Chuck E Cheese Church...

I had a really insightful question in an email this week and since I actually had an answer (that doesn't always happen)...I asked if I could post the question and answer here for everyone. The question was:
"My family and I attended actionchurch this Sunday and loved it (ok maybe they said 'weren't totally repulsed by it')...we know that actionchurch is primarily designed for "people who don't like church"...we are a family of Jesus followers...can we attend or would we just be taking up valuable seats on Sunday morning?...it looked pretty crowded.

Believe it or not I told them actionchurch was like Chuck E. Cheese. Now before you think I have completely lost my mind think about this... Chuck E. Cheese is designed for kids. Everything about it is geared for kids...but without adults the place would be out of business. Adults pay for the games...cook the "bad pizza"...supervise the play...and care enough about their little ones to bring them to Chuck E's place-even though it may not be their first choice as a restaurant...

actionchurch is designed for "people who don't like church"...people who have wandered far away from God...the broken...the cynical...the "burned". We are going to do everything in our power to "gear" actionchurch on Sunday mornings to that crowd. But guess what, without followers of Jesus joining in, paying the bills, bringing their loved ones, helping us make our own brand of "bad-kid friendly pizza" and fun..we would soon be out of business.

Thanks to all of you who support actionchurch...even those of you who put aside your "church preferences" to bring someone you care about. Thanks to those of you who give financially each week even though all you get in return is our thanks...and maybe a donut. Thanks to those of you who give your time so that others can enjoy a great experience on Sunday morning... Thanks especially to all of you who volunteer in actionkidz so that our "kidz" can have a great memory of church when they grow up. Keep on coming...keep on bringing your friends...if we'll just be faithful God will provide more seats!

Baptism FAQ.

I've had a lot of great questions about baptism lately, so I thought I would try to answer them in a post and put it in the FAQ section.

Q. Why would a church that doesn't seem to care a lot about traditions do some thing like have a baptismal service?
A. Because Baptism is not a tradition...it's part of being an obedient follower of Jesus. The bible says repent (turn from your old way of living..and join Jesus kingdom plan for life) and be baptized. (Go public with your decision to "choose sides"). (link)

Q. Will Baptism make me a member of actionchurch?
A. No. Baptism is entirely about going public with your decision to become a follower of Jesus...there are "no members allowed" at actionchurch.

Q. Will Baptism "guarantee me a spot in Heaven"?
A. Sorry, no. Baptism won't "guarantee" you a spot in heaven any more than a wedding "guarantees" a lifetime of wedded bliss. Only your relationship (that you are celebrating in baptism) makes you part of eternity with Jesus...the good news is he promises to never "fail or abandon us" like people sometimes will. He is also legendary for his forgiveness of those of us who fail him.

Q. How do you know that everyone who gets baptized is "serious" about following Jesus?
A. We don't...In fact Jesus said here (link) that some who initially get very excited about the good news of Jesus will not "finish". He also said here (link) that it is not our job to try to figure out who is "in or out" of the kingdom...

Q. Why do you fully immerse (Dunk) people when you baptize them?
A. Because that's the way they did it in Jesus time...There is a lot of symbolism in being taken under the water (buried) and brought out of water (raised to new life)...but our main reason for being "old school" about baptism is because that was the way it was done then.

Q. Shouldn't you be in a "church" to be baptized?
A. It was many hundreds of years after the time of Jesus before the first "Church" buildings appeared...so being baptized in church is a relatively new development.

If you have any questions concerning the baptism service on Sunday or Baptism in general please send them to info@actionchurch.com. I will update this post as necessary.

What about homosexuals???

Since the story about actionchurch ran on the news this weekend I have had the opportunity to answer a lot of really great questions. I think I should answer one of the questions that I have been asked numerous times here on the blog, as it seems to be on many people's minds.

The question is:

Q: What do you believe the Bible teaches about homosexuality? Are homosexuals welcome in your church?

The answer is very simple for us...

A: The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin...and all sinners are welcome at actionchurch!

We hope that people who attend actionchurch will turn away from their sin and become a follower of Jesus Christ...but even if they chose not to...all sinners are welcome. That includes "gay" sinners, "straight" sinners, religious sinners, non-believing sinners, people who will "sin" tonight by not watching the American Idol premiere...anyone! We are the church for people who don't like church and there is no one too "super-bad" to be accepted and loved by Jesus and actionchurch...nuff said.



19The Son of Man (Jesus) came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."


Matthew 11:19

What we don't assume on Sunday Morning...

