Journey in Bend

JOURNEY - here we come

2009-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I've been a terrible blogger... maybe it's not my thing. I'm hoping to launch a new endeavor of video blogging soon... but, at this point it's just a dream, not a reality. ;-)

However, the new site and look of JOURNEY has been revealed and we are excited for greater things.

JOURNEY continues to grow and change lives and I am excited about the days ahead.

vist: journeyinbend.com and join the movement to change the world

what a journey

2009-02-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

I'm in an airport right now... returning home after 6 days of being away from my home, kids, office, and so forth. While on this journey this week, I'm reminded that life is a Journey. We need to seize the moments God has given us and discover what he has next for us. The book of Proverbs states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and he will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5) On this journey am I trusting God? What path am I on? What an adventure this life is! more to come on this thought...

Even American Idol has bad days

2009-02-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

There are times that television shows seem to do things well... really well. In the church world it's easy to get jealous and covet the fancy lights, great equipment, and professional "stuff."

But, tonight Fox reminded the world that they are far from perfect. The American Idol episode tonight was terrible. Everything; bad talent (singing was horrible), bad mc (yes Ryan Seacrest was bad tonight!), awful editing (mistakes everywhere), poor camera angles, and the list goes on.

What can we learn from this?

It's not about the show! At the end of the day, fox and millions of viewers wasted their time.

At Journey, we are striving to be a church that is "all about Jesus." With Jesus, he always gives us second chances! But for American Idol... well. You lost a lot of fans tonight. Contestants lost their chance of stardom.

For Christians we have been made new - it's no longer about you.

Make your life count. Please the King, the Judge, the one that makes you a winner.

2 thoughts

2009-02-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

I want to share two proverbs that have slapped me in the face recently.

I've been dreaming big dreams about what the Church should look like. I've also been dreaming about what God is doing in my life and where He can and wants me to go/do.

In all of these dreams I have a responsibility - to make them happen!

It's up to us, the Church, to fulfill what the Bible says. We have the power of God, therefore, we are without excuse.

wise words:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1

All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23

My prayer and challenge: Let's work hard for the Kingdom of God. Less talk and more hard work! Listen to the Lord, accept His discipline; or else you are stupid Pr 12:1!

Not Another Day

2009-02-09T14:45:00.001-08:00

Every day we have the opportunity to go through the routines. OR make the most of today. The latter is always more difficult.

Mondays are a day of reflection for me. I always wish I could do Sundays better. I love church - and I always want the service to be the best reflection of God (God doesn't need the service, but, what a great way to reflect on Jesus)

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Today, I rejoice! Today I seek to do all I can for God. This is not just another day. This is THE day that the Lord has made... what does God have planned for you today? Rejoice, be glad in it.

There must be more than this.....

2009-02-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

So, I've been wrestling in my heart with what Church should be, what it is, and how I can be a part of the whole process.

Francis Chan, a pastor I both admire and respect articulates this well in a recent article at the Exponential Blog.

Here are some of Francis' words and I'll blog later on some of my thoughts :-)

Thank you, Tim Hughes, for expressing in song what we've often felt but seldom voiced. The average church experience only satisfies those who don't read the scriptures. But those who have meditated on the book of Acts attend Christian meetings and agree with Tim:"there must be more than this." (click on the above to view the whole article)

Church Unique

2009-01-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

I'm about half way through Will Mancini's book CHURCH UNIQUE. It is a fire hose of information. I'm finding myself challenged and inspired. The church in America has been trapped by so many things, yet God's desire for us to thrive and do what he created us to do is in front of us.

The premise of the book is that every church is unique. Thus, every church should look different, act different, and so forth. The people that make up every church is different/unique, thus the church should reflect this uniqueness. This is a very loose paraphrase.

The challenge though, is implementing this idea. Especially in an established church or working with pastors that are established (in mind and practice).

Our God is awesome. I look forward to what God is doing in my life and what He desires in the church. I thank God for Journey and I can't wait to see the Church doing what God has planned... VISION

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

Last Night @ Journey

2009-01-26T10:19:00.000-08:00

It's 5:45pm last night and there are about 20 people at Journey. People are looking at me and saying, "it's going to be a smaller night." I respond with optimism, "it's going to be a great night!" It's 6:10pm and the sounds guys count the number of people at Journey - over 100!!! We have averaged over 100 people in the service for over 4 weeks! Numbers don't matter, but people do!

