Friday, April 28, 2006

National Day of Prayer May 4, 2006


Spread the Word

On Thursday, May 4, millions of Americans will answer the call to prayer at thousands of public events across the nation in recognition of the 55th annual National Day of Prayer. This year's theme is "America, Honor God," based on 1 Samuel 2:30 (NIV), which declares, "Those who honor me, I will honor."

A very unique promotion for the National Day of Prayer will take place this Sunday, April 30, at the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. The #78 Furniture Row car, driven by Kenny Wallace, will feature a new red, white and blue paint scheme, showcasing the National Day of Prayer logo.

For downloadable resources and information about the National Day of Prayer, visit www.ndptf.org.

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Let's vote on marriage...


(from FotF's Pastor's Weekly Breifing)

The Marriage Amendment Campaign

Fifty religious leaders, representing close to 100 million

Americans, have signed a joint letter calling for Senate passage of the federal marriage amendment, reports Agape Press. The proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, is to be voted on in the Senate in early June. The letter is signed by Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox Christian, Mormon and Jewish leaders and some of these groups are also launching a postcard campaign. By partnering with several faith-based organizations and churches, one of the groups — Focus on the Family — intends to send one million cards to the U.S. Senate.

It's not just social conservatives who are working hard for its passage. Matt Daniels, president of the Alliance for Marriage, said support for traditional marriage cuts across racial, ethnic and religious boundaries — and as does the coalition of those who support the Marriage Protection Amendment. Although homosexual activists try to argue that the amendment is "discriminatory," defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, it is not at all a divisive issue outside the gay community, Daniels maintains. "This is an issue that unifies Americans — black, brown, white and yellow — around this dream of more children being raised with a mother and a father," he said. "And that dream has power and momentum behind it because it is rooted in people's hearts — and in their aspirations for their kids."

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Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Listen and Learn - Peacemaker


Listen and Learn

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of
God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:17

Good listening is particularly important for a peacemaker. It improves your ability to understand others, it shows that you realize you do not have all the answers, and it tells the other person that you value his or her thoughts and opinions. Even if you cannot agree with everything others say or do, your willingness to listen demonstrates respect and shows that you are trying to understand their perspective.

Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 165.

Food for Thought

Kids hear everything--things under their beds at night, an animal in distress blocks away, whispered conversations between Mom and Dad. There is something about childhood that invites listening. Maybe it's a feeling that we might miss something if we don't listen, and we surely don't want to miss anything. But often as we grow up, we put away childish and childlike things in the same trip to the curb. And we're not as concerned about missing something anymore; we've pretty much seen it all. At least we think we have.

We've pretty much got it all figured out, and so we make judgment calls on everything from political policy to personal motives. We never pause to consider the limits on our perspective; we just go right on in, where angels fear to tread.
But to walk humbly with our God means realizing that we don't know everything and we don't even want to; figuring everything out means the story is over. It also means approaching each living, breathing soul in our lives with wonder, for they have been fashioned by the hands of God himself. It means stopping and looking and listening, but maybe listening even more than looking.

A little more listening might open the door to peace between feuding spouses or church members. It could even begin the sowing of seeds of peace in the body of Christ. Open the ears of our hearts, Lord; we surely don't want to miss your voice!

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Thursday, April 20, 2006

News from Eagle Brook Church - over 13000 at Easter!

This just hit my in-box from Eagle Brook Church.


Pastor Bob's E-Notes

Dear Friends,
I couldn’t leave the office this week without celebrating with you, our church family, what God did this past weekend. We had nine outstanding Easter Services, at two locations that over 13,000 people attended. Now, just stop for a moment and let that sink in. That’s almost 5,000 more than attended Easter last year. Only God can do that. And over 300 people “ that we know of “ made a first time decision for Christ. I again sit back and feel so small and so grateful that God has chosen to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ through this church.

We’re so excited about our next series, Match: “ Relational Do’s Don’ts, & Did’s that kicks off this weekend. Many people who came to Eagle Brook on Easter will be coming back for this series. That’s good, but our fear is that 11:00 on Sunday at Lino Lakes will be packed. So again, if it works for you, please consider attending a service other that the 11:00 service at Lino (see below) so we can accommodate post Easter crowds.