I had a couple of really good conversations with people last week about what makes an actionchurch Sunday morning "what it is". What I ended up taking away from the conversations was that what makes us "different" than what many people have experienced is what we don't assume.

On Sunday Mornings we don't assume:

1. That people "have to" go to church: We don't live in the 1950's- there's no social stigma against people who don't attend church. There are lots of entertainment and relaxation options available on Sunday mornings. Our job and our goal is to create an environment "worth showing up for" on Sunday mornings.
2. That people are interested in "studying the Bible": Instead we assume that most people are ambivalent at best about learning what ancient scripture has to say about life. Our goal is to present the principles and message of the Bible in an interesting and exciting way so that even the most sceptical listener is at least motivated to consider the possibility that the Bible is still relevant to life in 2008 America.
3. That people will come back... Since people are not motivated by guilt or obligation to attend church, our goal is to make each meeting a "sticky" experience that will motivate people to return.
4. That we are the "only" church: The phone book is full of literally hundreds of churches... churches with "better programs", quieter churches, less controversial churches, churches with nicer buildings (although personally I think Fat Daddy's rocks as a venue), churches with more educated pastors, churches with "better dressed" pastors...you get the idea. We think there are lots of great options for people to attend. Our goal is to be exactly what God has given us the vision to be... and let people decide if they want to be part of our "revolution". We will not be sidetracked by trying to respond to every "suggestion" about what "other churches do".

Behind the Music-Sermon Planning

I'm looking forward to the fact that in just three weeks (12.9.07) I will be preaching in our first test drive service! I can't wait. With that on my mind I'm posting seven questions I ask myself as I prepare to speak. Bear in mind that this is not the "right" way to do it, since I've never been (or plan to attend) seminary. Most of these questions come from stuff I've picked up as a singer/songwriter...

1. Is it inspired? This is the most important and hard to quantify part of writing either song's or sermons...you can write a technically perfect song about a toaster or a well researched sermon about something that you aren't inspired to talk about...both will be hard to listen to. I struggle with this question until I am absolutely sure that I have "heard" something in God's word that the listeners need for their lives before proceeding to any of the next "questions".


2. Does it have an interesting title? I think sermon and song titles are very important because they can generate questions and interest initially. Our first two "test drive" sermons are titled "BB guns and Bunny Suits" and "Stoned"...wanna know what I will be talking about???


3. Does it have ONE consistent thought? I want sermons at actionchurch to be like a good pop song...something you will remember after the first time you hear it...The only way I know to do that is to take ONE biblical concept, not a list, not an acrostic, not five points, not a "chapter"...but ONE biblical principle and try to make it as memorable and practical as possible. The only thing that counts in preaching is what you remember after you leave the parking lot. (That's the main reason I don't read from notes as I speak...If it's not memorable enough for me to "know the words"...there's no chance anyone else will remember it.)


4. Is it as short as possible? I have thousands of songs in my music library and only G-n-R's "November Rain" is over four minutes long. I think
   "memorable" long songs and long sermons are an exception...definitely not the rule. Usually they are the result of not taking the time and effort to properly "edit" out all the "extra" thoughts and points... Sermons at actionchurch will be around 30 minutes long.


5. Does it have a "hook"? There are no new song or sermon "topics". There is no "new" truth! The concept of a "love song" or a "Biblical Sermon" are thousands of years old... There are however countless "new ways to say old things". Ways to surprise...twists and turns that can be used if you are willing to do the "work" of song and sermon writing. There is no written exam to get into heaven so "conveying information" is not enough!


6. Will it "move" the listener? A good song should evoke some movement-break dancing, head banging, line-dancing, finger snapping, at least toe tapping or nodding. My hope is that no one (including myself) will ever preach a sermon at actionchurch where the response is "that's good to know". I believe the only reason people should go to the effort and expense of gathering on a Sunday morning is if they will in some way moved to a better way of living. The whole concept of actionchurch is that each week we will attempt to put the teachings of Jesus into action...


7. Is it authentic? I don't "buy it" when Clay Aiken sings "When a man loves a woman" and people don't believe when preachers pretend to be something they are not on Sunday mornings. I don't think you have to be "perfect" to be a preacher (or I certainly wouldn't be one!!!). I do think you have to be (as Perry Noble says )"smokin' what you're selling" and be brutally transparent and honest about your struggles with God's plan for living...