We had a visit from LV and his Vanagon... we challenged the record of 28 people in the Catalyst Vanagon. And we did it - Journey squeezed in 45 people! LV said this could have been the last time (the van was on the tires!).

What's more exciting than 100 people, half of whom squeezed into a van, is the fact that God is doing something great in the community of Journey, Bend, and beyond. I sense a stirring of the Holy Spirit and I pray that I'll be open to respond to God's calling.

Join me on this Journey of prayer, to allow God to work through YOU and His Church.

LV and the Vanagon

2009-01-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Today I met with LV from Catalyst. LV is a great guy representing a great organization. I've desired to attend Catalyst, a conference for young leaders - 2009 is the year.

LV travels the country meeting with leaders that are being used by God. It's humbling to have him stop in Bend Oregon; it's a reality that God is doing some great things here.

Tomorrow I'm going to breakfast with LV. He'll be sharing about the conference at Journey tomorrow night.

Good stuff.

long time no see blog....

2009-01-22T15:34:00.000-08:00

Okay... some I'm going to be short... but, I'm going to try and start blogging again. My good friend Steve has been asking me to blog for awhile... but, I've been addicted to twitter (it's so much easier).

I'm going to try and share specifically about what God is doing in my life and through the community of Journey and how great our God is.

Journey - it's all about Jesus.

Look forward to seeing what God is doing through his people and through the Church.

It's all about Jesus

2008-11-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

Once again I am amazed and in awe of how our mighty God is at work...

His handy work is all around us. The greatest display of God's glory is found in His people...

My heart yearns for the community I live in to be caught in the community of God.

Sunday night at Journey we crossed a new milestone... we had well over 100 people. Each stage of the life of Journey makes me wonder what God has next... I know there are greater things to come...

But, I also know that God wants me to discover what's around me right now.

God's Word is amazing, timeless, and life changing. Today, I repeat the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Our vision at Journey is "Grace In Action." We want to be receivers and givers of God's grace.

I celebrate what happened on Sunday night... why? Because it's all about Jesus. As Journey matures and progresses and becomes a stronger community of God, may we always remember that it's all about Jesus!

www.journeyinbend.org

November update

2008-11-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

November is an exciting month at Journey... we have the most guest ever scheduled this month. Check out the exciting line up:

ALL OF THE BELOW BEGIN AT 6PM @ New Hope Church (www.newhopebend.com)

November 9: Worship led by Chris Chabot (from Oasis Church) and band... Continuing "What if..." looking at Mark 12:31

November 16: Worship led by Signed in Grace and Jeremy McVae from Nor Cal... special speaker Greg Russinger of Just 4 One

November 23: Heath McNease Concert... worship, hip hop, and more!!! don't miss it!

I hope to see you there!

www.journeyinbend.org

Too spiritual??

2008-10-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

I'm excited about what God is doing in my life and through Journey. Journey has continued to see growth and I think it's only the tip of a large ice burg. God is clearly at work...

We're putting together teams with leaders to oversee these teams (sounds familar? yep, it's in the bible).

But, I was thinking about some of the tedious aspects of the church. Like cleaning the toilet, or making coffee... who is suppose to lead that job? A paid janitor? Or the body of Christ?

There have been many times that I hear people waiting for God to reveal his will. They are coming to church, worshiping, and hearing God's Word. Yet, they aren't willing to pick up trash, clean a toilet, or show up early to pray.

Because they are too spiritual for that. I want to be "used" by God. I'll let someone else do that job.

Enough excuses. We ARE the church. Every person should do the dirty job. Every person should serve. Yes God gave us gifts, talents, and abilities. But, he also gave us the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 20:28 "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Journey... again and again

2008-10-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

I'm fired up to go to Journey tonight. I truly believe we are the local expression of Jesus... thus, when we get together we "are" Jesus.

Read Galatians - we are free!

www.journeyinbend.org

Alone

2008-10-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

We were never meant to be alone. We are not meant to do much alone...

