The Joy of the game...

Here's something that makes me so annoyed I yell at my TV- athletes and sports broadcasters that start to take themselves "just a little too seriously". They put on a suit and become overly critical and humorless...spouting statistics and "formulas"...start to use phrases like "the pageantry of the sport"...spend their time pointing out what other athletes are doing "wrong" and forget that their job is (at it's core) to talk about games that children play at recess in grade school. I know sports has become "big business" but I still find myself yelling , "Dude, lighten up...you get to hit a baseball for a living, talk about a game for a living, strap on skis and go really fast down a mountain for a living, drive a race car, or for God Sakes pedal a freakin' child's BMX bike down a ramp for a living! Shouldn't that be just a little bit fun? Shouldn't you remember just a little bit how lucky you are to "play the game"?

I get that same frustrated feeling when I hear Christians...both Pastors and "Pew Sitters" start to take themselves too seriously. When they become overly critical and humorless...spouting creeds and "systems"...start to think that their duty is to judge whether others are "correct in their doctrine"...somehow forget that our best theological ideas are like knock knock jokes to the Almighty!... I know eternity is "serious business" but shouldn't there be a little joy in being forgiven? Joy in being allowed to be part of God's kingdom plan for earth...whether we "understand it all" or not? Shouldn't there be a little humility and humor in realizing that God actually takes pleasure and pride in using flawed men and women to carry out his flawless plan? Shouldn't we feel just a little happy just to be able to "play the game"?

Maybe that's why Jesus said if we wanted to be part of the kingdom we need to be like little children. Otherwise, we "grow up" and forget the joy of the game...

3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:3 (New Living Translation)

"Inspirational place"

I keep reading in the gospels that Jesus "went up the mountain to pray". I know that we can (and should) pray throughout our day to day lives...but there are special places that just seem to "click" for us. For Jesus it was the mountains... Do you have a "inspirational place"? A place that just naturally leads to a conversation with God? A place where the "muddled" becomes clearer..and the tension just kind of fades away?

My "inspirational place" is being behind the wheel of my old truck. Maybe it's the oil fumes...maybe it's the fact that I am hurtling along the interstate in a rusty old box that is only 3 inches off the ground...maybe I feel "closer to God" because every moment on the Capitol Beltway in my old truck is a "near death experience"...I'm not sure. I just know that my "mountain" was made in Germany in 1965...where's yours?

Relay stuff...

Relay for life info:

• The Relay starts at 4pm on Friday the 13th...hope you're not superstitious...and runs through 4pm on Saturday the 14th.
• Michele is making a sign up sheet for people to walk/help at different time. We want to have someone walking the entire time. You are also welcome at anytime to come and hang out and make a few laps and hang out.
• We will need everyone's donations and sponsor stuff on Sunday the 8th...we have less than two weeks now.
• I have been invited to speak at the Sunrise Church Service on Saturday Morning at Relay... Speaking at 6am after not sleeping for 24 hours should turn out fine...seriously... I am really looking forward to this opportunity to say a few words to some of the most generous and compassionate people in York... Lord I hope I don't "say something awful"
• We will be providing a "carnival size" bounce house on Saturday for the kids that come to relay...I think it's a huge fire truck...should be cool. We are signing up volunteers to staff it.
• If anyone wants to donate online for the Relay for Life just hit the online giving button and designate the donation for "Relay".
• We still have T-shirts available $12/each and between now and the June 13th it all goes to Relay. Thanks to all the generous people of actionchurch we raised $400 Sunday from T-shirt sales. Way to go!
• Michele and I are looking forward to being at the Relay for the full 24 hours (I know someone else is planning to WALK most of the 24 hours...Yikes) It should be a great opportunity to get to know people from actionchurch much better...I'm looking forward to doing a "lap or two" with you all!

"Vacation" = uncertainty and possibility.

I had a great day just hanging out with the family yesterday...got outside for a while...ate some burgers...watched a pretty good movie last night (National Treasure-Book of Secrets). But, even though I "took the day off" and didn't even blog... I couldn't help but think about actionchurch stuff, "just a little".

On Sunday I previewed Summer at actionchurch as "Summer Vacation"...spending some time together at the shore, seeing a few good movies, and taking the time to enjoy some good conversations with "family".

