Snow Day

Hey Branch Family Church! Thanks to the rare Charlotte snow storm we are not having Sunday services at Mallard Creek or Ballantyne. So stay home, watch the video below and be the Church. Hope you stay warm and toasty... see you next week!

Don't call me Pastor!

ROCHESTER, Minn. — At The Circle, a young, innovative church which meets in a renovated bus depot, there is no pulpit, platform or pastor, as such. The congregation rejects the labels "Christian" and "congregation," preferring "followers of Jesus" and "friendship community."
There are no ushers, but rather "helpers."
There is no worship team, but rather "God artists."
And woe to anyone who affixes traditional church labels to any of it.
"God's doing a new thing here," says Mitch Townsend, the leader of the church. He shuns the "pastor" label and insists people call him, "Hey, man," or simply "Dude." If someone slips and calls him "pastor," he bristles and gently rebukes them.
"We got rid of all those old labels," he says. "There's no going back."
At the church office, which they never call a church office but rather "the Hub," secretaries, or "community action facilitators" as they are called here, tap-tap on computers (which they still call computers) and take calls.
When a visitor slips up and refers to The Circle's "sanctuary," Dude Townsend cuts him short.
"Listen, it's not a sanctuary, it's a meeting place, a gathering place," he says, flushing red.
"Sorry, pastor," the visitor says.
"Not pastor," says Townsend. "Dude, or friend. Or just hey, Mitch."
"Sorry, Dude Mitch," the visitor says uncomfortably, and slinks away. Mitch quickly goes to him and hugs him.
"We're all about love and freedom here," he says. "I know it's hard to get used to."
At a Sunday morning "gathering," as services must be called, people sit in chairs arranged in circle around a "focal point" (not a platform) and listen to the team of God-artists play instruments and sing "songs of adoration and devotion to the Creator," as opposed to praise and worship music. The gathered "posse of Jesus followers" is free to sing along and to express themselves in any way that seems "real and authentic."
"We strive to be genuine here," says non-pastor "Hey, Jim" Richards, who in another setting might be called an associate pastor. "It's about being who you are, not fitting into a pre-determined box."
Before Dude Mitch's personal sharing time (which markedly resembles a sermon), one visitor raises her hand and says, "Is there going to be an altar call? Because I really want to give my life to Jesus today."
Dude Mitch answers quickly, "We don't have altar calls here; we have 'God moments' or 'Creator re-connects.' And we don't say 'give your life to Jesus,' but you may begin a lifelong love relationship with the Creator-Friend, if you like. But please wait until we are done with sharing time."
After the service, "new friends" join in the "kick-back hall" for refreshments and conversation with the Dudes and other Hub personnel. They may also join a mid-week "hang-out crew" of 10-12 people which meets in a home, and which is steadfastly not referred to as a "small group."
"Anyone who wants a break from normal, rigid church life is welcome at The Circle," says Townsend. •

2003 LarkNews.com.

Training for Peace

Sarah and I have been potty training Kate. Well, more Sarah than Derek. This morning when she woke up, she had a dry pull-up and I took her straight to the potty. I tend to come in when the training is almost complete so I can feel like I contributed, but we all know who did all the real work! In life, training, teaching, instruction and discipline are all necessary for development and growth. Neglect these and you will end up with an 18 year old daughter in Dora the Explorer Pull-ups! God trains us for this life through His Word. If you love His instruction there will be peace. If you don't you will make a mess all over yourself and others. This Sunday we discussed training for peace. Listen online @ BranchChurch.org or download the Podcast @ iTunes.

The Branch Family Church

Training for Peace

Get Planted

Psalm 34:11-14 – Search and Work for peace. KJV says seek peace and pursue it.

Are you searching and working for peace? You will accomplish more in 2010 if you do!

Grow Strong

Hebrews 12:1-14 - A peaceful harvest of right living is the result of divine discipline.

dis·ci·pline - training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.

Psalm 94:12 - God’s discipline brings joy.

Proverbs1:2-3,7 / Proverbs 3:11 / Proverbs 10:17 / Proverbs 12:1

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Read the Bible and let it teach you to do what is right.