The greatest commandment: Love God (with all your heart, soul, mind and strength).

It sounds like a solo project. You need to love God... you need to serve him... you, you, you.

BUT, and a big BUT, the next is love your neighbor.

Jesus' entire ministry was based on loving others, to demonstrate the Father's love. Over and over he loved the unloveable. He loved those who hurt him. He loved those who betrayed him. He loved men, women, and children.

Colossians 3:13&14 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Life is meant to be done together... not on our own. We are not meant to love God alone. We need to love God together! This is powerful stuff. How can you love God today by loving someone else?

Dream Bigger

2008-09-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Journey is continuing to grow! It's amazing that God is doing His work... and we get to be a part of the Journey.

I am stating this because it should be celebrated. A year ago we were averaging about 30-40... we are now averaging about 75-85... wow! Where will we be next year at this time?

I am asking God to exchange my dreams for his. Can I dream a bigger dream? When I meet someone... do I realize that it could be a divine appointment. When I wake-up do I see the opportunities that God has placed before me.

I am stoked to see what god is doing and where he's taking me. Reminding myself today, "I can do all things through Christ."

www.journeyinbend.org

2008-09-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

www.journeyinbend.org

Journey finally has a little itty bitty presence on the World Wide Web. Please view... make suggestions... and so forth. This is a work in progress. We have not "launched" it to the world yet. But, we are very excited about where we are at and where we are going.

Journey, it's all about Jesus!

This is the day

2008-09-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Bible tells us "this is the day that the Lord has made!"

What a crazy thought! God gives me the air I need to breathe... he allowed the sun to rise... I am alive because of him.

Today I will officiate a funeral (a celebration of a life that ended tragically). Tomorrow my gorgeous wife will celebrate her 30th year on this planet.

death. life.

We have the choice to live a life that believes that the Lord has made it. A life that lives for Jesus will rejoice and be glad in it.

Lord, help me to live that life today. Do what you will in me. I praise you for the little things, the big things, and even the things I cannot understand.

Malachi... what a reminder

2008-08-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

How are you doing in your relationship to God?

What do you offer God? Sounds weird right? What can you really offer God?
Malachi, the last book in the Bible is an amazing challenge to God's people to offer rightly what is God's.... don't give half-hearted!

Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed thee?' In tithes and offerings." (NASB)

Wow, robbing God!

How have you robbed God today... I can easily elaborate on the above verse, however, please read the short book of Malachi and find great truths in there!

Romans 12:1 paraphrased, "offer your (whole) life as a sacrifice to God... this pleases Him."

much more to come...

2008-08-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged much lately... but... it's never too late.

JOURNEY - we are growing - growing for the glory of God!

It's amazing to see what is becoming and how it's happening. Some thoughts about Journey (that you may not know).

Journey... it's all about Jesus.

(our) Vision: Grace In Action

(our) Mission: Increase our Faith, Renew our Hope, and Live in Love!

(our) Purpose(s): Love God, Love Each Other, and Serve the World

We've grown from a few to a large family. The Journey has been epic and fun. The greatest days are in front of us. We have moved locations three times all because of growth.

Last night was a good night. I don't know all the ways that God works, but I know He is working. I pray that I will be open to how God wants to use me. I pray that those attending Journey will get grasp the vision of what God wants from them... because of His grace, we are free!!

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. "

From the outside... Solid Rock - A Jesus Church

2008-07-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

My wife and I recently had the joy of taking a weekend off and visit other churches. We stayed the night in Portland and decided to visit Solid Rock Church (Tigard, OR) and Imago Dei Community (Portland, OR). Our purpose was to experience how other church services "do things." Below is our experience.... through my words.

Solid Rock: We attended the 9am service on Sunday July 20. We arrived about 30 minutes early because we thought we might get lost... but we didn't. We "thought" we were early, but, there were cars everywhere. We soon learned that Solid Rock attenders get to church early to get a parking spot and a seat. There were parking attendants that led us to our parking spot. As we walked towards the church we were greeted by a lot of people, including "hosts" that wore neck tags. Inside the place was a "buzz" with excited people preparing for the service. The coffee, which is important to me is found on a circular kiosk with about 7 large coffee pots, filled with awesome bean juice! It was nice to have good coffee.