I actually think the Summer vacation metaphor works on many levels for the next three months of actionchurch. No, I don't think we can spend the next three months on the beach...although that would be cool. (You really don't want to see me in my spider man swimming trunks anyway) And no, I don't think we should all "crowd into the minivan" together and take a road trip... But there is always that feeling of excitement and uncertainty and yes- possibility before a really good vacation. You've made "plans" to go, but the place you are going is unfamiliar...you don't know what the weather will be like...who you will meet. You've planned the route and packed your bags...but there could be detours along the way. In the end it's usually the unexpected things that we remember most...

To tell you the truth I am excited and a little nervous about the next three months... I can't exactly put my finger on it, but as a church I think we are about to enter a new phase...I feel a lot of uncertainty and possibility as we leave the "start up" phase of actionchurch and head for some exciting new places. I'm planning to hold on tight, enjoy the ride, and try to Follow the "GPS" of God's guidance to the best of my ability... Jump in, buckle up, let's roll!

Sunday Recap: "The Game of Life pt 4"

Today was the final week of the "Game of Life" series. I think this series kind of broke new ground for us as a church... I think we are just starting to "zero in" on what we can do as a team with visuals,video, etc to communicate truth. I used "Pong" as a metephor for relationships. It looks so simple...is deceptively difficult...we volley back and forth until someone "drops the ball"...we keep "score" by seeing who "drops the ball" the least...eventually someone "loses" and someone "wins" and we go looking for someone else to "play". I shared from Mathew 18:21-35 that we must choose between "justice" and "mercy" when it comes to our relationships with God and others...we can't have it both ways.

The highlights:

• The Recovery on stage today...what a great band. We haven't seen them since Easter and they did not disappoint! Set list today "Whatever it Takes" from Lifehouse and some really top notch originals "Shadows" "Final Remedy" and "Disease". I am definitely looking forward to having them in the line up this summer.
• I had no idea if "anyone" would be there on our first Memorial day weekend...lots of people out but thanks to The Recovery being a draw, we had a really great crow today.
• It was awesome to see so may actionchurch T-shirts in the crowd today...very cool that so many people not only bought T's (proceeds go to Relay for life)...but put them on.
• Speaking of T-shirts...Only a few weeks 'til relay (June 13th-14th) I can't wait to see the crowd filled with actionchurch T's...I'm really starting to get excited.
• Our crew rocks...less people in set up and tear down due to the holiday thing...everything still went really smoothly.
• What a week of dealing with "relationships" I am so thankful that our team puts up with me...I definitely need "mercy"...It seems like everything I have touched this week has ended up messed up.
• I'm excited about the opportunities we are getting to spread the word about Sunday mornings...We have about zero advertising budget but people keep coming up with creative ways to let people know "where the action is..." I love all the requests for logos, decals etc. It's very cool to see that people want to display them on everything from guitar amps to race cars!
• LOTS of kidz upstairs in actionkidz...Chrissy, Jeff, and crew had their hands full.
• I'm looking forward to this summer at actionchurch.

Here's a little "bonus footage" from the Seinfeld "Frogger" episode that we showed today. This clip says it all...

Have a great Memorial Day... be sure to thank a veteran!

Quote(s) of the week -whiteboard edition

Here's some stuff that still has me thinking from being at the whiteboard conference yesterday. (I know...my hand writing is so jacked up that it looks like the "uni-bomber manifesto" when every I take notes...at least I can read it...sort of.

"Our very best theories will be amended due to paradigm shifts"
"We all underestimate God-our dreams are too small"- Mark Batterson

"The most messed up people of his time wanted to hang out with Jesus...do the most messed up people of our time want to go to church and hang out with us?- Vince Antonucci (I hope so...that's kind of the point of actionchurch...a place where everyone can be accepted...)

