Pastor Jared Bangs hails from Cook, MN (population approx. 500), which is a stones throw from Canada, so it isn’t that Jared is Canadian but he is Canada-adjacent. Jared has taken a fairly unique role since becoming lead pastor of 1st Baptist Church of Cook 7 years ago. He oversees the church as a whole,Continue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Jared Bangs”
Tag Archives: Discipleship
Sabbatical Sit Down: Wade Bishop
Wade Bishop, pastor at Element Church in Hayward WI, was my first meeting with a ministry leader that I didn’t know. I had reached out to a couple of well-connected friends and asked for the names of pastors of churches in small towns that were using some innovative, creative, or unique ministry ideas. So, IContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Wade Bishop”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Tiger McLuen
Tiger is one of those guys that I don’t see regularly, but every few years for the last couple of decades something comes up and we get a chance to reconnect and catch up. Which is cool, because Tiger is a legend! He’s been doing ministry for something like 5 decades, and is one ofContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Tiger McLuen”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Jonathan Dahl
Getting a chance to sit down with Jonathan was a slightly unexpected, but greatly appreciated opportunity. I’ve felt a connection to Jonathan for several years – the meeting that I got a crazy idea to bring River’s Edge into the Converge fold was the same that Jonathan was introduced as the newest member of theContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Jonathan Dahl”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Mark Bjorlo
When we think about church (or most other subjects), we tend to think about what we are familiar with, what we experience regularly, what we know. It isn’t often that we expand our perspective to see a bigger picture-there are others out there, in similar settings like ours, but they have a very different wayContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Mark Bjorlo”
Principles are weird…are you weird?
Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing, even if we have resolved to live our lives on principle. We will always be tempted to fall back into a habit of self-preservation and the seeking of our own self-interests. However, there’s another factor that will make it difficult to live consistently on principle. Living onContinue reading “Principles are weird…are you weird?”
Change, principles, and other boring stuff that can dramatically alter your life
I’ve been involved in church leadership now for almost 14 years (that seems like forever). I have now worked as a volunteer in a church, as part-time staff, as full time staff, as paid temporary staff, and as a supported ministry worker. I have been asked to give advice to churches I do not regularlyContinue reading “Change, principles, and other boring stuff that can dramatically alter your life”
Beck Confusion and Living On Principle
…the distinction between “principles” and “interests” is an important one for of us.
Thoughts to drive us – We are little kids and its ok
One afternoon, my four-year-old daughter picked up her mom’s phone and sent me a text message that had about fifteen letter g’s, ten letter l‘s, and twelve letter k‘s in it. it was indistinguishable and garbled. The moment I saw the text, I knew who it was from, and I knew she wanted to send meContinue reading “Thoughts to drive us – We are little kids and its ok”
We’re In The Cloud!?!?
Working with youth and young adults for over a decade, I’ve heard a lot of excuses for poor choices. One excuse is repeated far more than any other: you can’t just tell me what I should do, I have to learn it for myself. It’s a stupid excuse. It’s also one that I have usedContinue reading “We’re In The Cloud!?!?”
Driven 