#1

My blog is #1! I can't believe it, but it's true. Let me explain. Someone found my blog yesterday from a Google search. That alone isn't unusual, that happens quite frequently.

There was something about this search that was different. The person did a search with the following word string: servant leaders working together in unity. Go ahead, do a Google search of your own.

Here's what you'll find - Creating Space For One More Person is listed #1! Wow! Now granted, the search string is rather specific. But still, my little blog site is listed #1 out of 1,410,000 search results.

Now, I realize that there's some irony in all of this. My kids are giving me a hard time. They say that a servant leader shouldn't care who's #1! True indeed.

So, go ahead and laugh if you must and give me a hard time if you want. I still can't believe that I could rank #1 in a Google search. So there you go. And now you know. Servant leader blog site rated #1!

Starting Point

The new Starting Point class met this morning for this first time. We had an awesome group with 24 new people in attendance. The goal of Starting Point is to help people take the "next step" in their relationship with Christ and to connect with our New Covenant family. It will be fun to see how people from this group become involved and connected.

So what do you think? What questions do you have about New Covenant? What topics or areas do you want us to cover in Starting Point?

We're off to a great start. If you are new or feel unconnected, Starting Point is the next step for you. Feel free to stop by any Sunday at 9:20 AM in the Library. We'll keep a chair open for you.

Building Community ~ Connecting People

We had an outstanding Small Group Conference this morning with around 140 people in attendance representing 15 different churches. Russ was fantastic. He spoke two times on The Case for Community and Small Group Leaders: God's Catalyst For Life Change. Over the next several days I will be posting my notes and thoughts from the Conference. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the Conference.

The first evidence that Russ presented for The Case for Community is The Theological Case. God has never been alone. He is a community being in His essence.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26

The Trinity is the forebearer of marriage and the church. We can be separate yet one; plural and singular at once.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32

Jesus left the crowds to spend time with the few. And then at the end of His life, He prays that His followers would be one. He prays that they would establish community according to the Trinitarian design.

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. John 17:11-12

Jesus prayed that His disciples would be one, that they would experience a community that is hard to imagine.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21

It was a great morning. It's a great vision. It's a great call .... Building Community ~ Connecting People.

The Real Deal

New Covenant is one of the sponsors of the Small Group Conference tomorrow with Russ Robinson. Russ is the author of The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry and a small group expert. We heard Russ at the Advanced Small Group Conference at Willow Creek in May and were really impressed with his heart for God and people.

The sponsor churches had a special session with Russ over lunch today. In addition to all of his other credentials, Russ is a small group practitioner. He speaks from a place of experience.

Hi-lights of the session for me today:

• Russ has a great concern for the future of the small group movement in the US. It goes against 2000 years of church history.
• The early church adapted the Jewish synagogue model with an emphasis on place and person, becoming the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
• After the Reformation, the Protestant Church adapted a model with an emphasis on place, person and programs.
• Change from a program model of ministry to an organic small group model takes more work and time than most people realize.
• Have a clear picture of what your church would look like after the transition.
• Be patient, set priorities and have a ten year view in mind. Everything doesn't need to, and can't, change in one year.

I'm really encouraged regarding where we're at in this transition. Mark Forstrom and Mark Eades have both incorporated small groups in a greater way in youth ministry this year. High School has added Pods on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays and Middle School has added Huddles on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. Men's Fraternity will connect men in community around tables as they discuss the topic presented each week on DVD. We have recruited over 60 Hosts so far for the fall Impact Series.

We have a long way to go to connect every person in our church to a small group, but we are well on our way. There is no substitute for meeting face to face with a small group of people to discuss Bible truth and share life together.

We are fortunate to have someone of Russ's stature in town to speak. Do whatever you can to get to the conference tomorrow morning. You won't be disappointed! Russ is the real deal.

Wow!

