This Week at Twin Cities - October 29, 2009

Hey Gang,

Sunday is Friend Day at Twin Cities Church. Each year we offer several opportunities that are designed specifically with your friends in mind. The really cool thing is that you know each week is top notch. So, it’s not like we’re going to be different than you know, it’s just a great opportunity to invite the friends and family members you’ve been investing time in so they can come experience your church with you.

We’ll begin our new series, Vantage Point, on this day. As is my pattern, I believe this is going to be “the best series we’ve ever had!” I truly believe that about each series and each week for that matter. We put our best into them because we know that what we do has such eternal implications. This series will focus on prayer and how we can look to God for perspective. He does have a great vantage point, and He’s made Himself available to us through prayer so that we can begin to see the things of life from His viewpoint. I believe you’ll find this series to be very hope-filled.

Thank you again for your eager participation in all the practical exercises during 40 Days of Love. I hope you’ll be there on Sunday to hear some of the results of our love immersion. Let‘s not let our emphasis on loving stop, but let’s keep on loving. I want to suggest that you watch the service from last week online if you were out of town. God really solidified all we’ve learned together.

Make sure to introduce me to your friends on Sunday.

Pastor Ron

This Week at Twin Cities - October 22, 2009

Hey Gang,

Today (Thursday) is Day 40! We’re crossing the finish line of our 40 Days of Love journey together. I keep hearing the stories of how this spiritual emphasis has challenged and changed hearts to love more deeply. We’ve been challenged to love like Jesus loves, which has changed us (some of us more than others) to look like Jesus. I am in awe of what God did through our willingness to step outside of our comfort zones.

I am truly inspired as well by the Limit Consumption stories I’ve been hearing all week. I hope you took the challenge and engaged at the level you could, because this was an eye opening exercise. Personally, it showed me how much I like comfort – food, warmth, transportation, entertainment, espresso. My definition of “consumer” was expanded so I now realize how much impact my choices make. I will be different.

I also got to see that I have resources available that people in third world countries just don’t have. As I limited myself intentionally, I was able to think about those who had no options – no chance of any change of circumstances. We are blessed and privileged, and with that privilege, I believe comes great responsibility and some day even accountability from God.

I pray our church will continue to grow in love. I learned I have a long way to go, but I’m glad that I’m better at loving today than I was 40 days ago.

I hope you will be in church Sunday as we wrap up the entire series by celebrating Communion together. It’s going to be an awesome day!

Learning to love with you,

Pastor Ron

This Week at Twin Cities - October 15, 2009

Hey Gang,

We’re racing toward the home stretch with 40 Days of Love. I am so moved at how you want to become more loving people. During the past four weeks we’ve talked about treating people with the same compassion Jesus modeled for us; how we can build others up through the words we use; how to be considerate of the needs of others as we attempt to understand them; and how to deal with our anger in a healthy way. This Sunday we’ll focus on how love lasts – both the desire to love and the impact of love.

Last week, I gave out incorrect information on the number of Uganda Christmas Child boxes that went into the crate to begin the journey to our friends in Uganda. The number is – 1706. Wow! I am so touched by your generosity in what is the worst economic time many of us have ever faced. Thank you.

Even though next week is our “Limit Consumption Challenge,” many people who have Fall Break plans did theirs this week. One dad told me that his little guy asked to sleep in a cardboard box as a way to identify with those who have nothing. What a guy. Our family got to practice being without electricity on Tuesday when our power went out for five hours. I look forward to hearing the stories that come back as we limit our consumption during this next week.

Our dream is that as we limit our consumption our hearts will be enlarged. At the end of the week, we’ll bring what we saved by not eating as we normally do, by drinking tap water, and by curtailing our usage of our modern conveniences, in order to bless those who live that way all the time.

Pastor Ron

This Week at Twin Cities - October 8, 2009

Hey Gang,

I am wonderfully thrilled at what God is doing in the life of our church, and that begins with me, through 40 Days of Love. Thank you for allowing this spiritual emphasis to work in you. I know you have a choice as to your level of participation. I also know that your level of participation will directly impact the heart transformation that takes place. Here’s a comment I received this week: “40 Days of Love has been harder than I imagined. Thank you for challenging us to grow and change.”

Now that we’re finished with the global emphasis, Uganda Christmas Child, we’re ready to begin praying about our participation in the Limit Consumption Challenge, October 18 -25.

The purpose of the Limit Consumption Challenge is to help us begin learning to identify with those in our world who have very little, and at the same time provide resources for those in our local area who are in great need. Much of the world exists on beans or rice, lives without clean drinking water, and survives without modern conveniences. Our dream is that as we limit our consumption of these things our hearts will be enlarged. At the end of that week, we’ll bring what we saved by not eating as we normally do, by drinking tap water, and by curtailing our usage of our modern conveniences in order to bless those who live that way all the time.

I am so excited about the potential for us to have our perspectives widened. We’ll have an insert available the next two weekends that will help us all think outside the box on this. Of course, this is strictly voluntary, and you have to take into consideration your own health needs, but I’m asking you to join in with an open heart.

Pastor Ron

This Week at Twin Cities - October 1, 2009

Hey Gang,

40 Days of Love is having a huge impact on our church. I keep getting feedback like this: “We so needed this series. I can’t even begin to tell you how much focusing on love every day has changed my attitude and perspective.” Someone else told me, “My husband, who is not a Follower of Jesus, listened as I told him about the One Person Assignment, and then told me that he had someone in his world he was going to extend love to as well. To top it off, he’s more loving toward me!” Another person said, “Everywhere I go, I’m noticing people who need a touch of love.” Finally, a man told me that “he felt led to pay for an individual’s purchase in a store this week because he could see the person needed a helping hand.”

Uganda Christmas Child, the Love Globally portion of 40 Days of Love, is this weekend. Adults, make sure to come early and bring your boxes right up to the stage when you arrive. Children will take their boxes to their classrooms and then bring them in during the service. We’re at 1800 boxes! If you sense God’s leading, you could come by our office on Thursday or Friday and pick up another box to fill so that we could move closer to our 2000 box goal.

Thank you so much for your willingness to step up to the challenge to love. This week we’re going to give very practical teaching on how “Love Is Considerate.”

Keep in mind that October 18 – 25 is our Limit Consumption Challenge. We’ll hand out guides beginning Sunday explaining how we can all participate in some way in order to identify with and help the unfortunate in our world.

Stretching in love with you,

Pastor Ron