Living in Tension

Nice insights from McLaren....

I often have mixed feelings about some of McLaren's theological views, but this is (IMO) Right on...

Have a look, well worth the 2 minutes and the images are golden :)

Baby Sam IS Born!

Tuesday February 5^th around 6:00 AM Samuel Caleb Kinnunen came screaming into existence! Labor began for Steph a full 24 hours earlier so my “trooper of a wife” did the marathon labor and delivery but she handled it fine as expected. Otherwise everyone is sleepy and well. Sammy was 7 pounds 12 ounces and was a 9/10 0n the apgar’s for all you medical family members reading this :)

All's well and we are enjoying room service in the Hospital. Thank you to all of you who were praying for us through labor and delivery…when the time came to push the Holy Spirit was tangible in the room just as he was with Alex’s birth. Thank you Jesus for a healthy baby, click HERE for the full photo album.

Still Swingin!

Satan is seriously attacking my STUFF! Three weeks ago my cell phone and organizer died.  It functions as the essential 2nd half of my brain and I missed 4 appointments in that week alone.  The week after that my desktop computer and my Jeep died.  Last night my hot water heater sprang a leak and flooded my basement.  Consequently...I'm just gonna fight that much harder...

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised...
Heb 10:36

We're IN Baby!

I picked up the keys today from Northwoods Realty and stopped in to our new location.  There is no more than 4 trailer loads worth if stuff to move out.  Tuesday morning we will begin moving stuff out of the building and begin MASS CLEANING.  If you have anytime on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday consider helping us move, pack, clean, paint or build, that would BE GREAT!  I will be calling everyone on our list to hit it hard Tuesday morning.

Also...on a personal note, we had another ultrasounnd this morning and we are happy to report that Max/Sam Kinnunen baby #2 is 6 Pounds 3 Ounces and we still have 6 weeks to go.  Could be a big baby, so say a prayer for my beautiful bride :)

We Got it WE GOT THE BUILDING!

Emil called me today and it's a DONE DEAL!  PRAISE JESUS!  We get the keys and sign the lease Tuesday January 8th!  Then we have to move some stuff out and move everything we have IN!  Whohooo!  Click on the Pic for a possible building plan inside (my current thoughts!)

BUILDING NEWS...

COMES TO US TODAY!  PRAY HARD!  It all has to do with M & E Rentals accepting our little slice of cash and a fat Tax credit....so we are just waiting to hear from the accountants and tax people!

Update: We've still heard nothing  as of Saturday Evening!  GRRRRR!

All My Bosses ROCK!

As a Church Planter, you have a number of bosses, first and foremost is Jesus, then there are District people, your Coach and so on.  Most days it feels like you work for no one, but on the days when you perceive there is someone over you, it's great to have someone like this.  Check out this most recent email from Larry M.  My unofficial "Boss".

You are a part of our story in the WNMD. It has not been easy but you have toughed it out in the sure hope of a strong church. Thank you for your commitment to church planting in our district! It wasn't the spectacular arrival that made Jesus appearance on earth so wonderful. It was what he gave up to be part of our mess. Perhaps you could have had a much better paying job doing something else. Perhaps you really should be treated better by the larger churches or even the district. But that is not the point. You came here facing hell with a water pistol and you are going to shoot until the flames go out. It is not what you get but what you gave up that makes the difference. Thanks for not being a whiny baby full of self interest and entitlement. You are a planter, a pioneer, a won't say no no matter what kind of Christian. I'm glad to be one of you. Merry Christmas.

Larry Mederich
Osceola Community Church/ WNMD Church Planting & Coaching
Passion for God, Compassion for People

News Flash! AKA-Don’t stop praying yet!

Alright, this one will be short and sweet. I received a call from M & E Rentals (the folks who own the Mautz Paint Building). Marie’s husband Emil, called me to say that he’s not sure if the financing is going to happen with the potential purchaser of the building. He also stated that they would much rather rent than sell the building. I advised him of our situation and presented what we could pay and offer and he was (thankfully) receptive. He advised me that he would continue to keep me updated on the other party, and would call me back soon. I’m with Steph’s family tonight in the Northwoods celebrating Christmas. To be honest I’m contemplating fasting even in the midst of this feasting…but not till after pie :)

KEEP PRAYING! :)

Dancing with Dad….

About once a quarter, I have what could be described as a kind of breakdown.  Some of you who attend Evergreen might be disturbed by this phrase but give me a few lines to explain what I mean.  Every couple of months I reach a point where I have endured all of the stress, strain and anxiety I can personally handle.  These often come in conjunction with certified mail from the IRS, offerings of $127 or that one guy that keeps calling my cell phone on my date night to tell me how my last sermon was un-Biblical.  When I’m unfortunate enough to have all of these overlap at the same time then a breakdown is eminent.  So I take the time to systematically deposit things on Jesus that I can’t carry on my own anymore. 