Top 10 Reasons we meet in a Nightclub

1. I think it's where God wants us to launch...simple as that. Obedience is my number one priority as a leader.
2. Jesus would do it if he were here...Sorry, my hero Jesus didn't get his reputation as a drunkard and friend of sinners hanging out at potlucks and "praise gatherings"...
3. It's just a building...does meeting in a nightclub mean you endorse drunken behavior? No more than meeting in a hotel means you endorse adultery and promiscuous sex. Or, meeting in a theater means you endorse "bad" movies. Or, meet in a school means you endorse evolution...or meeting in a church means you endorse all the ridiculous crap people do in the name of "religion".
4. It's just a building (part 2)...since we believe that actionchurch is called to be a multi-site, multi-venue church...it's important that participants realize that the "church" is not the building. Someday I believe we will meet in schools, nightclubs, theaters, multi-purpose buildings etc. all over this area and beyond.
5. Location, Location, Location... Fat Daddies is on one of the highest traffic count streets in east York, across from Lowes and Walmart, next to Perkins and Outback. (Of course if you live here you already know that...because almost everyone knows where it's at!) It also doesn't hurt that it was available on Sunday mornings!
6. It fits our values..."if we are going to be the church for people who don't normally go to church, we must go where churches normally don't go"!
7. Sound and Lighting Gear... Since Fat Daddies is a already a great rock venue it already is set up with the gear that actionchurch needs to "do business". Cutting to the bottom line...it saves us over $50,000 in start up costs being able to use their sound and lighting rig...and their sound man will run it on Sunday mornings...God is good!
8. Storage... We are able to store all our church signage and gear on premises... that means no trucks, trailers, and storage spaces to purchase and rent. Once again, huge savings in start up cost.
9. It welcomes lost, letdown, and looking people...and makes "religious types" really uncomfortable.. Both aspects are good in my opinion. By meeting in a club we hope to attract two types of people: those who are curious about Jesus and are comfortable in a nightclub setting, and those who are extremely uncomfortable in a nightclub setting but love Jesus enough to put that aside to tell others about him!!!
10. It's "buzz-worthy"... one of the biggest battles of a church plant is letting your community know you even exist. I think being the "crazy new church in the bar" is "something to talk about". Will it bring criticism? Big time! Does it matter as long as we become "un-ignorable"! I don't think so. If you love actionchurch, tell a friend! If you hate actionchurch and think we suck and are evil...tell everyone you know!

Disclaimer: This is a list of reasons why we choose to meet in a Nightclub. actionchurch does not believe all churches should meet in clubs. We are not "against" buildings with steeples, bells, or giant clown heads for that matter. We don't have all the answers. YMMV. Do not attempt if you are pregnant or nursing. Professional driver in a closed course. May increase your risk of vomiting and skin irritation. Call your doctor if your annoyance with this disclaimer lasts for more than four hours.

Participants wanted-"Members" not allowed!

What are you a "member of"? What membership cards do you carry in your wallet or purse? Right off the top of my head, I am a member of Sams Club, Blockbuster, and a shooting range. (I thought I'd throw that last one in after my nascar post yesterday). In each case I paid my "dues", agreed to obey the rules of the organization, and now I expect to receive something that "outsiders" are not entitled to.

What does that have to do with church? Nothing if you are looking for church membership in scripture... (I'm just sayin') In practice though, churches generally have members. They may be called different names but they are still people who pay their "dues", agree to obey the rules (membership covenant), and expect privileges that "outsiders" are not entitled to such as "voting" and being on "committees" that actually guide the church. If that sounds like the way church should be to you...that's fine...enjoy. My point is not to judge other church's leadership structures but to explain why actionchurch will never have a single "member"-ever!

We will constantly pray and act to attract participants-not members! We will honor those who actually participate in our cause of "making Jesus famous" in York county. We will invest time, resources, and training on those who want to be a part of the exciting business of sharing the love of God with our neighbors, friends, and families. Instead of membership training, we will train up Godly leaders and "release" them back into their communities. Instead of trying to be "find a ministry" for everyone within the walls of the church, we will strive to use staffing and technology to make the business of meeting as a church as simple as possible-so that our participants have time and energy to impact their circle of influence. We will make it very easy for "outsiders" to become participants...and impossible to become a "member". Participants wanted- "Members" not allowed!

Does this sound idealistic, impractical, and "not normal". Good! The Church written about in Acts did pretty well without members, committees, or even the New Testament to study. (Remember they were being the "Bible", not just reading it!)