"The public is unaware, unimpressed, and unchanged by the message of the church today..." Tim Stevens

"At the root of every sin is the desire for Power, Comfort, Approval, or Control" -Darrin Patrick

"Spiritual Growth should be "normal" in a church..." -Mark Dever

"Stay connected (to Jesus) and "fruit happens"- John Burke

"Be obedient to God and let him handle the results"- Perry Noble

"Sometimes the most "mature" thing you can say to someone who is suffering is "I don't know" (why this is happening)- Ed Stetzer

"Camping Trip"

Ever since Reagan could talk Michele has convinced her that "camping" is "going somewhere that has room service". Reagan really enjoyed "camping" last night in a place that had Pizza Hut on the room service menu... (Here she is in full "princess" mode)

Having a great time hanging out with the girls...Reagan wanted to swim (for about five minutes) ...watched the American Idol Finale last night propped up on a million pillows in bed...I was actually really surprised at the results. I have been a David "C" fan all through the competition but I really thought David "A" would win because of the "cutesy factor"... Glad I was wrong.

Now it's off to the conference for me and off to the Mall and Movies? for the girls...

NO "sermon Illustrations" needed...

For the next few days the Record family is going to have some "family together time." We're gonna go hang out in Reston, Va today, tomorrow I'm going to this conference (Whiteboard) while the girls shop and hang out at the hotel. Friday we are going to be working together to finish up a project at work. It's gonna be a lot of fun.

Here's the deal though...when I preached about money-we struggled with finances, when I talked about "busy-ness"- we had the biggest "time crunch" to deal with that week. Sunday I am going to be talking about relationships....see where this is going?

As a family we will go from three bathrooms to one tiny hotel bathroom...spend time in the car...share one TV. I told the girls last night that I am going to be on my very "best behavior". Pray for me. I don't need any more "relationship sermon illustrations"...I've got a life time of them already!

...and now some "not so lousy" T-Shirts.

We just received the new actionchurch T-shirts yesterday and they look amazing! We have white and black sizes S through 2XL. Even though these are Fruit of the Loom Heavy T's we shopped around and were able to get a great deal on printing so we will be selling them for $12/each on Sunday Mornings.

Every Dollar raised from the sales of the shirts (between now and June 13th) will go to Relay for life.

I always ask people on Sunday mornings to "Invite, Invest, and get Involved"... Here's a way you can do all three of those things for only 12 bucks...and "look fantastic" doing it!

Lousy T-shirt Book...

I mentioned this book in the sermon yesterday so I thought I would put up a link. (amazon link) It is truly laugh-out-loud funny and it truly makes you think!

Yesterday I quoted one of my favorite lines from the book, "stop having a personal relationship with Jesus"!! Can you imagine someone asking you to marry them and then telling you they weren't going to tell their friends and family about your marriage because the just wanted to "have a personal relationship" with you? ...telling you that they weren't going to buy you a ring because they had "lots of bills" but they would drop a five dollar bill on your counter on Sundays? ...telling you that they were "really busy" so they couldn't spend much time with you but you could get together for an hour or two on Sunday mornings...and they would call you if they ever needed to be bailed out of trouble? It doesn't sound much like a "relationship" at all does it? Could it be that Jesus just isn't that impressed with our "say a prayer and see you in heaven" plan for a "relationship" with him...?

I'm gonna hear Vince "live" at Whiteboard (link) this week. Seriously check out the book...I "never" recommend books but this one is worth reading.

Sunday Recap: "The Game of Life" pt. 3

Today I used the old-school video game Galaga as a a metaphor for temptation. There's no way to escape temptation..."knock one down" and another takes it place...knock them all down and the "mother ship" comes to get ya. I used the "cheerful" little scripture where Jesus taught about temptation in Matthew 16...nothing like talking about "chopping off hands" and "gouging out eyes" on Sunday morning.

Highlights:

