Paul Stewart

Random Thoughts

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, so I haven’t had much time to stop and write. Here are a few of my random thoughts and activities…

- First Assembly is an amazing church with an amazing history. I’ve spent the past few weeks meeting with key leaders and influencers in the church and I am SO encouraged. Most of our leaders are in their 50’s & 60’s but have a passion to reach and invest in the next generation. They also have an unquestionable heart for missions. This will be a solid foundation to build upon!

- Re-read Good to Great… I feel it is my responsibility to create a new culture of community and authenticity here at First Asembly but this is a BIG ship and it will take a while to turn around. Jim Collins says that in when creating a culture of greatness there is no single defining action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no miracle moment. Rather, the process resembles relentlessly pushing a giant heavy flywheel in one direction, turn upon turn, building momentum until a point of breakthrough, and beyond. My lead pastor began turning this flywheel, by himself, a few years ago… and I feel like I’m here to help him keep pushing!

- There is a Starbucks and a Jimmy Johns within walking distance of our church… God is good.

- We booked Scott Hodge for our pastor/spouse retreat next April. He transitioned an old-school AG church in Aurora, IL into a cutting edge, missional church that is gaining national recognition! The journey was long and hard, but I'm really excited about what he will share with us.

- Des Moines is a great city… but we desperately need more locally owned restaurants and coffee shops.

- Thanksgiving was great… we got to spend time with both sides of the family and I didn’t have to take any time off of work! I’ve got two incredible kids, a wonderful wife, and a great job. Definitely a lot to be thankful for!

- We bought new cell phones in the Des Moines area code. Check out Letstalk.com, best deals anywhere! They arrived on time and worked perfectly.

- The first sermon I ever preached was in the youth group at First Assembly ten years ago… this weekend I preached for a second time. It was a blast!

- Building authentic community is HARD work! Henri Nouwen said that Community is the place where the person you least want to be there is always there. We are a diverse church with a wide variety of backgrounds, incomes, and personalities. But if we are going to move to the next level we have to move beyond affinity to true community.

- My son turns one on Sunday and he is AWESOME!

Top Ten Things I'll Miss About Minnesota

10. Dakota Jazz Club – tremendous location downtown Minneapolis. I heard Jaimie Cullum perform here before he released his first album. It’s a beautiful restaurant and a great place to relax - plus they have a one-of-a-kind blue cheese burger.

9. Anodyne Coffee Shop – there are a lot of “hole-in-the-wall” coffee shops in the Twin Cities, but this one is probably my favorite. On the corner of Nicollet and 46th it has terrific coffee, great music, and extraordinary sandwiches.

8. Minnesota Twins – During the nine years I lived here I tried really hard to become a fan of Minnesota sports. They did not make it easy. In the end, the Twins will be the only team I will really.

7. Damico and Sons – This was a terrific “family” restaurant for us. The food is terrific but the atmosphere is conducive to kids (they eat free on Sundays). I will really miss their spaghetti and meatballs.

6. 89.3 The Current – a public radio station with the most eclectic playlists around. Everything from Johnny Cash to Sierra Leon Refugee All-Stars.

5. Lebanon Hills Park – A beautiful park that surrounded our home in Eagan with one of the best mountain biking trails in the cities!

4. Common Man on KFAN – No matter how bad my day was, this guy could always make me laugh from noon – 2pm. There is no one else like him on the radio.

3. Afton Apple Orchard – Another great “familiy” spot. We’d go out there every season to pick apples, strawberries, and raspberries. The owner knows my wife by name.

2. Pazzaluna – Our absolute favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities. Jessica and I celebrated our birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions here for over eight years. We became close friends with our server – Jessica even went to her baby shower!

1. Oak Hills Church – It is hard to describe the impact the people of OHC had on our lives. This is the “best church you’ve never heard of.” If you are ever in the Twin Cities you have to check it out, every Sunday is unique and always done with excellence. We’ll never forget you guys!

Solitude

The spiritual life is a disciplined life because there are so many things in our world that pull us towards the temporary rather than the eternal. One of the foundational spiritual disciplines is solitude. According to Dallas Willard, in solitude we purposefully abstain from interaction with other human beings.

I am more of an introvert by nature, so this discipline has never seemed to be such a sacrifice to me. However, I have begun to realize that I am also an information junky. I am constantly downloading and listening to podcasts, reading blogs & magazines, or searching for the latest trends in music, culture, and religion. This is not an inherently evil thing, but often it leaves me confused and unfocused.

Donald Miller posted a few thoughts along these lines on his website this week…

“For me, the spiritual life has been an acquired taste. I would like classical music so much more if I didn’t know about the new (insert band name here) album. I would like tea more if I didn’t know about Red Bull. But at the end of the day, I find myself tired and stressed. I think I want to slow down a bit, understand the grass is not always greener, and find joy in the mental spaces that come with a bit more work. Acquisition is not always the source of power. The people I admire the most are often the people who show the greatest resistance to the pressures of the infomercial promises. I think there is something to be said for having ‘gotten over it.’”

I have really been making a conscious effort to limit my information consumption and have focused instead on prayer, scripture reading, and time with my family. It's been a challenge and I definitely feel a little "out of the loop" but I really have noticed a change.

The normal course of life locks us into patterns of feeling, thought, and action that are geared in a world set against God. A life of solitude helps me combat the distractions from the busyness of life. It helps me to get over my information addiction and allows time and space for the development of freedom in Christ.