2 Timothy 1:7 - Two spirits are at work. Which one will you work with?

Branch Out

1 Peter 3:10-12 Message - Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.

Faith for Peace

Peace takes work! Sarah and I have to work on our relationship to maintain peace in our home. It all starts with faith, but results in actions that literally produce peace in the middle of our busy lives. Maybe you feel overwhelmed and peace seems like a distant dream. There are practical steps you can take to have more peace. This Sunday at the Branch we dig into God's prescription for peace. Here are my notes and you can listen online @BranchChurch or get the Podcast from iTunes.

The Branch Family Church

Faith For Peace

Get Planted

Psalm 34:11-14 – Search and Work for peace. KJV says seek peace and pursue it.

Are you searching and working for peace? You will accomplish more in 2010 if you do!

Grow Strong

Hebrews 11:1,6 - Faith is required to have peace. Peace is most realized in the midst of a storm. Peace is not a lack of conflict... Peace is walking through conflict with confidence and rest. So how do you get peace?

1. Get the Word of Peace - Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 119:163 & 2 Peter 1:3-4 Your ticket to participate with peace!
2. Pray for Peace - 1 Timothy 2:1-3 & Jeremiah 29:7
3. Speak Peace - Psalm 85:7-9; Luke 4:17-24; Matthew 8:26, Matthew 6:31-33

"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart."

- St. Francis of Assisi

Branch Out

Romans 15:13-14 - When you have peace you will teach others with your words and life.

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear... That old law about "an eye for an eye" leaves everybody blind... The time is always right to do the right thing... Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Will Work For Peace

Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in war factories during World War II, many of whom worked in the manufacturing plants that produced munitions and materiel. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who were in the military. They were willing to get in the workforce and do what it took to support the war effort. They literally worked for peace. The Bible tells us to do the same. Are you willing to roll up your sleeves and work for peace? Listen online @ BranchChurch.org or get the Podcast.

Branch Family Church

Search & Work for Peace

Get Planted

Isaiah 26:12 – Peace results when you give God glory.

Psalm 34:11-14 – KJV says seek peace and pursue it.

Are you searching and working for peace? You will accomplish more in 2010 if you do!

Matthew 5:9 - Want the blessing on your work... Work for Peace.

Grow Strong

Romans 5:1 - Peace is yours because of what Jesus has done.

Romans 8:6 - What are you thinking?

John 14:26-28 - The best gift ever!

James 3:17 - Make the peace / wisdom connection

Amplified - But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

Branch Out

Peace is an attribute of God’s wisdom.

Isaiah 50:4 - Widsom is needed to comfort the weary and understand God’s will.

Colossians 3:12-15 - All these traits will be found in the Church. Peace is your calling.

2 Corinthians 13:11 - Joy, Growth, Maturity, Encouragement and Harmony can be expected when we search and work for peace.

Rewind and Replay

Happy New Year! 2010... Wow, I seriously thought we would be traveling via personal jetpack by now! Oh well, it is a good time to forget and remember. Forget the bad stuff and remember the faithfulness of God. I love the energy of a fresh new year and this year I have my hope dial turned up to 11. God is set to do great things for you this year. Sunday I set a foundation for the Branch in 2010, so listen up @BranchChurch.org or click the picture for the Podcast.

The Branch Family Church
Rewind & Replay

Get Planted

Philippians 3:13 – Paul tells us to forget.
2 Timothy 1:5 – Paul tells us to remember.

Grow Strong

Hebrews 3:6-12 – Hear God’s voice everyday. Recall the past faithfulness of God to avoid becoming hardhearted.
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 – Compare your situation to Paul and get strength to continue.

Fussing always ends in sin. We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious, because he was never “out” to realize His own idea; He was “out” to realize God’s ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God…. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.

- Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest”

Lamentations 3:19-26 – Hope for the future comes when you see your past in the light of the faithfulness of God.
Hebrews 10:32-39 – Recall the day of your salvation. Stay confident and endure!

Branch Out

Galatians 6:7 – Remember the law of sowing and reaping applies to everyone. Sow what you desire to reap.
Romans 15:1-14 – Pray and be confident of God’s ability to work His will in others.
Revelation 12:11 – Be open. Share your past struggles and victories with others.