• Clean Slate on stage...I am a fan, but I think this was their best week ever. (Set: Seether "Rise above this", "Broken" "Calm Before the storm" Daughtry "Crashed") The drummers wife (Chris) is about to have their first baby ANY DAY now...we were not sure if we would be "acoustic" today. When they play in June it will be around the guitarist's wifes "due date"... lots of summer births coming up for the wives of the "bands of actionchurch"...
• Speaking of Clean Slate they dedicated their new song "Calm before the storm" to a Soldier in the crowd just back from Iraq...It drew the loudest cheering I have ever heard at actionchurch...I love our crowd. We appreciate our soldiers!!!
• I was really nervous about what I preached about today...no matter how you package it... how many jokes and stories you use to illustrate it...Some of Jesus teachings were "offensive" then-and they still are today. The truth is the truth though, no matter how tough it might be...
• Great crowd today... I love the fact that every week we have new people...but we are growing because people are choosing to stay...
• I am getting really pumped about Relay...our "actionista's" (still searching for what to call actionchurch "folks") are blowing me away with their desire to serve our community. I am so proud or our people...Thank you all!
• Every week I realize how much less I have to do to "make church happen" on Sunday mornings...I barely even got a chance to go upstairs to actionkidz...and it went off without a hitch. Our Sunday morning crew rocks... set up, tear down, actionkidz...way to go.
• I filled in for Josiah on video set up...It's amazing that less than two months ago I "taught" him about our system. Last week he had to teach me how to set it up...It is so improved and he is just getting started. I had 10 screens running today...it doesn't get much more fun than playing galaga on all the screens...even though I really stink.
• Used the phrase "making out with Jesus" today when I described how "worship" songs that talk about Jesus being "beautiful" and wanting to "be held in his arms" make me a little queasy...not a phrase you say everyday...thank God!
• Had another local racer that's been attending on Sunday mornings ask for an actionchurch logo for his car! Make sure to cheer for the Lance Danmeyer #87 next time you are out at SSP Who would have thought we would have two cars (different classes) running around the track with our logo on them. Unbelievable.
• I am going to miss this series- Next week is the last installment of the "The Game of Life"...
• ...love what actionchurch is becoming...but this is JUST the beginning...as I told someone today this is still the "garage band" phase... Thanks to all the people that make this "adventure" so much fun!

Look for the "light"...

I'm always talking on my bluetooth headset while I paint at work. People who show up to my job site sometimes wonder if I'm talking to them, or if I've just "lost it" and have started talking to myself. I always tell them, "look for the light on my earpiece...If it's on, I'm talking to someone...If it's off, I'm talking to myself!

I think I'm going to start using the same "test" on all of the many people in this world who claim to "hear from God". If I see "light" in their lives...love, kindness, generosity, compassion for the needs of others, selflessness...I'll be consider the fact that they may be "talking to someone". If I don't see any evidence of "light"...I'm pretty much going to think they are "talking to themselves"... It's not "fool proof" but it is a start.

36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you." Luke 11:36 niv

Quote of the week:

"Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results."
-George S. Patton

I love this quote and I love the results of telling people "where we are going" and then being surprised at the way we get there...It's always better than the way I would have done it! That's why I'm passionate about "empowering" our crew members instead of "training" them... (link)

Stuff we're gonna be "bad" at...

You can't be good at "everything" as a person, as an athlete...or as a church. You have to chose what you will put the most effort and resources behind...and the things you are willing to let "slide". We are a three month old church in a nightclub with no paid staff. Our main concerns right now are:

1. Putting on the best "Sunday morning" possible...(one that you can depend on when you invite your friends, an inviting, exciting, and welcoming place for "people who don't like church),
2. "Making Jesus Famous" by serving those in need in our community" (example Relay, we will have over 30 people serving there June 13th and 14th...way to go!),
3. Building and maintaining a culture of generosity, kindness, and love for others as a church and as a group of people. (Putting the teachings of Jesus into action!)

Because we are currently putting all of our resources and energy toward these three goals, there are other things we have chosen to be "bad" at. 'Not saying this is the "right way" to do church...or that we will never get "better" in these areas...these areas are just not a priority right now.

• We're "bad" at "activities"... we will have a Baptism and BBQ celebration in June but you won't see a women's retreat...midweek service...softball league etc.
• We're "bad" at personal "follow up". We will respond to every "talk back" card and every person who asks for information or wants to volunteer...but if you need a phone call after every Sunday you miss church, checking in to see if everything is "Ok" and reminding you that church is at 11am the following Sunday...it ain't going to happen.
• We're (I'm) "bad" at "counseling"...we simply don't offer it. I am more than happy to sit down over coffee or lunch and have a discussion...but I am not gifted in counseling in ANY way...so I'll spare you from any "advice" I might have...
• We're "bad" at Birthday parties, baby showers, and retirement "get togethers"...We hope that these things will happen among the friends you meet at actionchurch...but as we grow we could never "sustain" party planning for everyone...so we won't start.
• We're "bad" at Bible studies and "classes". We are a movement...not an educational organization. As I urge every Sunday morning, please explore the Bible and make sure the things you are hearing are true...they have immediate and eternal consequences...don't believe everything you hear from a "guy you met at a bar"....question and explore.

