tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82670589935177042832024-03-13T11:24:54.894-07:00BLUE FISH on The JourneyNogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-44755499766790511012011-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:002011-06-04T15:00:30.643-07:00HOUSE CHURCH SIGNS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you see one of these around...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzrWqLGhHQU/Teqqh65Y8EI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/VG2sAq3FHOU/s1600/HOUSE+CHURCH+SIGN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzrWqLGhHQU/Teqqh65Y8EI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/VG2sAq3FHOU/s320/HOUSE+CHURCH+SIGN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You know that a Journey House Church is meeting there. Since we rotate where we meet, you might see them at more than the four host homes that serve as base locations! </div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-71904716287881123762011-04-26T07:19:00.000-07:002011-04-26T08:41:24.753-07:00IS THAT GOD?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It seems funny that the first childhood memory I have of talking about God was in a church building. I remember asking my mommy (I couldn't have been more than 3) where we were, and she said we were in "God's house". That really impressed me, and of course I started looking around for God. I saw a man in the choir loft, and thinking God would be higher up because people seemed to look up when they spoke to Him, I asked her, "Mommy, is that God?" She said it wasn't, and really didn't have answers for all the many questions that now were coming to my talkative 3 year old mind....</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Years later in a different town, our family was attending a big church on the top a hill. It had a big choir and a huge pipe organ that filled the back wall above the balcony. The pastor was "Dr. so and so", and was referred to as Dr. instead of "pastor". I didn't like going to that church because they had Sunday School police, who if they found you outside the Sunday School room when class was in session would take you by the ear (seriously) and pull you to class. I was maybe in second grade. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Then one Sunday while I was avoiding the Sunday School police, I found a map - well really a floor plan of the church building. The amazing thing to me was that according to this map, in one of the rooms which I discovered to be locked up tight, there were bags all tied up, stacked inside and labeled "God". It must have been traumatic to me at the time because I still remember it in detail after all these years. I went and found the church janitor and showed him the map, and although he looked concerned, he didn't open the door to let God out, or even investigate.He just took me back to my parents and let them deal with me. I still remember thinking, "Maybe they <i><b>want</b></i> Him in there".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">How much have these experiences motivated me life direction? A therapist could have fun with it I am sure - but you can be sure that I was determined to find God eventually. I did. He showed up in many ways through my youth, but I finally recognized Him with enough certainty to claim success when I met this guy named Joe. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was in high school by now. My parents had divorced four years ago, which created another motivation in my life around relationships. But I was searching even more intently now. Joe was a Campus Life director at my high school. He invited me to Bible studies at his house with other kids, and eventually to a big rally in Minneapolis where I was happy to show others that I had found God through Jesus. It had finally dawned on me that God wasn't living in buildings, or bags in a store room, or up in the sky somewhere, or even in black leather-bound books. But that ever since Jesus came to make it possible, He has been living in people.That's were I finally met Him for sure, and I hope you have met Him too. </div><br />
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</div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-79713725104803198382011-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:002011-03-13T19:43:59.008-07:00TWO OPEN HOUSES CONTINUING AS NEW HOUSE CHURCHES!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Two Open House hosts will continue meeting as new house churches! Ruises are starting up on March 19th, and Peabodys on April 2nd! Give them a call and pay a visit if you like.</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/TTcoixM0FsI/AAAAAAAAAQg/z0R3WlkT-_k/s1600/JOURNEY+OH+MAP+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/TTcoixM0FsI/AAAAAAAAAQg/z0R3WlkT-_k/s320/JOURNEY+OH+MAP+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-7599701804046886142010-12-18T11:07:00.001-08:002010-12-18T11:13:09.129-08:00MPR ArticleHey - an MPR reporter visited us and did a nice story on The Journey! Check it out to the right - "MPR Article"Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-60142619039697177312010-12-12T19:31:00.000-08:002010-12-12T19:39:06.602-08:00What is a "Testimony"?Ever since I started hanging out with Christians I have heard this term - "testimony". No one else really uses that word...the closest we come to it is the word "testify", which means to speak as a witness in court. Now, nobody I know (except lawyers) associates court with a place you would <i>want </i>to be, much less something you want to practice up for, just in case you get the honors. No, being in court usually means you are in trouble. So who wants think about being ready to "testify"?<br />