This last Sunday we had a slightly below average numerical Sunday (58) and an exceptional offering.  Some of this is due to the fact that we literally got $127 the week before when the blizzard almost cancelled our Sunday service.  So I dropped off a large check for our rent of the school (Washington Elementary), mailed some stuff and, just ran several errands.  While driving around I saw that there was a garage sale happening at the former Mautz paint building we are hoping to rent.  For the last few week I have been trying to speak to the owners about renting the building for Evergreen.  So I stopped in, and spoke with Marie who owns the building with her husband. 

Long story short….they signed papers this morning to attempt to sell the building.  Marie and I had a good talk and she expressed her disappointment that they will probably not be able to help us out.  She will keep me informed about the process that the sale is now undergoing, in the event that financing or other factors prevent the building from changing hands.  I climbed in my Jeep with a smile on my face and the confidence that Jesus had some other facility he must want for us more, but I have to confess I was crestfallen.  I got home, told Steph (who had been praying fervently for my conversation) and proceeded to wrestle with finances and other difficulties.  Steph left shortly after I got home and I decided I needed some face time with my Creator.  I told Alex that I was going to go pray for a while and I put on some Deliriou5, took my glasses off and spent some time praying.  I have every confidence in the “what and how” of Jesus building Evergreen Church here, but my emotions often don’t track with what Christ is doing quite as well. 

As I thought, prayed, praised and cried I eventually realized that I had an expert climber scaling my pantleg and settling in to sing along with me to David Crowder.  After a song or 2 Alex said to me “Daddy, can we dance?”.  Knowing that in a few years I will not be even sort of cool enough to get a dance with my daughter I always try to take her up on these invitations.  So we danced. We danced slow, we danced fast, we laughed and I cried. 
It was the best breakdown I’ve ever had.  As I swung, swayed and spun my giggling 3 year old, I realized that this picture of me and Alex was just like how Jesus dances with me in his arms.  He cries and works and carries the load while I try to remember the words to the song we’re singing together.  Thanks Jesus…

A Critical Time...Please Pray

This is a critical time in the story of Evergreen Church. I have never felt like so much of Christ’s dream has hinged on so little. Let me explain….

Last night I was sitting on my piano bench in my living room, smiling as people ate cake for Christy Anne’s birthday and talked just after Followers of the Way. It was loud, joyous and lively. This group has grown in the knowledge and understanding of Christ and is asking all the right questions while engaging scripture and discipleship with vigor and interest. It makes Wednesday nights one of the highlights of my week, because many of these people have just recently given their hearts and lives to Christ. With the joy and knowledge that Jesus has entrusted Evergreen and myself with so many to love, disciple and care for, there comes a significant responsibility. I often feel like the dad of the church at only 33. A loving father takes the time to both provide and build a home for his family while protecting it from anyone who would harm those he loves.  For us this home has increasingly meant a place for us to do ministry seven days a week. A “home” we could offer to community groups, charities, and host events that will impact our community in new and creative ways. Over the last few months, our attention has been drawn more and more to this building at 3024 Church Street (Business 51).

This former Mautz Paint building has enough room for a 200 seat sanctuary, a Kids Area, Nursery, Café, Restrooms and a little sliver of office space. The primary difficulty with the building would be parking, but there is immediately available parking close by for more than 100 cars. 

One of our motivations to vacate Washington Elementary is that our presence there has begun to be a burden to the school. I received a call yesterday from Gary the primary custodian at Washington advising me that we would need to get ½ of our stuff out of the gym including the large children’s canister we just constructed. Consequently, ALL of our chairs will need to be placed in our church trailer and wheeled in and out each Sunday for at least the next several weeks. Currently the plan I am hoping to execute involves moving our mobile church into this building on a trial basis, followed by renting the facility or doing a land contract and then (hopefully) buying it.

Here is what I would ask of you:

First: PLEASE PRAY! Many barriers must be overcome in order for something like this to happen. The owners of the building, M & E Rentals, must be willing to let us rent/squat/utilize the building for a combination of a tax write-off and cash, or just a much discounted rate. This is the largest hurtle. Additionally there are a number of other factors that Jesus could deal with instantaneously, and this is exactly what we need.  

Second: PLEASE GIVE! Evergreen is currently about $5000 behind budget for the year. This is money that will immediately go to the school district to pay our bills with them. In January we will be doing a series on stewardship once again and this is usually a time when income increases for us, but it sure would be nice to start out 2008 in the black.

Pray like this dream depends on God and give like this dream depends on you!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Al

PS: I hope to see all of you at the Christmas party tomorrow night at 6PM!

PPS-Look for more pics in the photo album area!