If you've spent any time around church you probably still have one question. "How does a church without members "Vote"? Simple, everyone votes! In a "church without members" the vision and cause is clearly laid out by the leadership team and people of all races, religious backgrounds, and Pepsi-vs-Coke preferences vote...They "vote" with their participation and attendance. They "vote" with their financial support. They "vote" by inviting their friends and family to also participate in our cause. How do "participants" vote?...they "vote" with their actions-we are actionchurch after all!

Hypocrites in church?

People I talk to about church often end up talking about "all the hypocrites in church". One person recently even asked me if "We would have hypocrites at actionchurch?". I told them that although I don't think a church that emphasizes actually "Doing" scriptural principles instead of merely "learning" scripture would be the "first choice" for someone living a hypocritical lifestyle, I am still sure we will have some in attendance.

I am far less concerned about "keeping hypocrites out of the church" than I am "keeping the church itself from being hypocritical!" It can be "hard", even for a Church, to actually put the teachings of Jesus Christ into action! It's so easy to "preach" one thing and "do" another.

• It's easy (and common) to preach about being generous- and then be stingy in the "business" of the church! (Why do you think businesses dread working with churches?)



• It's easy to preach about serving others, especially those who can't "help" you in any way- and then only "serve" those in the community that might potentially support or attend the church.
  


• It's easy to preach that it's not enough to pay just "pay your bills", that members should give God the first of everything-and then as a church, only "meet the church budget" and "pay the bills" without giving to others in our community and world!



• It's easy to preach about "walking by faith and not by sight"- and then refuse to "make a move" as a church without the approval of "feasibility committees", "planning committees", "suck-the-joy-out-of-living committees" and a majority vote of the congregation...


• It's easy to preach and teach "the word"- and still not obey the teachings of Jesus.
  


• And finally, it's easy to encourage everyone to be loving and kind to everyone...even their "enemies"- and then not show love to the "enemies" of the church...

God help us as church "body" to actually "live" what we teach. Help us to do the "hard" , "messy" things of faith, and not give in to the "easy" way of religiosity and legalism. amen

"offensive"

I received some "advice" about starting actionchurch that still has me thinking. The advice was basically "be careful"... Be careful not to "lose your testimony" with other Christians. Be careful to go to places and gatherings that would cause other people to think badly of you. Be careful not to hang out with "unbelievers" to much or you might be tempted to "fall away"(I'm glad Jesus never got this advice...oh wait, I think he did.) . On and on it went. Since then I have realized something, although I firmly believe I am on the same "team" as the person who gave me the "advice"... I realized we are not playing the same game!

As I thought about it I realized much of church has become about playing "defensively". Trying not to "lose" anyone in the congregation. Trying to keep people happy. Trying to maintain a budget and a building. Trying to keep anyone from criticizing the pastor and leadership. Trying to keep the various ministries and programs staffed with volunteers. The "defensive plays" go on and on.

At actionchurch our only plays are "offensive plays". We are called to take new yardage. We care far more about reaching people than "keeping" people. We have nothing to gain by being "defensive" and nothing to lose by being "offensive". Being on the offensive will cause us to be a "risk taking" church. It will also drive us to our knees as huddle together and ask for God's wisdom and blessing before our next "long" attempt. We will have a few fumbles...sometimes we may lose ground. We will never be content to just "run out the clock" because lives are at stake!

In the end, being "offensive" means some people will be offended. Some will criticize our methods...some will question our motives. That's the price of being "offensive". I think Jesus said it best when he was criticized for being offensive:

33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Luke 7:33-34

Why we do what we do!

20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. 21 I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,
“Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand." Romans 15:21-22 (nlt)

Not for sale

In May I posted this (link) about a show I really love, King of Cars. I got an email from A&E Television last week asking me to write another post promoting the new King of Cars DVD set. In exchange they offered a percentage of sales from this link or free merchandise. I think this is a really innovative marketing plan on their part, I'm flattered they chose this blog to be part of it, I love the show...but I still told them "no thanks"! Why? Because the purpose of this blog is to spread the dream and vision of actionchurch, not sell DVDs for A&E Television!

I think this is a good "teaching moment" for us all, so "gather around". We are blessed to have a very clear and compelling vision for actionchurch. (link) We know we are called to put the teachings of Jesus into action. We know we are to be "salt and light" to York county. In my experience though, good opportunities and good people will always come along to distract you from that vision! As we grow, more and more people will offer us "good opportunities" if we will just do something that is "not exactly" in our vision for actionchurch. They will promise financial support and promotion if we will "only tweak the vision to do this one little thing". They will say "your church could be so much more successful if only you would "do" or "be" more....". We will always politely say "no thanks!" Anything that does not fall directly into the vision we have been give is a distraction, plain and simple.