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But as I listened to how Christians used this word "testimony", I got the impression that it wasn't really something you are a witness to, but it's really used to refer to your <i style="font-weight: bold;">reputation</i>, i.e. "you might hurt your testimony", or "that's not a very good testimony to engage in that". Then it occurred to me one day as I was reading what others thought of Jesus, based on the fact that He drank wine, liked to eat, hung out with prostitutes and sinners...and discovered that <b><i>He</i></b> didn't have a very good <i style="font-weight: bold;">"testimony"!!! </i>(if that's what it is!)<br />
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Well, last night at our house church meeting we were all looking at Luke 8 where it tells about the guy in the tombs that was demon possessed. My friend Bruce didn't say much until the end when he pointed out something that really hit me: After Jesus freed this guy from all his bondage, and he ended up with his clothes on again and with a "sound minded", it was then that Jesus told him to go back to his people and (King James Bible) "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee." (Luke 8:39) What got me was that it didn't say to just <b><i>tell</i></b> them about it, but "shew" them. When we dug a little deeper we found that the word there is <i style="font-weight: bold;">diegeomai, </i>which literally means (in our modern terms) to <i style="font-weight: bold;">"walk them through it"</i>! He wanted the guy to give them a full, demonstrated, account of what happened, not just lay theology on them.<br />
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I thought to myself how hard this would be for us today - Like a guy is in a mental institution, heavily sedated and kept in a padded cell. One day he is totally back to normal...and gets to go back home. BUT...no quiet, discrete reintegration for him, No! He has to tell everybody how he was banging himself against walls and strapped into a gurney half the time, and how this guy came and sent a bunch of spirits out of him and into a herd of pigs...well, you get the picture. Any hope of a nice quite social life is down the tubes for him!!<br />
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So what really is a "testimony"? I have to take it from this account that if nothing else, it is this: Our own personal story of how at my <b><i>lowest point in life</i></b>, Jesus' reckless love and grace appeared to me and proved itself in a way that removed every last hint of shame from my life, and settled once and for all the question: <i style="font-weight: bold;">Am I worth it? </i><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"></i>That kind of "testimony" is never boring to anyone, and always carries some of the power of that moment to others. I takes a lot of guts to share something like that. I have been challenged big time!<br />
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</div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-80997466225593005442010-09-27T16:39:00.000-07:002010-09-27T16:45:15.398-07:00GREAT GATHERING AT PIZZA PUBThe downstairs of the Pizza Pub in Cambridge was packed out Saturday night. We had a bunch of first timers, and a few of them even shared some of their stories with us. We really appreciate the Pizza Pub and the Journey teams that put this together. There are several coffee meetings happening this week as follow up with new friends!<div><br /></div><div>Now we are looking forward to having our Gatherings at the Corner Cup for the rest of the school year - It will be great to be at the same location downtown in Cambridge!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-67299660854060495572010-09-18T11:35:00.000-07:002010-09-21T13:17:31.603-07:00SEPTEMBER MEETINGS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); line-height: 25px; white-space: pre; "><b>This is coming out late for September, but here are the remaining meetings for the month:</b></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); line-height: 25px; white-space: pre; "><b>18th<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Pam Crider's: 2271 - 335th Lane NE, Cambridge, MN 5-8 pm</b></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); line-height: 25px; white-space: pre; "><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; white-space: pre;"><b>25th - GATHERING - 5-8 pm: <i>AT CAMBRIDGE PIZZA PUB on Main Street</i></b></span></span></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-84117348516478359432010-08-10T16:13:00.000-07:002010-08-10T16:20:13.026-07:00Blue Fish News<div>We are into Luke Chapter 5 this month, and discussing it in three sections for the three Saturdays before the Gathering on the 28th.</div><div><br /></div>We had three new people at Rick & Lori's on August 7th, and met another friend in their building who needed help moving, so we are going to be back later in the week. <div><br /></div><div>We decided Monday night to keep asking one another each week, "Who is your 'neighbor', and what do they need?" We will be keeping the different house churches informed on needs and resources so we can respond to needs that come up - wherever we are!