I can’t thank all of you who pray, invite and serve so faithfully to make all this possible; truly this is a team effort. Thank you for being willing and available.

In Christ alone,

Bob

Weekend Services Times:
Lino Lakes Location
Saturday 4 & 6 pm
Sunday 9 & 11 am
White Bear Lake Location
EDGE: Saturday 6 & 7:30 pm
Brook: Sunday 10 am


More info on the Match Series:

MATCH

It’s Your Relationship—Choose Wisely What You’ll Do With It!

Eagle Brook Message Series:
April 22/23-May 27/28

Different goals.
Distinct personalities.
Separate upbringings.

When two people come together in a relationship, most are hard pressed to find a “perfect match” on all accounts. But, there are ways to minimize relational disappointments and to maximize what you have in common.

Come to Eagle Brook Church for six consecutive weekend services that will offer important answers for how to:

* date wisely
* succeed at marriage
* raise respectable and responsible children
* pick up the pieces from a broken relationship

Maybe you’re just beginning to date or have already said your “I dos.” Perhaps you’ve just started a family or have recently become an empty nester. Single, married, or divorced, this message series is for you. It will help you make good relational choices—from this day forward.

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Sunday, April 16, 2006

In uncharted cooking waters...

We had company for Easter. Really the first time we've had anyone over to our house since being married. It was my in-laws and a friend of my wife who was in our wedding. So, I baked a ham, for Easter lunch. I used the below recipe for the base of my own personal one, but made a few changes. First, I used a 4 lb ham that was very lean (virtually no exterior fat). I still scored it etc. as directed though. I cooked at 400F for 35 minutes and then 30 minutes at 450F. The ham I used was also lightly smoked. Serves 6 people depending on if you want any for sandwich left overs or how hungry the people are. I added in some dried currants to cook with the ham in the initial cooking period. The currant add delightful flavor, and by the end of the cooking periods they are plumped back up. We did not pour a Merlot with the meal (we had sparkling pear cider mixed with OJ), and I subbed Marsala wine for the listed Madeira. I cut everything in half on the ingredients except I used a full cup of wine, and 1/3 cup natural brown cane sugur. I also added a bit of orange juice to the final sauce with a dash of corn starch to thicken.

The results were nothing short of incredible. The ham was very moist, not too salty, and the flavor was delightful. I was afraid of it being too strong, but it worked well. The sauce was the deal sealer. The sauce was remarkable, everyone raved about it. The only bad part of the day was we had to leave church a bit early to get the ham in so it would be ready on time.

Note to self: When preaching/leading an Easter service, try to keep it somewhat close to a normal length. Adding an extra hour to the service may actually cause people to sin on Easter.


BAKED HAM WITH MUSTARD AND MARJORAM


Dijon mustard, brown sugar, marjoram, garlic and orange juice make a flavorful coating for this simple-to-prepare ham. The pan juices become a delicious sauce. Pour a Merlot with the meal.

1 1/2 cups whole-grain Dijon mustard
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3 tablespoons dried marjoram
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 9- to 10-pound fully cooked bone-in ham (shank or butt end)

2 1/2 cups Madeira
1 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram or 2 teaspoons dried

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate)

Line large roasting pan with double layer of foil. Trim any tough rind and fat from upper side of ham, leaving 1/4-inch-thick layer of fat. Using long sharp knife, score fat in 1-inch-wide diamond pattern. Place ham in prepared pan. Pour Madeira and 1 cup orange juice into bottom of pan. Bake ham until heated through, about 45 minutes.

Remove pan from oven. Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Spread mustard mixture generously over top and sides of ham. Return to oven and continue to bake until mustard coating is golden brown, about 35 minutes.

Transfer ham to platter. Skim fat from pan juices and discard. Pour pan juices into medium saucepan. Add marjoram and bring to boil. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Slice ham into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with sauce.

Serves 8.

Epicurious.com



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Saturday, April 15, 2006

Minnesota Church Punished



(from FotF's Pastor's Weekly Briefing)

A Minnesota county's social services department has been sending disabled senior citizens and other vulnerable adults who need care during the day to Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis.