Allow me to speak clearly. I have heard pastors say that "people are more important than vision statements, so you have to be flexible to meet people's needs." That sounds reasonable, sensitive, compassionate even. Unfortunately it is also pure crap! If you believe you received your church vision "from God" then who is more important than him? If we become willing to "prostitute" the vision and direction of our churches for money we may as well post our church vision on EBay and at least let it go to the highest bidder! Secondly, once we open up the leadership and vision of our church to "the highest bidder" people will actually "want" completely opposing things. One will promise support if you would be "slightly more traditional" while another "bidder" will want you to be "more cutting edge". How do you decide between competing "interests"? Do you "pick" the one who gives the most money? Or perhaps the one who has been there the longest? It all leads to confusion, distraction, and eventually inaction.

I do not believe we (actionchurch) have the "best vision", the "only vision", or even the "correct vision" for doing church! We do however have a vision that we will convey to our community in the clearest way possible. Whether is accepted or rejected, it is not for sale!

You Can do it, We can help.

I'm inspired by Home Depot commercials. Really. Not the ones with Tony Stewart doing donuts in the infield (OK, maybe a little) but I am inspired by the ones telling the stories of ordinary people who repaired their homes with the help of Home Depot materials and "know how". My favorite is the one where the single mom recounts how many "trips" to Home Depot it took for her to patch and paint her damaged drywall. I love the look of accomplishment and pride on her face... I love their slogan: You can do it, We can help. I think "church" could learn a lot from Home Depot!

For years the Church has said just the opposite. They have said in words and actions: " We can do it, you should help! " We (the church) can reach the community if you will give enough money to support our programs and build our buildings. We can change this county if only you would volunteer more, teach more classes, attend more classes...help us. We can "reach" your friends, families, and neighbors if you will bring them to our "salvation professionals". We can change "you" if only you would spend more time listening to our preaching and studying our information . Results show they were wrong.

What if Church operated more like Home Depot? What if it taught things you could actually take home and use to "repair" your world? (Last time I checked, the Home Depot didn't offer classes on the history of drywall...they do have a class on how to actually repair it though.) What if you could be certain that the money you gave would result in more "materials and hardware" being released into the community-instead of just building a bigger organization? What if the church's biggest "advertisement" was stories of people (action heroes) who had "repaired" their world? That's just the kind of place I dreamed of from the very beginning of actionchurch. That dream inspired me to write these words:

What if there was a place...

...where you could be yourself and still fit in?..

...that cared more about doing good in the community, than looking good to the community?

...that would never lecture you, bore you, or waste your time?.

..where your skills and experiences could actually make a difference in York county, no matter who you are?

...where each week you could hear one practical idea of how to live a more satisfying, meaningful life-instead of being overloaded with pointless information?

What if that place turned out to be a church?

You can do it, We can help!

"Inside out"

I was reading this week about how the phrase "the whole nine yards" came into existence. (And no, it wasn't from the really bad movie staring "Chandler" from Friends.) In the World War II era the machine gun ammo belts were 27 feet long. When a pilot would empty his ammo belts into a target he would say he gave it " the whole nine yards". Did anyone else know that? I didn't.

I've noticed that as I and others have the chance to share the vision and dream of actionchurch certain phrases are quickly becoming part of our vocabulary. We say we want "a little less talk, and a lot more action". We want our message to be "louder than words". Lately I've found myself using the phrase "inside out" a lot so I would like to "officially" make it part of the "actionchurch vocabulary".

Inside out- use: " we want to be an inside out church" A common vision in churches is to build a large organization filled with "ministry opportunities" so that every member will have "a place to serve". If that's what your church is called to do, God bless you, we are called to do exactly the opposite! Our dream for actionchurch is to be a lean, efficient organization. We are interested in producing the best possible "weekend worship experience", with the fewest volunteers possible. I have seen far too many wonderful cub scout leaders, soccer coaches, charity volunteers, and community leaders convinced (by well meaning people) to give up their ministries in their community to take on the "religious busy work" of teaching a class or joining the choir! I believe that the very best work of the church happens outside it's walls! It is my passionate dream that actionchurch be a place that inspires, prepares, and assists people in serving their neighbors...rather than a "drain" on their ability to do so!

There will be times that we will as a church "gather the troops"! Times when we will ask that every possible person join us in single effort. Our focus at these times will always be on serving our community. (link) We will always strive to make these events worthwhile and memorable enough to be worthy of our "fellow revolutionary's" taking time away from their families and busy lives. You can also bet when we gather to serve and bless our community...we'll give them "the whole nine yards"!