</div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-54744556353041620512010-08-01T20:08:00.000-07:002010-08-01T20:21:08.308-07:00Meetings for August 2010A<b>ugust 7th </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>5-8 pm </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>Lori & Ricks </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>(to be added - in Isanti)</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><b><br /></b></span><div><b>August 14th</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>5-8 pm</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>Meg's</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b> </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></b></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>538 Old North Main St</b></span><b>, </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b>Cambridge, MN</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b>A</b></span><b>ugust 21st</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>5-8pm</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>Pam's</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b> </b></span><b>2271 - 335th Lane NE, Cambridge, MN</b></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>If you need directions - Give a call to Bob at 763 221-4760, or keep checking this site!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-40223391181869898022010-03-17T15:02:00.000-07:002010-03-25T05:10:32.196-07:00Meetings in March<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/S6FSAnj-ZYI/AAAAAAAAAOc/lKfLLrnAR6M/s1600-h/ges.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449727194668361090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/S6FSAnj-ZYI/AAAAAAAAAOc/lKfLLrnAR6M/s320/ges.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Hey - I looks like our Blue (star) Fish group will be meeting at our house Saturday March 20th (5-9 pm)</div><br /><p>Then next Saturday (the 27th) we are all Gathering at the Junction Bowl in Isanti! </p><p>See our main website for more details.</p>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-67144025074276962602009-10-23T08:23:00.000-07:002009-10-23T08:24:19.150-07:00UPCOMING GATHERING AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE CONFERENCE<h3 style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;" class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="UIStory_Message">Hey - this is just a reminder that next weekend (Halloween) is a big one for us - We are doing everything at the Fish House that weekend: The Spiritual Warfare Conference from 6:30 Friday night to 4:<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">00 pm on Saturday, then our Gathering will start at 5:00 in the upper room of the same location with a CHILi FEED, and go into a worship time with Stacy & Serit leading us in Israeli worship dance. After our open mic time, we will join the Fish House Crowd downstairs for a combined service where the message on restoring the Keys of spiritual authority in the Church will be given - that will be Halloween night. Our victory over darkness does not step aside for Halloween, it meets it head on!!!</span></span></h3>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-46603771475977592502009-10-20T12:05:00.000-07:002009-10-20T12:13:23.938-07:00NEXT HOUSE CHURCH MEETINGHey Everyone - Our <strong>next get together</strong> will be at Meg's House -<br />538 Old North Main in Cambridge<br />(kitty corner from the big Lutheran Church)<br /><br />Give her a call to find out what food to bring!<br />at 763 227-7209<br /><br />ALSO be planning for the <strong><em>Gathering next weekend</em></strong> which will be right after the<br /><strong>Spiritual Warfare Conference at the Fish House (5:00 pm in the upper level)<br />It's a CHILI FEED!</strong><br /><br />So bring your favorite recipe and learn some Israeli cirlce dances<br />while you are there!<br /><br />The Topic is (of course) Spiritual Warfare - "Giving the Keys back to the Church"<br />Go to the Journey's main site for more details and to register: <a href="http://www.thejourney-ecmn.org/">http://www.thejourney-ecmn.org/</a>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-51724808180190509232009-10-11T23:15:00.000-07:002009-10-11T23:20:56.613-07:00COMING UP THIS MONTH<strong>NEXT HOUSE CHURCH MEETING AT OUR HOUSE</strong><br /><strong>Saturday October 17th - 5:00 p.m.</strong><br /><strong>1087 - 313th in Cambridge</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Bring your favorite oriental food (in honor of Becky Roby's birthday!)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>ON THE 24th we will be at Meg's on North Main</strong><br /><strong>Food (to be determined)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>HALLOWEEN WEEKEND SPIRITUAL WARFARE CONFERENCE &</strong><br /><strong>GATHERING AT THE FISH HOUSE! (see the main website for details: </strong><br /><strong><a href="http://www.thejourney-ecmn.org/">www.thejourney-ecmn.org</a></strong>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-19340384597279293352009-10-08T16:12:00.000-07:002009-10-08T16:19:25.562-07:00UPCOMING EVENTS!!!<ul><li><strong>Blue Fish Meet</strong> Saturday at Rick & Lori's, 937 Golden Way, Isanti 5:00 p.m. bring your favorite kind of chicken, or a side dish.</li><li><strong>Spritual Warfare Conference </strong>will be held <strong>October 30, 31 @ The Fish House! </strong>Begins 6:30 p.m. Friday night and includes a ministry opportunity Saturday night at 8pm.