However, the conservative Missouri Synod church turned away a client who had undergone sex-change surgery. In response, the county has said that, if the church wants to continue the contract with new clients, they would have to sign a non-discrimination policy that included sexual orientation.

Associate pastor John Maxfield says that signing the policy would violate their theological beliefs and that a man's decision to have a sex change is contrary to God's revealed will. Maxfield notes that, although the church is losing a lot of money by taking this stand, "obedience to God's Word is more important".

______________________________________________

Paul Shafer asked in the comments for more on this story. First, this is a church not far from the church I have served the past 3 years. I am not familiar intimately with the specifics beyond that which has been in the press, but it was big enough for Focus on the Family to pick up on it.

The initial Star Tribune Article that many other news outlets picked up on came out April 11th.

A chronology of events related to this article.

May 13, 2005: Prospective client tours Trinity Lutheran Adult Day Services, St. Francis, disclosing at the end of the process that she's transgendered.

May 17, 2005: Anoka County's public health nurse manager, Cheryl Irwin, learns the client has been rejected.

May 20, 2005: Irwin writes to ask why, raising the prospect of canceling the county's contract with the church.

June 2005: In an undated letter, Trinity's program director, Tracy Curie, explains that the church's opposition has to do with bathroom facilities, the effect on other clients, the lack of staff training and the violation of its "theological beliefs." The county subsequently stops sending new clients to Trinity.

Jan. 9: Irwin sends the church a copy of the state's antidiscrimination law, noting the section where churches' "secular business activities" are not exempt.

Feb. 10: Curie resigns.

March 30: Threatened with withdrawal of all clients, church agrees to modify its contract to retain current clients but not get any new ones.


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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The Power and Passion of Prayer - John MacArthur

I was doing some personal reading and thought I would share some of that with you.


ALONE WITH GOD
The Power and Passion of Prayer
JOHN MacARTHUR, JR.

For Christians prayer is like breathing. You don’t have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and forces you to breathe. That’s why it is more difficult to hold your breath than it is to breathe. Similarly, when you’re born into the family of God, you enter into a spiritual atmosphere wherein God’s presence and grace exert pressure, or influence, on your life. Prayer is the normal response to that pressure. As believers we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer. Only then can we survive in the darkness of the world.
Unfortunately many believers hold their spiritual breaths for long periods, thinking brief moments with God are sufficient to allow them to survive. But such restricting of their spiritual intake is caused by sinful desires. The fact is, every believer must be continually in the presence of God, constantly breathing in His truths to be fully functional.
Because ours is such a free and prosperous society, it is easier for Christians to feel secure by presuming on instead of depending on God’s grace. Too many believers become satisfied with physical blessings and have little desire for spiritual blessings. Having become so dependent on their physical resources, they feel little need for spiritual resources. When programs, methods, and money produce impressive results, there is an inclination to confuse human success with divine blessing. Christians can actually behave like practical humanists, living as if God were not necessary. When that happens, passionate longing for God and yearning for His help will be missing—along with His empowerment. Because of this great and common danger, Paul urged believers to “pray at all times” (Eph. 6:18) and to “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). Continual, persistent, incessant prayer is an essential part of Christian living and flows out of dependence on God.

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Saturday, April 08, 2006

What America Believes Is Moral


(from FotF's Pastor's Weekly Briefing)

Cheating on your income taxes is almost as bad as cheating on your mate, and smoking pot isn't as bad as drinking to excess. That's what a cross section of Americans said in the Pew Research Center's latest Social Trends study, released this week in Washington.

The study, which questioned 1,502 people, presented a blunt test of what Americans believe is moral by measuring the responses to 10 questions.

* At the top of the list, about 88 percent of respondents said married people having an affair was wrong.
* Second on the list, 79 percent said it was not moral to hold back in reporting income on your tax forms.
* Sixty-one percent said drinking too much alcohol was not moral, while 5 percent said it was okay.
* Fifty-two percent of respondents said that having an abortion would be morally wrong.
* Smoking marijuana was number five and exactly half of the respondents said it was morally wrong, which means more people oppose excessive drinking than pot smoking.
* Homosexual behavior also was viewed as immoral by 50 percent.
* Telling a lie to spare someone's feeling was viewed as immoral by 43 percent.
* Sex between unmarried adults was viewed as immoral by 35 percent.
* The same number said gambling was immoral, with 17 percent saying it was morally acceptable.
* And, finally, 32 percent said that overeating was immoral.