Wanted: Extreme Fishermen!

I love the show Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. If you would have asked me before I saw the show if I would be interested in "watching a program about

crab fishing in the Bering Sea" I think the answer would be a big
NO! After watching, I was absolutely hooked (that's no fishing

pun) by the crews of the crabbing ships. They are fearless and

hopeful, willing to risk it all because they understand the high
value of what they are fishing for. (Each King Crab is worth over

$20 and a crewman can make $10-20k per trip!) I love how

the crews realize they are all "in it to win". If one crew member
is slacking or injured others will either jump in to help or
administer a "wake-up" call. Teamwork on a crab boat isn't a goal or method...it's survival! I love how proud the crewmen are of their "colors". The highest honor for a rookie crewman is to receive a jacket with the ships logo on it that he can wear when he returns home. I love how every crewman strives to be great at their particular "station" so that the team can have a good catch. I also love that even though the captain sets the course for the ship from high above the deck, he receives a "share" in the catch just like the other crewman. Finally, (and I could go on...I really dig this program) I love that they constantly "keep score"! You will never find a crab fisherman on the Bering Sea who does not know how many crab they are catching and what they are worth. Every crewman realizes that they are paid to catch crab...not be on a boat, wear a rain suit, or talk about fishing. They are crab fishermen....and the most important thing to them, way more important than their physical comfort and safety, is that they are "on the crab".

We are currently looking for Launch Team Members. Launch team members are not "board members" or "committee members" or "steering team members"! The qualifications of a launch team members are actually very much like the crewmen on a crab boat in the Bering Sea! We are looking for men and women who understand the extreme value of the lives of our neighbors in York county. People who are willing to risk their own "comfort and safety" of being a "church goer/member"to save the lives of our neighbors and friends with the Good News of Jesus. We are looking for people who would be proud to wear the actionchurch "colors". People who will put their own "issues" aside to work as a team. We are looking for optimistic, entrepreneurial men and women who see declining church attendance as an opportunity for a "ship" who will go out to the dangerous and cold waters of our culture where the "big catch" is to be found. Most of all, we are looking for men and women who believe a place like actionchurch is needed in York county...and have the courage to do something about it!

Interested? Does this sound like your kind of adventure? For more info email: info@actionchurch.com

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Mathew 4:19

"Failure Resume"

I've been talking to a friend who has just received kind of a "right hook to the chin" from his job this week. He loves and follows Jesus, so I am confident God has plan, but things certainly seem to be "heading in the wrong direction" from our human perspective.

As I was talking to him I realized that it has been predominately the times I have "failed" or "things haven't gone my way" that God has used to guide me to this life that I now live and love. So, even though this is probably the last way I should "introduce myself" to all of you new to the actionchurch blog, (thanks for reading by the way!) here goes...in resume form:

Education: I dropped out of a state university with a full ride (housing, food, everything) academic scholarship. Although this may not be my smartest move...it did prepare me for a life of entrepreneural activity...otherwise, I found out I could earn whatever the prevailing minimum wage was.

Music: My efforts to become a "rock star" have not worked out very well. I have played with some very talented musicians, met some life long friends, recorded some tunes, but to date I have made about $7 as a professional musician.

Sales: After leaving college and getting married I decided that sales was the way for me to earn a living. I somehow convince a desparate sales manager I was a good candidate. I cut my hair, bought a couple suits and a used BMW and headed out to be the greatest saleman ever. I wasnt. In fact I pretty much sucked at sales...still do.

MLM: During this time I was convince that maybe Multi-level-marketing was the answer for our struggling finances...it wasn't. I couldn't "sell" as documented above, and my friends were as "broke" as we were. So much for making "10 million a month" in my spare time...

Contracting. After all my other "wrong turns" in the entrepreneurial arena I still dreamed of starting a business. In 1995 I saw an opportunity to start a renovation contracting company in Owings Mills MD. Unfortunately this came at a time when I finally had a construction Job that "almost" paid the bills. By God's grace the company took off immediately. I learned from this two things. 1 Never give up. 2. You will have to give up security to achieve a dream.