</li><li><strong>Gathering will also be at The Fish House </strong>and will include an Israeli worship dance team to stir things up a bit.</li></ul>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-12699439874547473802009-09-22T10:41:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.465-07:00NOTES ON HOW THE CHURCH IS LED<div align="justify">THE STRENGTH OF OUR WILL</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Today I spotted an article in the September 21, 2009 issue of "Leadership Journal" by John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ortberg</span> called: <em>The Strong-Willed Leader: There is a difference between a surrendered will and a weak will. </em>I was really encouraged to see this come to light, because over the 27 years that I have been involved with the church as an institution, I have consistently encountered teaching - both specific and implied - that God's plan for us is have no will of our own. I have observed that the resulting passivity of church culture in America, particularly as it is encouraged in the "laity" or attenders, is linked to the taking away of the "key" in Luke 11:52; It hinders those who are trying to enter the Kingdom, or domain of God. Then there is that disturbing statement in Matthew 11:12 about "violent men" taking the Kingdom by force. </div><p align="justify">So how do we square that Jesus both <em>"set His face to go to Jerusalem" </em>in Luke 10:51, and yet only always did what He saw His Father doing? (John 5:19) It doesn't seem a mystery to me any more. It has a lot to do with what we believe God wants from us, and what He will do if we bow our heart to Him. You see, every other god (and I use this term in the broadest sense) seeks to take power from us - to use us, and use us up. The true God is the only One who can afford to give us more power than He takes from us. (Note the promises in Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:20, e.g.)But old habits are hard to break - we have been taught by our other gods that to come under the authority of another means we must disengage our will. At the same time we are doing this (which I beleieve is very offensive to God - kind of like bonevolent adoptive parents bringing a child home only to see him crippled by a constant, parylizing fear that they are going to beat and abuse him), He is all about the task of healing and rebuilding our will so that it is functioning again - evidenced by the ability to daily <em>choose </em>to follow Him. (Romans 8:14)</p><div align="justify">More could be said about this - and I hope that we as the Church will begin to grow in this understanding: that God comes to empower and repair our will, and to equip us for the spiritual battle field we live in. Passivity is not close to godlikeness - rather it takes an incredibly strong and healthy will for us to do as Jesus did in setting His face toward Jerusalem, for this where our cross awaits us...the one we are to take up daily as we follow our Savior.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Grace & Peace</div><div align="justify"></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-3128299992357385282009-09-05T10:40:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.479-07:00EVENTS COMING UP<strong>THE GATHERING - SEPTEMBER 26TH AT THE SHED!</strong><br /> The Topic is <em>"Hearing from God - Why at least every Christian has already heard God's voice"</em><br /><br />The Shed (34092 Vickers Street NE in Cambridge) has been offered by Dale Forslin for us to meet starting this month! To show our thanks we are going to be out there <strong>next Saturday the 12t</strong>h to work on clean up and whatever else is needed.<br /><br />Plan to be out there from <strong>noon to about 4:00 p.m.</strong>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-29639072236446703372009-09-05T10:18:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.487-07:00LATEST EXCITEMENT IN THE JOURNEY<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SqKeN-hrZgI/AAAAAAAAANc/86ype9WEegY/s1600-h/The+Journey+Baptism+027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378034867993536002" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 320px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SqKeN-hrZgI/AAAAAAAAANc/86ype9WEegY/s320/The+Journey+Baptism+027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, we had four baptisms in July, and our August Gathering was filled with sharing around a campfire in the park - what God is doing among us.<br /><br />The Blue Fish house church has been on an amazing journey around learning to invite the Spirit of God to teach us - as Jesus promised He would. (John 16 :12-15) We are going to breakout discussions with questions that send us into the Bible for answers, and seeing how God speaks to all of us - It has been amazing.<br /><br />But lately we have been tugging on the meaning of "ministry" to each other, and what ministry really means. Ministry has been defined by some as "Our needs being met by God's resources", but how do God's resources get involved? We recognize that the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit are our only hope of "ministry" happening, so we have to go to God with our hands and hearts open, while at the same time we test what comes to us by its:<br /><ol><li>Consistency with Scripture, </li><li>Confirming fruit, and </li><li>Confession of Jesus Christ as Lord</li></ol><p>We are beginning to see healing and freedom among us - but it's a learning process. We find we have been affected by all kinds of teaching and perspectives on these things - But as long as we can all defer to the authority of Scripture, we are going to find our way through the experiential part of our walk. He will complete the work He began in us!