The survey noted some traits about those responding to the questions, as well. On the topic of homosexuality, men are more morally disapproving than women, but both sexes have similar views on abortion. Those with more education were more forgiving than the less educated. And weekly church goers, white evangelical Christians and those 65 or older say 9 of the 10 behaviors are morally wrong. Overeating is the only behavior drawing minority disapproval in that group.

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Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Minnesota Marriage Amendment - Let the people VOTE!


DFL Judiciary Committee Members Prove Allegiance to Gay Activist Groups

St. Paul, Minnesota (April 4, 2006) Today all five DFL members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to oppose a bill that would allow Minnesotans to decide whether their state constitution should be amended to protect marriage. " For the third year in a row, these senators have denied Minnesota voters the right to decide the future of marriage in our state", said Jeff Davis, President of Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage (MCDM).

Witnesses testifying in support of the marriage amendment provided compelling evidence that marriage laws are under attack across our nation and that Minnesota's existing laws would likely not withstand a similar attack. Marriage amendment opponents presented a confusing set of arguments, claiming that Minnesota's existing laws provided adequate protection for marriage while at the same time saying that amending our state constitution to define marriage would be discriminatory. " The proposed amendment simply takes how marriage is defined within our current statutes and elevates it to the level of a constitutional amendment so that it can't be overturned by our state courts", said Davis. " If you were to agree with the arguments of our opponents, you would need to conclude that our current laws are both adequate and discriminatory. This makes no sense."

Today's defeat of the marriage amendment bill means that Minnesota voters will not have another chance to vote on a marriage amendment until at least 2008. " This gives gay activists a full two years to work towards redefining marriage in our state", said Senator Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, chief author of the marriage amendment bill. " Through their actions, DFL state senators have essentially paved the way for gay marriage in Minnesota", said Jeff Davis.

In an act of compromise, Senator Tom Neuville, R _ Northfield, offered alternative bill language that simply limited the power to define marriage to the state legislature, a nearly identical version of the bill offered by Judiciary Chairman Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley, in 2004 and passed by the committee at that time. But even this comprise bill was voted down by the DFL majority. Senate Judiciary Chairman Don Betzold voted in support of amending the bill with the revised language, but then voted in opposition to approving the bill. " I wonder if Senator Betzold plans to use John Kerry's excuse that 'I voted for the bill before I voted against it'", said Davis.

Upon the conclusion of the Judiciary Committee meeting, Davis reaffirmed his organization's commitment to winning the right for Minnesotans to vote on marriage. " DFL state senators appear to care more about placating deep-pocketed gay activist groups than serving the interests of their constituents", said Davis. " Beginning today, we plan to fully commit ourselves to making sure that DFL state senators are held accountable at the ballot box this November." Davis urged Minnesota citizens who believe in preserving traditional marriage to sign the Marriage Protection Petition available on the group's website at www.mnmarriage.com.

Vocal Artistry workshop at Eagle Brook Church...

The following opportunity hit my mailbox yesterday. It's a great opportunity for worship leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

________________________________________

From Amy Anderson
EBCs Exec. Director of Worship

Dear Church Leader,

We recently contacted you to tell you about Eagle Brook's Relevance Conference, which will take place on Thursday, May 11. I wanted to tell you about an additional event coming up that weekend—one that your church's vocal teams may want to attend!

We're hosting a Vocal Artistry workshop for the Eagle Brook vocal team, and I wanted to extend an invitation to your church's vocal team, too. The event is on Saturday, May 13 from 9 am-1 pm. For cost and registration information, check out this flyer (pdf download).

It was back in 2000 when I first met Tim Carson, founder of Vocal Artistry, who at that time was Vocal Department Head at the Arts Center at Willow Creek. After receiving a personal voice lesson for myself, I invited him to come and provide training to our entire team. It was a great event! They walked away with new skills, new ways to stylize, an increased confidence, and it felt great to bring them some training that was so hard to find. I finally found a way to invest in them.