I'm sure that there is more stuff that we're "bad" at...but instead of worrying about those areas right now we're going to celebrate the good and work to make them even better...every week.

Temptation with a touchscreen...

So the last two weeks in the "Game of Life" series we have been talking about "Trading 'stuff that won't last' for eternal things" and "valuing relationships over 'getting stuff done'"...

I just came due for my (every two years) Verizon upgrade. I got a flippin' sweet "I-phone wannabe" smart phone that can do everything including make me pancakes! The problem is this "tool" that was supposed to help "make my life simpler" is actually turning out to be a temptation to ignore my family and "thumb type" and "touch screen" away every moment of free time I had....help!

This week I will be talking about dealing with the negative temptations that come at us from every angle in our society. In the mean time I have to figure out how to deal with the sweet "temptation with a touchscreen" I carry around in my pocket...

...it's the people!.

I tend to blog about the "stuff" that's happening at actionchurch...but as I preached yesterday (doh)...it truly is the relationships and people that make up the thing we call "church". John, Yvonne, Elijah, and Jared Featherstone have been part of the actionchurch story since the very beginning. I still remember telling John and Yvonne that we were starting a church in a nightclub...because they are from England they thought we were "mad" instead of "crazy" like our American friends did. Ironically we were sitting in their backyard when we got the phone call from the owners of Fat Daddy's finalizing our deal to meet there. Yvonne is the creator of the actionkidz logo and all the amazing original characters that you see upstairs on Sunday Mornings. (one of her latest creations below). Elijah and Jared have had the chance to enjoy the actionkidz experience on Sunday mornings and Elijah even chose to write about in his kindergarten journal (Yvonne and journal above). The featherstones will be moving back to England in June to start a kennel business and settle into "farm life" in the country. Yvonne will continue to supply us with great characters and art online but we will miss our friends so much...

This is just one of the "stories" of the people of actionchurch...there are so many others...I just wanted to take a moment and "value relationships over just "getting stuff done".

Sunday Recap: Game of life-2

Happy "mudders" day as our 4 year old Reagan says... Today we talked about busy-ness. I used "frogger" as a metaphor for our busy lives...dodge "cars" all day...and then come home and try to get across the river and not get eaten by an alligator...we are so busy we can't stay on anything very long..and then we get up and do it again! I shared how Jesus doesn't just want us to be better multi-taskers...but to actually get out of the game by "valuing relationships over getting stuff done". I challenged our people to "help a mother out" as mothers struggle with busy-ness more than anyone...and have the potential to miss some of the most valuable relationship.
Highlights:

• Gave out Panera Bread Gift cards to moms..."Thanks a Latte', Moms!"
• Brain Neal and Band on Stage. Covered "When Love comes to Town" and Nickelback "If everyone cared" we really appreciate those guys coming out on Mothers day and rocking hard!
• Crowd was down a little bit today...we are opposite of most churches in so many ways...we actually have less people on holidays. I love the fact that every week we have new people...most often brought by their friends...very cool.
• This series seems to be really connecting with peoples lives! I have had the greatest conversations each week...these are definitely issues that we are ALL dealing with!
• Thanks to the people who helped tear down today...I know everyone had mothers day plans...thanks for staying and working so hard.
• We had 9 screens running today...next week it should be 11! I love seeing all the flat screens "lit up" with actionchurch graphics...yeehaw!
• Reagan and I took Michele out to Olive Garden after church...they said it would be an hour wait and we got a table in less than five minutes...was it a "the favor of God"? (dozens of other people waiting)...or did we have a defective "flashing pager thingy"? Awesome...now I know how celebrities feel.
• I am so thankful for another week at actionchurch...I love our people, and I would definitely attend even If I weren't the pastor...It doesn't get much better than that!

I'm an idiot! I'm watching the Darlington Race I tivo'd from last night...and I just forgot this wasn't "live" and clicked over to nascar online and saw who won...argh...I've got to go punch myself in the head.