The service at Solid Rock was simple. The band, played their own songs, which everyone seemed to know and sing confidently. After 2 songs they give announcements and take the offering during the 3rd song. Then there was a special song before the message. Before the message, the pastor invites you to raise your hand if you don't have a Bible, then people pass out Bibles throughout the church. The message given by the senior pastor was not short... but, people seemed engaged. At the end of every message, they church has communion tables in the back of the church. people then reflect on the message while the band plays and the church takes communion.

The time the service ended was 10:40am... the next service begins at 10:45. The foyer was filled with people. During the service food fairies filled the foyer with donuts, muffins, and MORE coffee!! This was a great time for people to interact and bump shoulders (coming in and out of the church). The services really overlapped each other. (they have a 3rd service at 6pm Sunday nights).

Leaving the church we were pleased: Nice people (said hi, introduced themselves, seemed authentically happy), great music (preformed well, but didn't feel like a performance), good message (my wife and I were not thrilled with the personality of the pastor, corny jokes, LOTS of personal stories, but stayed in the Word), great coffee, and awesome children's ministry!

I'm back and better

2008-07-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

So, the last few weeks have been wild...

I know my last post, I said something similar.

2 weeks ago I spoke at a middle school camp. It was great... the last night I challenged students to examine their hearts to see if they have really surrendered their lives to Christ Jesus. Do they know the Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit... 25 kids stood up to say they wan to follow Christ (for the first time)!!! Very cool to seek Jesus in the hearts of His children!

The day after I got back from camp my family and I went to Portland. There we visited two churches: Solid Rock and Imago Dei. It was a great Sunday morning to see how other people "do church."

That day I was both encouraged and excited to learn from other churches. The churches were very different (I'll blog about them next).

But, the greatest thing that happened for me is a renewed vision and passion for where I am at. I LOVE Bend, Oregon... I love the ministry I am in and the people God has called me to serve along side with. Last night Journey was awesome... better than awesome... God is great!

Mike was the first to cross off a name on the prayer board (names of people that need to know Jesus). It was exciting. We had intimate worship, intense message, and shared in communion.

Just wait... if you are reading this, in a few weeks, months, or years, we will look back in awe by what God has done and is doing!

More to come!

time to relax

2008-07-03T09:22:00.001-07:00

This past week has been one of those go, go, go... kind of weeks. I haven't had much time to sit and reflect and blog. Not that my blogs are deep, but I do like to take a second to write my thoughts.

I enjoy my work... I minister and I get paid. woo hooo! dream job. (for me)

Today and tomorrow however are going to be relaxing days. I will spend a great deal of time with my kids and my wife.

I say all of this because I dream of ministry being life changing, growing, and amazing... BUT, if I don't take time to spend with my family and my God... it's all in vain.

I want my God to know that I am in love with Him. I want my family to know the same.

Praise be to God for the life He gives us in Jesus Christ.

HAPPY 4TH of JULY!

we live in a great nation... thank God today.

I AM THE QUESTIONER FOR SBS THIS WEEK

2008-06-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Below is my question for the SBS (Secret Blogging Society):

Jesus said, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt 16:24) He also says, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)

Most (American) Christians do not look any different from those who do not follow Christ. How do we follow Christ whole heartedly, a life surrendered to Jesus, giving up everything, and as Jesus says in Matt 16:25 we must "lose our life" to "find it"?

To shorten it: How do we look different from the world according to our faith in Jesus Christ?

Monday hangover...

2008-06-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don't have a hangover... but, I always feel a little different on Mondays than any other day of the week. Why? Because of Sunday nights. Journey has become a major part of my life. Last night was great... It was fun to be in the coffee lounge again (but 3 or 4 times bigger!), it was great to see new people, and I love what I do... preach God's Word.

All that said, my mind doesn't shut off on Sunday nights. I don't sleep very sound because I'm dreaming of Journey.

I don't know what God has planned,but I know our God is BIG - HOLY - MIGHTY - and AMAZING! I want to be faithful to Him and see what He'll do.

If you come to JOURNEY, thank YOU for who you are and making Journey a great community.