</p>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-34452301446638505742009-07-20T21:08:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.497-07:00JULY 25TH GATHERING - "SAVED - BORN AGAIN" WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SmVBL9vm4-I/AAAAAAAAAM8/BjaJSrbVlXw/s1600-h/Group+Standing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360762605263053794" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 130px; height: 75px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SmVBL9vm4-I/AAAAAAAAAM8/BjaJSrbVlXw/s320/Group+Standing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><em>Saturday July 25th from 5:00-8:00 at the Cambridge City Park</em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em>Food - Live band - Open mic - Drama group - Baptisms</em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><br /><div><em>See what the journey is about. It's the journey we are all on to discover the part of our existence that can't be measured in a lab; The part of our world that has to be learned by heart. Come and eat, sing, share your journey with others, or just hear from regular people what they are discovering in their own journeys. All are welcome.</em></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-39823513796863433272009-06-26T19:23:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.506-07:00THE GATHERING - SATURDAY JUNE 27th5-8 p.m. at the Cambridge City Park<br /> THEME: PRAYER - "<em>What is it and does it really change anything</em>?"<br />Food at 5:00 - Worship and Open Mic at 6:00<br /><br />Bring friends and stories of answered prayer!<br /><br /><strong><em>For Home Church group information go to </em><a href="http://www.thejourney-ecmn.org/">www.thejourney-ecmn.org</a> </strong>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-74965077146026995462009-05-31T18:07:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.516-07:00WAR & HEALING IN THE KINGDOMSATURDAY NIGHT, May 30th, the house churches of the Journey had a Gathering at Cambridge City Park to celebrate personal victories and healing. Victory never comes without a battle - so the two themes: war and healing, come together in our human experience.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342958796075936498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 130px; height: 97px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SiYAt4GnqvI/AAAAAAAAAM0/tB0O3ZpLqs0/s320/Group+on+the+Hill.jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342957993526248674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 130px; height: 97px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SiX__KX3ROI/AAAAAAAAAMc/hppm3wHx9jk/s320/Group+on+Hill2.jpg" border="0" /><br />When it comes to addictions, (those things that take control of our lives against our better intentions) it often requires a true battle to evict them from the claim they have on our lives. These are the things that are "energized" by the Ephesians 6:12 struggle, not just with our own weaknesses, but against spiritual enemies, <em>without bodies</em>. Submission to God is only a first step when it comes to confronting these "strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4), we have to take a second step. James 4:7 states we have to also "resist", as do Ephesians 6:13 and 1Peter 5:8.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342957997709145186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 97px; height: 130px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SiX__Z9JNGI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Mv2nEoKS64U/s320/Stump1.jpg" border="0" /><br />Few of us were taught this dynamic when we learned about Jesus, how ever we came to know about Him. Yet, about a third of Jesus's ministry involved "resisting" these evil spirit beings, starting with Satan himself in the wilderness. We also see Him resisting the money changers in the temple courts with a camel whip. Not the classic "gentle Jesus" we see in the paintings. When He was resisting, He was never praying, so His example takes us outside of the teaching of even most current books out on the topic of "spiritual warfare". In Jesus's ministry, there was no such thing as "warfare prayer". War was war, and prayer was prayer.<br /><br />Once the dust settles, after the battle is won and the enemy is out of the "house" (that is, our bodies - God's intended temple), Jesus the Carpenter needs to go to work restoring the areas of our soul that have been damaged, including the paths that the enemy has worn so well in our mind, will and emotions. The battle is about driving out the enemy that is at war with God's design for our lives. - Healing is the restoration process after the enemy is out of the way. The picture we get from the Old Testament Tabernacle is helpful:<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342174252882554850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 279px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SiM3Lc9Nb-I/AAAAAAAAAMM/PP97f7phvFY/s320/Tabernacle+Detail.jpg" border="0" /><br />The teaching of Jesus ties the Tabernacle to our bodies as God's intended home, and so its design reflects the blueprint of our soul. God's idea of "salvation" gets real practical when we talk about removing any things that do not belong there, and inviting the Savior to set up housekeeping and start restoring and redecorating us - as <strong><em>His sacred place</em></strong>.