What an incredible evening. This was our first Family Night and the worship center was rock'n! The theme for the evening was the character quality of Respect. The Turn It Up worship team led in some dynamic worship, Brad Dunn and Daphne Vincent hosted the evening, Mark Forstrom shared some Parenting Tips regarding how to teach respect in our homes, the Puppet Team performed, and Pastor Mick led an interactive family activity and introduced some "winning" families. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the evening.

It was awesome to see 560 families members in the worship center, learning and worshipping together. The energy level was through the roof! Family Night promises to be one of the highlights of the month. It's exciting to think that hundreds of New Covenant families will be working on the character quality of Respect throughout the month.

Families will be memorizing key Scripture verses together. Conversations will be taking place around meal tables about how God's Word applies to daily living. And parents and kids alike will be working on respectful behavior that honors one another! Wow!

Welcome to Men's Ministry

Our Men's Ministry prepared breakfast this morning to kick off the fall. Ken Owen's egg casserole was great and the welcome at the door was even greater. Several men shared testimonies regarding the Promise Keepers trip last weekend. And of course Matt Thede lead us in a time of worship. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the morning.

The Men's Ministry is off to a great start. Men's Fraternity begins next Wednesday and we are hoping and preparing for 100 men. Kudos to our Men's Ministry and Men's Fraternity Leadership Teams. It was a great morning, but the best is yet to come! Welcome to Men's Ministry!

Integrity

How the mighty have fallen. One of America's leading businesswomen, Hewlett-Packard chairwoman Patricia Dunn, announced her resignation today and acknowledged that she authorized an investigation that has plunged her company into turmoil.

Her rise to the top of American business began in the typing pool, and her fall began with her attempt to stop leaks to the news media that came from her own boardroom. While it's legal for companies to monitor the e-mails and phone calls employees make when they are on the job, HP resorted on deception. To uncover the source of the leaks, the company hired investigators who allegedly impersonated board members to obtain personal records.

Increasingly we are learning that the individuals and institutions that we once trusted are no longer trustworthy. Trust is the lubrication that makes relationships and business work. Our society is in a moral crisis. But don't just take my word for it. Look at what the news analysts have to say!

"I'm appalled, and I'm appalled because HP is not an ordinary company," said Silicon Valley analyst Paul Saffo. "It's an icon here in Silicon Valley. And once upon a time, it stood for something. The HP name remains, but the HP culture we all knew and respected is long gone," Saffo said.

"HP has lost its way so completely that a new warm body at the head of the table won't help," says Frank Hayes, Computerworlds Senior News Columnist. "HP needs a values transplant. Hard as it is to believe, the company that once was the epitome of wise management in the IT business has become a corrupt, dysfunctional travesty of itself. We need an HP with integrity."

All this from a company that prides itself on the HP Way and the following shared values:

• We are passionate about customers
• We have trust and respect for individuals
• We perform at a high level of achievement and contribution
• We act with speed and agility
• We deliver meaningful innovation
• We achieve our results through teamwork and
• We conduct our business with uncompromising integrity

We are reminded in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt. Our sin nature pulls us toward deceit and deception. Maybe holding both CEO and Chairman of the Board positions simultaneously isn't a good idea.

We are in need of heart transplants. And even as followers of Christ, we are not immune. We need mutual accountability with delegated authority. We are in need servant leaders who steward the influence that God has given to them and are willing be held accountable for their actions. We are in need of men and women with integrity.

Blogger Buzz

You may have noticed that I upgraded to Bloggers new Beta version of software. I was getting ready to migrate my blog over to Type Pad right when Blogger released their new, improved version. Several features that I was looking for included:

• The ability to label posts. The list of my labels is on the right hand column of my blog. You are now able to sort through my blog by selecting labels or categories that are of interest to you. For instance, I have assigned this post with the "technology" label.
• It is now easier to customize the layout of my blog. You will note that I have added a Flickr photo badge and a list of Books I have read in the right hand column.
• Publishing is now quicker and easier and there are more templates to choose from.

