#1 – It’s safe! Background checks have been run on every Meadow staff member and every volunteer that has any contact with children (or students!) There is a solid check-in system where not just anyone can come pick the child up from their class...and someone is always present at the check-in desk to make sure random people don't start wandering around the kids' area.

#2 – It’s fun! I love the fact that “fun” is a value in MeadowKIDS!!! Where in the world did we ever get the idea that kid’s must suffer through church? Heaven is NOT boring, it’s going to be a massive party/celebration, church should be as well (especially for kids!)

#3 – Our Volunteers Are Awesome! Our volunteers love children! They do not do what they do out of duty but rather delight!!! If a volunteer in MeadowKIDS does not absolutely love children then they need to be moved to another area. Kid’s can read right through an adult…and a ministry that isn’t based out of love for children will be unfruitful and ineffective.

#4 – Our Kid’s Know God’s Word! Parents are going to ask their kids two questions every Sunday…"Did you have fun?" (This one is first 90% of the time!) and "What did you learn?" There is NEVER a week that our kids are not learning something from God's Word about following Him. Seriously, when a church commits to teaching children about Jesus in an environment that they love and in a manner that is on their level then they are making an investment in the next generation!

#5 – They Are the church of TODAY! I don’t believe our kids are “the church of tomorrow.” I believe they are the church of TODAY! I believe they matter TODAY! We need to invest in them TODAY and teach them about Jesus TODAY and help them grow up with a great view of church TODAY then their tomorrow will look a lot different!!! We need to spend money on them TODAY and not wait for a month or a year or 5 years when something better happens. Disney spends money on them! The Cartoon Network spends money on them! Meadow should spend money on them!

#6 - They have an AWESOME Pastor! There is no one better to lead our MeadowKIDS ministry than Rachel Carlson. She has a passion for kids and a passion for adults to model, teach, and lead kids! She has a deep burden to see MeadowKIDS be nothing short of excellant and God-honoring. If you want someone to light your fire and excitement for kids ministry, just ask Rachel "Tell me about MeadowKIDS?"

Every Sunday immediately following the service there will be a "Fresh Start" meeting which briefly explains the most basic elements of Meadow. You will hear about a "Fresh Church", "Fresh Growth", and "Fresh Values". You will also have opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  This meeting is strictly a "no obligation" meeting, lasts only 10 minutes, and takes place in Theatre 1.

Anyone is welcome but especially if you are new or newer to Meadow, I highly encourage you to come!

Next Wednesday (Feb. 1), Sandy & I will be hosting a two week discussion group based on my messages from "Freedom FROM Religion". It will be at our home on two consecutive Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm and is open to anyone...regular attender of Meadow or not.

Of course it will be important that you attend Meadow this Sunday and on Feb. 5th as our discussion will be a follow up of the messages. If you can't make it, you can listen to the messages online at www.MeadowSpring.org.

I'd like to invite you to join us for these two weeks.  Please message me on Facebook or email me at jlaeger@gmail.com if interested or have questions.

I have been on the Shakopee Fire Department for almost 18 years and there has never been a fire we couldn't and didn't put out. However, there have been fires where we needed help.

In the fire service world, getting help is called "mutual aid". It's when one city has an agreement with another city or cities so that if a situation arises that is too big or additional resources are needed, they can be called to come help. Because the reality is that there will be calls and situations where help is needed. The fire can't be put out by one department alone.

Reality is that most problems that happen in life can be handled quickly without any help. However, reality also tells us that there will be problems and situations arise that cannot be handled quickly or alone and "mutual aid" is needed. You can't get through it alone. You need help - real help.

This is where the church shines (at least at Meadow). You are never alone - regardless of your situation or problem. Even if its something due to a choice you made that got you into trouble or pain. Even then the church will be there to help you.

I can't encourage you enough to come and check out Meadow if you don't have a regular church home. We are not perfect by any sense of the word. In fact, one of our montras is "No perfect people allowed." And this starts with me, the pastor.

However, I believe you will find a group of people who will accept you and be with you in your pain and life situation - whatever that might be. And most likely there will be someone at Meadow who is or has experienced the exact same thing.

We meet every Sunday at 9:30 am in the Marcus Movie Theatre located in the Shakopee Town Square Mall.

Check us out at www.MeadowSpring.org

You don't have to be religious to connect to God. In fact, religion doesn't connect you to God at all. And if you think or feel connected to God because of some religious ritual, you are living in a false comfort with extremely dangerous implications and consequences.

I have too many friends who have been told by the church that they aren't welcome or they can't connect with God because they are not following certain rules or have disobeyed church tradition or have not been practicing certain church rituals. I think specifically of the divorced mother who was told by the church that God won't accept her until she changes. Or the gay couple who was told they are not welcome in church until they change and start obeying church law.

I remember one specific instance where a woman was told she couldn't sing in the choir because she was wearing pants and only women in dresses were accepted! I remember the little boy who was told he couldn't play his toy drum in the Christmas play because drums aren't acceptable in church (which totally floors me because God encourages the loud beating of drums to praise Him!)

I AM TIRED OF THE CHURCH ACTING LIKE THIS! IT'S NOT RIGHT!

If you have been beat up or confused by religion - or know someone who has - you really need to come this Sunday to Meadow. I am starting a new teaching series called "Freedom FROM Religion". I will be talking about why religion is so attractive, the dangers of religion, and most importantly I will be talking about a better way to connect with God than religion.

I can't encourage you enough to come and bring EVERY friend you know who doesn't go to church. This will change the trajectory of your life and you will learn how you CAN connect with God without being religious!