<br /><br />How differently do we see our life when we consider that we have been made a "sacred place" - a temple of God Himself? Some of the words shared on Saturday night reflected the power of this truth. I think it is really God's passion that we see ourselves and others as sacred places, made to be inhabited by God's presence.<br /><br />Bob</p></div></div></div></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-14890268965955179182009-05-18T15:01:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.560-07:00EVENTS & PEOPLETHE JOURNEY - OPEN GATHERING<br />Food, Music and Open Mic to share what God is doing!<br />TOPIC: Healing & Addiction<br />May 30th from 5 to 8 p.m.<br />Cambridge City Park<br /><br />Our Weekly House Churches:<br />BLUE GROUP - Contact Bob & Becky - <a href="mailto:nogah@izoom.net">nogah@izoom.net</a><br />RED GROUP - Contact Josiah & Fancey - <a href="mailto:josiahlorsung@yahoo.com">josiahlorsung@yahoo.com</a><br />GREEN GROUP - Contact Scott & Tammie - <a href="mailto:stjmelliott@gmail.com">stjmelliott@gmail.com</a>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-76154081892535023972009-05-18T14:21:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.544-07:00"Look at what they make you give."The past few weeks, I was reminded of this phrase, spoken by Jason Bourne (acted by Matt Damon) in the third of the Bourne sequels, "Bourne Ultimatum". He had come to the end of any desire to play the game, and spared the life of another agent who was assigned to kill him. When the other agent asked why he didn't kill him to save himself, he answered with these words. "Because, look at what they make you give." He realized that they were all being driven by a third party to play a game that none of them could win. They were pawns, and the only way out was to stop playing, possibly at the cost of their lives - which were already forfeited anyway.<br /><br />None of us gets out of this life alive. All we can choose is what we will say to the world we live in with the time we have. There were many things in life that Jesus pointed out we could not hold onto as tightly if we were going to follow Him, and (as we would say) "Get a life!"<br /><ul><li>Devotion to extended family;</li><li>Devotion to employers without boundaries;</li><li>Devotion to financial gain;</li><li>Devotion to religious traditions.</li></ul><p>I think we all see the battle in one or more of these areas on at least a weekly basis. For us in the journey, we are finding out the cost of carving out a different life rhythm as we try to walk with one another in closer proximity...and finding out that transformation always comes at a price: something like taking up our cross. It's not that Jesus didn't pay it all, it's just that getting the "flesh" (patterns, habits and attachments) out of the way is really painful. But God gives enough grace to survive it. </p><p>So, why did Jesus have to die? Partly, to show us the cost of following Him in <strong><em>life.</em></strong> Why would anyone follow Jesus in dying to what is a "normal" life to us? Maybe my answer to that is to say, "Because,...look at what <em><strong>we</strong></em> made <strong><em>Him</em></strong> give!"</p>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-28603679769876958142009-05-12T19:11:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.569-07:00GATHERINGS AND PEOPLEPREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER WALK FOR LIFE<br /><em>Come Help us Keep this Life Saving Station Open!!</em><br />Saturday May 16th - Register 9 a.m., Walk 10 a.m.<br />Cambridge City Center Mall Parking Lot - Call 763 689-4319<br /><br />THE JOURNEY - OPEN GATHERING<br /><em>Food, Music and Open Mic to share what God is doing!</em><br />TOPIC: <strong>Healing & Addiction</strong><br />May 30th from 5 to 8 p.m.<br />Cambridge City Park<br /><br /><em>Our Weekly House Churches:</em><br />BLUE GROUP - Contact Bob & Becky - <a href="mailto:nogah@izoom.net">nogah@izoom.net</a><br />RED GROUP - Contact Josiah & Fancey - <a href="mailto:josiahlorsung@yahoo.com">josiahlorsung@yahoo.com</a><br />GREEN GROUP - Contact Scott & Tammie - <a href="mailto:stjmelliott@gmail.com">stjmelliott@gmail.com</a>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-12716117420969956612009-05-12T18:47:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.552-07:00DIGGING INTO WHY JESUS HAD TO DIEOn April 25th at the Gathering, The Journey brought us to look into why Jesus had to die. We had a few passages of Scripture and divided them among three groups, who looked them up and listened to what God might be saying to us about them. When we got back together, we were all in awe of how the Spirit of God had spoken to us - we were energized by the power of God and how He had set up so many events in history to speak of the meaning of Jesus's sacrifice.<br /><br />If you would like to follow our Journey through Scripture on this topic and see what God might say to you, here are the Scriptures for the last two weeks in May:<br /><br /><em>Week Three - </em>Fulfillment of the Law:<br />(1) Jesus fulfilled the requirement of the law, that sin results in death, but since He had no sin, His payment could be applied to us. He drank our cup of judgment, and gave us His cup of “blessing”. (Matt. 20:22, 26:39, John 18:11, 1Cor. 10:16)<br />(2) Jesus as Son of Man and Son of God holds both delegated dominion and effective dominion in this world (Matt. 28:18).