All in all, I'm really pleased with the improvements Blogger has made. The Labels weren't working at first so I emailed Support to report the bug. Several days later the bug was fixed and the Blogger Support Team visited my blog to see if it was working properly and then sent me a followup email. Not bad for free software!

So, what do you think? Do you enjoy the new enhancements? Have you ever considered publishing your own personal blog? Let me know what you think.

Welcome Lunch

We had another great Welcome Lunch yesterday with over 120 people in attendance! Wow, the attendance even exceeded the 110 people that we were planning for. A special "thank you" to Ken and the rest of our Kitchen Team! You can click on the picture above to see a slideshow of the lunch.

I'm looking forward to Starting Point next week. My number one priority this week is to finish up the materials we will be using. I'm expecting great things.

If you're new to New Covenant, welcome to our church family. Stop in and check out Starting Point next week. We will save a chair for you.

It's A Cyclone State

You know, that Bernice is OK. I like her wardrobe selection. I think she looks great in Crimson and Gold. All that she is lacking is her Red Hat!

Bernice is New Covenant's number one Cyclone fan. She knows a winner when she sees one! This being rivalry week with the other state university in Iowa City, Bernice is getting an early start on preparing for the big game.

Go Bernice! Go Clones! It's a Cyclone State!

Never Forget

How can we ever forget the news accounts, the images, and the sounds of September 11, 2001? How can we ever forget the images of Flights 11 and 175 crashing into the Twin Towers, creating an impact that shook the entire world? How can we ever forget the stories of heroism and bravery that emerged from the rubble and ruin strewn across three states?

It's good to remember. It's good to pause and reflect on the goodness of God, our faith journey, His gracious provision and His faithfulness to His promises. It's also good to reflect on the power of evil, our propensity to become so easily distracted, and kingdom warfare that is going on for the hearts of people.

We need to be reminded that the days are evil and that we need to live wisely, making the most of every opportunity. (Ephesians 5:15-16) We need to be reminded that life is short and that we need to number our days. (Psalms 90:12) We need to be reminded that this world is not our home, that our real home is in heaven and that we are just passing through. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9). We need to be reminded that there are evil forces at work in the world, but that we can stand against them in the power of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:12, 13) We need to be reminded that we are to hate evil and to cling to what is good, and that evil can be overcome with good. (Romans 12:9, 21) We need to be reminded that within our own hearts resides evil desires that need to be put to death. (Colossians 3:5) We need to remember that the love of money is the root of all evil that can sabotage our faith. (1 Timothy 6:10)

It's good to take time to pause and reflect on the past and where we've come from. It's good to reflect on the future and where we want to go. It's good to look honesty at where we are at today. And it's good to reflect on God's presence and promises that have the power to transform us into His image in the midst of an evil generation.

It's good to look back. Might we always remember. May we never forget.

No Space Left

Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land. Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. Isaiah 5:8, 11

The passage above could be describing modern life in America. My previous post titled Alone quoted from a recent study which indicates that Americans are becoming more isolated and socially alone.

Our pursuit for the "American Dream" leaves us tired, stressed and with little time for developing relationships. Recent studies show that workers in the United States are putting in more hours than anyone else in the industrialized world, with Japan second.

Lawrence Jeff Johnson, the chief labor market economist who has led the International Labor Organization team in producing its new "Key Indicators of the Labor Market 2001-2002" study, says American workers are, per person, more productive than their counterparts in other countries. "But we're not the most efficient, when you compare it per hour, looking at the Belgians and the French."

Johnson says the Europeans' comparatively long vacations, four to six weeks per worker, may have something to do with this. "Maybe they're not so stressed" as American workers, who on the average may get two weeks' vacation. On the average, Americans worked 1978 hours in 2001. In comparison, the British worked 250 hours less and the Germans 500 hours less!