Of course after several years of financial success(this is a "failure resume" after all) I made some bad hiring and strategy decisions and nearly lost it all. We went for nearly 9 months with only bills...no income. I learned several things from this experience. 1. God is faithful. We had become faithful in tithing and giving and we never missed a mortgage payment. 2. Listen to those who know more about an area than you! I finally realized that Michele was correct in wanting to be debt free. I turned the finances of the business completely over to her. She was successful in her mission and today we are financially prepared to launch actionchurch because of her vision. 3. Learn from your mistakes...but don't quit! I relaunched my business as a painting contractor and I am thankful to say it still provides for us today!.

Family. Most of you reading this are wondering how I still have a family...so do I. I have failed as a husband and father by believing the lie society tells us that "providing money for the family is more important than spending time with the." I have been a workaholic. I also believed that lie of the church that "serving the local church somehow exempts you from being with your family" I have repented. I have been given another chance. So actionchurch, I will take Mondays off to spend time with Michele and Reagan. I will have no more than one (1) night meeting a week....period. I may fail (that would be new) at being a pastor ...but I will not fail again at spending time with those I love.

Ministry. I have volunteered in ministry nearly all my adult life. I have filled the roles of worship leader, youth pastor, floor sweeper, you name it. I love to serve in the church. In 2005 I was ordained and accepted a position of Associate Minister at a local church. In spite of the huge pay cut I felt that it was what I had been preparing for all my life. I was finally able to put all my effort into bringing those outside the kingdom into the local church. Unfortunately, one year later, It got me fired. Believing and saying the things I say every day on this blog made me unacceptable as a minister of a church. (Looking back, It's more of a miracle that I was hired than fired) Being fired felt like a fish being taken out of his fishbowl and flushed down the toilet. It stunk. It was scary and embarrassing, but now that I have "made it out of the sewer and into the ocean" I would never want to go back to the fishbowl. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to be even a small part of actionchurch.

So there it is, my "failure resume". It's incomplete due to space considerations. How is your "failure resume"? I hope it's shorter than mine. The big question is this: How are you letting God use your "failures" for his Glory? It means everything!

Free water?

One of the most important aspects of introducing actionchurch to York county is by doing acts of kindness and generosity, sometimes called "servant evangelism". This will include giving away free bottled water at intersections, parades, the racetrack, etc. We plan to have a free water and coffee tent at the fair. As weather gets colder and we get closer to launching we have plans to scrape peoples windshields, clear sidewalks etc. This is such an important part of our "DNA" that we plan not only to continue these events after launching, but also to encourage actionchurch members to consistently make such acts of kindness and generosity a part of their day to day lives. We are certainly not the first use these methods, in fact a recently launched church in the Washington DC area just posted about their experiences giving away water at an intersection. (link)

Are you a little skeptical that such methods could actually work? Do you wonder about all the people who will take the "gift" and never even visit the actionchurch website? To be honest, I have thought those same thoughts...

Although I believe servant evangelism is a biblical principal, (Jesus healed and fed as well as taught), many web based business follow this same model. For example on the right hand side of this blog you can see the "feedburner" and "statcounter" logo's. Both companies provide free services to web users. Feedburner distributes blogs in RSS or email formats. Statcounter keeps track of visitors and traffic. Both companies provide a free service in order to advertise on their website and sometimes offer paid "upgrade" services to their users. Many people take advantage of these companies services and never "pay" or visit their sponsors, some never upgrade...however, enough people do join and "contribute" to make these companies viable businesses.

Still unconvinced that an organization can give away goods and services with "no strings attached" and still build up a large and profitable membership? You may have heard of these "little" companies- Google and YouTube They seem to be "surviving" quite well...

Want to be part of our "kindness and generosity revolution"? It could be as simple as handing out a bottle of "free water". Please contact me a info@actionchurch.com for more information.

Too Flippin' Long!!!

Last night I experienced a familiar progression of emotions as I watched the American Idol finale. As the show began I was mildly entertained and interested, as it drug on I became distracted. After being treated to Sanjaya and Joe Perry (why Joe, why?) , I became bored and chatted with Michele. After being subjected to 18 group musical numbers and Bette Midler in a leather mini skirt (my eyes, my eyes!) I became agitated. And finally as the show went beyond it's time slot to reveal the winner, I became openly hostile and began yelling at the TV!

I say that I experienced a "familiar progression of emotions" because I have experienced and watched others go through similar progressions during church services that went on too long! (Thankfully, embarrassment usually overcomes hostility so no one yells at the pastor...although...maybe that would help...)