...more bars in more places.

Jared and Melissa Lawpenrose

(yup-they are both "of age")

I love the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of actionchurch! A couple of months ago when Jared and Melissa first came to church, the first thing Jared asked about was "small group" opportunities for community with other couples. Unfortunately, I had to tell them that we were still 6 months to a year away from starting up small groups. Instead of waiting for "official" small groups to start up(or looking for another church that provided what they were looking for) Jared and Melissa took action. Jared just emailed me to say that they had started a gathering on tuesday nights at 7:45 at the Harp and Fiddle Pub.

Here's how Jared discribed it:

"The thought is just to provide a space in which people can connect with one another, share stories about life, work, family, etc. A space to explore ideas, thoughts and fears with a group of people who want to do the same thing. Conversations of consequence maybe..."

I know good things come when people put their passion into action...when they step out in faith instead of waiting for the "professionals" to do something about a need...so I can't wait to hear what comes out of their conversations. If you are looking for a place to "hang and talk on Tuesday nights and want more details, you can email me at info@actionchurch.com and I'll forward it on to Jared and Melissa. If you are an old guy like me who thinks that anything after 8 pm on a school night is time to sit on the couch, watch American Idol, and eat cheetoos...just relax and be glad that everyday Jesus is being discussed and introduced in "more bars in more places"...

"tract-ground" checks?

Yesterday I was working on a contract I have to paint all the exterior doors of an apartment complex. (yep...green and white). It's mildly inconvenient for the residents because we have to leave their doors open for an hour after painting to let the paint dry. Fortunately in ten hours of work only one person was rude and impatient about the work being done...unfortunately she also was the one person who gave me a tract!

I believe in freedom, and although personally I wouldn't mind seeing religious tracts banned...I think that people have a "right" to hand out tracts. I know that "tracts don't turn people away from Jesus"...people-who-act-like-jerks handing out tracts turn people away from Jesus. But couldn't we all agree that maybe there should be some kind of back ground check for people who want to purchase tracts? Just a simple back-ground check to see if people wanting to give out tracts have any history of being demanding, cheap, selfish, "a bad tipper", or just overall an "annoying hump"? We could call it the national "tract-ground" check... What do you think?

Upcoming stuff:

Here's some upcoming stuff that I am looking forward to... blog readers get "advance warning".

1. T-shirts are being printed and will be available next week! They will look like the picture and will be available in black or white. We will be selling them and all proceeds for t-shirts sold between now and Relay for Life will be donated to the Relay. I'll be able to announce more details Sunday...it's a simple and practical way to "Invite, Invest & get Involved" and look good doing it.
2. Speaking of Relay- The date for Relay for Life is June 13th-14th. Michele will be organizing the walkers in shifts but everyone should feel free to come by and "hang" anytime. Michele and I will be there the entire 24 hr period and we are looking forward to getting to know our way cool, very generous, "action heroes" better!
3. Baptisms and BBQ- We will be doing a sermon series in June called "Summer at the Shore"... at the end of the series we will be having a "Baptism and BBQ" party out on the Deck of Fat Daddy's. If you would like to go public with the fact that you are a follower of Jesus I can think of no better place to do it. I already have some people who want to "get dunked"...I definitely think there will be more! Maybe the slogan should be instead of "I got drunk at Fat Daddy's Nightclub" ... "I got Dunk(ed) at Fat Daddy's Nightclub"...what do you think?

These are just the things I can talk about that are coming up in May and June...it's going to be a very exciting summer!

Order from Chaos

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:2

"In the beginning, the Spirit of God was hovering over the chaos. And nothing has changed. God is still hovering over the chaos. The creation story is a microcosm of what God wants to do in your life. He hovers over the chaotic situations ready to create order and beauty. He wants to fill the void." - Mark Batterson- "In a pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day"

I remembered reading that quote "somewhere" so I had to look it up this week... wow is that ringing true... In my life, in the stories I hear of what is happening in the lives of actionchurch "peeps", in the upcoming sermons in the "Game of Life" series...it seems to be the common thread. God is "hovering" in the "mists" above our messy, dirty, chaotic lives...just waiting to turn chaos into order and beauty. Because of his love and mercy-God has chosen the ultimate "Dirty Job"...