• Totally solid Sunday again. I love Meadow!
• Had a really good interview with a potential new Worship Leader. Excited to see where God takes this!
• Had a great crowd inspite of the freezing rain.
• I really need a DQ hot fudge shake right now.
• Walked in today and set up team was all done! They so rock!
• Next week is going to set A LOT of people free from religion!
• Great to see more of my friends come today!
• Love our prayer texting during the service and how people use it!
• I'm already tired of the political campaign - anyone agree?
• Freedom FROM Religion is going to be AWESOME! Invite ALL your friends!
• I am so beat on Sunday afternoons - my recliner is my best friend
• So amazed with our band. They have actually stepped it up to a new level of doing more music and have not missed a beat as we look for a new worship leader.
• Offerings have been down last few weeks which is a little concerning.
• Thinking about starting Weight Watchers this week.  Anyone have any tips from experience?
• I need ideas to blog about.
• Our lease is up in October so we need to start seriously talking about what we are going to do if Imagine fund is not where it needs to be to purchase our own building.
• Where's that DQ hot fudge shake?!!
• Meadow is the egg-mcmuffin of churches!
• I'm out!

I am fully aware this is going to create some controversy and challenge many in their thinking...especially if you grew up in a church that had various rules, traditions, or rituals that were either taught or implied as necessary to follow and observe if you were going to connect to and be accepted by God.

I am willing to create that controversy because I also believe something of much greater value will happen. This series will set many free from these rules, traditions, and rituals as they hear and learn there is a better way to connect with God ... and it isn't religion.

I know too many people, who are trying to follow certain rules and traditions such as only reading a certain version of the Bible, having to attend certain religion classes, getting baptized, wearing certain clothes, and others ... and these rules and rituals just aren't working for them. They aren't any more connected to God by following them than if they didn't.

I also know too many people who have been divorced, are living together, living a gay lifestyle, recovering from drugs or alchohol, had an abortion, suffering from depression, or even spent time in jail - and the church has pretty much communicated that before God will accept them, they need to change and "measure up" to various standards. Because of this, they have concluded that God only accepts "Christian-like" people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If you don't have a church you regularly attend, I can't encourage you enough to come to Meadow on January 29th and February 5th. You WILL hear how you can connect with God without all the rules, traditions, and rituals of religion.

If you have any questions about this series or about Meadow, PLEASE don't hesitate to comment or email me at john@meadowspring.org. 

Meadow Spring meets in the Marcus Movie Theatre located in the Shakopee Town Square Mall in Shakopee. For more info and directions, visit www.MeadowSpring.org.

1. LOVIN' the new theatre but we need to adjust the sound volume and mix.
2. Great lunch with the First Impressions Team. What an awesome team!
3. Woke up with a zit on my nose. First zit on my nose in over 30 years!
4. Love it when people text in prayer requests and comments DURING the service!
5. Current series is a good one, but I'm FIRED UP about the next series starting..."Freedom FROM Religion". Probably going to challenge - maybe offend - churchy people.
6. Had some new families again today - THAT is cool!
7. Looking forward to going to the new Ignite service this evening. Not often do I get to go to a worship service just to attend.
8. Sandy's new car is really nice. We've never had a car this nice before. Thank you Lord!
9. I continue to be amazed at the quality of music and worship our band of volunteers leads us in! Today, they knocked it out of the park!
10. Just reviewed next Sunday's message - last message in the current series - already I can't wait to teach it!
11. Time for a nap...I'm out.

Meadow has never been about just Meadow. You will not grow in your faith if you are not in church. So, we want you in church - a church that worships authentically, and teaches scripture truthfully. And we realize Meadow is not the "flavor" of church for everyone.

That's why I'm excited about a new contemporary service starting at Crown of Glory Lutheran Church in Chaska. It's called "Ignite" and starts this Sunday at 5:30 pm.

Here's how this service is described on their Facebook page...

"The service will provide scripturally focused messages geared to help us find a connection between the timeless teachings of Jesus Christ and the joys and challenges we all face. This worship experience is intentionally unscripted and has free flowing atmosphere offering an authentic encounter through prayer, confession and forgiveness and sacred rituals such as communion."

If you live in Chaska and/or can't make it to Meadow because of your Sunday morning schedule, I encourage you to check out Ignite this Sunday!

• Felt SOOO awesome to be back at Meadow after a couple "off" weeks!
• Really good & solid Sunday!
• Totally pumped for 2012 and what God's gonna do!
• So proud of our music and band. They haven't skipped a beat over the last month!
• Had a couple new famlies here!
• My dog "Buddy" is OBSESSED with tennis balls!
• Group of people prayed off-sight during the service for the first time and I could tell!
• "Freedom FROM Religion" promo kick-off and good buzz already about it!
• Met with a group of "pray-ers" after the service who are committing to daily prayer for Meadow and an upcoming series.  I'm fired up about what this is going to do!
• Had a new drummer and he really nailed it!
• LOVED the new theatre and feeling closer to people!
• Watchin the NFL Wildcard games - havin a hard time getting into them.
• Bagels and coffee were again - rockin awesome!
• Talked to a potential worship leader this afternoon. Excited to see where God takes this!
• Meadow volunteers rock!
• Someone gave me an autographed picture and hand drawing from THE Famous Dave!
• Just reviewed my message for next week and already can't wait for church!
• Tired of religion?  Make sure you come for sure on January 29th!
• Lovin this MN weather but I'd still like to get a real Minnesota blizzard - anyone with me?

What's your "Sunday Night Mind Dump" input? Feel free to comment!