For many years I had been looking for someone who could coach our vocal team members in a way that benefited them as artists serving on our weekend worship teams at Eagle Brook. I didn’t want them to just learn singing techniques – which are typically choral in training – but more so to help them learn to sing and communicate their music in the style that we do on our weekends. Tim has helped them do that.

Next month, I'm bringing Tim back in to work with my vocalists (it's been a few years :)). He's hosting the workshop and is, himself, contacting local churches. But, I wanted to personally contact you and extend the invitation. In addition to the workshop that Tim is offering, I'm scheduling in a little mingle time for everyone who attends to connect. The workshop falls on the heels of our Relevance Conference, so I hope to continue that spirit of the local church community within our various artist teams.

I hope some of the folks from your team can make it. I would very much like to meet and connect with you.

Fell free to call me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Amy Anderson
Executive Director of Worship Ministries
(email removed)
651.429.9227

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Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Bedrock beliefs...

I am adding a quote to my side bar, to remind myself (and hopefully you) about some bedrock beliefs. I'm stealing these from Bill Hybels (the wording), though without doubt they are not unique to Hybels.

Bedrock beliefs:
1. Honor God in everything and He'll honor you.
2. People matter to God.
3. The local church is the hope of the world.

Being Peaceful...

From Peacemaker Ministries newsletter Peace on Earth

A HABIT OF BEING: THE PEACEMAKING CHARACTER OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

by Molly Routson, Assistant to the Director of International Ministries

As many of you recognize, peacemaking is a very practical subject to teach and to practice. We face conflicts in our lives and our ministries on a regular basis, and peacemaking provides a tool for us to resolve these conflicts constructively.

However, if we only see peacemaking as a tool for fixing problems, we miss two important concerns in God's call for us to be peacemakers. Rev. Dr. Alfred Poirier, Chairman of the Board of Peacemaker Ministries, recently taught about these issues to a gathering of seminary leaders in India. He showed, first, that our role as peacemakers is deeply rooted in what the Bible says about God and, second, that God calls us to reflect his character as a peacemaker in everything that we do; peacemaking is not just a tool but a way of life--a "habit of being"--for God's people.

Peacemaking is part of the very nature of God and of how he works in this world. Beginning in Genesis 3, conflict and reconciliation comprise the dramatic plotline of Scripture. This drama culminates in the death and resurrection of Christ, whose work accomplished the reconciliation of all things to himself (see Col. 1:19-20).

Exodus 32-34 gives a "snapshot" of how God works as a peacemaker in human history. In this passage, Moses mediates for the people of Israel, whose idolatry has deeply offended God. They are in danger of losing the security of God's presence or of being consumed by his wrath, but Moses eventually receives assurance that God will continue to dwell graciously with his people.

In Exodus 33:18, Moses also asks of God, "Now show me your glory," so that he will know how God wants him to lead the "stiff-necked" Israelites. The Lord's response to Moses is so significant for Israel's relationship with God that it is repeated throughout Scripture (see, for example, Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15; Joel 2:13). God tells Moses that he is "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Ex. 34:6-7a).

Although God could have revealed any of his attributes to Moses--his justice, his immutability, his power--he chose to emphasize his mercy. God shows Moses that his glory is the glory of a reconciling God.

The Gospel of John picks up on these Exodus themes of God's glory, his grace, and his presence among his people. They are climactically demonstrated in Christ, who "made his dwelling among us ... [and] came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). In Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God ultimately reveals himself as a peacemaking God. Furthermore, Christ tells his followers that we will be recognized as God's children when we imitate God's character in reconciliation (Matt. 5:9; John 13:35; 17:23).

Throughout Scripture, God calls his people to be peacemakers in their very being, and not to regard peacemaking as just a tool for occasional use. This way of understanding Scripture has important implications for peacemaking around the world.

First of all, we realize that the ministry of peacemaking touches the very heart of God's work in this world. Peacemaker Ministries was founded to facilitate the reconciliation of legal conflicts in the United States, but now we see peacemakers around the world applying God's Word to difficult conflicts in families, in churches, and even in nations. It is often challenging to apply Scripture when cultural traditions resist God's peacemaking process, but knowing that God delights to show his glory in reconciliation encourages us to persevere in difficult situations.