Politics, Religion...and Comedy?

I read a report this week that listed Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as two of the most powerful political pundits in America. How did these two very funny wing nuts make it on the list with so many other seriously powerful and "powerfully serious" talking heads? How did their shows on the little watched Comedy Central become such opinion leaders?

I think the answer is comedy... they make the jokes that so many others in America are "thinking". They poke fun at a political process that so many are cynical and weary of... They are actually gaining credibility by pointing out the absurdity of "the system"...

How does that relate to religion in America? I think the parallels are becoming clearer every day. So many people are cynical and jaded with "the system" but (just like in politics) they are still looking for a "savior"... So how can we introduce them to "the Savior"? I think we have to be willing to poke fun at ourselves and our "religious system". Put the most serious subjects in the funniest settings... Make laughing together a bridge to understanding and belief. Who knows...maybe someday they will have comedy courses at seminary...it certainly couldn't hurt.

Sunday Recap- "The game of Life" pt. 1

Today in week one of "The game of life" we used pac man as a metaphor for the "consumer" lifestyle in America. No matter how much "stuff" you gobble up you will always be chased by the "ghosts" of debt, taxes, etc. Even when you gobble up a "payday" that makes you temporarily invincible, it is not long until you are back to being chased by the "ghosts" . Even when you get to the "next level" the pattern is still the same. I think what resonated with most people I talked to today is that Jesus doesn't want us to "get better at the game"...the only way to win is to get "out of the game" (Luke 16)

Here's the highlights in no particular order:

• It goes without saying that it was a lot of fun to start the sermon by playing pac man on all the plasma screens...every "boys" dream.
• Unsettled on stage...they simply never disappoint...started out the service with Oasis "Champagne Supernova"..."the world keeps spinnin' round and we don't know why"...that pretty much sums up why we are doing the "Game of Life" series. God knows "why" and wants us to be part of his plan.
• I love preaching at actionchurch...It was great to be able to talk about money without worrying "what the leadership would want to hear" or "what people might want to hear"...I love the freedom to be able to say "what is good for people to know from God's word"...without worrying about the consequences...
• I am so proud of our people...we still had people signing up this week to help out at Relay...I love that our people WANT to put their compassion in action!
• Had new people helping set up today...very cool...I am so thankful that we are gaining new "help" all the time so that we can give our crew a break occasionally...I want volunteering at actionchurch to be a "sustainable" thing that doesn't burn people out. We are heading in the right direction...thanks to all the crew!
• Another week of seeing the actionkidz "restructure" paying off. Jeff and Chrissy got to actually "attend" actionchurch downstairs (afters 3 hours of set-up...) and actionkidz was still happening upstairs. Thanks to all the new volunteers!
• I am starting to see some real leadership developing...Josiah did the difficult task of telling "the boss" that something I had in the graphics didn't look good...and fixed it! Leaders don't just "find problems"...they have the courage to point out stuff that needs to be fixed and bring solutions...very cool. I noticed Lori has also been not only learning set up and tear down but improving the system and teaching others... So cool to see true "servant leadership developing.
• Good crowd...good offering...I think I probably don't appreciate enough what a miracle it is every week that people choose to show up to Fat Daddy's on Sunday morning to hear about Jesus...
• Lot's of cool "money" discussions after church...
• Ended today with the Bullet Boys cover of "For the Love of Money"...so much fun...so 1988!

Quote of the week:

“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.”- Benjamin Franklin

...and now we say it's "all about the Benjamins"...go figure.

actionchurch and Red Bull.

Nope, actionchurch and Red Bull is not a new mixed drink. I've been thinking about something I read over on Ben Arments Blog about how more than half of people who try Red Bull hate the taste...yet in spite of that they've "created an entirely new beverage niche in what is now a $1.3 billion industry." It turns out that the "other half" that does like Red Bull is a pretty huge number of people.

If actionchurch had a "marketing plan" I think it would be a lot like Red Bull's. Be intense, deliver a "unique taste experience", create a "rush", wake people up...hey we even sponsor a race car. Even if lots of people "hate our taste"(or lack of it), and find the experience "too loud" or "too intense"...the good news is that the "other half" of people who don't like church have been waiting for some "new energy" to arrive... Drink up.