Many researches have noted that loneliness is prevalent in, and may even be encouraged by, the North American culture. They have reasoned that the North American culture emphasizes individual achievement, competitiveness, and impersonal social relating.

As a society and culture we are pursuing materialism at the expense of our spiritual and social health. We rise early in the morning and run to Starbucks for our morning drink. In the middle of our nice neighborhoods live scores of people who go to bed tired and lonely. We have traded margin for materialism. Our garages our filled with more stuff than we will ever need or use. Our calendars are filled with activities that keep us busy. Our hearts and minds are preoccupied with the next deal. There is no space left in which to live.

It Takes A Town

We just saw Cars this evening at the Collins Road Theatre. Cars is one movie that you need to see. The animation and scenery is spectacular, the characters are well developed and the story is charming!

Growing up in Toledo, Iowa, I could identify with Radiator Springs. Lincoln Highway was completed in 1913 and was the first coast to coast highway, spanning 3389 miles. The highway passed through the neighboring town of Tama and was later renamed Highway 30. Highway 30 was rerouted through Toledo in the early 1950s, right past my grandfathers chicken hatchery. Ever the entrepreneur, my grandfather, Loren Rank, singlehandedly remodeled the hatchery into the L-Ranko Motel.

The L-Ranko Motel (a rather unusual name, I know), King Tower Cafe, Shady Acres Motel, and Stones Restaurant became popular establishments along Highway 30 during the 50's and 60's. When I-80 opened in the 60's, automobile traffic and business along Highway 30 was permanently altered. And today, plans are underway to reroute Highway 30 around Toledo, similar to what has been done around LeGrande and Marshalltown.

Narrow two lane roads, small owner-operated businesses, stop signs and traffic have given way to high-speed four lane highways, franchised businesses and rest stops. Don't get me wrong, I prefer traveling on interstate highways. They are faster and safer. But nothing can substitute for the charm, personality, and uniqueness of local highways.

Which brings me back to Cars. Lightning McQueen was transformed from a self-absorbed superstar to a person who learned to value relationships and community over individual accomplishment. An unexpected stay in Radiator Springs on Route 66 introduced him to a small community that impacted the course of his life.

Cars reminds us that living in the fast lane isn't what brings meaning to our lives. That there is more to life than individual accomplishment. That small and old can sometimes be better. That life is meant to be lived in community with others. And that it takes a town in order to win.

Creating Space That Works~The Hospitality Center

The Hospitality Center at Lake Pointe Church is a warm and inviting space. Its location adjacent to the worship center make it easy for visitors to find. The transparent glass walls create a safe and welcoming environment. You can click on the picture above to see additional pictures of the room.

Visitors are invited to stop by the Hospitality Center after each service to meet their Senior Pastor and other hospitality volunteers. The warmth of the room makes it a very "visitor friendly" space. The transparency of the room breaks down relational barriers and facilitates connection and conversation.

Kudos to Lake Pointe for a creative, well executed design. The Hospitality Center is a space that works for me!

Creating Space That Works~The Tubes

The Tubes at Irving Bible Church in Dallas, Texas is one of the most unusual things I have ever seen in a church. The Tubes is more than a play area for children. It's a place for moms with young kids to connect with one another. The high ceiling, bright colors, and easy access to the public make this an attractive space that is used throughout the week.

Irving Bible had the vision for this project when they built their large community space adjacent to their new worship center. They acquired a used play set from McDonald's, allowing them to complete the project more economically.

The real value of The Tubes is the impact it has had on the community. Tommy Tucker, Director of Finance and Operations, tells the story of a young Buddhist mother from the neighborhood. She came in to the church one day and asked if her children could use The Tubes even though she didn't attend the church. She began to come on a regular basis with her children to play, and then several weeks later she attended one of their worship services!

Kudos to Irving Bible for a creative, well executed design. The Tubes is a space that works for me!