Civility and lack of space doesn't permit me to comment on why some churches have such unbearably long services, but here a few of the reasons actionchurch's Sunday Morning will be exactly one hour long:

• Editing makes a presentation stronger! A four hour home movie has more "content" but a commercially produced and edited 90 minute blockbuster has more "impact"!
• We value transformation over information! Our goal is to encourage and challenge people to live a life that honors Jesus Christ, not pass a bible survey 101 test.
• It's about the "audience" not the speaker or singer! The bible says to be a leader we must become a servant of many. In order to best serve our "listeners" as leaders we must put aside our own desires to "get it all in" or "really go deep because I enjoy this passage" or "keep talking because I like the sound of my voice". It ain't about us!
• We trust people to come back! Our goal each week will be to communicate one "action step" from God's word that people can actually put into practice in their lives. We do not have to tell the "everything we know" about the Bible, doctrine, and history because "they may never be back"... We have confidence that the good news presented in a creative and attractive manner will cause people to return for more.

I could go on, but then this post would be too long...

"Nice" Sucks!

I had a discussion Saturday night with some friends on the launch team about why it has always been (in our experience) a much worse working environment in "Christian" organizations than in "secular" corporations. How is it that co-workers can work together better at hospitals and construction sites than Churches and Christian Schools? Shouldn't the opposite be true?

I believe the culprit is "niceness". We've somehow traded "speaking the truth in love" for being "nice". "Nice" Sucks! "Nice" talks about someone, instead of talking to someone. (We call them "prayer requests" in religious joints) "Nice" is more worried about "stepping on toes" than actually advancing the kingdom. "Nice" is more worried about "offending" someone than affecting someone positively. "Nice leaders" (oxymoron?) are more interested in avoiding conflict than actually leading. "Nice leaders" actually cause conflict because they tell everyone what they want to hear, until everyone ends up feeling disappointed and lied to.

As we discussed Saturday night, there's no place for "nice" in the actionchurch organization. We have room for messed up people, wounded people, and imperfect people in general. We have lots of room for forgiveness, mercy, love, and kindness. We even have room for honest disagreement and debate. What we don't have room for is "nice". Our mission is too important.

15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Eph. 4:15-16 esv

actionchurch!?- "Whats up with the name?"

For most of the years I have been married (17 now), whenever I wanted to show Michele how much I loved and appreciated her I would give her a big hug and kiss. Sometimes I would literally "sweep her off her feet". My intentions were good and it felt great! She's hot, so let's be honest it felt really great! Less than two years ago we read this book (link) together. I found out from our conversations that a much better way to make her feel loved was to do something thoughtful or helpful for her. I had her "love language" wrong for years! (Thankfully, she still lets me hug and kiss her-for me!)


So what's more important, intentions or results? Jesus weighed in on this subject BIG TIME in his teachings. One of my favorites was when he was being criticised by the religious leaders of the time for his "methods". (Sound familiar?) After offering a scathing reply (read the whole story-here), Jesus uttered these words:

19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

In Luke (here) it reads "wisdom is proved right by her children" but in all accounts, and all translations, it is clear that Jesus set a standard- We are "judged" by our actions not our intentions. If you think that was an "isolated incident" check out this parable, (link)where the guy with "good intentions" of not losing his masters money was severely punished, and the others with "results" were rewarded. This theme runs deep in the teachings of Jesus. "A tree is know by its fruit" etc. It culminates in one of his final teachings in John 15:1-17. (link)

So does calling ourselves "actionchurch" mean we have a better understanding of Jesus teaching than other churches? NOT AT ALL! Our name is simply a reminder that we will be judged by our actions, not our intentions! How does that make us "different" than other churches? IT DOESN'T! Every church is "judged" by their actions and results by both God and their community. Every one! It may "feel good" to have two cans of marshmallow fluff and some pickled beats in the church closet and call it a "food pantry" but our God and our neighbors look to us to feed the hungry. It may "feel good" to stick a crappy gospel tract under the windshield wiper of that "long haired" pagan at work, but our God and our neighbors look to us to actually show Love to them. It may "feel good" to have churchy little gatherings that we all enjoy, but our God and our community will decide if we actually "reached out"!


So Hello, our name is actionchurch. We don't have it all together. We probably never will. We will not: however, let that be an excuse not to put the teachings of Jesus into action! We will try and reject many "methods". We will experiment. We will come up short. We will never quit! We will constantly strive to find ways to make our message- Louder than Words!

Seacrest out!

actionchurch core values

Fun! Brevity. “A little less talk and a lot more action!” Cultural Relevance. Authenticity. Originality. Transformation over information. Doing nothing Half way! Kindness and generosity…with no strings attached. "Making Jesus Famous!" Creativity. Ambiance. Art. Family.