from others.  They call it “connecting and collaborating with others.”  Check it out…pretty cool!

Are we just staying “busy”?

One of the things I love about Eagle Brook is that something is always going on.  Whether it is another amazing weekend of worship and challenge from Bob, Jason, or Jason, an event where hundreds of students are gathering, or a small group meeting in the living room of someones house studying God’s word and praying for one another…God is doing amazing things through the people of this church.  This past weekend, the people of our church filled close to 6 semi-trucks full of furniture to be given to families in need within our community.  Now that is cool.  One of the things that I have been reminded of lately is just because we are busy, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we are becoming more like Christ.  Each of us needs to examine our schedules at times and really evaluate whether the things we are doing are making a difference.  How are we living out the 5G’s in our life?  Are we really sharing our faith with others?  Are we inviting people to church?  Are we growing in our knowledge of the Bible and then applying it to our lives?  Are we connected with other people that will challenge us, support us, and hold us accountable?  Are we serving others in a way that takes us beyond our selfish ways?  Finally, are we generous towards God and others?  In other words, are we really being transformed and not just staying busy?  Anyone have an example?

As a church, our goal is to help guide people in this transformation process.  Look for new and excited ways we are going to help in the months to come. 

Whatcha’ working on BIG?

Over the past week, I had the chance to listen to an Andy Stanley message from over a year ago.  Our small group then had some great discussion last night around some of these thoughts.  Basically, Stanley challenges us to stop going day to day, simply praying for the small insignificance things.  Are we just going to take what comes at us day after day, or really seek God as to what he wants to do in our life?  What are we praying for that is BIG?  He then uses a passage from Matthew 6:31-33 that says “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat?  What will we drink?  What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  In other words, we need to pray in a way that honors the size and magnitude of our God.

So the question is…what are you praying for that is BIG???!!!!!