Who Speaks for Pluto - Part 2

Last month I wrote an entry titled Who Speaks for Pluto? It seems that Pluto has attracted a group of rebel astronomers who have launched a campaign to have it restored in pomp and glory. A petition already signed by more than 300 professional researchers is attacking the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decision to expel Pluto from the Solar System's A-list and doom it to the status of "dwarf planet".

The movement is beginning to pick up momentum and Pluto supporters intend to stage a conference next year to fix the definition of a planet. They expect that as many as 1,000 astronomers will attend.

Don't be surprised if this heads to the court of public opinion complete with bumper stickers, campaign television ads, and mailings. Tomorrows headline may well be, Pluto Demands A Recount!

Welcome to the Our Family

We enjoyed having Ryan and Natalie with us this past weekend. This was our first opportunity to meet Natalie in person and we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. For those who may not know, Ryan and Natalie are planning a November 18 wedding in Oklahoma. You can click on the picture above to see additional pictues of Ryan and Natalie.

Natalie is an awesome young woman! She has a heart for the Lord and a desire to serve Him. She enjoyes Britsh literature, the French language and culture, and Greek salads. Natalie endeared herself with Sharon and I with her love for coffee! But most importantly, she loves the Lord and Ryan!

We hope we didn't scare Natalie off this weekend! She has two brothers so she is used to guy stuff. We introduced her to Polish Uno, family pictures and stories, and the unedited version of life in the Pagel house. Natalie, welcome to our family!

Kick Off

Lukas the Linn-Mar Lion

The football season kicked off last night. It was a great evening for a game, maybe even a little too warm. Lukas was drenched in sweat by halftime when he changed out of his Lion suit for another person to take their shift.

The band sounded good for their first performance of the year, but the Lions football team faltered at the end of the game to loose to Jefferson. Josh and Jon had friends over after the game to inaugurate our new fire pit. And of course where there is fire, there are marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers for smores. You can click on the picture above to see a slideshow of the evening.

Ryan and Natalie drove up from Oklahoma for a weekend visit and arrived safely at midnight. Ryan had proposed to Natalie on August 11 and she said yes! We sat around the fire talking until 1:20 AM, enjoying the beautiful evening, sharing stories and memories. It was a great way to kick off the football season and a new friendship with our future daughter in-law.

Creating Space That Works~Prairie Lakes Cafe'

During the past twelve months I have visited a number of new churches, with the intention of learning as much as I can for our own building/relocation project. Through this exposure I have seen some architectural design features that I really like. I hope that some of these elements can be incorporated into our new facility.

During the next several months I plan to post a series titled, Creating Space That Works. I will share some of my favorite spaces. Let me know what you think.

This post I want to feature the cafe' at Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls. The high ceilings, plenty of natural light, comfortable seating, color scheme and table configuration all work for me. A children's playground adjacent to the cafe' make this a natural meeting spot for moms that want to connect with others during the day. Its convenient location off the main lobby make it accessible. One of the things that makes this cafe' unique is that it is completely staffed with volunteer labor! You can click on the picture above to see additional pictures.

Kudos to Prairie Lakes for a creative, well executed design. The Prairie Lakes cafe' is a space that works for me!

5th Tuesday

We had a fun "5th Tuesday Staff Picnic" this week complete with grilled hamburgers and a potluck lunch. And of course no Staff Picnic would be complete without a rousing game of Baggo and croquet! You can click on the picture above to see a short slideshow of our time.

Baggo may look like fun and games, but it's really quite competitive. As a matter of fact, if you stop by the office early enough in the morning you will see some of the support staff practicing their game!

It's great to hang out and serve with such a great group of people. And our staff team continues to change with JoDee Martin leaving to take a teaching position. This month we welcomed Kris Paulson aboard as Communications Director and Judy Greeb as Children's Ministry Administrative Assistant.

We all enjoy our work, but it's times like Tuesday that help us connect as family.