<br />(3) Through His perfect sacrifice He prepared us for adoption (Galatians 4:8ff) and restored our spiritual dominion/authority in this world (Ephesians 2:6).<br /><br /><em>Week Four - </em>The Lamb of God has Unique Authority<br />(1) Jesus identified as the Lamb of God (John 1:29)<br />(2) Jesus worshipped as the Lamb who is Worthy (Rev 5:12)<br /><br />We will be jumping into a new topic starting May 30 at our Gathering in the City Park in Cambridge (5 to 8 p.m.) - "<strong>HEALING & ADDICTION" </strong>. All are welcome to hang out with us there!Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267058993517704283.post-33974698756128181312009-04-29T08:31:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:32:11.652-07:00The GatheringLast Saturday people from our three house churches, and other friends <em>rushed <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SfhzjN7dmHI/AAAAAAAAAK8/BVaC1R6o5Ck/s1600-h/2994_180323195152_730525152_6788687_4957816_s.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330137207864662130" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 73px; height: 106px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/SfhzjN7dmHI/AAAAAAAAAK8/BVaC1R6o5Ck/s320/2994_180323195152_730525152_6788687_4957816_s.jpg" border="0" /></a></em> <div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>over to the Fair Grounds for a Gathering and ate (of course), shared some stories, </div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330137786432983330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 130px; height: 97px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/Sfh0E5Q5kSI/AAAAAAAAALM/QOWHb27FgQk/s320/2994_180325120152_730525152_6788771_4995727_s.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div>and generally enjoyed doing some music and hanging out together.</div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330137787401432770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 130px; height: 97px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/Sfh0E83y7sI/AAAAAAAAALU/SVP4MBWqMHw/s320/2994_180326490152_730525152_6788800_7483328_s.jpg" border="0" /> The Historical Society building was nice...</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330137791809950642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 96px; height: 130px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/Sfh0FNS3k7I/AAAAAAAAALc/3cFBl0hwz7A/s320/2994_180329225152_730525152_6788850_6571567_s.jpg" border="0" />...it had plenty of room inside,<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330137785929125730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 130px; height: 97px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/Sfh0E3YxT2I/AAAAAAAAALE/ruQYTNjs5jA/s320/2994_180323260152_730525152_6788695_7474020_s.jpg" border="0" /> and outside, <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330139344591501538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 96px; height: 130px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iprCaYjrdgs/Sfh1fl21uOI/AAAAAAAAALk/WzY4QUhPmG8/s320/2994_180326520152_730525152_6788801_6306375_s.jpg" border="0" />...but of course it wasn't as homey as our houses. Even so, we shared some of the amazing things that God is up to among us, and it was a great party! The topic of the night was: "Why did Jesus need to Die?" - looking at Easter just a couple of weeks ago. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So, Why? Was it to prove what God was willing to give? He had one son that was His - an amazing leader and teacher who healed and transformed lives wherever he went. God was excited about Him - In fact the only times He spoke out loud in the New Testament part of the Bible, He was bragging about Him; like "Look at My Son, I am really happy about Him!" and "Here is My Son; listen to Him!" So why did God send Him to a cross to die? </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>He had asked us all through the Old Testament to make HIM our greatest treasure - to show it by giving up the things we needed most for our security (the best of the sheep, the harvest, our "treasures"). Was giving His Son a way of showing that He was making US <em>HIS</em> greatest treasure? That He would trade His Son's life for us?!?!?! That's sure what it looks like to me.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>It says that Jesus, "for the joy set before him, endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:2. It seems the Son of God had joy in opening the way for us to find His Dad - God didn't make Him do it. So that had something to do with it as well. But it seems so drastic...wasn't there another way? Jesus asked God the same thing (Matthew 26:39). There wasn't. Our sin problem was really that bad. That's what I don't think we can get somehow: that it's really that hard to get a new heart - a new life - a clean slate. We can't do it ourselves. So, it's either let what Jesus did be enough for me - 'cause God said it was - or sit in my stew and try to keep adding things to make it taste right. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So, once I accept God's help - the Jesus solution - I have to keep asking God to help me out of my stew on a regular basis. I still add things that mess it up. But that's what grace is for: not a one time event, but a lifestyle of giving back to God. I am one thankful guy! </div></div>Nogahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08029349609071635670noreply@blogger.com2