We have also seen that conflict and resolution are the very story of Scripture. Many cultures will appreciate this way of reading the Bible because they communicate primarily through storytelling, rather than lecture. While an audience in the United States might enjoy learning about God's peacemaking character through Paul's teaching in Romans 5:1-11 or 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, an audience in another culture might learn this lesson more effectively by emphasizing the story of how God reveals his peacemaking character to Moses in Exodus 32-34. These are two perspectives on the same Word of God, and together they provide us with complementary ways to teach peacemaking around the world.

What all this means is that the essential identity of the Christian--whatever the capacity in which he or she is serving--is "ambassador of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18-20). God calls us to be his ambassadors of peace wherever he has placed us, including our work, our families and our communities. Seminaries are training grounds not just for "pastors," "teachers," and "evangelists," but also for peacemakers. Christian lawyers, businessmen, and other professionals are also peacemakers, with an important role in God's work of reconciliation.

Wherever you are and however you serve God, we encourage you to begin reading your Bible with an eye for God's peacemaking character and to imitate his character as the divine Peacemaker. Remember, peacemaking is not simply a tool for fixing problems, but it is a "habit of being," a way of reflecting who we are in Christ in all of our relationships.

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Saturday, April 01, 2006

Relevance Conference 2006 - Eagle Brook Church


Relevance Conference 2006: Transitions

Thursday, May 11, 2006 · 8 am-5 pm · Eagle Brook Church—Lino Lakes Campus

Relevance is a moving target. In order to keep up with the culture, our churches must embrace change. But change is hard—especially for smaller churches, long-time attenders, or pastors without a supportive team.

If you’d like the encouragement, inspiration, and real-life examples that you need to be a church that thrives on transitions, don’t miss Relevance 2006! EBC will share how they’ve determined which changes needed to be made, and how their staff, volunteers, and congregation have worked through these changes as they’ve grown from a church of 300 to over 7500.

To make a difference in people’s lives, and keep reaching new people for Christ, we all need to keep raising the bar. “Good enough” never really is—join us this May as we learn from each other, and get better together.


GENERAL SESSIONS

Introduction: Can We Start That?
Senior Pastor Bob Merritt
As we kick off the 2006 Relevance Conference at EBC, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt will speak about what many of us fear—and need—most. Change.

Session 1: Can We Paint That?
Executive Director of Operations Scott Anderson
The answer to the question is a resounding YES, but first you must pay attention to the politics of church life. Knowing when to do the right thing is only part of the challenge of making calculated, wise decisions about change. You also need to know how to navigate through the many small decisions and interactions that make it the right time for change. We’ve done it both ways, so now you don’t have to!

Session 2: Can We Do That?
Executive Pastor of Ministries Dale Peterson
As a church grows and the culture changes, some programs and strategies simply must be put out to pasture. But it’s hard to determine which “sacred cows” need to go and which programs to add—especially if it affects something that is beloved by long-time attenders. Find out how to do this effectively, and organize your church in a way that will fulfill its mission.

Session 3: Can We See That?
Executive Director of Worship Amy Anderson
As a creative church, you have to be able to implement what you’ve only imagined, and sell changes that many people may resist. How do you communicate in a culture of change, and what creative tools can you use to help people embrace what’s ahead? Learn from some of the videos, dramas, music, and print media Eagle Brook has delivered in the past year.

Session 4: Can We Say That?
Senior Pastor Bob Merritt
The communication landscape is constantly changing and staying relevant is harder than ever. Relevance demands that you live on the edge and be willing to take risks that will offend some people. It also requires the humility to learn all that you can from every resource that’s available to you.

Closing: Can We Risk That?
Speaking Pastor Jason Anderson
There’s a delicate balance between stepping out in faith, and pushing something with human effort. So, what risks will you take to advance the Church—and how will you know you’re leaving room for Him? We all need to make decisions that provide space for God to work. As we bring Relevance 2006 to a close, we’ll reflect on our dependence on Christ, as we take risks for the sake of His vision and call.

Breakout Discussions
* Kids Ministries
* Student Ministries
* Music & Creative Arts
* Technical Arts
* Five Gs (Core Values)
* Structuring Your Ministry
* Communications and Marketing
* Campaign and Building Projects
* Church Leadership

Speaker's Bio's

Schedule

Registration


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