Dream Team Summit

Our Dream Team Summit was tremendous last Saturday. We discovered 12 core values of Bethel Temple as nearly 100 people completed a core values discovery tool. Then, each table had to work through their lists of 12. Finally, all 14 tables put their lists on the board and narrowed to 12 core values.

It was an exciting exercise. We are working to put the twelve values into 12 memorable phrases or sentences as we move toward our Vision Sunday in February.

There are three more summits left where we will complete a community analysis, ministry analysis, and dream discovery. Everyone is invited.

Wild Goose Chase

Just finished Mark Batterson's latest book--Wild Goose Chase. I loved it and recommend it to everyone. It's full of challenging and inspiring stories and ideas. One of the concepts he talks about is setting life goals.

I'm going to make that one of my 90 day goals--to take a day or two and start a list of 101 things I want to do in life. Mark, has a guide to help you do that on his blog http://www.markbatterson.com/.

On my 26-book plan, I'm still reading American Sphinx by Joseph Ellis. It's good, but not has good as Founding Brothers or His Excellency (George Washington). I read two or three at a time, so this week I start on Primal Leadership and It.

Congratulations to Pastor Dobie Weasel and Christian Life Assembly

Congratulations to Dobie and Jamie Weasel on their election as the new senior pastor at Christian Life Assembly.

I pray God's best on you and the congregation as you work to advance the agenda of the Kingdom of God in Des Moines and across Iowa. CLA is a great church. I know they will love you and you will love them. Exciting days are ahead!

Dream Again Follow Up

This morning we put together an outline for a great plan to follow up on the Dream Again series that utlizes dream coaches and dream groups to help people turn the dreams into realities. Right now, the coaches will help the groups walk through the following eight steps:

1. Open Your Mind to God (Inspiration)
2. Do Some Research (Investigation)
3. Ask for Advice (Consultation)
4. Establish Priorities (Prioritization)
5. Evaluate the Cost (Evaluation)
6. Anticipate Challenges (Preoparation)
7. Face Your Fears (Confrontation)
8. Get Started (Initiation)

Sundays, we're trying to inspire for the dream. Through these coaches and groups, we will practically equip for the dream.

Dream Again Message 2

Yesterday, we had a great day at Bethel as we continued the Dream Again message series with the message Uncage Your Dream. Here is the outline:

Five Cages for Our Dreams
1. The Cage of Friends and Family
2. The Cage of Fatigue
3. The Cage of Formulas
4. The Cage of Fear
5. The Cage of Forgetfulness

Keys to Uncage the Dream

1. D ecide Who Your Friends Are
2. R enew Your Spirit
3. E xpand Your Thinking
4. A ccept and Act on the Word of Jesus
5. M editate on God's Goodness

Note from Sunday

Here's a note from Sunday:

This is my first time for myself and son at Bethel and I feel at home. This is a beautiful church, friendly, and full of love for the Lord. Thank you for having us. My nephew invited us and I am glad he did. We will be back.

She and her son were one of nearly 50 new families who worshipped with us Sunday. Amazing!

Dare to Dream...Again

Here are the notes from Sunday:

The Curse of the Dreamless
1. Frustration
2. Boredom
3. Regret

The Chorus of the Dreamers
1. It's never too late.
2. It's never too early.
3. It's never too much.

Three Steps to Dreaming Again
1. Look Out--Exposure creates the climate for the dream.
2. Look Up--God is the dream giver.
3. Look Beyond--You have to look beyond your current condition to see the dream become a reality in your life.

Thank you to everyone for making our installation celebration so special. We are excited about what God is doing at Bethel!